Psychomanteum Holy Wisdom

The great temple of the Empire is the Psychomanteum Holy Wisdom. Here is the ultimate repository of Imperial belief, the records, oaths, and sacrifices of the divine. Here, too, is the blasphemous Hall of Gods where the basileus has bound the gods of the Ponnim and Olympians alike and placed them for display. They rage and promise, but are bound and guarded by the Magery of Holy Wisdom and their prisoning magics maintained by the Order of Vesta, so stand transfixed and chained, communicating only by telepathy. Entering the Hall of Gods requires Madness checks (DC 25) from the telepathic static upon entry, and every round IF you respond to them but once per turn if you remain in their presence. These are the powerful demon lords' and archdevils' presence in the Mare Nostrum, great powers the basileus has bound to his whim, their only access to Terra Antiqua a statue polished by virgins daily with lengthy prayers and rituals to milk their power like cows.

Purpose / Function

Originally, the psychomanteum was donated to a backwater cult that supported Constantine during the Eternal Secession. However, when the basileus returned from his Iranshar campaign, he brought along many statues worshiped in Canaan he'd magically sealed the god portrayed in and placed them here, in the place of Holy Wisdom, to show his power over the mere "gods". Later conflicts with the Olympian cults saw the basileus seal them here as well, first divided into fragments that were sealed individually until the entire entities were bound here. The basileus absorbed the gods of the ponnim then hit upon the idea of dividing the power of the Olympians by aspect until they were whittled down to an essence it could likewise trap. Foreign gods will be sealed up in this place as well, set on display so all may see the basileus' (and thus, the Empire's) power.

Alterations

The Hall of the Gods was added on as the collection grew, and stretches much further than the outside would indicate. Earth elementals grind perpetually beneath the psychomanteum Holy Wisdom, maintaining the effect.

Architecture

The original building was designed as a meeting hall and library, but the basileus remade it to fit Imperial sensibilities and tastes. It resembles nothing so much as a child's blocks, jumbled along the ridge of coastal foothills, the central and largest topped by a great dome. Within, the Hall of the Gods mimics Punic architecture, with sturdier pillars in the section where the Olympians are stored, the statues separated so the gods cannot reunite and must remain bound. The only shrines here are those to Helios the solar titan or his kin, and all worship is conducted here, with only rituals of disdain and tapping for power performed at the other divine representations. Catacombs have been carefully dug and reinforced beneath the structure, constantly renewed and repaired by bound earth elementals.

History

The psychomanteum as it now stands is a vast monastery and library for the Imperial Temple, containing the official stories of the Revered Dead of the Empire. The main chambers of the psychomanteum are where the basileus exercises his authority as Pontifex of the Imperial Temple. The Hall of the Gods began when the basileus subdued cultists in Sirru and took their god as a trophy, bound within the very statue they venerated. The Hall was expanded, following Kreta lines which etched it along the rise of low mountains over the ports of Byzantium, the monastery and library expanding as well. The original psychomanteum is preserved, used only by the basileus for prepatory ritual. He has bound many potent entities here for public display, these bonds reinforced by the Vestal Virgins and the militant priests of the psychomanteum. The expansion of the Hall occurs when the Empire has finally seized an outsider too powerful to be destroyed. The basileus seals them in their last statue and builds the display room specifically to hold them.

Founding Date

completed 1312 AU

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Owner

Basileus of the Empire

Ruling/Owning Rank

Basileus

Owning Organization

The Silentium