Dandel's Needle

"I'll meet you at the Needle."

Located at a bend in the road between Glistel and Hilgar, this tall stone spire is a known landmark in the northern region of the Broken Spine Mountains. It stands several hundred feet tall, and is remarkably slender for the height. Those who have not seen it before liken it to a constructed tower, yet the Needle is entirely natural stone. Why this tower of stone is standing where there are no mountains, or even hills, is a mystery to many people which has become quite a favorite subject for bards and those who love to tell tall tales. Despite the origins and reasons for the Needle's existence, it remains an important landmark in the region. The extreme height when compared to the land around it, along with the distinctive shape, means it can be a useful aid to navigate by.

Thanks to the location being a popular spot for those in the region to meet, there has been a fair amount of traffic in the area over the years. Sometime recently, the village of Dandel was started near to the Needle. Within the first few years, it quickly garnered a reputation for being a place to avoid unless a person was ready to defend themselves. Recently this has quieted down, but only mildly so; it's not unheard of for people visiting Dandel to meet an untimely end.

Travelers who are in the area are advised to be cautious, as the area around the Needle is known to be hunting ground for silver rocs. These massive birds of prey are large enough to consider horses morsels not worth bothering with unless they are exceedingly hungry. Some may take solace in that fact, and some may realize the worst implication of it: if a silver roc decides to hunt you, it is desperate enough not to be readily dissuaded from making a meal of you.

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Tourism

"All these people coming to meet here, and you don't think about what kind of people they are? Travelers with a bad sense of direction only account for a small fraction. I'm more worried about the folks with weapons and a bad sense of direction."

— Maya, Caravan Guard

With the exception of Dandel Village, the only people who tend to be in the area around the Needle are travelers who have a reason to be there. Often this reason is simply using the location as a means to find the road, and thus navigate back towards civilized towns. Those who do come to the Needle often find places to stay in Dandel, or at the base of the rock spire itself. In recent years, the growing number of adventurers in the region has likewise been noted along with the rising occurrence of groups making camp outside of the village's boundaries.

Alternative Name(s)

Petrified Tower
Rocperch

Type

Rock Formation

Location under

Broken Spine Wilderness