Temple of the Ocean Gods (Dejima)

Purpose / Function

A place of worship for Yondemuno and the Three Ocean Goddesses, this temple has been the primary place of worship for The Order of the Ocean since it was first constructed. Like most large temples it serves as a place of worship, residence for priests, and as a place of mourning. This temple in particular has been used for funerals far more than most others, due to the nature of The Order of the Ocean. About 10 bodies are cast out to sea every day after a service at this temple.

Architecture

The temple is constructed with the main hall as the central feature, as it faces East towards the ocean. The entire building is made of stone, bathed blue with the lighting and made with the ineention with having as much water flowing through the building as is possible. Water starts at the top of the building, after magically being propelled up from a basin and slowly filters down many different balconies and pipes, splitting off and eventually all reconnecting at the alter at the centre of the main hall, off of which the water flows back into the basin. The main hall is a fairly standard place of prayer with pews and such, but the back wall is half opened to the outside, directly facing the open ocean. The whole building has an emphasis on high pillars and archways, and the design is meant to evoke the feeling of flowing water, though only the priests will tell you it does so successfully.

History

Originally constructed around 1000AC, this temple has been the foundation for the growth of Dejima as a city, as it was one of the first buildings constructed which were not residences or places of work. Over the years not much has changed about the building itself, it was built on a large scale initially, but the amount of people going to it daily and the amount of services held there have hiked dramatically over it's 9000 year history. Initially services were not preformed here at all, but The Order of the Ocean became widespread enough to justify it doing funeral services, and thus commenced the temple's many services, around 2500AC. The building was eventually named the "true heart of the city" when, due to a series of unlikely events, a priest ended up in control of the city with several million sen in pocket. After the Age of Turmoil began, the church was seeing a lot less people as everybody was at war and for a brief period (2 years) Dejima was occupied and the church was shut down entirely. After that, in the Age of Edo, the church has had a huge resurgence and is once again the heart of the city.

Type

Cathedral / Great temple