The Oraculum
Sacred Oracle Temple of Azoturia
Introduction
This three-level structure is made of sandstone and tiled in blue marble. It lies at the heart of Azoturia and is the primary place of worship for the Azoturian people. It is here that the city's sacred oracles hold court and prophesy upon matters of import to the rulers of the Green Valley. But such powers are not exclusive to the rich and powerful. For a humble donation any visitor may pose a question before the Altar of Dawn, the goddess of light and knowledge, and receive an answer from one of the temple oracles.
Architecture
The Oraculum is built upon a high, rocky prominence overlooking the Green River's meandering path through the precincts of Azoturia. A single set of stone stairs is cut into the side of this cliff and leads to the entrance of the temple palace. At the entrance there is an altar surmounted with a white marble statue of the Dawn goddess, who stands with arms open to welcome supplicants of the Oraculum. Beside the temple gate there are shrines where visitors may offer prayers and petitions for the oracles.
Beyond the entrance lies the Great Hall of the Isarchs, an arched gallery in which the reigning Isarch of Azoturia receives counsel and dispenses her decrees. Above the hall the Isarch keeps her personal chambers, stately and well appointed. Below the hall are living quarters for servants of the Isarch as well as the temple clerics and oracles. Unlike the upper levels which are built of quarried rock, the lower chambers are hewn from and expand upon the natural cave system of an ancient survivor bunker.
Landmark
Type: Temple/PalaceDate Constructed: 719 PCE
Purpose: Worship / Governance
Religion: Goddess of Dawn
Government: Theocracy
Alternative Name: Lodge of Prophecy
Location: Azoturia
Ruler: Valeria the Isarch
Circe Invidiosa (1892) by John William Waterhouse
Customs and Ceremonies
Every day before sunrise a sacred heifer is sacrificed on the cliff edge of the Oraculum. The Isarch hands her ceremonial dagger to the high priestess who leads the temple oracles in songs of prayer before slitting the cow's neck. Its blood runs down a trough to the river below where onlookers proceed to bath in the sanctified waters.
Thereafter until sun down the Oraculum plateau is made open to the public and all are invited to climb the stone stairs and visit the Dawn Altar. Those who wish may petition the oracles for prophecy by submitting a card inscribed with a brief question. The card is marked with red ink and placed in the mouth a serpent statue.
After a few moments, the card is returned with a response inscribed on the reverse side. The oracles' answers are inevitably cryptic, often riddling, and tend to raise more questions than they resolve. Nonetheless, the oracles' prophecies are considered sacred utterances of the Dawn and believers save oracle cards as relics.
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