The Temple Grounds

The jungle suddenly ends, opening into a vast, well-barbered park. The border between the forest and the park is astoundingly precise, as if someone had cut the jungle off with a razor, exactly one pixel wide and pure black. It is as pristine as if gardeners had just left a moment before.

In the center of the park is a massive temple-like structure, its white, windowless marble walls gleaming. The great marble temple is all smooth pomo-classic-goo lines with pillars of pure alabaster.

Two-thirds of the way round the circuit of the Temple, a smooth white pavement path leads to the entrance, set deep behind a row of pillars.

Surrounding the main Temple building are smaller attached structures, less grand but equally elegant. A cloister is to the south leading to the rest of the complex, on the north side a campanile stands apart overlooking the jungle.

Birdsong can be heard in the distance, and the sound of a breeze gusting periodically in the huge oaks and cedars of lebanon that dot the parkground. Beneath all this, almost felt, rather than heard, is a low steady hum.

Notable is the absence of the orchids that seem to invade every other inch of the forest. Even more notable is the sense of foreboding and quiet desperation that seems to pervade the atmosphere.

It's beautiful here, but not very human ...

On the edge of the park that surrounds the Temple of the Guide is a Memorial to Fallen, Forgotten, Lost and Missing Researchers.

The Temple Entrance

In large friendly yellow letters above the entrance to the Temple, the words "Don't Panic" have been enscribed in a Brunel transom. The door itself is a huge slab of black glass in which can be seen a glimmering "h2g2". Visitors may gain entrance to the Temple by uttering the words "Don't Panic". The door will slide back with a faint hiss as visitors approach and a barely audible voice will say "Welcome, and please wipe your feet.". Once through the door you will be greeted by the Receptionist.

The Holy Orders

The denizens of the Temple are the Holy Orders all of whom worship some aspect of HooToo.

The Chief Orders are .....

• The Sect of The Moxonites
• The Holy Society of Thingites
• The Serene Order of Moderated Researchers
• The Holy Order of Sangstinians, Guardians of the Sacred
  Word
• The Keepers of the Holy Albatross
• The Seekers of the Lost Tribe of Digiboxers
• The Poor Lynnites, Defenders of the Code
• The Order of the Goo Cross

Temple life is riven by strife amongst the Orders none of whom get along with any of the others or even themselves. Cardinal Dante Seizof tries without success, to keep order amongst the Orders, to keep the Temple of the Guide in perfect order and to diligently seek out all imperfections and eradicate them.

Despite the rancor and petty disputes inside the Temple, the greatest threat to it comes not from within but from without in the form of The One and his minions who are dedicated to the overthrow of the Temple.