look statue -- This rock-hewn statuette, worn by the elements, is the seated representation of Hav'roth, god of the spirits of rock and stone. A cobra is draped across Hav'roth's arm, its tongue extended towards a viper curled in his lap. This patron of the S'kra Mur is also worshipped by those who till the soil.

[Ratha, Greater Cobra Road]
A small shrine in the shape of a cobra, its hood flared wide, sits to one side. Bits of feathers and fragments of skin show the remains of small animals sacrificed for one reason or another -- to gain favor perhaps, or to give thanks for some minor success in life.

Formed in the shape of a cobra with its hood spread wide, the shrine is old and worn. The colors have long-since faded and the sharp-chiseled features have taken on a rounded softness, as of something seen through a thin haze.

[Forest of Night, Broken Shrine]
The forest pulls aside to give plenty of room to the tiny building that occupies this clearing. Made of granite and black-veined gray marble, it seems a wonder that anything could have shattered it. Grass and moss grows out of the cracked stones, and the darkened doorway of its entrance gapes open in slack-jawed awe.
Obvious paths: north, southwest.

look door -- The shrine appears to have been beautiful once, but is now roofless and empty. Perhaps people came here to worship gods in a long gone time, but now the only living things that come here are squirrels and ravens.

[Forest of Night, Inner Shrine]
Here, more than anywhere else in the forest, the sky is visible. Through the gloom you can make out an altar resting against the northmost wall, and the places where the tiles that once covered the floor have been pulled up to let grass poke through.
Obvious paths: out.

The altar is splashed with a dark fluid that looks fresh. The front and sides have vipers carved into them, along with the names of Ushnish and Hav'roth in several different languages.

[Muspar'i, Golden Heights]
Several twisting passages meet in a labyrinthine tangle at the crest of the hill, where a steep cliff prohibits further progress to the south. Mournful gusts of wind sweep showers of fine sand across the crumbling remains of buildings left to bake in the merciless sun. One ancient stone construct, alone maintaining some semblance of its former glory, stands apart at the edge of the precipice.
Obvious paths: north, northeast, east, west.

look construct -- This block of stone, much of its features and carved artwork worn away by the battering of Velaka's winds, stands by itself near the edge of a precipice. Faint and barely discernible images of snakes, shallow indentations that perhaps once held adorning gemstones, and scattered offerings around its base all indicate that this construct serves, or once served, as an altar.

Sacred icons and ancient gold triptychs adorn the polished sandalwood shelves behind the ruby and gold altar of Hav'roth. Smoky strands of pungent incense drift out of censers placed around the altar to hang lazily in mid-air. Lofty tracery windows climb up the wall behind the iconic stands to the base of the semidome above, letting light flood across the altar.
Obvious exits: southeast.

The body of the altar is built of smooth green soapstone panels framed in heavily scrolled gold. Statuettes of writhing cobras are set at the four corners of the altar, each having been carved from a single huge ruby.

look semi -- A skillful mural of Hav'roth has been painted upon the inside of the semi-dome above the tracery windows. Opals and rubies set in the artwork shine forth from the scene of the god standing in the desert among a wealth of gems and precious metals.

Looking through the tracery windows you see...
[Temple of Hav'roth, Hidden Grotto]
A strange site in the harsh desert, a lush green grove of life lurks behind the temple. Colorful lichens mottle boulders that tumble between the tall and healthy cedar trees, which shade the ground of the grotto. Thick ferns cluster around a small pond fed from some unseen spring and palm-like shrubs sprout around the base of the cedars.
Obvious exits: none.

[Temple of Light, Alcove of Peri'el]
A marble statue of a S'kra woman, graceful arm bent to her harp as she sits before a recumbent dragon, fills the center of the chamber. Lame and half-blind, she seems oddly peaceful as she sings her eternal song pausing only to sprinkle sand on the sleeping dragon. A niche in one of the walls holds several conch shells. Marble benches line the smooth marble walls, giving people a place to sit while admiring the statue. You also see a smooth marble arch.
Obvious exits: none.

