Temple of Wisdom

I carefully set my robes on the bed and move to my kitchen, pouring some water for tea. I walk barefoot across the cold stone floors, but don’t feel cold at all. There is a sense of peace that comes with living among books and scrolls that I find comforting. A part of me wishes I could live here forever.
I walk through the labyrinth halls of the temple, feeling more alive than I have in years. A day at work always feels so long, but afterwards, sitting down on my bed to read some newly translated scrolls before meditating is always rewarding.
— A Monk of Gelida

While the Temple of Knowledge lies in Central Wuxia , the Temple of Wisdom lies on the Island of Gelida . Also called “The Great Protectorate”, it serves as a vault where ancient artifacts can be studied carefully. The Temple of Wisdom is a place also devoted to understanding the meaning behind legends and prophecies.
The Temple of Wisdom was built around three hundred years ago, it stands as both a symbol and stronghold in the icy west. It was built to withstand attacks from those who would wish to steal its secrets.
The Temple of Wisdom in Gelida is a multi-floor complex, situated at the base of a mountain. It stands as a gateway to the knowledge that has been gathered by the monks who live there. It’s organized as a massive series of concentric rings and floors, stretching hundreds of feet down into the mountain’s depth, and lit by massive hearths and fires. The bottom level is for storing knowledge and artifacts, placing important items furthest away from enemies while floors 2-6 are devoted to preserving knowledge and artifacts, martial arts training, libraries, and research rooms.

• The bottom level of the Temple is for storing knowledge and artifacts, placing important items furthest away from enemies.
• The second and third levels are devoted to preserving knowledge and artifacts, and monks also live on these floors.
• The fourth level is dedicated to martial arts training and features a full assortment of exotic training equipment and weapons.
• The fifth and sixth levels are where the Monks of Gelida, who live in this place permanently, go to study. These floors also include libraries, research rooms, a catalog of important documents related to the research carried out at the Temple.

The significance of this temple is emphasized not only by its location but by its architecture: it's built from sources that are mostly found in Gelida, including ice, iron, and stone.
A routine day at the Temple of Wisdom starts with a morning meditation. This is followed by breakfast in the dining hall and then it's time to go to work. Monks may study books, inscribe scrolls, or do translations in their research rooms. They may also be working on repairing or preserving artifacts, mosaics, or other pieces of information that were discovered across Wuxia.
A Monk may spend their day in the library, studying diagrams and notes on artifacts or scrolls. This would be normal for any research-oriented monk at the Temple of Wisdom. Scrolls with knowledge about magical properties are not shared with those who have not reached Master Level status.

Alternative Names

The Great Protectorate, The Temple of Gelida

Type

Temple / Religious complex

Parent Location

Island of Gelida

Owning Organization

Monks of Wuxia