Five Glories of Karash

The Five Glories of Karash are temples built along the Doursse River as it passes through the city of Bornheim. Stone walls on the banks of the river have been constructed providing a safe canal for the river to flow to the sea, even during the heavy rains ans storms.

Three bridges cross the river as it passes through the city. These are known as the Second Glory, Third Glory, and Fourth Glory. Under each bridge is a water lock controlled by the priest of the Temple of Luminous Kaskade. For most of its length the Doursse is wide and slow moving. The canal narrows the river providing a swifter flow until the waterfall that empties into Borulli Bay. The water locks are used to keep the canal full and control any flooding.

The First Glory is a massive gatehouse that holds the river's passage below the wall from attackers, and can support any soldiers mustering out to flank those attacking the Eastern Gate. The Fifth Glory is the Temple of Luminous Kaskade which controls all of the sluices and aqueducts that secure the outflow of the river into the bay.

The First Glory of Karash is the extensive gatehouse and sluice gates that control the flow of the Doursse River through the city. Commonly referred as the River Gate by the people, it represents the beginning of all waters. A series of frescos show the waters of the world falling from the heaven as both gentle rain and raging storms.

There is a large baptismal pool built directly downstream of the gatehouse that can be filled during initiations. While these are normally preformed in the rain, there is a rain barrel and ducts to provide rain during the dry weeks over the pool.

The widest bridge across the river and the most heavily trafficked, the Fourth Glory is Karash the Destroyer. A fortified gatehouse stands at each end of the bridge. Manned by armed priests and laity at all times. Only in times of need are the gates closed and each gatehouse has massive blocks of stone that can be dropped to stop anyone from crossing.

The toll for the bridge is minor and as per agreement anyone with a Queen's writ is exempt from the toll. This agreement has caused difficulties in the past as the local priests worship Karash and not at the temple_of_light. Pushing, shoving, and even occasional fights between hot-blood initiates are not rare occurrences when the two groups meet at the bridge.

The Third Glory does not reveal its true beauty until the sun begins setting. Dedicated to Karash's love of Lórion the bridge and its gates provide several fountains, reflecting pools, and foliage to offer lovers hidden places. Benches and railings provide places for lovers to public express their eternal devotion. In the evening it is not uncommon for marriage ceremonies to be held under Lórion's Arch.

During the day the bridge is commonly used for foot and cart traffic moving between the upper and lower. The Pullman's Guild maintains a rope house that can pull heavy carts up Glory Ridge without resorting to the long switchbacks to the east. The temple collects a small donation from each cart that crosses the bridge.

The only bridge lacking sturdy gates and walls to defend the upper city should the lower city fall, the dwarves that constructed the bridge insured it could be destroy quickly. Only the master builder and the select priests know the secret to trigger its destruction.

The Fourth Glory is dedicated to the bounty of the waters. Large and open to the air, the temple runs a large tavern that sits in the center of the bridge. All foot traffic must pass through the tavern where any passerby is pressed for donations or plied with food, drink, and entertainment. All of the staff are adherents of the temple except for those offering “entertainment” for weary travelers. Sailors to prostitutes to the destitute intermingle in the large common room, all are welcome to share the bounty of Karash. To those blessed by Karash much is expected.

The Temple of Luminous Kaskade is the fifth glory of Karash. Built atop the cliff that overlooks the Borulli Bay, this Grand Temple rises six stories into the sky and an unknown number of rooms, meditation chambers, and cellars cut into the cliff-side. A dominating statue of Karash is carved into the cliff with a series of sluices used to divert water to different exit points depending on the ceremony. The normal exit of the river is from the conch shell Karash holds in his left hand.