Defenders Hall

[Windfoot]

In a burst of creative energy...the credit for which must in part go to Merlinne...I decided to lay out a sketch of the floor-plan of the Defenders Hall.

The Defenders Hall is formed of four wings (one for each House), each a complete unit unto itself and each with its own entryway. I imagine three main floors, and few turrets (certainly for Dalaran, maybe for the others). There is a courtyard in the center.

I haven't gone into any detail regarding the estate grounds. I will leave it to Merlinne to describe the Halls, and the estate it sits on in Stormwind. If anyone wants to take this idea and improve upon it...with named rooms, or more detail, or a sketch drawing of the exterior, please do!

This does not mean that the Houses cannot have other houses (such as the House of the Beast hunting lodge in the Hinterlands).

I have reduced the three floor-plans to a managable size here. To see the full-sized drawings, see here: housesofvalor.proboards40.com/index.cgi?board=creative&action=display&thread=1128448439

[merlinne]

((I lied. I'm done pouting and did it over, though it isn't nearly as good as the original was. I just couldn't bear to leave it undone another day. *sigh*))

The intent of this is not to place fetters on our writers, but instead provide some consistency as to the set up the Hall and staff. I wrote this once earlier but the board ate it so I have to do it again. I will probably have to come back and edit it multiple times so please keep an eye here for information. If you have any questions please let me know and I will do my best to answer them. This version isn't going to be as expansive or as detailed as the original and I'm truly sorry.

If you have anything to add, please let me know and I will take care of it.

The Estate
Defenders Hall is situated on a sprawling estate in (or snuggled up really close to) Stormwind. It is bordered by Elwynn forest. The buildings on the estate include The Hall, stable, greenhouse, carriage house/barn, barracks, and various utility buildings. One utility building has been designated the "Brew Building" so there is someplace to do beer, ale and mead brewing that will not send the odor of such wafting through the Hall. All other utility buildings do not have specific designations at this time and are free for whatever use the writers might need.

There is a very large vegetable garden and green house just off the kitchen of the Hall. These are used to grow food to supplement the meat that is brought in. There is a smaller herb garden tended primarily by gardening staff (weeding, watering, etc) that is used for kitchen herbs and whatever herbs herbalists might need for their craft.

The stable is large and sturdy and set up to accommodate the variety of riding beasts brought in by the Defenders. There is one Stablemaster who answers to the Butler and a variety of stable hands who are trained in working with the beasts. There is also storage in the rafters and a small loft room so a stable hand can be on duty at all times.

The carriage house/barn is where there is stored a carriage or wagon or two and a shelter for the cows and sheep that are kept for milk and wool. There is also storage in the rafters for hay and grain for the beasts.

The barracks' primary purpose is to house the small contingent of guards that are kept on hand to protect the estate from unsavorys when the Defenders are not in residence. It is a squat, stone building. Long and very basic in design. It has a large practice field in front of it and a smaller building for weapons and armor storage (surplus) next to it.

Defenders Hall
Overview
Defenders Hall is a large stone building with four wings, one for each House, surrounding a good sized courtyard. The courtyard is a combination of cobbles and grass with benches fountains, a small pond, and entries from both the Main floor and some of the interior rooms on the second floor. It is more like a park than what we would think of as a courtyard. Though no definite number of floors has been set, at this point there is at least the Main floor, the second floor, the attic rooms (storage) and the cellar (primarily food storage with some areas set aside for surplus weapon/armor storage).

Meals would primarily be served in the Grand Dining Hall located on the main floor. There would also be some smaller, private dining rooms for less formal gatherings or if a more intimate/private dinner was desired.

There is a large central Library where a variety of books are stored and tended. Each wing also has a smaller library where texts specific to their classes would be maintained. Dalaran library also contains artifacts and components of power.

Each wing has its own entry and all four wings are accessible to each other by a series of corridors. There is also a main entry where guests would enter unless escorted.

Living Quarters
Most of the living quarters would be situated on the upper levels. There would be a section set aside with barracks like quarters for the staff that would have two communal bathing rooms – one for each gender – for staff use.

Thanks to the wonder of Gnomish ingenuity, the Hall has indoor plumbing! Hot and cold. So each set of quarters would have its own adjoining bathing room.

The largest apartment (also called "suite" or "quarters") in the Hall would traditionally belong to the head of the household, in this case Windfoot. Whether he actually does have it or not is up to the writer. It would include a bathing room, sleeping room, receiving room, large office, and two smaller rooms that could be set up as a library, private dining room or meeting rooms. Closets, as we know them, would not be used in this "era" though the term could be applied to the large, freestanding wardrobes that would be in every sleeping room.

The Lords would be entitled to the largest apartment in their wings. It would include bathing room, sleeping room, small office (there is a larger office on the main floor of each wing), and receiving room. Warden quarters would have the bathing room, sleeping room, and a small room to be used for something of their own choosing. The rest of the rooms would be either "singles" which would have just a sleeping room and a bathing room or those that have a sleeping room, bathing room, and one smaller room to be used by the occupant in whatever manner suits them best, though the square footage of each room would be smaller than those reserved for Wardens.