The arch is topped with a detailed carving of a sleeping dragon, but otherwise smooth and plain.

[Temple of Darkness, Ushnish's Alcove]
Carnelian bands of gypsum twist like snakes in the floor here, writhing as they move up to the statue of Ushnish at the back of the room. The granite statue of the god of treacherous rage is uncharacteristically calm in this carving, his serpentine eyes gazing quietly down and his hands folded in front of him as he clasps his famous iron-shod staff. There is a deep sense of solitude here, as if the alcove were located miles below the earth.

Obvious exits: west.
look statue -- Smiling perpetually, Ushnish has probably never been calmer than he is in this odd and highly detailed portrayal of him. The staff he holds -- named Indakar-grkhh'a -- is a replica of the real one, which is said to cause the earth to split and shake when it is struck against the ground.

[Forest of Night, Blackfruit Tree]
A wide clearing of bare, black earth lies before you, in the center of which grows a tall blackfruit tree. A small altar rests in front of the tree, and a smoking censer releases a heavy perfume into the air. The silence here is unnatural, and the back of your neck prickles with the heavy foreboding that permeates the air.
Obvious paths: east, northwest.

The altar sits in the shade of the tree and is covered with images of vipers and adders. A smoking censer sits upon it, its incense thick and stifling.

The censer is made of bronze and holes have been punched into its top, creating a pattern that greatly resembles a serpent.

The tree is squat, its branches a dark brownish-red color, its leaves a deep, glossy green. Half-formed fruit grow upon its branches, and a pile of mulch has been scooped up around the trunk.

[Shrine of Ushnish]
In a dark, fetid alley, hard behind the Viper's Nest Inn, you happen upon a small shrine. Kicking away what appears to be rubbish from around it, you reveal a sculpted granite image of the serpent god Ushnish. Seeing that, you realize with a shudder that it is not rubbish you just pushed aside, but offerings of dead rats, uncured, fresh skins and other offal left by devotees of the viper-headed deity.
Obvious paths: out.

look image - You behold the graven image of the God of Discord, Disease and Famine, the Lord Ushnish, negative aspect of Hav'roth and patron deity of the S'kra Mur. His body is half humanoid-half snake, with the pointed, fanged head of a viper ready to strike.

Veins of gold and precious gems glitter from the walls of the cave, reflecting what little light exists here. In the center of the cave, a statue of a S'kra Mur male has been sculpted from the stalagmites which litter the floor of the cavern, scorning any foreign marble or granite. A stone cobra rears up before him, hood spread wide and fangs bared in a sibilant hiss of wind. You also see a black arch and a white arch.
Obvious exits: down.

Carved from the largest of many stalagmites which litter the cavern floor, the rugged statue of Hav'roth seems to survey his domain approvingly. Before him, carved from a shorter stalagmite, a cobra rears up protectively.

A black arch reads:
May Ushnish's ire not focus on me, nor on my family, that disease and famine may pass us by. May he spare our town from his wrath, lest lava flow and floods strike down.
Your vision blurs as you pass through the arch, and you see...
The earth writhes beneath your feet, angry red lines of lava seeping across your path. A shifting S'kra Mur hisses balefully at you as a viper curls slowly about his shoulders. With a shudder of revulsion, you hurry on.

A white arch reads:
Softly sing out praises to Peri'el, whose gentle voice lulls the World Dragon in his eternal slumber.
Your vision blurs as you pass through the arch, and you see...
Sea shells lie scattered upon a beach, the splashing waves mingling with a distant singing in a soothing melody. Upon the sand, a king snake lies coiled, its unwinking gaze meeting yours before returning to its slumber in the sunlight as you continue on.

