# Ruinous Monastery

> A long-abandoned monastery being restored: chapel, stone-cut tavern, overgrown piano room.

https://narunest.com/portfolio/ruinous-monastery

Style: Gothic, Botanical

District: Empyreum
Plot: Medium

The idea: Sacred, peaceful and mysterious — a long-abandoned monastery, partway through its restoration.

Ruinous Monastery is a long-abandoned monastery that is being restored, and it feels sacred, peaceful and mysterious. The ground floor holds a vestibule and a chapel, a tavern is carved out of the stone beneath the building, and upstairs is an overgrown room with a pond and a grand piano.

The vestibule is lit by tall panels of blue stained glass and by candelabras against its stone walls, beside a carved golden screen. A wooden staircase climbs past a glowing sphere set in a rocky alcove, and overhead is a skylight full of stars, with vines of white flowers hanging below it.

In the chapel, a vaulted ceiling arches over rows of weathered pews on a red carpet, and white roses climb the walls on either side. The stained glass windows stand in an arc around the altar, where candles, gold lanterns and a brass globe in its rings sit between two green urns, and round stained-glass windows look in from either wall. At the back of the chapel, bookshelves fill an arch, a grandfather clock stands beside a map and a painting, and there is a window seat heaped with cushions under a curtained window.

The tavern below is carved out of the stone under the building, ivy trailing from its rough ceiling. Wine is stored in barrels set into the walls, long tables and benches stand on blue rugs between burning fire baskets, and the bar is of rich wood, with shelves of bottles and taps behind it. In one corner a seating nook sits under stained glass windows, beside a waterfall running down the rock between two pillars.

Upstairs is an airy, open space, overgrown and dilapidated: ivory pillars show between walls of plants, plaster is peeling off the walls to the brick beneath, and the windows are cracked. The grand piano is the centerpiece, ringed with candles under a great round window shaped like a clock face, and it is possible to sit on the piano, which makes it a natural spot for the client's GPose. Opposite it is a nature-filled corner where the client can pose as well. A pond holds a glowing sphere among trees and purple flowers, and a low cushioned seat rests on a carpet of white flowers. Against one wall is a stack of boxes and a barrel, and it is possible to sit atop the boxes too.

Outside, cobblestone paths run through wild planting between pine trees and lamp posts, past a brick fountain, a gazebo with a green dome, and a pond of lily pads fed by two spouts beneath a balustraded stair.

What went into it:
- A vestibule lit by blue stained glass and candelabras
- A vaulted ceiling over the chapel
- Stained glass windows in an arc around the altar
- A window seat at the back of the chapel
- A tavern carved out of the stone under the building
- Wine storage in barrels
- A seating nook under stained glass windows
- A bar of rich wood
- Ivory pillars showing between walls of plants upstairs
- Plaster peeling off the walls, and cracked windows
- A grand piano as the centerpiece, made possible to sit on for the client's GPose
- A nature-filled corner opposite the piano, with a pond, for GPose as well
- A stack of boxes and a barrel against one wall, with the boxes made possible to sit atop

Key pieces:
- [Imitation Moonlit Window](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/40630) — Wall-mounted, ×2
- [Imitation Stained Crystal Ornament](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/20753) — Wall-mounted, ×5
- [Order of Nald'thal Lectern](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/9737) — Table
- [Cask Rack](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/12097) — Table, ×5
- [Back Bar](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/33279) — Table, ×2, Russet Brown
- [Manor Harpsichord](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/7108) — Furnishing, Soot Black
- [Cracked Arch Window](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/30397) — Wall-mounted, ×6, Orchard Brown
- [Eastern Indoor Pond](https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#item/33258) — Furnishing

Palette:
- pale turquoise glass (in the photos, #9CEBF4) — The stained glass windows in an arc around the chapel's altar, where the light comes through
- Snow White (dye, #E4DFD0) — The white roses climbing the chapel walls, and along the windows upstairs, on Oldrose Wall Planters
- Russet Brown (dye, #4F2D1F) — The Back Bar's shelves of bottles behind the tavern's bar, and the stools along it
- Rhotano Blue (dye, #1C3D54) — The tavern's seating nook, a cushioned Glade Bench under the stained glass, and a rug of gold rings among the tables
- Soot Black (dye, #2B2923) — The grand piano and its bench upstairs