The Wings
Rather than trying to write up a description for each wing and what they have and what they use it for I would like for each Lord to write up a couple paragraphs with a quick description of what your wing includes.

Staff: Part I
The estate staff is overseen by three people after the Lord; the Butler, the Housemaster (Housekeeper if a woman) and the Head Cook (or just Cook). They are a triangle of servants with more responsibility than the others, but they are still servants. Primarily answerable to the Lords but will accept instruction from any Defender. While each one oversees their area of expertise, they consult with each other quite often to make sure the Hall as a whole runs smoothly.

The duties of the Butler include greeting and conveying guests, delivering important messages to the Lords, organizing special events or meetings. The footmen, Stable Master, and Head Gardener report to him.

The duties of the Housemaster (in the case of a woman holding the position it is Housekeeper) include administration of many of the domestic tasks; hall upkeep, redecoration/refurbish etc as well as overseeing the domestic staff. The maids, valets and laundry staff all report to him.

The duties of the Head Cook include the preparation and service of meals, snacks, drinks etc during regular meal times or when guests arrive suddenly. She also handles food store inventory, oversees the amount and what type of vegetables and kitchen herbs that are planted and harvested each year, storage of food etc. The Head Gardener works closely with her on kitchen matters. She has few assistant cooks and a series of servants to help with the labor work of the kitchen (dishes, cutting, carrying, etc).

Defenders Hall has no head cook nor butler, though Dalaran has one of each.

Staff: Part II
Minor Staff
Maids or chambermaids – cleaners, organizers, etc. They tote and carry laundry to and from the rooms. They dust, pick up things, replace linens and towels, scrub the bathtubs and all that other nice stuff that keeps the rooms tidy and fresh.

Personal Maid – a maid assigned to a Lady to attend her needs specifically. Removing laundry, helping to choose outfits, lacing tight things, dressing hair, running light errands.

Valet – male version of Personal Maid, with the exception of the fact that they are more extensively trained in the area of wardrobe maintenance and choice selection. They make sure the gentleman's wardrobe is always in good repair and cleanliness. They help the gentleman make appropriate wardrobe choices for events or dinners.

Stable hand – helps tend the riding beasts and sheep and cows.

Footmen – fetch and carry boys. They carry furniture, packages, messages, whatever needs to be carried. They also are responsible for carrying the food in to the tables from the kitchen for the meals. There would be some stationed at various points in the Hall for fetch and carry readiness and to answer questions or offer assistance (like if someone gets lost in the hallways….)

Staff: Part III

Johnson
Johnson currently holds the position of Housemaster. ((I will let Windfoot write this one since he is his creation))


***While giving a consistency guide, I hope this has left enough open for interpretation that the writers do not feel fettered. If you have a problem, please contact me.***


This document will be updated as more information comes available.

[Vangelis]

I like it - but if you'd arrange the floors vertically in the picture we would be able to read the posts without our mouse on the scroll bar.

[Vezesara01]

Will there be a ballroom for dancing and music... or a ampitheatre?

Ohh and will I have my own bath....(giggles) I just love taking a few hours primping myself....(( I'm not one to be rushed...))

Oh yes... and can I have my own Valet and maid... Mallory is my (Valet) and Calindria (maid) and Victor is my carriage driver..

((wow this is great...*grins*)) Nice job everyone!!
Vez

[Gudran]

*buried head over a piece of paper and starts drawing....*

[Vangelis]

To be honest, the level of detail in this burst of creativity has been too intimidating for me to do more than skim it. I still haven't paid much attention to the floor plan (I'll get to it!), but having now read Merlinne's notes, I have two responses, both based on the fact that until now the guild RP has not contemplated servants in this way.

First, there have been some RP hints that the arrival of the servants coincided with the arrival of Lost Virtue. May I suggest that staffing existed prior to LV's arrival, but that it was hopelessly inadequate, which was immediately apparent to Merlinne who did something about it.

Second, I would be sad to see the death of the "guild cook(s)". I appreciate the verisimilitude of a full-time cook for a full-size castle, but the fact of the in-game cooking skill (pursued by certain characters but not others) has led to some wonderful RP. I'm not sure what to do about this one, particularly since the omelette story (in Lost in Translation) was some of my favourite storytelling to date, and I don't know how that story fits with the existence of a territorial NPC cook.

[Kanammer]

hmm, maybe just have the NPC cooks on an on call basis for the ( no offence intended ) ones that think they are too good to get their hands dirty.

I agree also.. that the "Lost in Translation" cooking scene was one of the funniest reads I have had in a while.

[Windfoot]

My two two coppers worth.

1. Cook is a lush, and often MIA
2. Each House has its own kitchen in additon to the main kitchen. Merlinne's cook could be the Dalaran cook?

Doesn't really matter as long as all RP possibilities are open. I like 'cook is a lush' myself


Oh yes, regard the staff, Johnson is a master organizer, is infinitely knowledgable about managing staff and running a household, is impeccibly dressed at all times, entirely unflappable, completely versed in proper etiquette and dress, and has the ability to condescend without a single word. He also has served Merlinne in various capacities since she was a child and is completely devoted to her.

