Ryslig | The Underground House

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House in the Hill

Underground Home to Many...

Exterior

Greenhouse Floor

Main Floor & Tunnel Entry

Bedrooms & Lower

Utilities & Resources

Location

Outer Hill
The outer hill that encompasses the home would be an innocuous one if not for the structures now added to the top. Located far enough from the lake to avoid the consequences of soaked soil, the hill is covered in lush and untouched greenery, typical of the untilled fields of Ryslig. A few flowers often grow among the grasses, and insects often visit them. While it is a rather large hill, it is not alone; there are many others of similar size nearby, adding to the inconspicuous nature of the location.
Rooftop Amenities
Dotted throughout the hill are many thick, piles of 'glass' that bubble somewhat above the earth. This prevents water from pooling above them, and they vary considerably in size. The glass is clear-and tends to be easy enough to clean, which allows them to provide natural light below into the home. Aside from the skylights, other structures coming out from the hill are the greenhouse-which is almost entirely glass-as well as a small chimney which nearly blends in among the grass. Despite this, it safely passes smoke out from the fireplace without causing a risk of open flame.
Entryway Tunnel
The entrance to the hill house is somewhat difficult to locate; as great a tunnel as it is, it is yet covered by a grassy roof, the only indicator of its existence being the sudden drop in the ground, and the patio stones leading inward. Once inside the tunnel, one can find a variety of hoof-picks and shoe scrubbers to get dirt off any hooves or similar, all just outside an enormous and curiously rounded door. There is no address number, of course; but there does appear to be a door-ringer of sorts made of string. It doesn't make actual sound when pulled-but it does tell those on the other end of the web that someone is there. For the sake of those visiting, there are little lights near the door here as well, just so that the non-nocturnal sorts can see in the dark and fog. Thanks to that, one could easily look in through the window of the door to see who's immediately available.
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Garden Entrance
The first thing anyone will notice upon entering the home is that it appears as if they didn't enter a home at all. If it were not for the walls of earth still surrounding everything, it could look as brilliant as a summer's day inside, provided the sunlight was allowed to properly stream through the skylights. The electric lights in this area, are rather dull. The main entrance has regular paving stones set throughout it to create a safe path without crushing any plants, and most of the necessities of any front hall can be found immediately near the door; coat hooks line the early walls, and almost directly ahead from the doorway there is a sunken 'pit' with an earthen table, cushioned seats surrounding it to form a small tea area in the garden. The garden itself covers almost a third of the main floor as well-in fact, in taking the path to the right to reach the stairs upward, one can look over the half-raised wall to see the kitchen just 'below'. The path to the left, naturally, moves around the otherwise walled off stairwell, taking people through to the remaining floor. On the other side of things, there's now a pond dug out by Tsukikage; a small pool of water, it fits in quite nicely with the remaining garden, and three large goldfish swim around in it.
Garden Staircase
Moving along past the view of the kitchen, the patio stones move upward along the garden-and then on into a proper staircase of stone slats, spiraling about a tall tree-like vine. The tree is not the only greenery here; aside from small 'windows' that look out through the stair walls and to the hall garden beside it, there are numerous plants growing along and at the side of the stairs. Many of these plants are 'climbers'-more vines, and ivy type growths.
Greenhouse Room
Up above the threshold of the hill, and one finds themselves inside the greenhouse. With a smooth wooden floor, there are even more plants here than there were below, if it were possible; flowers, fruits, vegetables...all the growing company a nymph could desire, complete with a small set of chairs for anyone there. A table, naturally, is included as well-making it a comfortable location for a midday chat, or perhaps just time alone. The only drawback is the scale; everything here is more appropriately sized to a young child, due to Frodo's own size. Rather unfortunately of course, Frodo went home at some point-so the room largely sees its use more as a child's tea area (specifically Ron's) these days. The pets-Buddy, a Golden Lab, and Sazha, a black ragdoll-are also rather fond of it, due to it being one of the few locations they can easily hide during foggy moments. If an adult didn't mind sitting on the floor, it would be fine for most normal sized sorts as well, provided they squeezed through the doorway.
Storage Loft
A small spiral staircase located at the far end of the room moves into a more covered area of the greenhouse; a storage loft of sorts. The roof is low here, forcing most to duck, but for the resident nymph it was perfect as a place for which to store various gardening supplies. It might actually hold even more; the paper keeps quite well in this room, and it would make sense for a writer to have their tools of the trade at hand. Now that the original resident isn't here, it seems to have become a hoarding location for the cat. Various missing socks can be found here, along with the occasional mouse.
