A Temple of Creation

About





During its time of use, this temple was a site of great positivity and warmth. Both community members and strangers passing by Norcrest were welcome, and it was not uncommon to see a Priestess of Devi open the doors during inclement weather to shield passersby.

Originally created in honour of Devishtari . Due to the age of the temple and the small villages surrounding it, it isn't as grand as other temples near larger communities. Regardless, the beings of Norcrest put forth great effort into building this specific temple.During its time of use, this temple was a site of great positivity and warmth. Both community members and strangers passing by Norcrest were welcome, and it was not uncommon to see a Priestess of Devi open the doors during inclement weather to shield passersby.

Abandonment





Only the temple staff stayed behind, claiming that they had a duty to uphold to keep the temple in good shape until people could return. However, the The Norcrest temple of Devishtari was abandoned suddenly at the start of the Bloodkeeper-Human war, due to how close the forest was to the temple's site. It was considered too close to the demons, and as a result was abandoned for the people's safety.Only the temple staff stayed behind, claiming that they had a duty to uphold to keep the temple in good shape until people could return. However, the bloodkeepers' territory grew and they were forced out. It was left untended for years, growing covered in dust.

Temple Retaken

After the Bloodkeeper-Human war, this temple was targetted for defacement by neighbouring bloodkeepers. However, in a report made by the group of bloodkeepers that had gone to ruin it...

[...] Within it was a heavy, powerful energy made the more magic sensitive bloodkeepers unwell, many of us felt sick to our stomachs.



Sitting on a ruined chair meant for a preacher behind a broken altar, was a strange bloodkeeper with fur as black as pitch. I remember being stunned by the snow white mane draped along their shoulders, something I had never seen before. When we approached, the unknown entity looked up, red sclera and black slits staring into our souls.



There were no markings to find, no tribe sigils sewn into their clothes. They moved like a ghost, circling our crew. A yellow edged scrap of paper within a leatherback notebook. The rest of the page is ripped, splattered with a dark ink.

The Site of a Divine





The stories all vary, but one thing stays the same: Devishtari created this silent watcher -



In present time, the temple is dedicated to Silence, and as a result, almost all of the beings that come to visit are bloodkeepers from nearby tribes. However, the creation of Silence is a huge drawing point and other tribes spanning from Tundra to Desert are known to travel to this sacred place.



It is whispered in many different myths and legends, that Devishtari stepped foot in this temple and created a god. The means varies depending on who is telling the story; sometimes it is said that she created them out of the spilled blood of bloodkeepers and non-demons that lay on the temple floor, others claim she took a chunk of the night sky, infused it with her heavenly powers, and thrust it upon a random bloodkeeper.The stories all vary, but one thing stays the same: Devishtari created this silent watcher - Silence - to lead the bloodkeepers in her stead, and that the Norcrest temple was their birthplace.In present time, the temple is dedicated to Silence, and as a result, almost all of the beings that come to visit are bloodkeepers from nearby tribes. However, the creation of Silence is a huge drawing point and other tribes spanning from Tundra to Desert are known to travel to this sacred place.

Observed Traditions and Ceremonies

A chalice of blood - from a humane and sporting hunt - is always placed on the altar as an offering to Silence and is replaced often, before it can spoil. The darkest-furred bloodkeeper is considered the Voice of Silence and, in all ceremonies taking place within the temple, they are the ones to make sure any offerings to Silence are untainted and safe.



There are retellings of the Creation of Silence, along with sharing details of the War so that no bloodkeeper will forget the sacrifices and loss that their ancestors went through.