Crumbled Tine

It took us two hours to climb the causeways up to the highest part of the city. There, at the centre of a grand circular plaza, was the obelisk.
Or rather, what was left. Broken stones littered the ground around it, so perhaps it had been taller once, or a different shape. Despite that, it was still an impressive height of 5-6 girs (9-11metres). Tall enough to draw our attention, and tall enough to incite mystery.

— Elrik Sarothar Koldanar, Journey in the Wind

"Incite mystery" describes much of the city of Gharan Minayen, to be fair. But the obelisk-like structure in the centre of the main plaza of the highest tier takes the cake. Clearly once of immense height, the monument has crumbled into a shadow of its former self. Without Gorzen Lithekin who remember its function, it now stands as a sentinel over their ruins.

Emblem of a Lost Culture

Many theories surround the Crumbled Tine - whose name comes from its shape, which looks like the tine of a fork or other cooking implement.
The Gorzen have stories of a great magical device that powered much of the city. It was believed that the device, stored on the grounds of the Academy of Spellsong, could power magic the likes of which the world has never seen since. Some theorize that the Tine is part of this device.
Other theories include:

• A monument to a former ruler of the city;
• The centrepiece of one of the many Gorzen musical festivals; or
• The timekeeping device of the city's biggest market.

CW: none

RUINED STRUCTURE
Date of ruin unknown

Type

Monument, Large

Parent Location

Gharan Minayen

Academic Artifacts

The obelisk wasn't the only thing that Elrik found in the plaza. At the obelisk's base was a small rotund piece of purple metal and unbreakable glass. Elrik and his party carefully brought it back to an astrologer who successfully identified it as a Zarazin Battery. This kickstarted a longer study into Zarazin Electromancy which has funded many expeditions into the Whistlepeaks in search of more batteries and circuitry.

All images in this article were created by me, EmperorCharlesII, unless otherwise indicated.