Lord Droicia's Office

Design

The office is a rectangular stone chamber, 12' by 15' or so, with a large fireplace built into the wall opposite the windows. The floor is flagstones, with the hearth slightly raised. From the door, the windows are on the left wall, with the hearth opposite (to the right), and bookshelves and lord's desk straight ahead.

Entries

The only obvious door leads into a first floor hallway, but those in the know are aware that a bookshelf moves aside to reveal a door into the back servant's hallway; both doors have heavy locks and iron fittings to keep them from being forced open. The small windows have iron bars set into the stones of the wall, with heavy internal wooden shutters that could be locked in place with drop-bars in the event of an attack, but there's no sign of the bars, just the iron brackets.

Sensory & Appearance

Arcanum lamps in iron sconces light the room very well, and when combined with the fire (nearly always going during working hours to keep the room comfortable), the small windows are nearly irrelevant as lighting. If anything, they only complicate the room with drafts, but the fresh air is a good thing in an enclosed space. Lord Droicia is fond of scented evergreens in his fires, and the room often carries the scent even when the fire is out, and when combined with the fresh air from the windows, it keeps the room from smelling musty. Above the mantel is a tapestry of the Droicia coat of arms.

Denizens

This is Lord Helias Droicia's office. Regular visitors include his family, his advisors, and point people such as the captain of the guard. While he conducts most diplomatic business in different chambers, it's not unknown for smaller meetings to be held here. The Chaecrian emissary is well known in Droicia Keep, and other ambassadors have had private audiences with Lord Droicia here.

Contents & Furnishings

Rugs have been laid, attempting to soften the floor, with one large one covering most of the free floor space, while a thicker, fancier rug lies under the heavy table which serves as Lord Droicia's desk. Shelves covering much of the available wall space are filled with scrolls and books, everything from missives to treatises. A collection of writing implements is displayed behind the desk, with neat stacks of many sizes of vellum and parchment rolls for his various needs. Well-made baskets keep things organized on the shelves.
The high-backed heavy chair behind the desk is made of solid wood with a thin feather pillow attached on both seat and back, though the lord keeps furs to cushion it further. The half a dozen guest chairs which sit around the edges of the room when not in use are much smaller, with shaped wood backrests and seats with no padding, though cushions are kept on each.

Valuables

Primary valuables would be the scrolls and books kept here, as they contain messages and information pertinent to the running of the estate, the town, and the diplomatic discussions constantly taking place. This office is too close to the open areas of the keep for coin or other valuables to be kept here at greater risk of thievery. In some respects, information could be worse if it fell into the wrong hands, but that is why there are locks and guards on duty.

Alterations

The office has been fitted with arcanum lamps (torch sconces more or less adapted), and efforts are underway to place glass in the windows, but they are hindered by any of Lord Droicia's private business, as the workmen have to leave the room. A ward crystal hangs on the wall behind the desk where Lord Droicia can invoke its protection in keeping his meetings secure, so those outside windows or doors cannot listen in. The ward includes a stronger barrier version in case of attack, but the triggering of it will probably burn out the crystal.

Type
Office at Droicia Estate

Controlled by
Lord Droicia

Located in
Droyca

Environmental Effects

The fireplace keeps the room warm enough for comfort, though even with the window shutters barred against winter chill, the draft is enough to lower the temperature accordingly. It's no worse than anywhere else in the keep, and with sufficient firewood, can be quite cozy.