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Visiting the Temple The Temple in the Pines is a somewhat exotic locale for Sanctuary's residents, as it lies far outside of the safe boundaries of the city's walls and protective Hearth Stones. The temple is a roughly crescent shaped structure that rises up into the domed observatory building in the middle, and is made out of golden-brown sandstone and polished, tawny wood. In the warmer months, or for those willing to brave the cold with plenty of blankets and warm drinks, the buildings on either side of the observatory dome boast roof top terraces where visitors can enjoy the stars without the aid of the observatory's telescope. There's also a small garden out back, which is tastefully arranged, but is mostly used for food plants rather than ornamental purposes. There are four floors to the structure--- the first two are above ground, with the ground level hosting the reception hall, the lounge, a small library, and the clinic. Up the stairs, through the library, is the observatory and terraces. The other two levels are underground. Heading downwards just past the lounge leads to the temple's six soaking rooms, its pleasure garden, its dining hall, kitchen, and several well appointed suites for those choosing to stay the night. The last level is found past a locked door and is only accessible to temple residents and Ven himself, or to anyone who has convinced one of these parties to unlock that door for them. In this deep, cavernous space are more permanent dwelling places, a central common hall, and the offering rooms. There are also access to the tunnels beneath Sanctuary from here-- a private, well lit tunnel with plenty of check points that forks at the end. One path leads to the greater tunnel network beneath Sanctuary, and the other reaches all the way to Harbor's main tunnel. It seems Ven has been well aware of these tunnels for quite some time-- the spot he picked for the temple intersects very conveniently with them. 
Amenities  Please note that not all areas of the temple are available to guests. Guests cannot enter the lowest chamber without being let in, and they will always be accompanied by one of the temple's residents while below, for their safety as well as the safety of the residents of the temple. Friends of any of the temple's residents, as well as paying guests may enjoy the public facing facilities. Anyone else may only go as far as the courtyard and the outdoor gardens.The doorway to the tunnels leading to Harbor are locked at all times except to temple residents that have been cleared to use it. Dining  The temple gets most of its food from The Sparrow & Hare and the same vendors the Mammothjaw Hotsprings uses, and so it shares much of the same menus outside of special events. Hot or cold mint tea and plum wine are also available, though.Meals, snacks, and tea are freely provided for those staying overnight, but day pass members must purchase things à la carte. Permanent residents are offered free daily meals, though most of them do not eat food, nor drink wine... Spa  Warm, scented baths in oversized tubs dressed with herbs or flower petals await those who venture down to the spa. Unlike Sanctuary's hot springs, where one must often share space with others (sometimes of questionable hygiene), each bath is in a private room and included with the experience. Though, if one wishes company, each is easily big enough to fit two or three full grown adults.In each room there is also a smaller pool for cooling off in, and a padded bench for napping in the scented steam. For an additional fee, one can rent an attendant to bring snacks and fulfill requests. Massage services can also be purchased. Observatory  The observatory above tends to be very popular. Though its solar system model is merely a fantastical decoration (no one has yet mapped Sanctuary's stars), the telescope provided up the stairs may change that yet.And for the nights where it's simply too cold to enjoy the stars outside, the lights are dimmed so that guests can enjoy the night sky through the domed glass ceiling, typically with blankets and a hot drink. Clinic  The Temple has a small clinic available to treat any minor injuries and infections that guests may have. In fact, it's a requirement that any guests who wish to use the spa visit the clinic first, as those with easily communicable diseases are not permitted within the pools until they have been cleared up. |
Packages Day Pass
A pass for a single day is A day pass to the temple grants the following: ✤ Access to all of the temple grounds open to the public. ✤ Use of the spa pools after a visit to the clinic. ✤ A complimentary cup of hot or cold mint tea and a cookie. The pass expires at 9pm, and does not include food or further drinks.  1 Silver,  5 Copper or the equivalent.Overnight
An overnight pass is An overnight pass to the temple grants the following: ✤ Access to all of the temple grounds open to the public. ✤ Use of the spa pools after a visit to the clinic. ✤ One free massage. ✤ Included meals and non-alcoholic drinks. ✤ Accommodations in a private room sleeping 2-4. The overnight pass expires at 11am the next day, and includes breakfast.  12 gold or the equivalent.Parties & Meetings
Prices vary.Birthday parties and business meetings held at the temple may request catering, prices varying depending on what's being served. The courtyard, the lounge, and the library all have small, private spaces that may be utilized, or the outdoor garden and one of the rooftop terraces can be completely rented out for a higher fee. Weddings
Prices vary.Weddings tend to be popular at the Temple. It's one of the nicest buildings available in Sanctuary, after all. Full catering and wedding planning is offered, and the reception hall and the Observatory are available to rent out for guests. For a truly staggering fee, the option to rent the entire temple for a day also exists, but one must speak to Ven directly for this. Courtyard & Outdoor Garden (Click to Expand!)
