The Cloud Temple, Last of an Empire
The Cloud Temple has been a key feature in the world since before the Kingdom of Muir rose from the rubble of Woe, the world that lives in the shadow of the temple.
There are tales whispered among shadows and heard from the mouths of babes: "The Cloud Temple is all that remains of the old empires."
These empires conquered first the terrestrial world of Woe, before taking the skies. The skies, however, were not large enough to contain their hubris.
The empire fell, in more than one way at the end. The Cloud Temple was, somehow, spared.
Could there be a way to learn more? Perhaps the temple holds more secrets than the Priests even know.
Historical Basis
The lost empires did once fill the skies, and hubris was, indeed part of their downfall, but only part.
A single mage holds more blame for the fall of the empire than all the hubris within the empire combined.
An eye for an eye can see empires fall.
Spread
While this legend lives among the shadows, it has still spread like spilled ink upon a page–seeping into every crevice.
Variations & Mutation
Some who speak of the empires of old hold them in a radiant light, believing they were snuffed out too soon.
Others hold their hubris in the light, casting an inescapable shadow upon the empires, inescapable as their fate.
Cultural Reception
The cultures who wield knowledge tend to see the merits of the lost empires of legend–at times even aspiring to the height of clouds.
Those who value the sword use the lost empires as a warning to hubris and knowledge sought for knowledges' sake.
The shield and those who stand behind it are the only group who see both sides of the empires' lost knowledge, but few seek such danger.
In Literature
Tomes containing speculations upon the lives and accomplishments of the lost empires fill the libraries of the Kingdom of Muir and the Free-Cities.
These tomes, however, are careful to only allude to the lost empires, as literature of such nature has been banned by the priesthood.
In Art
Visting the Cloud Temple is a right of pasage among the artistic community–many have been known to choose meager meals for year for only a chance at seeing the temple for themselves. The only things about airships that are cheap are the captains–it takes more money to land at the Temple with a band of other seekers than it does to fly lazily around the globe of Woe.
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