The Great Cathedral of Vortarius

Written for Prompt 4 (2019 Summer Camp)

Written by David_Ulph

The Imperial Capitol is the heartland of the Great Western Empire and as such is home to many incredibly important buildings to the peoples of Terralba. One of these buildings is Vortarius' Cathedral, the centre of religious worship to the Order of Saint Vortarius and the seat of the Archbishop of the Faith. The Great Cathedral is rivalled only by the Cathedral of the One True God in Mordwynn where the Order was established.

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Purpose

As the seat of the Archbishop (who will hold the position as Imperial Chaplain in the Emperor's Court), and being situated across a bridge from the Jade Citadel, the Great Cathedral acts as the personal worshipping space of the Imperial Family, and so royal weddings are conducted here in massive ceremonies.

Additional ceremonies are held on the last day of every week so that all nobility in the Capitol and staying who worship the One True God, so that they can be nourished by the communion blood and cleanse their bodies from sin.

The Cathedral is named after Saint Vortarius, the founder of the Faith and Great Prophet of the One True God. It was built by Emperor Doughtaticus II the Pious, the first Emperor of the GWE to rule after the war between the Order and the Faiths of the Survivor Gods. Doughtaticus, while not the original Imperial Heir, was chosen due to his piety and pacifism for the One True God. In gratification, Doughtaticus ordered the Great Cathedral to be built next to the Jade Citadel.

Appearance

The Great Cathedral is the largest single building in the Capitol, despite the Jade Citadel sprawling over a larger area. The outsides are coated in a shining marble with lavish golden details and sandstone statues of various Saints, inside inlets in the wall. In the courtyard in front of the stairs leading to the Cathedral is a huge obsidian statue of Saint Vortarius himself riding a horse.

The majority of the Cathedral's size is taken up by the main circular altar room. It is decorated with paintings, sculptures, and lit candles scattered all over the edge of the room. The main sanctum chamber can comfortably seat seven hundred people. There are also other spaces within the complex that could seat larger numbers. The Great Cathedral was also built with countless rooms for monks and cells for penitents.

Within the personal worship chamber for the Emperor and Empress, the main wall is dominated by a tapestry depicting the Legend of Saint Bernulf, the most famous depiction of the story. Bernulf is shown as a Saint holding his journal and a vial of the Order's Communion Blood. It depicts the scene where Bernulf attempts to preach and make peace with the Clerics opposing him before they murder him and his followers. The Clerics are all shown to be wearing blindfolds. In the centre of the room is a small altar with Communion Blood for the Emperor and Empress.

It is said the domes and spires of the Cathedral can be seen from even the dankest slums in the Imperial Capitol.

Alternative Names

Great Cathedral, Vortarius' Cathedral

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Owning Organization

Order of Saint Vortarius