Palasa Sanctum

During the year 1700, King Isador began construction on two new Sanctums, one of which being the Palasa Sanctum.

The Palasa Sanctum is a moderately sized building in the Merchant District, faced with burgundy and white marble. The exterior is both ornate and humble, boasting of course decorative carvings featuring traditional Aodh Architecture styles, as well as some carvings of Ignacio and Kaia, the patron gods hosted in Palasa.

The overall shape of Palasa is a two story, cylindrical shaped structure, with one large main round building, with three extra wings off to the side that host the library, Sanctum Attendant quarters, Medical bay, and Kitchen.

The current Flamen of Palasa is Misti.

## Floorplan

Palasa Sanctum is built in two stories, with the 1st floor housing the public areas, as well as attendant housing, and 2nd floor being dedicated to private rooms of the Flamen, as well as storage and prayer rooms.

### The Main Hall

The Main Hall is accessed via the large main entrance, barred by two double doors which open up into the main hall. The Main Hall is decorated simply, with carpets pathing the way around, and paintings every so often on the walls, and of course, multiple vases of flowers. There are two staircases which curve against the interior wall, leading to the second floor, and in between them, another set of smaller double doors which leads to the inner Sanctum where the statues of the Gods are located.

### The Inner Sanctum

**The Inner Sanctum** is the pride and joy of Palasa, boasting a glorious circular garden, with many different kinds of flowers and plants, but mainly those colored blue, as an homage to Ignacio’s blue flames. In the very center of the room, striding down the paths cut through the gardens, are the two statues of the twin Gods. Sitting near one another, the left statue is one of Kaia, the goddess of Love, Fertility, Life, and Desire. The right statue is of Ignacio, the patron god of Aodh, in all his glory. The two are gracefully locked together, meeting and creating an arch above one of the paths, signifying the God’s connection to one another.

The walls of the inner Sanctum are decorated in multiple sheets of stained glass, with symbols of Kaia on the North-west and South-east walls, and then Ignacio symbols on the North-east and South-west walls. There is no roof for the inner sanctum, at least for one floor. There is an open balcony design above the inner sanctum, allowing those to go to the upper floor and view the inner Sanctum from above. And above that, there is a clear glass roof, allowing the garden much needed sunlight.

Leaving the inner sanctum and stepping into the main hall once more, there are three different doorways to go through. To the north is the Library, and another garden.

### Library

The Library is moderately sized, not large, but not small either. At the north end of the library is the Sanctum Fireplace, where Sacred ash is crafted and collected. The Library itself hosts a varied manner of books, varying from lore about Kaia and Ignacio, to Gardening, Medical Aid, and general stories. There was an addition of Braille books after the Flamen of Palasa, Tiresias, who is completely blind, was chosen for the rank. The non-braille books still outweigh the braille, but Tiresias is eagerly trying to obtain more braille books, in hopes that they will offer knowledge and help to those who cannot afford Braille books of their own. Chairs are scattered in the corners of the room, and anyone who wishes to seek knowledge is welcome to enter and spend time reading. Books are not permitted to leave the Sanctum, but while inside the Sanctum, they are welcome to read as much as they’d like.

### Attendant Quarters

The Sanctum Attendant Quarters are in the west wing of the building. There is a large common room, where Sanctum Attendants are free to spend time when not engaged in duties, and hosts smaller, private bookshelves, small gardens, a fireplace, and tables to offer places to practice any hobbies they may have. There are then private rooms which all connect to the common room, which belong to the Attendants themselves. There are 7 Rooms on the lower floor, with a few more on the upper floor.

### Kitchen & Medical Aid

The Kitchen & Medical Aid are in the east wing of the building. Two sets of doors are close to one another, with the left door being the Kitchen, and the right being the Medical Aid. The Kitchen is moderately sized, but fair, and produces both enough food to feed those living in the sanctum, as well as having some extra that Tiresias has delivered to the less fortunate, or those who seek aid from Palasa.
Next door is the Medical Aid. With Kaia being the goddess of fertility, Palasa is known for offering both fertility treatments via herbs and prayers, as well as aid for pregnant mothers, sometimes even helping with births themselves. That is the main function of the Medical Aid, with Tiresias offering their time to help mothers who may not have access to doctors, regardless of their rank, slave, commoner, or even a beggar.

*Palasa can offer other basic medical treatments, but they are not doctors who can perform surgery, and they often recommend finding an actual doctor for such things.*

## Offered Practices

The Palasa Sanctum’s offered practices aim to help out those who ask for aid, like most other Sanctums.

The main feature and practice offered in Palasa, is that of their fertility treatments and birthing aids. With Kaia being the goddess of Fertility, Love, and Desire, Palasa has specialized in helping those in regards to Kaia’s virtues.

### Fertility Treatments

The fertility treatments offered in Palasa are mostly herbalistic in nature. Their techniques vary from simply helping a mother find a proper diet, to offering supplements in the form of Evening Primrose Oil, or Chasteberries. Tiresias is the main source of knowledge regarding the diet and supplements due to their extensive knowledge of plants and herbs, with the Sanctum Attendants all requiring a crash course in such knowledge when they join.

Other offered practices for expecting or hopeful future mothers include simply offering them a bed to rest in if they are unable to get such rest at home, chiropractic care, or even simply offering advice or knowledge regarding their pregnancy and newborn, such as reducing stress or getting more sleep. They also can help with terminations of pregnancies, although it may be slightly saddened and looked upon as casting away a gift of Kaia.
With Palasa’s mentality, they will not often turn away someone looking for aid relating to Fertility or pregnancies. Even with Slaves, they will often offer their aid if requested. However, they will refuse aiding in terminations of pregnancies unless the owner of the slave is present and consents to the procedure. But all other techniques are available to Slaves, from the supplements and diet advice, to offering a place to rest for a short while, or a nice warm meal for both the mother and child.

### Food Aid

One of Palasa’s other practices is their soup kitchen. If anyone walks in and requests a hot meal, Palasa is eagerly willing to help. While it may be a simple soup or broth, with a bit of bread, and a nice cup of flowery or herbal tea, it is still something warm to eat and drink, and a place to rest their hooves for a short while. Any extra food at the end of the day is gathered and then distributed early the next morning to beggars or the poorer folk in Valore, with some being offered to the Vatros Sanctum to distribute to Labor Slaves.

### Counseling

Of course, with this being a Sanctum, it is a common thing for counseling and advice to be offered. Tiresias, although young and new to the job, will always be willing to offer advice and insight into any issues presented.
While Tiresias specializes in spiritual advice, as well as anything relating to relationships, identity or sexual preference, or parents needing help with a future child, they can offer other advice, and try their best to offer such aid, and if not available, most sanctum attendants are given courses and mild training to do their best to offer support. Some of the older, more experienced attendants are more experienced in this manner, and typically the newer attendants refer equines to them if Tiresias is busy.

### Spiritual Blessings and Cleansings

Of course, the Palasa Sanctum offers spiritual blessings and cleansings by the Flamen in the form of prayers, and Sacred Ash. Sacred Ash is created in the Library’s Fireplace, and blessed by Tiresias. Upon request, Sacred Ash will be offered and given to visitors to use in their homes to cleanse it of negative thoughts and feelings.

Tiresias also will offer upon request to spend time simply praying with another, to help them ask for guidance or help from Kaia or Ignacio.

## Credits

Text and artwork © Moose-On-Ice

Original here.