Hall Plans

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 19th October 2009

Characters: Corowal, Almonteo, Ruebair
Description: Corowal and Almonteo meet with a Master Mason about a new Hall.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 19 of Turn 5

Almonteo

The Master Mason stopped long enough to straighten his tunic once more self-consciously before walking into the large meeting room. "My Lord. Master Harper," he said with a low bow. "I am Master Ruebair." He held up the rolled hides he had touched under his arm. "I have brought the plans for your inspection, as requested."

"Thank you, Master Ruebair, and welcome to the Emerald Falls hold," Corowal replied with a surprised, arched eyebrow. Well, he certainly didn't waste time to small talk.

"Won't you have a drink, Master Ruebair?" the Hallmaster asked as he held up the wine he had already started pouring for himself and Lord Corowal.

"Yes, thank you," the Mason beamed. It wasn't often he was included in such distinguished company.

"So, what do you have planned?" Corowal asked after they all had their wine glasses.

"Well, I looked at the blueprints that the Master Harper so graciously provided for me. I have also been out to the site." He looked between the two great men. "I... Forgive me, but I assume you have been out there as well?"

"Of course," Corowal affirmed.

"There is very little of the original Main Hall left, and what remains is pretty much unusable." Probably the reason that those pieces had not been torn down to be used elsewhere. "On top of that, you had expressed interest in a second building to house your Printers."

The Hallmaster had made sure to include that request to the Lord Holder. Their Hall could not just cater to the Harpers, but to their Printers' needs as well. "One that is separate from the Main Hall so the noise would not disturb our practices, but connected so that we can maintain Hall unity."

The Mason nodded his understanding. "Lord Corowal was gracious enough to provide me with a sketch of what the original Hall once looked like. I believe it was from you archives, sir?"

"Yes, it was," Corowal nodded.

"It was most useful, thank you," Ruebair said with a bow. "That sketch has given me a general idea of the design of the original structure. It was a remarkable building."

"Yes, I was sad that I never had the chance to see the building in tact," the Hallmaster sighed. "The original building I believe was at it's center, with four wings in the cardinal directions added at a later date. Is that correct, My Lord?" the Mason asked, turning to the Lord Holder.

"I think so. I never saw it myself either, but there are paintings here, where it's shown on background," Corowal replied. "It had it's own garden, I believe."

"If that is so, sir, there is no evidence of it left." It was probably now under some bovine pasture or plowed field. "I believe, sirs, that the Hall as it was is now too small to serve the needs of the Harpers. First of all, it was built to house _only_ Harpers, not the combined Harper and Printer Halls. And second of all, you have female apprentices which need to be house separate of the males. At least," he said, looking between the two gentlemen, "I assume it is your intention to not house them with the male apprentices."

"I do suppose that the parents would feel more comfortable if they new their daughters would not be sleeping within close quarters of adolescent males," the Master Harper nodded with a glance towards the Lord Holder. It might also appease the Holders some what.

"Sharing dorms like in Weyr would probably cause a riot here," Corowal remarked dryly. "Please, let's protect the virtues of young maides with separate living quarters," he continued.

"Agreed," the Hallmaster nodded, knowing full well there would be plenty of complaints on both sides about how much of the Weyr's lifestyle had rubbed off on their youth.

"I have prepared a few different possibilities for you to look at." Ruebair expertly unrolled the first of the hides onto the table, pulling weights out of a pouch on his belt to hold it down. "I hope that you can look at them today and eliminate those that do not appeal, if not agree upon one that would."

Corowal studied the drawings. "They are quite a bit larger than the old one, aren't they?" he remarked. "I like this one, central hall and four annexed buildings surrounding it. Although the cross-shaped isn't bad either."

"Yes, those are based on the original buildings," the mason nodded. Pointing to the drawing the Lord Holder had provided.

"Now, the original Harper Hall had started as just the central building, did it not?" Almonteo had remembered seeing a very old sketch in the depths of the archives.

"It did," Ruebair nodded. "The four wings in the four directions were added later as the Hall expanded. But what I find lacking in that kind of design is a grand entrance."

"Like the one we got here?" Corowal asked, referring to the Main Hold building.

"Perhaps, even grander," the mason dared to suggest, looking at the Harper Hallmaster. "Harper's do love a dramatic entrance," Almonteo chuckled. "I hope you can forgive me, Corowal, when I say I like that idea."

"Maybe I should start to think some renovations to my own hold," Corowal said with humour.

"Oh, feeling jealous already? Well, then, Master Ruebair," the Hallmaster smiled at the Lord Holder, "I expect nothing less than genius out of you. We must stay one step ahead of his Lordship."

"Of course, after resettling those people who had moved to the Hall's grounds, my chests are empty and I have to wait few Turns before I have the marks..." Corowal sighed mournfully, but his eyes twinkled in a merry way that betrayed he wasn't being serious.

"Only a few turns? Ruebair," Almonteo said, putting a hand on the mason's shoulder, "let's make sure to drain those chests for a good decade at least. Show me what you can do."

Last updated on the November 3rd 2009

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