The blessed were not always revered
They were once hunted, as rare, mythical beings
It was said, that by killing a blessed, you could take their power for yourself
And so, the blessed, even with their great power, existed as a target for great evil
They were captured as prizes, as a display of power
Their blood was consumed as an offering to their god
Their bodies were strung up to strike fear into the hearts of enemies
The blessed hid from society for their own protection, but it was never enough
To fight this evil, the blessed came together
From every corner of the Earth, they found solace in each other
They built a home on their island, a place of protection, where only blessed were welcome
And they gave to their safe haven a name, they called it
Sanctuary
sanctuary
home of the blessed
welcome to
The ISLAND
The island of Sanctuary is a neutral territory in the equatorial pacific region. Its location is a well kept secret, and only blessed, former blessed, or locally employed inhabitants are allowed knowledge of its whereabouts. It is accessed via boat, or in recent years, through the portal system.
NAvigation
Where Cultures Collide
Several centuries ago, priests of different lands came together, meeting on neutral grounds, to discuss the future of the blessed. No civilization was safe, nor any rulers merciful to the blessed. It was agreed that together they would build a new land, where the Gods would be welcome, and their blessed would be heralded as heroes.
The History of Sanctuary
What started out as an island haven, a place for the blessed to go when their world didn't accept them, slowly grew into something greater than the idea it was built upon. Minds from all corners of the globe came together to build what is now the safe haven of the blessed. Architects, artists, religious figures, all kinds of people, all contributing their expertise, their cultures, their ideologies to build a place in honour of the gods.
Centuries past, Sanctuary grew. Generations grew and passed on the island, and countless blessed called it their home. With changing times, Sanctuary adapted. Civilisations rose and fell, but their remnants remained in Sanctuary. And new artifacts were added with each passing era, leaving relics from centuries past in a home defended by its people.
The Oracle of Sanctuary
The great Oracle of Sanctuary, the medium between humans and gods, able to connect humanity to the heavens. A power on par with the blessed, passed between humans as a gift, a blessing from humanity, much like the blessings from the gods. The power is a well kept secret, the skills of the oracle are unlike any existing magic. They alone can communicate directly with every god, at any time. Unlike the blessed, who can contact only their god, and even then, sometimes struggle to contact them, the oracle is able to speak to the gods at any time, even if they haven't quite gained their favour.
The current oracle is unlike her predecessors. Subira was raised in Sanctuary, her family worked for the Ethereal realm, and she was expected to join them. She was particularly studious, choosing to study in the UK. Barely into her second year, she was chosen by Ete, as the next sun blessed. She returned to Sanctuary, and her path seemed clear, but once again she was hit by a curveball, as she was chosen as the next oracle. She gave up her blessing to take on the new responsibility, but has been an incredible voice for change.
ETHEREAL REALM
Inspired by Chinese, Japanese and other Asian cultures, the Ethereal realm is inspired by the heavens above. Sitting within the mountain range, surrounded by boreal forests, the buildings follow the increase in altitude, with some of the shrines reaching far into the peaks of the mountain.
ELDER OF THE HEAVENS
The family of the Heavens elders have held onto their status since Sanctuary first began. Their traditions are as unchanging as the moon and sun. Ming Yue followed her family's longstanding tradition of guiding the Ethereal realm, but is considered something of a black sheep. Had she any siblings, perhaps she never would have become the elder, but without anybody else to take on the role, it left only her. She is particularly keen on changing the very traditions her family is known for, to embrace diversity and fluidity.
LOCATIONS
The Ethereal realm spans along the base of the mountain, stretching down to the sea to the East. Its buildings are known to be low, without the same tall, vertical structures of other realms' architecture. To compensate, the western complex sits on the mountain. The architecture is known to feature round arches and doorways, bilateral symmetry, use of enclosed open spaces, and applies the practice of feng shui to achieve harmony.
PHYSICAL REALM
With brightly coloured buildings, an abundance of crafts and high energy inhabitants, the realm is permanently busy. The weekday markets are a hub during the day for social activity, and buying a range of goods including fresh food, instruments, tools, textiles and more. The complex sprawls out as far as the beach, overlooking the bay towards the north of the island.
