Whisper Tide Abbey

Whisper Tide Abbey was originally a seaside fortress built by the Sons of the Scale sometime in 1231 3e.   The area was selected due to it's natural defenses and large forest which provided lots of timber for construction. It was intended to be a landing and resupply port for expansion and pilgrimages in the Wildlands. Due to it high isolation from even Wildland locals, the area wasn't planned to be anything large scale. An initial 40 settlers had arrived, with another 20 joining late summer that same year.   Originally the landing consisted of two buildings, a dormitory, and a storage shed, as well as a large wooden wall and a pair of wooden docks. Two more buildings were planned, a dining hall and a temple, but had only just started construction when the Tipping of the Scale had begun.   Supply runs were limited due to the conflict in the east, brining mostly just food and basic supplies. Construction was mostly halted due to lack of tools and non-timber building supplies. Further expansion plans into the north were also halted as a result.   In 1239 3e a harsh winter hit Rodina and supply ships were unable to send aid to the landing, forcing the residents to fend for themselves.   The following spring, a small supply ship arrived to bring food and aid, but found the landing empty. Twelve bodies were found with many more buried nearby. Among the dead was the landing's scholar, who had written down the events of that winter.  

We can hear the wolves and bears howling at night, fighting over our recently buried brothers. Our last shovel broke this morning trying to bury Toan. We pray to Reus night and day for aid, but nothing changes...

  It had appeared that the settlers had died from starvation and sickness. Seeing no living among them, the supply ship turned around and headed home.   The landing was abandonded and forgotten for nearly 30 years, before being rediscovered in 1389 3e by a ship of the Order of Balance that had been drastically blown off course. Scout reports indicated that there were no settlements anywhere nearby, but had discovered an underground cavern under a collapsed building.   When the ship had returned home, the landing was reported. There was little mention of this place in the records left behind by the Sons of the Scale. After some debate, the Order decided to send three ships there to reclaim the area and build a proper fortress there.   The group arrived in 1370 and started on clearing away decayed buildings and restoring what they could. Having a much larger group of trained builders and skilled laborers, the Order worked quickly and with much success. The area was nicknamed Whisper Tide due to the soft sounds of the sea echoing off the cliff walls when the tide shifted.   By 1372 3e Whisper Tide Abbey was fully functional. Due to it's isolated nature, it was made into a prison for mages in order to keep them away from the general public, and study their conditions. The region of Rodina the Abbey was in also ensured that anyone who managed to escape would most likely die in the wilderness due to the harsh environment.   From the start, the existance of the Abbey was kept secret, not only from the masses, but even from nearly all of the Order, to ensure security as well as plausable denibility. In a short amount of time, this allowed priests and scholars to go from basic studies and exams, to much more ethically questionable tests. These tests involved bloodletting, vivasection, and even mental and physical tortures.   In 1377 3e a prisoner managed to escape from their cell and badly damage part of the Abbey's prison, as well as killing twelve people, before being put down. All other prisoners were exicuted as well as a precaution to ensure repairs of the prison would be secure and safe.   By 1380 3e the basements had been expanded with new storage facilities and deeper cells for more dangerous prisoners as well as improvements to the defenses of the Abbey. That Winter the Abbey began taking in prisoners once again, this time both mages and political enemies of the Order.   In 1391 3e the first   in 1422 3e a member of the Seekers of the Eternal Hour had been brought to Whisper Tide Abbey. After a long interrigation session, the Order discovered the Seekers were hiding out in the sewers of Hytheron.   In 1425 3e, after the Terror of Hytheron, five captured members of the Seekers of the Eternal Hour were brought to Whisper Tide Abbey, as well as a sample of the Rot Tyrant Leech.   In 1428 3e the first Reaverwas created from one of the captured Seekers, the other four were converted shortly after.