The Black Monolith

"When you approach, do not speak. Kneel as you would before the God themselves and pray. Place a hand upon the Monolith. If Sol has blessed your passage, you will be granted a revelation. Speak not of your experience, or they will turn to not but ash and ruin."
-Tris-Mok, Priestess of Sol

The Black Monolith is a huge floating pillar of unknown origin, considered by the adherents of Solarism to be an extremely holy place. Situated at the end of a long and dangerous mountain path, merely reaching the site can be an ordeal. Pilgrims starting from Camp Dawn will spend an entire day climbing treacherous natural stairs, avoiding hazardous wildlife and braving torrential sand storms in order to reach the Monolith. Once there, pilgrims do not stay long, either finding what they had sought or returning to Camp Dawn the next day, empty-handed.

Approaching from the path, the around the site is obscured by heavy permanent dust clouds. The Monolith itself appears to be made of an unknown type of black stone. It stands as tall as a tower and floats several feet off the ground. It is covered in runes similar to those found in Promethean ruins but the priests who tend to the site deny any connection. Those visiting the site report an almost palpable presence of magical energy, and the location is known to warp magic in unusual ways.

Pilgrims travel here in hopes of experiencing a vision they believe to be granted to those whom their God has deemed worthy by preforming the proper rites and touching the stone.

Purpose / Function

The Black Monolith is one of the holiest places to the adherents of Solarism. They believe the place is intrinsically tied to Sol themselves. As evidence, they cite the fact that strange phenomena can be observed in the area during most solar events such as eclipses. Those who travel here hope to be granted divine revelations through prophetic visions given to them by Sol.

The rites required to perform the ritual are a closely guarded secret of the priesthood of Sol. Once the proper steps have been taken and prayers made, the adherent places their hand upon the monolith. The result is, for the devout, a vision. Visions differ greatly from person to person. However, pilgrims are discouraged from discussing them with others, especially non-believers. This is due to a commonly held belief that, if one discloses the nature of their vision with someone other than a Priest of Sol, then the knowledge one might have gained from their experience will be ruined.

Some number of pilgrims report receiving no such prophetic visions. This is considered a mark of unpiety and great shame to adherents, especially given the great efforts to undertake this journey. As such, few are willing to disclose their failure with anyone outside the priesthood, so it is difficult to gauge how often this occurs.

History

The Monolith predates any written history on the subject, appearing in even the oldest Kalari oral legends. It has been a pilgrimage site for as long as they have known. Tobias The Explorer wrote of the place during his expedition to the redlands in 437 B.E saying:

"I was lead up a long and winding path, which saw a number of my comrades' deaths to a place quite queer. Cloaked in billowing sand was a huge black pillar of rock, that floated ominously in the air. I could feel the weight of a presence that terrified me, as though I sat before creation itself. I have seldom felt that kind of awe, and terror"

Alternative Names

Shal-Dur

Type

Shrine

Owning Organization

Solarism