Description: The chantry of Phoenix Rising is located in the Biltmore Gated Community on the Northeast side of the city, just south of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The Chantry House is on a plot of land several acres large with thick carpets of green grass and tall trees which shade the long driveway. The outside of the house is a 2 story Spanish Colonial with a detached three car garage.
Public records indicate that the building is three stories, with a large basement. Although it is one of the largest houses in the neighborhood (on record), it still blends in with the neighborhood making it just another house in a community of wealthy residents.
Inside: The Chantry grounds are gateways to not one but several different Horizon Realms. Walking into the front door of the chantry house, a person will find that the interior of the house is significantly bigger than should otherwise be possible, with multiple floors above and below beyond what is on any official blue prints.
While the exterior is Spanish Colonial, the interior of the chantry is Greco-Roman with a number of frescos depicting different time periods in the history of the chantry and of Arizona.
Main Chantry:
The Node Room – Sub-Basement 2 - Located at the base of the chantry, this single room with a high domed ceiling which shows the sky of Phoenix. The room has a bare concrete floor and simple wooden shelves along the perimeter. On these shelves are plain white candles, one for each member of the chantry who has bonded with the Node. Stepping outside, the room is circled by a wide hallway, with 2 sets of stairs leading up.
Training Rooms – Sub-Basement 1: Dojo, Weight Room, Lap Pool, Meditation Rooms, Lap Pool, and Gun Range – Stairs at either end of the floor open to a wide double hallway where 4 people could walk shoulder to shoulder with room to spare. Most of the rooms on this floor are designed for training the body or mind.
The dojo smells of sweat from years of use, with various weapons are on racks on the left to be used for training, while the back wall is covered with mirrors to help people assess their forms and movement. Body bags, punching bags, and throwing dummies can be found near the wall opposite the weapons.
The weight room is fully stocked with free weights and machines, and like the dojo there are mirrors along the far wall. There’s an aerobics area enclosed, and music can usually be heard blaring from speakers.
Locker rooms are fully equipped with showers, toilets, lockers with each Mages name on them (though no locks), and a sauna. Although there is one locker room to be shared by both sexes, there are also private changing areas. The locker room offers exits to the dojo, weight room, and the pool.
The pool is a modest size, with lanes clearly marked for lap swimming. Off to the side is a hot tub for soaking, large enough to hold many people. Looking into the still water, and the placement of the jets, this isn’t a place for socializing but for resting tired and aching muscles.
Across the hall is a gun range. Along the back wall, locked up in compliance with local laws (Odd.) are Phoenix Rings armory and the personal weapons of many of the mages present. Across from that are three firing stations, allowing a person to look down at a paper target to practice their marksmanship.
Sitting on each counter is a set of ear protection, and judging by the acoustics of the room you could fire off a canon and no one in the hallway outside or the rooms beyond would hear even a whisper.
The last three rooms are in complete contrast to the firing range: simple meditation chambers. Each one is of modest size, with Falling Water’s influence evident. The walls hold Japanese, Chinese, and Tibetan art work, while opposite the door is a small alter with a place for either a candle or incense and still have enough room for a personal item: a picture or perhaps some token of importance. The rooms are designed for a single occupant, though perhaps two or three would still be comfortable.
Labs, Garage, and Storage – Basement – Although the garage building is separate from the chantry, the twists and turns of space have enlarged and placed it beneath the chantry.
The ceiling extends a full story up and you can feel a gentle breeze against your skin as the ventilation and air flow ensure the breathing is always easy. Parked around the parameter is every vehicle owned by one of the residents.
In the center of the garage is an open space with tools, a chain and pulley system, and everything a person might need to tinker on their car. Not a fully stock garage, but there is enough here for the hobbyist looking to tinker with his machine could find a place of happiness.
Opposite the garage door leading outside is a long hallway with large windows allowing you to look into several well stocked work rooms. Each work room seems to have a different focus. There’s a computer lab with 3 high tech virtual reality rigs, and a computer mainframe.
In another workroom you find a number of gadgets and materials an Etherite might love to find. Devices of all kinds, from welding torches to digital scanners to items you can’t wait to find. In each lab there seem to be work stations set aside for a specific person as well as unclaimed spots should one decide they need a place to work.
Across the hall from these labs you open a random door or two and find storage areas. Dull. Boring. But large. Most of the space is unused but if desired the contents of an entire grocery store could be kept here. A literal warehouse worth of stuff.
