THE TEMPLE OF ILUMIŴRA (TEMPLE OF ETERNAL LIGHT)

 




Hook: You've gathered outside on the colonnade on the steps of the Temple of Ilumiŵra in Bridge Town. The marble and sandstone edifice looms over you. Townsfolk come and go from the entry paying their respects and leaving donations for needy travellers. You stopped here to leave donations of your own, and your thief happened to find a cloak to replace the one he'd lost to a skulker trap and the subsequent wound he'd bandaged with the tatters. Priests check on the grounds and tend to the ailing and infirm in the hospital nearby. One priest wanders past with a strong box and disappears around the corner of the building, likely heading to the treasury where monetary donations to support operations and temple maintenance are stored. The two warriors in your company, one a priest of The Lady, himself, return with empty arms, any clothing left in the sanctuary at the feet of the polished bronze goddess...

Details: The Temple dedicated to The Lady of Light, Kyrátósa to the Lumenorians, Angelia to the Caliborians, Ilumiŵra to the Taryŵnishfolk, Alam Ashadi to the Ashamites, Sueliä to the nomadic Erämi and elves, Lēohta to the Erämi Merefolc, Gŵardra to the gnomes, Eversora to the Strixians, and She Who Reveals to the majority of evil beings on Keltika is located in the Temple District of Bridge Town. It's run by the priests of the Lady of Light. Temples are individually run in every settlement, usually overseen by a high priest in charge of maintaining any grounds occupied by larger temples, a variety of priests both officially sanctioned by the high priest and regular citizens dedicated to the care of daily temple operations. Usually, in the case of Ilumiŵra, there are donations left by visitors. Mostly, any offerings made are done by visitors and priests paying their respects and asking for guidance, safe travel, or visions to help them succeed or find clarity. The temple, itself is simple, and of ancient Keltoian design with marble colonnade ringing a central sanctuary featuring a large statue of any deity being honoured. Some vary in shape and size, but, most follow the same layout. The central sanctuary statue is not monumental, but, it is larger-than-lifesize, and depicts a beautiful, bronze goddess in sandals dressed in an aegis, cloak tucked into her belt, a lng tunic, a bow with flaming arrows at the ready, sun shield at her feet. All other statues are golden eagles on sun globes, each facing different directions, each made of bronze, except for the largest, which are marble. There is a sandstone font in the sanctuary with holy water that can be used by any who needs it for whatever goodly purpose they desire. Any braziers are kept full of low-burning coals so that cedar incense sacred to Ilumiŵra can be added on top. Any columns are simple, tapering, fluted, with brightly-painted doric capitals. The pediment depicts a low-relief Lady of Light astride her chariot with bow drawn, a pair of golden eagles flanking her drawing her cart. The whole temple is gilt and painted brightly in details (not in its entirety) to accent the marble and sandstone. The pediment statues are entirely painted. The temple grounds close at dusk when the curfew is in effect. The high priest, Valthuros, lives in the hospital, a kind of hostelry for travellers and the ailing and oversees a small group of official priests. None but the high priest casts spells, but, they are officiates, perform funerary rites, practice law, oversee legal proceedings and land disputes and grants, and counsel those in need. The high priest is said to be able to perform miracles. He is approached, daily, in an audience chamber for visions and counsel, and aids the Mark, Bryŵn the Unifier, as an advisor.


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