Religious structures
→ For a summary and census of churches in Kalderesh, see the "Places of worship in Kalderesh" page
A primary religious structure is fundamentally a place of worship. It could be anything from a shrine, in which two people can worship at the same time, to a Grand High Temple, which can accommodate about a thousand people. Secondary structures support these places of worship and include bell turrets, accommodation blocks, and administrative offices.
Table: Religious building types
| type | presiding priest | structure | base size | n worshippers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand High Temple | Pater, Patriarch (25+) | free-standing | huge (180 x 180') | 900 |
| Grand Temple | Serif, Grand High Priest (20+) | free-standing | enormous (120 x 120') | 400 |
| High Temple | Wotten, Arch Priest (15+) | free-standing | very big (80 x 80') | 180 |
| Temple | Captal, High Priest (9+) | free-standing | big (55 x 55') | 80 |
| Fane | Officiant Priest, Priest (7+) | free-standing | modest (35 x 35') | 30 |
| Chapel | Officiant Priest, Priest (7+) | adjoining | small (20 x 20') | 30 |
| Chantry | Prior, Abbot, Novitiate (3+) | adjoining | small (10 x 10') | 10 |
| Shrine | any | adjoining | small (10 x 10') | 2 |
| All-Gods | Novitiate (3+) | any | small – big | 2 – 80 |
| Monastery | Officiant Priest (7+) | free-standing | big | 30 |
| Priory | Officiant Priest, 2nd order (5+) | free-standing | modest | 30 |
Primary structures are either free-standing (fanes, temples, high temples, and grand high temples) or are part of a larger building (e.g. castle, fort, guild hall, etc.).
Free-standing structures are always built of stone. The divine construction of the sacracy is, of course, only witnessed by the priest (or whomever the God selects) and the rest of the building is then built around this miracle.
Fanes and temples
Fanes and temples always share three design elements: a spire, a seven-column portico, and a free-standing bell turret. The latter is also commonly found in Malanthea.
Probably the most visual component is the narrow spire with its pointed roof. This prominent vertical structure is rendered in the muted colour of the God who mandated the building of the church.
The public entrance to a fane or temple always has a portico, consisting of seven columns of equal size supporting a roof structure. The columns are always arranged in a 3-1-3 pattern, with the outer three columns closely spaced, and the central column directly in front of the entrance. This central column is painted in a subdued pastel colour of the God; the other six columns are rendered in a neutral grey. The central column and its commanding position over the entrance serves to remind worshippers of the steadfastness of their God, and that it is ultimately their will that bends when faced with the divine.
A free-standing bell turret, usually of plastered wood decorated with religious frescoes, holds one or more bells, typically rung to call the faithful to worship. The large bell is tuned to the major note associated with the God; when multiple bells are found, the small bells are tuned to higher or lower octaves of the major note.
Chapels, chantries and shrines
Chapels, chantries and shrines are places of worship contained inside, or appended to, another structure. They have spires and free-standing bell turrets but do not have porticos. Often, the entry doors are plastered and have a fresco illustrating the seven pillars.
All-Gods
Buildings housing a church of the All-Gods are more varied in size, design, and construction. Some can accommodate up to about 100 worshippers, but most are far smaller. Many have living and sleeping quarters for the small staff that see to its operation. When free-standing, the buildings are usually made of stone covered with white plaster, decorated with the symbols of the Seven and scenes from the Libri Septorum. An All-Gods does not have a portico. The bell turret is usually decorated in the same way as the primary structure. It houses seven bells, which are mounted together in fixed suspension. The bells are struck when the single row of clappers is actuated by the bellric, ensuring that all seven ring out together. The church spire of an All-Gods is a seven-fold structure consisting of a cluster of seven lance-like structures, individually coloured, joined at the tips.
Monasteries and Priories
Monasteries and priories are a special class of religious building, in which worship is a secondary function. They are primarily places of semi-permanent communal residence and study, and as a rule do not facilitate public worship. They are always isolated from their immediate surroundings (either by remoteness or by walls or some other barrier). They may be associated with a nearby fane or temple. They are always dedicated to a specific God.
Both monasteries and priories provide accommodation, take part in basic food production and facilitate self-study and worship. In addition, a monastery will have a scriptorium, a library, and possibly some affiliated facilities like a herbarium, alchemical laboratory, observatory, etc., usually in separate buildings.
Brick is the most common construction material used for these structures. The outer walls are coloured in alignment with the God, and the histories of the structures, their purpose, and affiliations, are recorded on the walls, mostly as decorative texts but sometimes as frescoes.