Thorendor, 1F: Great Hall

You walk into the great hall of the castle, where kings once dined. Now it is the dining room for Candlestone. Portraits of important people line the walls, a reminder to members of the Order’s history and heritage. There is a separate head table where King Thorendor and other petty kings once sat, but you and the other students have meals with Master Arasemis there in the middle.

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End Gallery

You see five paintings in the gallery at the foot of the table.

Roza Mediaza

This was an Ovelian assassin who joined Candlestone after her father was killed by the Electore of Spardo in the holy island of Romidna. Master Arasemis explained that the Ovelians believe the island is sacred to an Ovelian god. All Ovelians may come and go from the island as they wish, food and shelter are free for short stays, and killing and all crimes are forbidden.

The Electore of Spardo, among the wealthiest of all Ovelians, was jealous of Roza’s father and had him killed to confiscate his modest wealth and embarrass his family. Roza eventually led a new Candlestone group in Spardo, resulting in the assassination of the electore.

Wallon Arazmis

This is a member of the 5^th generation of Candlestone. You recall that Wallon is famous for having assassinated Seralin, the last Exarch of Pemonia, nearly seven hundred years ago. Her death sped the decline of the Brintilian Empire’s power and influence in the New World, marking Wallon as one of the most revered members of Candlestone.

Burden of the Oath

Master Arasemis said this depicts the obligation of every member of the Order of the Candlestone to persevere, even and especially unto death. You have repeatedly heard him teach that the completion of the tasks he assigns to you and the other students is of utmost importance, and that your life or those of your companions must be sacrificed if necessary.

This painting makes you think about those students that have already perished during tasks, and those that were lost long ago under different masters.

Manigant

You recall Arasemis’s story about this early alchemist. He was a physician in Almeria, back in the Old World, for an ancient king named Byornrud. The king was despised but Manigant dutifully served him for many years.

After various atrocities were committed by Byornrud against his own people, Manigant attempted to secretly poison him. The plot failed, killing one of Byornrud’s lieutenants instead, and Manigant fell under suspicion. Later, when the king’s beautiful queen died after being treated by Manigant, Byornrud had him put to death despite his insistence that he had not been responsible for her death.

Although Manigant’s life predates the colonial period in Pemonia, Candlestone remembers him as among the earliest recorded alchemists who attempted to overthrow a malicious king.

This is the oldest painting in the room, but you think the artist's antique style is interesting.

Rhudlan

This was a Rahlampian member of Candlestone. She was the descendant of two of Rildning’s companions, Mrigamad and Niberi. Master Arasemis said Rhudlan was a skilled machinist who improved the design of landships after Rildning’s era.

Although most of tribal Rahlampia was absorbed by the Brintilian Empire by the time Rhudlan was born, she supplied Candlestone with weapons and machinery that kept up the fight. She is considered one of the founders of machina arcanae, among the most advanced subjects a member of the Order can study.

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Head Gallery

You see four paintings in the gallery at the head of the table

Rildning

This was the colonial knight who later turned against the Brintilian Empire, joined the native Gallerlanders, and founded the Order of the Candlestone.

Master Arasemis has pointed out that no one knows exactly what he looked like, and he certainly was not considered by the Church to be a saint—rather a heretic. But this is the oldest painting of him, completed well after his lifetime by a member of Candlestone.

You once asked why the painting depicted Rildning without his golden armor. Arasemis corrected you, noting that Rildning’s son, Enildir, wrote that he wore elinderum, an alloy of electrum and cinder, trimmed with moonwood from the cave willows. Not gold. In any case, Rildning didn’t wear the elinderum armor for long, and it was actually confiscated by Marshal Hilsingor. You know that Arasemis is obsessed with details like this.

Enildir

You like this stylized depiction of Enildir, son of Rildning and Eniri. Master Arasemis said Enildir was trained by his mother and Rildning’s companions as soon as he could walk. He became a skilled and creative warrior, continuing the work of Candlestone as the 2^nd generation.

Later, Enildir cobbled together the stories from Rildning’s companions to write the definitive histories of his father, the tribal defense against the Brintilian Empire, tribal politics, and the origins of Candlestone. Arasemis described Enildir as the most important Candlestone historian, but also a brave leader in his own right.

Woramiri

This was the daughter of Enildir, and Rildning’s granddaughter, and the 3^rd generation of Candlestone. You recall that she did much to expand Candlestone beyond the initial group of Rilding’s companions and their children. Her daughter, Enthiri, continued her expansion, including assisting the Arukan Rebellion back in the Old World.

Woramiri encouraged Enthiri to learn many languages to help spread Candlestone. Enthiri became a gifted linguist who also translated and preserved many Arukan and native Pemonian writings, including extensive alchemical books from the Naren-Dra, which led to shroud alchemy being widely adopted across Candlestone members.

You feel a draft as you look at this painting. You get close to the wall to look behind the painting. You see a hinge on the frame but the painting won’t move.

Ermosarch

Master Arasemis said Ermosarch was among the most wise and accomplished Candlestone teachers of all three arcanae: aerina, chemina, and machina. He left his home in Rugenhav to join the 10^th generation of Candlestone at the age of fifteen, and later became a prolific writer and compiler of instruction books and other materials.

He would go on to train many members of the 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th generations of Candlestone, often at Kelmrath, and his books have been translated into nearly every Pemonian language since then. Arasemis said he was known for his patient manner and strong discipline. You have seen many books written by Ermosarch upstairs in the library.

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Thorendor Castle