Village of Melverley
Covenant Aura
The Covenant is covered with a Magic Aura 5 with a Creo 5 tether. This extends in approximately a one-mile radius centered on the menhir in the Mercer Woods. The covenant is also subject to several Dominion Auras due to the presence of both Jewish and Christian faithful in the covenant. However, this is largely suppressed due to the Magic Aura being greater, except at the housing of the Torah scrolls in Greystone Keep. In this confined location, the Dominion Aura is 5. The western-most fields beginning at the Chapel in the Haimwood Common Fields are far enough from the Menhir to exert a Dominion Aura 1 while the chapel itself and the adjoining cemetery have a Dominion Aura 4.
Absent the Magic Aura, the following Dominion Aura levels would take place:
- Altar in the chapel and the Torah scroll housing in Greystone Keep: Dominion Aura 5
- Rest of Chapel, or rest of Feast Hall in Greystone Keep: Dominion Aura 4
- Graveyards of St. Catherine of Alexandria and Mt. Zion: Dominion Aura 4
- Village Residences: Dominion Aura 2
- Fields: Dominion Aura 1
North Tower
Carved entirely from a single piece of lapis lazuli, though mundanes tend to think of it simply made of an exceptionally blue marble. Result of Conjuring the Mystic Tower when the covenant was founded. Located at the north end of the Western Wall where it meets the River Severn.
- Floor 6: Aislinn’s former lab. Accessible only from an internal staircase from Floor 5.
- Floor 5: Aislinn and Justen’s former living quarters. Internal staircases up to Floor 5 and down to Floor 4.
- Floor 4: Justen’s former lab. Accessible from Floor 5 only.
- Floor 3: Justen and Aislinn’s storage floor. Hidden staircase to Floor 4. Accessible from top of covenant walls through an illusory wall.
- Floor 2: Unused sanctum. Accessed through internal staircase from Floor 1.
- Floor 1: Unused sanctum. Accessed from ground floor entrance.
- Basement: Storage area for foodstuffs due to cold. Staircase from basement level goes down to sub-basement level, also used for food and drink storage.
South Tower
Formed out of fire agate, the tower seems to be mostly black and brown marbled stone until the sunlight strikes it just the right way causing pockets in the stone to iridesce. External staircases climb the eastern half of the tower allowing access to various floors. Result of Conjuring the Mystic Tower when the covenant was founded. Located at the south end of the Western Wall where it meets the River Vyrnwy.
- Floor 6: Unused sanctum
- Floor 5: Unused sanctum
- Floor 4: Julissa’s sanctum. Accessible only from Floor 3, internally.
- Floor 3: Julissa’s sanctum. Accessible from external staircase on east side of tower. Landing also allows access to top of covenant walls.
- Floor 2: Unused
- Floor 1: Guest quarters (magi). Entrance from ground floor.
Basement: Storage area, currently unused. A door from the ground level leads to an internal staircase going down into the basement level. A second internal staircase in the basement leads down to the sub-basement level.
Western Wall
A conjured wall looking decidedly plain given the two towers at its ends. Except for the gatehouse, it is made of a single massive piece of stone. It spans both rivers and formally marks the western border of the covenant. It stands some 20 feet tall with a walkway and parapets at the top. Staircases on the ends as well as at the gatehouse permit access to the walkway. It is regularly, if lightly, patrolled due to the relatively peaceful conditions of the covenant at present. A gatehouse in the center controls access into the covenant, which is guarded at all times.
Barracks and Practice Yard
Located south of the main gate along Wall Road, these buildings house the small standing forces of the covenant. A practice yard is attached for drilling and training.
Maribus’ Cottage
Located at the south-easternmost point of the covenant at the confluence of the two rivers (Severn and Vyrnwy). Maribus set up his sanctum away from the rest of the magi to be closest to the water, reflecting his Aquam specialization. ‘Cottage’ is a misnomer due to its sturdy, two-story construction. Nearby is a small white pillar with a clear crystal ball sitting on top of it. Covenfolk talk about a magical bridge that can be formed to cross either river to allow access to the opposite bank.
Great Hall
A hall constructed of seemingly perfect construction, it was created with a variant of Conjuring the Mystic Tower named Conjuring the Noble’s Manor. Formed of local grey stone, it could house the entire covenant’s members during an attack if necessary. The Great Hall stands 4 stories (making it decidedly larger than a typical noble’s manor) and houses a number of important rooms.
Floor 1:
- Feast Hall: A large hall that can fit a large number of guests (most of the covenant)
- Private Dining Hall: More luxurious, and decidedly quiet, dining hall for magi. Can host up to 20 people, plus servants. The magi traditionally eat here.
- Kitchens and Pantry: Attached to both the Feast Hall and the Private Dining Hall
- Ale-Wife’s Brewing room
Floor 2:
- Guest quarters. Offices (unused) for mundane administrators. Guest laboratory.
Floor 3:
- Library (spans floors 3 and 4); mostly mundane topics, scribing area, library administration
Floor 4:
- Library (spans floors 3 and 4); mostly magic-related books. Accessible only from within the library beginning at Floor 3.
Greystone Manor
Similar to the Great Hall, this manor is used as the center of the covenant’s Jewish community. It currently houses the Autocrat’s family and offices to administer the covenant’s merchant operations. It has a smaller version of the feast hall in the Great Hall, used both for large gatherings as well as festivals and religious ceremonies (e.g. Seder, Hannukah, bar-and-batmizvahs, etc.) The Manor was constructed with Conjuring the Noble’s Manor to make the Autocrat’s duties easier (rather than having him operate out of his house). The manor is only 3 stories tall, with 1 basement level used for storage.
Due to the manor’s use as the center of worship for the covenant’s Jewish population, it is currently the source of a Dominion Aura.
Fishing Village
Not so much a separate village, though the covenfolk refer to it as such. The term refers to the small group of covenfolk who live near the docks as well as the residences and buildings they use on the River Severn. They bring in a modest amount of fish to supplement the covenant’s diet. They also serve as dockworkers for river-trade and any guests who arrive by boat. The fishing village predates the covenant and was run by the Redcaps to help manage travels and supplies. The fishing village and its inhabitants fall under the jurisdiction of the covenant (being ceded by the Redcaps), they still maintain strong loyalties and community to the Redcaps that founded their village.
Mercer House
This is the Mercer House of the Stonehenge Tribunal. It is located in a wooded area within the covenant boundaries, hidden from view from the rest of the covenant. In the center is a one-story building where the Redcaps live between their covenant visits. There are currently a half-dozen Redcaps assigned to Stonehenge, though there are quarters for up to a dozen. The Mercer House operates independently of the covenant; in fact, it predates the covenant and was instrumental in bringing the Nova Semitae founders to build around them. The second noteable item is a 15-foot-tall menhir with symbols etched into it. This menhir serves as a Hermes Portal anchor that House Mercere uses to bridge the distance to Harco where inter-Tribunal correspondence is gathered and distributed.
Mercer Cemetery
The final resting ground for Redcaps and their mundane staff and followers. Oldest cemetery of the covenant.
Chapel of St. Catherine of Alexandria
The chapel was recently erected to provide a proper place of worship for the covenant’s Christian members. It was constructed outside the covenant next to an existing cemetery used to bury the non-Jewish covenfolk, both to appease the majority Jewish covenfolk population as well as reduce the effect on the covenant of the Dominion Aura it will generate.