Civic Festhall

From Timaresh
Revision as of 15:36, 14 May 2012 by Idran (talk | contribs) (Created page with "right|200px The Civic Festhall is the headquarters of the Society of Sensation, and one of the cornerstones of the Clerk's Ward. Located...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigationJump to search
CivicFesthallFront.jpg

The Civic Festhall is the headquarters of the Society of Sensation, and one of the cornerstones of the Clerk's Ward. Located at the corner of Crystal Dew Lane and Festive Way in the center of the eponymous Festhall District, this building has served as a center for art and culture since its construction was completed in Hashkar -477. It also provides classes and seminars on any number of topics, held and presented by members of the faction for the benefit of any that might seek adventure and experience on the planes.

Standing nearly 1000 feet tall, the Festhall is one of the most significant buildings in the skyline of its ward, visible as far as the Market Ward and the Hive. Its outer facade is constructed of a granite composed of 50 different minerals, each of its own texture, its windows are made of pure rock crystal, and its floors a marble veined in colors across the entire spectrum; Sensates claim that materials of each plane and a thousand different Prime worlds went into its century-long construction. Close to a third of the Festhall, plus the two satellite buildings, are open to the public, holding galleries, museums, display houses, restaurants, taverns — presentations of all varieties of artistic expression, including the public Sensorium taking up an entire corner of the first floor. The remaining space within the Festhall is occupied by faction quarters, private training halls, and the faction Sensorium.

The most prominent portions of the Festhall (besides the sensoriums) are the three public theaters, each active year-round. The largest, Ren Hall, is located in the rear of the building; named for an ancient Prime hero important to the history of the Sensates, it holds performances twice a night, usually light pieces that require more elaborate features including associated music, magical aid, and sensory enhancers such as odor or taste. Elloweth Theater in the clockwise building, named for the faction's first factol, is a smaller affair, used for the subtler performances. Elloweth usually hosts four shows a week, two daytime and two night. In the daytime, its shows are most often poetry or essay readings or similar, its translucent capiz shell dome filtering more than enough light for such without the need for magic. At night, it offers dramatic performances, interpretative dance, and other quieter performances less appropriate (and admittedly, less popular) than the massive showy affairs in Ren. Finally, Northumber Amphitheater in the anticlockwise building is an open air playhouse holding the contests and outdoor musical performances hosted by the faction. It holds three shows a day most days, though occasionally (such as the rare magic duel or fireworks show) shows are held at night, when one can better make out the spectacle.

Reference

  • Factol's Manifesto, pp.134-138