Ekk'naeor-Thrand

It is strange to see such a powerful temple brought to ruins. And yet, there seems not to be any form of true ruination at its core. The spires that rise above it seem to match those across the whole Dolvalyn Wastes, but its ivory design is something greatly unique to the temple. I hope to explore it further before we leave it to its ruin.

— Princeps Fynas Dolvalyn's Journal

Ekk'naeor-Thrand, also known as the Bonesplitter's Fist, is a temple dedicated to The Faceless One based in the Dolvalyn Wastes. It is said to have been created at some point during The Shatter, but has now been occupied by members of a developing cult.

Description

Ekk'naeor-Thrand seems to resemble a skeletal hand reaching into the sky, five almost bone-like protrusions reaching as spires into the sky, however, it used to resemble a fist, a grasp of skeletal design, with plates of ivory lining its frame. It sits around 100 feet wide, 120 feet deep, and for the base temple easily three stories tall.

The five spires that reach like fingers started as battlements atop the towers of the temple standing only two or three feet tall. During The Shatter, people noticed the gradual increase in size, finding they had risen to at least 20 feet tall, currently they stand a further 35 feet tall at 55 feet. These have been cored out to create a set of usable towers for those occupying the temple. This added 5 stories of additional storage, battlements, and bedrooms per tower, creating a vast space that is still growing, very slowly.

The interior walls are continued of this ivory-like material, with glass and chains lining different parts of the main interiors. Furniture has changed over time, but during its first incarnation it seemed to be made of a thick metal and dark chains with spikes accenting much of the decor. Several carvings seem to line the walls, with various faces and gemstones embedded into the ivory-material. During dawn and dusk, the temple seems to have a dark haze that shrouds it from view in the wastelands around it.

Ekk'naeor-Thrand

General Information

Also Known As	Bonesplitter's Fist
Type	Temple, Ruin

Occupant Information

Patron Deity

Pundras

Location Information

Plane	Material Plane (Nonvyrox)
Continent	Ossalimar
Region	Dolvalyn Wastes

History

The Shatter

The creation of Ekk'naeor-Thrand is linked closely with Dalstock Prison. Created at some point in the final 500 years of The Shatter, Dalstock Prison was a camp primarily for those linked with Pundras that were unfaithful, Orc and Goblinoids were most prominent in the prison, but a number of other ancestries were present as they were sent there due to proximity.

Ekknaeor-Thrand was supposedly created from the skeletal plates of a large creature defeated by the strategies of Pundras. These plates and ivory were then shaped by his guidance to create a temple to last the ages. It is said that the buildings ability to naturally grow spikes was the result of both the natural elements of the creature as well as the shaping by Pundras.

From the time of its creation through to the end of The Shatter, a chosen representative of Pundras acted as the head of the worship side of the temple, with acolytes tending to its needs when the representative was away. The prison warden side was ran by either the same or a different representative. Regardless the two sides worked closely together, with high-ranking guards and management of the prison camp gathering to hear orders from Pundras in the several war rooms within Ekk'naeor-Thrand.

Dolvalyn Reclamation

After The Parting, the Dolvalyn Rebellion was becoming a stronger force in the northern part of Rand'Vor. Led by Labrivas Dolvalyn, over the next 25 years, what would become the Dolvalyn Sovereignty spent time disbanding the prison camps that lined their borders. In late 18 AR, Labrivas selected her family member Princeps Fynas Dolvalyn to lead the deconstruction of the Dalstock Prison and clearing Ekk'naeor-Thrand of religious ferver that aligns with the dark gods that had scarred the land.

By the summer of 19 AR, what remained of the prison had completely fell, prisoners having already rioted to escape the camp, leaving few guards and even fewer prisoners. The most difficult person to face was the Chosen of Pundras, Parthon Kloshk who still possessed a fragment of the divine gift given to him alongside martial prowess unlike many others, but he fell to hubris, finding his powers draining rapidly. Once they took over Fynas Dolvalyn ensured that all those who wished to could help to destroy the unholy aspects of the temple.

A significant number of former prisoners stayed within the temple with Fynas until their passing, and a small community grew outside of Ekk'naeor-Thrand, despite the wastelands around them. This community grew and eventually formed a small village that was filled with a number of people. Under the guidance of Magistrax Lorethan Hand, the village seemed to thrive for a century, but people moved on from the village, people filled with ambition to explore and leave the ancestral scars to the past.

In 382 AR, when Lorethan Hand moved back to his own ancestral home, the village slowly fell to ruin, Ekk'naeor-Thrand still standing, but in a state of disrepair, as Lorehand left, at least half of the village's houses were empty and crumbling. Only a small handful of villagers stayed in the village. By 450 AR, they had all passed on or moved away, leaving the site in a state of complete and utter abandonment.

