The Zhona Courthouse
Purpose / Function
The Courthouse, despite the meaning of its name, is simply the edifice where the King of Zhona holds court. The estates of the King are next door, as are the barracks and armory of the King's Guard, separated by a thin alley that runs around the rear of the Courthouse. In this building, administrators and officials have offices where they manage relationships with Guilds and Noble Houses, disburse the King's payments, and collect Royal debts. The Courthouse is also home to a set of suites for royal guests and the rooms necessary for the King, Guild Masters, and Noble Houses to entertain them and one another. Finally, there are also actual courtrooms where trials can be held.
Alterations
Like everything else in a Dwarven mountainhome (official or not), the Palace is constantly being expanded and improved. The newest guest suites on the fifth upper level were opened in 212 and were carved from a particularly beautiful shade of slate.
The original Courthouse was never completed when the Humans that settled Zhona first arrived, but they recognized its purpose and smoothed over the rough parts. Some of the unfinished engravings in what was supposed to be the throne room were redone in Human style, with the few finished Dwarven ones left intact. Once the Dwarven King was sent to rule Zhona, he had his own engravers leave the subject matter of the Humans' carvings intact whilst improving their quality. Later, murals showing the collaboration of Humans, Dwarves , and Dark Elves in Zhona were added alongside them. This sequence speaks to the kind of additions and redecorations that are continuous in the city.
Architecture
Like most Dwarven civic and religious areas, the entirety of the Courthouse is covered in stonework embellishments. However, it lacks the Dwarves' apathy towards color. All the friezes and engravings are painted, tiled, or inlaid with colorful stone imported or mined from elsewhere. Flags and tapestries hang from the walls, and hardy potted plants and succulents are maintained by the housekeeping staff. As everything else in Zhona, the Courthouse is a hybrid of Human and Dwarven aesthetics with just a slight touch of Dark Elven menace thrown in. This latter can be seen in the gothic-esque vaulting on many of the supports and ceilings, as well as suffering, leering, or enraged faces carved into some of the coving and at the top of pillars. These are said by the Dwarves and Humans to keep evil spirits away, but the Dark Elves understand the value of intimidation.
The Courthouse is mostly semicircular, with smaller rooms arranged around central passageways that ring the larger rooms in the center. Dwarven architecture often goes down as well as up, so the level where the building is accessed is the "entrance level", and this is where the Throne Room as well as most of the large meeting rooms are, as well as several caches of historical items that are viewable to the public. Of course, the reception area is just in front of the throne room. The first upper and lower floors are all entirely devoted to large rooms as well, and they get smaller and more functional as one goes up or down from there.
The outside of the Courthouse is a façade with two massive sculptures of humans that flank the main entrance. Windows peek out from between engravings from Human and Dwarven myth that cover the front entrance. Several pilasters, draped with pennants of Zhona (Brown and Red), the Free Cities (Yellow and White), and the Empire (Light Green, White, Black) interrupt the engraved walls. Part of these decorated walls cut off the courtyard/alleyway that separates the Palace and the King's Guard HQ from the Courthouse.
Tourism
Visitors and citizens are allowed access to the museum areas that flank the reception room. However, they are usually cleared out when sensitive official business is being held.
Type
Palace
Parent Location
Owning Organization
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