* Restricted: initiated Druids of the Mountains of the Dwarves and Eastern Mountain Range only

The Sacred Sites of The Mountains of the Dwarves and Eastern Mountain Range

Sacred Heart: Ichil Cave

Ichil Cave is located directly beneath the summit of Mt. Ichil (32,512 ft), the highest mountain of the range.  It is a dark circular cave with a central stone pillar. There are twelve runes or double runes marked evenly around the walls, and three passages leading away, with right angled turns on each after a few feet.  One passage (between runes 1 & 12) leads out onto the summit ridge, via a secret door.  One passage (between runes 4 & 5) leads to living chambers and store rooms (usually uninhabited, but containing a few emergency supplies).  The third passage (between runes 8 & 9) leads to stairs down into the mountain, which are said to descend into the Depths of the Earth (where possibly the equivalent Dark Circle is physically located).  Torches are mounted evenly between the runes, with one either side where the passages come in, and are only lit when the Cave is inhabited. It is bitterly cold and the air is thin.

The Sacred Sites are maintained jointly by the Elder Druids of the Forest: Dwarven and human (mountain men and Kayani).  There is a rota for visiting Ichil Cave on the first day of each month, corresponding to the number of the Rune (e.g. on 1 I (Aval) it is maintained by the Mountain Dwarven Elder Druids of Gabilkhazād-Dūm).  On 1 XIII it is maintained by the Druids of the Mountain Ranges of the Underworld and on 1 XIV it is maintained by the Gnomish Elder Druids of the Keragund of Flerrig.  When the Site has been maintained, the Elders light a beacon on the summit of Mt. Ichil, which is answered by beacons from the other Sacred Sites (or their nearest high mountains).  At other times the beacons are used as an alarm system.

Runes:

  1. G g
  2. NW nw
  3. GR gr
  4. RB rb
  5. NE nE
  6. DA da
  7. N n
  8. K c
  9. D d
  10. SE sE
  11. S s
  12. SW sw

Links from the Runes to Other Sacred Sites in the Forest:

  1. Gabilkhazād-Dūm (organism cave in catacombs)
  2. Taramkhazād-Dūm (organism cave in catacombs)
  3. Gasrāk (Keragund Shining Cave)
  4. Rubar Barrakizdīn (stone circle)
  5. Kum-Valga (Keragund Shining Cave)
  6. Duban Azanulbizar (stone circle)
  7. Northern Peaks (mountain cave)
  8. Central Range (mountain cave)
  9. Coastal Desert (stone circle)
  10. Cotamichi Rocks (sacrificial stone circle)
  11. Southern Range (mountain cave)
  12. Southwestern Foothills (mountain cave)

Links from the Runes to Sacred Hearts of Other Forests:

  1. Taur Galen (Greenwood the Great)
  2. The North West Forest
  3. The Grasslands
  4. The Jungle
  5. The North East Forest
  6. The Valdrean Plain (no Sacred Heart - Link is to Circle of the Three Rivers)
  7. The Icelands
  8. The Caspian Mountains
  9. The Great Desert
  10. The Outer Sea / Sea of CASPIS
  11. The Inner Sea (Great Ocean)
  12. The Mountain Ranges of the Underworld

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