Soleil Hill; A Description

[Joscelin]

Away from the hustle and bustle of Thalasa's sea port and trade center lies Soleil Hill. It's a place that stands as a true testament of withstanding time. For centuries Soleil Hill has been unmarred by the growing populace surrounding such. It's this reason that a wall had been constructed to protect Soleil Hill from any debris, littering and even loitering of the passerby and lifeblood of Thalasa. One must wonder the reasoning of preserving all and everything within though. As for the reason? Simply one.

It's the home of the four grand families of Thalasa; the descendents of the first merchants who had been borne here from across the sea, or so ancient texts say. It's here that these families live within their ancient manors that have withstood the ravages of time. Truth be told though, the sight of Soleil Hill alone -- from sea, port, or even from high elevation within the city proper -- has been told to be that of grand beauty and awe-inspiring.

Soleil Hill's gated-community is lush with grass and foliage that stands out against the backdrop of the city. Trees still dapple the protected landscape despite the overgrown urban land surrounding Soleil Hill, but still they stand tall to shade the four manors located there; Burvelle, Montreve, Sinclair and Sunderly.

Although not typically built with strong fortifications as a castle or keep, the manor-houses of Soleil Hill are partly fortified; enclosed within a strong wall. As for the manors themselves, they are reputedly the largest thatched manor-houses within Elysia. It's a rare example of a composite structure, featuring wooden frames with reed and plaster, and encased within brick. Despite that have passed each manor has rarely needed any touch-ups, and their attic floors are virtually untouched since construction. Each manor holds to their own family name though with a crest above their door frame and family color.

Sunderly's manor lies at the base of the hill and blends with a faint evergreen shade that has begun to flake off the brick. Their family crest has been engraved upon their door front; a weeping willow being crossed by a stream. Their family has been successful within the lumbering business and still to this day they do well within the shipping trade and supplying ship masons with wares for their tasks. Sinclair's manor seems to be a different story though.

It lies above Sunderly's manor and stands out with that pale shade of blue upon their brick. Where as Sunderly's paint seemed to have been chipping, Sinclair's own seems to have been wearing thin for years and baring the brown brick beneath from being weathered. Their family sign -- showing of sprouts within one hand a sickle in the other upon the back drop of a moon -- speaks of the Sinclair family's cultivation business and owned plantations. The Sinclair family has been struggling as of late though with the Empress' hands within their family owned plantations; they have been taken over by military means to supply the mining expeditions further north. Above the Sinclair manors are more wealthy families though.

Montreve's manor barely-there yellow shows of freshly painted walls. Their crest of a ship upon the back drop of a sun speaks of trade connections to the Spice Isles beyond Elysia. Their coin seems to be supplies through numerous trade connections and investments than anything else; their family renown for their out-lander beauty and peculiar garb. If there were anyone who'd look as peculiar as them though that would be the Burvelle family.

The Burvelle manor crests the hill overlooks the harbor; with that dark carmine shade against the backdrop of the city, they stand out at all times of the day. Their crest shows the Industrial city of Idola coddling close to Elysium's Palace. Their family ties showing to the Empress herself and their riches coming from no where else but that of the Industrial city itself. They provide new technology through trade within Thalasa.