Sanctum Aürum
The Sanctum Aürum was a grand temple to Bahamut in the heart of Bjália. It served as the home of Bahamut himself until his ascension to godhood in the twentieth century of the Age of Integrity, after which his son Bastien inhabited it.
Purpose / Function
The Sanctum Aürum was the home of the dragon at the heart of Bjália, who protected and powered the city. It was also a place for the Steward of Gold to hold meetings with both the dragon and other city leaders, and for citizens of Bjália to worship Bahamut and bring him offerings of food, gold, and treasure.
Alterations
As the city of Bjália and the hoard of Bahamut grew, so did the Sanctum Aürum. More tunnels were dug under the building to store and sort Bahamut's treasures, and taller spires were erected to reach towards the heavens. By the time of its destruction, the Sanctum had seventeen spires, the tallest of which was upwards of 500 ft. tall. (Accounts of its actual height differ; conservative estimates put it at 510 ft., but legends among the High Elf Diaspora boast heights of 600 ft. or occasionally higher.)
Architecture
The Sanctum was the tallest building in the known world until its fall, reaching nearly 500 feet in height. It was built in the traditional High Elven style, with towering vaulted ceilings supported by flying buttresses of marble and redwood. All wood in the building was magically warded against dragonfire. It had a pair of grand doors several stories tall, large enough for the dragon residents to fly in and out. The stained glass windows at the sides of the Sanctum depicted scenes from the Uplifting of the Elves and the Elegy of the First World.
History
The Sanctum Aürum, like the other great buildings of Bjália, was smashed to pieces by the Dwarven war-machines of Erdelan and the destructive powers of the Chromatic Dragon kings of Draxhaven in the Siege of Bjália. Though the enemy forces stole enormous amounts of treasure from its ruins, legends tell of even more hidden tunnels and untouched portions of Bahamut and Bastien's hoard beneath the rubble. No Adventurer who has sought it has returned alive.
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