Brightwater Halls – Temple
In the northeastern ward of Arabel, one temple rises in grandeur above that of others in the district. Brightwater Halls — a temple erected in devotion to the trifecta of Brightwater Goddesses, Sune, Sharess and Lliira — was completed in 1377 DR, replacing what had been the original temple to Sune in the city prior to the Shadowvar war from 1372-74.
During this conflict, the first temple fell to a Shadowvar assault, resulting in its razing, and the death of many itinerant clergy and templar. Answering the need for aid, clergy of the Goldheart, Hanali Celanil, came to aid and comfort those who survived the fall of the temple, in demonstration of the alliance of the elven Goddess with those who shared Evergold’s waters. They also pledged their support in seeing that the temple might one day stand again.
After the conclusion of the war, it was decided that the temple would be rebuilt, but not on the same site as the one that had fallen. The ruin of the prior temple became a memorial park, with the remains of the temple’s main entry wall and eastern wall serving as part of the perimeter fence as solemn reminder, along with the first idol of Sune that once stood in the sanctuary. Within the garden stood the last High Warder’s spirit tree, beneath which were placed markers of those who sacrificed themselves during the temple’s defense.
The new temple is a work of resplendent beauty, and it was decided that the temple would stand to represent not only the Firehair, but her attendant Goddesses as well. In addition, it houses a shrine to Hanali Celanil, in reciprocation for the faithful of the Elven Goddess lending their aid in a time of dire need.
Relationships
The temple of Brightwater Halls maintains good relations with the city of Arabel and the kingdom of Cormyr at large. Clergy and templar of the faiths have taken proactive steps not just to offer ministry and succor to those who enter their sanctuary, but also send out their numbers to assist in times of need to defend sovreign citizens, as they did in 1382 during the schemings of the reborn Runelords of Netheril in their attempts reclaim their ancient lands from the Crown.
Organization
The temple is presided over by the Mistress Warder Madelein, who arrived in Arabel from Sembia in 1376 to oversee the rebuilding of the temple. She was joined shortly thereafter by attendent acolytes including Blythe Heartgrove who also hailed from the churches in Sembia, who has risen to the position of Clergy Signora for her contribution in drawing support and goodwill for the temple’s reconstruction, commission of decorations and the subsequent reopening.
The Mistress Warder is also attended by the itenerants of Lliira and Sharess who came from other reaches of Faerun shortly after the high priestess in order to tend to worshippers of the sister faiths, as well as an acolyte of Hanali Celanil who tends to the shrine for her visiting faithful.
A growing contingent of the clergy of the temple are Sune’s specialty priests, the Heartwarders. Blythe is one of these, along with her understudy and betrothed, Auroa.
The temple also sponsors a contingent of the militant arm of the church of Sune, the Order of the Ruby Rose. Blythe’s second betrothed Raina Seris serves the Order’s Arabel chapter as Knight Signora. The Order is open to any warrior or other martial that’s a devoted worshipper of Sune.