The Temple of the Shrines


Temple of the Shrines

The temple is a low stone building with a roof made of wooden shingles.  Just one story high with an open roof void the temple serves the community as a meeting place and is used for religious, political and other meetings as required.   The Brothers’ House is attached to the temple by a closed cloister that contains an herb garden.  Outside the cloister walls there is a vegetable garden and a grave yard.

The Temple

Inside the temple are shrines to the main racial gods as well as for a number of other deities.  The shrines are fairly basic, just a small statue or a plaque representing the deity on the wall, however it is always of the finest quality.  There is always a place by the shrines where candles or other offerings may be made to the deity. However, the the shrine  There is a collecting box by the door of the temple, so that members of the congregation can show their appreciation as they leave.  (ie there is a box to put money in)

The following Gods have shrines in the temple: Pelor; Yondolla; Moradin; Corellon Larethian; Garl Glittergold;  Fharlanghn and Wee Jas and there is space to add shrines to other gods when they are required. 

Prior Richard leads all the main services, while lesser services are handled by the two junior clerics.    There is, however, a lay preacher from the village associated with each of the shrines in the temple - so a basic service, at the very least, can be offered to all of the gods represented in  the temple. The Prior is an ordained priest of Pelor, while Bartholomew is a priest of Yondolla and Guinness is a priest of Moradin. 

If you visit the temple you will normally find Brother Bartholomew tending to the shrines, he is able to sell the following items -

  
Potions

Cure Light Wounds – 50gp
Speak with Animals – 300gp
Lesser Restoration – 300gp
Remove Paralysis – 750gp

Scrolls

Cure Light Wounds – 25gp
Augury  - 150gp
Cure Moderate Wounds - 150gp
Lesser Restoration – 150gp

The People

Prior Richard Belgander, Esquire - A tall man with a noble bearing, in his mid 30, the Prior generally dresses in the golden robes of his order with the  Sun symbol of Pelor hanging at  his waist.  Prior Richard appears somewhat 'distant' to most people and been known to chastise people with the walking stick he often carries.  He gets on well enough with those in  authority.

Guinness Blackshield - This thickset dwarf has gray eyes, a large black beard who wears a chain shirt and carries a light hammer at his belt along with a symbol of Moradin hung prominently around his neck.  This priest of Moradin  is more often encountered in the mines or the Hapsburg Inn, than in the Temple.  Seemingly gruff, once he is past his initial suspicion of people he can be helpful and friendly, however if you are a dwarf - Guinness will get on famously with you.

Brother Bartholomew - This young halfling curate wears the yellowy-green cloak of a follower of Yondola and oversees the day-to-day running of the temple.  He is often seen in the temple tending shrines, muttering prayers, arranging flowers or lighting candles, he is friendly and approachable and gets on with just about everybody.

Brother Winston – This middle aged lay brother is responsible for the Brothers' House, he cooks, cleans and does other chores as required.  He tends to be a bit grumpy most of the time

Brother William  -  This young, Half-Elf is one of the garderners, he can  appear annoyed when he is disturbed at his gardening, but is generally compliant and helpful

Brother James - This old Half-Orc is the senior gardener.  James appears incredibly content with his role and   is always ready to stop what he is doing to help out.

Thomas Teave Esquire, Richard Aviso and Harold Fontos are three paladins of Heironeous assigned to the temple to guard the Laird's family tomb.  Occasionally Thomas Treave will  put a blue sash around his neck and lead prayers to  Heironeous in the temples itself.

Lay Preachers associated with the Temple

Mrs Lillitha - Mrs Lilitha is a priestess of Wee Jas who makes a day-to-day living by sewing clothing or working her garden, however she also officiates at funeral services.  She knows how to dress corpses and how to sew special shrouds for them.  She knows the simple prayers that will make any funeral or memorial service both special and effective, and is always involved is funerals at the temple.   She is the one who lights funeral pyres, oversees grave filling and takes care of the small details of a memorial service.

While most days she dresses  normally, for ceremonies she wears priestly regalia  of full length black and grey robes and the jewelery she has dedicated to her goddess  (1 gold loop earing, a bracelet and a simple gold chain).  She also tends the shrine of Wee Jas in the temple on a regular basis, making sure that it is clean and well maintained and that small sacrifices are made there occasionally.

If she is involved in a funeral, it is common practice for grieving relatives to pay her a fee according to their wealth.  From the poorest commoner she might expect a chicken or a basket of vegetable  (worth a few coppers) and the fee goes up from there.  For a junior knight, low level adventurer or high ranking commoner’s funeral she might expect a Golden Bracelet that she can dedicate to Wee Jas and a few coins for herself  (altogether about 25-100gp).   From a noble or high level adventurer she will expect more (perhaps 100gp and upwards)