Paradus Avium

"We have yet to discern what these chambers were originally used for, but they will serve Gladius in their own way."

―Shadow

The secret gathering place known as Paradus Avium was discovered by Shadow and his team of Tarenti when the Sword's Sheath was first being cataloged and mapped out for use as a base for House Gladius.

Description

Walking over to the hidden panel in one of the walls of his quarters, Dralin touched his palm to it, causing a door panel to slide open next to it, which led to a winding staircase. He slipped into the dark shaft, hitting the button to slide the panel closed behind him. As Tetrarch of Praxeum- before it was reorganized into Arcano Signum, the Journeyman had been given new quarters, which held within them the most direct secret entrance to Paradus Avium, the actual battlteam’s base. Throughout the Sword’s Sheath there were secret turbolifts- five in all- that led to these hidden chambers, but instead of a turbolift descending from the leader’s quarters, there was a simple winding staircase that led to a simple hardwood door, complete with an ornate brass knob. This part of the structure was already in Sword’s Sheath before Gladius moved in, and it seemed to predate the rest of the asteroid base. In addition to serving as a meeting place for the battleteam- as well as a secret emergency bunker for the whole of Gladius- is also provided a quick junction for Arcano Signum members, a means to get from one part of the base to another without having to deal with much of the intervening space.

Turning the archaic doorknob and walking into the spacious chambers of Paradus Avium, Dralin noted that he had arrived before Ziltopia. Taking advantage of this- as it was Ziltopia’s custom to begin work as soon as she arrived- he walked over to the small kitchen area that was provided for the battleteam. Paradus Avium contained this small food-preparing area, as well as a lounge and a network-access area, all at the behest of one of the former Quaestors of the House. An adjoining chamber, however, had been converted into an enormous bunkhouse, capable of housing all the members of Gladius in the event of an emergency, and all the entrances were able to be vacuum-sealed, just in case. While Praxeum existed to train incoming Gladius members, Arcano Signum served as the House’s keeper during times of crisis.

--Tetrarch Dralin Fortea

History

While it is unknown what the Paradus Avium was used for in the past, it has served as the headquarters of battleteam Praxeum, and later the reformed battleteam Arcano Signum, since it's inception. When the Praxeum was occupying it, only the leaders knew of its existence, using it as a private meeting place as well as using it as a means to move about the Sword's Sheath quickly. After Dralin Fortea reorganized Praxeum into Arcano Signum, he decided to use the secret headquarters as a place for the whole battleteam to meet.