The Lonely Tower

Written by Salen

This solemn tower rests north of Crystal Lake, in the northwest of Anor. The tower itself is made of stone and marble, and is built on a small hill, surrounded by beautiful flora colored in reds and orange's. Wide marble steps lead up to the front door of the tower. A sign posted reds: "Ware all ye who enter here, I am not responsible for any sudden deaths, decapitations, or Transitions." The sign is in elvish and has a strange symbol under it. As travelers walk up these stairs they have to pass a thin tower with a lookout post. The tower is home to a retired Archmagus named Marianal and he has strict rules on visitors. He hates them.

Layout - Main Floor

Audience Chamber This large, comfortable, room is decorated with tapestries and braided rugs. Couches, chairs, tables, and torches adorn this room. This is where important guests are received or night gatherings are held in mid-winter. There are two small rooms off to either side that serve as a Cloak room and a Staff/Sword room. Guests can keep their respective items here rather than keeping them out in the open (though this is not a restriction by any means). Massive oaken, double doors lead from this room out into the main hallway Guest Bedrooms These two rooms are for any guests that might want to spend the night. They are Spartan in design (being only furnished with the necessities) and hold just two beds, a desk, 2 comfy chairs and a closet for clothes. These are typically used for people that imbibe too much wine at mid-winter revels. Pantry The pantry is where he stores all of the food and drink that he needs in the tower. The room is complete with table and chairs for six, and has tons of counter top space and cupboards for glasses and plates. A large white gearbox, about six feet high and three feet wide, sits in the corner. This box is lined with a mixture of animal fat and paste to keep it insulated, so as not to let any of the freezing cold out of it unless opened. Gears turn a fan that keeps the block of ice inside cool and with the fan it only has to be replaced every tenday or so. There are barrels of elven wine, Nagar mead, and even water. Food stuffs include bread, mutton, and dried fruits.

Layout - Underground Floors

Study The stairs that lead down to a quiet room. This room is outfitted with couches, braided rugs, and tapestries. One tapestry is of Anor's towers, while the other is of The Hotspire in the Black Mountains. A small bookshelf sits in the corner and has some books from the ‘Heartblade’ series. A carved oaken door leads to the Master Bedroom, and an open archway leads to the Library. Library This huge room is filled with all manner of books and scrolls. A large table sits in the corner with three high backed chairs covered in red and silver silks. A vibrant tapestry hangs over the mantle of the fireplace depicting evil designs woven into the fabric with gold thread. Some of the books are hundreds of years old. Master Bedroom This room is the resting quarters of Marianal. The outside door is a carved oaken door covered with runes and enspelled as to not open unless he himslef says the word "Open". A large bed with red silk sheets and a canopy sits in the corner, and crystalline figurines adorn the shelves around the room. The room has an oaken desk, Braided rugs from Garon'd, and a tapestry of Syll. A large walk-in closet sits in the middle of one wall, holding Marinaal’s wardrobe. Near the tapestry of Syll is a lever that opens a secret door that leads to a wrought-iron staircase that goes down to the Laboratory. Laboratory The stairs from Marianal's bedroom leads down to this floor. This large underground laboratory has a granite table top, alchemists globe, heat bath, hot sand bed, analytical balance, burette, filter paper, and a hand centrifuge. Also in the lab are all of his gems, spell components, animal and monster parts, shelves of potions, scrolls and oils, and a variety of normal weapons and armor from around Tamia. Two open archways lead to the Vault and his Research room. Research This room holds all of his other spellbooks are kept in here scattered all over the shelves in a pattern known only to him. The room contains a large table, two chairs, and a comfy couch.

Layout - Second Floor

Observation Deck This room has 4 large windows that overlook the grounds out front and the Crystal lake to the south. The room is outfitted with a large circle of white sand and a hole in the roof that leads up to the main lookout tower above. The sand is usually warm and serves no real purpose other than if someone would have to drop down from above as there is no way up or down without magic. With the wards against any form of teleportation, the only way up or down is a form of flight, levitation, or similar magics.

Layout - Third Floor Tower

Lookout Tower From this open aired room, someone could see as far as the edge of the Mount on a good day. There are no real walls, just large openings, so there is no protection from the elements. When it rains, water does leak down into the circle of sand below, but it never gets bad enough to worry about. A war horn is hung here, more for looks than for purpose, though it does function.

Purpose / Function

This tower is technically a lookout tower, giving advanced warning to Anor if the elves ever mobilize and attack.

Alterations

Over the years the tower has been shielded and warded by magics woven from Ether. Below is a list of Magical protections that are currently warding the tower.

Magical Protections

As travelers walk up the front stairs to the tower they have to pass a thin tower with a lookout post. Anyone so doing starts to feel a deep seated fear and may turn and run away. From here the entire main floor, as well as the two underground floors, are protected by powerful ward. This ward gives the following benefits to anyone within the area, which cover a 10 foot radius around the main structure as well. • Magical travel is blocked into/out of the warded area • Creatures can't be the targets of ether spells Likewise, the top two floors are protected by this ward as well. This ward gives the same benefits to anyone within the area, which cover a 10 foot radius around the main structure as well.

History

Built by a disgruntled Archmagus after the Great War, this tower rests as a first line of defense against the elves. Marianal knows what spells work and what doesn't.