And I have just invented another! Quiz. Quiz is the gnomish inventor responsible for the construction and design of the various communicators by which the members of the Defenders chat with each other. Quiz's quarters are, predicably, a ramshackle disaster of electronic oddments and discarded “treasures”. One cannot see the floor of his quarters, which leads one to wondering where exactly he sleeps. Perhaps, he does not. Fortunately, he has a small room attached to his chambers which is relatively uncluttered, with a table in it, which serves as the "front desk" of his unique business. He is absolutely eccentric, even by gnomish standards, and is, of course, completely brilliant.

[Vangelis]

Musings:

It could be that we have a large main kitchen - just off the formal dining hall, with NPC staff - and a small kitchen in another place, just off from an informal guild 'lounge' or 'common room'.

I would have no problem with the guild hiring an NPC cook (for the reasons stated by Merlinne above) - I guess what I would like is some storyline to mark that event. Perhaps Merlinne wondered how anyone ate in the guild given the haphazard state of the kitchen, hired a 'proper cook', and moved the pc cooks' pots and pans into the 'back-kitchen'?

However as I muse away I note that the farther down this road we go, the more I worry that we are putting up barriers to new members' RP. I wouldn't want a new member to feel like they had to understand the floor plan before they felt qualified to write stories.

I also note that the term "guild hall" implies, at most, a manor or mansion rather than a castle - and that the floor plan looks pretty castle-ish. We might have to change conceptually from a "guild hall" to an "estate".

/shrug. Please don't take these musings to imply criticism - as an ancient Dungeon Master I get caught up in the world-building, and if we're going to build a guild world my anal DM-self wants it to 'make sense', while the player in me just wants to make sure everybody can jump in and have fun. I'm just throwing my thoughts into the mix without any particular expectations.

And on the 'lush angle wearing thin'... it's not our fault we let in the dwarves...

/cheers.

[Kaillen Nevarre]

Well said... I was somewhat thinking the same thing, as I was not aware of "Annabeth" until after I had made my original post in the Dinner Party story... Kaillen, Boswell and Kalmorith all have much to offer in this area, and it would seem a shame to let some of that RP potential go to waste... I could also see Kai and Kal somewhat taking umbrage with a new arrival that suddenly started kicking them out of their own kitchens.. I like the concept of having Annabeth around, since the others simply don't have the time to attend to all the duties listed above. Perhaps she could function more as an assistant and oversee the organizational aspects such as general inventory, etc?

[Windfoot]

Glad to see so many contributing. Yes, I got a little carried away with the floor plan ;D I dont think that we have to change the name, however. "Hall" is flexible enough for a country castle IMO

Deleting Jaymes and Annabeth seems odd, as they are part of Merlinne's RP. I would like to see all servants as RP-available (rather than required).

[Windfoot]

I am sorry to see them go . There is no doubt in my mind that the guild needs a collection of cooks. At the same time we have a few of the finest cooks in the land amongst us, and we do have a tradition, originating all the way back to Hugnir, of a PC guild cook. Hopefully we will find a way to bring them back so that all possibilities are open.

Also, I never responded before, but it is absolutely clear to me that there was a woefully inadequate collection of staff at the Halls prior to the arrival of - not Merlinne but - Johnson. Wind hired him when trying to prepare for Merlinne, and he is, as we speak, whipping the place into shape. It is quite likely that he would hire a cook to ensure proper meals prepared etc. He would be horrified by the current state of affairs (imps heating ovens?) This might not sit well with Kal or Kai, and they would have to deal with Johnson on the matter.

cheerio!


p.s. Oh yes, and if you cant mak heads or tails of the floor-plans, that is likely because they are pretty close to a random jumble of cool-looking lines. I am waiting for some really industrious person to bring order to the chaos. Please! All you dungeon-masters out there! Fix! hehe

[Kaillen Nevarre]

Hmm. Seems I inadvertantly opend up a can of snarkworms...

To clarify a couple of things that seem to have been misinterpreted:

* I /do/ like the idea of consistant "background players"

* I based my offhand comment about Annabeth "kicking folks out of her kitchen" on the way her personality was described in the bio you wrote for her. It just seemed like the sort of thing she would do.. /shrug

* You are correct about the large-scale cooking - but remember, thus far the Defenders haven't made a habit of dining together, so that issue hasn't typically arisen. If this dinner party, for example, is an indication of a new trend, then Kaillen at least will quickly realize that he simply cannot afford to live in the kitchen and would certainly defer to hiring some help.

* I'm perfectly happy with the idea of the smaller Hall-kitchens - It provides the opportunity for more intimate gatherings, and gives freedom for folks like Kaillen, Kal and Bos to putter around within their respective halls, while the staff is responsible for the main "mess hall"

Please do keep Annabeth and Jaymes around, or write them in, etc. They sound like fun.
My apologies for any confusion/consternation my comments caused.

((P.s. Your last post was fine - it was the "Alright. Whatever." that sounded a bit snark-ish ;P))

[Kaillen Nevarre]

/giggle

I just like the sound...

*SNARK! SNARKSNARK!!*

[Windfoot]

"tidied up" thread.