The Gasheart
The Gasheart, located in The Shales, is one of The Harrowfield Institute's most secretive and storied research sites. Housed in a fortress-like structure of blackened stone and iron, the Gasheart functions as a laboratory, archive, and spiritual nexus for the Institute’s most dangerous experiments into Gree-reactive vapors and spectral phenomena. The facility is known for its unorthodox blend of natural philosophy, engineering, and ritual practice, pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable scientific inquiry.
The name "Gasheart" derives from the massive, pulsating core at the sanctum’s center, a spherical contraption of glass, iron, and etched bone that captures and condenses volatile vapors from The Churn. These vapors are analyzed, channeled, and woven into artifacts that the Institute believes will help stabilize gree-tech machinery and ward off spectral incursions.
Purpose / Function
The Gasheart is a critical facility for the Institute’s arcane research, specifically the study of vaporized gree, which is believed to carry spectral residues from The Churn. Scholars assigned to the Gasheart work to develop containment methods, spectral warding tools, and experimental gree-infused artifacts.
Alterations
Originally a foundry used for crafting industrial components, The Gasheart was acquired by the Institute in the early 50s AB as part of a classified project to study spectral vapors. Over the decades, it has been extensively modified with canal systems to redirect gree-tainted water and conduits to transport vapors to the core. Glyph-etched chambers serve as both ritual spaces and safety measures, ensuring the volatile energies within remain contained.
A hidden sublevel, accessible only through glyph-activated passages, houses a secure vault for artifacts too dangerous to remain in the Institute’s main archives. This includes failed experiments and arcane tools believed to hold remnants of spectral entities.
Architecture
The Gasheart’s architecture is an imposing fusion of industrial and organic forms. Its crenellated iron vents spew faintly glowing gree-fumes into the Shales, while glyph-covered walls ripple with pale green light. The central chamber, known as the Gasheart Core, is a massive iron-and-glass sphere, resembling a beating heart. Veins of gree-fueled conduits twist through the structure, pulsing in time with the core’s rhythmic throbbing.
Narrow corridors wind through the sanctum, lined with ritual alcoves and etched sigils. Each alcove contains tools for spectral study, including gree-reactive lenses, alembics, and warding implements. The sanctum’s design reflects the Institute’s dual focus on scholarly precision and arcane ritual.
Comments