Refuge

Refuges will form in places where a significantly high number of energy veins meet each other. They can have various appearances depending on the biome and settlement area. Generally speaking, a refuge is considered a safe place because an invisible barrier forms naturally around the place, which lets living beings cross but spell effects can't pass it in either way. The barrier provides an illusion that causes someone that passes by to see something completely different. As an example, if the refuge forms around a building, the building might look like an abandoned ruin taken back by nature but shines in its former glory after crossing the barrier.
Refuges formed in spacious natural areas are usually inhabited by the nature wardens as a high number of energy veins makes it easier to recognize imbalances quickly and counteract the imbalance on time. Those that form in settlements typically develop unique properties like self-adjusting or endless rooms.

Refuges of Etheriel

There are a vast amount of refuges all across Etheriel, each with unique properties and appearances. A list of the currently discovered ones with short descriptions follows below.

Legacy Library

The Legacy Library is an example of a refuge formed in a settlement area. It contains multiple floors underground with the so-called unwritten books. The number of floors fluctuates depending on the current number of unwritten books. Each time a solidified idea has formed within the head of someone, there will appear a new book in this area.
Reacting to the occurring events, the settlement's inhabitants have built a library alongside an archive on top of the underground section of unwritten books. To the present day, the legacy library is the most extensive book collection of Etheriel.

Whisperfall Sanctuary

The Whisperfall Sanctuary is located on a big forest glade within the Whisperfall Forest. It features accelerated crop growth and yield as special properties. The sanctuary is currently inhabited and maintained by the Nature Warden Nael.

Ecosystem

The refuge ecosystem is normally self-sustaining and features a specific enhanced aspect, like accelerated crop growth or self-illumination. The type of aspect depends on the biome and traits of the surrounding environment. For instance, if the refuge is in a desert area with little or no water resources, the enhanced aspect will most likely be a natural water source.

Alternative Name(s)

Sanctuary

Type

Natural Wonder