Six carved columns of pale marble support an enormous vaulted ceiling. Silvery sand covers the floor, while an enormous dragon, carved of smoky black quartz, lies in the center of the room. The unknown artist who carved the creature depicted it asleep, curled about a jasper globe. Next to it sits a white marble statue of a S'kra Mur woman of twisted body yet serene expression. An open flame burns on an altar on a raised dais near the globe.
Obvious exits: up.

look dragon -- Smokey quartz glitters in the dim light, which reflects off the carved surface like tiny sparks of flame. The dragon is curled possessively around the jasper globe, its head resting atop the orb as it sleeps. (i find it amusing that when one tries to open the dragon, it's locked)

look statue -- The statue, carved from fine white marble, depicts a S'kra Mur woman. Her face is disfigured by the empty socket of her left eye, her right leg is twisted beneath the folds of her gown. Yet despite her wounds, her expression is serene as she plays her golden harp. Water flows someplace nearby, the rippling noise echoing musically throughout the cavern, as though the statue was playing. A black onyx king snake coils at the feet of the woman, its emerald eyes unwinking in the flickering light.

look dais -- Flames flicker atop a small altar which has been placed just beneath the head of the sleeping dragon. The raised dais is high enough to give a closer view of the carved quartz dragon.

go dais
[Wyvern Mountain, Raised Dais]
The view atop the raised dais is impressive, gazing into the dragon's yawning maw. The artist faceted each individual dragon scale on the smokey black quartz beast, causing them to glitter as they reflect the light. Flames flicker above a white marble altar, though neither wick nor candle may be seen. The overall impression is one of awe, and perhaps... fear.
Obvious exits: down.

Excerpt from "A Book of Anlasaen" (MelBA) Aesry library:

Peri'el's Watch -- Midday approaches, the dragon is said to stir. Peri'el renews her singing to lull him. At this anlas it was customary to take a moment to give an offering of appreciation and thanks to her dedication. A gem is believed to be the choice of the most devout, although a simple stone is said to be appreciated as a token.

Festival items:

• a silver kathla of ten exquisitely carved agate panels that depict events surrounding the life of Hav'roth (look) The S'Kra Mur's patron deity, Hav'roth, is depicted on these panels in scenes from tales surrounding his life. He is shown leading a lengthy, slow-moving caravan across the desert, and turning the water of a fountain at Ak'tai'la into gems as it trickles through his fingers. In another, he uses his ring-encrusted tail to soundly whip a foolish merchant who reduces his customers to grinding poverty. - First Shard Festival - Banabu Garam's tent

• a gold cobra charm (look) The soft lustre of the fine gold gleams, the details of the cobra's hood and face delicately crafted. The eyes are made from amber cat's-eye stones, and appear to watch your every move. A gold cobra charm reads: "Love, Honor, Pride my Rock, Stone, Earth: Hav'roth's treasure in me abide, my worth." - Web Festival - Pyff's tent

• an oaken icon of the god Hav'roth (look) A dark-skinned S'Kra Mur stands before a silhouette of distant mountains. In his left hand is an open purse of gems, while his right hand is raised in friendly admonition. - Fest Of Eluned - Iormethani's Godly Objects

• a gold medallion symbolizing dedication to Hav'roth (look) Etched into the face of the medallion is the god Hav'roth, in his S'Kra form. He is standing high atop a rocky mountain cliff, his hand held out in front of him as sand and rocks filter through. Slithering around his waist are a cobra, a king snake, and a viper. - Ice Fest - Gods Tent

• a scrimshawed ivory pendant hand-etched with the image of a coiled cobra -- Etched deeply into the ivory is the figure of a huge cobra tightly coiled around a glittering lump of gold. - Jaal Jeraya - Altared Visions

• a small conch shell (look) A king snake carved from a glossy black mineral entwines around the shell, its mouth parted at the opening of the shell. A small conch shell reads: "Peace, the Dragon sleeps yet to Her song." - Web Festival - Pyff's tent

