Achetria Cathedral

The Cathedral of Achetria is a giant, living taphos tree in southern Mesia that has become an elven temple. It is thousands of years old and still growing, and is believed to be the oldest tree of its kind in the world. No-one alive remembers when it was planted. The elves who worship there defend it fiercely from any and all threats, including wildfires and wild dragon attacks.

Architecture

The inner shrine of the temple is within the trunk of the tree itself, which has become hollow over the centuries and created a roughly circular space, twenty or thirty feet in diameter, with a high ceiling. The entrance to this shrine, an arch-shaped gap between two of the great roots, is more than seven feet high and almost wide enough for two elves to enter side by side. Inside, nothing has been done to change or conceal the living structure of the tree, and there are no decorations or furniture.
Around the base of the trunk, the tangled roots form the structure for several more shrines, some only big enough for a child to sit inside, but some with enough room for half a dozen worshippers. These are typically sectioned off with hanging curtains of brightly-coloured silk, which are moved around and replaced as the tree's growth changes the structure of the temple.
The outer cathedral is formed from the arching branches, which bend down under their own weight until they are almost touching the ground, creating a vast dome. More hanging curtains are used to separate this great cavernous space into several halls without disturbing the tree or impeding its growth. In places, smaller trees of the same type have grown up around the edge, like columns. The eldest among these now stand well inside the cathedral dome and are tall enough to hold up the branches of the roof.

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Owning Organization

Kadarin Church