Temple of Light

It appears as a large, domed structure with a tower rising from its center. At the top, you can just make out a domed aerie, with pillars supporting the dome.

You are currently standing in a courtyard, filled with a fountain and a lot of garden-like plants. You turn to the entrance to the temple and take in the sight of the doorway. It is wide and arched, flanked by two angelic statues wielding swords. They are armored, so you cannot make out what their faces would look like.

As you walk in the entrance, you enter a large chamber. Across from you are a set of stairs spiraling up out of sight, presumably to another level. Directly before you, in the very center of the chamber, is a large statue of a four winged angel, the upper wings angled up, with the lower angled down. Her hands are folded, and her head is faced upwards. Surrounding her is a large indention, with steps leading down to her. There are what appear to be seats carved into the sides of the indention. This is a depiction of Axelle, the goddess of the Vi’gero.

As you gaze about the chamber, you realize that there are other chambers branching off, and you spy another staircase to your left. Unlike the main staircase, this one spirals down to a lower level. You descend the stairs, and you step out into another chamber, much larger than the main one above you. Lining the walls are shelf after shelf after shelf of books, scrolls, tablets, and many display areas. There are tables, reclining, cushioned seats, large floor cushions, and even a fountain in the midst, surrounded by a small garden. Light seems to come from somewhere, but you are unable to locate the source.

You ascend the staircase back up to the main chamber. You head over to the other entryways and enter to find a dining hall. It is much smaller than the main chamber, and you realize that this is where the priests, the priestesses, and their families eat. On this floor, you find several apartments. You head up another set of stairs to an upper level above the apartments to find two separate dormitories. The apartments you saw below were for the priest, and priestesses with families, while the dormitories were for the singles, as well as any priests and priestesses in training.

You make your way back to the main chamber and ascend the main staircase. Up on this level are raised seats in a half circle. The wide open space easily carries sound, the stones reflecting the sound, and you could easily hear someone talking from across the chamber. This is where the Council of Elders holds its meetings. There are many rows of benches between the stairs and the daises. There is a circle before the Councils daises where non Council member could speak freely once they were recognized. Off to your right, there is another entrance. Curious, you enter and find a strange pillar of light spiraling slowly up. You step into it, and you are startled as you begin to rise. You pass by many more chambers that could either have be the Elder’s apartments, or meeting rooms, or even classrooms.

You come to a stop at the very top of the tower. You exit the light tunnel and gaze in amazement about you. You are standing in the open aerie you had seen from the ground. A balcony runs on the outside of the pillars. You step out and take in the breathtaking view of Hayat, a lush, fertile world that knows no war. You breathe in the delightful smell of vegetation and roasting meat rising from the city below. The city surrounds the temple for about ten miles in each direction, and beyond, you can see the beautiful forests. In the great distance, you can just make out several mountains.

You tear your eyes away from the sight, and wonder at what is in the center of the aerie. A massive orb of pure light shines before you, but your eyes aren’t harmed by it. In fact, it is quite clear, and you see many colors swirling inside it. Above the orb is an opening, in the dome.

You reach out to touch it, but it suddenly condenses and explodes upward through the opening, creating a pillar of pure light. Unafraid, you step into it, and you smile as the light swirls about you. Your feet leave the ground.

Welcome to the Ever Road.