[Location - Arconis] Candace du Rose House

[Mimesis]

Candace du Rose House It was no secret that Arconians prided themselves on their long and varied history - neither was it a secret that the first Queen of Aelyria, Candace du Rose, had been a native of the mountainous town before being whisked off to Aelyria Prime by the then king Constantine. What was less well known, however, was that the Arconians had some very definite stories to tell about Candace's early ordinations which had little similarity indeed to the picture drawn in the official histories of the Empire. At the center of these lesser known traditions was an unprepossessing, if rather older and more quaint, house on the southern edge of Little Medonia. Built separate from the tenements on either side, its walls made of small sized plain stones and mortar, with narrow windows and a perfectly triangular roof, the house was made distinct from its neighbors by the ornamentation carved up and around the large stone pieces marking out the doorframe: someone long ago had delicately carved upon them a plethora of rose vines which created the momentary illusion that roses really bloomed around the front entrance every brightening of every era. This house, as tradition held it, had been the childhood residence of the future Queen Candace and had housed her relations for a long time after, all the way up until the first destruction of Arconis. How the house had survived that terrible period was not known, nor had any long-lost relatives come to claim it again after the city was rebuilt by the Serra-Kane family. If asked about that, Arconians shrugged and said that doubtless such things happened all the time, and would happen again - the house belonged to Candace du Rose, and that was all they needed to know about it. The house was inhabited up until the giants besieged the city. At that time it was officially claimed as public property, and as a part of the general restoration of the city to its old glory the house had been transformed into a small period museum. As per the City Council's request, the interior had been decorated in the old style, much like it might have been during Candace's own lifetime. Everything was spare, low, and very brightly colored. Plaques were affixed to the walls describing either past city life or stories of Candace's own childhood in the house, her family, and her first meeting with Constantine. The front hall of the house was transformed into a reception room. Guests were invited to take off their shoes at the entry and don light silk-lined slippers with pointed toes. At a small desk with a back and a pull-down top that could be locked with a key sat a small elderly human woman with large gold-rimmed glasses. She wore, in complement to her job, a period dress consisting of a simple white smock with a starched collar and a dark blue over-dress that flowed freely down the back, brushing lightly against the floor, and short wide sleeves ending a bit below the elbow. Her long hair was braided and pinned completely about her head. She had on a small pair of unrimmed spectacles through which she peered with a kindly look and a queer, rather distant smile. "Serale? Have you come to see Candace du Rose?... The suggested entry fee is only five crowns." Miss Verra Smithsen, for that was the elder woman's name, did not differentiate between the house and the person. Both had long ago meshed together in her brain, which made her the perfect tour-guide for the Candace du Rose House: she knew all the stories, all the ways, all the mysteries; she even knew some which nobody else in Arconis, let alone the rest of Telath, knew - doubtless Candace herself, could she come back from the realms of the dead, would be shocked at the tales Miss Verra could tell her about her own childhood! NPCs Miss Verra Smithsen Secrets : Name Miss Verra Smithsen Race, Age, Gender Human, old, female Description Miss Verra is a tiny old human lady less than five feet in height, with long grey hair that she braids and pins up around her head. She's rather nearsighted and wears small rimless spectacles. When she is on duty at the Candace du Rose house she dresses in period costume, with long white smocks beneath a flowing outer garment that hangs loose at the back and has wide cropped sleeves. She is the very wellspring of information concerning old Arconis, its traditions, and of course Candace du Rose as well. She does tend to forget things easily, however, and her mind sometimes wanders off on tangents when she's asked pointed questions. Nevertheless, she is a sweet old lady who wouldn't know how to harm a fly. Skills Local History - 3 Knitting - 3 Can this NPC be used in self-moderation or in training situations? yes Factoid Secrets : Notability of Location - Common knowledge Training Opportunities - Local history Employment Opportunities - tour guide at 30 cc. Must have acquired at least basic knowledge of local history Can this location be self-moderated? yes

[Mai]

A minor thing I was confused about was this sentence: "The house continued to be inhabited up until the evacuation of the city commonly known as the second destruction of Arconis." The first thing I noticed is it's a little awkwardly phrased so I reread it and then I had to ask myself... 'who was it inhabited by if no one reclaimed the house?'

It's totally minor and doesn't even affect the realmcraft in the least, but that was more just something that confused me a little. Other than that, I looove it and the whole idea. (:

[Mimesis]

thanks. yes, that is an odd looking sentence, isn't it!