The Half-Ruined Temple of Mirosaer

Surrounded by the dilapidated core of Ancient Zerbath and entombed in a sepia pall of dust, the Half Ruined Temple stands as a haven for survivors from the city, and travellers foolhardy enough to brave the grey wastes of The Ruination. While it's ornate black marble exterior is choked with the coagulation of years of dust, and rotting skeletons of trees threaten to drag it's buttresses to the ground, flickers of candlelight permeate into the gloom, for inside the colossal wreck, life still goes on. The interior of the building is repurposed. Rather than pews carved of golden wood and richly decorated shrines, the Cathedral now is host to an entire village. Ramshackle houses built of twisted and thorny timbers and salvaged stone festoon the walls, propped up by scaffolding and walkways. Their roofs sag, and the walls are fatigued to the point of stretching forward, yearning to lean and rest on the other buildings across the hall. But yet, the mood in the impromptu town is bright. It's people live harmoniously, united against the darkness outside the Cathedral's doors. Under the shapeless roofs of their little dwellings, and under the vast vaults of the temple ceiling, the village's denizens live the best they can, sharing trinkets found in the city outside, and tales of adventures beyond the temple walls. All the while, the remaining priests of Mirosaer watch the gate for any traveler in need of a safe haven.

Purpose / Function

Original purpose

The Half Ruined Temple was originally the greatest temple to Mirosaer in the world. It provided a place for her followers to worship, and would provide sanctuary for travelers and nomads who pass through the city (Mirosaer being the elf deity of travel).

Purpose after ruination

After the Great Ruination 74 years ago, however, Zerbath was destroyed by the great wave of necrotic energy which swept the valley West of the Blackwyrm Mountains, and the twisted monstrosities which followed in it's wake. However, due to the unique and ancient consecration of the cathedral, while the rest of the city was destroyed, the temple was only half ruined. It became a haven for the few survivors of the Ruination, who at first merely set up camps inside the building's walls, but soon began to salvage timber and stone from the surrounding ruins to build houses inside the cathedral's vast interior, turning the building from a temple to a town of sorts. It is tough living inside the Half Ruined Temple. Food is very hard to come by, and the most abundant source are the monstrosities which roam the wastes. This forces the denizens of the temple to hunt in the wastes, a journey from which few return. Those which do return are sometimes infected by various necromantic diseases which plague The Lands of Ruination , which the surviving priests of Mirosaer try their best to cure.

History

The Meeting of Mirosaer

It is contrary to the nature of the Elf God Mirosaer to build permanent temples. Followers of this deity favour temporary shrines to honour Mirosaer's patronage of travelers and nomads. The main mythology of Mirosaer relates to her never-ending journey throughout the planes, in which she is said to have performed extraordinary miracles. One such miracle was performed countless eons ago on the material plane, where she crossed paths with a nomadic tribe of her followers. In thanks for their devotion and to aid them on their own journeys, she bestowed apon them gifts of primal magic to that they could traverse the wilds around them, and made them light footed so that they could travel across northern snow and desert sands. The elves which encountered her that day later became Wood Elves and Wandering Elves.

Rediscovery

For eons, though the story was well known, the location of the legendary meeting was unknown, until followers of Mirosaer decided to embark on the same journey which their ancestors undertook. When the tribe came upon the fledgling town of Zerbath, they discovered that, on top of a nearby hill, was a circle of ancient stones, aparantly consecrated by Mirosaer herself. The nomads interpreted this to be proof that this was the place where their ancestors met Mirosaer. Thus, they began to build a magnificent temple, to worship Mirosaer in, but also to provide sanctuary to travelers who might pass through the city.

RUINED STRUCTURE
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Alternative Names

The Zerbath Haven

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Parent Location

Ancient Zerbath