Morningstar Tower

This ancient rose quartz pillar, topped with a glowing crystal, rises up through the outer jungles of Nyria, peeking above the treeline. It should be the most prominent thing on the skyline. But the Morningstar Tower isn't visible to all. Those who cannot resist the waves of illusion magic released by the Morningstar Crystal at its crown see it as nothing more than a large, impassible mountain which must be circumnavigated.

But for those who do find the Morningstar Tower, astonishing riches await. You may gain the key not just to great and powerful healing, but to the manifestation of the most extraordinary abilities of our time.

— Klaas Marsinger, Explorer of Nyria with the Arsanger Trader Company

Ancient Structure

The original purpose of the lighthouse is lost to time, but it was originally built by the people known only as the Ancients, from the now-fallen first Empire.
In terms of construction, the Lighthouse is not made of bricks or blocks of stone, but raised from a single, seamless construction of white and rose quartz, stretching up from the ground to peak through the canopy of the outer jungle over 100 feet above. Current theories are that tower was somehow magically raised from a seam of quartz in the rocks beneath. Strengthening this theory is the fact that the Ancient Empire, particularly on the continent of Nyria where more ruins survived, is full of unique and extraorinary stoneworks which would be impossible to construct with normal tools.

The Morningstar Crystal

The Morningstar Crystal gives its name to the tower, and is so called because of its unique sympathy with solar radiation. The crystal glows from just before the first light dawn, to just after the last rays of dusk, and shines so clearly and brightly that it appears from far off to be a star for miles around. However, only those who can see through the waves of illusion emitted by the Morningstar Crystal are treated to this wondrous sight.
Charged by the power of the sun, an ancient enchantment in the Morningstar Crystal creates a field of illusion magic which most untrained minds simply cannot penetrate. This makes the Morningstar Tower appear simply as a large, impassable mountain which must be circumnavigated. This has largely kept the current inhabitants of the tower, the Melma, safe from the growing waves of colonists.
As well as powering the field of illusion, the Morningstar Crystal has a second known purpose. It stores traces of Anima which the sun releases. Somehow this infuses those who sleep and live in the Morningstar Tower with additional anima per day. It's believed that the unique quartz crystal stucture of the tower plays some part in this process, although exactly how it happens is not understood.

Nothing is as ellusive as the truth... except, perhaps, the Morningstar Tower.

— Illusion Master Elial

Modern Reuse of the Morningstar Tower

The ancient tower has long been a bastion of the Melma, a faction of Eledhrim specifically dedicated to healing and transformation through the use of Anima. The vast, ten-story building now houses the main building of their settlement, although some of the upper rooms remain mysteriously sealed to this day.
Those who visit the Morningstar Tower fall into two groups. The first are those who are injured or sick, particularly those who have lost limbs, eyes or even organs. The second group are those who wish to manifest extraordinary physicalities - such as wings, bulky muscles or more.

Who can be healed here?

The Melma are neutral between the squabbles of other Eledhrim , and do not take sides. Any who can make a case for their healing are welcomed.
The Melma are also the leading experts in Transformation, and can help Eledhrim manifest extraordinary physicalities - wings, claws, fangs, or anything else that can be imagined.
Outsiders, though, will have to win over the leader of the Melma in order to be offered access to the healing powers or the boons of transformation.

Secrets of the Morningstar Tower

(spoilers ahead)

5 rooms in the top have never been unlocked.

There is a hidden trapdoor in the basement which leads to an interconnected tunnel network. This leads underground to a hitherto forgotten ruin deep in the jungle, but is full of undead constructs

a mysterious spirit is said to haunt the woods just beyond the periphery of the illusion. This is a half-ascended ancient who became trapped between forms (boss fight).

Founding Date

Ancient times

Parent Location

Nyria