The Lightning Cathedral
Thunder Priestesses often choose to live within the Cathedral during their time in Rharne due to its convenience, as all education, training, and meetings take place here. The Immortal Ilaren also resides within the Cathedral when she is in the city, which adds to the location’s allure.
The Cathedral is built of white stone, with ornate carvings, moldings, and arches decorating its exterior. Its main entrance is guarded by two large doors, each carved from the wood of a blackcore tree. These doors lead into the prayer chamber and are always unlocked. During the warm weather, one door is frequently left open to filter in the cool breeze. During colder weather, the doors are closed to ward off the draft.
The prayer chamber is considered the core feature of the Lightning Cathedral for non-Thunder Priestesses, and is open to the public at all hours, every day. It is a large room that contains many ornate wooden pews and is used on a daily basis for public prayer, sermons, and rituals. When a woman is initiated into the faction or when a Novitiate is initiated into a branch, the ceremony is held here. All who enter the prayer chamber are greeted by a Priestess, who will usually offer words of advice or thanks and, on occasion, a small glass of wine.
The chamber echoes the exterior design of the Cathedral. It has white stone walls and contains high, arching ceilings, ornate columns, and stained glass windows. It is decorated with candles, chandeliers, statues, and moldings. A second floor balcony looks out over the main floor and is decorated with mosaics of Ilaren and Priestesses long since passed. To many visitors, it seems as though the chamber sparkles during sunny days thanks to the huge windows. During the evening, candles are kept lit at all times to accompany any who wish to pray in the chamber. The most beautiful sight of all, however, is during a storm. The Cathedral's high vantage point means that observers are able to watch thunderstorms as they roll in and out of the city.
Beyond the large prayer chamber, the Cathedral is broken up into wings that are typically only accessible to Thunder Priestesses. The North Wing contains the training grounds, infirmary, and classrooms, while the South Wing contains all residential quarters (including Ilaren’s) and living amenities. The East Wing contains a large number of meeting rooms for both public and private events, as well as a public space for meditation and prayer, and the West Wing hosts the command centers for the Matriarch and each of the four branches. In the center of the Cathedral is the faction’s ever-expanding library, which leads outside into a circular courtyard and garden.
The Lightning Cathedral is sometimes used to shelter refugees, particularly those fleeing from persecution in their home country or women who are hoping to escape an abusive relationship. Any who require shelter need only ask the Priestess looking after the prayer chamber and she will find them temporary lodging.
To light a candle, the person must borrow a little hope from another candle. This strengthens the prayer by compounding the hope from previous prayers and patrons. It is strictly forbidden for a Priestess or another patron to extinguish a flame from an existing candle. The flames are allowed to run their course, exhausting the hope on their own by burning through the wick and wax on their own.
There is a rumor that the original prayer candle still burns to this day, as a way of keeping eternal hope alive. Only the Matriarch would know if this rumor were actually true. Even if it is not, the belief is too powerful to douse, so many allow it to linger as a rumor. [Ritual Credit: Zvezdana Venora]
Lightning Cathedral NPC List
Moderator's Note: Players are welcome to use these NPCs if they're writing about this location.
Race: Biqaj/Human
DoB: 103rd of Ashan, 673
Blessing: Palenon (Favoured)
Title: High Priestess (Cleric branch)
Skills: Unarmed Combat: 65, Persuasion: 60, Meditation: 55, Teaching: 45, Leadership: 43, Storytelling: 30
Nadja stands at 5'8", with long black hair and an athletic frame. As a woman of mixed race, she has retained the pointed ears and changing eyes of a biqaj along with the red blood of a human. In the prayer chamber, she always wears the dark purple robes of the Thunder Priestesses, along with two silver chain-linked bracelets on her left wrist to represent her rank.
Nadja looks after the Lightning Cathedral's prayer chamber during the day, typically from the 8th - 16th break. She is usually the first face that visitors see and is most often found tidying the pews, giving sermons, and providing tours of the chamber. She is a cheerful woman who greets everyone she meets with a smile and a loud introduction that echoes throughout the room. In fact, she is startlingly loud for someone who looks after a prayer space, which can be a positive when she is giving a sermon and a negative when she is interrupting someone's private meditation. But despite this quirk, she is kind and well-liked by most, and is considered a fountain of wisdom by both visitors and peers.
