The Glimmering Grotto
All known Wanderer Souls must first step through the unknown side of the Glimmering Grotto, met by the outstretched hand of the Lady of Life, and in doing so, she will help them transition into their new life in Amaltheon.
Geography
The Glimmering Grotto is tucked away at the bottom of one of the Verdant Peaks, which was named Peak's Rest. The cave itself has been reported to be made from multiple forms of metamorphic stone, but the entrance to the cave itself is unnatural, appearing to have been carved out by hand, with many scholars believing that the Lady of Life did this herself. The flora in the local area appears to gather near the entrance of the Glimmering Grotto, but never passes inside, with the Grotto itself seemingly harbouring its own variety of plants. Some scholars once did attempt to grow seeds inside, but they never began to sprout, which left them thinking there was some form of divine ward at play.
The Glimmering Grotto also sits upon a now naturally formed path that spans around the Verdant Basin, the body of water that sits within the Verdant Peaks. This path has been formed by the foot traffic of all the Wanderer Souls who have entered Amaltheon from the Glimmering Grotto, and just like the inside of the Grotto, plants refuse to re-grow upon it now.
Localized Phenomena
One of the strangest things about the Glimmering Grotto is that everyone's first experience with it differs entirely. When people first enter Amaltheon, the Glimmering Grotto seems to shift to a more comfortable setting, with some describing it as an endless golden coridoor and others as an endless expanse filled with an infinite amount of sparkling stars. and others simply see it as a cave bustling with plant life. Even stranger than this, however, is that upon re-entry, everyone sees the Glimmering Grotto without these changes, though it still presents some other worldly phenomena.
Many of the plants emit a bright light, emulating sunlight, while inside the Grotto, though once removed, their light seems to die out. Many a researcher has thought this was due to time, but upon investigation, the flora, even when cut from their roots, will hold their light for seemingly forever while in the Grotto, and the light will leave no matter how quick researchers exit with them.
On top of this, the air appears to be filled with many firefly like creatures, but as soon as researchers get close, they simply fade out of existence. Due to this strange trait, researchers are not sure if these creatures are even real, or if they are merely an illusion conjured by the Grotto. Alternative theories have been suggested, such as them shifting planes, maybe to one of the divine realms, though these theories are yet to be backed by any evidence.
Lastly, no matter the weather outside, the Grotto maintains a comfortable temperature for all inside. Many of The First claim to have survived the first winters by seeking shelter in the Grotto due to this phenomenon. It is never too hot nor too cold, leading some to believe that the Lady of Life ensures comfort for all who enter.
Type
Cave
Owner/Ruler
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