Description
The walls of this seaside cave of white limestone are reinforced with masonry and inscribed with verses extolling the ordning and reverence for one’s ancestors. Most of the cave is above the sea’s reach.
- Caskets. Stone and crystal caskets house the remains of stone giants.
- Coral Pool. The bottom of a pool fed by an inlet from the sea is carpeted with storm giant bones covered in coral.
- Frozen Skeletons. Frost giant skeletons lie or sit propped, wearing ancient armor covered in lasting rime.
- Hidden Tomb. A secret door hides a repository of cloud giant dust.
- Ossuary Pits. Hill giant remains are heaped in pits where scavengers thrive.
- Urns. Brass and iron urns contain fire giant ashes.
Scattered among all these urns, caskets, and burial niches are the remains of other creatures who were loyal allies or loved ones of giants long gone, including creatures of the Giant type such as ettins and ogres, and even some Humanoids and other non-Giants.
Features
The Ashen Grotto’s magic reinforces the ordning specifically, and the natural, harmonious order of things in general. It can be used to break curses and ease afflictions, and to find insight into that which must be returned to its rightful course. The site is consecrated ground with the following properties:
Bane of Undead. Dead creatures can’t become Undead in the grotto. An Undead that enters the grotto for the first time during a turn or that starts its turn there takes 22 (5d8) radiant damage. An Undead reduced to 0 hit points by this damage dies and can’t be returned to its undead state by any means short of divine intervention.
Ordning’s Path. A creature who spends 8 hours meditating in the grotto on the nature of order and the rightful course of history can cast one of the following spells at the end of that time (no additional casting time or spell components required): legend lore, greater restoration, or remove curse (cast at 9th level). The spellcasting ability for the spell is the creature’s choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. After casting the spell, the creature gains 2 levels of exhaustion.
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