When she is not working, Nadja can be found chatting with tourists near Rharne's docks, training in unarmed combat in the Lightning Cathedral, or mentoring Novitiates and Priestesses.
Race: Human
DoB: 9th of Vhalar, 692
Blessing: N/A
Title: Priestess (Cleric branch)
Skills: Unarmed Combat: 45, Meditation: 40, Painting: 37, Persuasion: 30, Philosophy: 23, Leadership: 20
Quinn is a small woman. She stands at 5'2" and has big hair and a thin frame. When on duty, she always wears the dark purple robes of the Thunder Priestesses, paired with the symbolic silver chain-linked bracelet on her left wrist and a statement necklace or earrings.
Quinn takes over from Nadja during the evening and looks after the Cathedral's prayer chamber from the 16th break to the 8th break. She is soft-spoken woman, though has an unexpected stubborn streak. Should someone ask her to do something she does not wish to do, she has a tendency to dig in her heels in quiet protest. She was originally assigned to the night shift at the prayer chamber when she disobeyed her superior as a newly initiated Priestess, but quickly took to the hours and found she enjoyed the experience. She has since become a night owl and often speaks about how the night inspires ideas and creativity, particularly in her paintings. When the prayer chamber is not busy, particularly in the early hours of the morning, Quinn can be found painting at her easel near one of the room's many windows.
When she is not working, Quinn is a frequent visitor at the Blackwood Bar (rumoured to be because of her fondness for its owner). She can also be found training in the Lightning Cathedral, mentoring Novitiates, and, of course, catching up on much needed sleep.
Credit: Rumour
Nadja Ki'oriq
DoB: 103rd of Ashan, 673
Blessing: Palenon (Favoured)
Title: High Priestess (Cleric branch)
Skills: Unarmed Combat: 65, Persuasion: 60, Meditation: 55, Teaching: 45, Leadership: 43, Storytelling: 30
Nadja stands at 5'8", with long black hair and an athletic frame. As a woman of mixed race, she has retained the pointed ears and changing eyes of a biqaj along with the red blood of a human. In the prayer chamber, she always wears the dark purple robes of the Thunder Priestesses, along with two silver chain-linked bracelets on her left wrist to represent her rank.
Nadja looks after the Lightning Cathedral's prayer chamber during the day, typically from the 8th - 16th break. She is usually the first face that visitors see and is most often found tidying the pews, giving sermons, and providing tours of the chamber. She is a cheerful woman who greets everyone she meets with a smile and a loud introduction that echoes throughout the room. In fact, she is startlingly loud for someone who looks after a prayer space, which can be a positive when she is giving a sermon and a negative when she is interrupting someone's private meditation. But despite this quirk, she is kind and well-liked by most, and is considered a fountain of wisdom by both visitors and peers.
When she is not working, Nadja can be found chatting with tourists near Rharne's docks, training in unarmed combat in the Lightning Cathedral, or mentoring Novitiates and Priestesses.
Quinn Talbot
DoB: 9th of Vhalar, 692
Blessing: N/A
Title: Priestess (Cleric branch)
Skills: Unarmed Combat: 45, Meditation: 40, Painting: 37, Persuasion: 30, Philosophy: 23, Leadership: 20
Quinn is a small woman. She stands at 5'2" and has big hair and a thin frame. When on duty, she always wears the dark purple robes of the Thunder Priestesses, paired with the symbolic silver chain-linked bracelet on her left wrist and a statement necklace or earrings.
Quinn takes over from Nadja during the evening and looks after the Cathedral's prayer chamber from the 16th break to the 8th break. She is soft-spoken woman, though has an unexpected stubborn streak. Should someone ask her to do something she does not wish to do, she has a tendency to dig in her heels in quiet protest. She was originally assigned to the night shift at the prayer chamber when she disobeyed her superior as a newly initiated Priestess, but quickly took to the hours and found she enjoyed the experience. She has since become a night owl and often speaks about how the night inspires ideas and creativity, particularly in her paintings. When the prayer chamber is not busy, particularly in the early hours of the morning, Quinn can be found painting at her easel near one of the room's many windows.
When she is not working, Quinn is a frequent visitor at the Blackwood Bar (rumoured to be because of her fondness for its owner). She can also be found training in the Lightning Cathedral, mentoring Novitiates, and, of course, catching up on much needed sleep.