#9881

Each side wishes to claim the “gate” seen in the background.  This “gate” consists of an incomplete archway formed of six very large cut stones, which rest upon two box-shaped stone slabs, which are inscribed with what may or may not be FUThORC runes (I can’t find an image large enough to be sure).  Whoever built this “gate” must have used an incredibly strong adhesive to keep the stones of the archway in place, since what normally keeps an arch in place is the pressure of the central stone on the rest of them!  On either side of the “gate” stands a column with a brazier at the top.  Between the two half-arches, there is a flat stone slab inscribed with a sunburst design, with a small set of steps carved into the hill leading up to it.  This slab appears to be some sort of altar, but as we can see on the box art, it will pop open and reveal a set of golden weapons (presumably enchanted, and of both Valtheran and Warfang varieties).  There is also a location for Talonblaze’s orange Krystal to be placed; perhaps this activates the altar?

I’ve been putting scare quotes around “gate” because, obviously, this gate doesn’t lead anywhere!  So what’s it for?  I guess it could be the former site of the portal to Dragon World, but that seems unlikely considering that no dragon could fit through that opening.  Is it a symbolic arch, as the Romans used to build?  Maybe it’s meant to commemorate a battle, and is actually called the Battle Gate.  Or maybe its sole purpose really is just to house those enchanted weapons (rather than the weapons’ location being a secret).