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Mainfloor Entryway
Where the garden ends, it dips; moving somewhat below the earth, on stairs of stone to match the rest of the home. A few plans still line the walls, but not for long-soon, the steps carry one into the large chambered 'main floor', the ceiling high and the skylights plentiful. Most of the mainfloor is 'open concept', and visible immediately from the steps; the grand exception is the powder room, which is instead immediately beside and around the stairs, to the left.
Powder Room
The powder room-or the main floor washroom-is going to be the easiest accessible location for anyone in need of a sink. Also lit with skylights, the ones here are somewhat tinted and marbled, to keep prying eyes from peeking in from above. The rest of the room is similarly 'marbled'...or at least, mosaic-ed. Shards of different coloured earth and tile line the sinks, counters, and even walls, making it quite lovely to even just watch the water flow through.
Living & Dining Room
The living and dining areas blend easily into another, and take up a large portion of the main floor; the center of the room is dominated by a great tower leading upward, one which seems to connect to the kitchen along the ceiling. The tower's base is surrounded by a large grate, behind which the fireplace sits-but above it are shelves potentially made to house appliances like televisions and radios, not that they're filled quite yet. The rest of the living area is made for comfort-sofas formed by filling frames of stone with cushions, coffee tables before them and sidetables between...there are many, many bookshelves as well, most importantly-and it won't be long before they're filled. Attached to the living area is the dining area as well-defined by a large table stretching out from the wall, a number of seats have been prepared next to it, allowing many visitors the chance to join in for a meal. From here, one can even see the upper garden, through the wall that overlooks the kitchen-though another wall (the same one that keeps one from falling down the stairs) keeps them from seeing the kitchen, as well. It's made up for with the large window cutting through the hill here however; this window backs the sofa in the living area, bathing the dining area in natural light as a result.
Kitchen
Large enough for a spider to work in, the kitchen is the last room in the house that is lit by skylights, and is also the deepest. Separated from the remaining main floor by a ramping staircase down, it is stocked not only with numerous cabinets but also boxes for food storage of all kinds-cold, frozen, dry, and more. The kitchen is equipped with a basic (albeit large) stove and oven, along with a proper sink for cleaning the dishes. Many of the cabinets are actually out of reach for most...fortunately, it's just fine for Tsukikage. For those who are cooking in his stead however, there is more than just food-wait times at the oven can be passed in a small chair closer to the stairs back up, which sits near the last bookshelf length from above.
Laundry & Storage Rooms
As the tunnel dips downward, lighting becomes scarce; not low enough for the mushrooms to grow, a fortunate generator installation by Crow Hogan couldn't even save it from the slight drop in brightness. What the few lights here illuminate however is a large gaping tunnel with steps moving downward-steps that flatten out to a crossroads for the first rooms of the lower floor. The first room, to the left, is the Laundry area; a washer and dryer sit here, and now that they're wired in, laundry day is far less of a chore-fortunate, now that so many more have moved in. A laundry sink, along with a closet for linen, is also here-though most storage will be in the room designated for it-turning right at the crossroads brings one here, to find not only various tools and supplies, but also foods and goods such as flour and sugar. It's an enormous pantry, stocked well for the big eaters of the household. The generator, notably, is located here.
Upper Guest Rooms
At the final crossroad before the main bedrooms, two doorways have been carved, leading into longer and more apartment-like chambers. Each of these are visually identical at first; they bear a kitchen unit and bed area, along with a small washroom coming off to the side. The chambers are large enough to additionally house a small dining table, and there is a shelf across from the beds where televisions or radios may be connected atop the dresser drawers provided. At the moment, both of these are inhabited, so Tsukikage is starting to dig a new tunnel far below the house for added chambers like this. That first room belongs to Robbie at the moment; it's unknown just how long he'll be staying, but it's implied that he intends to stay for good. The other one once belonged to Sora, before the shade took over the master bedroom. It has since become Steve Rogers, the manticore having moved in soon after a number of his fellows vanished from Ryslig.
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Reira's Room
Reira's room is the first accessible bedroom outside two guest rooms before it, and it is a relatively simple one as well. The tunneling door moves downward from the hall to enter it, and from there much of the furnishings are carved from the rock; the bedframe, vanity-desk, wardrobe...were it not for the doors affixed to things, and the additions of cloth and cushion, it would be quite dull. Reira has had more than enough time to make it more 'his own' however-he has his own books in his side-table, along with his duel disk and cards. There is a chest at the end of his bed where toys and souvenirs from other places are gathering, and the bed itself often has his favorite stuffed toys-and bear-guarding the pillows. His brother's urn once sat here; it now sits upon the dresser in his Arcade room though, Reiji's scarf and glasses folded neatly before it alongside the teen's deck of duel monsters cards, in his memory. The one in his actual room is instead now used to store things such as new earrings, or trinkets he finds at the bottom of lakes.
