The Shadow Cathedral is a terrible and dread location, the site of a once-glorious construction that became cursed. Although it can be visited, it is now devil-haunted and filled with only horror and death.
Some time near a century ago, an Archon of Glory appeared to a wandering priest, and instructed him to build this cathedral, for the glory of the angel, and angel's lord, Padraig the Lord of All Light. The priest laboured for a dozen years, convincing various lords, tradesfolk, and crafters to donate their time, effort, and hard-won gold in order to build this monument over the next score of years. Much planning went into the grand spectacle, and many donations were taken, including sacred relics belonging to the Lord of Light in his mortal life. Among these relics was Padraig's Helm of Judgement, to be set at the highest spire and gaze across the realm to let all who spied the cathedral know that his brilliant justice would not be wanting. At the day of its dedication, thousands had arrived to witness the cathedral's opening. It was told that all those who arrived would be blessed by its presence- that wounds would be healed, and justice would be served to all. For poor folks recovering from the Ethergaunt War only finished half a century ago, it was a beacon of hope across the lands, and one sorely needed. Many of the servants of Padraig across the world trekked for months to reach the cathedral, and it was the greatest spectacle of the generation. All that ended when the architect revealed himself as an agent of the Ten Thousand Kings of Hell, and the cathedral's magical defenses began to slaughter the crowds. So many died in the first moments that their blood ran from the cathedral's steps like a river, the screams pierced the ears of all present, the bells pealed a signal of urgent alarm, and above it all could be heard the mad cackling of the architect. For those outside, the doors slammed shut, and a great fire sprang up outside the cathedral, and then it inexplicably vanished, leaving a great crevasse in the earth. The worshippers of the Lord of Light never truly recovered from such a tragic drawback. Although his worship has grown again in the decades since, they have always struggled against this legacy of such massive failure. The shadow of the cathedral can still be seen in full daylight, with the image of the great rose window outlined in flickering, fiery light on the ground, although no building is present. When the wind blows, faint smells of sulfur and the screaming of innocents can be heard from the crevasse. Those who have ventured into the crevasse report that they have found openings that seem to lead to the Cathedral... deep in the bowels of Hell itself. They report the walls weeping blood, the cries of the damned, and the flickers of flame from outside the windows, with vast and monstrous shapes glimpsed outside. Most of all, they describe terror and pain, if they are sane enough to report anything at all. Few have returned from this once-sanctified edifice of true Evil, though the treasures contained within, and the souls damned merely for their presence, are worth rescuing. How you can use the Shadow Cathedral in your game: - The mere rumour of such a place is a challenge to any devoted member of Padraig's church, and many of his servants have vanished into the crevasses of the Shadow Cathedral in quest of even the slightest of relics it once contained. - Not only the faithful of Padraig were present at the dedication ceremony, and the souls of those who serve other deities were also stolen by the devilish minions of the architect. Rania, the Walker of Ways Unseen, might know hidden passages into the Cathedral, and might seek brave heroes to deliver some of these tormented souls to salvation. - The people living in the area nearby to the crevasse have noticed that little by little, less than an inch per year, the crevasse seems to be growing larger. Wise sages are concerned for what this means for the world at large. (With great thanks to Simon R. Green for inspiration) Also posted on Game Masters Stash on 22 April 2019. Comments are closed.
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AuthorI'm Luke. He/him pronouns. Archives
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