| “ | This place is astounding. Half palace, half home, but entirely a fortress. | ” |
–Violet Sorrengail (inner monologue) | ||
Riorson House, also known as the fortress of Aretia, is located outside of Navarre's Wards and is the revolution's base in Aretia. Well hidden, it is carved into a mountain and doubles as a fortress.[1][2]
History[]
Riorson House is the property of the Riorson family. Since Fen Riorson's death, Xaden Riorson, his son, has become the owner and head of the house.[3] The house was built as a fortress, designed to keep enemies out, which also ensures the safety of those inside.[4]
It is carved into a mountainside and has steel-reinforced double doors at the entryway and cobblestone floors, similar to those of Basgiath War College. The house is five stories tall and decorated with artwork on the walls and authentic Poromish tapestries. Its thick stone walls are what saved it from destruction during the rebellion. According to Violet Sorrengail's books, Riorson House has never been breached by any army, even during the three sieges she knows of.[1][3]
The house serves as the base of operations for the revolution. After the riders at Basgiath were given the choice to either stand with Navarre or to join the revolution, the house became home to roughly 100 rider cadets and 200 dragons. Shortly thereafter, they were joined by the 100 gryphon fliers who had taken shelter with Viscount Tecarus after Cliffsbane Flight Academy was destroyed by Venin.[5][3][6]
Locations[]
First Floor[]
Lecture Rooms[]
Cadets are crammed into every open room on the first floor for lectures.[7]
Fen Riorson's Office[]
History class is held within the room that was once Fen Riorson's office.[7] It is set up for cadets with a dozen chairs surrounding a hastily constructed table and has stone flooring.[8] From the western wing, the office is encountered before the great hall.[9]
Kitchen[]
The enormous kitchen is busy with staff and contains a scarred wooden table. A hallway leads out of the kitchen, connecting to other areas.[1]
Main Hallway[]
The wide, high-arched hallway outside the kitchen is lined with statues and tapestries, with an intricate carpet running its length. This hallway leads to the double staircase and connects to other areas of the fortress.[1][7]
Double Staircases[]
Sweeping, polished double staircases with detailed banisters that rise four floors above the main entrance of the fortress. Each landing is slightly offset from the one below, as though climbing toward the mountain into which the fortress is carved. Morning light streams through dozens of small windows that serve as the only decoration on the five story wall. The windows seem to be arranged in an unconfirmed pattern.[1][3]
Main Entrance[]
The foyer features massive steel-enforced double doors and connects the main hallway to two additional wings to the right and left. The double staircase rises above the entrance.[1]
Great Hall[]
There is an archway in the foyer that leads into the great hall, where long trestle tables line the space.[3][8]
Assembly Chamber[]
The Assembly chamber is a two-story room where the Assembly gathers to discuss and vote on critical matters. The arched entrance is at the other end of the main hallway from the kitchen, and has two large wooden ornate doors with black metal handles. It is also reachable from the sparring gym by walking past the great hall and continuing straight instead of turning into the foyer. Across the hall from the entrance hangs an authentic Poromish tapestry.[1][10]
At the far end of the chamber, steps lead to a newly constructed dais where a long table spans the length of the room. Behind this formal table, capable of seating thirty people, is where the members of the Assembly sit. A corner table holds stacks of parchment. There's a map of the continent on the long wall, its size rivaled by the one in the Battle Brief lecture hall.[1][10]
Centered in the middle of the table's length lies the throne, a massive chair built to accommodate someone of Xaden Riorson's height. Violet Sorrengail notes that two of her could fit in it. The throne has a high, intricately constructed back adorned with the figure of a sleeping dragon perched on its pointed tip. One half of the throne is made of rich, polished walnut, while the other half has a black sheen, resembling sealed, burned firewood as if the chair had been half burned. The armrests are upholstered in velvet, and a thick cushion atop the seat.[1][3][10][11]
Theater / Auditorium[]
Located in the northwestern wing, the rebuilt theater is capable of seating every cadet, and is where battle brief is hosted. Rows of seating ascend along steps on the right side of the room. The map of the Known World is the height and width of the large stage where the curtain would normally hang, the map includes the isles (five large and thirteen smaller islands) unlike the Battle Brief map at Basgiath War College. There are small windows in the back of the theater. The exit is located at the outer aisle, the doors leading directly into the main hallway.[7]
Sparring Gym[]
Only a fraction of the size of the sparring gym at Basgiath. It fits nine mats, and capable of fitting all cadets and fliers of Aretia simultaneously, albeit shoulder to shoulder. The exit leads to a hall that connects to the great hall, foyer, and assembly chamber. The sparring gym is reached by turning just before the auditorium. At night, the gym is dimly lit by a cool glow from mage lights hovering over each individual mat.[12][9]
Library[]
A two-story room filled with the scent of parchment and ink. Unlike Basgiath's archives, the library lacks an earthy undertone due to being aboveground. Light streams through windows, of the library, which contains tables and a clock, but only the first floor shelves are filled with books.[13][14]
Second Floor[]
Family Quarters[]
Located on the second floor. [7]
Xaden’s Room[]
Located on the second floor.[15] The room contains a massive bed with a thick down comforter, a desk, armchair and wall-to-wall bookshelves. Sun-drenched large windows with thick velvet drapes line the bed chamber, filling it with natural light. Carpet lines the stone floor.[7][16][3][17]
A large armoire in the room contains uniforms, boots, and flight leathers for both Xaden and Violet. Tucked away on the top shelf of the armoire is a blanket handmade by Xaden's mother. Along the far wall of the room is a private bathing chamber.[12]
On the bedside table lies a stone embedded with the protection rune that countered General Augustine Melgren's signet. Though the stone was tempered for one use only, Xaden keeps it purely for sentimental reasons.[12]
Third Floor - Fifth Floor[]
Barracks[]
The top three floors contain roughly 100 rooms combined, though the exact number of serviceable rooms is unknown due to lingering damage from the Tyrrish Rebellion.[3]
Rhiannon Matthias' room[]
Located on the fifth floor. The room is filled with spartan decor, furnished with two plain desks, two doorless armoires, and two beds with simple black sheets. The beds have been awkwardly crammed into a space clearly designed to accommodate only one, an adjustment caused by the gryphon fliers' arrival to Riorson House. A single window illuminates the room.[14]
According the the roll containing living assignments, Violet is also assigned to this room. However, Violet chooses to stay in Xaden's quarters, leaving Rhiannon with the room to herself and giving privacy for visits from Tara. The bed on the right-hand side of the room was assigned to Violet.[4][14]
Service Stairway / Roof[]
Located at the end of a long hallway on the fifth floor, this wrought-iron spiral staircase is initially dark but illuminated by mage lights with movement. The door at its end opens to a narrow walkway along the apex of the eastern roofline. 30 feet from the door is a small defensive turret overlooking Aretia.[14][15]
Outside[]
Courtyard[]
Marble steps lead from the main entrance to a gravel-lined courtyard about 30 feet from the doors. The courtyard connects to the town of Aretia below.[5][7]
Backdoor[]
A guarded back door of the Riorson House that opens to a trail cut into the ridgeline above. Wide enough for pairs to climb side by side, the trail eventually leads to the dormant wardstone of Aretia.[8]
Gallery[]
TBA
Trivia[]
TBA
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Iron Flame, Chapter 1
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Iron Flame, Chapter 37
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 45
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 36
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 42
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Iron Flame, Chapter 38
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Iron Flame, Chapter 39
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 58
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Iron Flame, Chapter 47
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 48
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Iron Flame, Chapter 46
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 49
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Iron Flame, Chapter 51
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 50
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 39
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 55