 
The entire temple structure curls in on itself from both sides like a crescent moon, a fact that is very much appreciated in Sanctuary's windier months. The courtyard is paved with the same smooth, golden sandstone the building is made from, and is inlaid with a beautiful glittering mosaic of a golden poppy in full bloom. The area's layout is open in a way that makes it perfect for dancing and outdoor celebrations, while the surrounding fountains and greenery still make it feel private and intimate. Close to the walls of the building, ornate wooden awnings keep the elements at bay, while also providing shade for several hammocks and picnic tables. Behind the main building are several well organized vegetable gardens. While they are functional, they also have been laid out so that they are beautiful. In the summer the lush gardens between the temple and the cold hardy pomegranate trees are fragrant with herbs and speckled with butterflies and other pollinators. There are no fences around the garden-- though curiously the local wildlife seem to leave it alone. But there are several small fences around the skylights laid into the center of the gardens to keep people from falling through to the soaking rooms and indoor garden below. The steam baths are centered directly under the garden, and may be part of the reason it's possible to grow the pomegranate trees there. Reception Hall (Click to Expand!)
 The polished floors and arched ceiling of the temple's reception hall make it feel very grand and opulent, while the warm sandstone fireplace and airy windows keep the space comforting. The hall sits directly behind the temple's lobby, down a flight of varnished walnut stairs, and is extremely popular for weddings.Outside of wedding season, it acts as a general gathering space. A long table to one side of the hall is popular for eating lunch at, doing crafts, or playing board games. Nearer to the fireplace there is typically a cluster of soft couches and chairs, which are often popular for cuddling in with visiting couples. While the half near the stairs gets a lot of through traffic, the rest usually stays pretty quiet. It's a good place to retreat and relax. The fireplace is always lit during the winter, and so it stays nice and cozy. The far wall is all window, and it offers a wonderful view of the back garden and the wilderness beyond the temple. It's a particularly dramatic view in the winter time when it's actively snowing, or in the summer when the wildflowers are in bloom. The first floor public bathrooms can also be found just off this space, as well as a small, private room for meetings. The Lounge (Click to Expand!)
 The lounge is tailor built for socializing. The main room is a comfortable spread of polished, dark wood; tawny sandstone; and plush, jewel toned velvet. There are several long couches, for those who would like to mingle, and clusters of quieter, more set apart tables and chairs for those who would like a little more privacy.For those looking to sequester themselves even more, the space offers several intimate side rooms hidden behind doors and thick curtains to muffle conversation. The lounge is no smoking like most of the temple, but there's a cozy balcony with a few seats and a fire pit set aside outside for those who simply can't wait. The Library (Click to Expand!)
 The Temple in the Pines boasts an extensive library. It may not be as big as the one in the Omphalos, but its collection is arguably more eclectic. It's also simply a very pleasant place to read, bringing to mind cozy coffee shops or comfortably worn used book shops.There are board games to play as well, chess, checkers, and one of the temple's many fireplaces to enjoy them in front of, or to sip on tea. The city of Sanctuary rents out the space every other Friday for Sanctuary's book club -- The Ice Breakers-- to use for free. Occasionally they even import hot chocolate and marshmallows. There are a few private reading rooms available adjacent to the library, each with a table, chairs, and a sofa, and they're often very popular for meetings. Frequent guests are even allowed to borrow books on a more long term basis once they've built up some trust with the temple. The Clinic (Click to Expand!)
Though clinics can often be sterile feeling, intimidating places, the clinic at the Temple in the Pines is warm and well lit. There are three small examination rooms staffed by the temple's healers, and before anyone is permitted to use the baths below, they're required to get a clean bill of health here. Disease spreads easily in warm, wet places, and the temple takes the health of its visitors and residents very seriously. The temple's clinics are also well equipped for dealing with day to day complaints and minor emergencies. The facility is not set up for serious emergencies, but can stabilize patients in the event of one before transferring them to hospital in the city or the Omphalos's med bay. The clinic also sells a range of scented bath oils, shampoos, soaps, and other niceties for use in the baths below or at home, many of which have therapeutic properties. The Observatory & Terraces (Click to Expand!)
