Located in the hills of Cumbria, across from the hamlet of Buttermere. Magical aura is 5.
Flamma Aeterna is a large walled castle on the flat land between the lake and the slope of the hills. Between 890 and 900 there was a large deal of mundane building work done on the covenant, which is now complete.
The entrance to Flamma Aeterna is through a large gatehouse, which opens out onto an enormous, part paved, part cobbled, courtyard. Covenfolk are milling about and to the left is a large, three-storey stone building.
Entrance to this building is through a small door and leads through to a large open hall, bounded on three sides by galleries. Soldiers in Flamma livery lean over the balconies, and men in leather armour practice swordplay in the main space. This is clearly a barracks building, and while it is large and airy, it still smells faintly of sweat and stale beer.
Beyond the barracks is a stable block, surrounding a reasonable sized cobbled yard. Across the yard, you can hear the ring of a farrier's hammer and anvil and there is a peculiar smell you will be told comes from the vellum maker's in the corner of the yard.
To the other side of the gatehouse is a further set of three story-buildings: this time forming a large courtyard. In the courtyard a small group of children play and some geese and ducks mill on a grassy section in the middle. Across the courtyard, you can smell cooking and hear the sound of voices, and you surmise this must be spacious covenfolk quarters and the kitchens.
The main buildings though (and those of most interest), are across the entrance courtyard. Two huge courtyards, separated by a gallery hall and gardens beyond, loom above you and straight ahead you can see two tall, pale grey towers.
The courtyard to the right - Old Court - houses most of the magi and still has plenty of space for guest quarters and quaesitorial suites. As you enter, you see that the rooms are connected by wide balconies around the central court, which is part paved and part lawn. Staircases at regular intervals connect the three floors. Walking through the entrance arch you can immediately walk up a flight of stone stairs and enter an impressive set of doors to what you are told is the Tribunal Hall, specially constructed for Tribunals and large meetings. Two stories high, the hall is surrounded by a wooden gallery and beyond are several comfortable conference and meeting rooms and a certamen room.
The court to the left - Centenary Court - has more guest rooms and yet more labs. It is explained that Flamma is actively recruiting new members, and that they are also in the process of constructing specialist labs for the covenant.
It is notable through the tour of Flamma Aeterna that, as well as much of it being new, all of it is very clean and comfortable. Tapestries hang on many walls, and there are even some rugs; paintings and other pieces of art dot the main galleries and corridors and there are many windows, most of them glazed. You often see covenfolk, and it is noticable that they too seem clean and well-fed, and will often mumble polite greetings in Latin. It is no wonder that it is often said that Redcaps maybe spend more time than they should at Flamma Aeterna...
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