Temple at Willowbreak Field
The Temple at Willowbreak Field is an Order of the Burning Crown temple located in the southeastern-most corner of Ustraria. Prior to the War of the Six it served as a sort of flagship establishment for advancing the religion "into the southern wilds", acting more as a Cloister than a Temple, and during the war it acted as a relatively neutral war hospital due to its proximity to the key battlesite at Gell's Landing.
Having nonetheless not escaped the ravages of the war and the Plague of the Bitter Hand that followed, it is the closest neighboring landmark to a planned war memorial in Willowbreak Field itself. Its activity levels are beginning to subside after being so close to the epicenter of the conflict, and as such it is a sense a barometer for the status of the plague nationwide.
It is overseen by Minister Baalas Fifu and his flock of four Chaplains and forty-nine Servants of varying ranks, Isaia and his clandestine companion Brethoche among them. It once housed at least double that number, more appropriate to the building's size.
There is a notable Root beneath the Temple itself: since the Duel of Dussan's Crux and thus the bleeding-dry of Dussan's Crux itself, the 'Willowbreak Root' is now one of the most potent in the area. It is contributing to the Dussan's Crux Root's healing, albeit slowly.
Purpose / Function
Abbey, war hospital, war memorial, philanthropic establishment, missionary outreach.
Architecture
Those typical of a Temple: a shallow-roofed colonade in a sickle shape, and in its curve behind it, a square single-story main building capped in the center, slightly at the back, with a large dome. The interior includes a Room of Pillars, River Chamber, sanctum, and treasury not unlike a Glory. Unlike most Temples, however, Willowbreak's main building is flanked by two additional outbuildings that act as further living quarters for the priesthood and an enlarged vocational space.
Its River Chamber was constructed at great expense, largely on account of a large clear glass skylight.
History
The only three residents of the Temple to have lived through the Bitter Hand without contracting it are Minister Fifu, Chaplain Scaas, and Isaia. Additionally, between 986AC and 989AC under the instruction of Xa'aroch, Brethoche managed to persuade at least nine individuals to either renounce their faith, leave the order to serve the Host of Selephise, or kill themselves; their hidden tyranny came to an unexpected end with the coinciding of the death of their latest victim, Chaplain Essaforth’il, from the Bitter Hand and the Banishing forcing Xa'aroch to go into hiding.
Tourism
Though this is not common, it is regarded as a pseudo- war memorial for the War of the Six and in particular all who died to the Plague of the Bitter Hand, since travel to the original penultimate battlesite -- though nearby -- is prohibited and a more formal memorial has not been erected.
Alternative Names
Broken Temple
Type
Abbey
Parent Location
Owner
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments