Locale Features and Places

Up Close: Its Umbakian origins are obvious from the Valois Markers of Place and Boundary Markers. This at least, has been cleaned and upkept revealing that some party is still interested in the land and/or its function. Looking in the monastery grounds, the structural elements (well built by the Umbakians) can be clearly seen. Secondary roads from supporting steadings a mile or more away lead to the monastery at its edges.

Common Knowledge = Mostly it was comprised of Lightbringers followers of Aerna with a small group of protectors from Whelm and a contingent of merchant-monks of Balthazaar to run its operations. The monastery was a place of training, and it was supported by three main farmsteads that were initially founded by Umbakian families, but integrated over hundreds of years of mingling with the locals. The territories of the Monastery of Ablocris are all connected by Ablocris Loop Road.

Common Knowledge = The monastery follows the principles of Urban Planning and Architecture in Umbak that it is well known for.

The Outer Wall

The outer wall framed the monastery proper and was meant as both a decorative and defensive work. Painted on the outside are now faded scenes of the Lightbringer faith. The wall itself rises no more than 2m, with many stretches having most of it stove in from the outside, granting easy access to the interior. There are a few old and fading spots where the wall was obviously attacked and burned – but these are barely recognizable.

The Gatehouse

The gatehouse was once a two story building, likely with an additional 1 story tower atop that for monitoring as far as possible. It is now broken and half collapsed. It was obviously a self contained defense work that was severely attacked in the sacking of the monastery. It would have held a dozen or so defenders, maybe more in emergency. Broken and tumbled stones now mark the major its of its presence. There is evidence of fire pits where a few lone travelers have made camp over the years, but are now mostly overgrown.

Easy Difficulty You search the grounds around the gatehouse…
Many tracks lead to this area but go no further. Its been a month since any creature came this far, and only deer and boar tracks show here.

If you stand in front of the gatehouse, the wind blows between the edge of the forest to the north and the monastery grounds… at times it seems like faint voices are carried on the winds.

Average Difficulty You examine the remains of the gatehouse…
The front of the gatehouse faces the High Temple of Aerna in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl in the N-NE direction.

Dormitory

This corner of the monastery was obviously home to a larger structure. It likely held a second story and was integrated into the wall. It is still mostly intact as far as can be seen. Survived the test of time well, in typical Umbakian style.

The original Hearth Corner-Stone is still present, it can be found with enough searching.

Orchard 1

It is notable that the orchard itself is still standing. The presence is a creepy blend of trees that are at once burnt, but seemed to have sprouted from the remains of the original trees the Umbakians planted. If it once held fruit, the trees now do not seem to match any known fruit bearing trees of the region.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Orchard 2

It is notable that the orchard itself is still standing. The presence is a creepy blend of trees that are at once burnt, but seemed to have sprouted from the remains of the original trees the Umbakians planted. If it once held fruit, the trees now do not seem to match any known fruit bearing trees of the region.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Orchard 3

It is notable that the orchard itself is still standing. The presence is a creepy blend of trees that are at once burnt, but seemed to have sprouted from the remains of the original trees the Umbakians planted. If it once held fruit, the trees now do not seem to match any known fruit bearing trees of the region.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Pond

The pond, which is bordered by a low stone wall that obviously kept in the water when it rose above its normal depth, sits dark and stagnant. The accumulation of debris over time has made it a brackish mire. Once pure, it is now filled with wetland flora and it is now home to water fowl.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Barn

All that is left of a massive barn used for a smithy and animal pens is the foundation. The wooden structure was burnt in the destruction of the monastery.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

field 1

This field was once planted with crops the Umbakians planted for the dwellers of the monastery. While supplemental, there is no way the few fields within its bounds could have supported a large population. There is no way to tell what was planted here once, though now weeds and strange brush with white flowering petals grows here.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Field 2

This field was once planted with crops the Umbakians planted for the dwellers of the monastery. While supplemental, there is no way the few fields within its bounds could have supported a large population. There is no way to tell what was planted here once, though now weeds and strange brush with blue-green flowering petals grows here.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Field 3

This field was once planted with crops the Umbakians planted for the dwellers of the monastery. While supplemental, there is no way the few fields within its bounds could have supported a large population. There is no way to tell what was planted here once, though now weeds and strange brush with yellow-green flowering petals grows here.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Mausoleum

The ancient mausoleum still stands its full height. It looks weathered at best, and perhaps some token effort was made to set it alight or bring it down during the sacking of the monastery but it fell far short. It was obviously once painted bright white with scenes of the Lightbringer faith. It stands a dark block of granite now, ominous and standing out as a reminder that the dead still swell here and the living are not welcome (at least those not of the family).

The original Hearth Corner-Stone is still present, it can be found with enough searching.

Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.

Prayer Colonnade

A typical set of prayer columns of Umbakian culture sit in various stages of broken, tipped, and a few still full that frame the walk to the entrance of the mausoleum. They were obviously once painted bright white, with Lightbringer faith scenes and pictorals of family members interred within – as was and is the custom.

An original Hearth Corner-Stone is still present, it can be found with enough searching.

Main Temple

The main temple was once a 2 story structure. It is made of stone, and solidly over built in Umbakian style. It was once well painted and beautiful but now lies in ruins – breached in a few places.

The original Hearth Corner-Stone is still present, it can be found with enough searching.

Lightbringer Fountain

The fountain seemed to have been left untouched in the fury of the war. It is a beautiful smooth carved basin with a Lightbringer angelic figure of Anaeth the Angel of The Radiant Spirit in the center. The angelic figure is holding a horn to its lips, out of which water shoots out to the west. The angel faces the same direction of the gatehouse front door. The hand not holding the horn is facing the direction of the rising sun, the hand splayed as if its reaching out to grasp it.

Up Close: The fountain is flowing wildly. The angelic figure was carved to depict her blowing its horn vigorously, and the clear water flows robustly into the basin. The entire foundation and basin radiate a faint heat like a warm morning.