The Hall of Legends

Here they are... gathering dust.

"You're asking me ?" davin asked after a moment of silence, "I'd be more than willing."

"That's the problem. This is not a choice made lightly, Davin. Its a rare occasion that an expedition returns. You'd be stripping yourself of land and title."

"In service to my king and country." Davin interjected with pride, puffing his chest out and giving a slight nod with his head.

"Why?" The king asked, his eyebrows raised.

"What do you mean, why?" Davin asked, raising his voice and clenching his fist before he could control himself. Tammer chuckled.

"What has you're king and country done for you, young Maldover?" Tammer said before stopping in front of a marble statue of his father. "You're family is indebted to mine to a point that such debt could never be paid, and it was the laws of this nation that led to that fact."

"Maybe, but this nation has accomplished so much, and all in the hands of a family worthy of our service." Tammer turned away and walked slowly with Davin at his heels.

"You miss my point. You answer on impulse. It's without thought, davin. How could I accept your service?"

"What have I-" Davin began but the voice of the king stopped him before he could finish.

"Do you think I want to send young men and women to die for me and the nation I rule? It's a suicide mission. It is a final attempt to fix this world before we all bear witness to the deafening roar of its death. Do you think me that cruel, Davin? Have I finally lost the heart of my people?"

"No, not at all, you're grace. I didn't mean-" Davin stammered, tripping on every word.

"What makes you think throwing your life away for me is wise?" The king asked.

"It's not just for you or Estoya. It's for me as well." Davin replied.

"You can't change my mind, Davin. You didn't even bother to think about it." Tammer said as he distanced himself from the boy, indifferent to his protest.

"Why would I?" Davin spoke, elevating his voice to carry well beyond that of the king, "you call me here to this great hall of legends, the finest men and women this nation has ever known. You offer me a chance to become one of them, at least in part."

He realized he was shouting, and lowered his voice immediately. He bowed his head, but refused to apologize as he continued. "You ask me to take on this great task in the presence of legends, your grace. With respect, the fault is your own. Why assume I'd do anything otherwise."

The room was silent for what felt like ages and an uneasy tension weighed on him. Davin dared to look up at the king and found that he was smiling, scanning the room as he stroked his beard in thought.

"You make a fine point, i'll think on it then." Tammer chuckled, " It seems I forget these statues even exist. It is so easy to forget, after all. You know why?" He asked and Davin shook his head. The king reached a step that led to another hall. Davin felt lost for a moment. The empty halls weaved in and out of each other like a maze.

Tammer continued, "These men and women, as great as they may be, are of no use to us now. Don't forget that while they be legends, they are also quite dead. I have no use for heroes. I need men and women who are selfish with a drive to survive. Not those who are ready and willing to sacrifice themselves. If you seek to break into heaven, you don't bring a saint to the gates... you bring a thief. Meet me tonight, I will have my answer then."

— from Tales from Expedition Demeter: The Patriot

The Hall of legends is a building located in the courtuyard of the royal palace in Rouxsgate. It's stands in the center of the courtyard, with long halls that branch into the palace itself which wraps around the courtyard in a cresent.

The Hall is open to the public and must be traversed to get to the throne room by all those who seek audience with the king of Estoya The hall was commissioned by Aiden Roux, who petitioned the greatest bards of The Bardic University of Estoya to fill the halls with full statues, busts, and paintings depicting the greatest men and women the world has ever known.

The bards answered the call, and the works that fill the building inspire awe as one passes the faces cast in bronze, marble, and pigment. Retellings of their stories often accompany each depiction in the form of a scroll or open book behind glass. The building stands as a memorial to Estoya's accomplishments.

Heroes Gone By

By the time Expedition Demeter departed, the world has become jaded. Few have an interest in the heroes of old. The hall is kept up as far as appearances go, but its seldom used outside of those who have business further in the palace. Tammer Roux, the current king of Estoya is the only one who regularly wanders ts lonely halls.

What's in a Name?

The hall is only reffered to as "The Hall of Legends" by common folk. The real title of the building comes from the The Ozolithian language of House Roux's ancestors. The proper name is Hiris Tium (Hear-eece | Tea-um)

The term Hiris means hero of legend or simply hero/legend. Tium means resting place, often used when referencing a graveyard. The proper translation of the name means: Legend's Rest.

The name is displayed in bronze above the massive arch that serves as its entrance, and few outside of the nobility are aware of its meaning.