Beneath a star-swirled sky from which an eye of infinity stares down, stands a temple on a floating island; a place of magic, mystery, sadness and beauty. Removed from time, this is a realm where the occult is practiced and researched and arcane and perhaps terrible secrets await discovery.
Born of the imagination of Autumn Moonwraith (AutumnsWraith), Dominae Templum Doloris sits above the southwestern extent of Heterocera at a point where, at ground level, a graveyard might be founds set back from the road and separated from it by high rocks and gated wall. Here, both beside the steps leading to the gates of the cemetery (elsewhere and within its walls) passing visitors might find a book of Magic, a touch upon which (and acceptance of an Experience) will carry them to the Temple itself (there’s also a teleport board on the other side of the steps leading up to the graveyard, and this provides direct access to the places mentioned in this article).
However, before being tempted by said book(s), those coming the cemetery first may well want to spend a little time exploring it first, as there is much to be found within its darkened walls, including possible references to Goddess for whom the Temple was established, together with the bloody and mystical Club Midian – but I’ll leave it to you to discover these.
A crumbling domain in the endless void Explore the fallen temple of a long dead Goddess and the ancient occult library at the veil between life and death.
– Dominae Templum Doloris About Land description
For those teleporting to it from the ground or directly (from, say this article or the Destination Guide), Dominae Templum Doloris – perhaps most easily expressed as Temple of the Lady of Pain – lies separated from its main Landing Point by a chasm of sky crossed by the single broad span of a bridge. The Landing Point sits within the ruins of of a chapel perhaps younger that the temple, but which have not weathered the passing of time nearly so well. Make what you will of the altar and strange throne within these ruins – but do take note of the floating prize box close to where the bridge reaches outwards from the ruins; within it you will find a clue that my well help you in your explorations and in unlocking some of the mysteries of this setting. I’ll say no more of this here, but let you seek out more should you visit.
Find me, rooted near our lady’s sorrowed heart and the tears that help the lost souls to depart. Another clue is yours if you search the round; they say, behind words true knowledge may yet be found.
– Dominae Templum Doloris first hint
As you cross the bridge, you might witness a smaller rock circling the chapel’s ruins, the shape of the bent tree on its back as it circles perhaps mindful of a shark silently circling its potential prey. But while that tree is no monster, signs that strange and terrible creatures once occupied this realm can be found on the far side of the bridge, in the form of a giant dragon-like beast’s skull and bones. Just be careful where you step should you examine them, and you might find beasties still await the chance to scare.
Stone steps climb from here to the temple’s imposing bulk, their passage upwards guarded by tall carved pillars topped by mystical cold blue flames, together with more bent and twisted tress looking like fossilised serpents forgotten by time. Sitting under the high domed roof open at its centre to the stars above, the temple is a vast rotunda of magic and mystery. It is a place mixing learning with practice; where spells and incantations might be sought and cast, or knowledge of dark and light and life and death might be studied. It is also, strangely, a place in which to relax, and even to play a parlour game or two, as well as in which to study.
The attention to detail within the temple is – in a word – exquisite. So much so that I again do not want to spoil your explorations; just do take time to pan and cam carefully, high and low, or you might miss something – be it an image on the walls or an object on a desk or shelf. Those wishing to try their hands at levitating might want to touch the floor within the ring of candles, whilst those who came directly to the Temple might try the book of spells and runes to one side of the the circle to travel down to the cemetery mentioned above – or elsewhere!
If walking is your forte, exiting the temple and turning to the right will lead you to another set of stairs climbing to a further garden; a place where more surprises might await – particularly for those with active RLV/a; so be careful where you click!
There is one other place within the setting awaiting exploration (although, depending on your luck, you may find the teleport board already mentioned offers the easiest means of access). It sits even higher overhead, where the swirl of a yellow galaxy spins as a golden iris around the darkness of its heart to form that eye of infinity staring down over the temple. But again – I will leave you to discover this location for yourselves.
Dominae Templum Doloris is a fascinating visit – yes, it might seem appropriate to the season, but it in fact exists well outside of Halloween or anything else of that nature; it is a fully-formed place of mystery and the mystical which can be enjoyed regardless of the season or time. When visiting do be sure to have local sounds enabled and to either be running a PBR viewer or if on a non-PBR viewer, to have Advanced Lighting Model (ALM – Preferences → Graphics check the box; Shadows need not be enabled as well if your system struggles with them) – and enjoy!
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- Dominae Templum Doloris (Or, rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 