Duke St. James Manor

A looming sight, the tall stone towers linger over Beldrin's Bluff...

## **History**

### Before The Storm

What is today called the Precipice Quarter was once Absalom's Beldrin's Bluff, a quaint and quiet neighborhood featuring tea shops, minor governmental buildings and a few pleasure houses. In 4698 AR Beldrin's Bluff ceased to exist when a massive earthquake shook the city, shearing off a large chunk of the bluff on which the district stood, sending earth, structures and citizens plummeting into the sea.

What remains are a precariously crumbling cliff-side and the ruins of both the district's infrastructure and the lives of its inhabitants. Law-abiding citizens now steer clear of this part of the city both because of its current population of criminals and because of the persistent rumors of strange hauntings in the ruins of the once idyllic neighborhood.

This mostly stone almost castle-like mansion was once the home of the militaristic Duke St. James, a Pathfinder and General of Escadar now retired. Having a huge family, internal affairs caused the family to separate. St. James's wife had a manor built right beside the main tower, while James's brother did the opposite. Although this was all before the earthquakes swallowed a huge chunk of Beldrin's Bluff, forcing the building to slide down and be pressed into the cliff-side. It was said that Duke St. James died of starvation with his family inside of the old manor some time during the immediate relief effort.

The manor was once an odd hot spot for all sorts of the city's reprobates. The most recent inhabitants were some rather odd drug addicts that were inhabited with maggots and the like. However, the once loud howling that would carry over from the cliff-face and into the sky have gone quiet.

### The Zephyr Event

When the Zephyr Event happened in 4719 AR, the ruins of the home were suspected to have fallen into the ocean. Zombies were lingering in the Precipice Quarter, created by some unknown source. This lasted for months, more earthquakes happening from time to time until the powerful necromancer known as Jaerrick Of The Zephyr, who was wielding the Zephyr stone, was defeated by a group of guardsmen and a man named Flint Grey.

Upon his defeat and the destruction of the Zephyr Stone, the Precipice Quarter was restored to its state before the earthquakes in 4698 AR, becoming Beldrin's Bluff once again. This included the once piecemeal Duke St. James Manor. Now returned to its pristine state, the manor is now owned by one person. Though recently... more and more activity can be seen from afar...

## **Description**

Built like a fortress, the Duke St. James manor was originally designed as a mimic of a military outpost; it was eventually expanded into being an almost castle-like design, perfect for the once rich inhabitants that did not enjoy the company of others.

The long stretch of grass and stone paths were covered with trees of various types that were organized rather neatly into various rows, some not native to Absalom. The back had a large empty lot that was already tilled and ready to be used, having a possible yield that was more than enough to subsist on. The back had a outside presentation area as well, perfect for lounging or for meetings. A massive hedge surrounded the property, hiding a spiked fence. From above, you could see the tips of the fence's spike jut out like spear tips. The front of the property had a huge steel gate that normally would require at least two or three servants to open, leading to a massive stone walkway that also could act as a lot for carriages and the like to rest while people were visiting. The walkway lead to two sets of stairs that wrapped around a fountain and sewer grate, for the rainwater to run off from.

The building itself was broken into three sections: the main section being the original guard tower that was revamped to look akin to a military outpost. It almost looked like the chapel of a large church, but the archer slits and the like gave way to its original design. The other two sections were the size of modest manors, built to mirror each other. Unlike the main section, the designs were less Gothic and much more modern.