• a silver-dusted cambrinth orb etched with a hooded cobra raised from tightly wound coils and poised to strike - Arthe Dale Mini-fest - Bunglefoot's Tent

• a lush green prayer mat formed of several bamboo stalks carved to resemble cobras - Temple Re-opening Fest - Sputkin's Splendors

• an oaken icon of the goddess Peri'el (look) A beautiful, sad-eyed woman with brown scales glinting in firelight sits playing a lute in a dark cavern. Silhouetted against the background is the image of an enormous dragon, its form swathed in sleep. - Fest Of Eluned - Iormethani's Godly Objects

• a vivid dragon tapestry (look) The tapestry is surmounted by a wide band depicting the World Dragon, its black wings outstretched as its brilliant red eyes glare at some unseen foe. Below it, a hollow globe occupies the center of the fabric. Within the globe, the goddess Peri'el sits beside the sleeping dragon, lulling it to sleep with her golden harp. In the background, various scenes of battles between the Dragon and the Immortals are displayed. - Theren Fest

• a crystal-dusted cambrinth orb etched with the icon of a large king snake coiled loosely around a lyre - Arthe Dale Mini-fest - Bunglefoot's Tent

• a jewel-tone peacock feather prayer rug beaded with tiny emerald king snakes along the edges - Temple Re-opening Fest - Sputkin's Splendors

• an onyx-dusted cambrinth orb etched with a viper calmly viewing a vast abyss spewing forth fire - Arthe Dale Mini-fest - Bunglefoot's Tent

• a rough green burlap prayer mat embroidered with a serpentine river of brilliant orange lava -- When viewed closely, the embroidered river bears a striking resemblance to a livid orange viper, complete with a pair of curving ivory fangs. - Temple Re-opening Fest - Sputkin's Splendors

• an oaken icon of the god Ushnish (look) A tall, frowning figure more like a tree than a man or woman stands with arms extended, fingers splayed. About its feet gather crawling, whimpering creatures labeled Pestilence, Famine, Flood and Old Age. - Fest Of Eluned - Iormethani's Godly Objects

Altered Items:

Misc:

Misenseor Abbey, High Altar Chamber Columns
a bronze Ushnish etching (sold in Temple of Darkness in Shard) will have the same look as this column
You tap the Ushnish column. - A tiny village sits upon a rise overlooking a bleak barren landscape. A small group of figures go about the solemn task of carrying the lifeless bodies of those who have passed away during the night to a large smoldering fire. Watching, a woman leans against a doorway for support as she stares mournfully upon the procession with the sunken wild eyes of one who knows their fate.

prayer
You see: You mutter a prayer to Hav'roth to steady and strengthen you.
Others see: Mellisandre mutters a prayer and appears to grow calm.

Constellations:

The Cobra is the symbol of Hav'Roth, god of the spirits of rock and stone. Visible only during the Spring, it is the first third of the Great Snake, a belt of stars which encircles the Elanthian skies in all seasons but winter.

The King Snake is the middle third of the Great Snake, and symbol of Peri'el, goddess of the inner earth.

viper - ?

Hav'Roth Statue, Crossings, Merchant Apartments 3rd floor

Above it, recessed in a small alcove of one sandstone wall, a small statue of Hav'roth reclines upon a square-cut throne.
look statue - The statue is made of brass, while the throne is olive-shot marble. Hav'roth is depicted wearing the diadem Pywydde, said to be cut from a single sapphire at the time the night was made. His extended hands hold a sphere, symbolizing his domain, and a flail, symbolizing the control of his forces.

