The Village Council House

Overview

The Village Council House of Evenshade stands as a wing adjoining Evenshade Manor, yet it maintains its own identity as the place where civic matters are discussed and settled. Unlike the stately manor, the Council House is designed with purpose: a two-story timber-and-stone building with tall, mullioned windows to admit light, and a wide hall within for debate, petitions, and public meetings.

Its dual role as both civic gathering space and noble adjunct reflects the delicate balance in Evenshade: authority flows from the Evenshade family, but power is tempered by the voices of merchants, scholars, and guild leaders.

Architecture & Layout

• Council Chamber: A long rectangular hall with a raised dais at one end, where the head of the Evenshade family presides. Along the sides are benches for council members, with space for townsfolk to stand and observe.
• Meeting Rooms: Smaller rooms used by trade representatives, clerics, and guilds to negotiate before presenting matters formally.
• Archives: A modest but growing collection of civic records, meticulously maintained by scribes. Though the Temple-Library houses Evenshade’s true troves of knowledge, the Council’s records are vital for legal disputes and land ownership.
• Symbolism: An owl in flight—the sigil of House Evenshade—is carved above the main doors, wings spread as though to remind all who enter that wisdom should guide debate.

Function

• Civic Governance: Here, disputes are heard, taxes are levied, and agreements are struck between the noble family and the people.
• Representation: Seats on the council are held by merchants, respected villagers, and clergy—giving Evenshade a more balanced form of governance than many neighboring settlements.
• Justice: Minor offenses are judged in the Council House, with penalties often practical: fines, restitution, or community service. More serious crimes may result in referral to Berdusk's courts—or quiet resolution by the Watch of the Scroll.

Lore & Secrets

• The Whispered Gallery: The Council House has an upper balcony from which observers may watch debates. Over time, it has become a place of quiet politicking, where merchants and nobles lean together to strike bargains away from official record.
• The “Silent Vote”: Evenshade tradition holds that certain issues—particularly those touching on dangerous knowledge—are settled not by open tally, but by the councilors writing their choices in silence. These records are sealed in the archives, never read aloud.
• Harpers’ Interest: Unbeknownst to most, the Harpers keep a close ear on the Council House, suspecting that bargains struck here ripple out into the wider Chionthar valley. At least one current council member is rumored to be a Harper sympathizer, if not an outright agent.

Atmosphere

The Council House embodies Evenshade’s paradox: a place of quiet civility where sharp minds cross words as deftly as swords. Villagers describe it as “the place where truth is dressed in courtesy”—a reflection of both the family motto (The Truth Speaks Quietly) and the idea that politicians coat issues in flowery language.