Invisible God Temples

[Erol of Backford]

Likely this was discussed somewhere else but didn't see it at a glance. What do Invisible God Temples look like.

Are they like Greek or Roman structures or are they more open with breeze-ways? Would there be stylized an Orlanthi window, a bit late then real world at 100AD or so and not high quality but surely the dwarves have glass and gasses, windows and even telescopes? Maybe they use a sorcery spell, wizard's eye or something... but would thee be glass in any temple?

  

[jajagappa]

1 hour ago, Erol of Backford said:

Likely this was discussed somewhere else but didn't see it at a glance. What do Invisible God Temples look like.

That's a very broad question as it encompasses temple styles across all the west as well as a few outposts over 1500+ years.

If you're asking about Heortland Aeolian temples particularly, then I've typically used round forms (because the circle is all-encompassing) or semi-circular forms (as prior, but opening up to the assembled congregation). They are domed, but with open holes at the peak to allow in the air and the light.  They will have arched entries and windows above which let in air and light. There is no glass (that's a dwarf thing).  They will generally be on the high point of the area.  

The largest/oldest at Mount Passant has specific shrines to the two sides and back.  

However, the temple at Nochet, is a triangular form instead (i.e. both the building and the walled enclosure in which it is set form Law Runes).

[Darius West]

Hmm... I wonder... Tetrahedral temples...? 

[Erol of Backford]

I should have said Heortland Aeolian Temples... from about 1450 through 1618 when the temples were stripped of their Orlanthi ornamentation 

Maybe Aeolian temples are like old Spanish bull rings with the perimeter covered as Aeolians aren't as primitive as standard Orlanthi running in the rain? No one wants the frosting on the animal shaped sacrificial cake to run down, someone left the cake out in the rain... 

Though its oculus is more like the Sun Dome, possibly its more open at the center with early buttresses and vaults at the perimeter letting winds move through?

Arched open perimeter walls in lieu of small windows with the same at the clearstory allowing lots of air movement? 

I would say an octagon subdivided into 8 triangles each representing aspects or saints of the Aeolians?

   

 

[jajagappa]

7 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

I should have said Heortland Aeolian Temples... from about 1450 through 1618 when the temples were stripped of their Orlanthi ornamentation 

Stripped of Orlanthi ornamentation??? Why do you think that would be?

Aeolianism is a syncretic religion.  It holds that the Lightbringers and other deities are the direct and accessible Emanations of the Invisible God, and that Orlanth is the greatest of these Emanations (hence it being called "Aeolian"!).  So there isn't any reason to strip out Orlanth since he is a foundational part of it!

Further, if you consider that Belintar's Holy Country is a combination of Six Provinces that represent the Five Elements + a non-elemental Sixth, and think about Heortland's place as the Sixth of Storm, then manifesting the powers of Storm is critical to the magical energies that fuels Belintar's powers.  Belintar and his Governors are not doing anything to suppress Orlanth or the Storm!  (They are suppressing the Rebellious Vingkotlings, but that is not the same as Orlanth.)

One of the reasons that Belintar does not need an extensive administrative/priestly function is because through his powers, he can bring the Gods World close to the mundane every holy day.  The gods, particularly Orlanth and his kin, become manifest in Heortland at all the holy sites every holy day!  You're not going to strip out Orlanthi imagery when the god is showing up to visit!

What you don't have (what is stripped away) is tribal authority - that's what Belintar removes. There are no Heortland tribes (aside from the sporadically rebellious Volsaxi) after 1330.  But the Orlanth temples are there and fully used.  And the Aeolian temples remain as is in the cities where they exist, and also receive the Emanation of Orlanth.

8 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

I would say an octagon subdivided into 8 triangles each representing aspects or saints of the Aeolians?

Not sure where 8 would come from.  The most prominent Emanations of the Invisible God are the Lightbringers (Orlanth, LM, Issaries, Chalana Arroy) plus Ernalda and Uleria (think bearers of the Runes here).  Malkion of course remains the Prophet.  Aeol, as the ostensible Founder, has a place of importance as well, but of more importance as the ancestor of the talars. 

Here's my writeup on the temples:

"Temples to the Invisible God conform to ancient rules of sacred geometry and represent the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of inner space. A temple has an inner sanctum where the sacred texts of the Aeolian School are kept, a congregation hall, and antechambers and porches dedicated to the Emanations. The inner sanctum is crowned by a watchtower, always open to the wind at the top. Temples include dwellings for the wizard-priests, other buildings for state or convenience, and usually tanks or wells for ritual water.  Aeolian temples depict the mythological emanations of the Invisible God, the sacred Lightbringer's Quest, and the revelations of the Prophets."

[Erol of Backford]

4 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Stripped of Orlanthi ornamentation??? Why do you think that would be?

Richard takes them to melt them down and add to his coffers (non-canon TT05 p.15).

4 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Belintar and his Governors are not doing anything to suppress Orlanth or the Storm! 

He's gone by this time.

4 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Not sure where 8 would come from. 

Structural reasons, plus 8 triangles, Invisible God triangle, light bringers as saints, 8 segments in an octagon, looks better than an actual circle or Orlanthi rune in plan and is a mix between Orlanth and the Invisible God? YGMV plus the photos I could find on line of old temples that were circular were limited, like the way the octagon is triangulated in plan and may be subdivided to whatever suits you...

[jajagappa]

46 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

Richard takes them to melt them down and add to his coffers (non-canon TT05 p.15).

Well, canonically, Rikard does not arrive until 1617 and in this period Belintar is the God-king, his Governor is Orngerin.

Of course, if you're going totally different direction and killing off the God-king early, that's feasible, but it will leave you largely treading a solo path.

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by jajagappa

[Erol of Backford]

5 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Well, canonically, Rikard does not arrive until 1617 and in this period Belintar is the God-king, his Governor is Orngerin.

OK, 1618.