Main floor – Coming up the stairs from the Labs and workrooms leads to the kitchen. High ceilings with large windows allowing for plenty of sunlight to enter and a full view of the chantry grounds outside.
There’s a large island in the center of the room with stools along one side. A sink is in the center of the island for convenience with plenty of counter space for food prep or eating or both. Along the walls more counter space with cabinets full of cooking utensils, a fridge and oven and microwave, and near the back of the house by the patio door is a large kitchen table and chairs for people to sit and eat.
There’s a dining room next to the kitchen, but while the kitchen has a relaxed, family atmosphere the dining room feels more formal. Again, there’s the Greco-Roman influence with a high domed ceiling and open spaces. Painted on the ceiling is the first of what will be many frescoes depicting the history of Arizona, the city of Phoenix, and the Phoenix Rising chantry.
The Foyer/Entrance Hall is different from the rest of the house. Instead of the Greco-Roman themes you see evidence of the original Spanish Colonial design. In the center of the circular room is a small fountain with artwork on one wall. On the other is what looks like a small alter.
A Lararium it’s called, an alter to a household god or, in this case, the Genius Loci – Sentia; a token of honor and appreciation. On a modest shelf is a small stone statue of a woman, with a pair of incense bowls on either side. The smell of incense is strong, as if it had been burning not long ago.
Near the foyer is an office. A comfortable size, it has a large desk with a computer on it (nothing fancy, but good for casual work, email, etc.). There’s a mural on one wall, and opposite a large window looking out onto the chantry grounds.
The salon is at the front of the house, a large room with a vaulted ceiling. Looking up one can see a loft on the second floor looking down. The center of the room is dominated by a large circular fire place. Several couches and chairs are arranged in small groupings to allow people to break off into smaller groups when socializing or entertaining. There’s a small liquor cabinet against one wall, and a piano next to it. A small table is also present with a handful of chairs for playing cards, and ultimately it strikes you as something you might have seen in Godsford Park.
At the far end of the house is another of the many surprise the chantry holds: a butterfly garden. A large glass room with a number of trees and flowers growing around it, with benches and chairs scattered around to sit and relax. At first you think it might be an arboretum or another garden when you notice the butterflies, dozens of them of different sizes, species and colors flying around contentedly.
Finally, there’s the library. The room extends upward four stories, with shelves of books extending from floor to ceiling. Circular metal stairways allow people to climb to the upper floors where they can continue to peruse the stacks or find a quiet table to study and work.
The ground floor is dominated by a large stone fireplace with a fire already burning, and as you run your hand along the gargoyle features tempted to look for hidden passages.
Private Residence – 2nd floor – The second floor is composed of a long hallway, well lit with doors on either side. Each door is unique, and on the door is either a name, a symbol, or both. Behind these doors are the residences of each Mage, a pocket realm that has been modled to fit their personality and world view.
The names on the doors include:
Rose – Nicholas – Lazarus – Danielle – Marcellus – Stuff – Michelle – Emily – Max – Fenton
Interestingly, Bryn does not have a door, but a picture instead. Perhaps his room is elsewhere in the house.
Recreation – 3rd Floor – The main attraction on the 3rd floor is the enormous rec room. Looking directly across the room, which extends the full length of what the chantry would be, is a huge flat screen tv and entertainment center. Several couches are arranged in stadium seating, and the speakers offer the promise of a sound experience unlike any other. On the opposite wall across the room is a fully stocked bar with stools along the front. Several tall tables with stools are also scattered around, and a dart board on one side of the room with a pool table on the other add a nice touch.
Further into the room, there’s a large game table where one would be able to play anything from poker to monopoly, and next to it sliding glass doors which lead out to the roof of the chantry building where there is a new deck with a gas and charcoal grill, patio furniture, and a view of the entire neighborhood.
Also on this floor is also a Roman bathe. Tiled floors in exquisite detail offer images from both ancient Rome and Nova Roma, with thick towels and warm bath robes lining the side wall. The clear blue water is steaming, and the temperature is hot but not scalding, with enough room for over a dozen people to soak. Perfect for relaxing.
Meeting rooms – 4th floor - The fourth floor is dominated by a large conference room, with a long table and enough room to seat everyone. The walls are adorned with additional murals of scenes from the chantries history, every single mage to have ever have called Phoenix Rising home. The acoustics of the room are perfect, allowing someone to speak normally and yet be heard by everyone.
There are also a number of private offices for the Elders to work when needed.