The Temple of The One
Every region boasts a – usually ornate – temple dedicated to their region's deity. In Eredet, thereis no deity on the pantheon. Instead, the Tower Citadel houses the Temple of The One. It is located on the ground floor, below the Entrance Floor of the Citadel. There are multiple small entrances from the ground level that permit the public to participate in religious services and other ceremonies dedicated to the Creator deity. However, not all services are open to the broader public of Dremora. Although the chapel space is incredibly large, it is still difficult to accommodate the population of one district in its entirety. Thus, the Temple space is often reserved for those who live and work in the Tower Citadel, with certain services opened to subsections of the public every now and then.
The scale of the Temple matches the grandeur, size, and openness of the entire Citadel with large archways that line a central walkway to an open central space beneath a painted ceiling. The paintings depict a ring of clouds, the glow of a setting sun, warm colors that bleed to a starry sky, and then the swirling nebulas of space. Within this is painted a pair of hands, hard to distinguish from the nebulas beyond. The hand clutches one gem – pure white. Twelve other gems float in a perfect circle around the pair of hands.
The scale of the Temple matches the grandeur, size, and openness of the entire Citadel with large archways that line a central walkway to an open central space beneath a painted ceiling. The paintings depict a ring of clouds, the glow of a setting sun, warm colors that bleed to a starry sky, and then the swirling nebulas of space. Within this is painted a pair of hands, hard to distinguish from the nebulas beyond. The hand clutches one gem – pure white. Twelve other gems float in a perfect circle around the pair of hands.
Beneath the mural is the centerpiece of the room – illuminated by light reflected through a series of mirrors and casting light upon the statue in various colors that bleed to pure white where they all converge. The statue towers over all in attendance, standing well over 20 feet tall. It depicts a towering figure wearing robes that obscure their face and everything except their arms, which extend out from beneath the robes. Their right arm is stright, with the slightest bend at the elbow and their palm up positioned near the statue's thigh – almost as if extending down towards those at the base of the statue. The left hand is slightly lifted, arm bent and palm up. Coiled around the robed figure is a snake-like body, part of which is draped across the figure's left hand. The head of the scaled serpent-like creature hangs down off the figure's left hand, dangling in front of the statue's chest as it's mouth - open to expose teeth - is poised ready to bite down on its own tail. The statue has been enchanted so that the arms are covered in a nebula-like pattern and there is a faint glow of eyes from beneath the hood. The tail of the serpent is fractured and the cracks glow with the same nebula pattern as the statue's arms.
For a vague reference of what is being described, see below:
Around the wrists of the statue are golden bangles decorated with a set of gems. The same gems can be found embedded between some of the scales of the snake-like creature. The gems include:
- Black Onyx – carved with a set of keys
- Moonstone – carved with the north star
- Tanzanite – carved with a Yin-Yang
- Amber – carved with the sun
- Citrine – carved with a 4-leaf clover
- Blue Topaz – carved with a lyre and scroll
- Fluorite – carved with a set of weighing scales
- Jade – carved with a wolf head
- Tourmaline – carved with a sword and flame
- Emerald – carved with an orchid and lotus
- Opal – carved with a rose and dove
- Aquamarine – carved with a ship and waves
Along the central walkway, the largest marble pillars have been carved with depictions of the various deities and they are accompanied by carved alcoves with small altars for offerings. It's not uncommon to find miscellaneous offerings for all of the deities... even a small handful for Judas, though rarely more than a few coins.
Nooks, small chapel spaces, and other rooms off the main temple space accommodate the worship of the pantheon. Hallways "behind-the-scenes" lead to various offices inhabited by the Temple acolytes and the Grand Priest. A designated priest and priestess exists for each member of the pantheon within the Temple of The One.
Nooks, small chapel spaces, and other rooms off the main temple space accommodate the worship of the pantheon. Hallways "behind-the-scenes" lead to various offices inhabited by the Temple acolytes and the Grand Priest. A designated priest and priestess exists for each member of the pantheon within the Temple of The One.
The Tenets of The One boils down to "all parts made whole". It is about recognizing the unique strengths of all individuals, but without forgetting that the sum of the part is not greater than the whole. The One is the Creator deity who made not only the world, but the pantheon to govern it. They are the beginning. They are the forger of paths and the starting point from whence all began. They are an overseer, a guiding force, and the ruler of all creation.
There are very few who actually worship The One, but there is a decent population of people that have turned to the worship of the "Collective whole": the entire pantheon. This group often finds the Temple of The One to be the most welcoming and fitting for their religious and spiritual views, wants, and needs. After the Dread King's War, this group grew and many of them believe that the Dread King is the counterpart of The One. If The One is the beginning... then another must serve as the End, correct?
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