Gevera Chapel

The Gevera Chapel is one of the few landmarks in the Gevra Woods, part of the vast enchanted woodlands known as the Faeholt. Though it used to be the central building of the town Salens, the buildings and facilities that used to surround it have been lost to time. 
As arena for a mage duel, it sustained little damage in comparison to its surroundings, though couldn't resist being reclaimed by nature once the magical barrier wore away. Now covered almost entirely in aether-enhanced plants, the Gevera Chapel has retained the subdued majesty of a religious building, often believed to have a soul of its own. 
It is considered both the birth place and home of the Green Knight, who much like these early mages uses it as a fighting ground for those he deems worthy or sinful enough to deserve a visit. The spectral knight usually lures its opponents to the chapel in the winter, though the Gevra seems to suffer little in the cold. As a result of this legend, it's also cited as the place where Sir Gawain slayed his iteration of the knight.

Purpose / Function

The chapel's original purpose was as a place of worship to the old goddess Gevera, believed to have domains related to growth or fertility. As part of her religion's ancient traditions, it is believed that offerings would be made to Gevera upon the altar to echo a servant's role to provide food for their master or mistress. The true extent of these rituals have been lost to time, along with the original town that surrounded it. 
Now, the chapel's purpose is at best mysterious. Though it remains abandoned by civilisation, it is rumoured to be the chapel where the Green Knight, a warrior made of pure plant matter, lures his victims for a duel to the death. Those who believe this legend dare not enter here, believing it to be the knight's home, where it regrows after each bout with a worthy adversary.

Architecture

It has only survived its centuries of abandonment because unlike the surrounding buildings - likely belonging to a poor community - the chapel was made of reused stone. Its roof, believed to be thatch or made entirely from wood, has since collapsed and left its innards bare to the elements.
Each stone, though not specifically chiselled to its layout, has had motifs lovingly carved on its surface. Though few have seen these carvings up close for fear of what lies within the Gevra, old books has pages upon pages of frottage, revealing their details. Most depict leaves or other foliage, whilst others are clearly religious stories concerning Gevera, though none of them survive.

History

The Chapel was a local place of worship for the lost town of Salens, now in far more disrepair than this central structure to their community. It was the cornerstone for the worship of the goddess Gevera, relatively undisturbed by their unconcerned mage rulers.
This open-minded attitude gradually became apathy as the mages and their knowledge of aether grew. In 121, a fierce duel for territory erupted between two otherwise minor mages, decimating the town and its surrounding landscape. Though the true reasons for the Gevera Chapel's survival can only be known to the combatant who survived the bout, the general belief is that this served as the initial arena for the dispute. 
Protected by a magical barrier from most of the onslaught, it had to stand in the shell of the town once the victor left, headed for more important ventures. The aether energised the growth of the nearby flora and thus turned the otherwise plain landscape into a thriving, enchanted forest. Ever since, the true magic that remains in effect is unknown because The Institute of Wizards and the Glenguard are bitter enemies, thinking the other a usurper of what should be their territory to protect.

Tourism

Adventurers who are curious of what lies within the Gevra - though not too curious for their own good - rarely brave the hazardous and rarely treaded path to the Chapel. Most are satisfied and also wary of its high walls watching over their progress, almost as if it knows of their intentions.
The Glenguard are the only ones truly forced to make their way through the Gevra on a regular basis, though still using maps drawn up by Baudwin Holtsword. The forest is growing and changing all the time, so without a proper guide even Glaue can be consumed by the greenery of this eerie part of the Faeholt.
Other brave souls, under the often false delusion that the Green Knight has summoned them to Gevera Chapel, make the expedition on their own. Though some are recovered by the Glenguard, the stories of disappearing adventurers headed for the chapel are enough for locals to caution against heading there alone. It's rumoured that the aether-enhanced plant-life can absorb human souls to sustain itself, though few have both shown interest and been willing to risk entering the Gevra to find out.

RUINED STRUCTURE
121

Founding Date

94

Alternative Names

Green Chapel, Ruins of Gevra

Type

Chapel