106. The Basilica of Palladian. The MacIntyre clan (and a
few other prominent cavalier families) have contributed over the past fifty
years to the creation of this incredible 150ft high marble temple, with
high-peaked terracotta roof and with 30ft high caryatid columns around the
entire edifice, which is planted with enormous oaks on three sides. The rear of
the temple has a large sand ‘pit,’ where there are regularly warriors training
(and showing off.) The temple itself contains three large areas, one with an
enormous statue clad in semi-precious stones, one (in the rear) where rituals
and high-level healing occurs and a third area, accessible by a partially
hidden stairway in the rear area, which is divided into small rooms used by
traveling clergy, as storage and ritual areas and as the offices and homes of
several clerics of Palladian, including Mother Hope, a very old and very high
level priestess who ‘runs’ the temple. (She is a distant relation of the thane’s
as well.) The temple is rumored to also house an extensive catacomb which keeps
many dangerous items (and perhaps creatures) in check. While the items is a
possibility, the religion of Palladian (who is a goddess of justice and also of
fire) is not shy of executing villains, especially demons and undead, although
one of the teachings of her priesthood is that humans (and humanoids) can always
be redeemed. The Basilica (and the 140ft statue of Palladian the Fire-Haired)
is rapidly becoming a tourist attraction, and Mother Hope sells blessed holy
symbols, which are used to fund the temple’s large orphanage.
107. The Temple of Ardentia. The official state religion of
the country of Arden Vale is that of the demi-goddess Ardentia, who outside
of Arden Vale is generally regarded as a variation on the goddess
Palladian, and this temple, made from white marble with pale orange veins, is
very much a reflection of the (much larger) Temple of Palladian that sits
beside it, when viewed from outside. Ardentia is often portrayed as a ‘faceless’
deity, with her followers using iconography (usually of maple trees) that does
not involve humanoid forms. (Old temples of Ardentia sometimes have a statue of
a laughing maple nymph, a figure similar to a dryad but usually portrayed as
younger and having flaming fall maple leaves for hair.) This temple (whose outside
columns are covered in incredibly detailed bas-relief of maple leaves) is much
different on the inside, appearing ‘empty,’ especially compared to the main
room of the Temple of Palladian, (which is designed for observing the statue of
Palladian), a cavernous inside space with five columns made of agate (and
carved to resemble the trunks of trees) with the domed ceiling of the chamber (the
center of which is glass) adorned with hundreds of shining copper leaves which
move and tinkle as the air is stirred in the room. The living area of the five
priests who are in residence (one is a low-level paladin) is above this common
room, and the priests keep a sacred flame which lights the downstairs area.
This light is green in the summer, orange in the fall and very pale and white
in the winter, seeming to change the color of the leaves below. During weddings
(even the devout members of other religions in the city tend to be married in ‘the
maple temple’) the priests bring out many deeply carved maple pews, and one of
the effects of the marriage ceremony when performed by these priests is that
the leaves appear to fall, but vanish just before hitting the heads of the
participants. (Depending on the time of year, this can be falling autumn
leaves, green seed ‘helicopters,’ snow, rain and even gold dust.) Between the
incredible special effects of the ceremonies (including the four ‘seasonal’
ceremonies), the temple’s free-flowing maple mead (made from honey and syrup from
a top-secret grove nearby) and the tacit approval of the king for ceremonies
(Ardentia is the civil religion of the country), the temple does very wel
economically, despite having far less money or members than other faiths.
108. Temple of Ordith complex. This temple and bathhouse
complex consists of two indoor bathing facilities (a, c) a large outdoor pool (d)
at the foot of a spring-fed fan waterfall (it falls about 50 feet, into a steep
valley that the bathhouses stick out into (streams pour over the ‘tops’ of the
main, tepid pools of the bathhouses (each has a large tepid pool and a smaller
hot room and cold room) into the pool as well, through a series of channels,
resulting in a C-shaped fan waterfall that pours over rocks (the waterfall
itself is similar in appearance to Tinago Falls in the Phillipines)), a temple
structure made of huge blocks of limestone that hide the spring-fed source of
the falls and is only allowed to be entered by the faithful (b), a very narrow white
sand beach under a ‘shelf’ of rock with a stone stairway leading to the surface
level (e) surrounded by oak trees (Swamp White Oaks) that nearly completely
shield the plunge basin, leaning slightly inward and having branches that
almost interlace. The plunge basin itself flows into a small system of caves,
but this area (and indeed, the plunge basin itself) is only accessible to the
faithful (or those being healed or cured by the faithful.) Persons attempting
to climb the iron fence surrounding the complex without permission regularly
end up entangled by the moss hanging from the tree, and people have seen dryads
and nymphs in the area. Ordith’s clergy have an incredibly busy schedule of
rites, ceremonies and sacred days, and clerics aligned with this complex spend
(on average) a week per month engaged in religious observance. The bathhouses
themselves are open to the public, and the city’s main social meeting place.
