City Temple of Dern
The great porch of the City Temple offers a stage for the civic rituals and great ceremonies that mark out the year. Its six huge columns stand behind small altars or shrines to Alku and the First Gods, and the ornate doorway behind leads into a massive chamber topped with a dome. On the bottom edge of the dome, a series of clerestory windows let in light and fresh air, letting out the incense that always burns on the main altar. Worshippers are allowed to make offerings at the smaller shrines but only priests are allowed on the dais.
The sides of the chamber are all covered in small shrines to lesser gods amd heroes, but in the center of the chamber there is an altar on a dias, which is carved with scenes of the First Gods. In the back of the Dias there are statues of the First Gods, each of which holds an ever-lit candle. Here, the most important rites are observed. The whole dias is under a wooden roof supported by wooden columns carved with potent symbols and painted with gold leaf and the finest paints. From the roof hang semi-sheer curtains of gold and silver.
The City Temple of Dern dominates the Temple plaza: its dome, made of burnished copper, reaches the fantastic height of 400 feet, towering over the city. The main body of the building is made of finely worked sandstone, with tall stained glass windows depicting animals and other symbolic images. The base of the roof is adorned with statues of beasts and monsters, such as griffins, dragons, and krakens. The window frames, door frame, and other features are decorated with more carvings and painted in bright colors.
Its front porch is graced with a colonnade, and in front of each column there is a shrine and small altar, one each to the first gods amd Alku. The porch is where the High Priests will sing praises and recite prayers every seventh day.
The main has a raised dias in the center, which has the Altar of Alku upon it, framed by four columns. On either side of the great altar are ever-lit torches. Around the walls there are a great number of small shrines to lesser deities and just below the great altar there is a small altar to the Five First Gods. High above, the clerestory windows let in sunlight while the stained glass windows cast multicolored patches onto the walls and ground. The air here is generally filled with incense and burning candles, as people send prayers to the gods and make offerings.
At night, the temple is brightly lit with magical lanterns that change color at the whims of the temple staff, lending it an aura of magic. On feast days and during festivals, the Plaza fills up with tents, carts, and booths all selling things. It is also the site of the City Market every Bleday.
On the street facing the plaza, there are three halls which share a central courtyard that house the city temple's clerics, acolytes and servants. These also have offices for the clergy and provide the ancillary services for the running of the temple, such as storing supplies, selling prayer books and candles, and serving as a secondary location for services.
The City Temple's role is that of leader: although there are dozens of other temples in Templesgate and beyond, the City Temple is responsible for the organization of feast, festivals, and other celebrations. It also sets the overall religious tone of the city, and its high clergy sit on the City Council.
Its front porch is graced with a colonnade, and in front of each column there is a shrine and small altar, one each to the first gods amd Alku. The porch is where the High Priests will sing praises and recite prayers every seventh day.
The main has a raised dias in the center, which has the Altar of Alku upon it, framed by four columns. On either side of the great altar are ever-lit torches. Around the walls there are a great number of small shrines to lesser deities and just below the great altar there is a small altar to the Five First Gods. High above, the clerestory windows let in sunlight while the stained glass windows cast multicolored patches onto the walls and ground. The air here is generally filled with incense and burning candles, as people send prayers to the gods and make offerings.
At night, the temple is brightly lit with magical lanterns that change color at the whims of the temple staff, lending it an aura of magic. On feast days and during festivals, the Plaza fills up with tents, carts, and booths all selling things. It is also the site of the City Market every Bleday.
On the street facing the plaza, there are three halls which share a central courtyard that house the city temple's clerics, acolytes and servants. These also have offices for the clergy and provide the ancillary services for the running of the temple, such as storing supplies, selling prayer books and candles, and serving as a secondary location for services.
The City Temple's role is that of leader: although there are dozens of other temples in Templesgate and beyond, the City Temple is responsible for the organization of feast, festivals, and other celebrations. It also sets the overall religious tone of the city, and its high clergy sit on the City Council.
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