Turrima
Turrima, or The Tower, is a massive and elegant white marble tower built on a peak overlooking the sacred lake of Naris All in northwestern Naru. It is a site of great age and is almost as sacred to Elves as the Naris All itself. Built on top of a steep rocky peak overlooking the central waters of the holy lake, the tower is nearly 300' tall and is accessible only by a bridge that itself is 60' above the ground. In all, from the surface of Naris All to the tip of the Tower's elegant spire is a span of more than 760'. From the top floors of the Turrima, one can see the entire length (60 miles) of Naris All.
The Turrima was built as a holy site in the centuries immediately following the Elven arrival in the region now known as the Elven Realm more than 2,900 years ago. While most Elves might not know the Turrima's history in any real detail, tens of thousands of Elves have made the journey to visit the site as a pilgrimage of prayer, contemplation and sacrifice.
The Turrima is approached by a beautifully constructed and ornately decorated road that leads gradually up the sides of the mountains that surround Naris All. The the road's end is a large paved square that is big enough to hold 7,500 souls standing within the tall and elegant colonnade that surrounds its perimeter. From this square, pilgrims cross a 300 yard bridge that spans the heights between the plaza and the base of the Turrima. Once across the bridge, one finds a 30' statue of Ghan'a Nari herself, the Elven mystic that first looked upon the sacred waters of the holy lake more than 2,800 years earlier. From the statue of Ghan'a Nari one proceeds up a long flight of carved marble stairs to the entrance of the Turrima itself.
It can be stated that the Turrima is as much a shrine to Ghan'a Nari herself as it is a site associated with the Naris All, but this is not its intended or primary purpose. It is, first and foremost, a site of contemplation, devotion and reflection of the spiritual and physical nature of Elves in this half of the continent of Thrae.
The Turrima, and indeed the entire area surrounding Naris All, is not included in any of the territories of the surrounding Archonates, as it is considered a cultural site of such weight and importance as to be too important for any one Archon to administer and rule. Instead, it is open to any Elf (in theory) and is directly maintained and administered by a Proctor and a retinue of Sextons that keep the tower in the immaculate condition that its visitors expect.
Purpose / Function
A holy and sacred site for all Elves and an integral part of the traditional pilgrimage journey to Naris All.
Architecture
A towering white structure nearly 300' from foundation to spire, adorned with elegant arches and
History
The Turrima was built less than 200 years after the discovery of the Naris All and the establishment of the Elven Realm of Naru on the mountain that tradition says Ghan'a Nari first looked upon the holy waters of the sacred lake. Over the course of the last 2,700 years, much of the tower has been added to, removed, changed and rebuilt, but the basic design of the site has remained the same for nearly three millennia. A single massive tower with a view of the entire Naris All and much of the surrounding countryside that is a destination for tens of thousands of Elven pilgrims and mystics looking to connect with the spiritual heart of the Vytuian Realm.
Tourism
While the vast majority of visitors and pilgrims to the Turrima are Vytuian Elves, there are still thousands of Prosk'aNara, Vagari and even a very few Drowkin Elves that also make the journey to see this spiritual landmark of the Elven society, as all these cultures have their roots in the post-migration Elven community that founded Naru.
The Turrima, with Naris All visible in the background
