#10 - Ancient

The people of Embertrail love their shrines. They love building them, they love leaving offerings, they love re-discovering lost shrines, restoring said lost shrines, making maps of them, visiting them on pilgrimages... the list goes on. Any given Shrine is usually dedicated to one of the Primal Lords or their champions, and you can find them almost anywhere, from bustling cities to modest towns to the deep wilderness.

The most beloved are the living shrines, whose aura holds back the Hollow in a small area around it. Nobody really knows why only certain shrines become imbued with such a boon, but these places become precious islands in the darkness. Abundant offerings are made at their feet. Caretakers surround it day and night. Nearby settlements send resources towards its maintenance. Travelers plan their routes around these places, eager for a brief reprieve before they continue on through the dangerous Hollowlands.

This modest effigy of Aashet, the Lord of Source, is one of the most recognized shrines in the world. It stands just a few miles outside the city of Triplet Gate, and it receives an enormous number of visitors at all times of year. Its caretakers are concerned that the incredible amount of foot traffic will eventually wear these ancient stones down to unrecognizability. An access lottery or reservation-based system has been proposed to better preserve it for the future.

---

<sup>This submission is a part of one of my worldbuilding projects: The Last Dream of Embertrail.

The world of Embertrail lies at a cosmic crossroads, where strange magical structures called Monoliths frequently bring new people, ideas, cultures, and conflicts from all across the cosmic waters. It's a wild and merciless place, where the primordial forces of the universe come to life, and powerful otherworldly beings roam unchecked. On Embertrail, you could forge a new life... or it could forge one for you.</sup>