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Everglade Subarchway - Celestia Island
Jan. 8th, 2016 04:49 amA large island north to the Galarios Chain Islands, Celestia Island was once an important spiritual location for many races, particularly, the draconic melian and avian kashia races back in the Time of Ancients Era. It is the home of the Skyliad Temple, a place where it was rumored that the Four Cardinal deities often met, and once served as the prison for the dragon Epyon. This site was once the location of many festivals honoring the gods, the fallen and the ancestors, as well as the site of few occult sacrifices.
By the time the End of Ancients era came, Celestia Island was abandoned by the sentient mortal races, following the first war between the Xyliar Empire and Kingdom of Hazaeth off on the Zeilyn continent. Although still the meeting place of the Cardinals and Epyon's prison, the temple would only be host to creatures that would find their way into the halls and the labyrinth beneath the temple.
Until the battle between Cipher and the Cardinals ensued, and with the eventual death of the Cardinals, Cipher chose to inhabit the Skyliad Temple alongside his three generals, wanting to live far from the mortal races and only making the occasional appearance to civilization in the guise of Liam Randel.
Following Cipher's claim to the island, the sky above the island darkened with a deep purple hue and it became shrouded in fog, as if to deter sailors from getting close to the island. The fog dissipates the closer one gets to the temple, and the courtyard grounds around the temple are completely clear, but the fog grows dense again the further one goes from the temple. If they aren't careful, they may fall prey to creatures that lurk the forests in the fog.
The Temple
Although once weathered and in disrepair, Cipher restored it to its former glory. The temple is reminiscent of gothic cathedral style architechture, with four tall spires marking the four cardinal directions. The outside walls are dimly lit and serve as a faint beacon to those travelling through the darkness and fog that would lead to a place of refuge. A weathered cemetery of the temple's former caretakers is located at the rear of the cathedral, and four statues are located at the base of each of the four spires: A phoenix to the south, a tiger to the west, a tortoise and snake to the north, and a serpentine dragon to the east.
The gothic architecture carries over to the interior of the temple, with extravagent archways of stone and spotless floors of marble. The long hallway upon entering the temple leads straight to the altar to the gods, although the original paintings depicting the Four Cardinals were defaced with large claw marks over the heads of the creatures depicting them. The only painting in tact above the altar depicts a pale woman in a long purple gown and veil with long white hair, skeletal arms and half of her face's flesh missing, showing only the skull beneath; the woman is flanked by a large purple dragon and a hound that appeared to be comprised of mist.
If one leaves the main hall to one of the many doors, they will be greeted with a maze of hallways, staircases and doors that will lead to the higher floors, the balcony overlooking the altar, the dining hall, many guest rooms and oftentimes rooms that are empty save for a stained glass window. It often gives the air of a serene, yet eerie feeling.
However, if one finds their way to the basement levels of the temple, they will find their way into the aptly named Forbidden Labyrinth, a death trap maze that if one finds themself inside, they may easily become lost and never find their way out again. Deep in the labyrinth can be found a bloody sacrificial altar, shackles and chains and, in places, skeletons of long dead victims and cultists. In the deepest portion of the labyrinth is a giant crystalline room with a large hole carved in the floor, with giant chains laying at the bottom, showing that it was the place where the dragon Epyon was once sealed away.
The Inhabitants (NPCS)
Aside from Alter Cipher himself, his three Generals reside in the temple alongside him. They never act in hostility unless under Cipher's direct orders, and will always put up a friendly front should Cipher appear in the temple as Liam, or should anyone arrive without Cipher himself.
The Forest
The temple is surrounded by a thick forest that reaches out to the coastline, and the forest is enveloped in a dense fog. It would not be difficult to get lost in the forest, and encounter one of its many denizens.
While some monsters of benevolent, others are prone to attack, oftentimes unprovoked. Pegasi, gryphons and wyverns are the most commonly found and can be safely approached unless they feel threatened but other, more threatening creatures such as venomous lizards known as arlos, ghouls, krenshar and kelpie are found closer to the shoreline.
By the time the End of Ancients era came, Celestia Island was abandoned by the sentient mortal races, following the first war between the Xyliar Empire and Kingdom of Hazaeth off on the Zeilyn continent. Although still the meeting place of the Cardinals and Epyon's prison, the temple would only be host to creatures that would find their way into the halls and the labyrinth beneath the temple.
Until the battle between Cipher and the Cardinals ensued, and with the eventual death of the Cardinals, Cipher chose to inhabit the Skyliad Temple alongside his three generals, wanting to live far from the mortal races and only making the occasional appearance to civilization in the guise of Liam Randel.
