Post by Prince Orys Targaryen on Jul 3, 2014 18:01:54 GMT -5
The Temple was a curious building, to say the least. It's official Valyrian name meant alternatively 'House of Dragons', or 'House of Flames' or among its acolytes, the Burning Halls. Most just called it the Temple, for noone could mistake its like. Noone alive (ignoring the claims of the Burned Man) had ever had the opportunity to actually pray at a Valyrian house of worship. There were many arguments among academics concerning the exact design or practices of such places, with many looking at surviving posy-Valyrian cultures like the Volantene as a guide. Another school of thought pointed out, as the Free Cites never actively housed dragons, they would not really be accurate depictions of Freehold faith, and looked to the solemn walls of Dragonstone for inspiration. It was these thinkers who designed the exterior of the Temple, but it was a local scholar and mystic who designed the interior. This eccentric figure had reasoned that it was a mistake to view Valyrian spirituality in any way that did not revolve around the overarching theme of death and rebirth through the power of fire. Inside the Temple was a simple but great pit, whose flames could be seen from nearly any point in the city at night, thanks to the lack of a roof. The priests were often former alchemists trained in the art of maintaining Balerion's Breath, and every day would herd living animals (and ocassionally condemned criminals) into the flames, before feeding their charred remains to the great beasts sheltered in the Dragonpit.
The daily prayers were a curious mixture of old and new, with supposedly traditional Valyrian prayers slightly modified for this very un-Valyrian land. Those priests were often more concerned with the well-being of living supplicants, however few they were, and often held personal consultations away from the terrifying sights about Balerion's Breath. It was regularly noted there were two main castes of priests... the Children of Meraxes who attended to to the living, and the Children of Balerion who attended to the dying.
The daily prayers were a curious mixture of old and new, with supposedly traditional Valyrian prayers slightly modified for this very un-Valyrian land. Those priests were often more concerned with the well-being of living supplicants, however few they were, and often held personal consultations away from the terrifying sights about Balerion's Breath. It was regularly noted there were two main castes of priests... the Children of Meraxes who attended to to the living, and the Children of Balerion who attended to the dying.
all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too