The Dragon's Star Chronicles [Companion Guide]

The Temples

I will not go into the politics and religions the realms, simply because they are insignificant in the larger picture. Civilizations come and go. Religions are ever changing and ever challenged. Life goes on, with or without them.

I have learned of a few institutions that are consistent between all of the realms. The first and my favorite, is The Temple of Knowledge. This is a place, where any who seek understanding or just information are welcomed. All races can access this grand library. No kingdom or man, can deny the people the right to this place. What is required is a respect for the Temple and all that is housed there. On occasion, the temple will move, if a political leader, seeks to restrict access to it's knowledge. So those who wish to delve into it's mysteries will have to persist and seek it out in it's variable locations. The only way that an individual can be denied access to the temple, is by the priestesses. They will only do this, if that person has shown disrespect for the library, by defiling it's contents or others within the library.

There is also a collection of Elemental Temples on each world. These are places where mortals who have the capacity to hear and interact with the elementals, can seek a deeper knowledge of the elemental forces that shape the realms. The temples are not easily found, even by those that are gifted with a connection to the elements. If one should be lucky enough to find a temple, he or she may not even realize it, unless the elementals choose to reveal themselves. If the elementals do feel that one may be worthy to walk within the temple, they will test them extensively. From what I have gathered, these tests are quite intensive and unique to each individual. There is no, one way to pass these tests. But once one has passed the elemental trials, they will be welcomed in all of the elemental temples, across all of the realms. I am currently aware of only three who have passed all of these tests. But there are rumors of possibly two more. I am unable to verify or deny these rumors, as of yet.

Failure to pass the tests, can have varying results. Some pass parts of the tests and are permitted limited access to the temple. Others fail and are immediately ejected from the temple, forced to find it once again, if they wish to try. Still others become residents of the temples, unable to leave or perhaps unwilling to. Evidence suggests that the Elemental Temples move, just as the Temple of Knowledge does.