Saint Tupaux's Cathedral

In the centre of the continent of Bastique lies a mountain range that almost completely divides the continent in two. Deep within this mountain range, along one of the few paths that lead through that are safe enough to travel through rests Saint Tupaux's Cathedral. The Cathedral is a monolithic building that, when up close, almost rivals the surrounding mountains in height and is just as imposing, piercing the heavens at approximately 650m. The walls are made out of smooth grey stone, mined from the very mountains that encircle the Cathedral. A single spired church of gothic architecture, fléche are present across the tiled roofs of both the hall and the spire. The windows looking into the great hall on the ground floor were all stained glass, showing different scenes from the story of the church's origin. Beneath and around the Cathedral is the main compound that almost acts as a small settlement made up of the church's followers as well as the common folk who have come to seek shelter and sanctuary with the church. Circling the compound and village is a vast wall that wouldn't seem out of place around a city or fort. Built into this wall is the barracks and headquarters of the Knights of Tupaux, an order of knights who guard the churches across the continent, protecting believers and ousting heretics. The ruling council of Archons that lead the Tupaulian Church decreed that the cathedral would open its gates to all who needed aid and succour in whatever form that may be, no matter whether they were rich or poor. All they need do is make the pilgrimage to the Cathedral and the Priests would use their blessings to heal the minor injuries and illnesses of the sick and needy, utilizing their education in medicines and treatments for anything that their blessings would not be able to handle.
As you enter the Cathedral through its great oaken doors, each with different motifs etched into its panelling that tells the story of the church's origins, you are greeted by a great hall. The great hall spans the length and breadth of the ground floor. The stone floor of the great hall is covered in a luxurious white carpet along the central aisle that leads to the dais at the opposite end of the hall. It is the duty of church initiates to ensure that this carpet remains clean at all times, especially during official ceremonies. At regular intervals, beginning after the first set of large stone pillars that help stabilize such a large structure, are benches that those amongst the nobility that arrive for ceremonies sit at to listen to the message that the Archons wish to give. Around each of the pillars and between the stained glass windows that are set within the eastern and western walls are floor candle stands fashioned out of wrought iron. Each stand is built to hold five thin candles surrounding one thicker candle. It is also the duty of the initiates to light each of these candles and replace them when necessary.
Atop the dais stands the five podiums from which each Archon will give their message to their flock. Each podium is made out of solid gold, moulded to show the forms of the spirit that each respective Archon represents. Behind these podiums sits the grand table upon which lies a pure white satin cloth fringed in gold. Resting on top of this cloth is a myriad of treasures consisting of symbols made of gold and silver, or goblets encrusted with precious stones. Each of these treasures is used during ceremonies by the Archons, but are otherwise kept within the vault that lies outside of the Cathedral, in the compound. Adorning the wall behind the table is a fresco, painted by one of the early Archons shortly after the Cathedral was completed. The fresco displays Saint Tupaux in a toga holding aloft an open book as five angelic figures hover around him on wings of white feathers.
On either side of the entrance are staircases that lead both above and below. While entry to the lower levels is forbidden to all but the Archons, the upper levels are used as wards to house the sick and injured.
On the first floor, you will find a large room filled with beds with straw mattresses and pillows and tattered brown or grey blankets. This is where the peasants who arrive at the Cathedral in need of more intense care than the Priest's blessings will allow reside. Most days, the beds are full and bedrolls need to be laid out for the peasants who can't be offered a bed. Set into the eastern and western walls are a number of simple glass windows, most covered in tattered curtains to spare patients from the glaring light of day. In the centre of the southern wall is a circular window, which overlooks the church compound, the village and the church walls below. There are two rooms along the northern wall. The bigger of the two rooms act as a storeroom, holding all of the medical supplies that the priests use, such as poultices, bandages, splints and ointments. The supplies are all separated onto shelves and neatly organised. There are no windows in the storeroom as the light might affect some of the medical supplies. An unsupervised flame is also prohibited in the storeroom, as such Priests must take a candle with them when retrieving supplies. The smaller of the two rooms act as a rest area for the Priests, filled with a small table and a couple of wooden chairs for the Priests to work from and relax. For any Priests that draw the night shift, there is also a small bed in the corner, similar to the beds that their patients use. There is no natural lighting for this room as a window was not built into the walls, so candles are heavily used.
The second floor is made up of several private rooms, specially set aside for nobles or wealthy merchants. There is a booking process for making use of these rooms and a sizeable donation to the church is also required. Each of these rooms is finely furnished, with a four-poster double bed covered in a fine cotton blanket over a mattress stuffed with goose down as well as a goose feather pillow. Each bed is prepared before the arrival of the guest and curtains are hung from the bed's posts that display the nobles crest or the wealthy merchant's emblem. Also present in each room is a stone fireplace, over which either a portrait of Saint Tupaux hangs or, for the regular guests, a personal portrait might be hung. Across from the bed is a small workspace that the guest can utilise. A bookcase filled with church-sanctioned literature is available for the guest to peruse during their stay and next to this is an ornate desk and a cushioned, high-backed ornate chair. While none of these rooms has access to windows, the church initiates are expected to ensure that the fire and all candles are always lit when a guest is staying in one of the rooms.
The third to the seventh floors are used by the Archons as their private rooms. Each one is decorated to its current residents tastes and no expense is spared to ensure that it meets their exacting standards. While these rooms belong solely to the respective Archons, they also double as meeting rooms should an Archon wish to meet with a visiting dignitary in private. While Archons do visit each other in their rooms, even they must adhere to common courtesy when doing so and knock before entering. All others that wish to speak to the Archons in their private rooms must have an invitation from an Archon or a very good reason to be disturbing them.

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Characters in Location

• Lord Commander Thom Lapín