Soft Stone Monastery
The imposing structure of the Soft Stone Monastery has been the home of The Order of the Open Hand since its construction. Indeed, it was built for that specific reason. The passage of time may have added more functions as the place came to mean different things to different people, but that original purpose has always remained core.
The whole complex of the monastery is completely underground. It was carved out of the bedrock deep underneath the frozen Peak of Nasgon, in the Fairweather mountain range. The monks chose to build here for two reasons. First, to take advantage of the strong symbolism of the Peak of Nasgon. Second, because the area is full of patches of soft, malleable stone, thought to be an aftereffect of the Great Purge. Those soft patches sped up the excavation considerably. The material was used to make decorative objects and fixtures. In time those were traded away for other necessities.They became known throughout the Fairweather Mountains and thus the name Soft Stone Monastery stuck.
There are a few notable features that stand out to anyone who visits the monastery. One of those is the unique method of providing running water to the occupants. This system involves a chute of natural stone that extends more than two hundred feet all the way to the snow covered surface. Two gnomes that came to apprentice in the monastery soon after its founding, managed to wrap an artificial tunnel in a spiral around that chute. This tunnel is connected to all the fireplaces in the complex and as a result the air in it is constantly hot. This in turn heats the chute and melts the snow up top to provide a constant stream of water that flows down through and past the monastery. Aside from being a tremendous engineering feat, this system guarantees a source of fresh water even in the event of a siege, and more importantly, facilitates sanitation.
Purpose / Function
The monastery was dug out to serve as the seat for the The Order of the Open Hand . It has since served the purpose of the order in many capacities, such as headquarters, trading hub, training camp and so on.
Alterations
Initially the monastery was just a few chambers carved out of the rock. As the years passed the order grew and its needs changed. As membership grew, additional sleeping chambers were excavated. As outsiders attacked, fortifications were added. As neighbors begun arriving with petitions, audience halls and guest rooms were needed. As trade bloomed, trading posts and storerooms were constructed. And, as in any permanent community, the need for creature comforts led to the creation of recreation rooms, like the famous roof gardens. The end result is that whole place gradually turned into a very big underground complex.
Architecture
The initial chambers of the monastery were constructed in the style of the local dwarven clans. This generally involved high ceilings(for dwarves) and wide, roomy corridors and chambers. In accordance with dwarven custom, the living rock was respected and allowed to contribute to the layout, so the rooms have a natural feel to them and flow together in an intuitive way. Arches and vaulted ceilings are predominant features, to hold up the tremendous weight of the mountain above.
The same style has been adhered to for the newer additions to the complex, although every new generation of expansions has introduced some new elements. For instance, after the monastery started to draw attention and come under threat of attack, all further expansions included defensive measures, like choke points. When the monastery begun receiving visitors, usually traders or petitioners, more decorative elements were incorporated.
Alternative Names
Soft Stone Fortress
Type
Monastery
Owning Organization
Related Traditions
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