Description:
The mouth of the cave is over twenty feet tall, and fifteen feet across the opening. From the shore, the depth of the cave turned into a murky green and shadow. There was no way to distinguish one thing from another a few feet path the towering opening, despite the sunlight on the brightest of days. Directly behind the actual opening to the cave was a vast hole in the rock above. This cast a bright glare on the water, illuminating the waters surrounding the mouth while further secluding the depths of the cave in mystery. The water took on the greenish tinge that gave the cave its name. There was brilliant green coral that carpeted the floor beneath the water, reflecting its color onto the surface in the sunlight. It was beautiful, and dangerous. With the tide rushing strongly into the cave, and even with the water only half a dozen feet deep, one would get pulled under and crushed against the coral immediately. Mold and lichen covered the walls and ceiling, also adding to the overall emerald aspect of the cavern. A loud, echoing slosh could be heard a ways off, as if the tide was rushing into the cave to find a dead end, then unable to gain enough momentum to get back out, the sound bouncing off the high, cavernous walls.
Inside the cave, everything but the gentle sloshing of water was cut off. It no longer sounded like a desperate rushing of the sea into the cave. The wide opening lead into a rather narrow passageway before expanding into a giant, water filled cave. Every drip, splash or falling pebble echoed loudly in this vast cavern. It was dark, lit only by the few slivers of light snaking through cracks in the ceilings. On less than perfect days, the cavern would be a dark, echoing pit. The walls of the cave were jagged, as expected, but held not lips on which to set foot- except in one spot. On the northwest side of the cave, there was a large slab of deep green marble that leveled out and sat maybe forty feet in diameter, protruding from the wall right above water level, but only just. Atop the table was what looked to be an altar, the walls directly around it covered with weathered and faded murals. Some still showed complete scenes, while others were just a faded memory of what had once been. Below the water level, if one was to dive beneath and feel at the rocks, there were ruins present, encircling the low rock table just below the water.
The altar was over six hundred years old, and dedicated to the God of the Sea, Laviku. Before the Valterrian occurred, there was a massive temple on the water’s edge dedicated to the God. People from all over came to worship the god with offerings of gold and whatever goods they could afford to give. Every fifteen days, Laviku required a sacrifice. This could be food or grain during a famine, fresh water during a drought, animals when there really were none to spare. Sometimes, gold was even left for the god when it could have provided for families through a tough winter instead. It had to be something that truly cost the worshippers something. This was said to be done to keep the rival gods, those of the rivers, streams, lakes, ponds to keep away from his shrine and worshipers. Said Gods were thought to be jealous, and would otherwise do whatever was necessary to usurp the mighty God of the Sea.
However, after the Valterrian tore apart the world, there was nothing left of the great altar of Laviku. Somewhat ironically, it was thought to have been swallowed by the ocean itself. Until a century ago, when three shipwrecked sailors, inches from death, were mysteriously swept up into a newly exposed cave mouth. Washed up onto a peculiar rock table, the men were convinced that some superior force had saved their lives. But why? When the depths of the cave was finally illuminated by a weak sunlight, the sailors were able to see the murals that decorated the walls. The murals of the lost temple of Laviku. Positive now that the benevolent God of the Sea had saved their lives for this reason, the three rebuilt the altar and spread the word of the discovery so those loyal could travel and offer up their gold, animals, precious goods to the God.. As it still stands today, the altar was a simple but beautiful lump of emerald green coral, topped with a precious slab of green marble. Both looked to be covered with mold and lichen, seaweed or some other sign of disuse but when inspected closely the altar was just simply unbelievable, natural shades of green.
NPCs:
Mod Notes:
Feel free to self mod this location! |
|
