Monastery of Tala

Located in central Mendev, the Monastery of Tala caters to many faiths of the crusaders going to fight the demons in the Worldwound. Run by a cloistered order of monks from numerous faiths named the Brotherhood of Tala, it was founded in 4702 AR as a place where the various churches could conduct research on how best to combat the demonic forces of the Worldwound.

Construction and location

Tala is twenty leagues northeast of Zharech. Cloistered priests of many faiths gather to share knowledge and are attempting to deconstruct the wardstones in an attempt to create a weapon derived from the same magic. This would allow the crusaders in Mendev to bring this weapon on their quests into demon-infested areas.

Built on top of a small hill surrounded by stands of pine, cedar, and spruce trees, the Monastery of Tala is encircled by a wall made from stone and cement. The monastery's first two cloisters are built in the styles of the First and Second Mendevian Crusades respectively, while the third looks like a simple cube several storeys in height. The gate with double-portcullises is always guarded by warriors faithful to Iomedae.

History

Betrayal of Tala

Tala was the site of a terrible conspiracy orchestrated by the demon Isilda, who was impersonating a powerful abbess from Kenabres. Under her instruction, the Brotherhood of Tala reformed a powerful wardstone into a magical relic they named the Orb of Tala in 4707 AR. The construction of the Orb was a lengthy process that required many rituals that lasted an entire decade. Believing the Orb to be a powerful weapon with which to slay demons, the Brotherhood held a tournament in 4709 AR to choose which crusaders would carry it westward to fight the enemy. The three dozen that were selected crossed into the Worldwound with the false abbess, but were instantly slaughtered by a horde of demons. The abbess, having revealed her true form at the beginning of the massacre, took the Orb from the dying crusaders and planted it into the ground where she watered it with the blood of the fallen; it would eventually grow into the tower of Yath.

Xanthou Pendant

Until the Brotherhood was betrayed by Isilda, they manufactured a salve called the Xanthou Pendant, or the Salve of Tala, that protected one against demonic influences. They have since stopped making it and often even refuse to open the gates when someone approaches the monastery.