Ruins of the Halite Temple (building)
Next: Halite Temple Complex
In its heyday, the Halite Temple was, in equal measure, a pilgrimage hub, a center of learning, and a formidable power broker among both heritage_kherkeloi palace-cities and petty Varodaist kingdoms. Having attained near-unparalleled spiritual supremacy through its teachings of nobility, sacrifice, and purity, it directly or indirectly controlled much of the Kashti Peninsula by the end of the third century IS.
The Temple's good fortunes came crashing down with the invasion of the Iorne Horde into Kashirya, and a subsequent desperate scramble to organize a joint defense effort. Owing to its influential position, the Halite priesthood assumed leadership over the coalition—a coalition that was swiftly and decisively defeated by Otached at the Battle of Bizan in 302 IS. In the peace talks that followed, the Temple was severely sanctioned and nearly sacked, losing all of its mainland holdings to the migrating Kolrgiian and heritage_dayatemi clans. Though never officially dissolved, harsh tribute and prolonged neglect reduced the Temple to little more than a ruin by the time of Bayyuralar, in some places exposing architecture that predates recorded history.