====== Tminir Tower ====== This tower of metal and stone rises over three-hundred meters (300 m) above an island of volcanic rock in the middle of a lake. It is often called Fog Tower or Tower of Silence because of the thick fog that rises up from the lake during the night - regardless of the weather. This is for the best as during the day those passing by can see the horror of the lake. Hundreds of large iron spears rise up out of the lake impaling bodies, while most of the bodies are withered husks, a few still look as they must have during life. Those who live nearby swear that many of the bodies can still talk; although they mostly just moan in endless agony. The water is always very cold, even under the summer sun small bits of frost cling to the shoreline. Not only is the water physically cold, but it has a detrimental effect on those who touch it. Animals avoid the area, even birds and insects do not fly overhead, and people report feelings of despair. Nobody visits the tower unless they have business with its master, even then only the foolish do not carry wards against evil. ===== History ===== When the gods entered this world, so did the devils. Each of these immortal beings brought with them a host of lesser beings to continue to wage their eternal war - angles and demons. When they left this world, many of their host was left behind. These creatures did not belong on this world and caused terrible damage which threatened the very existence of the world should their war continue. In their long history on this world the [[creatures:Ancient Dwarf]] and [[creatures:True Elf]] stood and polar opposites - naturally opposing the will of the other. Tminir Tower, along with others scattered across the world, remain the only time they have ever worked together to achieve a single goal. The elves created [[lore:plane#demiplane]] that would serve as a prison for the most dangerous angles and demons, while the dwarves fashioned a door for the prison that would seal them inside for all of time. ==== A purpose re-forged ==== These towers would have stood for all of time, but the actions of the [[lore:Kinslayer War]] and [[lore:Brothers War]] unraveled the singularity of purpose in the towers causing the towers to weaken in time. Eventually the very nature of the Shadow Realms would tear apart the seal, allowing the imprisoned creatures free. An true elf came to the tower and saw the spell was weakening and so she sacrificed herself and merged her spirit with dwarven wards that sealed the prison from this world. Her purpose was true and so the ward would once again stand for all of time. She did not become the first Master of the Tower, but instead the first Steward. ==== Masters of the Tower ==== The first Master of the tower came along much later. After the Kinslayer War nobody came and visited the tower, so the Steward stood in silence over her duty - isolated from all of her kind. In time she sought out companionship and invited several elves to stay in the tower, but none of them could abide the sheer wrongness of what was imprisoned below. She had grown numb to its effects on her, but no elf visited her until Korlin arrived. Korlin was not a true elf, but a [[creatures:elf#Great Elf]]. She was saddened by his arrival, but he willingly stayed in the tower for several years. In time the effects of the tower became overwhelming, but before he left she shared a measure of her power with him. This eased the terrible nature of this tower, but he still succumbed in time. Korlin was the first Master of the Tower - not a part of the tower, but freely given the power of the ward that held the prison. He was the companion of the Steward and Warden over those imprisoned. Several elves followed Korlin, each one taking on more and more of the duties of Warden - diminishing the nature of the Steward. Only the very first human to become the Master of the Tower even knew of the first Steward and by that time she was little more than a voice of the ward. ==== Corruption and Salvation ==== The humans were far more more susceptible to the corrupting nature of the prisoners. With the Steward to guide and warn them the ward that was the tower weakened. The Masters cared only for the power contained within the tower - the power granted to the Master of the Tower. The ward would have collapsed, releasing those imprisoned within except for the arrival of Brynte. Like many before him he was invited by the tower to compete to become the new Master when the old one died. By magic and steel he bested the others and claimed the prize, but along the way he gained a measure of wisdom. He knew that the tower was not just a figure of power to be used, but in fact was a terrible responsibility to endure - a task that most of the previous Masters had failed to meet. Long before he could be killed by a rival or succumbed to the leeching nature of the ward - he sacrificed himself to sanctify the war. His selfless act washed clean the corruption that had been weakening the ward. It not only drove the evil deeper into its prison, but he became the new Steward - responsible for protecting and educating each new Master of the Tower. ===== Occupants ===== ==== Master of the Tower ==== The Master of the Tower must be a sapient mortal capable of drawing upon the power of the [[lore:Shadow Realms]] and they must accept this responsibility freely, knowing the truth of the tower. During those times when the tower does not have a Master the warding spells begin to weaken and will eventually unravel as all things must succumb to chaos and entropy. It is the will of the tower's master that secures the wards from this eventuality. The Master of the Tower serves in their position for the rest of their life. As they freely offer up their soul to the spells of the tower, so does the tower offer its strength and power to its Master. They will enjoy a longer life than that of their kin and vigor throughout that life. As long as they can maintain the purity of their soul and purpose their body and mind will reflect that purpose. Should their spirit become corrupted or entangled outside of the tower both the warding spells and their own body will reflect that corruption. The Master of the Tower is not limited to strictly living inside the tower, they are free to come and go as they please. The danger in leaving the tower instead lies in the corruption of their resolve and purpose. Contact with the outside world carries with it desires that can weaken even the strongest resolve. There is only one Master of the Tower at a time - the Tower and the Master are as one. ==== Steward ==== The Steward of the Tower - for he knows no other name - is the physical manifestation of the tower spell. His strength is the strength of the current Master of the Tower in all things within the outer wards. He may not leave the tower Known only to the current Master of the Tower - the Steward was the only Master of the Tower who was able to set aside his mortal responsibilities. He did not fall under the influence of the demons and when the time came was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of his own soul to strengthen the spell that keeps the portal closed. His duty will not end until another Master of the Tower is willing to make the same sacrifice with the same purity of purpose. ==== Famous Lake Watchers ==== **Nord the Two-headed** is near the southern shore of the lake. He appears to be a giant of a man, standing over eight feet tall with the distinct of having two heads. Passersby say that the right head if often speaking to itself, while the left head says the same thing backwards. **The High King** is on a spear in the northeast part of the lake. He would be indistinguishable from all of the other corpses except for the gem-encrusted crown on his head and sword that he waves around. At night he is quiet, but during the day he can be heard faintly calling for his mount. **The Lady of the Lake** is one of the few corpses that has not withered, in fact she appears to a young and very beautiful woman just in the bloom of her womanhood. He body move and jerks lustily upon the spear that is thrust through her backside and out her sternum. She calls out to any young men nearby promising them and endless night of lust should that but free her. ==== Others ==== There is nothing to stop a Master of the Tower from inviting others into the tower. Many of the Masters have allowed visitors within the walls - a few even brought along servants or slaves to see to their needs. Outsiders within the tower carries a grave risk to the unity of purpose required by the Master of the Tower. Given their longevity, the Master will outlive any friends or family they bring with them - often living into the age of their children's children. All contact with the outside has the potential to corrupt, but physical and emotional contact with others of their kind is the most problematic. {{tag>holding bornheim}}