Temple of the Dawn God

The Church of Amaro Sarmash

"Basilica Aitaren Tenplua"

Overview: It is the only operative temple known to exist on Edus honoring the God of Light, Amaro Sarmash. The "Basilica Aitaren Tenplua", which rests atop the highest mountain in Almozen County of Hepulchor, is also referred to in the common tongue as "Temple of The Dawn God", "The Light Father's Chamber", and "Palace of the Sun King". Followers of Amaro's teachings are called Itsúbat (as a follower of Islam is called Muslim) and their holy symbol is a multi-rayed yellow sun with stoic face on a field of white. Location: At the top of the Mendi Tontorra mountains on the south-western border of Hepulchor, west of the city of Almozen and north of Calso. History: Around the middle of the second age in 2023 AB, a group named the Knights of Amaro led a group of Clergy and their congregation out of Ciudal Sahn, the Capital City of Hepulchor, on a mission from Amaro - God of Light, to make a new settlement in His name. They travelled west, stopping at the Mendi Tontorra mountains, and established Fort Almózene, which grew into the current seat of Almozen County. These Knights also discovered the Crystal Cavern and established the Temple of the Dawn God. As summer begins every year, faithful Itsúbat start to gather from all corners of Almozen County at the Mendi Tontorra base camp near Calso. From there, the path winds up treacherous cliffs and ridgelines and has been used for centuries by worshipers on their pilgrimage to the Basilica Aitaren Tenplua nestled high atop the tallest peak. They brave the journey to behold a wonderous spectacle lasting just one month out of the year. During the 15 days prior to the summer solstice and 15 days following, the high angle of the sun shines light deeply into numerous cracks and crevasses around the mountaintop, illuminating hundreds of thousands of gems and crystals in the cavern walls beneath the temple from sunrise to sunset. These natural prisms within the immense chamber gather and reflect the sun's rays, focusing them onto a massive crystalline central column creating a beam of ethereal bluish-green light. This beam shines upward through the Temple's central chamber, then high into the sky above the mountain. The vivid, gleaming beacon can be seen during the day from distances of over a hundred miles. Leadership: Arch Bishop, High Priest, The Knights of Amaro. Rumors: "Day of Odol Opari" (the Blood Gift): Once every 100 years, a bright red moon rises in the dead of night on the summer solstice high above the mountain peaks, filling the Crystal Cavern (Kobázulo Diamant) with deep crimson beams of moonlight. It is said the red light shining out of the bejeweled chamber and up through the temple looks like a glowing river of blood flowing into the night sky. Rumors abound that items which were left inside the Cavern on that day had been imbued with magical powers bestowed by Amaro himself! Places of Interest: