The Temple of Wreath

Located at the crest of the hill whereupon The Village of Wreath is located, the Temple of Wreath is easily observed from the Vardan Beltway by the southside of the village. The largest, most complex building in Wreath serves multiple purposes, from house of worship, to library, to orphanage, hospital. Sister Meredith Tannis, a cleric of Melandras, is the current groundskeeper and acting clergy.

Purpose / Function

Worship

This building functions as the central place of worship for the denizens of Wreath. Though it is not uncommon to have a small shrine or statue somewhere on the property for any individual or family, this is the place for larger groups to worship than can comfortably fit in the average home.
Small hanging shrines depicting the symbols of the various gods line the interior walls of the church. Directly below them stand altars with space for various offerings. These shrines are enchanted to reflect the presence of the deity during prayer. Some will glow, others light aflame or smolder with incense in recognition of the deity. Finally, they may also indicate the presence of a nearby demigod, typically through a superimposed ethereal image of the altar.

Library

Additionally, the vast majority of the books in The Village of Wreath are located here. From books on practical crafts such as A Guide to the Loom to religious texts like The Tenets of Melandras and other books Sister Meredith has been keeping over the many years she's presided as town cleric, the Temple is the de facto library of the town.

Orphanage

Unfortunately, a great storm 5 years ago did incredible damage to the village and many families were devastated by loss of life and property. Among the worst affected were the youth of wreath, many of whom found themselves orphaned as a result of their parents valiant efforts to protect them. One notable story was that of a young girl who found in her dead fathers arms as he floated among the debris the following morning. Many of those living in the temple share similarly heartbreaking stories. Sister Meredith does her best to care for and educate them, but the strain on the church's coffers is often great. Still, they are able to live in shelter and help her keep the grounds as part of their chores when they are not studying. about 30 or so orphans live in what used to be the balconies on the second floor of the Temple.

Hospital

Occasionally, the cold northern winters or strange southern winds bring with them a wave of sickness with the coming and going of the seasons. If the load is to great, the sick may be confined to the first floor of the church and curtains are raised on the second floor to keep the children separated. In an effort to lessen the probabilities of the children falling ill, Mayor Gabriel Woodsworth built a wooden staircase that rose directly to the second floor along the eastern side of the temple. When there is a true epidemic, the basement of the temple is also put to use. Sister Meredith prefers not to use the basement since the air is often musty and has poor circulation.

Contents & Furnishings

Pews, altars, and many standard temple furnishings.

Alterations

A wooden staircase was erected by Mayor Gabriel Woodsworth along the eastern side of the temple so that the resident orphans could go directly to their quarters while avoiding coming into direct contact with the sick in the event of an epidemic. The bottom of the stairs starts southward and reaches a modified shuttered window-turned door.

Architecture

The structure is remeniscent of a mid-sized gothic cathedral, lightly worn by the elements, but still needing moderate repairs to hard-to-reach areas. With the dominant deity of the region being Melandras much of the stone walls of the temple feature reliefs depicting the stories from Melandras' gospel. The wooden roof covers a rarely used attic that mostly houses boxes and dusty robes.

Alternative Names

The Temple

Type

Temple / Church

Parent Location

The Village of Wreath

Owner

Mayor Gabriel Woodsworth