Following Cipher's claim to the island, the sky above the island darkened with a deep purple hue and it became shrouded in fog, as if to deter sailors from getting close to the island. The fog dissipates the closer one gets to the temple, and the courtyard grounds around the temple are completely clear, but the fog grows dense again the further one goes from the temple. If they aren't careful, they may fall prey to creatures that lurk the forests in the fog.
The Temple
Although once weathered and in disrepair, Cipher restored it to its former glory. The temple is reminiscent of gothic cathedral style architechture, with four tall spires marking the four cardinal directions. The outside walls are dimly lit and serve as a faint beacon to those travelling through the darkness and fog that would lead to a place of refuge. A weathered cemetery of the temple's former caretakers is located at the rear of the cathedral, and four statues are located at the base of each of the four spires: A phoenix to the south, a tiger to the west, a tortoise and snake to the north, and a serpentine dragon to the east.
The gothic architecture carries over to the interior of the temple, with extravagent archways of stone and spotless floors of marble. The long hallway upon entering the temple leads straight to the altar to the gods, although the original paintings depicting the Four Cardinals were defaced with large claw marks over the heads of the creatures depicting them. The only painting in tact above the altar depicts a pale woman in a long purple gown and veil with long white hair, skeletal arms and half of her face's flesh missing, showing only the skull beneath; the woman is flanked by a large purple dragon and a hound that appeared to be comprised of mist.
If one leaves the main hall to one of the many doors, they will be greeted with a maze of hallways, staircases and doors that will lead to the higher floors, the balcony overlooking the altar, the dining hall, many guest rooms and oftentimes rooms that are empty save for a stained glass window. It often gives the air of a serene, yet eerie feeling.
However, if one finds their way to the basement levels of the temple, they will find their way into the aptly named Forbidden Labyrinth, a death trap maze that if one finds themself inside, they may easily become lost and never find their way out again. Deep in the labyrinth can be found a bloody sacrificial altar, shackles and chains and, in places, skeletons of long dead victims and cultists. In the deepest portion of the labyrinth is a giant crystalline room with a large hole carved in the floor, with giant chains laying at the bottom, showing that it was the place where the dragon Epyon was once sealed away.
The Inhabitants (NPCS)
Aside from Alter Cipher himself, his three Generals reside in the temple alongside him. They never act in hostility unless under Cipher's direct orders, and will always put up a friendly front should Cipher appear in the temple as Liam, or should anyone arrive without Cipher himself.
 | Fulco A hellhound woman who is fiercly protective of Cipher, she's the most powerful of the Generals. Fulco's true form is the hound of mist, Garmr, who fought alongside the Malidus goddess Lucifel and the dragon Epyon against the Four Cardinals. After escaping Malidus before the realm's destruction, Cipher was able to give a portion of his power to save Garmr from the brink of death, giving her the appearance of the red haired hound woman. She doesn't take kindly to strangers, especially those around Cipher that she's unfamiliar with, but she has an undying loyalty to Cipher for saving her life and acts only under his orders. Her powers as the mist hound are the primary source of the fog surrounding the temple. |
 | Mobius A an avian-like humanoid known as a kashia, formerly known in life as "The Reaper of Hazaeth" due to his deeds in the Second Xyliar-Hazaeth War, Mobius was one of two spirits that took the form of butterflies that escaped Malidus behind Cipher. While not able to gain a physical form like Cipher on their own, Cipher restored the two using fractions of his power as he did for Fulco. Now Mobius serves as Cipher's ever smiling executioner, often being the one who chooses which of Cipher's opponents will be the ones to die and which would be passed off to Oculus. When Cipher appears as Liam, Mobius will appear as a friendly and charismatic individual, hiding any murderous intention under his smile. |
 | Oculus The other butterfly alongside Mobius, this kashia was Mobius' close companion in life, although his butterfly was more unusual than others; this particular one carried two souls, that of Caelestis and his twin sister Almarei. This gives Oculus the curious ability to swap his gender and personality on a whim- Caelestis being a man of a serious, refined nature and Almarei being a friendly, loving woman, although both still carry the same sadistic nature beneath their guises. Where Mobius handles the executions, Oculus handles any physical torture that Cipher may order. |
The Forest
The temple is surrounded by a thick forest that reaches out to the coastline, and the forest is enveloped in a dense fog. It would not be difficult to get lost in the forest, and encounter one of its many denizens.
While some monsters of benevolent, others are prone to attack, oftentimes unprovoked. Pegasi, gryphons and wyverns are the most commonly found and can be safely approached unless they feel threatened but other, more threatening creatures such as venomous lizards known as arlos, ghouls, krenshar and kelpie are found closer to the shoreline.
