The Holy Tapphic State

The **Holy Tapphic State,** located at Khulmiu Faira (former Baravenos), is a theocratic city-state that acts as the center of the Tapphic Monastic order, and the New Tapphic faith. The city was originally a part of the former Confederate Republic of Albia before joining The Dominion of Gewebe. It then became independent as "Altirus" and ended up abandoned, upon which the current Ganzseher De'moda came unto it's charge.

The city-state was conceived as part of a ritual atonement by the Ganzseher. As such, it places an express focus on the creation of a pious system, and a beautiful places to live.

## Architectural Description

The City, though currently unfinished, exhibits a pattern of growth evident of both careful planning and spiritual care. The buildings are constructed of quartz plates primarily. Interlaced between the quartz plates are varying styles of andesite and granite links, which also form (along side diorite slabs) the majority of floor surfaces. In addition, due to the close influence of Gewebe, many buildings feature quite jarring and intricate sections of support, including a frequent pillar system reminiscent of spider legs. Local woods, spruce and dark oak, are stripped and treated for strength, before being incorporated as long spears of architectural framework.

Symbolism regarding the "web" can be found woven into construction. Each building has preparatory ports for a lattice of bridges, to connect the would be expansive buildings. The "pillar system" motif also seems to act as a structure from which more buildings may sprout off of. In addition to pillars, Tapphic architecture also integrates cable structures as support. If plans are fulfilled, it seems that the general idea behind the construction of the city is to create a symbolically and architecturally "unified" system. Each new building comes either off of it's own base, or from another building to be connected.

Though this is only slightly assumptive, this description holds true for most modern Tapphic architecture.

## City Layout

The holy city, as it is yet unfinished, has few major centers of focus. The walls of the city are far older than the city itself, a remnant of a former town in Albia. They once also housed the state of Altirus before it became Khulmiu-Faira. These walls are fairly unremarkable, and extend around the city, only gapping at entrances. Outside of these walls are the potato farms, as potatoes are a staple crop in the area.

The zoning of the city is contingent on a major set of 7 connected roads, in the shape of the character "K'au", for 'go' or 'walk'. The city is divided into approximately 6 sections.

At the gate of the city, to the right, is the Fairaic Brewery & Tavern. It's the current home of Tapphic Spiced Rum, a major export of the state. Far to the right is the former Gewebian Amphitheater, which is now unused. If you continue forward, you reach the Main Corridor.

There is a staircase ascending the arch that braces the Three Arms. This staircase will lead to the residential areas of the city. Further along, opposite to the "geometrical" center of these roads is the Temple, at the back of the city.

## The Eastern Ziggurat

The main feature of Khulmiu-Faira is the Eastern Ziggurat. It houses the heart of New Tapphic worship, and is the center of most religious ceremonies.

Ganzseher De'moda constructed the temple, and the rest of the state, on his own. It features many of the aesthetic choices of the rest of the city, with the current stipulation that it is not constructed with wood. This wooden trim will be added once the city is completed.

The temple layout begins with a series of 3 grand staircases, the middlemost of those being lined with 6 pillars, 3 on either side. The grand staircases ascend towards the temples Tapphic Icon, and the entrance to the structure. Inside the first layer of the structure, you will find a ring walkway that surrounds the first sublayer. The walkway itself is surrounded by many small pillars, supporting the second ring walkway. The first ring walkway contains bridges to the second sublayer, and the first sublayer contains stairways to those bridges. Those stairways themselves are surrounded by 4 major pillars, that support a solid amount of the total structure. This first level seems to be the primary center of worship.

On the second level, you will find the Speakers Chamber. It is unfurnished, and currently in progress. Within, you'll find the second sublayer, which houses 4 holes dropping into the temples heart. You'll see a bridge extending into it from above, where the speaker goes to speak. The second walkway would house the seating.

The rest of the temple's layout is unknown, as it is enclosed by the temple.