Temple of the Inner Oracle
If it hadn't been for the Oroub-Zed cyphermonks at the Temple of the Inner Oracle, plague outbreaks might have wiped out the Shattered Lands region twice over.
Purpose / Function
The Temple of the Inner Oracle was founded as a place of refuse and learning by the Oroub-Zed Order. There, the cyphermonks meditate on the teachings of Miridi, as handed down through her prophet Neelan, called the Primes. Copies of the Primes, along with other revelations and discoveries, are housed in the monastery's expansive library.
But the monastery is also a place of healing. Unlike a hospital, the temple treats specialized conditions related to mental wounds or illnesses, mana burnout, or more specific ailments such as rotting shock. The latter is because of the cyphermonks unusual resilience against such conditions.
One thing that most don't know is that the temple also has a good vault of knowledge on how to treat synthroid specific ailments. Not just mental ones either.
Alterations
Since its creation in 210, the temple has undergone many renovations. Most have been to provide additional living space for the resident cyphermonks. But a few have been to repair damage to the temple from vandals. One unique alteration was to create the temple's Gardens of the Flowing Glyph.
Gardens of the Flowing Glyph
The gardens play an important role in the Oroub-Zed Order's healing techniques. The leader of the temple at the time, Great Uncle Chaur Vadkent, established it in 422 PC.
An outbreak of Echo Burn had just rolled over the Ice Reach mountain and Shattered Lands region, leaving disaster in its wake. Traditional medicines and techniques at the time were unable to deal with the volume of victims. Local hospitals and medi-centers were already troubled due to pirate raids in the eastern stretch of the Markovia Alliance, which was taxing their resources.
To support the victims, the cyphermonks repurposed an unused plateau adjacent to their temple grounds. Enriching the soil, they designed then created a mathematically precise garden. One where the geometry would create a stable, calm environment for a visitor's mind to rest and heal. Stones and plants were grown in harmony for the contents of the garden, creating a magical resonance effect that was later enhanced with runic crystals.
This energy acts as a 'background enchantment'. Patients at the temple are encouraged to spend time in the garden meditating, exercising with the local monks, or even helping tend the garden. Those that aren't familiar with how to tend a garden are taught how. This tactile connection with the low level enchanted environment of the gardens allows the patient's mind to heal. For those suffering from Echo Burn, it calms the storm and is a literal lifesaver.
Architecture
The temple itself is built on the side of a rocky hill outside the massive, energy-soaked ruins of Threshold City in the northeastern area of the Shattered Lands. This hill is an unusual mix of granite with rich volcanic soil. Inside, the hill contains several ancient lava tunnels and caverns, some that have been repurposed by the Oroub-Zed for the monk's uses.
Architecture for the temple follows a multi-domed roof design with slightly flaring walls. Pointed arch hoodmolds surround windows and doorways to control water runoff from rain and melting snow. Dripstones patterned after local plantlife are installed at the base of the arches to help direct the water down the columns and into a drain system.
The interior design is a repeated pattern of overlapping circles, where the largest sits highest in the building. It is also the main meditation chamber for the monks with a crystal skylight installed in the roof. This is the same chamber that between 810 PC and spring of 811 PC, contained the last working Tesseract drive from the old Coalition of Worlds.
Precise geometric circuit designs representing common meditation patterns for the monks are used as wall and ceiling trim. This is found throughout the temple from its massive main doors through every room. Even into storerooms and the main kitchen. Quartz crystals inscribed with light sigils fuel flared lanterns hung in key locations throughout the building.
Founding Date
210 PC
Alternative Names
Temple of the Floating Catacombs
Type
Monastery
Parent Location
Owning Organization
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