Expect some changes
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Location: Far South
Theme: Tea-House Moon - Enya

One of the largest buildings in Poseidon Empires, and only rivaled by the Poseidon Vahane (Temple of Poseidon). Along with the capital city, Arina, Arine Palace was one of the first buildings to be built after the end of the Age of Darkness. It can be seen far and wide in the sea, providing that the viewer had eyes meant for aquatic life. The entire palace was carved by either hand or magic from solid stone far from the coastline of the present landmass of Poseidon Empires. Since the date of its completion, the building was incased by a magic spell to protect it from the water that would have worn it away after many years. Later, renovations have been done to further connect it with life above the sea, along with have a barrier spell to act as windows and to keep the water out of the palace as it is not protected by a invisible dome like the underwater cities.

The palace itself still has retained much of its original form, and has a structure that is common among Aquanician architecture. It is symmetrical in perhaps every way save for that rather long bridge that connects the mainland to the highest tower, a tower so high that it actually goes just right above sea level. No other tower is even close to it’s height in the rest of the land for the majority of the underwater cities are quite a distance from the shores and sea level, making such towers a hassle for management and quite useless. There are a total of seven towers, the second highest among them belonging to the Council of Fifteen (east) and to the Mages Circle (west) while the third highest belong to the scientists (east) and to the military (west). Though, the military also controls the west wing of the third floor along with the healers that control the east wing (hospital wing). The last of the towers are where the kitchen (east) and the storage located (west). Actually, there are a total of four floors if the tower levels are not included, and the shape of this main building is curved like a dome itself as a sort of protection measure because the normal cylinder shape buildings like that of the common folk would be far too risky.

On the outside, the walls have a light teal gray hue along with the engravings of the nation’s seal at least once on the east, south, and west walls as well as all the towers. The north wall though has two large teal wall hangings with the nation’s seal in silver that hang around the lower main gate to the palace. For the inside of the palace, the walls have the same color, but light gray and white marble floors have replaced the former stone floor that matched the walls. The floors are kept smooth and clean, as it was common for people to walk barefoot and normally prefer so by many full-blooded Aquanauts. The only rooms of slightly different appearance are certain guestrooms designed for other races and the first or bottom floor of the palace, which has not been touched since the death of Han Tian (Tian III).

The windows are all round and contain no glass, but the higher floors have long windows save for the rooms made for privacy while the lower floors have short windows. Acting as the glass are magic barriers that can keep not only water from getting it, but also people from getting out. The walls are most bare except for certain engravings in the ancient Aquanician tongue that outsiders can mistake for mere decoration, though no other decorative items are ever hung except for the long chains of family lines or belts that will eventually be hung in the throne room whenever a new royal bloodline is started. However, since the new royal bloodline has only been recently started and no new line has been made, the old line has not yet been hung in its proper place far above the throne itself. Speaking of which, the throne is made of stone like the palace itself. It cannot be moved and has not cushions. On either side of the throne are chairs that have been placed rather recently in Aquanician years for the human bride of Han Tian. The chairs are make of strong oak and painted in a layer of silver, with sapphire, aquamarine, and turquoise gemstones adorning them. The back of the chairs has been specially curved to look like seashells being scattered by a large ocean’s wave; even the armrests were modeled after such. There was a navy colored cushion placed on the seat, making it much more comfortable than the throne itself. On the lady of the land’s chair, the back has been made slightly higher with the encasing of a diamond at the top. The rest of the furniture in the palace is similar the chairs, but without the gems except for certain guestrooms and the furniture on the second floor, the floor where the royal family would reside since the bridge was built.

Staying warm in this palace is no difficult task for someone used to the cold or for an Aquanaut, but the temperature here can range from freezing to simply cool. It can never be warm or hot unless something out of the ordinary occurs, though the temperature can actually get far colder. Visitors are always remind to dress warmly and keep their shoes on, although the Aquanauts themselves may chose to walk barefoot and dress is somewhat light clothing after a hard day of training. Luckily, there is no wind below the seas or at least not natural wind.

