The Guilded Hollow

The veiled heart of the Thorn Syndicate is called The Gilded Hollow - a sanctum built atop the bones of the old city, nestled in the old tunnels of Rovinaspei, protected by twisting mountain paths and a rotating network of masked guardians. Above ground, sitting in the northern business district along the slopes of the mountain range it appears as an elegant but inconspicuous large trading hall of dark stone and red-tiled roofs, with views across all of the city from its vantage point. Below, it sprawls like a thorny root system: a series of chambers, halls, vaults, underground docks, and ceremonial chambers laced in crimson silk and gold thread, illuminated by Weave-reactive lanterns.

The Hall of Masks

A gallery containing generations of Syndicate member's masks. This is a crypt of memories, where the mask of each fallen and passed member of the Thorn Syndicate resides, stretching all the way back to the days of the Syndicatus Spinarum. Members will sometimes come and speak to the masks of departed friends, and sometimes people even report hearing whispers back.

The Archive of Thorns

A guarded underground vault where the Syndicate’s contracts are stored – both current and historical. Some are said to be written in Thread-bound script, dangerous to even read without permission. It is protected by spirit-bound custodians – former members who died in service and chose to remain useful or still have Eternal Obligations to pay off.

The Ghost Cisterns

A hidden sanctuary beneath the Hollow made from a now-defunct cistern, this is where spirit-bound debtors (from Eternal Obligation contracts) reside and work. Their tasks vary – some weave enchanted contracts, others serve as guards, scribes, or spies. It's a quiet place, somber but strangely reverent, with a shrine to Alsaria that glows dimly with Weave-light.

The Flood Court

Made up of ancient vaulted halls and tunnels of stone and marble now half-filled with water, the lowest levels of the Gilded Hollow serve as a private and secure dock, linked to the canals outside by hidden passages. Some routes connect with the old sewers and storm drains, but all can be cut off with floodgates if needed. These are used for smuggling and getting Syndicate members about the city with haste, using their unique gondolas known as ‘Needles’ to make such runs. When the waters are low some rooms dry out enough to be used by the lower ranks for meetings, but when they are high they must wait for the upper chambers to be available.