Tomb of the King
The Tomb of the King is well known as the center of the primary faith of the Kingdom of Alsona, The King's Host. Although the clergy and worldly followers of the faith live elsewhere and center their practices in the city of Parthenonas, the Tomb of the King is considered an essential heaven on earth. It is here that the human form of The King is interred and maintained by the most worthy and devout. Many Alsonans aspire to be considered great or magnificent enough to be asked to join those who reside within.
Architecture
Known as a "Land of Grace," the Tomb of the King is brilliantly colored and representative of the best of Alsonan architecture and development. Over the years it has been refined and rebuilt, much as the kingdom itself. The exterior is just as much a monument to the King's Host, as the actual memorials and monuments within. Motifs of music are common in the decorations of the walls and rooftops, using musical symbols and instruments as set pieces for the structure. The interior is less well known, as with the exception of Alsonan royalty, no one who enters is allowed to leave in their lifetime.
Defenses
As the center of the faith, the Tomb of the King has required defenses during times of war and chaos. Following the collapse of the Nameless Empire, it was traditionally walled and defended, as an early Alsonan settlement before their culture had even truly begun to emerge. As the chaos settled and larger communities arose in the form of Alsonan city states, the Tomb of the King became a center of commerce and diplomacy, and the foyer outside the walls was even used for the signing of the Treaty of Confederation which turned the city states into a unified kingdom. The walls have been regularly upgraded and repaired over the centuries, but are only a single type of defense.
The magic of the gods also protects the Tomb, and during times of great conflict or declining Alsonan fortunes, illusion magic has been used to conceal the location of the site from outsiders. During the time of Shin occupation and war, it was unable to be located by the best of Shin scouts and observers. Only the queens of Alsona could find it for their coronation, somehow being blessed with the knowledge of its location. During the Wingo War, it was similarly defended, and the elves that attempted to raid it were unable to penetrate through the illusions and defenses that the power of the King's Host assembled.
Tourism
The Tomb is closed to all outsiders, even members of the faith. Only the Queens of Alsona are welcomed here to finalize their coronations away from the public eye. It is said that when they arrive here, they are granted an audience with the King himself, to offer a blessing on new royalty. No one leaves the Tomb, and those who come in are granted positions as servants or monks to preserve the rituals of the King and his mausoleum. To some, those who join the Tomb are mourned as though dying, and it is traditional to hold a wake for those chosen to serve at the King's pleasure. Taking on such a role is purely voluntary, and those who accept the invitation to serve are considered to be some of the most honored in Alsonan civilization.
Founding Date
114 AF
Type
Temple / Religious complex
Parent Location
Owner
Related Ethnicities
Owning Organization
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