On the top floor or the fourth floor is where all who enter would find themselves no matter which gate they used, the lower or the upper. Both require a rather long walk through many flights of stone stairs, though the lower gate has the option of flooding the stairway so that the people may just swim like in the old days. It is the tallest tower people enter from, called the Entrance Tower with its two spiraling staircases meeting at one point before a large door that leads to the top floor. On the top floor would be the welcoming room that was made quite large to fit a great number of people, though it lacks any short of décor except for the two large pools on either side of the door of the throne room located in the center of the floor. Next to both pools would be large spiral staircases that have also been one of the renovations, and they lead to the next floor before continuing on the floor below that. If one were to walk around and pass the staircases and the throne room, they would see a large pool with two doors on either side of it. One of those doors lead to the Mages Tower while the other leads to the Council Tower, both of which are only accessible by fellow members and the top five authority figures.

If one were to turn back and walk either right or left, the person may end up in the east or west wing with the east wing containing one of the indoor garden, the dining hall, and the servants’ quarters while the west wing contains the other indoor garden, the palace library and the guests’ quarters. Next, on the third floor, a statue of Poseidon is located in the center and surrounded by a pool of small fish. In the far end of the room are two doors that lead to the Science Tower and the Military Tower, which are both farther apart from each other than the ones leading to the Mages Tower and the Council Tower. Secretly, there is also one more door leading to the Mages Tower but few can actually see it and that does not mean all the Mage Circle members. The west wing on this floor is managed and inhabited by the Poseidon Empires Military as well, but the east wing is managed and inhabited by the local palace healers that are ready to aid any wounded soldier. Taking the stairs down to the next floor would be bring the visitor to the most well protected by both guards and magic in the entire palace, excluding the hospital wing and guest wing when there are patients/visitors. The west wing is where most of the family actually lives, with doors leading to the kitchen tower and the storage tower in the center room at the far back. These doors are even farther apart that the tower doors of the last floor, and once again, the Mages Tower have a hidden door as well does the Military Tower. The east wing of this floor is the palace’s treasury and storage. Most of the rooms are empty or filled with fool’s gold and traps.

The last of the floor is the first floor with its extremely thin windows that only parasites could physically enter. What is on this floor or how to actually enter it is unknown, and is presume to be barren for the thirty or so years it has been neglected. Rumor has it that this floor contain a much more valuable treasure, but the last known being to enter was Han Tian who has long past. Perhaps the god, Poseidon, may know something but he is not want to do and tell unless necessary.

Finally, there is the last tower and the bridge. The bridge itself is made of white marble held mainly by four large pillars. However, the bridge is far too long to be solely supported by the pillars and aided by the arc shaped from both the top and bottom. Basically, the bridge has a roof and to cross the bridge would take many days if one were to walk on foot. At one end of the bridge are two large doors on the mainland acting as a gate, but can be opened with a strong push. At the other end is the highest room and pretty much the only room of the highest tower. The room itself is another gateway, but with guards this time. The room is rather small in size and has only one thing inside, the entrance to the spiraling staircase that would take many more days on foot to enter the actual palace, and even more days if one were to walk past and onto the lower gate that leads to the capital city, Arina. As for the last tower, the Entrance Tower, it has two spiraling staircases that are attached to the walks of the tower and meet before the door leading to the top floor. In the center of the tower is a long tall glass pillar with only three openings: at the top where the upper gate is located, at the level of the top floor, and at the bottom where the lower gate is located. The platform itself is round and made of marble, large enough to whole five people at a time. In order for the platform to be moved, water needs to be added to the pillar and is done so by magic.

(Quarters include bathrooms)

Note: The temperature is quite cold, and never gets warm unless some unnatural occurs. There is no wind and the floor is quite clean most of the time because many before to walk barefoot except most of the soldiers, mages, healers, and humans.