Mordant Spire

Mordant Spire

(Nation)

N

Land

Ironbound Archipelago, High Seas

Capital

Mordant Spire

Ruler

Amaranthine Council

Government

Secret council of elders

Demonym

Spiresworn

Adjective

Mordant Spire

Languages

Azlanti

Religions

Elven pantheon & Gozreh

Images of Mordant Spire

Source: City in the Deep, pg(s). 76ff. (1E)
World Guide, pg(s). 66–67 (2E)

Mordant Spire

(City)

N

Nation

Mordant Spire

Size

Large town

Population

2,120

Demographics

Mostly Mordant Spire elves

Government

Secret council of elders

Demonym

Spiresworn

Adjective

Mordant Spire

Ruler

Amaranthine Council

Images of Mordant Spire

Source: City in the Deep, pg(s). 76–81 (1E)
World Guide, pg(s). 66–67 (2E)

The Mordant Spire as seen from a distant aerial perspective.

The island of Mordant Spire lies in the Steaming Sea on the southern tip of the Ironbound Archipelago, and is home to several thousand aloof and alien Mordant Spire elves, who are hostile towards outsiders. The island is one of the few inhabited remnants of Azlant, and the elves closely guard the secrets of the once-great continent in fear that trespassers would bring a second Earthfall upon Golarion.

Geography

The Mordant Spire sits at the most distal end of the Ironbound Archipelago in the Arcadian Ocean. Its closest geographic neighbor is Thoska Isle, and a ship requires approximately ten days to reach the island from the Varisian city of Magnimar.

History

Before Earthfall, the island of the Mordant Spire was home to a complex of towers and observatories used by the elves of Celwynvian for the dual purpose of studying the Moon and keeping powerful magic away from the Azlanti civilization. Their original purpose had been to oppose the machinations of the alghollthus, but when humans rose on Azlant with the support of the veiled masters, they began to oppose them as well. Because of this, the elves of Mordant Spire learned of the alghollthus' plan to destroy Azlant, giving them enough time to warn the rest of their people and escape to Sovyrian on the planet of Castrovel.

As the meteor called by the alghollthus approached Golarion, the Azlanti lunar goddess Acavna died attempting to halt it and fell to earth on the site of the elven observatory, destroying it and becoming buried deep beneath it. A twisted, vine-like spire rose from the spot where she fell, created by the goddess' spirit and drawn upward by its attempt to move on to Pharasma's Boneyard for judgment.

Upon their return to Golarion in 2632 AR, the elves discovered the spire rising from their old outpost and named it the Mordant Spire. They found that the structure whispered to them in the voice of the slain goddess and gave them strange visions, and resettled the island soon thereafter. Inspired by the haunting voice and unsettling visions, the elves discovered a sense of purpose and began to see themselves as the rightful successors of Azlant. Taking up residence in the tower, they secluded themselves from the outside world, staking their claim to the shattered continent. Their vigilant guardianship serves two purposes: to safeguard their claim to the land and to prevent humanity from ever rediscovering the immense power and dangerous arrogance that led to the catastrophic event known as Earthfall.

Inhabitants

After generations of isolation, the elves of the Mordant Spire are few in number and have become secretive and xenophobic, strange even to their former brethren. Often refusing to speak anything but Azlanti, they wear elaborate wooden masks whenever dealing with outsiders, and they often change the subject or stop speaking mid-sentence, cocking their heads as if listening to an inaudible voice. Completely self-sufficient, they live on rocky beaches and floating platforms anchored to the sea floor, tending kelp beds and fish farms. Outsiders are likely to interact with the elves only if they break the Mordant Spire's rules against exploring Azlant's ruins, in which case they find themselves quickly beset by elven warriors who patrol the region in rune-carved vessels that skim the waves faster than any ordinary ship. Captured trespassers have any Azlanti treasures confiscated and their minds wiped with magic.

Places of interest

The island is dominated by a massive vine-like tower that is surrounded by small rocky beaches. The elves also built floating platforms anchored to the sea bed. An elf gate links the Spire with distant Kyonin, but it is unclear whether it still functions—the elves on either side seem to have no interest in using it.

Flora & fauna

Aquatic varieties of gelatinous cubes are rumored to be found wandering the sunken halls of lost Azlant off the shores of the island, but the Mordant Spire elves drive away most explorers before they can return with proof.

References

Paizo published major articles about the Mordant Spire in City in the Deep 76ff and Mythic Realms 12–13.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.