Cedarwood Hall
Cedarwood Hall, a palladian mansion built after the Dozan style, the construction of which commenced in 1659 AN and took thirty years to complete. The Building of Cedarwood Hall, situated at the foot of the Halden Hills, forty kilometres north-west of the city of Apis, was commenced in 1659 at the instruction of Isabella Kalirion in celebration of the Convocation of the Khans, a reconciliation between herself and her primary rivals of that time, Azardokht al-Osman and Liv Dravot. The design for the mansion was provided by the Coke and Burley Company of Lindstrom, who followed a remit to design a residence fit to house the art treasures gifted to Isabella by the many nations and dependencies within her private Imperium exercised across Natopia and Shireroth during that period.
The property at Cedarwood had descended to the forty-seventh Knight of Cedarwood, Douglas Stirling - the founder of the Cedarwood Agricultural Show and a great friend of the sport of sheep shearing, from whom it was acquired by the County of Apis following a declaration of eminent domain at the accession of Isabella Kalirion to the comital seat in 1648.
The House is built of a yellow brick made locally to the neighbourhood, as a contribution by the Countess' feudatories. It consists of a central block 114 metres by 62 metres, with a wing at each angle 60 metres by 70 metres, joined to the central block by four corridors. The whole length measures 344 metres and it was designed to be seen, set down solid and stately, from the adjacent green fields of the landscaped park. To this was added a series of stepped terraces containing flowerbeds, a conservatory, and a porch on the northern approach to the House.
The entrance hall on the processional route, arriving at the south side of the House, is dominated by a giant Babkhan astronomical clock. It requires forty strong men to wind but needs only be wound once a year. The Countess was said to greatly enjoy the spectacle and timed her visits to the House to coincide with the windings.
The marble busts in the entrance hall are the work of Constancian sculters and are, from left to right:
- Ardashir Khan
- The Khan of Vijayanagara
- Kaiser Aurangzeb
- Daniyal Simrani-Kalirion
- Tokaray al-Osman
These being a manifestation of the dynastic pride felt by the Countess during that period.
A case in the hallway contains the custom tailored uniform, combining features of a Natopian and Alexandrian field marshals No.1 dress, worn by the Countess during the War of Jingdaoese Immolation where she oversaw the allied occupation of Pinguin Island that saw the Jingdaoese brought to the armistice negotiations table. Also to be seen are busts of the Natopian and Alexandrian emperors, the Shahs of Babkha and a selection of the less shameful of the Shirerithian Kaisers.
The Marble Hall, arrived upon from the Entrance Hall, was inspired by the Kamalshahr Temple of Justice, yet the effect of the Neo-Babkhan interior is in complete sympathy with the Dozan exterior. The alabaster was sourced from quarries opened by the Transegale Trading Company in 1667.
The Grand Hall is the height of the House, at fifty metres, and behind the columns, done in the Babkhan style supporting the ceiling, form the framing of a gallery holding full length statues and casts of figures of Natopian history.
The very beautiful North Dining Room is a banqueting hall done in the form of a cube of 27 metres, exclusive of niches for the housing and dinner services and the serving staff. The domed ceiling is decorated with Constancian motifs. Scrolled serving tables are cared in cedarwood and has a frame and support done in porphyry with a frame of Cibolan green marble. Beneath these tables are to be found wine coolers worked from Euran red granite. Over the right hand fireplace is a bust of Viviantia - the Cedrist goddess of abundance. Opposite is a bust of Lacrymosa, the goddess of feasting and excess. Both deemed appropriate companions for a dining hall.
The carpet rugs are of antique Babkhan origin, featuring designs celebrating the destruction and ritual humiliation of the Kingdoms various enemies - Atterans, Elfinshi, Shirerithians, and so forth - worked in vividly coloured geometric and abstract patterns. The edges of the carpets are decorated with scenes of Babkhan satraps riding in chariots and hunting lions, wolves, and fugitive labourers.
