Phoenix Castle

Arrival

Set high up into the mountainous area, accessible only by the old cobblestone path set down so long ago is Phoenix Castle. The path up is relatively easy, breath taking views seen the higher up one travels. At the end of the path, roughly fifty feet up from the base of the path, is the Golden gate, the main entrance into the castle. The gold bars of the gate are twined together, leaving one to almost wonder if it was suppose to make a design. No wall or structure is seen around the gate and the only other 'ornament' to this impediment up is four castle guards always present.

Crossing through the gate, one has to travel a mile further up in order to actually reach the outlying peasant village nestled up against the castle walls. The village itself is clean and well kept, giving the impression that the occupants of the castle take care of those living within the village. The gates set within the tower walls remain open, allowing any to come and go at will, the path leading in to a quiet, clean and orderly courtyard.

To the left is a small rose garden, knee high flat rocks set about to offer seating to those who wish to sit. To the right stands a grove of trees. The first row of trees is well kept apple trees, their branches heavy with near ripe fruit. The second row of trees is beautiful weeping willows, their long branches shifting in the breeze slowly. The last row of trees are large, gorgeous evergreens, their boughs well manicured and shaped. Unbeknownst to any guests, standing on the wall behind the grove of trees are armed archers ever attentive to the comings and goings through the gate and just below the guards is the entrance to the second barracks.\par Straight in front of the path, the path branching to the left and right around, stands a large fountain made of moonstone. Set within in the moonstone were rubies, diamonds, sapphires, jade, amethysts, opals, beryl, pearl and onyx. Each gem is positioned around a fount where water flows out, the glistening water making each gem sparkle in the light, causing visitors to stand in awe of the ornate fountain.

Circling around the fountain, one finds their travel at an end, two massive, fifteen foot tall oak doors manned by two gaurds bearing pole arms, blocking the path. The doors are carved and inlaid with gold, the designs that of a large phoenix, dragon and demon headed angel. Set off to the left of the doors is a small building, much like a guardhouse, manned by one man. Any entrance requested to the inner sanctuary is taken by him and dispatched inside for approval.

Throne Room

To step through the massive oak doors, one is nearly blinded by the brillant light emitting from the thousands upon thousands of candles set within this room. The entire room is made of a deep royal blue marble except for a long walkway leading between eight massive pillars, four on each side, the pillars set exactly fifteen feet apart. The walkway down the room is made of a creamy white and deep gray marble and leads to a set of six steps that raise to a crescent shaped dias set against the far wall.

Resting on the dias sits three thrones. In the center is the largest of the thrones, the throne itself in the shape of a phoenix. Made of solid gold and embedded with rubies and diamonds, this throne seems to shine by it's own light. The phoenix's wings arc up from behind the throne to wrap around the seat slightly so that the flight feathers, or tips, seem to deflect some of the light so the person sitting there can be seen. Slightly back and directly to the left of this throne is a stand, upon which rests a solid black armor, of which only the person who sits in the phoenix throne knows of it's abilities.

The throne to the right of the phoenix is smaller and made of solid crystal shot through with veins of gold and silver. Shaped like a dragon rearing up, the hind feet make the seat of the throne, a soft pillow of cushed velvet laid there to make the seat comfortable. The front legs of the dragon make the arms of the throne, the claws forming the handrests. The torso of the dragon is the back and the dragon head is curved over the top so that it's eyes, which are made of amethysts, seem to stare at any who stand before the throne. The wings of the dragon are raised and slightly curled about the throne, giving the impression the dragon was about to snatch something up and fly away.

The last throne, to the left of the center, sits a throne roughly the same size as the dragon throne, made of bleached angel bones, the back of which holds two large blacken wings with golden tips. Atop the throne sits a demon's skull, the eyeless sockets staring out over the grimace features. The pillow that lays there is dark grape velvet with fringe and satin trimming, the seat of the throne being made in the style of a divan.

Behind the thrones hangs a beautifully detailed full wall tapestry of a massive battle. On the right the scene shows hordes of demons dressed in what looks like bone armor and carrying massive weapons, to the left on the tapestry it shows thousands of angels in gleaming armor, swords raised to do battle and directly in the center there stands a black flamed phoenix, arms extended to each army. In the right hand, the phoenix holds the angelic general's sword by the blade, as if offering the weapon to the demons and in the left, he holds the demonic general's sword by it's blade, as if offering it to the angels. On either side of the tapestry, hanging from the ceiling, is two large silver chandeliers with four tiers, the first bottom tier holding fifty solid white candles, the second tier up holding thirty candles, the third tier up holding twenty candles and the smallest tier at the top holding only ten candles. The light from the candles illuminate the area so that no one can miss the tapestry.

Along both walls behind the pillars there are placed stands and on each stand hangs sets of both magical and non magical armor, no two suits identical. Placed between the stands are low tables holding rare vases and porcelain bowls, all of which are empty. Hanging on the walls, starting just below the ceiling are rows of shields in a myriad of designs and shapes, each shield taken from a different walk of life. Directly under the first row of shields hangs an armory of various weapons. Flails, daggers, swords, maces, axes, pole arms, cross bows, staves, tridents, spears, whips, sickles, clubs and magical rods. Like the shields, each weapon has been taken from all different walks of life, all a symbol of a victory in battle. The last row under the weapons, is yet another row of shields, some dented and scratched, some in perfect condition. Every shield in this row bear some form of a phoenix symbol to show that these were shields carried into different battles.

Dining Hall

Upon passing through a highly decorated wooden arch of highly polished oak. There before the single entrance would sit four long tables made of various woods. The head table made of a white wood. With golden metal plates upon the feet of the table. The main table has two throne like seats in the center. Upon each side from the two center seats would be seven high backed chairs. The chairs moving down to the end's of the table.

The remainder of the three tables were set up the same minus the two thrones. Each table having seating for nine persons. On any given night other chairs could be brought out so both sides of the long tables could be used.

The tables within the hall set into a large square. Two tables at the head and foot of the room, Two tables along the sides. Leaving a large opening within the center of the room so that entertainment could be brought within to entertain during meals.

The ceiling and walls decorated in beautiful paintings, Portrats of Nobles who lived before the residing ruiling family member. Detailed paintings of previous battles fought by kings and knights.

Along the base of the walls stood small marble pieces upon each pillar of Ivory stood a bust as well as the shield of the knight who lost his life in battle. The room having hundreds of these about. Leaving little to the imigination That the family once enjoyed war.

BallRoom

The ball room is a lush room beyond the vast dining hall. The ball room a easy four hundred feet in lenght. Eighty foot in width. The ceiling a soaring thirty feet off the floor. The ceiling held up with highly decorated pillars of grey marble lined with a golden substance.

Hanging from the ceiling were ten large chandeliers string down the center of the ball room. There was no place within the room that was shadowed. Undoubatably this was the room designed to feel the most secure and safe. Upon the northern end of the room was a large raised platform where the musicians could sit in comfort to play.

The floor of the ballroom was seperated into five different sections. This evident by the floor's the floors were made entirely of marble. Yet the mable upon the floors was different. Upon entering the room the marble flooring was the purest of white, Upon the left side of the room the Marble was made of a greenish color. The right side of the room was a slate colord marble. The center of the room in a large aquare the marble was a dull grey highly used. Upon the far end of the room the final section the marble was the deepest of blacks.