[Silhouette Forest, Rubbish Pit]

Thick with the acrid smell of decay, the air stirs little. A tight circle of trees, their branches intermingling to form a nearly impenetrable wall, surrounds the source of the nauseating stench -- piles of rubbish, organic and otherwise, lay rotting and discarded in the center of a shallow depression in the ground. Goblets of olive-colored slime fester beneath the heaps, attracting hordes of flies and biting insects. Tacked to one of the blackened trees is a wooden serpent. You also see a litter-strewn trail.
Obvious paths: northeast.

look serpent -- Curled in the general shape of the letter 'B,' the snake is decorated with zigzags and stripes of red and brown.
There appears to be something written on it.
A wooden serpent reads:
Tanu Ush'nish La Dikka Tanusami.

Peri'el Prayer Gate, Aesry

look snake -- The golden form of the king snake rears into the air above the prayer gate, its hood flared and its ruby-red eyes gleaming.
You bow to the king snake, and the sound of a soft, sibilant voice singing a lullaby fills your ears.

The prayer gate is a large, thick arch which straddles the road and provides shelter from the elements. Built from a glossy black stone and inlaid in gold with images of snakes and musical instruments, the arch is a centerpiece of Surlaenis culture.

[Aesry Surlaenis'a, Beneath the Prayer Gate]
Patterns of light bloom within the glossy black stone of the prayer gate's walls. Etched in gold on one side, a wounded S'Kra Mur woman sings to a sleeping dragon, her tail held gently above her ankles. On the other side, the same woman holds a sleeping S'Kra Mur baby in her arms, her tail undulating in the air.

[Muspar'i, Carousel Entryway]

The dim lighting does little to eclipse a gem-studded frieze impressed into thick clay and limestone walls of this sheltered relief. The air is frigid with chill, warm lanterns offering little reprieve from the merciless desert night. An impressive mosaic of miniature tiles forms the cool floor, arrayed into the menacing image of a king cobra. Suspended overhead, countless gears, pulleys and weights form the strikingly complex and beautiful mechanism that drives the Carousel. You also see a uniformed Dwarven attendant, some tiled steps, a platinum arch, a sapphire arch, a ruby arch, an emerald arch, and an arched opening.

look frieze -- A mass of interwoven writhing snakes forms a sinuous pattern along the wall, tiny red rubies coalescing into eyes and forked tongues, their reflections dancing along the tiled floor, twinkling eyes seemingly winking at you.

Calabria looks up from her work with a smile and says, "Usssed to be only the highborn carried thessse, but nowdaysss everyone wantsss to pretend to be what they aren't, it ssseemsss. It'sss a pretty blade -- dark red wood in the hilt with gold filigree inlay to keep the hand from ssslipping. The blade isss etched with the image of a golden harp sssurrounded by flamesss, in honour of the Lady Peri'el asss sssingsss the dragon to sssleep. My catalog has more information, on page 1."

Web Festival:
[Northeast Wilds, Festival Grounds]
The push and bustle of the Festival encircles the many tents and carts that form the tiny, mercurial city. In the center of all the rush and hustle is a small bubble of solitude, where an effigy of Peri'el has been raised in grave tribute to the Sleeping Dragon. Some of the S'Kra Mur peasantry stop to kneel solemnly before it, giving homage to their goddess.

Memorial Rock to Peri'el, Crossings, Dintacui Apartments 3rd Floor

A large rock reads:
My family and I survived the voyage to this land, with Peri'el's assistance. May we prosper, and may you do the same!

Peri'el Icon, Crossings, Merchant Apartments 1st floor

Underneath a glowstone, a small wooden icon of Peri'el rests upon a sandstone lip.
look icon - Painted on a flat, square piece of oak wood, this image of Peri'el shows her wearing a blue cowl flecked with stars. She sings to the accompaniment of an ivory lyre.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Mhalush Rotunda]

A tall statue of Mhalush stands upon an elaborate pedestal in the center of the rotunda. Light streams into the room through an encircling band of windows just below the level of the dome above. Vibrant murals depicting scenes from the life of Mhalush fill the gaps between the heavy ribs of the dome overhead. A small balcony hangs over the open passage leading further into the temple. You also see some paneled doors leading out.
Obvious exits: northwest.

