Grand Temple, Len Doa
The Grand Temple is the largest and holiest temple to the Pantheon of Heaven in the City of Len Doa. It is located in the heart of the Castle District of Len Doa, just a few hundred yards from the Duke's Palace, Len Doa.
In actuality, the structure known as the Grand Temple is really a large complex of buildings encompassing some 380,000 square feet of area. Besides the Grand Temple itself, there is a very large residential palace, a hospital, and a school. Within the complex are also offices and barracks for a number of members of the Order of the Swords of Heaven that often travel to the city of Len Doa.
Design
The Grand Temple contains a giant statue of a seated Ayunis carved from a single piece of white marble, holding a scepter of solid gold and a sword of solid silver. Around the perimeter of the main nave are shrines and statues to 20 other gods and goddess of the Pantheon of Heaven.
Below the Temple are crypts and catacombs where past Grand Ecclesiasts are interred alongside nobles, lords and ladies. Below the crypts are a series of vaults that are intended to contain the vast wealth that is taken as offering to the gods by the faithful. It is rumored that these vaults are stacked to the ceilings with gold and jewels. The rumors fall far short of the truth.
Sensory & Appearance
Reliefs and mosaics cover the outside of the Grand Temple, showing gods and goddess, hierophants, ecclesiasts, hermits and monastics. Braziers burn constantly, and incense always perfumes the air around the Temple and complex.
Valuables
In actual fact, the amount of gold contained in the Grand Temple's vaults exceeds 8,000 lbs of gold, and 30,000 lbs of silver. It is the accumulated wealth of 125 years of temple tax, tithes and votive offerings of more than 20,000 local adherents and another 10,000 pilgrims every year.
Architecture
The Grand Temple itself is a stunning building, with three huge archways dominating its entrance façade. Each archway is 57' tall, and the height to the peak of the roof is 165'. Behind the center archway is a doorway 40' wide and 50' tall with gilded doors of carved oak beams 12" thick. The doors have reliefs carved into their fronts showing scenes from the creation story of the faith. The entire Temple is more than 116,000 sqare feet of building, and the Ecclesial Residence is only slightly smaller.
Defenses
The Grand Temple has no actual defenses. While all the doors and entryways to the temple can be secured, none are considered safe from deteermined attack. Because of this fact, the Grand Ecclesiast has appointed a number of burly acolytes to take the role of Temple Guards during holy days and the pilrimage seasons. These acolytes are not armed, but are capable of subduing intruders or disruptive guests to the temple, should the need arise.
A significant portion of the year, the Grand Temple hosts a contingent of the Order of the Swords of Heaven within the complex. When these holy knights are in residence, the Temple's defensive potential increases substantially.
Founding Date
108 AF
Type
Cathedral / Great temple
Parent Location
Included Locations
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
