 
Siku’s Shrine is Zinrah’s focal point. The largest chamber in the city, it was designed to hold the original population of Zinrah plus. Its eep grey granite walls are as strong and elegantly carved as the Goddess it serves as tribute to. From the main chamber of Zinrah, the widest tunnel leads off in a straight path toward the North West. It is through here that homage is paid to Siku, and Zinrah’s Queens are immortalized in stone for their leadership.
Walking or slithering along the wide path, the Queens of Zinrah line the left wall. It begins with Maskevesshna, presently the greatest of the Queens to have settled in Zinrah. Her leadership carved the way through the Myrian ruins and established Zinrah for what it is today. Further down the hall stands Sshnanhamo, the wrathful Queen whose ill temper ended her life. The most recent addition is further yet, Snhamtanabis. Her stone visage, though equally sharp, holds but a fraction of her true beauty. It is a curious thing to see the image of the Queen in stone and flesh side by side, and then wonder just how beautiful the Queens before Tanabis were.
The hall goes on, much further, suggesting just how long Maskevesshna has intended for the Dhani to rule over Zinrah, and perhaps Falyndar. Alas, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The eerie shimmer of the glowstones on the black rock illuminates the entire shrine. All around, the hottest springs in Zinrah bubble and light the glowstones brighter than any location in Zinrah. To be brief, the shrine vaguely resembles a circle, a shape of power and unity, appropriate to the Dhani who need each other most in Falyndar than all others.
The cave rises to a center point, the hot spot of Zinrah where all the action takes place. The gentle sloping stone plateaus. At the center is the altar, blood stained obsidian, imbedded with emeralds, Siku’s servants seen in stone slithering all around and leaning out to welcome the host of Zinrah to the sacrifice it was purposed for.
Overlooking the altar, and shrine itself, is Siku. Although she is known to attend the rituals in her honor, there is an incredible statue of the Goddess in place for the times she cannot be there. She hovers over them, her stone coils wrapping the perimeter of the shrine. With her arms spread wide, and her spiteful smile showing, Siku observes – in spirit – the sacrifices in her honor. Emeralds highlight her features, especially her malicious gaze and snake tongue.
The rest of the shrine houses giant sculptures of Siku’s servants, their carved bodies reaching over and under each other across the walls and ceiling. When Siku is in attendance, that number of scaled bodies covering the cavern doubles as the living replicas weave through the looping stone bodies. Their eyes settle on the altar and the screams of the victim echo against the granite walls, throughout the shrine and outward, further out, until they are faint murmurs reverberating hauntingly through the tunnels…
The priesthood practices here. Siku’s thrice marked and aspiring gather for prayer. Most of them have lessons to teach too, in the School that branches off on the side of the main chamber. Wounded Dhani and friends of Zinrah are also brought here to be healed. A small hold on the opposite side of the School operates as a make-shift recovery room when victims are too wounded to be moved to their own quarters. Priestesses, and the occasional priest, all have their own bits of knowledge to share when offered something in return. A resident need merely inquire further…
Hiarisspanyin, the Head Priestess, is practically a permanent resident. In the day hours, she spends most of her time at the Shrine. It is best to contact her here and then if needed. Her mother, Sshnahiari, is also likely to be lurking around. Sspanyin has a chamber in the back of the shrine, hidden behind Siku’s stone appearance for private matters that regard the priesthood, although they don’t always…
Aspiring priestesses, or priest, need merely join their siblings in prayer. Keep in mind to practice what you preach. Siku or her subjects are always watching, and only those deserving are rewarded.
Credit for the Location goes to Schism |
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