Temple of the Blue Mother

The Temple of the Blue Mother is the most sacred site of Zalanite worship. Once a series of domed gardens with landscaped waterfalls pouring from one dome to the next, the ancient temple has lain in ruins since the end of the Second Acèntyri-Dekàli War. Plans to rebuild the wonder are repeatedly stopped by the priesthood who see no need to disturb the tumbled blocks. Somewhere beneath the ruins lies the sacred Sitting Stone of Irzala, the most holy of relics among Zalan faithful. Despite the temple’s condition, thousands of pilgrims come to the site every day to pray to Zalan, her Aspects, and her Touched.

The ruins of Kyrm Oryzálan dominate the ward of Sanctuary. Just as no guard may pursue thieves into Sanctuary, no thieves may accost priests or pilgrims traveling to or from the ruins of Kyrm Oryzálan.

The High Temple of Zalan was built upon the charred remains of faithful that had been killed by the Dekàlan invaders. Against orders from their commander not to torment the conquered, a contingent of Dekàlan soldiers corralled a number of Eshan families into a block of houses, barricaded them inside, and set fire to the block. As the condemned tried to escape from windows and doors, the soldiers would stab them with spears. Miraculously, a young boy escaped the inferno and was able to identify the rogue soldiers to local priests. When the priests relayed the information to the Dekàlan commanders, a trial was arranged in the midst of the charred ruins. As the disfigured boy identified each soldier, the man was handed over to Nirzil desert-riders, tethered behind a horse, and dragged through the streets until dead. In short order, the site became a rallying place for people wishing to rise up against their conquerors. Agitators argued that it had been a mistake to follow the Zalanites and surrender to the Dekàli invaders. Soon, priests also spoke from the ruins, explaining that they had all been spared a terrible war by the grace of Zalan. In this manner, the area became a popular meeting-place to hear public discourse on politics and religion.

Following the Letting of Irzàla the Martyr in 1 HK, the priestess’s body was carried back to the City of Æzàlar. Despite calls that her body be returned to the Town of Kūpan, the High King demanded it be interred in the new capital. While an ornate silver sarcophagus was crafted for her remains, priests examined many potential locations for her tomb. It was finally decided that the Sanctuary meeting place would be ideal, both for the Tomb of Irzala and the High Temple of Zalan. Once the temple was completed in 464 HK, the Sitting Stone of Irzala was carried from Shiráddam to rest upon the great altar.

History

The Missing Martyr

In 846 HK, the Zin Vìrāel were scrambling to reorganize themselves in the wake of the Tassèri Campaigns. Their most powerful ally, King Orjoro IV of Caphar, had been captured and killed by Dekàli invaders a few years before. Dekàli wizards were gathering able-bodied men and women and through some infernal process, were using them to create an army of mindless slaves. This was the darkest of times for the people of Caphar and something needed to be done. It is unclear how the plan came about, but Zin Vìrāel agents in Æzàlar began working on a masterpiece plan of sedition that would be a rallying cry to the Desert Kingdoms. In 851 HK, a group of Zin Vìrāel agents broke into the holiest chamber of Kyrm Oryzálan and managed to steal the body of Irzàla the Martyr from its silver sarcophagus, despite resting at the bottom of a 300′ shaft and warded by the most powerful Vorbid magics known to the Empire. When the chamber was opened for the annual Feast of the Letting, the sarcophagus was opened and her body was gone.

The body of Irzàla the Martyr was never recovered. The Tassèri Campaigns continued for almost two centuries more.