Ron's Room
Ron's room resembles Reira's in a number of ways, mirrored and 'flipped' almost completely. A ramp leads upward into this room from the main hall, rather than downward, and furnishings are located on the opposing sides of its counterpart. What truly sets it apart are the steps everywhere-while Ron is only slowly bringing things in to claim as his own, a number of steps to account for his otherwise minuscule size are present as well, to make it easier to climb into his bed and such.
Shared Bathroom
Linking the two bedrooms, there is a large washroom that exits not only into the bedrooms themselves, but the hall as well if needed. The door to the hall is flanked by a pair of sinks and cabinets for that reason-across from this and near the other doors in the meantime, can be found the toilet and bathtub. None of these fixtures are as decorated as the powder room upstairs-but they are tiled to an extent, and carry their own flair.
Frodo Sora's Room
Formerly Frodo's, Sora's bedroom is the 'master bedroom' in the house, and it shows considerably. It's somewhat larger than Reira's room, and in addition to the basic furnishings has a rather nice writing desk and set of shelves that used to be for Frodo's more personal set of books-where there would be dressers for clothing, could be found supplies for writing, drawing, and more, and for good reason...the room has a walk-in closet branching off from the left side of the room. Now, of course, such things see more use for candy, stuffed animals...and more candy, though Sora is still struggling to really make the room 'his own'. The closet is not the only bonus Sora has to figure out. There is also a bathroom to himself, complete with a large bathtub and bathmats better suited for keeping a plant-self clean and dried...and hopefully stuffed things as well.
Tsukikage's Web
Far into the tunnel of the house, right to the very end, and there is a recently fixed grate and set of doors, as would be found in perhaps a prison. The doors are here for good reason-opening them reveals an enormous pit, fifteen feet in diameter, coated with spiderwebs and going straight down. The pit isn't merely that of course-even Tsukikage has certain living touches that he needs, and far below at the bottom can be found his own personal 'forge' of sorts, where he prepares most of his weapons and poisons. He can't bring any flames into it of course, but he keeps himself well stocked, and at the depths of a pit meant to lock him in during the fog, no one is going to rob him of what's there. Just outside the entrance to the pit, Tsukikage has now started digging another tunnel. This tunnel will eventually coil around his very pit to allow bedrooms moving away from the home, not unlike the guest apartments upstairs.
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Garden
With a nymph in the house a garden wasn't surprising; and even with Frodo gone, that garden still remains for its edible qualities. A few of the plants are used for more than kitchen foods however. Some of them were planted at Tsukikage's request in fact, out of familiarity from home. These plants are used in various poisons and herbal remedies that he's been trained in-and while they aren't a hundred percent effective on the residents of the house, they help more 'normal' monsters at least. Naturally, there are more mundane plants as well, and in particular there can be found numerous flowers of beautiful appearance. What's a garden if you can't stand to look at it, after all?
Heating
Heating in the house is provided in three separate ways-the first is the obvious flame from the fireplace, which is constantly burning. This fire makes it quite toasty inside, no matter what the outdoor temperature. The natural underground state of things also helps to keep things warm-everything is insulated by the earth, and the earth's geothermal nature keeps things warm in turn. Less obvious is perhaps the greenhouse effect-thanks to the many skylights on the mainfloor, not only does the greenhouse itself heat up, but so does the room beneath it. Nothing seems unbearingly hot just yet though...the same thing that makes it warm in winter makes it cool in the summer, going underground.
Plumbing
Plumbing, thankfully, was one of the things already included in the home after it was purchased. All sinks, toilets, and baths are running with hot and cold water alike, making it easy to do one's business and also water the garden and plants. It seems that the floors going down are separated by enough dirt that there's no risk in flooding lower levels when giving the grass far above a good soaking, fortunately enough.
Lighting & Electricity
While most resources were included (the stove even has gas!), electricity was not. Fortunately for everyone, Crow Hogan installed a generator in the Hill House that now powers lights and appliances throughout! As a result, tunnels below are quite well lit, even when one reaches the bedroom levels-at least, as long as the lights are on. When they are not, it's still rather easy to navigate room to room thanks to the native glowing fungi, which are present through most of the subterranean areas.
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