Athbhalla

An athbhalla is an archaic type of public building traditional to the Caéled of northern Heartlands. Serving as a space for meetings, debates, or any other communal event, athbhallas fulfill the same functions as a town hall or other municipal building might.
In the current age athbhallas remain relevant amongst the savage tribes of Menargion but have largely dissappeared or fallen to disuse in the Caéled kingdoms of Caraegwyn and Aredhen.

Purpose

An athbhalla is the heart of a community. It is the first -- and often the only -- communal building constructed in a settlement, and every family partakes not only in its construction but also itss mainteinance afterwards. In return, every member of the community is allowed access to the athbhalla. In theory, everyone is free to use the building for whatever purposes they please, e.g. family gatherings, crafting projects or sales of goods, but all events depend on the approval of the community and, significantly, are always entirely public.
The most common functions of an athbhalla are meetings discussing matters of governance, communal feasts and other celebrations, funerals and criminal trials. Athbhallas can also facilitate special needs in emergency situations, such as temporary shelter for dispossessed families or as an infirmary for the wounded and sick.
An athbhalla can also serve as housing for an honorary member the community. This tradition is prevalent in communities of Menargian freemen who can give this honor to leaders or elders for example. The most common choice, however, is the healer of the community whether they be a druid, shaman, witch or a mere "wisewoman." Healers are seen as extremely valuable to a community and can require sizable premises for their craft in the case of disease outbreaks. Moreover, the healer of a tribe is often also a divine conduit of some description, which adds to their prestige in the eyes of the community.

Type

Public hall / house

Architecture
Long and narrow hall with a pitched roof, made of materials such as wood and stone.

Related ethnicity

Caéled

Related location

Menargion