Nisaba Pilgrimage Shrine

The Yolai'ho Overpass Way-Mark

Saleh'Alire » Religious Temples ⭲ Tolara ⭲ Talaina'Vao ⭲ Nisaba Pass ⭲ Hiatal Mountains / Kogria Mountains

By your grace, Wakena, Our Lady of Liberty and Gold... Protect they and theirs as they travel together through the unknown- and bathe them in your prosperity upon their safe delivery.

— High Priestess Sanne Ekenar

Located at the Yolai'ho Overpass portion of the Nisaba pass through the Kogria Mountains and Hiatal Mountains in Tolaina'Vao, Tolara, the Nisaba Pilgrimage Shrine is as the name suggests: A traveler's shrine at which Merchants, Expeditioners, and other travelers may pray for safe and swift journeys- or pay thanks for a crossing so far well made.
While most Traveler's Shrines are small outdoor structures that remain undedicated to any particular deity, the Nisaba Pilgrimage Shrine follows none of the typical examples that exist. Instead it is a more traditional Temple-like structure formally devoted to the Ferenian gods Saunden and Wakena, along with a third unaligned Deity (Behzd) whose origin remains unknown; people pray to a multitude of Deities, Demi-Deities, and Divine Adjacent figures here daily, however, despite the formal dedications- an action encouraged by the Shrine's staff.

Construction & Legacy

They may not be our Gods, but I prayed there anyway- a safe crossin' and all tha... Was carved in good, like cousin Gertie's place in the Caerced... And you'd really think somethin so simple wouldn' be so awe inspirin' but there i'is, ma.
I hope you enjoy the sketch I sent. But I really wish you could'a seen it anyways.

— EM Goron Trezona in a letter home after their first crossing

Despite the constant foot traffic through the region, it's unknown when the Shrine was actually constructed at the Yolai'ho Overpass. Timing has been narrowed, however, to some time between 5730 and 5750, as no records of the Shrine exist prior to that point.
The lack of information surrounding its construction, however, has led to the development of several rumors about the Shrine. One of the most common of these stories weaves a tale of a hermit who, in an effort to isolate himself from society, traveled until he came to the pass- at which point he received a revelation that instructed him to carved a temple into the mountian. Another tale is similar, but claims it was constructed in order to hide away some sacred object.

Regardless of the tales told, Archivists are in agreement that its construction largely predates what most in Tolara have come to call Traveler's Shrines- which is likely one reason why its design doesn't resemble the more common structure. Outside of the mystery surrounding it, though, it has no real cultural or other significance.

Type
Traveler's Shrine
Function
Religious Temple / Worship

Location
Yolai'ho Overpass, Nisaba Pass
Talaina'Vao, Tolara

Current Owners
Unknown
Founders
Unknown
Construction Date
Unknown

Secret mechanical info about the benefits / in game effects of praying at the shrine, depending on which of the formal deities two you pray to while you're there

An exception to that statement may be made purely for Merchants and Expeditioners who travel through the Nisaba Pass regularly; it's become customary to pay one's respects at the shrine- located at the halfway mark where, using the Yolai'ho Overpass, travelers must cross from the Kogria Mountains to the Hiatal Mountains on the other side of the Canyon.

Floor Plan & Facilities

The Nisaba Pilgrimage Shrine is a relatively simple structure set into the cliff side on the Kogrian side of the Canyon.
The entrance is accessable from an outcropping of rock just below the main bridge; it consists of just eight broad but low steps, leading to a set of double wooden doors; unlike most Temples or Shrines, there is no external adornment save for the simple yellow canopy that acts as an awning for weather protection.

Main Chamber

Entering the Shrine, the first chamber is round in shape and clearly built to accommodate religious rituals; the low and gentle lighting creates a comfortable environment- not too dark, but not bright, either. It smells fresh from the incomming air- but earthy, with a hint of incense and scented oil; the walls are roughly hewn and uneven, and you can clearly tell where the room has been hollowed out from the original crag.
A low stone dias containing an altar sits at the center of the room, taking up the majority of the space here; an incense burner, several sunstone votive lights, and a metal offertory container adorn the altar, arranged neatly on top of a green and gold striped altar cloth.
Around the edge of the room, on the side towards the door, several simple wooden chairs are stationed- a place for travelers to sit while they wait; on the other side of the room, a series of circular pillars separate the room from the Cells, which themselves are covered with curtains to provide privacy.

Private Cells

Separated from the main room by a series of light yellow curtains are three small cells where the faithful can sit in quiet contemplation, provide offerings, pray, or perform other acts of worship;
Each Cell contains a sitting cushion in green, and a small table with the respective deity's statue (Saunden's in the left Cell, and Wakena's in the right). The center cell, however, has a slightly taller table with no statue, and contains a Kneeling bench in place of the pillow.
All of the Cells are clean and neat, and well kept, and each in turn smells like a different combination of scented oil, incense, and rich earth.

Priest Quarters

To the right of the entrance into the main chamber, a small wooden door is set into the wall. Inside contains a small hearth for a kitchen, a workbench, a metal bath, and two beds; several trunks and shelves are strewn abotu the walls and floor providing convenient storage- and a rack near the work bench contains various vestaments and elements of priestly garb.
It's clean and well kept, but drafty from the hole needed to release the smoke. And it smells of dusty earth and soap.

In addition to the yellow awning, a small starburst shaped fountain trimmed in faded decorative tiles has been carved from the rocks just before the steps. The fountain much deeper than it appears at first glance, however, and the very bottom glitters with thousands of coins that have been tossed in by passers-through for a little extra luck over the years.
The interior of the Shrine, however, has been carved into the side of the mountain face; it appears as if whoever originally built the structure used a natural crag as the main space- expanding the area and hollowing out the two rooms and three cells based on this main fissure.

Public Services

High Priest
Sanne Ekenar

Second Priest
Khairi Temegen

The Nisaba Pilgrimage Shrine is staffed only by two Priests, and provides no public services to travelers- excluding the small scale healing and blessings typically performed at Temples and staffed Shrines throughout the world.

Though no one quite knows why, the Shrine does close every third day for "rituals and routine maintinence", however. At these points the doors to the shrine are barred shut from the inside, and no individuals are allowed into the Shrine except in the event of a genuine emergency.