Last Shrine of Kaygys

a.k.a. "the Old Market"

The Old Market? No one uses it. Used to be an Adrakian temple to one of their gods or something, but it's out of the way of the useful roads through the town here. No lizard-worshippers, no need to go there right?

History

The date of construction is uncertain, but the structure is old when compared to other Adrakian structures. It was also the last actively used place for Adrakians to worship Kaygys, the Jealous as their empire shattered around them.

The structure appears to have been built at the size it held, though signs around the steps suggest the Old Market had expanded to mobile stalls outside. It is believed that the stalls within the Old Market were more likely to be wealthier merchants selling to the more wealthy customers or individuals who were able to maintain a daily presence as the the roads pass from Tormyra to the Five Cities Region.

Traditions

From descriptions of the mural wall, it is believed the shrine was a common meeting point for the non-religious leaders to negotiate trade agreements and resolve conflicts as the Empire grew in size, while also being the daily shrine for the more routine rituals of commerce and trade for the citizens. Priests of Kaygys would weigh and manage the coins used in the market to ensure honesty, as well as considering the quality of good merchants would match to a price, leading to the shrine to be presumably also a place where

Modern Day

Various groups have tried to dig out and under the market to answer old rumors of gold or other goods of value hidden underground or within the shrine despite the open structure's lack of security for such wealth.

RUINED STRUCTURE
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Type

Forum

Parent Location

The Contested Lands

Owner

Kaygys, the Jealous

Owning Organization

Priesthood of Kaygys

Architecture

Open Roof

There are remnants of pole-bases suggesting the roof of the structure was made of cloth for shelter against the sun if any coverings were used. Historians have suggested the open roof was to allow for potential sightings of dragons to awe visitors. Segments of the roof perimeter have fallen to time.

Open Walls

There is only one solid wall to the market, the mural wall. The other walls of the mostly rectangular structure are made of pillars and arches holding up a perimeter of a roof. Along the absent walls are steps leading up into the market.

Mural Wall

The one complete wall of the structure was painted with a mural depicting the grace and glories of the Empire as a single panorama of the mountain and valley vista seen from the shrine. Records describe the mural's depiction of distant armies marching under the flight path of the red dragon Kotzuiyrn, the Razing against unidentified enemies along the valley. The mountains show another distant dragon channeling magic for the use of a group of beings presumed to be mages or explorers, the dragon identified as Athtica the Unfettered Gear. At the center and focus of the wall, is the large white dragon Kaygys, the Jealous standing between groups of people at a table matching the alter of the shrine.

The mural has been vandalized or destroyed since the construction, and most records surviving to the present day were written after the initial damages during the final battles ending the Empire's reign. There are signs the last mural was painted over a previous version of the mural or that it was painted in layers during the days of the market's active use.

Shrine

The shrine to Kaygys is through a corridor on the mural wall leading up to a large and flat open space and an altar. The altar is a simple table shape where it is believed worshippers would leave offerings before returning to their trading and dealings.

Housing

Unlike the shrines and structures for the other dragon-gods of the Adrakian Empire, the shrines and temples of Kaygys did not have housing at the site. From records and local history, the priests generally lived among the people except for the selected few who would go to the nearby Citadel of Kaygys or a similar dedicated building and not interact with the populace as often.

Alterations and Vandalism

Most of the changes to the structure since the fall of the Empire came at the hands of time, rebels, and vandals. The muraled wall has been painted over, carved over, blown up, or smashed at various times and wars.