Saint Oswine's Temple
Situated on a mound on the bank of the Oswine river, the temple can be seen for miles in every direction. Every inch of the interior is decorated with paintings of the local wildlife, with fish and dear adorning the row of columns that lead to the raised dais and the impressive dome. Detailed depictions of the gods look down on the altar with the goddess Liandra taking pride of place. Her hand of bone reaches down to the supplicants as they kneel before her.
Thousands of river stones, worn smooth by the passing of pilgrims, lead the way to the steps and the altar. A door set into the steps leads under the raised section and opens into the crypt. It is here that the bones of one of Liandra's heralds are kept.
Thousands of river stones, worn smooth by the passing of pilgrims, lead the way to the steps and the altar. A door set into the steps leads under the raised section and opens into the crypt. It is here that the bones of one of Liandra's heralds are kept.
Toli strode down the aisle on river stones worn smooth with the passage of time and past thick wooden struts that held up the painted roof, each one carved with images of fish and birds from the marsh. Toli felt awed by the beauty and majesty of the building and wondered if he was bringing the wrath of a god upon himself and his men.
“Where is he then?” Samuel said, searching the faces of the terrified congregation as they held their crying children. Men howled for the goddess to save them, and a few made the sign of warding, pointing at Samuel and cursing his kind.
Toli approached the bottom of the steps and got a look at the painted dome that loomed over the altar. The pantheon of gods filled the space, and despite himself, Toli couldn’t help but feel humbled by its beauty. The central figure was Liandra, the goddess of The Thousand Lakes, her face partially covered by a draped hood, and a slender hand reaching down towards the altar. Toli felt his knees weaken at the sight and stopped with his foot on the first step, his eyes staring into the darkness of the hood, imagining the goddess looking back at him and weighing his worth.
“This is a holy house. There is no need for violence here,” an elven priest said as he came to stand in front of the altar. He wore long white robes and a tall cylindrical hat, his pointed ears reaching above the rim. “I am Father Morden, a high priest in the service of the Goddess Liandra. This is her home, and I demand that you leave.”The Red Fang, Chapter 2
by DALL-E-3
RUINED STRUCTURE
458
458
Type
Cathedral / Great temple
Parent Location
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