Hall of the Virtuous

The Hall of the Virtuous is a museum in Rydoon.

## Description

The Hall of the Virtuous is one of the largest museums of art, heirlooms and treasures of cultural value, and is operated by the Eclectic Eclipse. Management is led by an enigmatic individual known only as the Antiquarian, who is said to take great personal pride in displaying the items they have acquired, as well as those donated following discovery by expeditions of the Rydooni military forces.

In exchange for a small army of attendants, retainers and operatives, the Eclectic Eclipse and Hall of the Virtuous takes responsibility for the acquisition, curation, display and protection of all manner of historical relics and artifacts. Entry is permitted for all within strict hours of the day, although out of hours visits have been permitted for a few individuals of particular note.

Beneath the Hall of the Virtuous are a series of storage tunnels, arranged roughly in two large circles, with branching cross-routes joining them in several places. Between these, storage rooms containing all manner of objects of historical, scholarly or otherwise note are kept safe while not on display. These halls are patrolled by a different contingency of guards, near exclusively that of duergar, as well as number of traps - including a roaming antimagic system interwoven into the star-like patterns in the stonework, and mounted busts capable of quickly clearing hallways with flame. At the centre of this space is a large central pillar, shaped to depict a shooting star, that seems to serve as a means of communication with an entity assumed to be the Antiquarian, or otherwise some form of advanced security. Connected to the Hall proper by means of an ascending winding staircase, these storage tunnels also seem to connect to the natural tunnels of the isle of Cyrillai, as well as a deeper level that descends suddenly into the gloom.

## Recent History

During a visit to the city of Rydoon in 132WD, Rover Custard Augustine was summoned by Valshoon to a midnight meeting in the Hall of the Virtuous. Several meetings would subsequently take place at both Valshoon and Rover's behest, in all instances privacy being afforded to them, the Hall's guards waiting nearby, by out of earshot.

Later, an adventuring party would be involved in a plot to steal the Heartgerm of the Chromarind Heart Tree of Vibur Nhum from the Hall alongside Vankeshtad, accessing the storage tunnels by means of the natural tunnels - as scouted out by a number of *Awakened* pets. While achieving to obtain the Heartgerm, their ingress was noted by the duergar guards of the lower levels, which, after also garnering the attention of another entity, resulted in the sudden death of Vankeshtad himself.

While several of the entry rooms do contain an eclectic mixture of objects covering a range of topics of historical or cultural note, the Hall of the Virtuous, at least in recent years following the Attack on the Isle of Midalios, seems to have shifted the focus of its displays to three main topics, cycling many objects that do not pertain to them directly into storage. First and foremost, several rooms, chambers and halls have been dedicated to the Realms that used to occupy the lands that now constitute the Hollow Concord - specifically that of Kingbourne, The Giado Territories and Codorne, with some interest too in that of Lylcairn and Galykr and to a lesser extent Astedia too. As has been the case since the Hall's founding, interest in the history of the city, particularly so pertaining to Namerta the Tyrant-King, his rule and descendants is also reflected, with exhibits given over to relics and objects related to the infamous leader. Finally, there is particular interest in the lands of the Elemental Sphere, the exhibition halls arranged as a large central loop that allows visitors to walk from the influence of one element to the next - air, earth, fire and water, with the paraelemental planes interspersed throughout them.

## Contents

### Known Exhibits (On Display)

#### Paintings

* A small painting depicting Vyra, her pale bow nocked with an arrow.
* A large painting depicting a pair of duelling nobles by a well, rapiers in hand, artistic splashes of colour in place of gore smatter the ground.
* A large painting depicting an apprentice at work at a outside forge, a cloud shaped like a large gauntlet in the sky above them.
* A small tapestry depicting four different types of flowers, stitched in a botanical encyclopaedic style.
* A large painting depicting a nobleman clad in red, black and grey cloth stands in the altar of a temple, their eyes set upon the empty space next to them.
* A medium-sized painting depicting a woman bathing in a pool, animals covered in moss attending to her needs.
* A large painting depicting a pair of laughing silver haired elven children playing with toy bows and arrows.
* A large painting depicting the rolling meadows of the Aurochs Plains.
* A large painting depicting a mountain rising from a vast ice striking landscape, dozens of entryways covered with furs and hides to brace against the wind.
* A large painting depicting a horned monstrosity chasing after a bound figure, the shadows cast by the surrounding buildings curved like claws.
* A medium-sized painting depicting a tropical bay, a nondescript figure asleep with fishing rod in hand.
* A large painting depicting the Cicatrixes, and the amber sands of the Shifting Dunes around them.

