Fane of Zila

The Fane of Zilla is ancient in the extreme. It was a Way of Chaos beside the Great Abyss during the eons of Paragon and Calmir. It was the Way of the House of Zilla. The people of Zilla collected religions.

Origin

As such things go there is no certainty of the origins of Zilla. At some point it was a Lord's Way but the rulers of Zilla hid among their people. The people collected religions and studied religious doctrines. They took copies of churches, feeling each was unique and worthy of appreciation regardless of their natures.

Fane of Zila- Commentary from the Diners of Amber booklet

At the edge of the Abyss, at the site of Patternfall, is a vast temple to the serpent of Chaos.

This is the Fane of Zila. It is a many-chambered basilica of a precarious height and ornamented by uncounted millennia. Alcoves are dedicated to uncounted numbers of gods, demigods, heroes, fiends, celebrities, and miscreants.

There is a nasty section of the place added after Patternfall that every Amberite should visit. This is the Cult-hall of Amber. Therein is found shrines to the Unicorn, to Oberon, Dworkin, and yes, to every known family member in the House of Amber. It mirrors a far more ancient chamber that is the Cult-hall of Chaos. A small chamber is called the Cult-hall of Avalon but only shrines of the Bear, Corwin, Deirdre, and Merlin reside there. A new chamber is dedicated to Mandalay and it has many new visitors.

The Fane is also a shadow-trap. Shadow-walkers aiming for Chaos arrive here.

In Merlin's little fantasy Corwin has a moment in a Cult of Corwin shrine. He says there that "He has pissed on his tomb, he couldn't resist lighting a candle to himself."

I don't know if that really occurred or not, and not having a tomb I could not indulge in the former pleasure, but I have done the later. Who in the darkness of shadow, in fear of chaos, with abhorrence of death, has not wished to the stars, the fates, the gods, or the infinite absolute for guidance? None this side of Chaos, none who ever passed within the Fane of Zila to see themselves adored or vilified. If I light a candle to myself, am I vain? No, I cast light against the darkness.

The Fane of Zila turns out to have some very tricky rules and the place is massive in the extreme. It is a disorganized mishmash of cathedrals, basilicas, and churches. It seems that the forces of chaos and shadow casts a powerful shadow of the finest examples of each religion's temple into the fane. This means that even if a prime temple is destroyed it's shade is here. That does not mean the mad priests of Zila can't go adding and changing things. Some forgotten temple, massive in size was taken by the priests of Zila and converted to the Cult of Amber. When Chaos legalized the Amber cults, they inadvertently added a massive basilica, originally a Temple of Benedict created in shadow, that now houses the great Amber Cults. This has had some strange effects on shadow and I am afraid to say it may be making gods of us all.

I think I will take some time to decide if this is a good thing.

Amber Cult Hall