look statue -- The enrobed figure of the sad-eyed Mhalush stands resolutely upon the pedestal, pointing the way forward for his people.

look mural -- The mural depicts Mhalush's horror at the death of his brother, Zaarin, at the hands of Dhrakhh. Hav'roth's angry visage stares down upon the scene from the background, and a weeping Peri'el is shown descending toward the shocked Norayaz.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Grand Gallery]

Columns of green marble carved into the shape of spiraling serpents look far too slender to support their loads as they shoot up to the wide ribbed vault ceiling high above. Rose windows along the sides of the gallery have been crafted in an ancient style that combines myriad unrelated pieces of stained glass into a single image. Frescoes painted beneath the round frames bring welcome colors into the gallery. A screened panel placed in a corner looks oddly out of place.
Obvious exits: north, southeast, west, northwest.

look window -- The colored panes of the window swirl about in a varied pattern that come together in the center of the window's area to form an image of the temple itself, with glass rays of sunlight shining down upon it.

look fresco -- The colorful painting depicts the creation of the S'Kra Mur. Ushnish is shown elevating the race from base creatures. Hav'roth stands in the center of a group of S'Kra, instilling them with intelligence and learning. Per'iel completes the transformation, teaching them the gifts of the tail.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Chamber of Life]

Soft, gentle light fills the domed chamber, but no source of illumination is visible. In the middle of the room stands a circular raised stone dais padded with a large stitched mattress to rest upon before venturing back into the world. From somewhere out of sight one can faintly hear the sounds of a tranquil song.
Obvious exits: east, south.

look dais -- Odd symbols carved into the stone sides completely ring the structure, but defy interpretation.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Southeast Semidome]

The entry of the main chamber of the temple is so vast as to give one the impression that they have stepped out of the building. Two thick pillars support the semidome ceiling, which rises up to a breathtaking height. Multi-colored light filters down to the floor from a band of stained glass windows beneath the semidome's edge. Thick red velvet rugs are carefully arranged on the floor for worshippers to observe the more elaborate ceremonies performed in the grand rotunda.
Obvious exits: north, southeast, west, northwest.

look pillar -- Two of the fundamental pillars of the temple stand mutely at the junction of this semidome with its adjacent partners, supporting each in turn. The octagonal supports have been painstakingly carved with a highly stylized bas-relief script of prayers that runs up the entire height of the column in an unbroken train to the enormous domes above. look semi -- The pristine white inner surface has been highlighted with a pattern of stars made of gold leaf that sparkle with inset diamonds, arranged into a representation of the constellation known as the Cobra.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Southwest Semidome]

Shadows seem to linger in the corners, unwilling to surrender to the plentiful light found within the main chamber of the temple. A dark fresco adorns the curved interior face of the semidome above a band of stained glass windows formed mostly of deep red and purple panes. The black and red patterned tile floor is nearly covered over with thick black velvet rugs for worshipers to seat themselves on for the temple's ceremonies.
Obvious exits: northeast, east.

look semi -- A detailed mural of Ushnish is painted upon the inside of the semidome far above. Purplish-red garnets and panels of glossy black obsidian inlay highlight the scene of the god standing with fearsome eyes blazing in the middle of a panorama of natural disasters.

look floor -- Carefully placed black and red tiles wind their way in a dizzying pattern across the floor. The thick velvet rugs look plushly inviting, and obscure the design of the tile in large swathes of deep black.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Grand Rotunda]

Four great pillars, each supporting a marble hemisphere, stand watch over the rotunda. The round floor stretching between them has been inscribed with a single huge geometric design set beneath a thick layer of glass. Multi-hued light fills the space, streaming down from an uncountable number of stained glass windows to reflect back up off the floor. High above the polished floor, the immense ivory expanse of the dome seems too large to be supported by the pillars and semidomes that hold it up.
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest.

