Ward of Groverest
The Ward of Groverest is dominated by two large buildings:
Oldfort, a huge hulking building near the north gate of the city that serves as the city's main court and prison. It is an ancient Selentine fortress, close to one thousand years old although it has a much more modern facade.
The Cathedral Church of Saint Celus, recently constructed this serves as the largest Church in Ongus and as the seat of the Bishop of Ongus. It was built over the course of decades by the Capstone Guild. It is a fairly orthodox design, but is known for elaborate gargoyles carved along its walls (and one other embellishment that will have to wait until the publication of The Dragon Warriors Players Guide to be revealed), and for some of the most impressive work with murals and mirrors internally of all True Faith churches.
Besides these two large structures, the area is also noteworthy for containing the ruins of an Ancient Selentine Temple, dedicated to their God of War. There are rumours that the Ancient Selentine religion still has some adherents who occasionally use the temple for rituals but as it exposed to the open air, most people doubt this is true.
Saint Edmund's Churchyard has recently become a source of some controversy, along with certain other Churches in the city. It is so full that bodies are now being buried in it at a depth of less than two feet and there is considerable debate as to how the dead should be buried in the future.
An inn near the northern wall of the city, The Hanging Man, traditionally provides condemned criminals with a fine breakfast on Boldursdae morning as they make their last trip between Oldfort and the execution ground at Holders Creek to the north of the city. The Inn is renowned for its breakfasts, and many people choose to enjoy a morning meal there at least once in their lives. Some regulars do so more often.
The tavern, The Fast Ship to Outremer serves as a meeting place for people returned from the crusades, and those intending to go on Crusade.
The Cathedral School located in the shadow of the Cathedral is one of the growing number of 'Matriculation Schools' being opened across Ongus, often with the patronage of the Crown or a powerful noble, or in this case, the Bishop and Cathedral. These schools charge tuition and where necessary boarding fees for boys (mostly - there are exceptions, one of which will be discussed later in this series of postings) aged between approximately 8 and approximately 18. They are primarily educated in Bacchile, Emphidian, and Elleslandic, as well as public speaking and debate, with other subjects also being available if they are seen as necessary. Discipline tends to be strict in line with the most modern ideas of effective education. These are not the only schools in Ongus - indeed, there are many small dame schools scattered about where children can acquire at least basic literacy and numeracy - but they are developing a reputation as providing the type of education needed to successfully matriculate to the University of Cantorbridge, or those on the continent (a bright boy may be sent to one of these places as young as fifteen - an exceptional boy even younger).
The Convent of Saint Ashanax in the southwest corner of the ward occupies a building that used to serve as a Guildhall for the stonemasons who built the Cathedral. There are stories that the convent contains cellars that lead into the sewers of the city, and perhaps other deep tunnels as well, but the main thing the Convent is known for is providing excellent medical care to those who need it. It is a hospital and its sisters (The Oblates of Saint Ashanax) contain skilled physicians and nurses. They have some unusual and radical ideas about the cause of disease and seek to improve the hygiene of the city.
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_________________ Life and Death Are Only a Dice Roll Away!
Shaun Hately co-author A Weak Pleasure co-author Friends or Foes co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide
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