Post by Rumerin on Nov 14, 2004 8:31:06 GMT -5
Far in the depths of a dark garden- one with many dark trees shielding the sun from the shadowy paths winding through the heavy undergrowth, one with black dead pools- stands the Lost House, an old mansion in dark, dark stone with heavy dark wooden front doors. The architecture looks alien, archaic and indeed this house is one of the oldest in the section, if not the town. Over the door is a heavy slab of stone with an ingraving in the ancient Draconic tongue:
Nosce Te Ipsum
Veritas Vos Liberabit
And there is a faded graffiti scribble under it:
Cave Canem
However, the house is not as threatening as it seems. The garden is neither walled nor fenced off, when you get here in spring or in summer, the trees are blossoming and the entire garden is in bloom, with flowers and fresh leaves everywhere, with water lillies drifting over the ponds, many fountains drizzling water down over the lillies. There are then birds singing in the branches of the trees, some very exotic with bright yellow or pink or blue feathers. It's not uncommon to find a magnificent peacock stepping through the park as if he owns it, and in that time there are often parties in the beautiful park, with plenty of food and drink, music and dances and fireworks at midnight, or sometimes earlier, because the host likes fireworks.
Indoors too, the house is a delight, even in autumns and winters when the park is dreary and gloomy. The windows are small, as is customary with these very old houses, and so are the rooms, but that only increases the coziness. There are quite a few rooms with soft arm chairs and warm hearths and thick rugs and bookcases against the wall, with portraits of smiling and playing people, or paintings of wide landscapes or flowers or birds and animals. Right in the centre of the house is a circular room where you can look up all the way to the roof, and beyond, because there is a glass dome there. There are bedrooms with comfortable four-poster beds and huge wardrobes with beautiful clothing and bedside tables where you can put the mug of chocolate you wanted to have while reading one of the excellent books from the shelves that are in every single bedroom. There is an old-fashioned kitchen with many tiny tiles and a sturdy wooden table, with herbs on the ceiling, from where the servants carry the delicious meals to the small, cozy dining room with tapestries on the wall and a chandelier hanging down over the round dining table. The master of the house has many guests here for the Feast of Light and for New Year's and for All Hallow's and Easter and his birthday, which he celebrates four times a year just because.
Everyone knows the master of the Lost House is a lowly merchant- the house is not far from the gates to the Bazaar, and he makes no secret of it. So the richest, noblest of inhabitants of Caleria usually don't come to this place. It's new money. But the merchant never lets that get to him, and his parties and dinner parties, his balls and drawing-room gatherings are ever cheerful and rich. He likes parties, and he likes guests. While poor people don't really do this, it is said you can knock on his door whenever you like, and stay as his guest however long you like, and be treated like a Council member.
Nosce Te Ipsum
Veritas Vos Liberabit
And there is a faded graffiti scribble under it:
Cave Canem
However, the house is not as threatening as it seems. The garden is neither walled nor fenced off, when you get here in spring or in summer, the trees are blossoming and the entire garden is in bloom, with flowers and fresh leaves everywhere, with water lillies drifting over the ponds, many fountains drizzling water down over the lillies. There are then birds singing in the branches of the trees, some very exotic with bright yellow or pink or blue feathers. It's not uncommon to find a magnificent peacock stepping through the park as if he owns it, and in that time there are often parties in the beautiful park, with plenty of food and drink, music and dances and fireworks at midnight, or sometimes earlier, because the host likes fireworks.
Indoors too, the house is a delight, even in autumns and winters when the park is dreary and gloomy. The windows are small, as is customary with these very old houses, and so are the rooms, but that only increases the coziness. There are quite a few rooms with soft arm chairs and warm hearths and thick rugs and bookcases against the wall, with portraits of smiling and playing people, or paintings of wide landscapes or flowers or birds and animals. Right in the centre of the house is a circular room where you can look up all the way to the roof, and beyond, because there is a glass dome there. There are bedrooms with comfortable four-poster beds and huge wardrobes with beautiful clothing and bedside tables where you can put the mug of chocolate you wanted to have while reading one of the excellent books from the shelves that are in every single bedroom. There is an old-fashioned kitchen with many tiny tiles and a sturdy wooden table, with herbs on the ceiling, from where the servants carry the delicious meals to the small, cozy dining room with tapestries on the wall and a chandelier hanging down over the round dining table. The master of the house has many guests here for the Feast of Light and for New Year's and for All Hallow's and Easter and his birthday, which he celebrates four times a year just because.
Everyone knows the master of the Lost House is a lowly merchant- the house is not far from the gates to the Bazaar, and he makes no secret of it. So the richest, noblest of inhabitants of Caleria usually don't come to this place. It's new money. But the merchant never lets that get to him, and his parties and dinner parties, his balls and drawing-room gatherings are ever cheerful and rich. He likes parties, and he likes guests. While poor people don't really do this, it is said you can knock on his door whenever you like, and stay as his guest however long you like, and be treated like a Council member.