Old Temple

Located in the northeastern quarter of the city, the Old Temple is Amaranthine's primary defensive structure and a beautiful symbol of the city's devotion to both the Forces of Creation and it's people.

Purpose / Function

The building's original purpose was to be the main barracks and housing for the Knights of Cidon, an autonomous order of paladin and religious fighters whose sole purpose was to eradicate all of Maferath's influence in the world. It was only in recent centuries as the city expanded to include the Old Temple that the castle's purpose was shifted to be the primary defensive structure for the city.

Alterations

Since its change of hands over to the more politically controllable Knight's Bloom, the castle has undergone several renovations including structured access to the Understory, a curtain wall and a massive addition to the central tower, raising up three hundred feet above the city skyline and topped by one of the largest trebuchets ever constructed.

Architecture

Much like the Bastion and most buildings in the Arsenal District, the Old Temple is much more feudal in design when compared to the more gothic traditions of the remainder of the city.

History

Enchanted by rumors of the Temple of the Lady, one of the first Knight Commanders of the Knights of Cidon lead his company on a pilgrimage to the city of Amaranthine. Upon arriving and finding the whole region beset by monsters and all forms of Maferath's corruption, he decided that it had been the will of Cidon for them to arrive in Aldir. He set his company about making camp a mile north of the then fledgling city of Amaranthine. For the next fifteen years they contracted the settlers in the area to build the Old Temple to serve as the order's main headquarters in the region.
There they remained until the city eventually grew to eclipse the castle and its surrounding area. At the request of the King, the Order of the Knights of Cidon agreed to be annexed into the city's charter and devoted their land's and holdings to the King. In exchange for keeping the castle, the Knight's Bloom would defend the city should Amaranthine ever fall under attack.
Time would show that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, and the freedom to go where they felt they were needed and act according to a higher law than that of the king proved to set the Order apart as a rather troublesome thorn in the King's side. About 450 years ago the King, with the help of several of his advisers and a traitor from within the Order itself, propped up the Order of Cidon with a mess of false charges of conspiracy, heresy and deviancy and had the Order disbanded and it's leaders executed.
Immediately following this the King instituted the Knight's Bloom, who would occupy the Old Temple and serve in a similar capacity to the Order of the Knights of Cidon. The main difference would be that the Knight's Bloom would answer directly to the King and his council and operate only at their discrection.

Type

Castle

Parent Location

Arsenal District

Owner

King Leob Nesterly VIII

Owning Organization

Aldir