The plunge basin can be viewed (barely) from windows in the bathouses. The
Temple of Ordith here (at what is called ‘hidden falls’ is very, very old and
is assumed to predate the city.
109. Anne Dubois, bookbinder. This lovely two-story wood
house, painted in a bright green and covered in honeysuckle and ivy, is the
home of the city’s premier bookbinder, whose work is primarily sold to the
local temples. She specializes in the creation of very large custom works, and
works with an illuminator and several scribes. Often her work is ‘booked’
months in advance, but she is available as a sage of written works to identify
scrolls, books and the occasional rune. (Her abilities are limited to
identifying low-level spells and books in Eastern, Western and Ancient Common,
Modern Elven, Dwarven (including runes), Gnome, Kobold, Goblin, Angelic and
several ciphers.
110. Enameller’s Shop. Pierre Legrange is one of the city’s
finest enamellers, having done much of the work on the landmark statue of
Palladian and preparing many of the more intricate holy symbols of Palladian
sold there. He regularly will purchase agates and semi-precious stones at their
book values, and is available for custom work. The bulk of his work is in
traditional glass enamels, but he also manufactures pietra dura (multicolored
stone inlay), hardstore carving and cameo work. His enamel portrait miniatures
are particularly exceptional, and nearly photorealistic. He also works in oil
and charcoal, but the durability of enamel in the humid region keeps him very
busy. His 3 inch diameter portrait miniatures, usually set in gold, require a 3
hour sitting and another week to complete. He will also purchase inlaid and enameled
works of art both to resell and to refine his techniques.
111. Mule Barn and Seller. Lamar Babineaux runs this large
operation, which sells barge-mules, donkeys and draft horses.
112. Drydock. Fenlock turns a large trade in barge repair
and barge building. This drydock is owned by Lamar Babineaux, who also owns a
large mule operation.
113. Fenlock Orphanage Run by the temple of Palladian, this
orphanage houses a couple of dozen kids orphaned by war and undead attacks in
the area.
114. Paul Demonde’s House. This two story manor house and
large landscaped land is occupied by the head of the Demon’s Dark Dozen, a
mercenary guild that considers Fenlock its home.
115. The Demon’s Dark Dozen Guildhouse. The DDD are a local
mercenary organization, primarily hired by caravans. Contrary to their name,
there are actually hundreds in the organization, and this army-for-hire can
practically name their price for their services. The DDD was last known to be
helping the town of Green Vale put down a goblin invasion.
116-119. Modest Houses: These large wooden structures with
thatched roofs are owned by the city’s middle class.
120. Temple of Yara. This log cabin, with a porch made of
twisted willow and a mossy slate roof is one of the city’s less traveled
temples, housing two permanent clerics who provide healing services (including
free healing for those in desparate need
121. Fenlock Library This members-only library (50gp/year
membership) is primarily a collection of books on languages, religion and local
history.
122. Fortified Manor House. A large manor house, owned by a
wealthy townsperson.
123. Ship captain’s barn/stable. This large barn and
attached stable/carriage house is owned by the residents of building 124.
124.Ship captain’s house. A large manor house, owned by a
local ship captain. The captain himself is rarely home.
125. Lamar Babineaux’s house: This slate-roofed 2-story house
is constructed from deeply mortared natural limestone, with a white-painted
large porch. An enormous planting of jasmine vine has swamped the side of the
house, hanging over the porch and covering 2/3 of the building in green foliage
and deeply scented white flowers.
126. Rest home. This large complex is maintained by the
Temple of Palladian and is both a place for people to recover from injuries and
a hospice.
127. South Lift Bridge. A drawbridge across the canal (see
89)
128. Fenlock Courthouse. Arden Vale law requires all cities
that receive tax revenue from the government to have a Courthouse, a Public
School and a Temple to Ardentia. The court house, while largely unused (The
Thane is allowed to ‘be’ the law) is a work of art, with a large, green copper
roof.
129. The Pixie Fountain. This small fountain is a source of
civic water, and features a statue that is a steel trellis arch with 10 pixies
hanging from it. The arch is planted thickly with moonflowers and dragonfruit, and
the fountain itself has night-blooming water lilies in the top of its three
tiers. Its fragrant night-blooming garden has earned it the name “the night fountain.”
A faint continuous faerie fire makes the water of the fountain glow deep, pale
purple at night.
130. Large house (Dubois Family estate) The Thane’s recently
retired right hand man (Marcus Dubois) spent a great deal of his wages to make
his gorgeous three-story brick building with a slate roof into a home for his 3rd
level mage wife and his many children. He recently turned the attic from a
storage area into a large peaked room that is a ‘lab’ entered into from a hallway
with bookshelves (these hold Jeanne Delmar Dubois’ spellbooks, and a number of
books on magic technique) that has doorways to large bedrooms with empty bookshelves
and built-in desks and folding beds These two bedrooms, the entrance area and the
workshop take up the while top floor.
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