ELDER OF THE EARTH
Fereshtah was chosen among her siblings as the next Earth elder due to her strong affinity for magic. She is a particularly adept flora sorceror, known for her strong will and decisiveness. She practices cultural dance, a practice maintained in the realm through many generations, and is now one of the teachers, passing on the practice to younger generations. Her brother and sister accepted her as the elder without any complaint, and continue to support her and the realm they love so dearly. Family is central to the values of the Physical realm, and all within it are treated as family by both the elders and blessed.
LOCATIONS
The Physical realm sits along the southern coast, with the outermost building remaining low, and the more central buildings having multiple levels. It is known for the waterways throughout the sprawl, and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired architecture, featuring geometric motifs, intricate mosaics, colourful patterned textiles and arabesque carvings.
PSYCHOLOGICAL REALM
The grand architecture of the psychological realm is particularly impressive. Drawing influence from Greek and Italian architecture, it makes use of ornate sculptures, tall columns, high arched ceilings, and delicate paintings. The buildings are symmetrical, being balanced no matter how large, with even the smallest details holding meaning. The colours are muted, but unified, decorated with carefully constructed gardens.
ELDER OF THE PSYCHE
The carefree elder of the Psychological domain is the energetic foil to the most serious elders. Adonis wasn't always tied to Sanctuary, as he made what is considered an 'escape attempt' in his youth. Though he shirked his responsibilities, as the only child in his family who could become elder, he has grown into the role. His charisma is unmatched, and he is very friendly to people from all backgrounds. He can be difficult to pin down, but his heart is in the right place.
LOCATIONS
Most of the Physical realm complex is between the river and the sea, with outlying buildings spreading out beyond the river banks. The tightly contained buildings make it easy to get from one end to the other, but finding a specific location is no easy task: getting lost in the levels, corridors and stairways is easy.
PRIMORDIAL REALM
The realm of the old gods is one that embraces change, and makes space for what is new. With spires and towers reminiscent of old cathedrals, and layouts like that of old European castles, from the outside, it looks as old as anything. But within, it's oddly modern, clean and fresh. Dust doesn't have time to settle in an ever changing environment.
ELDER OF THE END
The quiet son of the last elder took on the role in what was something of a surprise twist. His older brother was expected to take on the role, and he had all the skills for it: knowledge beyond his years, grace, clarity of thought, but ultimately what he lacked, was what the current elder is known for: empathy. Finnegan is the caretaker of the elders, and considered the most approachable. He listens, responds slowly, and understands even the most difficult of situations. Or at least, that was then. Some things never change, but some things will never be as they once were.
PRIMORDIAL REALM
The realm of the old gods is one that embraces change, and makes space for what is new. With spires and towers reminiscent of old cathedrals, and layouts like that of old European castles, from the outside, it looks as old as anything. But within, it's oddly modern, clean and fresh. Dust doesn't have time to settle in an ever changing environment.
ELDER OF THE END
The quiet son of the last elder took on the role in what was something of a surprise twist. His older brother was expected to take on the role, and he had all the skills for it: knowledge beyond his years, grace, clarity of thought, but ultimately what he lacked, was what the current elder is known for: empathy. Finnegan is the caretaker of the elders, and considered the most approachable. He listens, responds slowly, and understands even the most difficult of situations.
LOCATIONS
Swathed in blankets of fog, and towering into the sky above, the castle-like structure of the Primordial realm is a sight to behold. The beauty is subtle, noticeable only to those looking for it. Wooden furnishings, stained glass and gold embellishments all complement the grandeur.
COMMON AREA
Before awakening and being sorted into their individual domain's areas, waiting blessed may rest and live within the spacious compounds of Sanctuary's Common Area. The central castle that anchors Sanctuary is evidence of the island's grandeur and extravagant history, with its sprawling lawns and great halls - however, its state of the art premises and technology shows no compromise with modernity either. As the center of the island, it also serves as a melting pot for the four different domains, as well as representing the diverse range of cultures and traditions of those who have resided in Sanctuary.
LOCATIONS
While the main castle of Sanctuary's common area resembles one with heavy old European influence, and its core interiors strive to reflect the same sense of grand splendor, many of the new wings and buildings to the side draw heavy inspiration from a modern and sleek design theme. The space itself is decorated by art and artifacts from many of the cultures and trades that mark Sanctuary's residents, both blessed and non-blessed. The spaces themselves lack any of the strong cultural influences that characterize each domain, and instead opts to be a common ground between them.
