Great Wall of Haven

Intended Purpose: A Shield and a Symbol

To the citizens of Haven, the Great Wall is the undisputed symbol of their safety and the power of the Conduits. Its massive size and the glowing Resonance Sentinels embedded within its structure broadcast a clear message: the Void is held at bay. The wall's official purpose is twofold: it is a formidable physical barrier against any creature that might crawl from the Void, and more critically, it acts as a magical anchor. Its wards are what maintain the integrity of the Verdant Expanse and the city beyond, repelling the chaotic magical static that threatens to corrupt Haven's delicate order. The wall stands as a constant, reassuring presence, a tangible promise that the Conduits will fulfill their Pylon's Burden and keep their people safe.  

Original Purpose: A Cage and a Firewall

The truth of the wall's origin, known only to a select few high-ranking Conduits, is far more complex and ironic. The wizard who created the O'che did not build the wall as a defense for a burgeoning civilization, but as a containment field for his experiment. The wall's primary function was to serve as a magical firewall, isolating his successful creations—the ancestors of the O'che—from the failures and dangerous magical fallout of his other experiments. It was a magical cage designed to keep his "programs" running in a controlled environment, not to protect a society from an external threat. In a sense, the Void is not just outside the city; it is the chaotic, failed history that the wall was meant to separate Haven from forever. Now, with the Bag of Holding breaking down, the Conduits are fighting to maintain a crumbling prison, believing it to be the shield that keeps them free.

The Great Wall of Haven is the city's most formidable structure, a towering monument that embodies the fusion of architectural styles found throughout the city. Its design marries the colossal scale and defensive features of ancient empire walls with the graceful curves and aesthetic flourishes of a more serene, flowing architecture. The wall is not a straight, brutal line, but a series of tiered, sweeping parapets that curve and ascend, giving it a powerful, dynamic presence that is both intimidating and elegant.   The primary building material is the same pale, shimmering sunstone that defines Haven's buildings, but the wall's sunstone blocks are hewn to be immense and are magically fused to be far more durable than the stones of a typical structure. This gives the wall a solid, almost seamless appearance. Embedded within its surface are massive, obsidian-like veins of a magical mineral that reinforce its strength and help channel its energy. At key intervals, majestic pylons rise from the wall's foundation, carved with ancient, protective symbols that glow with a faint, steady light. These pylons are the visual and magical anchors for the Resonance Sentinels, the most critical components of the wall's magical defenses.