Sildan Temple

To be bestowed the Aura of the Tides within the Sildan Temple is the highest honour on planet Vanasi. This ancient landmark is where every great hydromancer travels to in order to be bestowed such a grand title. Even though a sorcerer has proven themselves by merely showing up at the temple, they must complete a serious of life-altering challenges in order to be bestowed the Aura of the Tides.

To carry an Aura is a symbol of one's power. The Aura of the Tides is tied to hydromancy, and only a couple hundred carry this Aura, out of the seven billion on Vanasi.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Waterways Door by Mochi

The Sildan Temple cannot be observed by the average person. Just a thin veil conceals it from laypeople; only those actively practicing water magic can pull back said veil.

To the average person, the Sildan Temple appears as nothing more than a hillside, with several waterfalls running down it. To any sorcerer of water magic, the temple is visible. To those with complete mastery over this magic, the temple is accessible.

The temple also provides an entrance to the Waterways, the realm hydromancy takes power from. This doorway unlocks for any sorcerer, regardless of skill.

...It's just a waterfall mate, not that interesting.

Wh- what? oh right, yeah. Sorry. Ignore me, just interested in the... water flow.

Right... sure buddy. Weirdo.

— Sorcerer talking to an average person, who is mistaken, because waterfalls are very interesting

Challenges

Inside the teal walls of the temple are four challenges, each more dangerous than the next. They are a test of one's mental and physical prowess, attempting to draw out personal weaknesses, anything that could stop oneself from truly reaching their full potential as a hydromancer.

Walls of Water

The first challenge is to bypass the Walls of Water. This test of mental fortitude challenges sorcerers, forcing them to swim to the very edges of their subconscience, in order to summon a wave of memories so high it can topple the wall.

This challenge takes place in one mind, while they are held within a temporal stasis.

Thousand Candles

The Thousand Candles is a precision test. One must extinguish every last candle in the Sildan Temple, without knocking over a single candle, or spilling any water or wax. While the challenge starts out simple, as the participant travels up the temple, the challenge becomes much more difficult.

The candles begin to move, vanish, and reappear at random. The fewer candles left, the more erratic their behaviour.

Taming Spirits

The third challenge involves taming an ephemeral lion, native to the Waterways. These water spirits are incredibly dangerous, vanishing in a cloud of mist once spotted.

A number of lions reside in the Temple's underground sewage system, and to tame one is a near impossible task. Perhaps a food item found in the sewage system is the key...

Word of the Gods

The final challenge is to communicate with Sursata, Queen of the Waterways. She is a deity in water witch culture, one of the most powerful hydromancers to have ever existed.

The final challenge asks the participant to communicate with her. She only speaks to those close to her power level. If she responds to your pleas, you complete the challenge. If she does not, you cannot retry this trial.

Is this a safe space to be honest real quick? I don't care about being a hydromancer. I just have massive FOMO, so I cast one water spell a week to keep the temple visible to me. I get stressed out thinking there's an entire temple I wouldn't be able to see just outside of my window otherwise.

— Brutally honest hydromancer

Type

Temple / Church

Parent Location

Vanasi

Related Magics
Hydromancy

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