The Orange Grove

Sitting along the southern side of King�s Way, the main thoroughfare in Balic, is the Royal Grove, a lush copse of orange trees that once provided the templars of the White Palace with fresh fruits and now provides it�s merchant house owner, House Rees, with hefty profits.

The Royal Grove is a rectangular structure garden two hundred feet long by one hundred feet wide. The building is elevated above ground level, and this allows the trees to enjoy deeper soil in which to grow. The pediments that mark the top of the grove are supported by dozens of fluted columns. Between every set of columns is a bone mesh gate, a rigid barrier to keep trespassers from stealing or destroying the fruit inside. The mesh has been intricately carved to allow passers-by to view the fruit and whet their appetite for the produce within.

At the southwest corner of the grove is a two store round tower, it�s walls smooth and white, capped by a flat crenellated roof. The tower provides the only entrance into the grounds. The first floor is a shop which sells the fruit to customers, with tables set up displaying the tempting oranges, while the second is made of several offices to negotiate with potential bulk buyers. The Royal Grove also contains a nursery, which is used to grow more orange trees. These are primarly used to replace any trees that have died or become sickly. The trees are also sold to those able to afford them. A tree old enough to produce fruit fetches 500 cp, and only nobles or wealthy merchants can typically meet such a price. Sorcerer kings sometimes send representatives to purchase the rare trees.

A large covered cistern holds water and servants nightly look after the trees. Guards are also present at all hours to stop any thieves from gaining entrance to the grove and stealing the valuable fruit.

The Royal Grove is the responsibility of Nerelistus (LN hm Exp7), a former gardener for Andropinis and now in the employ of House Rees. His expertise is crucial to the proper care of the orange trees, and he has several assistant gardeners beneath him. There are usually three guards that watch over the grove at night, two during the day, and a three servants who water the trees, watch for insect infestations, and cover the trees from the ravages of anyapproaching Tyr storms.