The Needle

A familliar enigma

The Needle is probably the most famous landmark in the world. Since it's appearance fifty years ago it has been the subject of a plethora of studies, books, songs, reports and tales, but no one is any closer to figuring out where it came from or what it's ultimate purpose is. The souls now roaming the world tell us that the Needle leads to transendence, that it is the only way for them to pass beyond. However, even they cannot tell us, beyond to what?

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A simple oddity

The Needle is precisely that, a one hundred foot tall sewing needle which stands at the top of Stanvista Pinnacle, the tallest mountain in the world. At the summit of the mountain is a small plateau, in the centre of which is a crater in the shape of a perfect hemisphere. Standing upright, on it's point, at the centre of the crater is The Needle, stretching a hundred foot straight up into the air. It's point does not penetrate the ground upon which it stands, it simply rests on it's tip, perfectly balanced. At the top of The Needle is it's long narrow eye, the hole only visible from certain angles. The shaft of the needle is only 5 foot in diameter, narrowing to no more than an inch at it's point. It is made from what appears to be a bright silvery metal, it's surface completely unmarked. The eye section of the needle is a bright gold, the sheen of which is enough to hurt the eyes if looked upon for too long.

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You might as well try and push against the mountain as that thing. In fact, I bet you'd be able to move the mountain first

— Roytin Grefnell, head physicist at The Needle research post.

A scientific mystery

How the needle is able to stand upright as it does, defies all current known laws of physics. The wind which rushes across the mountain top has no effect on it, and it has resisted all attempts by man to move it: It neither sways nor bends. The material it is made of is completely indestructible: scientists thus far have been unable to take any samples from the needle to determine exactly what material it is made from. Everyhing just seems to slide off it's unnaturally smooth surface without leaving a mark. Even extreme heat and cold have no effect on it, nor does radiation. It gives off no heat of it's own, and always seems to be the same temperature as it's environment when measured by a device. When touched by a person it feels neither cold nor warm, seeming to become the same temperature as the skin of the person touching it.

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Alien or Divine

Although there has been many a passionate discussion about the various theories put forth by scientist and scholar alike over it's physical properties, they pale in comparison to the heated, and sometimes violent, debates over it's origins. While there have been many wild theories as to where the needle came from, the two main camps fall under alien or divine, though even these have many sub theories which exist within them. Cults, religions, scientific theories, and philosophical schools of thought have all sprung to life due to the existence of The Needle, and whether or not we ever understand it's true purpose, it has irrevocably changed our lives forever.

Type

World wonder

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THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE

The souls say that upon death there is only the pull of the song, a universal song that they must join. The song must pass through the eye of The Needle in order for the souls to pass on. They have no knowledge of what lies on the other side, only that they are certain that this is how it must be. Untuned souls that have spoken with those who have joined the song, tell us that they speak of a growing harmony the closer they get to the eye: their sense of connection and belonging increases.

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A COSTLY MISTAKE

In the summer of 32AN a group belonging to a religious sect called the Choir of Silence elicited from The Needle the only response it has ever given. Under the guise of a research team from a University they were able to smuggle a device to the summit. This device emitted modified sound waves which onlookers later claimed they could only feel as horrible sinking sensations in the pits of their stomachs. When they turnd this device upon the eye The Needle seemed to ripple then emit a loud and high pitched shriek. The sound sent out a shockwave which struck everyone within twenty feet of it, killing them instantly, and bursting the eardrums of everyone else on the plateau. Neither the perpertrators nor their strange device survived the event.

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