am'nýer—a'
T
TEMPLES THROUGHOUT
TAM'NÝER—A'
Temples are scattered throughout Tam'nýer—a', some forgotten, some more myth than believed to be real, while others are very much in one's face and undeniable like Bók-T'ak 's temple. Temples serves multiple purposes, not simply for worship, as they serve as symbols not solely for the gods & goddesses, but for people such as symbols of hope or personal growth. They are places of work, again in Bók-T'ak 's temple with 'sacred prostitution', or as hubs for orphans & the elderly, sometimes seconding as orphanages as well as hospices.
A Note about Priests, Priestesses & Acolytes:
An important and curious thing to know about Priests, Priestesses and Acolytes of the Gods, is that in worshipping the gods and leading the official rites, they give up the idea/concept of gender as a way to drop mortal beliefs. To better explain, in order to be considered a proper conduit for the energy & essences of the gods they must give up their gender. They are no longer a man, woman or intersex, they are merely a voicebox of the divines.
In theological beliefs, for instance Nue is understood to be a woman, but in truth she actually has no gender at all. Gender is solely a way to help mortal beings understand. Think of gender as a form of subtitles to help you understand a foreign movie. In order to understand it in a way us mere mortals can grasp, gods are given genders so that we can relate. This also is understood to allude to a polarity or duality - if you will - of energy as a whole.
Vojshā's Temple
Vojshā's temple is located in a mountain range off to the east of Kwetz. Originally built as a tribute to honour the Gods by Püertagœ, it took an entire Tam'nýer—a''n year to build it. This is thanks in part to its precarious location, however, it was deemed as extremely poignant and worth the trouble as it looks over the land. Though it should be noted that while we know it as Vojshā's temple, it was originally supposed to be for all of the Gods. However, during construction is when the Cataclysm happened, making Vojshā the Keeper of the Gods on the earth just as Vojshā guards the Gods behind the veil.
Streaming from the high elevation of the mountains that the temple is built upon runs the Tărantu' Chkeri'ˈwä, a large cascading waterfall. In fact, "Tărantu' Chkeri'ˈwä" translates to "Polyphony Falls". As with everything when it comes to the Gods, it is symbolism on top of symbolism.
All this being said, Vojshā's Temple is the most sacred building on the entire Lungs continent, if not the entire known and openly traversable land. Tying into this is the fact that over the years, it has become quite commonplace for the elderly specifically to make a pilgrimage to Vojshā's temple as she is the Goddess of the Veil and Daughter of Time making her sort of like Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld, where people bring her offerings as if to buy/barter their way for her to 'lift the veil' and join the Gods in their resting place, as well as to be guarded by her.
Bók-T'ak 's Temple
Bók-T'ak 's Temple in located on the northern coast of ZàÞça, above the rest of the city, looking out onto the ocean on the cliffs. The temple is usually a hidden gem among the rocky outside, still green thanks to the ocean, before one gets into the inlet where ZàÞça truly lies. Like most temples, it can be somewhat dangerous to get to, and thanks to the descending climb, most animals will refuse to take you, so you must make the journey on foot. Though despite it's somewhat reclusive location, there are acolytes that will assist you for a small donation that goes towards the temple itself.
The location of the temple itself is important because being on the cliff side, it gets all the wind that one would expect to be in a prime location to worship the Goddess of Air. But what of her other half? What of sexual dalliance? Well, unlike any of the other temples, or way to worship one's God, at the temple of Bók-T'ak, prostitution is sanctioned. In fact, it is voluntary and considered a proper way to worship the Goddess.
The practice of prostitution is at the temple in so popular that one can usually find virgins standing outside in any weather waiting for a person to buy their virginity. Whatever P'ee K'äh garnered from said purchase can either then be split in half, one half going to the now ex-virgin, and the other going towards the temple, or some choose to hand over all their earnings. Whatever the decision matters little, but the act of selling one's virginity and the buying of it doubles as an act to receive the Goddess' blessing.
Sty-kopös' Temple
Sty-kopös’ Temple is a small island of a temple north of the Ãoni Coast and south of the Mountains of T-'a'Ţăs'múr. It is dangerously close to the active volcanoes there, where it is believed that Sty-kopös died. Though the God is no more, his essence is still very much alive and well, as the volcanoes continue to spill into the sea.
While it is called Sty-kopös’ Temple, one can obviously worship his wife and their child here as well: Oðæma, the Goddess of Winter and N—'Ƒëkăs, the God of Comfort, Warmth and Wax.
At all hours of the day and night, Sty-kopös’ Temple is filled to the brim with candles alit. This is not only of course because it is the God’s element, but because the flickers of each candle are regarded to be sending peace and translating his worshipers wishes into the God’s own language. The idea is akin to speaking a beloved’s native language to help resonate that you truly hear them or see them.
The Temple’s upkeep and care is up to a group of a meager two individuals, sometimes married, sometimes not, and these two people are appointed by Vojshā’s Chosen. The two caretakers live here for two full Tam'nýer—a''n Months (7 Earth years), until their replacements are sent to take over.
Of course this task is not for the faint hearted as tides and the volcanoes are treacherous. It is a symbol of absolute devotion reflecting how Oðæma holds the power to put out her husband’s life, and yet they remain everlasting and steadfast to one another.
Sztwenī
Sztwenī. While not officially being a 'temple', it is revered as their birthplace. The very location upon which their species came to life. If the legends are true, that means that within this sacred place, a God's body laid here, or at least the remnants thereof, and the mirzum who fed upon it transformed into the very first Zdjętzami.
Since it is such an important landmark, not just to this race but to all of Tam'nýer—a' (even if they do not yet realize), the Zdjętzami do not build near it. While it may seem abandoned and a relic of the past, the Zdjętzami do not build within 3,27.3 meters (1,080ft) of it due to them believing that they may contaminate it. Of course to the Zdjętzami, they only have faith in Bezăv, as their faith is monotheistic.
The reinforcement for this belief on contamination however, and a fervent desire to preserve the delicate 'balance' they have is because there is something much different about the Feet Continent as opposed to others. It hums. It should be noted that the closer you get to this monument the more you will feel this hum within you. If you were in pain, you will lose it, your muscles will ease. The air will become fresher, clearer, despite your desolate surroundings.
This is due to the 'Rondure' hidden beneath the surface and what the monument actually encases. While the Zdjętzami believe that it is their God Bezăv's anchor to this world, it is actually an artifact. In fact, other than Q'Tam'smă's Grief it is probably the most important artifact out there, and that's because it is actually Jn's Heart. (Sorry, Ṅkhya'jra, you named your continent wrong.) And if you are of keen eye, you might realize that the heart would plug the hole of Q'Tam'smă's Grief rather perfectly.
VüƑ's Temple
There is only one temple left dedicated to VüƑ and it is located in the depths of the Emerald Isles. There is only one boat that offers passage to the specific island, and delivers supplies to the secluded acolytes there. Taking care of the temple that is covered in foliage and more or less one with the island, the temple is truly one lost to time. Despite this though, the temple is the only guaranteed place to view a living Cusur'galli; a great beast that is going extinct, and thanks to its rarity is turning into somewhat of a mythological creature that is viewed as the highest sign of prosperity and luck.