The Temple in a neutral zone between Eleutheria, the territory of Lord Attys, and Avilion, the lands of Lady Vesper. It is located on a small island in the middle of a large lake, on the Continent. It was first discovered during the quest A Sphere? Oh Dear, since it can be accessed by traveling through a portal in the Elemental Portal Shrine.
This structure holds significance for the local Fey, since it seems to be related to their worship, or at least veneration, of the 'Two Suns' - Attys and Vesper. The Temple stood here before this however, though nobody remembers what it was used for originally. Whether it was ever related to the sun-revering religion of the Radiance remains unknown.
Appearance
The inner chambers of the Temple used to be torn apart, one half trapped on the Shadow Plane, the other in the First World. The first party to discover it managed to retrieve both halves, return them to the Material Plane, and join them back together to restore the Temple. These inner chambers weren't accessible from the outside until this happened - in fact, nobody knew about their existence. Where a door connects them now, there used to be a wall with a mural.
Upon stepping through the portal in the Shrine, the traveler finds themselves in a small pool without the twelve slots around it. Within their reach is a semi-circular parapet that curves outwards to surround a bigger, deeper, crescent-shaped but ultimately mundane pool. This entire architectural composition is within a slightly oval room that extends into a short corridor. In that spot of transition, there is a beautifully crafted statue of an armoured knight. One half of it features intricate patterns reminiscent of swirling shadows which coil and slither around the mirror-gems. The other half is decorated with tendrils of greenery, etchings of flowers that none of you have ever seen, engravings of the sun and winged beings.
Similarly to the statue, one half of the Temple is verdant and colourful, brimming with primordial life; the other half is stern, sterile, black-and-white, but reflective and glimmering due to the hundreds of mirrors of all shapes and sizes that litter the walls and the floors. Both of these sides are bleeding into each other in the middle.
In the corridor, there is a tree growing on the wall and ground next to the exit; it doesn't look like anything from the Material Plane. In the boughs, there are treasures, bundles, hammocks, baskets of odd fruits, smooth hanging rocks that could serve as tables, ladders made of vines and entwined roots. There is also a lot of mistletoe around, as well as oddities such as colourful beads, pieces of fine cloth in different patterns, and miscellaneous bits of armour of all shapes and sizes. Sparkling particles hang in the air - pollen, most likely. Sometimes, its overpowering smell and texture when inhaled can make one a bit nauseous.
Next to this tree, on the left wall of the corridor, there is a decorative arch that doesn't actually lead anywhere. It is suffocated by plant growth, and used to serve as a gateway to the First World - or maybe still does. Above it, in an ancient version of Sylvan, there are words:
| There is no light without shadow to shine against. Knock, and we will open. Ask, and we will ask. Answer, and we will answer. |
On the opposite side, among all the other mirrors, one stands out as larger, more detailed and intricate. It used to serve as a gateway to the Shadow Plane - or maybe still does. Above it, in some odd kind of forgotten dialect of Aklo, there are words:
| There is no shadow without light to cast it. Show us your true selves; show us what lingers in your inner darkness when you let it outside. |
Between the archway, the large mirror, and the exit, there is a lantern. The exit itself leads into a smaller, rectangular chamber. The left wall is on the east, and features a small shrine dedicated to the rising sun. The right wall is on the west, and this shrine is dedicated to the setting sun. Both seem to be tended to occasionally. The southern wall is where one can exit the Temple.
Inhabitants
Marsyas the Satyr tends to the Temple, specifically the eastern shrine, as the Eleutherian envoy. Alongside him is an invisible creature who sticks to the shadows, Ombretta; she is the envoy of the Golden Barony, and she presumably tends to the western shrine.
With the Temple restored, Xamak / Kamax from the Shadow Plane was finally released from his prison. He usually lingers around his mirrors, or within them. Elgie and Beety from the First World also live here now, since their home was forced back to the Material Plane. The tree in the corridor is where they can usually be found.