[O] The Practise Hall

[Lorika]

And so it was said
That magic is the root of life:
The source of all elements,
And to path to eternity.

Tucked out of sight of passers-by, behind the conspicuous frontage of the Temple, is an extension on the regular building. It was there when the Order arrived, but in a general state of decay as the side most exposed to the cruelty of the coastal elements. A great amount of cleanup and restoration was required, but success resulted in what is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing area of the Temple.

The main gallery off the western hall of the ground floor bears down upon the entrant like the might of a divine giant. High-ceilinged, with stained glass windows streaming with light, the hall is airy and grand. Its effect, coupled with the energy in the air, sends shivers down an unsuspecting spine. While the walls are thick, a person standing near to the southern wall may catch the occassional sound of trickling water or murmured rituals from the prayer hall.

Spellcasters, in general, are exempt from many of the duties of the Spiritualist acolytes - unless, of course, they are training in both fields. The Professor considers himself a scholar first and a devotee afterwards, and his example is respected by the High Priestess. A trainee in a Spellcasting field can expect to spend many long hours pouring over books and muttering chants until the procedure of a spell becomes natural to them. After that, it's a case of putting it into practise - the point where most spells can go horribly wrong.

The main hall, large and roomy enough for many magicians to keep at a safe distance from one another, gives way to many smaller rooms on the eastern wall. There are rooms specifically devoted to practitioners of each specialised field, and rooms which are available for general quiet study. To have enough resources surrounding you while studying, however, you may wish to progress a little further down the halls in order to enter the Library - a surprisingly small room, yet untainted by the musk of a more ancient counterpart, separated into thematic sections including theology, philosophy, and others (of course, including hydromancy and the other disciplines). Anyone may use the library, but the subject matter of the books generally attract only spellcasters and ordained Priests. It is not unknown for a book to be set as punishment for a misbehaving acolyte.