Amidst the flash and grandeur of some of the more showy temples sits the Mother's Temple of the Citadel. A wide low building plainly shaped and missing much of the decoration apparent in the other places of worship, the Temple is constructed of the heavy gray stone that seems to be found everywhere on the isle. The workmanship is of such quality that there are no visible seams: the Temple appears one great, vaguely mound-shaped stone of various blended shades of gray.
The entrance is a wide open archway leading into an antechamber. The doors to the great chapel within are a wonder to behold: seemingly an infinite variety of woods and metals have been blended into an abstract, but comforting pattern decorating the two large doors.
Within is a large open chapel with a low ceiling. Rows of wooden benches provide seating for the large number of commoners, mostly women, that come here seeking the blessing and comfort of the Mother. A warm glow from several large oil lanterns provides both light and dancing shadows along the walls. Simple but well-crafted friezes depicting the various events associated with the Mother - planting, tending and harvest of the fields, fertility and childbirth, and gardening - to name a few.
Doorways lead off to the sides - perhaps into the separate chapel rumoured to exist for the use of the Citadel's wealthier women; perhaps into the gardens and elemental shrines that are spoken of in whispers by those few devout worshippers who have been invited within. The Temple is pleasantly warm within in contrast to the chill weather that seems to have gripped the city outside. All in all, it is a sober, comforting atmosphere.
So here she was and the empty feeling in her stomach was growing bigger with every passing flicker. A voice in her head was suggesting that if she cut her losses now and didn't go looking for the truth then maybe she would never have to deal with it. It was stupid, of course, and she was mad at herself for even thinking so irrationally but...
He's the best friend you've got. Don't even go there.
After days of putting off the inevitable, Claire finally pulled herself together enough to begin searching for her partner Keros, following his disappearance from the Red Banner. Word on the street was that the victims from the fires had been brought to the Mother's Temple for healing. It seemed the most logical place to start looking.
She stepped inside and stood in the doorway of the chapel, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be able to tell her where they kept the injured.