Cathedral of Aalunus
The dominant sight on the horizon of Aalunus is without a doubt the towering cathedral. In a city where most buildings are at maximum 2 storeys high, its towers are hard to miss. It sits on the edge of town, on a flat and grassy expanse that gradually turns into the beach behind it.
The cathedral was modelled after a termite mound, which are a common sight in the plains south of the city. The incredible size of the mounds compared to the small insects that build them was considered inspiring and a perfect reflection for how the church of Uyoyano is so much greater than small, insignificant humans.
This cathedral serves as both a church for regular services for local Uyoyanists, and also the seat of the church. The upper levels of the cathedral contain meeting rooms, offices, a private library, records, an armoury, homeless shelter, and private apartments for high-ranking officials. Notably, it is the residence of the Grand Master, the ultimate head of the church.
Every day at sunrise and sunset, the enormous stone horn at the top of the tallest tower is blown to mark the start and end of the day. Once a week, the sunset horn blows twice in short succession, to signal that a church service will begin soon and to come to the cathedral if you wish to participate.
The cathedral was modelled after a termite mound, which are a common sight in the plains south of the city. The incredible size of the mounds compared to the small insects that build them was considered inspiring and a perfect reflection for how the church of Uyoyano is so much greater than small, insignificant humans.
This cathedral serves as both a church for regular services for local Uyoyanists, and also the seat of the church. The upper levels of the cathedral contain meeting rooms, offices, a private library, records, an armoury, homeless shelter, and private apartments for high-ranking officials. Notably, it is the residence of the Grand Master, the ultimate head of the church.
Every day at sunrise and sunset, the enormous stone horn at the top of the tallest tower is blown to mark the start and end of the day. Once a week, the sunset horn blows twice in short succession, to signal that a church service will begin soon and to come to the cathedral if you wish to participate.
History
The Cathedral was built approximately 700 years ago, before Maloa was a country. At the time, it was simply the largest church built in the area. The Grand Master relocated to Aalunus 200 years after it became operational, after the original seat of the church (a smaller structure centring around a baobab tree grove) burned down.
The building was badly damaged during The Fourth Reckoning. Because it's made from mud bricks, the lower levels eroded during the flooding. Luckily, because of its size, the most important structural elements of the building were made from stone, with the mud merely covering it aesthetically.
After the floor waters abated, the cathedral appeared obscenely naked, with its lower floors stripped away to expose the skeleton of the building beneath. Fixing this was a priority for many devout followers, who sacrificed the time and supplies to fix their own home and businesses to repair the cathedral.
The assassins of the cathedral returned the favour by opening its doors to anyone in Aalunus in need of shelter, and for many years after the Reckoning, it was the largest homeless shelter in the region. That trait never faded away, and even now, there are rooms within the cathedral reserved for the needy. Even if those are full, the cathedral will allow anyone to spend the night sleeping in the main chamber or anywhere they can find room, and will do their best to provide food.
The building was badly damaged during The Fourth Reckoning. Because it's made from mud bricks, the lower levels eroded during the flooding. Luckily, because of its size, the most important structural elements of the building were made from stone, with the mud merely covering it aesthetically.
After the floor waters abated, the cathedral appeared obscenely naked, with its lower floors stripped away to expose the skeleton of the building beneath. Fixing this was a priority for many devout followers, who sacrificed the time and supplies to fix their own home and businesses to repair the cathedral.
The assassins of the cathedral returned the favour by opening its doors to anyone in Aalunus in need of shelter, and for many years after the Reckoning, it was the largest homeless shelter in the region. That trait never faded away, and even now, there are rooms within the cathedral reserved for the needy. Even if those are full, the cathedral will allow anyone to spend the night sleeping in the main chamber or anywhere they can find room, and will do their best to provide food.
