A thousand years ago a tribe of aarakocra lived on these twin peaks. Most of the evidence of their ancient culture has disappeared from the area. However, in the small valley between the two peaks in the center of this hex is a small temple they constructed dedicated to the sun. The temple consists of three stone (granite) platforms connected by a central stone spire or pillar.
19.1 Worship Entrance: This platform, the lowest and largest at about 90’ in diameter, is the “entrance” to the temple. It stands about 30’ off the ground. This large, open air level tiled with mosaic tiles depicting the bird-men flying into the sun. There is no access from the ground to this level (the bird-men, of course, simply landed on the platform to begin their worship services). A long ramp spirals around the central pillar, rising to the next level. The ramp very unstable and if more than three creatures are on the ramp at one time, it will collapse. The tiles are worthless individually but if they can be removed en masse and sold to a collector they would garner about 1 gp each (there are about 25,000 6”x6” tiles here - DM option, sections of the mosaics depicting specific scenes could be equally valuable…). The tiles are bulky, and heavy (total weight is about 5000 pounds, each tile weighing about half a pound) and fragile (unless special precautions are taken, 1-in-100 will break in removal and shipping could cause as much as 35% of the remaining tiles to break - again, depending on precautions taken).
19.2 Preparation Platform: This second platform, which rises about 40’ above the lower platform (70’ above the ground) is about 35’ in diameter. The ramp from the lower level rises through the platform to end here, with broken stone railing (granite) barring the path (symbolically, it is a simple matter to step past the ruined railing). Near the eastern rim of the platform is the remains of a huge bronze basin which is cracked and broken such that it will no longer hold water.This is the Basin of Cleansing and it radiates faint magic if detected. If, somehow, the basin is repaired, any creature that is washed in the basin experiences the effects of Cure Light Wounds, Cure Disease, and Bless (this effect is usable once per week - see new items for full details). There are three raised areas on this platform which are prayer stations that the aarakocra used to prepare for worship. The raised areas are tiled in a manner similar to the lower platform (these depicting the birdmen’s objects of devotion - the god - a giant and well groomed aarakocra with wings outspread protecting the flock of birdmen who are flying around him; the goddess - a decidedly female aarakocra pouring water in what appears to be a stylized version of the broken basin on this platform; and the sun - depicted as shining through seven rays in circular pattern, each with the silhouette of a different bird), except these tiles are inlaid with gold and are worth 100 gp each intact (a fact that may only be revealed by close inspection). There are 25 tiles at each station, each with 1-in-20 chance of breaking in removal (causing it’s value to plummet to just 5 gp each). Shipping is a difficult as above (35% will be damaged unless great precautions are taken).
19.3 Sanctuary of the Sun: This platform, 45’ above the second platform (115’ above the ground) is about 20’ in diameter and was the holy of holies of the ancient temple. The platform itself, rather than being a solid stone, is carved to appear as intertwined branches (with gaps ranging from 2’ to 8’ in diameter). On the east side of the platform is a large, circular (2’hx3’d) granite base which has a 6” wide groove cut across the diameter running concave from the edges of the stone to a depth of 12” at the center of the stone. This is the base of the Sunrise Lens (see New Items and Hex 28A-7) that was used in the birdmen’s worship. The stone base radiates faint magic. By itself, it is useless, when coupled with the Sunrise Lens, it magnifies the effects of the Lens (see New Items for full description). Removing the base from this temple will destroy the magic.
TO FINISH: Image? Map, Sunrise Lens