#### Display Cabinets

* A large ceramic urn painted with farmers tilling their fields, tending the crops, enjoying a vast shared harvest, and then starving come the snows.
* A longsword shaped entirely from a pale green crystal, hovering slightly above its mountings.
* A helmet of iron, covered in runes that burn with a white-hot flame. The glass is warm to touch.
* A gauntlet, the side peeled away to reveal several dozen small cogs, some motionless, some spinning perpetually.
* A large spell book, bound in a dark leather and depicting a vine like insignia upon the front cover.
* A brass lamp, heavily bejewelled and resting upon a mound of gravel and sand.
* A foot-wide egg, its surface faintly translucent. Attached to one side is a mass of purple-blue wisp-like tendrils emulating from a central core of pink coral-like crystal.
* A gilded key shaped in three dimensions, a polished mirror-like piece of silver set into the grip.
* A trio of wicker dolls from Lylcairn, dressed in felt clothing.
* An arcane construction of bronze and iron, similar to the arcane firearms sometimes seen across the Ahlus, but of much larger size. The top detailing depicts six crescent moons, the surface worn, cracked and otherwise damaged.
* A curved scimitar, its gilded handle twisted into the form of a draconic beast, a haze rising from the bejewelled metal shimmering in the air.
* A huge horn, decorated with a steel and adamantine filigree, faintly glowing with borderline radiance.

### Known Exhibits (In Storage)

#### Weapons & Armour

* A ballista with electrum inlays
* A chestpiece woven from river reeds into a tight lattice
* A gnarled wooden bark shield notched in several places
* A set of barding intended for a bear
* Walking Stick carved from dire narwhal horn
* Highly ornate enamelled ceremonial helmets made in several styles
* Whetstone with a runic sapphire inlay
* A dagger made from the claw of a Terrorwing
* A net weighted with bronze balls shaped like skulls
* A trident tipped with points of infernal iron
* A crossbow decorated with scenes of hunting down each side, nearly weightless
* A glimmering steel shield that seems to faintly glow, as if reflecting moonlight
* Three identical curved scimitar with a gilded handle twisted into the form of a draconic beast
* A halberd with a pale wooden handle and an adamantine blade that possesses a faint smoke-like haze
* A spellslinger wand shaped like a grasping vine, with a twist of green fabric at its base
* A mithral shield with an eight-pointed star design
* A rusted fishing hook caked in barnacles
* A small hammer with a blackened tip, handle caked in ash
* A set of spaulders shaped like two huge ruby-red laurel leaves
* A slightly wavy greatsword with a large black cross-shaped pommel

#### Furnishings

* A highly ornate wooden headrest
* A goblet made of highly-detailed stained glass
* A wide drum and beater, made from seal skin
* A stuffed wolf head
* An oversized set of figurines near three foot tall each shaped from obsidian
* A silver dish depicting cavorting and celebrating individuals in the Feast of the Brightnoon
* A wall sconce shaped like a balled fist
* A silvered flagon shaped like a mountain missing its peak
* An enchanted set of scales that instead tip towards what is more optimal for the user
* A mithral lantern containing a glowing crystal that gives off a silver light
* A large crystal orb cracked into five pieces
* A stool shaped from driftwood
* A wicker bay crib shaped to fit on the back of a saddle
* An extensive Lylcairr cutlery set with highly-detailed carved patterning

#### Organics

* A three-foot long gilded sea shell
* Salt cellar made of ivory depicting an individual pouring out the contents of a bucket onto a baying crowd beneath them
* A trio of preserved heads in crystal, one smiling, one weeping, one screaming
* A pixie encased in amber
* A long and tapered snake-like skull with curved black horns at either side
* A large tree, trunk etched with organic octagonal patterns and notches, its leaves in every state of bloom - from pale pink blossoms to leafless branches
* A huge mound of charcoal large enough to fill a fireplace shaped like a leering skull
* A hag's skeleton, claws outstretched