look pillar -- The four massive octagonal main pillars of the temple each look strong enough to support the heavens above. Each has been painstakingly carved with a highly stylized bas-relief script of prayers that runs up the entire height of the column in an unbroken train to the enormous domes above.

look dome -- A dark jade band of stylized snakes encircles the lower edge of the vast dome, just above a ring of illuminating stained glass windows. The very top of the otherwise unmarred ivory dome is thickly studded with an array of colorful gems in a wild starburst design. The flaring arms of the gemstone explosion rain down the sides of the dome in swirls of color that sparkle with reflected light.

look design -- Gold highlights stand out in the patterned red and white circles and arcs interspersed with straight lines upon a field of green. Symbols made from the dust of crushed gems are scattered throughout the pattern at carefully calculated positions. The quadrilateral division of the circles and lines in the pattern is not unlike the plan of the temple itself.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Northeast Semidome]

A large fresco of Per'iel on the inside of the semidome looks out towards the grand rotunda past the two massive pillars that frame this portion of the great central chamber. A band of stained glass windows made predominately of green and turquoise colored panes fills the area with a cool light. Thick rugs of jade-colored velvet lie scattered across the tiled floor, ready to cushion the knees of worshippers.
Obvious exits: south, southwest.

look pillar -- Two of the fundamental pillars of the temple stand mutely at the junction of this semidome with its adjacent partners, supporting each in turn. The octagonal supports have been painstakingly carved with a highly stylized bas-relief script of prayers that runs up the entire height of the column in an unbroken train to the enormous domes above.

look semi -- A loving mural of Per'iel on the inside of the semidome shows her singing her eternal lullaby within the warm embrace of Elanthia's depths. Lapis lazuli and turquoise set between panels of jade on the fresco catch the light of the room, making the painting seem more alive.

[Temple of Hav'roth, Bell Tower]

A narrow walkway extends around the perimeter of the round tower, allowing access to the big bronze bell that hangs in the middle. Daylight reflects back up into the tower from the golden-tiled domes of the temple. Beyond the tower, the roofs of the city stretch out to the south and east, while the palace glitters to the southwest, and the vermin-infested hovels of the Golden Heights sprawl in the northwest. You also see a deobar ladder.
Obvious exits: none.

look bell -- Flowing S'Kra characters are inscribed into the dull bronze around the base of the massive bell. Above the dedication, intaglio figures dance and cavort around the bell, singing out their praise to the heavens. There appears to be something written on it. A large bronze bell reads: "Bring forth your richest blessings upon our world, O mighty Hav'roth."

[Crossing Temple, Tower Tunnels]

The walls of this passage are constructed from large blocks of riverstone. Spider webs hang like fishermen's nets from the walls and ceiling, ready to catch unwary prey. Torch sconces, covered with corrosion and clinging precariously to the walls, once gave warmth and light to the tunnel; now they rest in cold silence. The chill stone of the passage exudes a dull dreariness, creating a sense of loneliness and abandonment. You also see a copper-banded door.
Obvious exits: northeast.

The once brightly polished torch sconce, forged in the image of a coiled cobra, has fallen prey to the ravages of time and corrosion. Small spider webs drape the sconce in a sticky veil, dangerous to small insects, a nuisance to most other creatures.

Aesry, Old S'kra Mur lady

"In the old days, we sat singing hand in hand, face to face," the S'Kra woman chants, "we sang chorus with Peri'el we did, as one, and with our tunes the old serpent stayed sleeping."

The woman hums softly and begins to sway, her hand reaching out to grasp at the air. Her eyes meet yours and she stops, and whispers, "Singing the songs was my whole life."

The S'Kra woman gazes off into the distance and whispers aloud, "Aye, I was going to be a Sister and sing the ceremonial songs with the best of them, I was."

