Vytu Palace
Vytu Palace (commonly called Elfhome by the locals) is a large complex of buildings on the Beldoah waterfront owned and occupied exclusively by the legation from Naru. This is the primary embassy of Naru to Imesse, and it is arguably the most guarded area of the entire Barony of Beldoah. Within its high walls 189 Elves live full-time. The Palace was built specifically for this legation about 110 years earlier at great expense and entirely paid for by the Autarch of Naru.
Purpose / Function
A sprawling complex of residences, apartments and offices built for a legation from Naru to facilitate diplomatic and trade relations between Naru and the Kingdom of Lesser Imesse. The Vytu Palace is very nearly self-sufficient in its functional needs. It has a deep, stone-lined well within its square as well as the mighty Caldar River to provide endless water, enough stockpiled supplies to keep the residents fed and healthy for as long as a year, and ready access to supply via the river.
Design
THe layout of the Vytu Palace is a large rectangular complex of buildings and towers surrounding a large square. Within the square are many gardens, lawns, paths and trees that make the area seem an ideal place to sit and contemplate. The buildings and towers that surround the square are the residences, halls and offices of the Legation members. These buildings are all variously connected, offering one the ability to move from one structure to another without ever going outside, but nearly all of them do have entrances, windows, balconies and terraces that open onto the square.
On the river side of the complex is a wharf and dock that allows for the loading and unloading of river vessels of up to 90' in length. This wharf has a derrick that is operated via a capstan powered by a mule and can lift as much a ton at a time. There are two covered holding areas where cargo or supplies can be stored temporarily under awnings, as well. Besides the Great Gate of the Palace, this riverside gate is the only other entrance to the interior of the complex.
Denizens
There are 189 Elves living and working full time in the Palace. They are very nearly entirely self sufficient and employ only local hands to deliver goods and staples to the Palace. All staff and servants are Elves and all are highly trained in multiple areas of expertise. The Chief Cook, for example, is also a highly trained and much respected healer with centuries of experience in medicinal and magical forms of healing. The head groundskeeper is a world famous sword master that has fought alongside the Autarch himself on numerous occassions. The matron of the Palace staff is a research and intelligence expert that rivals even the best minds of the Quinary Order. The Palace Steward is a seer with the ability to magically communicate with other seers across vast distances nearly instantaneously.
There are 107 male Elves and 82 female Elves living and working within the Palace. The legation is led by the Legate Besolyn'a Rone who is a 756-year-old Elf noble. Rone, and the other 188 Legation members, rarely venture outside of the Palace. Members of the Legation will sometimes be invited to the Baronial court or to the Royal capital at Southridge throughout the year for official functions and events, but otherwise remain cloistered within the Palace.
Architecture
Built of finished limestone and faced in white granite, the complext covers nearly ten acres of riverfront property and has walls that reach heights of 50'. There is a single gatehouse, the Great Gate, and it has towers that are 65' tall and an entrance that is 30' wide and 45' tall. These walls encompass a square that is planted with many beds of flowers, trees and shrubs, with paths of gravel and stone weaving among them.
Within the walls of the Palace are many finely constructed multi-story buildings with large stained-glass windows and expansive balconies overlooking the lawns and gardens of the square. These buildings are the offices, residences and meeting halls of the Legation. In addition there are several finely designed kitchens, a large and well-appointed stable and coach house, several service areas and shops for metal work and repairs and a fully functioning riverside dock and derrick for the loading and unloading of riverboats of up to 90' in length.
Defenses
Outside the Great Gate there are as many as 25 members of the City Guard on duty at all times, making the only physical approach to the Palace interior more heavily guarded than the Baronial seat itself.
Within the walls, there are only four Vytuian warriors posted at the gate at any given time, and these are garbed in ceremonial attire with only traditional Elven short swords displayed as visible weapons. However, this is a deceiving view of the Palace's defensive capabilities, as every single member of the Legation is a trained and capable fighter of multiple disciplines, meaning that in a crisis every single one of the 189 members could and would take up arms as needed. Of the entire 189 souls within the Palace, however, there are 11 exceptional warriors. These Elves fill various roles within the Legation and none of them are exclusively in a warrior-type position. Perhaps the finest swordsmen of the entire Legation is Kath'a Sylvarin, who is the designated Master of Grounds of the Palace. Typically seen tending the many hedges, lawns, trees and gardens within the Palace, he is the most unassuming figure one could imagine, but he is a veteran warrior with centuries of training and decades of combat experience.
Founding Date
123 AF
Alternative Names
Elfhome
Type
Palace
Parent Location
Owner
Additional Rulers/Owners
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
