Dallikton Hearthhall

The Dallikton Hearthhall is a building in the heart of Dallikton. It serves as a central location where the community can gather, socialize, and take care of business that concerns the entire settlement. It was erected on the very spot where the founding expedition first broke ground to build a temporary on-shore shelter for the workers that would lay the foundations of the settlement.
Though not as grand as most other buildings of its kind, the Dallikton Hearthhall is nevertheless an iconic landmark. Larger than the surrounding buildings, the Hearthhall is the first thing that can be seen from ships as they come ashore. As it is recognizable from afar, it is often used as a point of reference by sailors seeking to ensure that they are on the right course toward the settlement.
In the years since its construction, the Hearthhall has become synonymous with Dallikton. It is the first place visited by the scant few casual visitors that make the long and arduous journey to the settlement—and for good reason. The building's footprint is primarily taken up by a large circular chamber that houses the enormous roaring fire that gives the Hearthhall its name.
There are no tables or chairs in the Hearthhall. Instead, the floor is lined with rugs and pillows for comfort. During the spring, and sometimes during the winter, as available, communal meals are served at the Hearthhall. The guests are expected to sit together, make friendly with one another, and share in the good food and conversation.
The namesake hearth is contained in a stone firepit sunk at least a foot into the ground in the center of the Hearthhall's main chamber. The fire painstakingly maintained by the settlement's Flametender and kept alight for as long as the available resources permit.
Although the greater fire would be prohibitively expensive to maintain during the harsh winter months, the flametenders care for a much smaller portion of it, which they preserve as best as they can through the worst of the Northlands' most inhospitable months.
By keeping the fire of the Hearthhall as a perpetual flame, the a'drekh of Dallikton have assigned considerable significance to the Hearthhall. To them, it is as much a religious space as it is a communal one. Even in the long, dark nights of winter, they occasionally come together in the Hearthhall to worship, conduct rituals, or participate in religious observations.

Type

Great hall