Since most of us don't exactly go on tours of other nations, I suspect there's a lot of good writing out there that gets overlooked. My favorite room is a tossup between two:
A panoramic view of the City.Brass, bronze, and iron bells of tremendous girth fill the entire length and breadth of this very constricted room. A magnificent view of Magnagora may be obtained by peering over the skulls of various stone gargoyles that cast watchful eyes in every direction over the city. A little to the south, the Great Southern Highway meanders away past the City Gates. To the east, a multitude of citizens can be seen assembled at the Atropos Plaza and spreading out directly to the west is the Necropolis. A wooden ladder is affixed to one wall, offering an unsteady exit below. Hanging down from the ceiling, a bell made out of solid bronze is here. (v4319)
because of how the ghosts in it always come up and ring the bell every midnight - it's a really cool ambient.
And!
The Hall of the Sacrificed God.Whispers in a thousand dissonant voices, each starkly dissimilar, carry hauntingly on the air from a healing shrine of Morgfyre nearby. The Goddess Isune, Wings of Compassion stands humbled here in a statue so perfect and detailed as to appear lifelike, the only telling sign that it is completely devoid of colour. She stands shackled, bound in heavy chains of cold iron, while thorned vines pull Her left arm towards the ground and pierce the tender stone flesh. Numerous angels form a vicious throng around her, some frozen while slashing at the Goddess with longswords, and others binding Her shackles to the sphere of Tipheret on the ground or carrying more chains for their masters. All of their faces sneer cruelly at the Goddess, while Her right arm is outstretched above her, fingers grasping at the open air. Above, a pure obsidian statue of a winged and beautiful demon floats upside down from the darkness, his arm mercifully stretched towards Isune in response, yet several feet out of reach. (v10101)
because of how it shows how *good* Magnagora thinks it is, and I love the 'we're righteous and you're just pretending to be' angle in my RP.
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bonus desc.:
I've got my eye on you.
A silent tomb strung with coloured silk and lace.
Brightly-coloured and joyously decorated, very little in this room lends credence to the structure in which it resides. Azure and emerald silks drape haphazardly across the walls, obscuring white marble from sight, while pristine white linen runners anoint the low stone dais at the back of the room, embellished with delicate lacework. Numerous china dolls are arranged neatly upon this; male and female, large and small, garbed in every possible variety of dress, the toys bear one similarity alone: disturbingly realistic eyes gaze unflinchingly in every direction, black pupils dilated as though drinking in their surroundings. A scant few heirlooms have been hastily allocated to one corner of the room, the symbol of a flying kestrel visible on a tarnished golden goblet. Several limp rag dolls are scattered on the floor about the dais, wide, stitched grins baring amusement at no one in particular, limbs contorted into impossible configurations.
Corrections Institute.
Banks of clouds roil about here. Borne out of solid moonstone, this chamber is impeccably white and
is drowned in the sound of a dull monotone beep. No further ornamentation decorates the walls or
floor, instead showcasing only the raw, whiteness of the crystal. Two diamond-clear tables, fitted
with multiple white-painted chairs, stand within the room and are also left to their naked
simplicity. A sterile scent overwhelms the unpolluted air, a disquieting odour similar to alcohol
and gauze. Hanging from the ceiling is a silvery candelabra, martial and simplistic in design, which
brightens the already intensely-lit room. Pressed against one wall is a featureless cupboard: open
wide and baring an assortment of cruel and strange instruments hidden within it. The fragrant Lafu
Longplume waits here, bulging bags tied into his cloak.
(ultra mega points for people who know the follow-up phrase)
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
Centre of the Necropolis.
It is difficult to detect any features of the room, due to the powerful field of energy that is put out by the Megalith of Doom, absorbing all but the darkest of colours and dominating everything else in the room. The architecture of the room is designed to accommodate the Megalith of Doom with a high dome that forms the entire ceiling. A circular series of steps descends three tiers down to the indentation in the centre of the room where the Megalith stands. Four archways lead out of the room to the other areas of the Necropolis, where candles and other illumination can barely be detected through the powerful force of the Megalith.
But I do love these too!
Heart of the Cacophony.
Polished black marble has been used for this office, the walls smooth and undecorated. The floor bears an intricate maze worked over the entirety of it, the lines seemingly distorted to the eyes. At the center of this labyrinth lies a water filled depression, steam rising from the surface. The high ceiling is a true work of art, the stone above echoing the maze below, the lines forming a tangled mess of briar vine. From between the carved branches peer small faces, some serene, some bearing malevolent leers. A few select tendrils have been cunningly worked to flow across the entire ceiling and down the walls to form the door and window frames. Heavy velvet drapes in azure cover each of these arches, blocking outside illumination. A dim glow lights the room, coming from the several matching candelabra standing against the walls.
Soul of the Cacophony.
Dark, rich wooden paneling lies smoothly across the floor. A lush rug has been thrown down in the middle of the room upon which rests an elegant desk and high-backed office chair. Multiple shelves line the walls along with cabinets and smaller tables which hold red-glowing lanterns to illuminate the room. A spider-webbed pattern of silver and red crosses the high ceiling, merging at the very center to explode into a flaming orb that hovers there, giving off more light across the room below it. Expensive instruments are set off to one side while books and paperwork are set against the other. A low mist swirls throughout the lower half of this office, creating a mysterious atmosphere while also not obstructing one from seeing clearly. The office was constructed in such a way to be elegant yet comfortable, its thick walls allowing the guildmaster to work without the interruptions of hearing bards practicing or yelling in other rooms.
Strength of the Cacophony.
The exotic odour of spices and cinnamon hangs heavily in the air of this elegant office. Swirling golden symbols have been painstakingly etched into the murky obsidian walls, a maddeningly complex array of notes laid out in almost random order. Maps of the Basin hang in mahogany frames, various battle plans scrawled hastily on the protective glass casing. The floor is composed of blood-red mahogany, the supple wood uttering harsh moans of protest as individuals move about the room. The sole source of illumination is a glowing orange orb, suspended from the ceiling by a chain of platinum links. Discordant voices emanate from the crystal orb, filling the entire office with a vaguely unsettling murmur.
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Tonight amidst the mountaintops
And endless starless night
Singing how the wind was lost
Before an earthly flight