Off topic:
In this informational article I am going for more comprehensive information and less roleplay flourish. If it reads a little dry, pardon me.
Location: The Cedars
There is a well outside of Donovan's abode, located on its eastern side, which provides a naturally replenishing source of fresh water. The drop down is 30 feet. After that, another 5 yards down and in either direction brings one to an entrance to the Underdark.
On the western side is a small pond. In the center of this pond, hidden beneath layers of silt and lily pads, is an enchanted stone that transforms this pond into a scrying pool.
Stones of mismatched size and shape, but which function well enough at their job, provide a path to the front entrance.
|Layout|
The Tree Trunk: The base of this massive tree's trunk is the entrance to Donovan's home. The anteroom is large enough to host a small family or intimate group of friends comfortably. Donovan is surprisingly well off, piles of golden and silver coins are pushed up against the walls, along with vases of curious make and a giant rubber duck. Random pieces of armor and weaponry are littered across the floor and amidst the coin piles.
A complicated but functional system of ropes, ladders, and slides allow one to go from this room to any other room in the tree house in relative ease and comfort. Donovan already has plans on outfitting his home with Nth plates to make travel to the various parts easier.
Living Room, main: In here one will find a wrap around sofa capable of seating five people comfortably, with a circular table in front, and various reproductions of cosmic paintings hanging from the walls (starry skies, meteors, galaxies). Up against the southern wall is an amateur alchemy and chemistry set, with books in three different languages held open by beakers of strange liquid, and decorated with pipettes, graphite rods and, of course, safety goggles.
A hallway leads from this living room into the weapon room.
Living Room, secondary: Located in the upper north-eastern quadrant of the tree house, under and across from Donovan's bedroom so that if he stands on the edge of his bedroom he can see the whole of his secondary living room. In here there are three tables, a fireplace and wood burning stove, cupboards and other kitchen accoutrements, a doorway that leads up to the attic, and a ladder with steps built into a thick tree branch that leads up and down from his own room.
A few of the thinner branches have been hollowed out and outfitted to function as communication tubes and to ventilate the house as a whole.
Bedroom: The floor is made up entirely of plant material, soft to the touch yet firm enough for support. The whole floor can, and is, used as a bed. Shelves are built into the walls of the tree at waist high and above, as are cabinets, to house all of his necessary amenities. This room, given that the whole floor is usable space for napping and relaxing, can host up to 10 people comfortably.
In one of the cabinets, along with an assortment of original concertos and compositions, is a small vial full of a liquid that Donovan uses for bi-weekly cleaning of his bedroom. The liquid acts as a stimulant to the plant material, in effect 'tickling' it and causing it to react in such a way as to shake off any dust and debris the ground may have accumulated.
Here is an entryway that leads up to his observatory.
Observatory: Initially Donovan's observatory was not much to look at. An umbrella to provide him with shade or cover from more inclement weather such as rain or snow, and a simple telescope barely capable of handling great terrestrial distances, much less able to look out across the great cosmos.
Things have changed since then. The observatory now has four walls and a roof, an assortment of crystals that Donovan grew himself out of a petri dish and their individual, incessant vibrations coalesced to form a rather relaxing concert of soothing tones. The telescope is of Donovan's own design. The housing of the telescope absorbs solar energy and uses it to tighten the lens's focus on its convergence axis. The lens itself is made of crystal rather than glass, and its edges have been painstakingly etched (at needlepoint under a microscope) with runes that further increase its optical power.
The room is filled with maps terrestrial, extra-terrestrial and extra-planar.
Attic: The attic is nearly empty. There is a rope and plank bridge that leads from the attic into the secondary living room.
Weapon Room: Despite Donovan's known proclivity for fighting and adventure, the weapon room is nearly as empty as the attic. There are a number of weapons to be found here, ranging from the sword to the mace, as well as a number of artifacts, relics and wands but in all the items to be found here, though impressive in repertoire and ability if not in sheer number, seem neglected and underused.
A suit of armor stands propped up against the eastern wall. Shelves have been built into the northern wall and are lined, end to end, with books of all size and covering a wide range of topics. There is a single, Spartan table with a single half-empty book, and an inkwell complete with quill slightly frayed from use.
