2.7 KiB
type, region, danger
| type | region | danger |
|---|---|---|
| location | Various | Medium to Extreme |
Seal Anchor
Overview
One of seven obsidian obelisks placed across Aethrune by the First Sages to bind the Primordial Wrath. Each anchor is approximately 30-40 feet tall, covered in First Sage runes that glow faintly with elemental energy. When stable, the runes pulse in a slow, steady rhythm. When disturbed, the runes flicker erratically and elemental energy bleeds from cracks in the obelisk, warping the surrounding environment.
Known Anchors
| # | Location | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastmarch hilltop | Damaged (Arc 1) | Weakened by cult rituals |
| 2 | Valhold Undercroft | Cracked (Arc 1 climax) | Ritual interrupted by party |
| 3 | Ironheart Mine | Cracked (Arc 2) | Under cult siege |
| 4 | Sunken Spire | Cracked (Arc 2) | Coastal anchor |
| 5 | Thronewood | Stable | Hidden; location known to Verdant Circle |
| 6 | Citadel of Sundering | Stable | Deepest anchor, hardest to reach |
| 7 | Heart of the Mountain | Stable | Guarded by Dragon Lords directly |
Effects of Instability
When a seal anchor cracks, the surrounding region experiences:
- Unnatural weather (elemental storms, temperature swings, acid rain)
- Increased elemental creature activity
- Minor reality warps (gravity fluctuations, time loops, spatial distortions)
- Corruption of local wildlife and people (aggression, mutation, madness)
When all seven crack, the Primordial Wrath is freed.
Ritual Interaction
- Cult Rituals: The The Hand of Ruin uses sacrificial blood magic to crack seals. Requires 3+ cultists and a Witness or higher-rank leader. Takes 3-7 days of continuous ritual to fully crack a seal.
- Rite of Seven Flames: The Dragon Lords' unified breath weapon, channeled through the Emberheart, can either reinforce or shatter a seal. Requires at minimum 3 Dragon Lords.
- Druidic Stabilization: The Verdant Circle knows rituals to temporarily stabilize a cracked seal (prevents further cracking but doesn't repair damage). Takes 1 hour, 100 gp in materials.
First Sage Runes
The runes on each anchor are written in the language of the First Sages (a dialect of Primordial). Key rune meanings:
| Rune | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ⟳ (spiral) | Binding / imprisonment |
| ⧖ (hourglass over flame) | Eternal vigilance |
| ⚠ (triangle with eye) | Warning / sealed danger |
| ⤴ (rising from circle) | The sealed entity |
| ⧃ (seven-pointed star) | The Pact of Seven Flames |
Elder Ylara Moongrove can read these runes. Librarian Thessa at the The Silent College knows the full translation of the original binding ritual.