The Temple of Twilight Dreams
The Temple of Twilight Dreams is a mystical place, unknown by most of the Folk of Cartyrion. Apart from the Half-Elven adherents to a sect that calls itself the Twilight Dreamers, few have ever even heard of the place - and none have visited it. In fact, not even all of the Twilight Dreamer monks and acolytes have visited the place, as it requires training and practice of the disciplines taught by the sect to even be able to find it. For those that know the way, though, it is a refuge... a place for healing and contemplation... a place for at least temporary escape from the challenges and hardships of world.
But the Temple is not open to anyone who enters the ranks of the Twilight Dreamers. Finding the Temple is a Rite of Passage achievable only by those who are either extremely gifted by the gods, or who have spent many years training to learn the ways of the sect.
This latter skill is crucial, as it is essentially the key to the Temple itself. For while the Temple is tied to a physical location on Cartyrion, it does not exist on the Metaphysical Plane as rest of the world. It exists in a demi-plane that can only be reached by those who can achieve the proper dream state. The secrets of the proper physical location, and the means of achieving the proper dream state are known only to the highest master practitioners of Dreamwalking. An aspirant wishing to access the Temple must successfully Dreamwalk into the consciousness of one of these masters in order to find the location and the meditational "key".
Location
unknown/uncertain
the location of the entry portal is believed to be somewhere in the plains east of the Inland Sea, north of the Elvenhome region and south of the Iron Mountains
Owner
The Twilight Dreamers
Date Constructed
uncertain (presumed to be approximately 650CE, or 2670 years ago)
Purpose
learning center and refuge for highest level members of the sect
It is unclear whether the passage of time while in the Temple coincides with that on Cartyrion. Some Dreamwalkers have reported that they have spent weeks in the temple, only to find that a single day has passed in the real world. Others have reported the opposite effect. It appears that, just as in Dreams, even time itself is fluid - passing as quickly or slowly as it needs to in any given personal situation.
But the Temple is not open to anyone who enters the ranks of the Twilight Dreamers. Finding the Temple is a Rite of Passage achievable only by those who are either extremely gifted by the gods, or who have spent many years training to learn the ways of the sect.
The Twilight Dreamers
The Twilight Dreamers are a sect of almost exclusively Half-Elven priest/monks who revere two deities above all others: Aurelana of the Alevar, and Somnion of the Humanar. The sect's adherents believe that the Elven goddess of night, sleep, and fate works closely with her counterpart, the human god of dreams, nightmares, and darkness to guide believers in efforts to guide Cartyrion and its Folk along the pathways envisioned by their creators. Members of the sect learn to commune with the god and goddess while in dream states, but they master other dream-related abilities as well.Finding the Temple
The Dreamers partake of extensive physical training, learning to unlock their inner wellsprings of magical energies to perform remarkable feats. As such, they are formidable combat opponents even when apparently unarmed. But the Dreamers also learn the skill of Dreamwalking - the ability to enter into the dreams of others to observe, and sometimes even manipulate those dreams.This latter skill is crucial, as it is essentially the key to the Temple itself. For while the Temple is tied to a physical location on Cartyrion, it does not exist on the Metaphysical Plane as rest of the world. It exists in a demi-plane that can only be reached by those who can achieve the proper dream state. The secrets of the proper physical location, and the means of achieving the proper dream state are known only to the highest master practitioners of Dreamwalking. An aspirant wishing to access the Temple must successfully Dreamwalk into the consciousness of one of these masters in order to find the location and the meditational "key".
the location of the entry portal is believed to be somewhere in the plains east of the Inland Sea, north of the Elvenhome region and south of the Iron Mountains
Within the Temple
Once a sect member has achieved the skills and completed the quest to obtain knowledge of the proper physical location and metaphysical key, they may enter the Temple itself. When they do so, they physically leave Cartyrion's metaphysical plane and enter that of the Temple. There, they will find the elders of the sect - members who have retired from an active life on Cartyrion to reside within the Temple and provide guidance and even more refined training to any who seek it. Dreamwalkers will also find the Temple to be a place of rest, recovery, and place to renew vigor of spirit to pursue the work the god and goddess have in mind for them. Skilled healers are present to deal with both physical injuries and wounds to the mind that visitors may be suffering from.It is unclear whether the passage of time while in the Temple coincides with that on Cartyrion. Some Dreamwalkers have reported that they have spent weeks in the temple, only to find that a single day has passed in the real world. Others have reported the opposite effect. It appears that, just as in Dreams, even time itself is fluid - passing as quickly or slowly as it needs to in any given personal situation.
Fascinating temple, or rather demi-temple! Love the concept. Excellent article!
Thank you! ...for taking the time to visit Cartyrion, and especially for leaving a few words of encouragement! Hope your summercamp went well.
Laurels & Loot is a new, lightweight TTRPG rules system that hearkens back to the early days.