Auril’s Church
Quick Reference
Location: The Frost region Type: Hidden temple Status: Abandoned but maintained Danger: Guarded by predatory vines and potentially cursed
Description
A hidden church dedicated to Auril, goddess of duality, balance, chaos, and beauty. The building is concealed by magical predatory vines that serve as both camouflage and defense, making it difficult to find and dangerous to approach.
Architecture & Features
The church displays distinctive religious architecture:
- Snowflake symbol - Prominent among the religious iconography
- Other religious imagery related to Auril’s domains
- Signs of recent maintenance despite appearing abandoned
- Sturdy construction that has withstood the harsh northern climate
The Goddess Auril
The church is dedicated to Auriel, a goddess associated with:
- Duality - Balance between opposing forces
- Balance - Equilibrium in all things
- Chaos - Unpredictable change
- Beauty - Aesthetic perfection, particularly in winter
The snowflake symbolism reflects her connection to cold, winter, and crystalline beauty.
Magical Defenses
Predatory Vines
The church is protected by magical vines that:
- Conceal the building from casual observation
- Actively attack intruders
- Appear to be magically animated or controlled
- Make approaching the church extremely dangerous
The Ice Troll Guardian
An Ice Troll emerged from this location when we approached, suggesting:
- The church may be cursed
- It could be actively guarded by monsters
- Something within triggers defensive creatures
- The building’s magic extends beyond just the vines
Mystery of Maintenance
Despite being abandoned, the church shows signs of recent maintenance:
- Building is in good repair
- Religious symbols are intact and clear
- Structure hasn’t succumbed to weather or time
- Someone or something has been caring for it
This raises questions:
- Who is maintaining an abandoned temple?
- Is it maintained magically?
- Are there secret worshippers still active?
- Is the goddess herself preserving it?
Dangers
- Magical predatory vines - Actively hostile plant life
- Ice Troll - Emerged when we approached
- Potential curse - The guardian troll suggests supernatural protection
- Unknown magical effects - The nature of Auril’s influence here is unclear
Our Experience
We discovered this hidden church during our travels in The Frost. The magical vines made it difficult to even see the building initially.
When we attempted to investigate, an Ice Troll emerged from the church, forcing us into combat. The creature’s presence suggests the location is either cursed or actively defended by Auril’s magic.
The combination of predatory vines, the ice troll guardian, and signs of mysterious maintenance made this one of the more unsettling discoveries in our northern journey.
Theological Significance
A temple to a goddess of duality, balance, chaos, and beauty hidden in the harsh northern wilderness carries symbolic weight. The snowflake iconography suggests Auril may have particular connection to winter and the frozen north.
Location: The Frost
Related: Auriel • Ice Troll • The Frost
Status: Abandoned but mysteriously maintained and heavily defended