Obsidian Palace

Front view of the Obsidian Palace

The Obsidian Palace

This awe inspiring structure contains the administrative offices for House Caliburnus’ daily operations, as well as housing the Dark Jedi of the House. Dominating the central point of the Serpent's Vanguard, the Palace stands six stories tall. The exterior walls are covered in black, obsidian like stone which has been polished to a near mirror like finish. The stone was cut from the Jormungand Quarry on Gaias, the northern continent. The walls are heavily reinforced by a durasteel framework.

Third Basement Level

The harsh lighting of the lowest basement level was not designed for prolonged comfort for any sentient being, but instead to provide maximum lighting to allow for the close monitoring of the level. Access to this level is restricted, except in cases of extreme emergency when it is necessary for the House to evacuate through the basement levels to the caverns below.

The largest room is dominated by the massive shield generator that serves to protect the Palace should the building fall under attack. The room can only be accessed via clearance directly from the Quaestor or Aedile, and security is tight.

The second largest room holds the backup power generator and the secondary back up for the House’s main computer system. Like the shield generator room, the access to this room is restricted and clearance must come directly from the Quaestor or Aedile.

The third room holds the reserve contingent of defense and battle droids for the House. The droids are kept here, maintained and ready to be deployed should they ever be needed. A small work area is placed along one wall, along with the bank of computers that monitor the droids. The droids can only be deployed by direct order of the Quaestor or Aedile, verified through the computer to which all droids are connected.

The only other remaining feature of the third basement level is the large turbolift that allows access to the caverns below the Palace.

Second Basement Level

The second basement level is divided into six rooms, with the lift at one end. These rooms serve as storage space for the various supplies of the House. Stored within these rooms are things such as foodstuff, medical supplies, back up equipment, clothing, as well as many other miscellaneous supplies. Access is restricted, and monitored by the Security command center within the Palace. Additional emergency supplies that are kept in the cavern levels are also cataloged in the computerized inventory, which can be accessed via the computer terminal on this level.

First Basement Level

Two large rooms take up one side of this level, and house the corps of maintenance and cleaning droids that serve the house, as well as another contingent of security and defense droids that are on a rotating activity schedule. There is also ample space for technicians to make repairs or perform routine maintenance for the droids when needed. Those droids not currently in use are kept maintained and ready in standby status.

Three slightly smaller rooms take up the majority of the remaining space of the level. These rooms are kept under strict environmental control, and access is limited and controlled by the Security command center. These rooms hold materials that are either deemed too fragile to be kept in the main House library, or too dangerous to allow untrained journeyman access to them. Some space is also dedicated to backup copies of other valuable material should the main copy ever be damaged or lost.

First Floor

Large, spacious and airy, the first floor is dominated by the large open foyer in the center, with two sections on either side that hold the majority of the rooms within the Palace. The central foyer contains an assortment of plantings and decorative walkways, as well as a large fountain in the center. Along the far wall is a massive waterfall with more plantings around its base. Off to one side of the entryway is a reception desk where visitors will be greeted, checked for any security threats, and directed to their destination.

To the left side of the foyer, there is a corridor leading to the rooms within that section. There are recreational rooms for House members to relax, meditation rooms for training, and a small security office that monitors those coming and going. There is another corridor that leads into the northern dome, a large transparisteel dome that serves as the House dining hall allowing for a bright and airy space for members to enjoy their meals. Connected to the Dining hall dome, is the large kitchen that provides the mainstay of food preparation for the House.

There is also a stairwell and lift tube leading to the upper and lower levels.

To the right of the Foyer, the first corridor leads to the southern dome, which opens into what is known as the Great Hall, the major assembly room for the House whenever the Aedile or Quaestor require being able to address the House in its entirety as well as being used for special House functions.

The other corridor leads into the rest of the section where the large and spacious House Library dominates the space. Other rooms include smaller recreational rooms, as well as training rooms.

Second Floor

The center of the floor is open, bordered by balconies that overlook the decorated foyer below, connected by a walkway at either end allowing passage between the left and right sections of the building.

On the left side is the Aedile’s office, as well as the offices for the House’s Battleteam leaders, and the Security command center.

The right side of the floor is dominated by the Quaestor’s office, as well as a large meeting room where the summit and ranking house members and regimental officers can meet to discuss matters. There are also offices for the Regimental command staff, and the elite Battleteam, the Souls of Darkness, as well as a smaller planning and meeting room for the Souls of Darkness.

Third and Fourth Floor

This level is divided up into rooms for housing the members of Caliburnus ranked APP-DJK. The rooms are comfortable but not large. These rooms do not have kitchen facilities so the members are required to find their meals either in the House dining hall or the Cantina.

Fifth Floor

This level is divided up into rooms to house members ranked Equite1-Elder, as well as housing for important guests that require them. Rooms here are more spacious as befits the higher ranks. Most rooms have their own kitchen area as well as the other necessary amenities.

Sixth Floor

The left side of the building is dominated by the Aedile’s quarters, with the stairwell and lift tube at one far end, and a walkway allowing passage to the other side.

The right side of the building is dominated by the Quaestor’s quarters, with another stairwell and lift tube at one side, and the passage allowing access to the other side.

Rooftop

Above the center is a vaulted transparisteel roof that provides the ample light needed by the plants in the foyer on the first floor; as well as providing light and a feeling of space to the other floors as each floor has balconies overlooking the foyer. Atop the left section of the building is the shield emitter that is connected to the shield generator in the basement to protect the building if needed. On the right hand rooftop is a collection of sensor arrays, communication antennae, and an anti aircraft turret.

top view of the inner courtyard

view of the inner courtyard showing the waterfall