Photographs:
- The room upstairs — a black grand piano in the middle of the floor ringed with clusters of candles, glowing arched windows along the curved walls above a band of grey stone, a huge round clock-face window between two ivory pillars, a wooden ring chandelier of candles overhead, and ivy hanging from the beams (caption: The grand piano, upstairs.)
- The altar straight on — a dark wood altar with a brass globe in its rings and two gold lanterns, green urns either side, flaming torches and clusters of candles, and five tall stained-glass windows in turquoise, blue and pink standing in an arc behind it under white vaults (caption: The stained glass windows, in an arc around the altar.)
- The seating nook in the tavern, from above — a blue cushioned bench around a corner and a small round blue-topped table with a lantern, under two stained-glass windows set in the rough stone wall, light falling from them, an ivory pillar wound with ivy and a burning torch at the left (caption: The seating nook, under stained glass.)
- The overgrown corner upstairs — a low dark cushioned seat on a carpet of white flowers before tall windows, walls of greenery, a pond edged in dark rock with a large glowing blue sphere in it, purple flowers and small trees in red and gold around it, a curtain of falling water behind, and an ivy-covered chair and a lantern on a small table at the left (caption: The nature-filled corner, opposite the piano.)
- The tavern from above — long wooden tables and benches with tankards and lanterns on blue rugs, a standing fire basket burning at either side, a rug of a carbuncle at the right, and the bar behind with shelves of bottles, taps and wooden stools, a wall of barrels at the left and ivy over the rough stone (caption: The tavern, carved out of the stone.)
- The vestibule — three tall arched panels of blue stained glass casting their pattern across a tiled floor, a candelabra and candles beside them against the stone wall, and a carved golden screen at the right (caption: The vestibule.)
- A tall arched window of blue stained glass set into a stone wall between two candelabras, clusters of candles on the floor either side
- A wooden staircase climbing from the vestibule's patterned stone floor, an ivory pillar at the left, and beside the stair a glowing sphere on a long dark cabinet in a rocky alcove hung with white flowers, a candelabra and blue stained glass at the right
- Looking up at a skylight framed in dark wood, a starry night sky in its panes, hanging vines with white flowers along the wall below and blue stained glass at the right
- An archway between two ivory pillars wound with ivy, a painting of rocks and trees in an ornate gilt frame at the left, the wooden staircase at the right, and through the arch a window seat glowing under a curtained window
- Into the chapel — an archway at the left opening onto blue stained glass, weathered pews on a red carpet, white roses along the wall, a round stained-glass window, and the altar under tall stained-glass windows beyond (caption: The chapel.)
- The chapel from above the doorway — a white vault framing two rows of pews on a red carpet between banks of white roses, the altar glowing with candles under tall stained-glass windows at the end, round stained-glass windows and small framed pictures on the walls, and vines trailing from the vault
- The chapel from above — the vaulted ceiling, pews either side of the red carpet, white roses climbing the walls, a round stained-glass window at the right, and light slanting through the tall windows onto the altar
- The pews facing the altar, a round stained-glass window at the left catching a shaft of light, white roses on either side, and the tall stained-glass windows in an arc behind the altar
- Among the weathered pews on the red carpet, looking toward the altar and its candles under five tall stained-glass windows, light streaming through a round stained-glass window at the left
- The pews close up, their wood weathered and worn, white roses at the right, and the altar with its candles and green urns beyond
- The altar from above — the brass globe in its rings between two gold lanterns, green urns either side, torches burning and candles on the steps, the stained-glass windows rising around it
- From a desk at the back of the chapel, past a brass dome lamp, an open book and a quill in a stand, down the vaulted nave to the altar and its stained glass, a framed painting of a castle and a map on the wall at the left and white roses either side
- From behind the altar toward the back of the chapel — the brass globe and gold lanterns on the altar in front, torches either side, the pews, white roses and round stained-glass windows along the walls, and bookshelves filling the arch at the far end
- From the altar, looking back over the pews to the bookshelves under the far arch and a desk before them, round stained-glass windows either side, white roses on the walls, and a jewelled lantern hanging at the right
- The back of the chapel — tall bookshelves filling a wooden arch, a desk with a brass dome lamp and scrolls in its shelves, candles on the floor, a window seat under a curtained window at the left, a dark red banner with a pale emblem beside it, and white roses either side (caption: Bookshelves and the window seat, at the back of the chapel.)
- The window seat — cushions in brown and mauve along a seat under a large curtained window, a dark red banner with a pale emblem and white roses at the left, candles on the floor, and bookshelves at the right
- The window seat close up, light glowing through the window behind its row of cushions, tall candles in the foreground and the banner beyond (caption: The window seat.)
- A grandfather clock beside the bookshelves, a framed painting of a castle and a map on parchment on the stone wall, a desk with a brass dome lamp, white roses and candles
- The tavern from across the room — a staircase climbing out of it between rough stone walls, ivory pillars wound with ivy, a ring chandelier of candles, stained-glass windows with light falling from them, and tables on blue rugs before the wall of barrels (caption: Down in the tavern.)
- The tavern under a rough stone ceiling hung with ivy and pale vines — walls of barrels behind long tables, one laid with food, a standing fire basket, framed paintings, a blue rug with a green medallion, and ivory pillars at the left
- A long table and benches on a blue rug, a standing lamp glowing in front, the wall of barrels behind with a fire basket burning before it and a table laid with food, and the seating nook and stained glass at the back beside a waterfall
