Kel-Vorun
| Kel-Vorun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| District | Darak-Kel |
| Settlement | Kar-Thal |
| Realm | Terasil |
| Constructed | Era of Isolation |
Kel-Vorun, known as the "Chamber of Echoed Vows," is a secluded ritual vault within Darak-Kel, where ancestral pacts and solemn oaths are sealed. Designed to resonate with the quietest utterances, it plays a central role in Orasian legal and spiritual tradition, ensuring every vow becomes part of the city's lasting memory.
History
Kel-Vorun was established shortly after the completion of the Grand Hall of Oras as a complementary chamber for oath-binding outside the sphere of civic deliberation. Its construction followed the first invocation of a multi-generational pact between artisan clans and the Council, marking the need for a sacred space devoted solely to spiritual and contractual resonance.
Over time, Kel-Vorun became the recognized site for formalizing alliances, inheritance declarations, and spiritual bonds between lineages. It remained untouched even during the disruptions of the Great Erosion, protected by decree and cultural sanctity.
Architecture
The chamber is circular and composed of high-density resonance stone, smoothed and slightly concave to facilitate acoustic containment. No visible inscriptions mar its surface—vows are preserved not by script, but through echo. Whispered words are captured by the walls and allowed to repeat in faint cycles for generations, fading slowly into the deeper stone.
Entrants remove footwear and remain silent, save for the binding phrase. Torches of mineral light line the inner ring, and a central pillar—left uncarved—serves as the witness-stone against which all vows are physically sealed through touch.
Function
Kel-Vorun is used exclusively for oath-binding. It hosts no deliberation, judgment, or ceremony beyond the act of sealing. Witnesses are limited to involved parties, a designated Echo-Scribe, and, in rare cases, a member of the Council of Kar-Thal.
Cultural Role
Vows sealed in Kel-Vorun are considered irrevocable. Attempts to revoke or contradict them carry spiritual and civic consequences, as the city believes the stone will reject those who break its trust. Visiting the chamber is viewed as a rite of passage for those assuming ancestral roles, guild leadership, or long-term guardianship.
Bibliography
- Stone as Witness: The Ritual Architecture of Kar-Thal by Lorewarden Evasul
- Endurance in Stone: A Civic History of Kar-Thal Compiled by the Lorewardens of the Ashlar Ring