The High Temple Complex
The High Temple, seat of the Church of the Mother, crowns the sacred mountain in a broad precinct of white marble and greenery. More than a single hall, it is a full complex of sanctuaries, cloisters, gardens, and water courts designed for worship, study, and quiet reflection. Sunlight glints on polished stone, fountains murmur in shaded courts, and the entire terrace looks south across the island with sweeping views that make pilgrims catch their breath.
Walkways of pale stone thread through serenity gardens and mirror pools, past colonnades where acolytes move with measured purpose. Bells set the rhythm of the day, their notes drifting over lawns and lotus ponds as incense rises in slow curls from porticos and small shrines dedicated to Lady Bune.
Orientation and Approach
Pilgrims arrive via the grand processional stair from High Aranthaes, passing triumphal arches carved with scenes from the Mother’s teachings. Broad terraces step upward toward the inner gates, each landing offering rest, water, and sweeping southern vistas. Gatewardens guide visitors to public courts, while attendants provide tokens, lantern tapers, and simple veils for those who request them.
Outer Precincts
The outer courts welcome the city at large. Covered porticos shelter public fonts and candle stands. A pilgrim hospice provides beds, bread, and clean robes. There are infirmary rooms for the sick, kitchens and bakehouses that supply alms, and a discreet office where petitions are registered for blessings, marriages, oaths, and memorial rites. Musicians play soft devotional pieces in open loggias during holy hours.
Serenity Gardens and Water Courts
Manicured parterres frame long rills of flowing water that feed lily and lotus ponds stepped down the southern slope. Stone bridges cross narrow canals where carp move like drifting coins. Cypress, olive, and citrus give filtered shade, while herb lawns release fragrance underfoot. Small pavilions with lattice screens serve for meditation, counsel, and quiet reading, their benches aligned toward distant sea and sky.
Minor Temples and Shrines
Dozens of chapels ring the precinct, each focused on an aspect of the Mother’s grace – Mercy, Wisdom, Oathkeeping, Hearth, Prosperity, Renewal. These intimate sanctuaries hold low altars, votive lamps, and mosaic floors polished by generations of knees. Acolytes keep vigil in shifts, tending flames and receiving private devotions away from the crowds of the great hall.
The Great Basilica
At the complex heart, at the very peak of Mon Arant, stands the principal temple – a forest of marble columns, high clerestory windows, and an acoustic dome that carries a single voice to the farthest aisle. Frescoes trace the story of Lady Bune, from fire and fear to wisdom and care. Thousands of candles bathe the pavement in warm light. A choir screen of carved stone marks the transition to the chancel where rites are sung at dawn, noon, and dusk.
The Throne and Inner Sanctum
The golden throne of Lady Bune rises upon a low dais as the basilica’s visual anchor, wrought with fine engravings and set with gems gifted by distant cities. Behind it lie restricted sancta – reliquary chambers, vesting rooms, and the Ember Niche where a perpetual flame is kept. Offerings are formally recorded by the temple exchequer before anything enters the treasury, whose doors are iron-banded and warded.
Cloisters and Monastic Quarters
Arcaded cloisters enclose cool courtyards where novices study and chant. Dormitories and refectories occupy the eastern ranges, with simple cells for vowed clergy and guest cells for visiting prelates. Schedules are posted by bell – Matins at first light, Midday prayer beneath the olive walk, Vespers by lantern in the basilica – ensuring the precinct moves with order but without haste.
Archives and Scriptorium
The library occupies two connected wings of the inner court, its armaria climate controlled by clever stone flues. Scrolls and codices preserve the city’s charters, temple canons, and histories of Lady Bune’s revelation. A scriptorium adjacent hums with quiet labor – illuminators at tall desks, binders pressing vellum, and scholars cataloging new gifts. Access is granted by petition, with reading rooms facing a silent garden.
Processions and Holy Days
On feast days the entire complex becomes a living pageant. Green and gold banners hang from colonnades, choirs answer from opposite galleries, and the processional stair becomes a river of light as the faithful carry tapers up to the basilica. Blessings of harvest, sailors, merchants, and newborns are held upon the southern terraces where the whole island lies in view.
Order, Etiquette, and Security
The precinct is open to all respectful visitors. Robes and sashes may be borrowed at the outer portico, and weapons are peace bound at the gate. Temple wardens and City Guard liaisons keep a discreet patrol, while docents offer guidance and gently steer guests away from restricted cloisters. Silence is observed in signed zones, with conversation welcomed in gardens and outer halls.
Services to the City
Beyond worship, the High Temple serves Aranthaes as mediator and caretaker. Oaths and treaties are witnessed beneath the basilica arch, poor relief is administered daily from the bakehouses, and memorial rites are held beside the cypress pool. When storms threaten, bells call the city to confidence; when triumphs come, the terraces host public thanksgiving with music and bread for all.
