Obsidian Architecture

The corrupt and powerful Obsidians existed at the height of their influence over 200 years ago. The imposing structure of the Tower of the Shuttered Eye can found at the heart of the Veiled Swamp. The brooding look of this edifice is the touchstone for Obsidian architecture in general.^[1]^[2]

Two hundred years before our present day, the members of the Obsidian Order saw themselves as the preeminent sorcerers of their time, and forged their empire based on the use of such magics. They derived their power from the energies flowing out of the obsidian shards that fell from the shattered moon, lacing the world with veins of lava which seemed to conduct this energy from the Shardfall areas to a variety of locations, including Fate’s Lake in the subterranean chambers below the ruins of Desolis. It is the location of this lake that inspired the Obsidians to build their seat of power here, including the Chamber of Souls.

Since various colors of magical glowing crystals in our world can be harvested for use in sorcery and alchemy, it only made sense to me that the Obsidians would have used such crystals to craft undying sources of light for their more important structures. All of these styles employ glimmering, floating crystal shards in a variety of colors.

In Desolis, you can find angled stone supports with the Obsidian Order symbol at the top, a simple bannister design, and the huge carved stone wall panels inscribed with the names of all the individuals responsible for the rise and dominion of the Obsidian Order.

Obsidian architectural elements are added to more “generic” dungeon style beneath it, as the Obsidians appreciated the older style of ruins they found, though they added their own style of architecture to them as they built the foundations of their empire.^[3]