Restwell Haven Monastery

**Restwell Haven Monastery** is the center of Alfine's church of Pelor, the home of **the Knights of Dawn**, **the Dawntreaders**, and **Bishop Irina Ray**. It is both a holy site and a fortress. It overlooks the town of Nordendell, nestled in the Pearl Hills within the Alabaster Mountains in northern Alfine. The town of Nordendell was build around the presence of the monastery, and it plays a vital part in the life and operations of the entire region.

## History

According to the stories, the cathedral was built over 2,000 years ago in the wake of the Dawn War by elven architects to honor a fallen elven hero and glorify his deity, Pelor the Dawnfather. It functioned as a simple priory for some time, offering rest to weary travelers. When the Sundering came, the monastery would be subsequently abandoned as the elves fled the valley due to the coming of the Crawling Doom.

Sixty years following the Sundering, crusaders dedicated to Pelor found the valley and the monastery. Taking it as a sign from the Dawnfather, the knights and the priests laid siege to the fortress and drove out the bandits who had claimed it. After their victory, the crusaders repaired the monastery, fortifying its defenses. It has been occupied by the church of Pelor ever since, and served as the headquarters of the Knights of Dawn.

With time, more and more visitors, pilgrims, and adventurers came through the Gladden Vale, drawn there by the monastery. As more people came through, the small town of Nordendell rose up around it. Today, the two are forever linked, with one depending on the other to survive.

## Layout

### Grounds

The grounds of the monastery are expansive. There are several green yards, with covered walkways and worn paths connecting the various buildings and other locations. The monastery is accessed by the front gates, which are forged of reinforced dwarven iron, leading into the Fountain Square. The rest of the monastery sits on the top of a hill, accessed either by the staircase within an entrance hall or a dirt path (blocked with a wooden fence and guarded) for horses and any wagons or goods to be transported toward the stables. In the event of a siege, the courtyard is sometimes called the Killing Field.

#### Fountain Square

The first place visitors will see when arriving to the monastery. It's a mostly open space paved with flagstones, and in the center of the space . The fountain is two-tiered and surprisingly simple. It is one of the additions not a part of the original monastery; it was added by the crusaders after reclaiming the area after the Sundering. It was originally less of a "welcoming" area and more of a space for the knights to make a first stand against invaders. While such attacks were fairly common in those days, the monastery has not been sieged in well over two centuries.

On service days, when the people from town come to listen to sermons at the cathedral, the Fountain Square can often be found with crowds of visitors, well-wishers, and pilgrims; it's lively and many merchants are permitted to sell certain wares (though the profits of these sales are fairly split with the monastery).

#### Gardens

The gardens are a series of three enclosed gardens, connected by covered walkways. The gardens grow many different plants, from herbs and vegetables, to beautiful flowers from across Dharrenal.

#### Outer Walls

The outermost walls surrounding the monestary grounds are built of stone, standing forty feet high and are wide enough for three average-sized humans to walk abreast. Several rounded guard towers serve to reinforce the walls. The walls and guard towers are constantly manned by members of the Knights of Dawn and the Dawntreaders.

Each tower has a small room inside, with chests of supplies, a table, and a fire pit. A wooden ladder leads to the top of the tower, where there is a wooden platform big enough for three people. There are six people in each tower at all times; three inside the guard tower and three on top. They swap places every hour.

#### Pond

A large, beautiful pond is fed by an aquaduct that runs down from a glacial lake higher in the mountains. The pond's water is always quite cold, and it has a lively population of hardy cold water fish, aquatic snails, frogs, and muskrats. It is another popular area for residents and visiotrs alike, and it is common to see clergy, knights, and visitors from town fishing in the pond throughout the day.

#### Stables

The stables are located atop the hill. The stables are expansive, with multipel paddocks that can house enough for horses for the Knights, the Dawntreaders, and any visitors. Each has its own paddock and are tended to by full-time stable hands.

### Entrance Hall

The Entrance Hall is the first of the main buildings. Walking through the front doors leads to the Landing; an antechamber with a vaulted ceiling. Cisterns can be found on either side of the chamber and are fed from the same river as the pond. Frescoes adorn the walls. At the north end of the room is a narrow staircase, which opens into a much larger, grander space. The ceilings are twice as high here, and a number of sturdy stone pillars stretch up toward the ceiling. Stained glass paints the room in a veritable rainbow of color.

To the west are the double doors that lead into the dining hall, and to the north are the doors that lead out to the courtyard and, beyond that, the Abbey and the other buildings that house the various residents of the monastery. On the east wall is a covered, outdoor walkway that leads to the Knights Hall.

#### Dining Hall

The Dining Hall is a more modest area than the entrance hall. A number of long wooden tables span the room. Those dining here stand in a line along the north edge of the room and get their food from a counterspace staffed by various servants (with the kitchens beyond that). The food is given cafeteria style; a certain meal is prepared and presented, and diners can choose whether to eat or not eat whatever is presented.

There is a door along the north wall that leads out into the courtyard. The door to the east leads into the Entrance Hall, and a door to the south leads to a terrace that overlooks the Fountain Square, the pond, and the town below. This terrace is a common place for knights and clergy to talk, smoke, or enjoy the day. A very narrow stairway on the western edge of the terrace leads down to the yard just south of the dormitories.

Rumors abound in the dining hall thanks to gossiping knights, Dawntreaders swapping intel, and the whispered chatter of the servants. There's a large bulletin board along the south wall, with various fliers, announcements, bounties, and other information nailed to it at any given time.

Three meals are prepared throughout the day. Only clergy, the knights, the Dawntreaders, and other residents of the monastery may dine here. Visitors are now allowed, except for certain holidays and special occasions.

### Courtyard

The courtyard sits at the center of the main facility. It is a large, open yard with tall hedges and flower beds. Paved paths wind across the courtyard, with covered walkways connecting to other areas at other junctures. This area is usually filled with clergy, Dawntreaders, and other servants and residents who wish to enjoy the beautiful day.

Due to its central location in the monastery, the crier comes to the courtyard to call out news and announcements in the morning, and again in the afternoon (and other times if needed or instructed to do so). This means that the courtyard is often a good place to find out the goings-on around the monastery.

### Knights Hall

The Knights Hall is another structure that was not a part of the original fort, instead having been built a short time after it was reclaimed by the crusaders.

## Notable Residents

There are many, many people who live and work in the monastery. These include the priests and the monks, scholars and artists, craftspeople, servants, cooks, knights, and the occasional passing adventurer. This section will focus only on the clergy, important members of staff, servants, and those who reside here that do not otherwise fit in with any of the other major groups. Residents who are a part of the Dawntreaders of the Knights of Dawn can be found in their respective pages.