Heath Altar
The Hearth Altar stands at the very heart of Cromital, both geographically and spiritually. It is the sacred site where offerings are made to the Divine, and where the people of the city gather to renew covenant, gratitude, and repentance. Older than most surrounding districts, the Hearth Altar predates Cromital’s expansion and remains its unshakable center.
Unlike permanent temples found elsewhere in the world, the Hearth Altar is a consecrated open altar—holy not because of stone alone, but because of the Divine presence that continually dwells there. The faithful say the city was built outward from the Altar, not the other way around.
Physical Description
The Hearth Altar occupies a courtyard open to the sky, etched with prayers, vows, and religious law. At its center is a wide bronze basin perpetually lit with sacred flame. The fire is never allowed to go out. Even during blizzards or sieges, it is said the flame burns steady and warm, untouched by wind or snow.
Surrounding the altar are:
- Offering tables for grain, oil, incense, and crafted goods
- A ring of priestly pavilions, modest but immaculate, used for preparation and ritual storage
Though open-air, the space feels enclosed by reverence. Sound carries strangely here—voices soften, footsteps slow, and even crowds fall quiet.
Religious Significance
The Hearth Altar is the primary site of sacrifice to the Divine in the Snowcloak Dominion. These offerings are not acts of appeasement, but of devotion, thanksgiving, cleanliness, and atonement. Sacrifices are carried out by dedicated priests, which sacrifice the animals and burn them, taking a small portion for their own according with the law.
The faithful believe the Divine does not merely observe these rites, but receives them directly, and that prayers offered here carry greater weight than those spoken elsewhere.
The Priesthood
The Hearth Altar is tended by a permanent priesthood sworn to lifelong service.
Their duties include:
- Maintaining the fire without interruption
- Purifying offerings and instructing worshipers
- Preserving ritual law and tradition
- Serving as moral and spiritual counselors to the city
Priests are easily recognized by ash-marked vestments and bronze flame sigils. Many never leave the Altar grounds for more than a day, believing distance dulls their calling.
