Protector's Gate

The mouth of salvation

Written by JRTRPG

"Eighty years ago we left the caves of our peoples' salvation; the only home our parents and grandparents had known. And into this reborn world we marched triumphantly, having survived the ordeal of the end, having conquered the wilds of the caves, having thrived in the darkness which ever threatened to dim our light. While we needed the arms of our protector for our salvation, we are people of the land and of the light. And so we ventured forth into the blinding rays and we let our eyes adjust. And adjust we did. Look around you, at what we've accomplished these eighty years. Every one of you, of your parents and grandparents, helped build this new home. We are in hiding no more. But it is on this day of remembrance we look back and say thank you. Thank you to the caves beneath our feet. Thank you to the Protector."
Excerpt from the 80th annual Protector's Gate Celebration Ceremony speech
Jorsh Quarterson, Mayor of Torchtown, 2310

Purpose / Function

Protector's Gate is a great hall built butting the rockface of a cave's main entrance. The walls are adorned with local art; paintings and sculptures from nearly all of its citizens. The building stands as a celebration of Torchtown's community and as reverence for the cave system that allowed their ancestors to survive. Twice a week the community of Torchtown feasts together within the great hall of Protector's Gate.
Every year on the anniversary of leaving the caves, Torchtown holds their Protector's Gate Celebration Ceremony. There is a large feast and citizens read aloud from the journals of those who lived in the caves. It is a ceremony of thanks, remembrance, and celebration. Lately, the celebration has become open to members of nearby communities and travelers who wish to learn of the past and also celebrate the origin of their neighbors. The current mayor of Torchtown wants to turn the celebration into a grand festival within Torchtown.
Over the 80 years since leaving the caves, a small sect of cave worshipers has arisen. They live within the cave system and consider it their duty to maintain the Protector's Gate. The leader of the worshipers is against opening the Celebration Ceremony to visitors, although most of the worshipers welcome the new faces.

Architecture

Protector's Gate is functional in design, but was intended to be impressive; in honor of the cave system. It is made from mostly scavenged material, but its frame is of tall strong logs. The building stands about 40 feet tall. The ceiling of the main hall is about 25 feet hight. A second floor above the main hall reaches the rest of the height of the building.
The main hall has been covered in plaster to both mimic the interior of the caves and to create a similar echo effect that is important for their cultural music.
There are no windows in Protector's Gate. While it is designed to be impressive, it is also designed to be a last-stand shelter before the community has to retreat back into the caves for their protection. A heavy metal doorway has been installed at the entrance to the cave in case of an invasive emergency.

History

Protector's Gate was built 10 years after the people of Torchtown left the caves which sheltered them during the apocalypse.

Alternative Names

"that big churchy lookin' place"

Type

Great hall