what to include in a temple/cathedral

[Dogbrain]

Large cathedral complexes might also have a general hospital, which would be a dumping ground for the poor of the city rather than what a place where the sick were treated. However, since poor and sick very often go together, there would be plenty of sick.

Where one had a hospital, one would have a cemetary, sometimes a large and extensive one. Wealthy and influential individuals would be buried within the main cathedral building.

 

[Gregor]

I was watching this cooking show and these two Australian guys (the chefs) were cooking for some monks in some church / monestary somewhere in the outback. They dedicated a few minutes to the vast olive gardens that the monks grow, cultivate and harvest.

In your cathedral, I think a large outdoor orchard or vineyard or something would be neat. At one time the clerics or monks spent hours cultivating the plants and they used the fruits of their labour to trade with nearby towns and villages for paper, ink, leather etc. These days, the gardens are all but overgrown - local villagers warn that to wander into the old gardens is to meet certain death. Assassin vines, giant vermin and a shambling mound with a vile temper are said to infest the once tranquil place.

Cheers,

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Gargoyles, and other statues that could potentially have magical powers. Underground catacombs or tunnels / chambers would be cool. I like the idea of a bell tower , perhaps one that has very limited access to only a few select people.

 

[ConspiracyAngel]

Include the following:

1. Hidden compartment/room - ppl of the cloth are notorious for hiding something or themselves in closets.

2. Stained Glass Window - some have patterns that solve puzzles, some simply shade the lighting for hiding certain things. Some are actually portals.

3. Trap doors - kind of falls under #1, but #1 is larger and may take more time to get into, #3 is usually a quick hide or getaway.

4. Holy Water - of some fashion... I like making it drip instead of pouring... makes things more fun <evil grin>

5. Clock tower, or Bell Tower - I am sure you will think of something creative here... usually very high up.

6. Pews or linked seats - yet, more obstacl... I mean fun for our friends <wink>

7. Circular Staircases

8. Crypt = Ghosts/Dead/Undead - Most REAL Cathedrals have them.

9. Little iddy biddy windows in the tower.

10. Fog around the towers.

11. Leaky drips

12. Gold lacing on orniments

13. Busts & Statues

14. Stories engraved upon stones in the floors/walls

... I will think of more and visit again later...

 

[Bad_English]

Concerning cathedrals

One thing that is rarely mentioned and a suprize for myself is the fact that in the process of building the cathedral there were passages built in the larger structures to facilitate, inspection and repairs.

The reason that little mention of these features is that, in the passing of years; debris closing the passages, ignorance and general lack of interest, allowed this interesting titbit to be forgotten. (Except if you are a hunchback. "The bells, whoop, whoop, Nyananana, tee hee *jump* *clasp rope* *DONG!!!! *)

Now, I am remembering off the top of my head, as the book I had is long gone or packed away.

The passages were very narrow and in the major supporting structures of the cathedral, often coming out on a ledge serving as an staging for one of the other structural features both inside and outside.

This allowed for masons and others to inspect during the building process and to help maintaining afterwards without the time, material, and additional cost of building a suitable means of acheiving the same goal. (Not to mention grumpy Bishops..."Twenty eight years to build this place and now you have to build scaffolding to look for a leak. I should have you excommunicated...")

The remarkable achievment is made more so through the discovery of actually how well thought out, developed, and organized the making of the wonderful examples of building we see today.

And thus allowing a DM's plot device where a character (good, evil, NPC and more...Bruuuhahahaha) could move about in a building, using forgotten passages and virtually be undetected.

"Invisibility... We don needs no stinkin invisibility."

 

[Gilladian]

I love the idea of secret passages everywhere! So medieval!

I've finally decided a few things; the temple was of a good god originally, probably one related to the air and wind, as the city was once, aeons ago, a flying city. The temple/cathedral was used to house a powerful key to another place in the city.

Later, after the city crashed, was abandoned and recolonized by people who knew nothing of its origins, the temple was reconsecrated to another good god. This time I think it was a god of the sun. During the collapse of this second civilization, some of the Sun God's followers turned to evil. They discovered something about the key, and what it unlocked. They sought to retrieve the key from its hiding place, but were prevented by uncorrupted priests. All the evil priests were slain, but soon rose as undead (maybe shadows or spectres?).

The last act of the dying/fleeing good priests was to bind the undead evil priests with a circle of protection from evil or something similar. I'm thinking maybe a circle of salt and herbs sprinkled on the floor in the middle of the grand hall of the temple. This happened about 400 years ago, but the magic has remained undisturbed until now.

Obviously, the PCs have been sent to retrieve the key also (by someone whom they fear is evil, but are not certain of). They will have to avoid or deal with the undead, and also deal with whatever guardian the original priests (of the air/wind god) left to protect the key.

There could also be other guardians in the cathedral or on the grounds. I'm thinking gargoyles, perhaps some minor undead in a graveyard or crypt, and maybe some traps on the unplundered treasure vault of the second temple occupants.

Any suggestions/improvements/questions?

Gilladian

 

[Tuzenbach]

David Letterman would say "evil dogs".

I'll say potential for scandal. Have a few perverted priests and some questionable quarters for altar boys. Then again, I'm highly controversial and should be stopped!