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.

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 Ancient Dwarf and 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 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.

These towers would have stood for all of time, but the actions of the Kinslayer War and 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.

The Master of the Tower must be a sapient mortal capable of drawing upon the power of the 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.

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

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.