Mount Celene

The Holy Mountain

In the northernmost reaches of Hariel Majour stands The Blight, a continent-spanning, ice-capped mountain range. It's jagged peaks tower over the lands like a spiked crown. Its centerpiece (and likely the originator of the range) looming a full thousand feet taller than any other spire, is the Holy Mountain, Celene.

Like Mount Olympus, this (allegedly) hollow monolith is believed to be the ancestral home of the very gods themselves. It is also known as "Godshome" or "The High Seat of the Ancients."
It is said to have fallen from the heavens at the dawn of gothenkind. Nobody, save perhaps the Custodians, know precisely when it came into being, yet it is assumed to have become "spiritually active" roughly 40,000 years ago.
If legend is to be believed, the destrcutive landfall of Celene caused masive tectonic upheaval, forming the very Blight range itself. Whether by accident or design is the source of much spiritual speculation, and even holy war. For thousands of years, disciples of all faiths made the long and treacherous pilgrimage to Celene in order to prove their devotion, and to seek divine (or even arcane) knowledge.
It is widely believed that no magic existed in the world prior to Celene, and that the mountain remains the greatest repository of magical energy (mana) in all existence. It is responsible for the magical weave that connects all physical things and makes spells possible. As such, the pilgrimage was made not just by the holy, but also by arcane mages of all orders and patrons.
The influx of so many representatives of both magic and the church, along with a constant wave of foolhardy tourists, created something of a cottage industry in the otherwise inhospitable north.
The pilgrimages to Celene continued until the coming of The Sundering, when those most greedy amongst the visitors attempted to plunder it's magical riches. They inadvertently (or possibly on purpose) caused an explosive quake that rocked the mountain and the rest of the world. After The Sundering, the gods of Celene fell silent. There is much speculation as to why...

Geography

Located at the northern edge of the haunted Dullwood, and marking the beginning of the wide mountain range known as The Blight, Celene sits amidst Hariel Majour's most inhospitable lands. Further, The Churn (the "moat" surrounding Celene), is rife with destructive wild magic.

Fauna & Flora

Of the "natural" creatures that roost upon the mountain's peak, none are more fearsome than the silver dragons of the Blight. Ostensibly good natured, the dragons are still fiercely territorial and welcome no visitor warmly, whatever their reason for ascending to the summit. Because of this, it's difficult to known exactly how many "Blight Dragons" live in the area, let alone upon Celene itself.
The surface of Celene, along with its cavernous interior, is extremely cold to the touch and not hospitable for average life. Still, some cold weather plants and animals manage to make a life between the jagged rocks and up the side of the mountain.
The predominantly human members of the The Staying Hand (see article) also have built their monastery on the side of the holy mountain. Whether or not the cold gets to them is a secret they keep to themselves, as they are quite the tight lipped group.

Alternative Name(s)

The Holy Mountain

Type

Mountain / Hill

Location under

Hariel Majour

Included Organizations

• The Gods of Gothenya
• The Staying Hand

Owning Organization

The Gods of Gothenya

Contested By

• Wyeth

Related Myths

• The Fate of the Gods

Related Historical Events

• 10552 D.E.
  The First Great Pilgrimage