Cultish Ambitions

In the spring of 755 AR, a collective known at the Elderix arrived at the temple, looking to use its ruins as sanctuary and a place of worship for their patron, the Flock Master. Immediately, they took all holy symbols and sculputres carving them to resemble their patron and its teachings. The leader of the group Sarthina Heelborne completed a ritual that involved the ivory-like platings that made up the exterior of the building, seemingly slowing its growth even further.

Once this ritual was complete, she began a three week communion with the Flock Master to determine their next course of actions. She completed this alone in one of the towers, becoming her Sanctuary for communion, only to be disturbed in the greatest circumstances. During this communion, the other 30 members of the collective got to work restoring the temple and village around it to give themselves a more comfortable living space.

After the communion, Sarthina returned claiming that the Flock Master needs more sheep in his flock. 6 devout members, divinely selected by the Flock Master, were given the mission to gather people to the cause of the Flock Master. the other members were to remain in the village, restore and adapt it for the coming flock. Meanwhile two couples were chosen to start attempting to birth the vessel that the Flock Master would use upon his return to the mortal plane.

As all this work was being completed, Sarthina was to spend time communing with the Flock Master and gather the components for their eventual ritual to embed him within his vessel. She began putting together these preparations in the central worship chamber of the Ekk'naeor-Thrand, siphoning some of the divine power that lay around the lands.

The Shatter

The creation of Ekk'naeor-Thrand is linked closely with Dalstock Prison. Created at some point in the final 500 years of The Shatter, Dalstock Prison was a camp primarily for those linked with Pundras that were unfaithful, Orc and Goblinoids were most prominent in the prison, but a number of other ancestries were present as they were sent there due to proximity.

Ekknaeor-Thrand was supposedly created from the skeletal plates of a large creature defeated by the strategies of Pundras. These plates and ivory were then shaped by his guidance to create a temple to last the ages. It is said that the buildings ability to naturally grow spikes was the result of both the natural elements of the creature as well as the shaping by Pundras.

From the time of its creation through to the end of The Shatter, a chosen representative of Pundras acted as the head of the worship side of the temple, with acolytes tending to its needs when the representative was away. The prison warden side was ran by either the same or a different representative. Regardless the two sides worked closely together, with high-ranking guards and management of the prison camp gathering to hear orders from Pundras in the several war rooms within Ekk'naeor-Thrand.

Dolvalyn Reclamation

After The Parting, the Dolvalyn Rebellion was becoming a stronger force in the northern part of Rand'Vor. Led by Labrivas Dolvalyn, over the next 25 years, what would become the Dolvalyn Sovereignty spent time disbanding the prison camps that lined their borders. In late 18 AR, Labrivas selected her family member Princeps Fynas Dolvalyn to lead the deconstruction of the Dalstock Prison and clearing Ekk'naeor-Thrand of religious ferver that aligns with the dark gods that had scarred the land.

By the summer of 19 AR, what remained of the prison had completely fell, prisoners having already rioted to escape the camp, leaving few guards and even fewer prisoners. The most difficult person to face was the Chosen of Pundras, Parthon Kloshk who still possessed a fragment of the divine gift given to him alongside martial prowess unlike many others, but he fell to hubris, finding his powers draining rapidly. Once they took over Fynas Dolvalyn ensured that all those who wished to could help to destroy the unholy aspects of the temple.

A significant number of former prisoners stayed within the temple with Fynas until their passing, and a small community grew outside of Ekk'naeor-Thrand, despite the wastelands around them. This community grew and eventually formed a small village that was filled with a number of people. Under the guidance of Magistrax Lorethan Hand, the village seemed to thrive for a century, but people moved on from the village, people filled with ambition to explore and leave the ancestral scars to the past.

In 382 AR, when Lorethan Hand moved back to his own ancestral home, the village slowly fell to ruin, Ekk'naeor-Thrand still standing, but in a state of disrepair, as Lorehand left, at least half of the village's houses were empty and crumbling. Only a small handful of villagers stayed in the village. By 450 AR, they had all passed on or moved away, leaving the site in a state of complete and utter abandonment.

Cultish Ambitions

In the spring of 755 AR, a collective known at the Elderix arrived at the temple, looking to use its ruins as sanctuary and a place of worship for their patron, the Flock Master. Immediately, they took all holy symbols and sculputres carving them to resemble their patron and its teachings. The leader of the group Sarthina Heelborne completed a ritual that involved the ivory-like platings that made up the exterior of the building, seemingly slowing its growth even further.

Once this ritual was complete, she began a three week communion with the Flock Master to determine their next course of actions. She completed this alone in one of the towers, becoming her Sanctuary for communion, only to be disturbed in the greatest circumstances. During this communion, the other 30 members of the collective got to work restoring the temple and village around it to give themselves a more comfortable living space.

