The Grand Cathedral of Pelor

Rising above tiled roofs and narrow alleys, the Grand Cathedral of Pelor commands the skyline like a beacon of divine light. Built of shimmering blue and white marble, the cathedral’s towers catch the sunrise and scatter it into radiant beams across the harbour below. Sailors claim one can see its brilliance long before the rest of Orthay emerges from the morning mist.

Local legend holds that many centuries ago, the coasts of Northern Valoria were beset by perpetual storms. A conclave of hundreds of aasimar and priests joined in ritual, calling upon Pelor’s blessing to dispel the darkness. When dawn broke, the foul weather immediately ceased and the cathedral stood upon the hill, as if it had materialised from the heavens.

Exterior

The cathedral sits upon Foundation Hill, a natural rise overlooking the bustling markets and docks. Broad marble steps ascend from the main square to a set of orichalcum gates. Two towering statues of robed planetar flank the entrance, their longswords crossed protectively over the threshold.

The marble walls bear faint, iridescent runes—residual traces of the celestial essence that, according to legend, summoned the cathedral whole from the Plane of Spirit. Some claim that on midsummer nights, soft prayer and harp music emanates from the walls themselves, as if the stone remembers its divine origin.

Above the main dome gleams the Solar Oculus, a great crystal window that floods the nave with golden light at sunrise and sunset.

Interior

The interior of the Grand Cathedral is an expanse of white-and-gold light, with polished marble floors inlaid with sunburst mosaics. Rows of slender columns reach skyward like alabaster tree trunks, their capitals carved with various angelic motifs.

The Nave of Dawn houses the main altar: a massive slab of sunstone that seems to pulse faintly with warmth. Above it, a mosaic of Pelor himself dominates the apse, the god’s amber glass eyes refracting sunlight into a living halo. Pilgrims travel from all across the empire for the privilege of praying at the altar.

Along the outer aisles, shrines to Valoria’s saints—each with its own candlelit alcove—offer blessings of healing, agriculture or light. At dawn and dusk, when sunlight pours through the Oculus, the entire interior becomes suffused with a golden haze, as if Pelor is making his presence known to his faithful.

Notable Areas

• The Hall of Dawnkeepers: A cloistered section housing the cathedral’s priests and scholars. Here, the Dawnkeepers preserve sacred texts and chronicle miraculous healings.
• The Reliquary of Light: A subterranean crypt accessed via a spiral staircase beneath the altar. It contains holy relics—bones, vestments and sunstones—from saints devoted to Pelor. The air hums faintly with radiant energy.
• The Solar Garden: An open courtyard located behind the cathedral. Flowers bloom year-round, their colours even more vivid than those found in the feywild. Rare butterflies are sometimes seen flitting between blossoms.
• The Spire of the Morning Watch: The highest tower, accessible only to clergy, commands a breathtaking view of the entirety of Orthay. Its great bronze bell, Solaris, tolls each dawn and dusk.

Prominent Figures

• High Solar Ardent Valenor: The cathedral’s aloof yet deeply respected aasimar archpriest, said to be able to heal any ailment with a single touch. He has served in his position for over a century and is one of the Solarium’s most esteemed alummni.
• Sister Mirielle: Keeper of the Reliquary, she believes the celestial power that summoned the cathedral has begun to stir once again.
• Brother Edrin: A scholar-priest devoted to studying the rituals that first brought the cathedral forth, convinced they might be repeated—or undone by ne’er-do-wells.