Undin Shrine
Purpose / Function
Undin Shrine was dedicated to a powerful water spirit, venerated by the Raitharan Empire, in return for allowing them to build a dam where her river exited the mountains. This dam improved cultivation downstream, insuring a steady supply of water instead of the floods and droughts the area previously withstood.
The shrine is part of the dam itself, contributing structural support, housing flow controls, and allowing access from the base to the top, where one can overlook the reservoir created by the dam.
It is rumored that the flow of water through the shrine also powered the terrible rituals of Raitharan necromancers. However, that is surely just as much nonsense superstition as the water spirit herself.
Design
The structure is towering and ornate, much more-so than most Raitharan construction in such outlying areas. It is accented in stark lines with black stone, imported a great distance and surely at high cost. The rest of the shrine and dam are of local stone, grey with a subtly marbled red hue in some veins.
On either side of the main structure, water courses out from vents in the dam to cascade down into the wings of the shrine. The Anchor River flows from the center of the shrine itself, through what would perhaps otherwise be the main entrance
Curving staircases along the exterior wall allow you to ascend through the structure to the spire. Otherwise, long passages through the wings take you to the flow controls.
Water moves through the shrine in various channels, worn smooth by the flow of water and time. The primary streams run through the wings, combine in the center on the second floor, and flow out through the center entrance. There is also a secondary flow of water that enters the shrine directly below the rotunda, then courses through the rest of the main structure, and empties into a chamber or cistern of some sort below the shrine.
A final waterway cascading through the structure is dry and appears to be decorative in nature, holding only tile mosaics depicting flowing water, fish, aquatic plants, and strange Raitharan inscriptions.
Entries
The shrine can be entered from either side of the Anchor River, via staircases rising to twin doors next to where the river cascades out of the dam. There is also a small door from the spire at the apex of the shrine out onto the top of the dam, which is otherwise inaccessible except to expert rock-climbers.
Various windows, mostly narrow, are scattered across the exterior of the shrine, but the sheer walls and perpetually misty atmosphere make them unsuitable for egress.
Sensory & Appearance
The shrine is imposing, towering overhead and thrumming with the power and noise of the waterfalls. The dark Raitharan architecture has an air of menace to it, especially in shadow. A constant mist hangs in the air, cloyingly humid in the summer and chilling in winter. Birds flock around the reservoir and roost on the dam, their calls echoing against the stone.
The rotunda just under the spire is said to sometimes glow with an eerie light.
I'm in charge of monitoring and maintaining Anchor dam, and I'll do it, no complaints. But if the The Life-Giver herself asks me, I'll never go in at night again.
One full moon, nice and bright, every greenreader in town was telling me a storm was coming in, so I thought I'd go ahead and adjust the flow of the dam to be ready for it.
When I got up the ridge, the top part of the shrine was all lit up--not just reflecting the moonlight, either, I'm sure of it. And there was more inside than just those damned bats. Can't say what, but... something.
Denizens
Bats roost in the upper levels of the structure, but it is otherwise eerily empty.
Campaign SpoilersEmpty, that is, unless water is diverted to the secondary channels. This opens the passage to the sub-levels, and worse: water coursing over the runes and inscriptions restores power to what lurks there. The abandoned priests still linger, defending their shrine as they rot away within it. Unnatural ghouls slumber in water-logged vaults.
Finally, the water spirit Undin herself, a hag with extensive power and a horrid temper, keeps her bower in the deepest chamber. Those "sweet Raitharan lads" built this beautiful house for her... and woe betide any who might defile it.
Valuables
Most of the antiquities and artifacts left here have been taken long ago, and the rest are rotten and crumbling.
Campaign SpoilersHazards & Traps
The town of Anchor Falls keeps a small guard posted to keep troublemakers and thrill-seekers out of the shrine. Those who sneak past them will encounter long flights of slick stairs, bats who do not enjoy being disturbed during the day, and the disgusting hazard that accumulates under the bats.
People in town also warn of less mundane threats, but usually in only the vaguest of terms.
Campaign Teaser
As of their last inspection, they believe the base structural damage has progressed to the point that it could give way at any time.
This is, of course, a major disaster. A huge swath of land needs to be evacuated, and many families will be losing their farmland entirely, or may see it become much more difficult to work successfully. All that is being seen to.
A much, much less important concern is the one brought to us by the Temple of Anuth. Nonetheless--they have requested aid, and you are to do your best to aid them.
They claim that there is some treasure of great importance to their god, which is being held somewhere in the shrine to Undin.
A very lovely article! <3 Great information with hints of adventure. :) Are you a member of the Discord?
Thank you! And no, I always get too shy in Discord channels to say anything, though I keep thinking about trying the WA one...
You should join. :) It's pretty big so it's easy to lurk in it. XD;; Dimi posts development updates to it as well :)