Arcaea/Phoenix Palace

Founded after the conclusion of the Sunset Crusade and the Reclamation of Niel, King Jenred Kindon-Bedwyr gave orders to construct the Phoenix Palace in Remton as a symbol of Arcaea's power and history.

Roleplay from Jenred Bedwyr (just sent) Message sent to everyone in your realm (68 recipients) Finally!

Jenred had been wanting to construct a new palace since almost the beginning of his reign. The old palace dated back to Arcaea's days with three regions alone, and looked increasingly shabby for the ever-more-powerful realm.

But, with one war and another, he had not had time to wait in the palace and look through the plans for all the bright architects until now. But now, now he found one that was appropriate, one that could incorporate his vision for the throne room and the rest.

The palace soared above the city of Remton, clearly visible from all the surrounding countryside. The palace proper contained all the various Royal offices, the greater and lesser throne rooms, the library, the Hall of Heroes where all the fallen nobles of Arcaea stood in marble splendour, the vast dining hall suitable for the mighty of an entire continent, the great suites which were almost small mansions for the Council to use when in residence, and the Royal suite where he and Edara would reside when in Remton. Guest suites for visiting dignitaries were sumptuously spacious, and scattered throughout the palace so that visitors on poor terms could be kept apart from each other.

Spaced in a three-quarter circle around the main palace were six towers, one for each duchy, where the Dukes could reside in appropriate pomp when present, and with divisions in each tower for the various regions, with room to spare for all the knights of the realm.

But the greater throne room had pride of place, as was proper.

The throne itself rested on a dais with several steps, mainly composed of marble. However, the surface that the two thrones (of equal height, of course) rested upon was a mosaic created from the shattered remnants of the thrones of the realms that had been conquered during his reign. Ethiala, Mosesadelphia, Soliferum, and the first Sartania had been destroyed either by Arcaea or by alliances led by Arcaea, and that was reflected in that mosaic. At the end of each arm, a silver skull grinned forth. No mere decorations they, the left arm of Jenred's throne displayed the skull of Keffer Leonidas, the only man to ever have tortured him. The right held that of Viracocha Zurralius, who had promised unspeakable torments for all of Arcaea and murdered many. The left arm of Edara's throne, adjacent to her husband's, held forth the skull of Deathwyrm Tomarsen, who had betrayed her trust and slain their great friend Aerywyn. And the right of her throne held the skull of Pelinal Himoura, who had foolishly attempted to rape her as part of some insane "prophecy". Each skull had two bright gems as eyes: Emeralds for Edara's, and rubies for Jenred's.

Behind the thrones were the battered and bloodied banners of Ethiala, Soliferum, and Mosesadelphia (with a Sartanian banner hidden behind the Ethialan, as while he was not willing to do without it, he saw no point in antagonizing the Sartanians too much...For the moment, at least), with a grand Arcaean banner above them all.

In front of the dais, where a supplicant would stand, was a stylized hawk-in-flight (the symbol of his marriage and Jenred's regnal signet). The walls were lined with stained glass windows detailing the great moments in Arcaean history, starting with General Olga's leadership of a desperate but still defiant Arcaean army and ending with the Arcaean banner rising over the duchy of Niel.

Of course, even beyond his initial investment of funds, a full half of the workers in Remton were diverted to the construction, and the productive efforts of the city were in near-collapse until House Bedwyr had invested sufficient gold to bring in additional skilled labour until the palace was finished.

Jenred smiled in satisfaction. One of his goals complete. His list of unfulfilled accomplishments had grown far shorter over the years, but this was a very personal one. Some, he knew, would call him vain...And there was more than a little truth to it. But there were no statues of himself, and precious few images (mostly on the windows of the throne room). The palace was a dedication to Arcaea, to those who had given so much, to those nobles who had built Arcaea from a battered two regions to a sprawling near-empire.

Sir Jenred Bedwyr King of Arcaea