Church of the Divine Mother
At the centre of Greyspire and dominating the skyline entirely, stands the intricately designed building known as the Church of the Divine Mother.
Built in 271 A.E. to honour the teachings of Ethera, its impressive spire and famous grey stonework are what gives the city its name.
The church is regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of elvaran architecture, inspired by elven decorative tradition. Its famous spire is just over 542 ft high and features intricately carved stone branches, twisting around the 'trunk' of the tower, and sharp-edged Lindon-shaped leaves made of steel. The design was intended by Greyspire's founders to symbolise of the world tree of legend, thought to be found in the mythical elvish homeland—Aurevion. The church's exterior has certainly seen better days. Under the occupation of the Empire, the crumbling brickwork, and rusted steel features are said to be symbolic of the declining nature of spirituality in Malvarron. The church is a building which invokes feelings adoration in Ethera's followers, but fear for unbelievers and those sceptical of divine power. Over the centuries, the Priesthood of Greyspire has been notoriously cruel to their enemies. The memory of every criminal thrown from the tower, every heretic burned on its balcony and every ravaged corpse impaled on the spire's spiked leaves and torn apart by ravens is eternally preserved in the church's stones, serving as a warning to those who stand against Ethera's teachings.
The church primarily offers a place for those who follow the Pantheon of Ethera to worship. But the building also serves as a community hub, a place to study the religious scriptures or, if needy enough, a place to be bathed and fed. The interior of the building holds a large public sanctuary (which can host just under 2000 people during mass), boasts a well-stocked library with the largest collection of religious texts in elvara and hosts the live-in quarters of the High Priestess of Greyspire and her priesthood. To the back of the building, the landscaped garden featuring a vibrant maze of elvaran flora and small lake offer a moment of peace from the bustle of the city's market square.
Architecturally Symbolic
The church is regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of elvaran architecture, inspired by elven decorative tradition. Its famous spire is just over 542 ft high and features intricately carved stone branches, twisting around the 'trunk' of the tower, and sharp-edged Lindon-shaped leaves made of steel. The design was intended by Greyspire's founders to symbolise of the world tree of legend, thought to be found in the mythical elvish homeland—Aurevion. The church's exterior has certainly seen better days. Under the occupation of the Empire, the crumbling brickwork, and rusted steel features are said to be symbolic of the declining nature of spirituality in Malvarron. The church is a building which invokes feelings adoration in Ethera's followers, but fear for unbelievers and those sceptical of divine power. Over the centuries, the Priesthood of Greyspire has been notoriously cruel to their enemies. The memory of every criminal thrown from the tower, every heretic burned on its balcony and every ravaged corpse impaled on the spire's spiked leaves and torn apart by ravens is eternally preserved in the church's stones, serving as a warning to those who stand against Ethera's teachings.
Traditional in Use
The church primarily offers a place for those who follow the Pantheon of Ethera to worship. But the building also serves as a community hub, a place to study the religious scriptures or, if needy enough, a place to be bathed and fed. The interior of the building holds a large public sanctuary (which can host just under 2000 people during mass), boasts a well-stocked library with the largest collection of religious texts in elvara and hosts the live-in quarters of the High Priestess of Greyspire and her priesthood. To the back of the building, the landscaped garden featuring a vibrant maze of elvaran flora and small lake offer a moment of peace from the bustle of the city's market square.
Founding Date
268–271 A.E.
Type
Temple / Church
Parent Location
Owning Organization
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