Virginia Bleek Observatory

The First Public Observatory in Nideon

If we have any intention of being accepted by mainstream society, we must be open to the public and develop a mundane interest.

— Kulprim Portelli, 1920

The Virginia Bleek Observatory is a public observatory in the Overhanging Hills. It is named after the original owner, who willed her entire estate to Kulprim Portelli for his continued work in astromythology shortly after confessing to the murder of Mira Cokh and disappearing.

A Place for Stargazing

At the turn of the century, Virginia Bleek bought land in the Overhanging Hills in northern Nefrale. As a member of the Healers of Awe, Bleek believed that the movement of the stars affected the magical atmosphere of Nideon, meaning different magical workings were weakened and strengthened based on celestial bodies. Therefore, she chose the location for its high ground and clear skies. She built a two story house on the location, including a balcony from which she could use a telescope.

Transformation into an Observatory

In 1908, Bleek murdered co-worker Mira Cokh over an unusual pair of binoculars found at her estate. Shortly after Cokh's body was discovered, Bleek disappeared, leaving behind a signed confession which also bequeathed her entire estate to Kulprim Portelli. Portelli saw the gift as a chance to bring astromythology into a better light. A tower was added to house to function as a more sophisticated observatory. Furthermore, the observatory was opened to the public and named in Bleek's honor.
Today, the observatory is owned by the International Astromythological Foundation (IAF). Visitors are welcome at the observatory from 8am until midnight. They can tour the observatory, see pictures taken with the telescope, and learn from the astronomers who live there about their work. On clear nights, they set up additional telescopes on Bleek's original balcony. The observatory also hosts events throughout the year, from stargazing events centered around particular stellar phenomena to educational events where guest speakers come to speak on a range of topics including astronomy, anthropology, history, archaeology, and linguistics.
While one half of the estate is dedicated to education, the other half houses IAF fellows. One to four fellows may live there at any given time. IAF fellows receive free room and board at the observatory, as well as access to the telescope and library to conduct their research. In return, they talk to visitors, lead educational events, and make their research available to add to the observatory library. They are also to report any damage to the house or equipment to the IAF so arrangements can be made for repairs. The IAF has built an additional house on the estate for a hired groundskeeper to live in.

The Observatory Library

by Zdenek Machacek

Another asset Bleek left to the observatory was her vast collection of historical documents and star charts. Many of the documents are first-hand accounts of events, as the Healers of Awe are encouraged to keep detailed journals. Such journals are often passed down to family and friends, and Bleek also traveled, collecting unwanted diaries from others, which she painstakingly rewrote in an attempt to preserve the words of the documents. The IAF continues to catalog and preserve these documents as well as make them available to the public through the observatory library. Though most of their volumes are not available to be taken off the premises, they are kept in an open library and reading room on the second floor, which anyone can visit during the observatory's regular hours.

CW: murder

A Historical Site

Over the years, the observatory has been renovated and remodeled as necessary. For the most part, this has been to turn one half of the interior into a public space which can be used for educational purposes, separate from the private space on the the other side, where fellows live and conduct research. Changes have also been made when parts of the building decay and need to be replaced, though the IAF tries to maintain the historical accuracy of the building. The most recent chance to the observatory, however, was to repaint the outside.
Pictured below: the observatory tower after being repainted:

by Yury Manulenko

Founding Date

1900

Alternative Names

Overhanging Hills Observatory

Type

Observatory / Telescope

Parent Location

Overhanging Hills

Related Ethnicities

• Astromythologists

Owning Organization

International Astromythological Foundation

The Secret Chamber

There are several rumors that the observatory contains a secret chamber in which Bleek kept things she did not want others to see. Some believe that Mira Cokh was not her first victim and this is where she stored the bodies of the others. Another rumor claims that Portelli forced Bleek to confess to the murder and turn over her assets before locking her in the secret chamber to die. There is no known evidence that such a chamber actually exists, however.