Stonesteps: Difference between revisions

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{{Districts of Kar-Thal Sections

|Introduction=The Stonesteps are a sacred and perilous spiral stair carved along the inner face of a vast vertical chasm within [[Kar-Thal]]. Formed entirely from obsidian-glass, the structure descends deep into the city’s lower strata and is used exclusively for trials of endurance and initiation~~. The Stonesteps are among the most revered—and feared—rites of passage in [[Duranthi]] society~~.

|Introduction=The Stonesteps are a sacred and perilous spiral stair carved along the inner face of a vast vertical chasm within [[Kar-Thal]]. Formed entirely from obsidian-glass, the structure descends deep into the city’s lower strata and is used exclusively for trials of endurance and initiation.

|Function=The Stonesteps serve as the official path of initiation for those seeking entry into the ranks of the [[Stonewarden|Stonewardens]]. The journey along the spiral is a test of balance, memory, silence, and resolve.

Each step is deliberately uneven and lightless, forcing initiates to maintain presence of mind and inward focus while exposed to vertiginous depth.

|History=Believed to have been carved by Orasians during the late [[Era of Isolation]], the Stonesteps were shaped by sustained heat-channeling and pressure-guided scoring techniques, likely guided by the earliest Duranthi stone-keepers~~. Legends speak of aspirants who faltered during descent—now remembered as cautionary figures within memorial carvings lining the chasm's upper rim.~~

|History=Believed to have been carved by Orasians during the late [[Era of Isolation]], the Stonesteps were shaped by sustained heat-channeling and pressure-guided scoring techniques, likely guided by the earliest [[Duranthi]] stone-keepers.

|Cultural Practices=Initiates enter the Stonesteps alone and unarmed. They are forbidden from speaking or leaving marks during the trial itself. Descent and ascent must be completed in a single attempt.

~~The structure became a formalized initiation path following the first concord rites and remains a threshold of personal transformation in Duranthi tradition.~~

~~|Notable Locations=* '''The Descent Gate''' – A sealed entry chamber guarded by the Rite-Keepers, where aspirants undergo ritual stilling and ancestral preparation before the trial begins.~~

* '''The Midline Alcove''' – A narrow landing halfway down the spiral used for rest and silent reflection. Some initiates carve brief ancestral marks here before continuing.

* '''The Final Step''' – A smooth platform at the base of the chasm. No movement or sound is permitted here; only the weight of presence is held before return.

|Cultural Practices=Initiates enter the Stonesteps alone and unarmed. They are forbidden from speaking or leaving marks during the trial itself. Descent and ascent must be completed in a single ~~attempt—pausing is allowed, but withdrawal is considered failure~~.

Those who complete the Stonesteps wear a narrow obsidian band on their left arm—a symbol of endured silence and memory.

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 {{Districts of Kar-Thal Sections
-|Introduction=The Stonesteps are a sacred and perilous spiral stair carved along the inner face of a vast vertical chasm within [[Kar-Thal]]. Formed entirely from obsidian-glass, the structure descends deep into the city’s lower strata and is used exclusively for trials of endurance and initiation. The Stonesteps are among the most revered—and feared—rites of passage in [[Duranthi]] society.
+|Introduction=The Stonesteps are a sacred and perilous spiral stair carved along the inner face of a vast vertical chasm within [[Kar-Thal]]. Formed entirely from obsidian-glass, the structure descends deep into the city’s lower strata and is used exclusively for trials of endurance and initiation.
 |Function=The Stonesteps serve as the official path of initiation for those seeking entry into the ranks of the [[Stonewarden|Stonewardens]]. The journey along the spiral is a test of balance, memory, silence, and resolve.
 Each step is deliberately uneven and lightless, forcing initiates to maintain presence of mind and inward focus while exposed to vertiginous depth.
-|History=Believed to have been carved by Orasians during the late [[Era of Isolation]], the Stonesteps were shaped by sustained heat-channeling and pressure-guided scoring techniques, likely guided by the earliest Duranthi stone-keepers. Legends speak of aspirants who faltered during descent—now remembered as cautionary figures within memorial carvings lining the chasm's upper rim.
+|History=Believed to have been carved by Orasians during the late [[Era of Isolation]], the Stonesteps were shaped by sustained heat-channeling and pressure-guided scoring techniques, likely guided by the earliest [[Duranthi]] stone-keepers.
+|Cultural Practices=Initiates enter the Stonesteps alone and unarmed. They are forbidden from speaking or leaving marks during the trial itself. Descent and ascent must be completed in a single attempt.
-The structure became a formalized initiation path following the first concord rites and remains a threshold of personal transformation in Duranthi tradition.
-|Notable Locations=* '''The Descent Gate''' – A sealed entry chamber guarded by the Rite-Keepers, where aspirants undergo ritual stilling and ancestral preparation before the trial begins.
-* '''The Midline Alcove''' – A narrow landing halfway down the spiral used for rest and silent reflection. Some initiates carve brief ancestral marks here before continuing.
-* '''The Final Step''' – A smooth platform at the base of the chasm. No movement or sound is permitted here; only the weight of presence is held before return.
-|Cultural Practices=Initiates enter the Stonesteps alone and unarmed. They are forbidden from speaking or leaving marks during the trial itself. Descent and ascent must be completed in a single attempt—pausing is allowed, but withdrawal is considered failure.
 Those who complete the Stonesteps wear a narrow obsidian band on their left arm—a symbol of endured silence and memory.
 }}