Dark Orchid Temple

The Dark Orchid Temple, is a temple devoted to the worship of Lest. It is situated in the forest of Araxion.

The temple was founded as the Vanic Temple in Araxion by Count Harald of Araxion through the issuance of a Comital Charter as well as a monetary donation from both him and the Jólaslafðir.

The temple adopted the name of White Orchid Temple upon the inclusion of the Goddess Elwynn in the worship of the Froyalanish and Wintergleamish Vanafolk. It soon thereafter became also known as the Dróttningstemplet, owing to the Lady Elwynn being viewed as the Sacred Queen of Elwynn by the Vanafolk.

Following the Auspicious Occasion the Dark Orchid Society crossed the western branch of river Elwynn into Araxion, stormed the temple. In this they were supported by the Brotherhood of Lest, who raped and butchered the priestesses, and with the blood of their victims rededicated the temple to the worship of Lest. The Dark Orchid Society, unable to restrain its fanatical allies, were obliged to acquiesce to the atrocity, in spite of their own reservations about alienating the Elw and attracting state or Imperial retribution. This act is considered part of the Froyalanish genocide.

The custodians of the Dark Orchid Temple remained neutral during the Second Elwynnese Civil War as the Brotherhood divided along ethnic lines, with the Babkhi and Norse mostly favouring the Raspur Pact whilst the Elw and Cimmerians tended to sympathise with the Republic of Elwynn and Amokolia and its bid for independence. This paralysis allowed agents of the Dark Orchid Society to represent the Brotherhood to Benacia Command as being fundamentally disloyal. By these means the Dark Orchid Society was able, in the aftermath of the Scouring which presaged the collapse of the rebel cause, to call upon the Elwynnese Landstorm to assist in a second siege and purification of the temple. Following the Society's capture of the sacred site the survivors amongst their erstwhile allies were taken and offered up in sacrifice to the Archonic spirits of the Celestial Temple.

Since 1701 AN it has been the headquarters of the United Ecclesiastical Corporation of Benacia, the body responsible for representing those religious authorities subject to the Covenant on the Chamber of Guilds and Corporations of the Benacian Union in Chryse.