Chapel of Ordryn

In the far reaches ahead, past the black expanse of still, festering water, Yelrie sees what looks like alabaster arms breaching upward through the depths. Upon their mossy knuckles rests a gold-plated sheet thats surface reflects like the cosmos, and upon that the cave’s breadth hides a great, white mural, the statues of which damned to watch forever in silence as the earth reclaims their marble faces.

Purpose / Function

The ceremonial tomb of Ordryn and a holy ground for his peculiar followers. After his previous temple slid down the side of the Oslav mountains, Ordryn’s lonesome howls are said to have driven his followers down into the depths of the earth after him. As a result, a tremendous, seemingly-endless staircase was built down into the hole left behind. It is unknown just how long the stairs were able to be built, the few who claim to have seen its threshold shaken by the belief that evil resides at the bottom.

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Chapel of Ordryn is a non-optional area with two boss fights and three npcs. The chapel is also the location of the Wax Maiden, who allows player characters access to the Whale Choir.

Architecture

The chapel is first accessible after the Bloated Tiger boss encounter and further unlocked after defeating Praetorian Phocas, whose boss arena leads down into Whale’s Fall.
This location offers numerous items referencing ”the deep place”, a concept alluded to numerous times around Balbura and implied heavily within Ruuben culture. After the Bloated Tiger boss encounter, it is possible to see what all is left of Ordryn’s previous temple, though not much is left of its beautiful, gold-like architecture.
Throughout the chapel, there are numerous murals depicting large, oblong-headed fish with narrow mouths similar in appearance to Sperm Whales. At the center of the whale’s stomach is a black hole. Alongside murals, the chapel boasts a network of white-stone staircases covered by pungent, scarlet moss that lead ever-downward. Large marble eyes are built over thresholds leading down.
Confusing to navigate and trapped in ever-present darkness, the Chapel of Ordryn is made easier with the help of Brinus and Yelrie’s Clapfire. Even with the additional aid of sight, the theme of blindness in this area requires player characters to traverse deeper into an unknown, howling space.

Type

Crypt