- Tables laid with food before the walls of barrels, their wooden posts set with flame-shaped lamps, a fire basket burning, framed paintings and hanging ivy above, and the nook and stained glass beyond the ivory pillars at the left
- The tavern from a corner, leaves blurred in the foreground — the ring chandelier, the stairs climbing at the left behind ivory pillars, light slanting from the stained glass, and tables and benches on the blue rug
- A waterfall running down the rock between two ivory pillars, a torch burning on each, a fire basket blazing in front, the stained-glass windows and the nook at the right, and the wall of barrels at the right edge
- The waterfall between ivory pillars and torches, two stained-glass windows in the rock wall beside it, the blue-cushioned nook and its lantern below them, and ivy climbing the stone
- Beside the stairs — a candle chandelier at the upper left, the waterfall and its torches, the nook under the stained glass beyond, and the wall of barrels on the right
- The nook beside the waterfall, its blue bench wrapped around a corner under two stained-glass windows, an ivory pillar and a torch at the left, and the wall of barrels and its flame-shaped lamps at the right
- The waterfall and the nook, light falling from the stained-glass windows, framed paintings and ivy on the rock above, and the barrel wall with its flame-shaped lamps at the right
- The bar from above — a long wooden bar with stools along it, shelves of bottles and taps behind it, small lights hanging among the ivy under its wooden canopy, a fire basket burning in the foreground, and tables with tankards and lanterns (caption: The bar.)
- Across the tavern to the bar, a table with tankards and a lantern in front, the wall of barrels at the left, and the bar's shelves of bottles under its wooden canopy
- The bar close up — a wooden post and beam framing it, shelves of bottles, taps with blue handles and stools along the counter, ivy and small hanging lights on the rock wall behind
- Two wooden tankards and a gold lantern on a table in the foreground, the bar and its shelves of bottles beyond
- A meal on a tavern table — bread rolls, plates of food, a bowl and a cup, steam rising, a gold lantern beside them, and the bar and its stools beyond
- The room upstairs from across, under the wooden ring chandelier and its white ceiling medallion — dark beams, ivy spilling over the arched windows, the round clock-face window between ivory pillars, the piano among its candles, a barrel and stacked boxes by the far wall, and an ivy-covered chair at the right (caption: Upstairs, overgrown and airy.)
- The piano across the room between two candelabras and clusters of candles, glowing arched windows behind, and in the foreground an ivy-covered chair and a green lamp on a small table
- The piano before the round clock-face window, candelabras and candles around it, arched windows along the walls and plaster peeling to the brick above them
- Through leaves, the piano at an angle among candles and a candelabra, arched windows and the round clock-face window behind
- From above — the piano's black lid among clusters of candles, the round clock-face window between two ivory pillars, a barrel and stacked boxes at the right, and ivy and peeling plaster above the arched windows
- The piano's carved side and its bench close up, candles on the floor, and the pond corner with its glowing sphere behind at the left
- Behind the piano, its keyboard in front and its bench below, looking across the room to the overgrown corner, a candelabra either side and a barrel at the left
- The keyboard end of the piano and its bench, the round clock-face window between two ivory pillars, wall lanterns, and cracked arched windows
- A figure sitting on the lid of the grand piano among the candles, the round clock-face window behind, and a red and white chest by the wall at the right (caption: Sitting on the piano.)
- Two wooden crates stacked beside a barrel under cracked windows, an ivory pillar's base ringed with candles, and the wall of plants and an ivy-covered chair at the right (caption: The boxes and the barrel.)
- The room upstairs through leaves at the edge of the frame, the piano and its candles in the middle of the floor and the round clock-face window behind
- From the overgrown corner — the glowing sphere in the pond at the left, the carpet of white flowers and purple flowers in front, and the room beyond, the piano among its candles under the chandelier
- From above the pond corner, trees in red and gold and purple flowers in the foreground, the piano and its candles across the room, and an ivy-covered chair and a green lamp at the right
- From higher above the pond corner, the chandelier hanging over the room, the piano across the floor, and greenery climbing the walls either side
- The glowing sphere in the pond close up, purple flowers and a red-leaved tree around it, the carpet of white flowers at the right, and the piano room's windows, clock-face window and chandelier beyond
- The pond corner — the cushioned seat on the white flowers at the left, the pond with its glowing sphere, small trees in red and gold, falling water behind, and windows at the left
- The glowing sphere in the pond close up, a white fish in the water beside it, purple flowers and trees in red and gold around the rock edge
- The low cushioned seat on the carpet of white flowers, under tall windows lined with pale roses and greenery, and the rock edge of the pond at the right
- The garden at night — cobblestone paths through wild flowers and grasses between pine trees and lamp posts, a gazebo with a green dome at the back, and in front a tree hung with red fruit growing from a tiered fountain (caption: The garden.)
- The garden from above — cobblestones, a brick fountain under a pine at the left, a tree with yellow leaves at the right over an ornament of blue crystals in gold rings floating above a rock pool, and stairs climbing to a balustrade with two spouts of water
- The cobblestone path between the brick fountain and the rock pool, stairs climbing to the balustrade beyond, and a lamp post under a tree with yellow leaves
- A pond of lily pads edged with rocks, two spouts of water falling into it from arches under a balustraded stair, a pine tree and wild flowers at the right
- A wooden lattice gazebo with a green dome and flowers on its roof, a round table and a stump seat inside, and a pine tree and a lamp post either side