The Endless Tower

It is curious that the Ancients would be so obsessed with something that does not appear to exist. Obsession over a grand structure, even if only an idea, is understandable. Many have dreamed of breaching the firmament of our small, mortal world; to enter the celestial stage of the gods themselves!
I cannot help but believe that there is something to this legend.

— Archivist Nemo

Overview

The name says it all, really. Somewhere in the vast expanses of the world lies a tower whose astonishing height is said to pierce the firmament, a bridge between the mortal realm and the heavens. Its purpose a mystery to the children of its maker(s). It is widely believed that should the tower be rediscovered so shall the true recovery of Awldor begin. Alternatively, the discoverer shall obtain unrivaled influence spanning the world. As a result, many adventurers across the generations since The Great Collapse have set out to find it.
If a structure so tall should really exist, and such a sight would be hard to miss, the tower would surely be visible across half the surface of Awldor. As it has yet to have been sighted by any traveler, one can conclude that this is an entirely fabricated myth or the structure was cast down during The Great Collapse. That does not stop some from believing in its existence regardless, for it is true that powerful magic can hide many items and persons from view. Such magic being applied to an endless tower, however, is patently absurd.

Variations & Mutation

The tower is one of a handful of legends that is known across the world, albeit in varying contexts. Most laymen have their own interpretations and thoughts on the myth. Some believe that such a thing is a grand flight of fancy. Others believe the tower had existed in the past but is now lost. In stark contrast to popular conceptions, several fringe groups believe that the structure has yet to exist. As to who constructed the tower, many believe the tower to have been, or will be, created by deity. The exact deity varies depending on who you talk to. Others believe that the tower was created by mortal hands, and that it was not a truly endless construct.
Many travelers to Quassus from distant lands have brought with them a version of the legend of the Endless Tower. Captain Amaya's travels all but confirmed the legend's ubiquity across the scattered cultures of the broken world. As ubiquitous as it is, the legend is told differently across cultures. On Quassus it is believed to have been a bridge to the heavens. The cultures of the Deshret Continent believe it was a great aqueduct that brought with it water so pure that would cleanse its drinker's soul. The known cultures on the continent of Chivit believed that the tower was the bridge through which life arrived on our world. The peoples of Planus believed it constructed by mortals in a vain attempt to conquer the cosmos.
The depictions across cultures displays a tall silver monolithic structure, surprisingly humble in decoration for its apparent grandeur, that extends beyond mortal sight.

In Literature

There are many stories that feature The Endless Tower. Tales of warfare, forbidden love, and satire have featured the tower either metaphorically or as a physical setting upon which to stage morality plays.

In Art

Many artists have painted their own interpretation of the Endless Tower in our present age. Capturing the endlessness of the tower is considered a rite of passage for new artists seeking to prove themselves. Some Guilds have incorporated its likeness into their emblem as the tower stating it as a symbol of aspiration.
The Ancients in have featured the building in several of their hyper-realistic art pieces that have been discovered over the years. Every one is consistent with each other in terms of the structure's design, though depicting the object from angles unique to a given art piece and in different lighting conditions. As with most art recovered from that long lost age, scholars do not yet understand how these works of art can be so realistic and yet consistent with one another. Most of the ancient art either has been bought by social elites, displayed in museums, or await a claim.

All artwork is by starfarertheta unless otherwise noted.

Note(s) from the Archivists:

I saw one of the ancient paintings for the Endless Tower at a museum not long ago. I wish we had a copy of our own. - Archivist Bob
We have not found all of the surviving art of the Ancients. One of us just needs to be looking in the right place at the right time. - Archivist Taenya
Was that a hint? - Archivist Bob