~*| The Stone Lantern Shrine Of The Ancestors |*~
Description:
The Outlands surrounding Zinn'Sunn are known for their oddities, that much is certain. There is a good reason everything outside the gates is somewhat deemed unsafe. Wild creatures, even spirits roamed the hills and valleys, feeding the fires of speculation among the Kemite peoples who filled the city below. From the Observatory to the Tranquil Hills Floating Vineyards and Winery, the unique landscape covers a wide array of terrain and climate as it enfolds the city of Zinn'Sunn in its embrace. Low bald hills rise up from their rolling postures into steep heavily forested mountainsides. It is in these treacherous terrains that the legendary Zinn'Sunnese Darui'Torek train, live, and follow their obscure faith to Torek. It is also on these emerald slopes that small niche shrines crop up.
The Stone Lantern is one such place. No one can remember where it came from. Some claim it was always there, and yet the oldest of the old shake their head and say that no, it just appeared one day. Regardless, hundreds of feet annually brave the wilds of The Outlands and trek upwards, sometimes riding mules, sometimes the long hairy cattle Zinn'Sunn is famous for. But most just walk, drawn to The Stone Lantern and the insight it can give.
Once reached, the wise among the old say that all one need to do is offer fire to its stone heart, and speak the name of those long departed. If the souls are free to do so, they travel great distances of time and space to unite with their living upon the slopes and convey information and emotion back from the world beyond. The Kemites are big believers in the ancients ancestors being involved in all things... be it something simple such as the choice of a first residence, or something greater... a life path or the approval of a brideprice offer. Whatever the situation, folks trek up the slope from miles around, carrying precious lit candles to feed to the inner chamber, and light the lantern. It becomes a beckon to the dead, drawing them nearer, and somehow, someway feeding them the energy and lending them voice.
Such communications can be gifts. Equally though, such visits can be curses. It depends on the seeker, who answers their call, and what their needs and desires are.
Factoid: