Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kntshade 07-22-05, 04:58 PM	I have until Saturday night to fully detail the Cathedral of the Cleansing Flame in Sovereign Towers in Sharn, as at that point my players will become intimately familiar with it and its residents as they attempt to execute a daring rescue of an important NPC who has been detained by the Silver Flame. What are some ideas for some things they might see there? Has anyone detailed any churches or such things that might provide me with inspiration? Also, what are some ideas as to how these PCs could get away with such an assault? What types of things should they look out for? What they are going to do is likely to cement the Silver Flame as one of their enemies, however, they do have the support of the ir’Tain family. Any and all ideas are very welcome!
Edymnion 07-22-05, 05:52 PM	Essentially, the churches of the silver flame are going to be VERY much like catholic cathedrals at the height of the catholic church's power. Big, vaulted ceilings, towering pillars, domes, lots of painted scenes from holy scripture, gold and silver everywhere you look, cisterns of holy water, only instead of a big cross with Jesus on it, I would imagine it would be a great Silver Flame motiff with Tira Miron and the couatle fighting the demon in it. Maybe have the couatle coiling around in the background, the demon making up the "floor" of the motiff, with Tira in the center, stabbing her greatsword down into it. Everything about it should just scream "Damn, these guys have a lot of money to spend making the place look good".
Shadowalk Nimblefeet 07-22-05, 06:36 PM	I agree with some of what Endymnion suggested, but not on the whole. Definately take a look at the Gothic Flamboyant style of architecture for some visual influence, at least as far as the delicate almost flame-like appearance of the outside, the airy vaulting, the ridiculously high pointed arched, the slender columns, and magnificent stained glass. But, also bare in mind that even this style of architecture was limited by real-world physics, not so in Eberron-- and especially not so in Sharn. In the City of Towers, vaults can soar even higher, walls can be thinner, pointed arches can reach to the heavens, stained-glass windows could have animate pictures showing the deeds of Tira Miron or other heroes of the faith, and all the decorative elements could even be enchanted with silver contiual flame spells. Try to make it a truly immaculate play of light and colour, but I'd avoid some of the pomp and unduly conspicuous detail often associated with Gothic design. I'd make the inside a bit more austere, the Flame is pure and clean and the architecture should relfect a definate flamic influence on the inside. Think about when you're staring at a fire, the exterior seems to move and dance in a complicated manner-- but the interior is that constant yellow-white. When I think of Silver Flame cathedrals, at least when I think of the interiors, I look to such real-world churches as St Paul's cathedral in London for inspiration. But for the exterior, I would look to modify the flamboyant style into something still delicate and flame-like as well as sturdy, austere and classical. You know, come to think of it, there's a specific flamboyant cathedral in France that I'm thinking of which couldn't stand on its own because it was both too fragile and tall and because it was built of chalk. What's left standing is the perfect exterior model for a Cathedral of the Silver Flame-- but I can't remember what it's called. If I do, I'll look up some pictures and post a link.