The Temple of Elis
Located at the top of the highest peak in the Anwar-Dai is the Temple to Elis. From Sun’s First Grace, the Temple is but a mere speck, a small twinkle on the horizon. From the Temple, one can see a vast expanse of the Anwar-Dai, the edge of the Domain of Winter, and the entirety of the community that has thrived underneath the warmth of Elis, Goddess of the Sun. Here, at the place on the ground closest to the sun, those dedicated to the religious order of Elis tend to her Temple and visit the city below to carry out rites and oversee the braid ceremony of young Elians. Those who reside within the Temple are some of the most honored of Elians for they not only exist closer to Elis, but they embody a greater inner warmth than most… and they choose to share that warmth with all.
Temple Exterior
As you pass through a layer of cloud, you finally feel the near vertical surface of the mountain give way to a gentler incline and then, finally, to flatter ground. The top of this mountain is oddly devoid of any snow, and it feels… comfortingly warm. The sky above you is a clear, vibrant blue with the faintest glow of a rainbow arcing across the sky. Beyond the edge of the mountain, you can see a vast swath of the Anwar-Dai and can see the entirety of Sun’s First Grace down below – the flying Elians nothing more than the tiniest of specks.
Directly ahead, there stands the Temple of Elis. It almost appears like the pods in Sun’s First Grace, but inverted and with the lower half built of stone. Two towers of 5 stacked pods each stand, proudly bathed in the light of the sun. You feel that even moonlight would feel warmer here. The pods are composed of dark wood, but much of it has been painted with the colors of the sky and adorned with wind chimes that release a harmonious rhythm as the wind weaves lazily through. Tapestries decorated with the symbols of Elis decorate the pods and hang from the multitude of wooden perches that protrude from all sides. The two towers appear to be connected by a bridge, from which a rainbow of light falls almost like a waterfall. One of the towers is adorned with copious amounts of additional perches with small pods hanging from each of them. A multitude of birds in all shapes, sizes, and colors sit on top of the beams and appear to be nesting within the pods.
Temple Interior
Much like the Chieftain’s perch, both towers of the Temple of Elis include a central cylinder that passes through all floors, ending in a skylight at the top. Warmth emanates from above, almost physically entering the Temple space. The wind blows through the myriad of open windows – none of which appear to be shuttered closed or even outfitted with glass. Plants grow seemingly unhindered throughout the space, but paths of soft golden tiles are easily visible and easy to follow. Wooden perches adorned with Villám lamps and other tapestries or hanging “bouquets” of feathers are arranged throughout the space. Birds often frolic through the plants, perch on the perches, or bathe in the provided bird baths.
In the main tower, the central chamber is referred to as the Chamber of the Sun. Every day, when the sun is at its zenith, a brilliant beam of light passes through the skylight, striking the floor in the center. It is said that it is here where one may enter the true Temple of Elis, by passing through the beam of light. It is also where the High Priest communes with their Goddess, having but only a few minutes before the beam of light passes… and the Temple continues onward.
In the second tower, the central chamber is referred to as the Chamber of Rest, or the Chamber of the Moon. As such, this tower is home to all of the living quarters and rooms to the residing Acolytes and clergy. It is also home to the large aviary. In a time long past, it was said that when the moon was at its zenith, a similar beam of moonlight permitted one to step across the continent… to the Temple of Caliban. That, however, has not occurred in over 1,000 years… if it ever did at all.
Type
Temple / Religious complex
Parent Location
Additional Rulers/Owners
Related Report (Primary Locations)
The Connecting Bridge
A large bridge built almost entirely of wood sprawls across the space between the two towers. An age-old enchantment – believed to have been placed there by the Elian hero Tuari – creates a spectacular illusion of a cascading waterfall-like rainbow beneath the bridge. Above the bridge, the wood has been kept nearly pristine and is adorned with careful carvings of Elian people and sun symbolism. At the center of the bridge, the wooden beams have been extended to form a circular shape with perches arranged like the sun’s rays. This is the only location with a statue of Elis, for it is wrong to keep the Goddess of the Sky anywhere indoors.
The Goddess stands poised to launch an arrow at the sky. Five braids cascade down in the space between her great sprawling wings.
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