The Salle

Ben Bison Brugh is a holding of House Fiona, and while that makes for excellent hospitality for guests both noble and commoner, it also means that great attention is paid here not only to love and pleasure but also to the arts of war. Strategy is taught through games of skill, and the joys of the hunt hone reflexes and precision. True martial excellence, however, comes from constant training and drill, and it is here in this large studio located near the armory and forge that knights and household thanes come to practice the skills which make Fiona's House so formidable in combat. The baroness herself oversees much of the training of new recruits. Advanced instruction is left to Master Coulkan, however, who is as accomplished with a blade as he is with the Arts of Glamour.

The Salle is a spacious chamber hollowed from the stone, its high ceiling supported by oaken beams carved with the likenesses of famous warriors of kithain history. The three beams supporting the north end of the hall are said to depict Lord Gwydion and Warmaster Scathach n Uanaind standing on either side of High Lady Fiona herself. The timbers on the south end of the hall depict heroes of the Accordance War, including General Lyros, Duke Topaz and King Sean, late Fiona monarch of Pacifica. Rafters spanning the space between the beams support the nocker-made gaslight chandeliers which suffuse the room with soft, even light.

The center of the chamber is a clear space, its floor bare stone lightly chiseled with sweeping grooves in a knot pattern which completely covers the area and provides sure footing for those who exercise here. A long mirror dominates much of the east wall, allowing swordmasters to observe their pupils from all sides during training. The area along the west wall is divided up by the placement of a strategy table at the north end with tactical maps of various regions rolled and stored beneath, a few low couches and tables at the southern end which serve as an off-duty meeting place for guards or others to trade war-stories, and a pair of long wooden benches centrally placed where trainees watch their fellow pupils spar, or rest between bouts.

Between these benches and set out away from the wall is a chimerical construct built to resemble a clockwork warrior, dressed in a patched and padded jerkin with a red heart painted just left of center on its breast. This mechanical opponent, or quintain, can be armed with various weapons and set in motion to defend itself or to counter-attack with varying degrees of aptitude. It is universally hated by the novice fae-at-arms who practice against its remorseless skill. Racks of practice blades, shields and padded sparring armor complete the furnishings, and a number of colorful standards, trophies from Pennons Festivals in years past, grant the vaulted hall a touch of color.

Skills taught here begin with the basics of armed combat with sword, spear, axe or mace, and a few simple unarmed maneuvers. On occasion, the room is cleared from end to end and straw targets set up to provide an archery range for practice with bow, crossbow, and other ranged weapons. More gifted or dedicated pupils may aspire to specialize further, and should they possess the necessary attunement to the Dreaming, will be instructed in the legendary battle-fervor of the kithain called the Dragon's Ire.

Enter the Salle - in-character chat for kithain-at-arms

The Ben Bison Salle also serves as a provincial meeting hall for the Silver Blades, an exclusive fencing society whose membership is drawn from noble fae of House Fiona. Those who choose to specialize in fencing may thus call upon the experience of these kindly, deadly fae to learn a number of special maneuvers. The art of fencing is alive and well at Ben Bison Salle.

Of course, with deady arts come deadly diversions. As unrest grows in the County, the Code of the Duel is experiencing a lively revival. Such activities are not permitted to escape noble jurisdiction, however, and dueling fae who wish to maintain their good name had best know the rules of the game.