Pyrtechon: Temples
Given the dogma of the church, creation of standing edifices in veneration goes against the grain. However, it was acknowledged 400 years ago that some focal point of devotion needed to exist. As a result, the pinpoint of Pyrtechon worship is in the Crimson Cathedral on Firesteep Volcano. Being the only official structure dedicated to the Raging One, the first impression one gets is that it's not as large as expected; this only lasts until one gets inside'for the true size of the building is hidden in the basalt. Building the original cathedral (since modified and expanded) took 7 years and 1,612 workers. A good portion of those workers expired from being worked to death. Those that did not die while building the cathedral were sacrificed in the Sanctuary; that has since become custom for Pyrtechonites. If anything lasting must be created, following the construction, the creator must sacrifice either the craftspersons responsible or if the item in question is not for his use, commit ritual suicide in atonement. From Rofirein notes on Pyrtechon, one eyewitness account does exist of the Sanctuary, taken from a halfling who by some miracle survived his trip there. Found in a pile of bodies left near Silgar, Peldon Wheathresher was part of a group of farmers abducted for sacrifice from Easthome while on a trading trip.
His account is classified due to the extreme nature of his ordeal. From what is known, the inside of the Sanctuary is a dullish red-brown from the blood of previous sacrifices never cleaned and shards of bone puncture bare feet. The heat and smell of death are nearly unbearable; open flames are everywhere. A single stone block is the only alter and is surrounded by a moat of fire. The witness noted roughly half a dozen bodies, some charred, which were his travel mates. Further information regarding his description is restricted to church officials.
His survival was apparently due to a medical condition he has where his heart beats very slowly when stressed, and he must have been assumed dead at some point during his torture. Mr. Wheathresher was healed at a local temple and returned home after his discovery and interview. Later, he tragically committed suicide.
