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Obduction Backer |
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:04 pm Posts: 1022 Location: Macon, MO
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The Esplanade:
The Esplanade is the level paved area next to the harbor, where the Ferry Terminal Nexus pedestal can be found. At one end is the Ferry Terminal, and at the other is a tunnel through a naturally hollow stalagmite that opens on a short walk that seems to go nowhere.
The Waterfront as seen from the Concert Hall Foyer:
The Waterfront from out in the harbor:
The railings around the waterfront have two patterns in the metalwork. The first and most common is a depiction of the Arch of Kerath, and the second is another design which I do not recognize, but which might be a representation of the vanished Steward's House. This railing is found on the gates of the stalagmite, the railings inside the stalagmite, and the railings of the short walkway on the other side of the stalagmite.
The Arch in ironwork as a railing:
The second ironwork design:
Judging by its use on the Ferry Terminal, waterfront railings, and halfway up the Great Stair, my best guess is that the Arch on a fan backdrop is used as a symbol to represent the island of Ae'gura.
The Ferry Terminal:
The Terminal from the front:
The Terminal from the dock side:
In D'ni year 5202, King Emen approved a new public ferry system between Ae'gura, the smaller islands such as K'veer, Katha, and Neref, and to the City Proper. The City Proper is built into the walls of the cavern, and consists of many districts, rich, poor, middle-class, and industrial. The districts include the neighborhoods explorers have been permitted to access. Ashem'en, where the Er'cana Silo is located, is one of the districts of the City Proper. Ae'gura island was primarily the center of government and religion.
The Ferry Terminal is a building that divides the Ae'gura Docks from the esplanade. Most of the building is a roof-covered dividing wall with a flying roof over that, but the end on the water consists of a short tower that may contain a beacon, as the roof looks like it could be a lens.
The top of the flying roof:
Under the flying roof:
The flying roof from the end of the docks:
The "lens" from above:
The "lens" from the broken "reflector":
The tower and the "lens":
In the Fall of D'ni, a great deal of damage was done to the structure -- and the rest of the city -- by earthquakes. Several of the pillars supporting the roof of the dividing wall collapsed, and a large hole was knocked through the tower, perhaps by a ferry boat ramming into it.
Collapsed roof and wall:
The hole in the tower:
Sunken ferry boats:
Oval room on roof with broken walls:
Another angle on the oval room:
The door into the tower may be a harbormasters' office, access for maintenance workers, or some other purpose entirely. However, there are large windows on the second story of the tower which provide a panoramic view of the harbor, and that points toward the office as a more likely explanation.
Door to offices:
Door to docks:
All along the esplanade railing, the railings around the docks, and decorating the Ferry Terminal itself are stylized images of Kerath's Arch. There is also an inscription in D'ni that reads, "rehbahntahno tehneeehn shehmtee". Unfortunately, no one has a definitive translation of the sentence, so I can't tell you what it says in English. Considering that it is found in many places on Ae'gura, it's most likely a slogan for the city or government.
Support pillars:
Support pillar capital:
Inscription of city slogan:
Kerath's Arch:
The Arch of Kerath, which is more commonly called Kerath's Arch, was originally called the Arch of Kings. It's a massive structure at the natural opening into the harbor of Ae'gura Island made of huge blocks of stone that are fitted so well you can't see the joints. Its design was based on a monument the D'ni remembered from Garternay. Plans for the Arch were announced by King Ja'kreen, but the actual construction was begun later and was overseen by Guild Master Koris. According to prophecy, the Arch was to welcome the Great King when he appeared. In the hopes that they would be the one, all the kings after Ja'kreen sailed under it as part of their coronation ceremony. According to rumor, Ahlsendar was born beneath the Arch as his mother fled the Pento Plague, and so, when he passed under it again in his return to D'ni, he was hailed as the Great King.
On his deathbed, King Rikooth saw his son, Kerath, sailing through the arch on a lizard-shaped boat, returning from exile. According to legend, he felt Yahvo moving him to declare Kerath the next king. When Kerath oversaw the change of the government of D'ni, the Arch of Kings was renamed the Arch of Kerath to honor him as the last King of D'ni.
The esplanade faces Kerath's Arch, and there is a Nexus terminal midway along the bottom of the cliff face. The Great Stair begins here and leads up to the Tokotah Courtyard.
According to D'ni history, somewhere along the edge of the harbor was the Steward's House, a location where the heir to the throne of D'ni would be crowned after he journied by boat under Kerath's Arch. It's possible that the House is on the bottom of the harbor now, due to the earthquakes that severely damaged the cavern during the Fall.
The only decoration on the arch are carved inscriptions on the capital of the same slogan found on the Ferry Terminal. The inscriptions are on both sides of the capital.
The Arch of Kerath:
The inscription on the side facing the island:
The inscription on the side facing the cavern:
_________________ * b'tagamem mot seKem ril ge'Dan Kenen reKElen faex b'sEnem ge'Dan -- lårE leDA Until next time! -- Larry LeDeay 3 # 11308 The Lost Library of D'ni
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