Hall of Crests

In the noble heights of Roseward and overlooking the tourney fields of Sunlily Ward, the Hall of Crests stands as one of Lilea’s most storied and revered institutions. More than just a repository of heraldry, it is a living chronicle of Lilicea’s knightly and noble traditions, an archive, a shrine, and a sanctum of honor. Its polished marble façade is adorned with carved reliefs of legendary duels, divine visitations, and solemn oaths, each panel framed by flowering vines and ensorcelled everblooms that never wither.   The interior is a grand, domed rotunda supported by pillars carved from white-veined lilac stone, quarried from the sacred caverns beneath the city. Light streams down through an oculus above, illuminating a central mosaic of the Twin Divines, Lilium  and Artem , surrounded by a spiral of petals, shields, and swords. The dome is painted in hues of indigo, gold, and rose, depicting the eternal cycle of service, sacrifice, and rebirth that defines the Lilicean ideal of knighthood.   Every wall is adorned with crests, each one masterfully enameled and trimmed in precious metals. There are thousands, some ancient and weathered, others gleaming and new, representing the noble houses, knightly orders, and distinguished individuals who have earned their place in Lilicean history. Above each crest hangs a small plaque inscribed with the bearer’s name, deeds, and lineage. The oldest crests, belonging to the founders of the nation and the first champions of the divine orders, are cordoned off behind golden railings, treated as sacred relics.   At the heart of the hall lies the Pedestal of Oaths, a hexagonal stone dais where knights are anointed, and where noble youths first receive their family crest upon reaching maturity. In solemn ceremonies lit by starlight and lanterns, young scions and would-be knights place their hands upon the pedestal to speak their oaths before the assembled peers, clergy, and ancestral spirits. The stone is said to resonate with the touch of the righteous, a claim supported by centuries of tradition and the occasional divine sign.   The hall is maintained by the Custodians of Heralds, a scholarly and ceremonial order tasked with recording noble bloodlines, verifying lineage claims, and ensuring the honor of the heraldic traditions. These cloaked figures, clad in robes embroidered with miniature crests, are both historians and arbiters, holding authority that even the highest nobles respect. No crest may be added without their approval, and false claims are publicly denounced in a ritual known as the Unmasking.   Despite its aura of reverence, the Hall of Crests is open to all. Citizens wander its aisles in hushed awe, artists come to sketch its banners and carvings, and bards compose songs based on the lives of those enshrined within. It is a place where the ideals of honor, courage, and service are not only remembered but celebrated. In a city devoted to beauty and virtue, the Hall of Crests remains a sacred testament to those who have lived by Lilicea’s highest callings.