The woman breaks into a wide smile, "Aye! They were grand, only the best can sing with them!" She blushes a dark green color and stammers, "I am not bragging, not me!"

an excerpt from "Spring Serenade" By: Saesealm Faoilean

What would be the strong of us
Without the Cobra's bite?
And what would be the joy of us
'Less crowned with gems and light?
Thus at the noon of day
And 'neath the hot sun's glare,
We celebrate the strength of steel,
Beauties and treasures rare.
Summer's praise we chant
The earth's sweet fruits we carry
We honor Hav'roth's precious gifts
With a beryl and a berry!

Oh, with a beryl and a berry
And a kiss, we long to tarry--
For summer's fire burns bright and strong
The days again are long!

Listen...

Elanthians hear
the tale often told
How the world we love
weathered great woes
The Immortals conjoined
to keep from the cold
The wide world
with its wondrous moons,
The strong sun itself
safe from spoil.

Their courage count great
their efforts immense
Guardians of all peoples
guide to this day
The wyrd of the world
safe for a while.

Each played his part:
hear now of Peri'el's.

Soft slept in a cave,
in a cradle cavern
Peri'el counted her crystal
as it formed for the world
Cocooned in a crevice,
Peri'el dwelled
Surrounded by beauties
unborn to the world.

Drew delight in the colors
and crystaline shapes,
Infinitely sweet
she sang to the earth
Coaxing forth song-shaped
pieces of joy
Pyrite and diamonds,
idocrasse, cerussite,
Tourmaline, celandine,
Hav'roth's toys.

Then came the Dragon....

Moved on the surface
the shape of sound
Wings o'er the world,
like a sigh in the trees
A sound-storm gathered,
as the Dragon descended.
Swifly the fire-drake
sought fuel for Its heart
Cracked open the heavens,
blotted the stars.

Its moon-shell falling
plummeting down
Elanthia flooded.
The Immortals amazed
Called forth to battle
kindled to war
The skies scorched
Elanthia flamed
All burning in battle
the Dragon came.

Then came the Dragon....

War-wrath of Truffenyi,
stirred by the scorch-storm,
Immortals sword-swinging
a terrible toil
To wrestle the world
from the dragon-devourer.
A week they warred
weary but willful,
The fire still unquenched,
the Dragon unquelled.

The battle abated,
the Dragon still lived.
Weary the Dragon,
weary the warriors
Many were worried
the world itself died.
Phelim angered
ambushed the Dragon
Sanded Its eyes.

Then slept the storm-worm,

Though the Dragon was bound,
disaster was dealt,
The World was bereft,
fire drained to its depth.

Peri'el warrior,
eyeless and useless
Crippled in combat,
no rune could restore,
No magic remake her,
no salve should save her.
Endured to endure
the dark world's death.
So softly she sang,
singing she swept
Her hair from her face
and single, pale eye.

Peri'el pointed --
the silent serpent
Would warm the world
with Its wing.
Clearly she cried
in a voice that could vibrate
The earth itself
to order and shape,
'Bury the beast
in the heart of the earth
'Let Its fire
return what it took!'

A new lair they gave It,
the Dragon they covered
In a cold cavern
Peri'el found
In the heart of the earth
its heart It became
The hot-serpent slept
as Peri'el sang.

Phelim's sands she scattered
swift if It stirred,
Lullabye lured
the Dragon to lay
Slumbering still
It sleeps to her voice,
Her voice clear
as the quartz she once made.

She sings It the heavens
she sings It the soil
She sings It the wonders
buried below
She sings It the stars
faint but still falling
She sings the fire of her heart
and her soul.

Thus sleeps the Dragon....

Put your ear to this shell,
thus Peri'el soothes It
It slumbers and warms us
we rest on Its wing.

Listen oh children
she sings to It still
In the breathing sleep
of a babe
Or a loved one,
in a sea-shell
Or shush of the sea,
you might hear
How Peri'el put aside
singing bright stones....

You say with quiet finality, "To sing soft the heart of the warm world."