Mika Harju
© Mika Harju

The Great Temple of the Source

An exercise on establishing a location for an open world game.

CURRENT STATE: General direction and mood established, currently ideating/researching things for main elements to be used in the more final iterations later. Also thinking about the right balance between the main design influences.

Outside view of the temple, initial image used to outline the exercise.

"That night we had our firstborn, and the next morning, during the first sacred hour we went to the Great Temple. The earthy musk of the marsh got more vibrant as we came around a corner and saw the temple, glistening in the morning sun. The Feeding was already ongoing, it is always assuring to see the ritual. 


I walked silently ahead of her brothers, carrying our gift in a deep bowl. We had collected the snails from the woods beyond the river to the south of the city three days ago. I had rained the day before, which my mother said was a good sign. We looked for them until late afternoon, picking the biggest six that we were able to find. One for each season of the year, as she had told us.


Her brother gave me the leaves, and I placed them near the edge of the water. Beyond the fence, I spotted an alligator looking at me amidst the lily pads. Calm, but vigilant as always. A true guardian of The Source.


One by one I lifted the snails onto the leaves, prayed, and stood up. I did not see any frogs near us, but I'm sure The Source takes care of Its loyal servants, new and old. "

Inside view of the temple, to establish the general mood.

“There were at least a hundred mosquitos and other insects following her as she waded through the waist-deep water towards a raised platform on the eastern wing of the temple. She had long since stopped itching from the bites, but for the newcomers the first few months in the temple were always difficult. There was a salve that would help with the itching, and that's what she was on the way to prepare.


Being in the temple, it is a balance between protection against the insects and keeping cool in the intense heat and humidity of the temple’s innards. Soon, a new disciple was to arrive and begin her journey as a Gardener. 


The color of the newcomers' robes wasn't the only thing marking her as a novice. She was wearing the full clothes set she was given to protect her from the mosquitos.. Even with the woven basket covering her head, Ellat could see that she was already struggling with the heat. In contrast, she was only wearing a sleeveless tunic and a loosely woven fabric mask to keep the insects away from her face.


The next few weeks would be tough for the novice, but with the blessing of the Source, she too would overcome.”


SKETCHES

Sketches with notes to explore various ideas for future iterations.

Piece exploring the look of the administrative area of the temple.

The captains of the temple guard wear heavy armor, complete with a bronze helmet resembling an open jawed alligator, the guardian of the marshland in the mythology. To achieve their rank, the guard is required to hunt and kill an alligator armed only with a spear. They are then to skin the animal and wear the skin over their cloak, symbolically taking the alligator’s place in the sacred order.

Glass beads scatter the light around the hallways of the temple.

A mural representing the circle of life, and in it’s center, The Source.

The temple has various smaller sections for it’s different purposes, one of which is preparing bodies for mummification.

Some visual notes and ideas from research

REFERENCES

References/ideas for the three main elements of the design: pre-arch invention temples, art nouveau style, tropical swamps.