Ludstone Manor (Vers)

[Fish Stick]

Over the past few months the rim of Vers former location had been witness to a flurry of activity. They had come rather suddenly, bringing with them large planks of wood and heavy slabs of stone and marble that hailed from various areas throughout the Empire. What they used, they obtained in larger quantities and all of it they managed to work into the large, sprawling home that began to take shape. The workers maintained a steady pace throughout spring, stopping only when heavy rain and windstorms prevailed, keeping them from galavanting over the higher beams of the building.

It took most of spring and part of Cryxatum for the home to finally be completed and the finishing product appeared well-worth the wait for whoever planned to live there. In the fashion of Vers architecture, the building was tall, climbing up three stories of brick and stone that had been painted a vivacious purple. Ludstone Manor looked every inch an unpolished amethyst decorating the lake rim. The front entrance lay beyond a stone archway that branched off of the circular, pebble-ladden drive. Flowers already in bloom had been planted up the length of the drive and the home, their patchwork colors accenting the purple of the walls. Attached to the side of the mansion was a second smaller structure with a dome roof that gleamed white in the sun. There were no windows to this building and guesses for its use ranged from a temple to honor the gods to a menagerie of assorted exotic beasts.

Even during its construction it was no mystery as to who the owner of such a magnificent piece of art really was. Alexander Ludstone, a native nobleman of Daitterian descent that had departed eras ago to explore the Empire, had arrived with his beautiful, heavily pregnant, Medonian elvish wife Kataryzna to supervise the building in its final stages. Alexander was a well-known pillar throughout the small town and made sure everyone knew just how generous his donations to the Imaden School of Higher Learning and unique exploration expeditions really were. Perhaps the only mystery and rumor surrounding the Ludstone household were the odd noises occasionally heard from within the side building, an occurrence Alexander always smiled about when referenced, assuring guests and acquaintances that the beast in him only came out when he didn't get his way.

Indeed, Alexander was known for his courtesy. Nearly all of his guests, mostly those of whom were well-respected or there because he had invited him, were greeted by a small gaggle of servants, one of whom was a withered old cether Bradwith Tevins, who operated as the resident butler. He was always the first to greet visitors, his wrinkled, sunbeaten face cool, but still maintaining that open quality that seemed to follow halflings. How he managed to open the large, oak door of the manor was a question that rarely went answered, but he did so with what appeared to be little effort whenever the presence of a new arrival was made known to the household. Dressed in simple, but neatly trimmed clothing, Goodman Tevins was always quick to bend slightly at the waist as he gestured guests into the house with an even,"Welcome to Ludstone Manor. Master Ludstone will be with you shortly. In the meantime, is there anything I can get for you?"

OOC: Originally written by Nimh.