Difference between revisions of "Harrot"
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Harrot became notable in [[A.Y.]] 5642 when the full extent of it's history was uncovered. At the time, Harrot was a large, dilapidated, mixed-use structure in the middle of one of Sun's Beacon's poorest areas. The massive building contained various residential and commercial rentals, but was largely empty. The current owners were considering tearing the entire thing down, though the land beneath it was not worth much more. | Harrot became notable in [[A.Y.]] 5642 when the full extent of it's history was uncovered. At the time, Harrot was a large, dilapidated, mixed-use structure in the middle of one of Sun's Beacon's poorest areas. The massive building contained various residential and commercial rentals, but was largely empty. The current owners were considering tearing the entire thing down, though the land beneath it was not worth much more. | ||
| − | At the time, the building was listed as having been constructed in A.Y. 4911, but this was a well-known fallshood. Local lore held that it dated to at least the late Third Age, but had gone through numerous renovations. | + | At the time, the building was listed as having been constructed in A.Y. 4911, but this was a well-known fallshood. Local lore held that it dated to at least the late [[Ages#The Third Age|Third Age]], but had gone through numerous renovations. |
| − | While replacing a water pipe, workers broke through into a series of sealed rooms which had apparently been closed up and forgotten with all contents still inside. Artifacts recovered from these chambers dated them to the early Third Age - much older than previously believed. This attracted the attention of historians, who began an archaeological investigation of the structure. | + | While replacing a water pipe, workers broke through into a series of sealed rooms which had apparently been closed up and forgotten with all contents still inside. Artifacts recovered from these chambers dated them to the early Third Age - much older than previously believed. This attracted the attention of historians, who began an archaeological investigation of the structure. While the artifacts discovered dated to the Third Age, the stonework and style pointed to even older construction. Poured concrete had become commonplace in Sun's Beacon starting in the [[Ages#The Second Age|early Second Age]], with most stonework made after that being simple cladding. But the sealed chambers held massive solid-block structures, in a style architecturally inconsistent with [[Ages#The Golden Age|Golden Age]] aesthetics. |
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| + | A massive excavation followed, with much of the [[Alliance]]-era structure being removed entirely(though any pieces of historical and architectural significance were carefully preserved and later returned). Historians went to work on the records, and found a curious account. During the [[Mage Wars#The First Chaotic Period|First Chaotic Period]] this particular district of Sun's Beacon was one of the wealthiest parts of the city, making the land on which Harrot was constructed extremely valuable. However, there was no account of a structure there. The land was owned by a succession of individuals, but was listed on extant records as an undisturbed patch of forest around which the city had been built. | ||
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| + | ===The Legend=== | ||
| + | According to legend, sometime around 2700 B.G.A., a group of adventurers visiting the city acquired the deed to a patch of land that was known to be cursed. The adventurers investigated, and encountered a [[Shade]] who had been summoning [[Fiend]]s in this patch of forest. The adventurers banished the shade, defeated the fiends, and were able to open the land for development. Because the land was worth so much, they became fabulously wealthy selling off the plots, and constructed four elaborate mansions at the heart of the property. | ||
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| + | While never definitively proven, the artifacts and architectural styles indicate these mansions may have been the first structures on the site of Harrot. | ||
==Notable Displays== | ==Notable Displays== | ||
Revision as of 16:11, 6 June 2019
Harrot is an old building in Sun's Beacon that is celebrated as the heart of the city. It is among the oldest structures in the region, and may well be the oldest standing, continuously-used building in the world. Today, Harrot is a museum said to encompass the whole history of Sun's Beacon. It's exact origins may date as far back as Classic Antiquity.
History
Harrot became notable in A.Y. 5642 when the full extent of it's history was uncovered. At the time, Harrot was a large, dilapidated, mixed-use structure in the middle of one of Sun's Beacon's poorest areas. The massive building contained various residential and commercial rentals, but was largely empty. The current owners were considering tearing the entire thing down, though the land beneath it was not worth much more.
At the time, the building was listed as having been constructed in A.Y. 4911, but this was a well-known fallshood. Local lore held that it dated to at least the late Third Age, but had gone through numerous renovations.
While replacing a water pipe, workers broke through into a series of sealed rooms which had apparently been closed up and forgotten with all contents still inside. Artifacts recovered from these chambers dated them to the early Third Age - much older than previously believed. This attracted the attention of historians, who began an archaeological investigation of the structure. While the artifacts discovered dated to the Third Age, the stonework and style pointed to even older construction. Poured concrete had become commonplace in Sun's Beacon starting in the early Second Age, with most stonework made after that being simple cladding. But the sealed chambers held massive solid-block structures, in a style architecturally inconsistent with Golden Age aesthetics.
A massive excavation followed, with much of the Alliance-era structure being removed entirely(though any pieces of historical and architectural significance were carefully preserved and later returned). Historians went to work on the records, and found a curious account. During the First Chaotic Period this particular district of Sun's Beacon was one of the wealthiest parts of the city, making the land on which Harrot was constructed extremely valuable. However, there was no account of a structure there. The land was owned by a succession of individuals, but was listed on extant records as an undisturbed patch of forest around which the city had been built.
The Legend
According to legend, sometime around 2700 B.G.A., a group of adventurers visiting the city acquired the deed to a patch of land that was known to be cursed. The adventurers investigated, and encountered a Shade who had been summoning Fiends in this patch of forest. The adventurers banished the shade, defeated the fiends, and were able to open the land for development. Because the land was worth so much, they became fabulously wealthy selling off the plots, and constructed four elaborate mansions at the heart of the property.
While never definitively proven, the artifacts and architectural styles indicate these mansions may have been the first structures on the site of Harrot.
