Theory: Sangravah temple is in the Autumn Court not the Night Court.
I’m new to Tumblr and this is my first post. So I hope you like this theory!
Mor face turned solemn as she said, “There was another attack—at a temple in Cesere. Almost every priestess slain, the trove looted.” (ACOMAF, Page 76)
“What did Azriel have to say about it?” “He’s pissed. Cassian even more so—he’s convinced it must be one of the rouge Illyrian war bands, intent on winning new territory.” (ACOMAF, Page 77)
The way Rhysand reacted to finding out that Cesere was sacked could only mean that Cesere is their temple. For Cassian to even suggest it might have been Illyrian’s to attack the temple for more land it has to be in the Night Court.
“But Azriel confirmed that they’d raided the memorial in Sangravah three days ago. They’re looking for something—or found it.” Azriel nodded in confirmation, even as Mor cast a surprised look in his direction. Azriel gave her an apologetic shrug back. (ACOMAF, page 180)
“The first had just unbuckled his belt when Azriel arrived.” Silent unending tears streamed down Gwyn’s face. “Azriel slaughtered all of them within moments. He didn’t hesitate. But I could barely move, and when I tried to get up…he gave me his cloak and wrapped me in it. Morrigan arrived a few minutes later, and then Rhysand appeared, and it became clear some of the soldiers had gotten away with the piece of the cauldron, so Azriel headed after them. Mor healed me as best as she could, the brought me to the library. I couldn’t…I couldn’t bear to be at the temple, with the others. To see Catrin’s grave and know I failed her, to see that kitchen every day for the rest of my life.” (ACOSF, Page 695)
The thing is, Gwyn told Nesta & Emerie that Azriel got to Sangravah first, a few minutes later Mor did, then Rhysand appeared. So the three of them should already know what happen during the events of Sangravah and that Hybern was looking for the cauldron because supposedly Azriel was supposed to go after them. If that was the case, why did Mor seemed so surprised in ACOMAF if she should have known what happen already?
This makes me believe that SJM deliberately wanted Azriel to be the one to rescue Gwyn in Sangravah. She wanted to connect Azriel and Gwyn and in some way, to let them have a “past”. There’s no way they aren’t endgame if she went out her way to do this, because if you look at it, it doesnt make sense for Azriel and Mor to come to Sangravah in the Autumn Court to save Gwyn and the other priestess and risk facing the wrath of Beron and during this time Rhysand, in fact, didn’t want a internal war with Prythian. How the hell did Mor and Azriel get into Sangravah anyway without Beron mentioning at all?
The feet were hidden at three different temples—Cesere, Sangravah, and Itica. (Page 199, ACOMAF)
“The King of Hybern sacked one of our temples to get a missing piece of the cauldron. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an act of war.” (Page 206, ACOMAF)
So if we know Cesere is in fact in the Night court, and Rhysand said that Hybern only sacked ONE of their temples then that means that Sangravah is not one of their temples. Meaning Sangravah is not in the night court.
One day, he’d written to me from Cesere, a small city in the northeast where he was meeting with the few surviving priestesses to discuss rebuilding after their temple had been wrecked by Hybern’s forces. (page 378)
Another confirmation that Cesere is in the night court.
so swift he thought me might vomit on the very expensive, very old carpet. From Sangravah, if the patterns and rich dyes were any indication. (Page 250, ACOWAR)
I didn’t know what I’d really expected from Ianthe—one of the twelve high priestess who together governed their sisters across every territory in Prythian. Ancient, celibate, and quiet has been the extent of my expectations, thanks to those whispered mortal legends, when Tamlin had announced that an old friend was soon to occupy and renovate the crumbling temple complex on our lands. (Page 17, ACOMAF)
This is from Lucien’s perspective. Lucien recognized the carpet from Sangravah. Mind you, Lucien has never been to the night court until ACOWAR and has traveled to no new places in it besides Velaris. So that means the only way Lucien has recognized this carpet is because Sangravah is either in Autumn court or Spring Court.
Tamlin’s temple on his lands needed renovation. His temple wasn’t even up and running properly so priestess can actually be in the temple by the time Sangravah was attacked. So Sangravah is definitely not in the spring court.
I nodded, standing. I had a meeting in Cesere with the two priestesses who had survived Hybern’s massacre a year ago regarding how to handle pilgrims who want to come from outside our territory. (Page 19, ACOFAS)
Another confirmation that Cesere is in the Night court. If Sangravah was in the Night Court why did SJM never mentioned that they went to Sangravah? It was attacked too.
What this post all boils down to is Gwynriel. What it seems to me is that SJM wanted Azriel and Gwyn connected in a way for them to be endgame. The whole Azriel, Mor and Rhysand coming to Sangravah was obviously a last minute detail she put in ACOSF.
The Autumn Court was the second court to be talked about the most besides the Night Court in ACOSF. We got so much of Eris in it as well. So that makes me believe that the Autumn Court will be once again heavily talked about in ACOTAR 5 and we might actually get more details about it. (I love the Night Court but I’m sick of the series only heavily featuring the Night Court. We need to explore other courts.) There is only two characters connected to the Autumn Court besides Eris, and that’s Lucien and Gwyn. But Lucien wasn’t really seen much in ACOSF, but Gwyn was. Since I believe that ACOTAR 5 is featured with Azriel & Gwyn it’s a perfect setup to have Gwyn once again connected to the Autumn Court besides the storyline of her grandfather and father.
If that means that Sangravah is in the Autumn Court, I whole heartily believe that Gwyn will go back there to get closure on Catrin’s death. She needs to for her healing journey. So there is a lot of Gwyn that SJM can explore and she definitely has enough information about Gwyn to make Gwyn the second lead in the next book.
Disclaimer: I haven’t seen a lot of people talk about Sangravah and it’s where abouts. And while doing a re-read a while back I thought of this. I haven’t seen anyone particularly talk about Sangravah’s location. I came up with this theory and drafted all previous information in my phone notes.