Wayfinding
Colored inlays in the paving guide visitors – blue to gardens and water courts, gold to the basilica, green to chapels, white to the archives. Discreet plaques at each junction give simple directions in common tongue and sigils, making the vast complex navigable without breaking its sense of quiet and grace.
Encounters – Exterior
High Temple can become very busy at times. Roll a d10 for possible encounters…
Sanctuary effects – outer courts: calm ethos. A creature that initiates violence must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom save or take only a non harmful action on its first turn.
Environment: processional stairs are crowded – when jostled, DC 12 Dexterity save or be slowed, drop a small item, or fall prone.
- A group of 3 (1d4) zealous acolytes demand a tithe from all who walk the courts. 4-in-6 they are unauthorized zealots, 2-in-6 they are official collectors with stamped receipts.
Acolytes: AC 12, HP 10, mace (1d6), chain mail. De-escalation: show a donation token or request a warden. - A priestess leads a solemn funeral procession and may request assistance carrying the bier or clearing a path.
Priestess: AC 15, HP 40, longsword (1d8+2), shield. Non lethal options preferred in the precinct. - A pair of paladins argue theology with a cleric and invite the party to weigh in.
Paladins: AC 18, HP 60, greatsword (2d6+3), plate armor. Cleric: AC 14, HP 30, mace (1d6), chain mail. - A thief slips among votive stands, prying at offering boxes. Wardens are moments away if an alarm is raised.
Thief: AC 13, HP 15, short sword (1d6), leather armor. - A group of worshippers 4 (2d4) debate the nature of Lady Bune and ask the party’s opinion.
Worshippers: AC 10, HP 6, unarmed. - A high ranking priest oversees new acolytes and may offer a blessing or minor boon for a simple service.
Priest: AC 16, HP 50, mace (1d6), chain mail. - A group of 4 (1d6) fanatical cultists attempt a fringe ritual and grow hostile if interrupted.
Cultists: AC 11, HP 8, dagger (1d4), no armor. De-escalation: call for wardens to take custody. - A wandering bard performs a tribute to Lady Bune and offers a private hymn for a small donation.
Bard: AC 12, HP 18, rapier (1d8), leather armor. - A visiting cleric from afar requests help acquiring a rare herb for a curative.
Cleric: AC 15, HP 35, mace (1d6), chain mail. - Temple paladins on patrol circle the terraces, alert for the rumored threat. They scrutinize armed strangers.
Elite Paladins: AC 18, HP 60, longsword (1d8+3), plate armor, shield. De-escalation: peace bind weapons or present writs.
Encounters – Interior
Once inside High Temple there is an opportunity to meet some of Aranthaes’ finest among the worshippers. Roll a d10 for possible encounters…
Sanctuary effects – inner basilica: sanctity. Casting a harmful spell or striking a creature triggers hidden bells and alerts wardens in 1d4 rounds.
Incense haze: DC 12 Constitution save when you enter or suffer disadvantage on Perception by scent for 10 minutes.
- A group of 4 (1d4+1) acolytes chant a purification rite beside a side altar.
Acolytes: AC 12, HP 9, unarmed. - A lone cleric of Lady Bune meditates in a quiet chapel and offers counsel if approached.
Cleric: AC 16, HP 35, mace (1d6+2), chain mail. - A group of 3 (1d4) visiting pilgrims seek a blessing from Holy Mother.
Pilgrims: AC 10, HP 6, unarmed. - Holy Mother delivers a sermon to a packed nave. Her 3 Erinyes bodyguards stand watch.
See Major Character pages for Holy Mother, Alekto, Tisi, Gaera. - A senior member of the Defenders of the Mother (Orlonas Dasir) seeks an audience with Holy Mother.
See Major Character page. - Two (1d2) acolytes quietly debate doctrine in a cloistered aisle, inviting a learned opinion.
Acolytes: AC 12, HP 9, unarmed. - A group of 4 (1d6+1) initiates drill under the eye of Rilith Jol’gonas.
Initiates: AC 13, HP 12, quarterstaff (1d6+1), leather armor. See Major Character page. - A wealthy merchant (Orilia Thorne) arranges a major donation with the exchequer.
See Major Character page. Conversation is quiet and formal. - Temple paladins stand on silent watch within the aisles, directing traffic during holy hours.
Elite Paladins: AC 18, HP 45, longsword (1d8+3), plate armor. De-escalation: whisper, keep weapons peace bound, follow aisle markers. - A lone bard softly plays a devotional air to a small circle of worshippers.
Bard: AC 12, HP 20, short sword (1d6), leather armor. - A pair of (1d2) scribes copy ancient texts for the archives and may request quiet or assistance retrieving a referenced scroll.
Scribes: AC 10, HP 8, unarmed. - Eryndor with 3 temple guards protects the inner sanctum entrance.
Temple Guards: AC 16, HP 30, halberd (1d10+2), chain mail. See Major Character page.