 The Observatory sits above the temple, between two rooftop terraces. Its wide, glass domed ceiling allows wonderful views of the stars at night while keeping out the cold in Sanctuary's more frigid months. But in the warmer seasons, or armed with a mug of fragrant tea or hot chocolate, the view from the terraces can be beat.During the day, the terraces are a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the sun. The far edges are padded with rugs and low, cushioned benches, and frequently there is live music-- usually something soft and drifting. On nights where star gazing isn't being done, braziers, glowstone bowls, and lanterns are lit, steeping the rooftop in warm light and dancing shadows. Inside the Observatory is a particular draw for the curious and the scientific minded. A large telescope is built into the shaft of the decorative solar system model, which turns as the telescope is adjusted. Nearby is a book for guests to write down their observations, and to read the observations of past guests. The Soaking Rooms (Click to Expand!)
 Below the main floor, nestled in with the overnight rooms and the indoor garden are the temple's soaking pools. Each room has two pools-- one hot, and one cold. Like the pools in Sanctuary, the temple's baths are fed by underground hot springs. Unlike Mammothjaw, however, they are all fully private.The rooms have a cave like feel to them, lightened up by skylights that open to the garden above-- though they are each frosted for privacy. Additional light comes from glowstone alcoves. It's a very restive space, and there are usually several benches and lounge chairs around each pool for any napping that happens to be done, and the fluffy towels provided make for excellent pillows. Most of the pool rooms can accommodate 2-4 full grown humans with ease, but there are two larger rooms capable of accommodating bigger species as well-- within reason. The pools can be reserved for up to three hours at a time by guests. Massages and scented oil rub downs can be ordered to be administered directly in the bathing rooms. Drinks can also be ordered, but no food or alcohol while in the pools. Each bathing room also has a small, separate reception area with a table and chairs, however, and food can be ordered for these spaces. Pleasure Garden (Click to Expand!)
 While the food gardens above are functional as well as beautiful, the temple's indoor pleasure garden is shamelessly ornamental. In the depths of Sanctuary's coldest winters in blooms with sweet, vibrant hibiscus and verdant vines that hang like leafy banners over its bubbling fountains.It's also nice in hotter weather, as its temperature remains steady all year round, and is a well shaded option for those who enjoy a little greenery but cannot be in the sun. Though there are some skylights to let in sunlight for the plants, they remain in the middle of the space, while the edges are supplemented with specialized glowstones. Down the stairs and past the picnic tables, there is also a small lily pond with colorful koi fish. A cup of fish food can be bought to feed to them for 1 Copper. Hidden Depths
The Temple in the Pines serves as a retreat for Sanctuary's world weary citizens-- a place to get away and experience a little luxury and pampering, even in the dead of winter. But it also has a bit of an open secret in that most of its permanent residents are vampires and other things that go bump in the night. The temple is owned by Ven, a... vampire adjacent creature himself, though the truth is much more complicated. Ven takes followers under his wings, keeping them safe and well stocked in whatever they need-- including blood. In exchange, their connection to him provides him strength, and lets him work magics that he might not otherwise have access to without them. It's a mutual exchange, though some take it much further than just business. In his own world, Ven was worshipped as a god in some places, and though he does not seek out supplication, he also does not refuse it. And Ven seems to be looking to build power in Sanctuary in specific. So beneath the bustle and glamor of the temple above, vast cave systems have been turned into residential halls, sacrificial chambers, and even stranger rooms. Ven does have rules, and he's particular about them being followed, but for those in his graces, blood flows easily and life is good. Harbor The temple's own tunnel system does eventually wind its way to the Dome, coming out just inside of the Ruins. The entrance is well hidden, and well armored against intruders and dinosaurs alike, with tall stone walls embedded with iron spikes. Within the protection of the walls is a small waystation for refueling, treating injuries, and catching one's breath, as well as a modest stable for mounts. Rumor is that Ven is far more lax about his rules in Harbor, and that he actively sees it as a threat to his investments-- but attempting to ask him directly only ever results in evasion of the topic. Ven is picky about who he allows to use the tunnel to Harbor-- which is less about territory for him and more about protecting what he considers his. Only those who have proven they can handle the challenges presented by the Dome are permitted to use the tunnel. 
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