After the communion, Sarthina returned claiming that the Flock Master needs more sheep in his flock. 6 devout members, divinely selected by the Flock Master, were given the mission to gather people to the cause of the Flock Master. the other members were to remain in the village, restore and adapt it for the coming flock. Meanwhile two couples were chosen to start attempting to birth the vessel that the Flock Master would use upon his return to the mortal plane.

As all this work was being completed, Sarthina was to spend time communing with the Flock Master and gather the components for their eventual ritual to embed him within his vessel. She began putting together these preparations in the central worship chamber of the Ekk'naeor-Thrand, siphoning some of the divine power that lay around the lands.

Layout

The main temple is divided into two sections. The first is an area for worship sitting at around 60 feet deep and 100 feet across, with two rooms that cut outthe front space of the temple, coming in as 20 feet squares. These side rooms were used as clerical studies for the primary clerics of the temple. In the back was originally the home of prison leaders, possessing a number of barracks, armories, and war rooms. It comprises a double story house with several cluttered rooms in the interior.

The towers possess a mix of bedrooms, washrooms, and both common and militia storage. The towers layout depends on each tower, ensuring that they fit the unique contours of the growing towers. These rooms are also primarily accessible by teleportation to the unique space, as selected when somone occupied this room.

Religious Connections

The temple was originally dedicated to the worship of The Faceless One, as such their iconography lines many of the walls. The building itself seemingly blessed by their power during The Shatter. Massive busts of namless champion of Pundras used to line the halls, symbols of his worship were dotted throughtout the rooms, as both pieces of decoration, but carved into the front of every text.

However, the overt worship within the temple faltered when the temple was reclaimed by the Dolvalyn Sovereignty as the prison was decommissioned, much of the religious iconography within the temple was removed or destroyed, leaving the temple clear and open for the worship of an accepted deity. However, an alleged curse still remain upon the land of the temple, causing those who destroyed the iconography to ruen to a unique madness within 25 years.

When the Elderix took over the temple, the iconography was shifted towards the darker and more mysterious aberrant forces of the realm, with many among the Elderix's members obtaining power from these creatures. These worshippers claim to have recieved divine magic from their patron the Flock Master. There are at least two members who have discovered the abberant worship of the collective and been killed for their "heresy".

Notable Occupants

Name	Pronouns	Years Occupied	Description
Parthon Kloshk	He/Him	Last 300 Years of The Shatter to 19 AR	Dark Orc Chosen of Pundras. Parthon became a Chosen for his cruel acts of Tyranny in other parts of the world. As part of his agreement with Pundras, Parthon was made the Warden of the Dalstock Camp in the Dolvalyn Wastes. It was one of the most heavily fortified and vital prison camps on Rand'Vor, creating a sense of great pride, especially as Parthon was overseeing the prison for the Orcs and Goblinoids who discented Pundras' will. As the Warden and a Chosen of Pundras, Parthon was also in charge of Ekk'naeor-Thrand, which acted as the central hub of the prison.
Princeps Fynas Dolvalyn	They/Them	12 AR to 19 AR	Dark Elf Royalty of the Dolvalyn Sovereignty. Fynas is the grandchild of Queen Labrivas Dolvalyn's maternal grandmother. As such they possess royal blood, but defer to their Queen. From 10 AR, Fynas worked to ensure that the many prisons across their lands were closed down. He was second in command only to the Queen on this matter, as such his overtaking of Dalstock in 12 AR was seen as a great success. He remained in the temple as its caretaker until his sudden passing in 19 AR.
Magistrax Lorethan Hand	He/Him	19 AR to 382 AR	Dark Elf Militia Captain and Noble. Lorethan Hand was stationed with Fynas. Upon his death, the Queen selected Lorethan to take over the temple. As a young officer within the miitia, recieving such an opportunity allowed Lorethan to gain the title they deserved, including a noble title. Lorethan took care of the temple for the first 25 years, but decided that the post was purely ceremonials from this time. He realised that barely anyone visits, and the building and former prison site were not appealing to most people of the Sovereignty. In 382, Lorethan's father died, he abandoned his current post, and returned to his ancestral home to take up his family title. The Queen refused to name a successor to the temple, and left it abandoned in the Wastes believing the lands to be long rid of its risk to society.
Sarthina Heelborne	She/Her	755 AR	Fiendling Religious Preacher and Leader. Sarthina and a flock of 30 entered Ekk'naeor-Thrand with the intent to take control of the building for themselves. The flock gathered in the place of worship and started to adapt it for their deity, a being known only as La'ditwa'buacth, or the Flock Master. Sarthina began having the flock start changing the broken iconography into that of the Flock Master. Sarthina has taken up residence in one of the towers where she can directly commune with the deity of the collective without interruption from others.