Temple to Lathander
Lathander is the god of the spring, birth, and renewal, a deity of conception, vitality, youth, renewal, and self-perfection. He is god not of the sun but of the dawn, which represents the start of a new day filled with potential. As a god of beginnings, people commonly offer a prayer to him before undertaking any journey or endeavor. Lathander's name is invoked to seal alliances and christen new ventures or companies. As a result, the god is very popular among the merchant classes, and the church has benefited accordingly.
The Spires of Morning built in his name are a walled compound surrounding seven towers crafted of dusky rose marble, accented and capped with fine scrollwork of copper, silver and gold that gleam with the reflected glory of dawn's first light. Constructed in 998 DR, the earliest construction on this site was a temple and monastery of Lathander located originally outside the city. Thirteen years, the Spires of Morning was dedicated. It became a part of the city when the walls were expanded to contain it and provide more room for the growing population. Though destroyed by fire in 1345 DR, it was rebuilt within a year.
More than two hundred priests are based out of the Spires, as is the Order of the Aster, a Lathanderan order of knights. The high priestess of the Spires is High Radiance Qannae Ilarynyn.
Temple Compound
The Dawn Towers
Sanctuaries for the faithful and clergy alike who are in need of a peaceful place of meditation and prayer, the Dawn Towers are understood to be quiet-only places. Its first floor primarily contains the Great Hall, a gathering place for the social interactions that are a central tenet of Lathander's creed. The Great Hall has persons sitting, eating and drinking and discussing at almost all hours of the day. Visitors are welcome, whether or not they are of the faithful.
Kitchens
The massive operation of the temple kitchens is working at all hours, preparing food for the coming meal. About a third of the food the kitchen produces are taken to the poor and needy in other districts, and the kitchens also brew an ale - Aster Ale - that is popular in many Castle, Sea and North Wards, the sale of which is a great boon to the temple's coffers. Many wives of the faith also purchase hand-casks from the kitchens here for their own pantries.
Chapterhouse of the Aster
The war-room and gathering place for the leaders of the Order of the Aster, this room frequently sees gatherings to discuss ongoing operations and the logistics of the Order. It is fairly common to find the High Dawnknight here with any number of other knights, going over details, debriefing missions and the like. The walls here are bedecked with many shields, each a trophy of war of some great victory of the Order's.
Surrounding Rectories
Many of the buildings around the Spires of Morning are owned by the church and have been converted into rectory space for its many priests. Many of these are local rowhouses that are either constructed dormitory-style for acolytes and under-priests, or rooming-house style for priests of greater status.