The courtyard is surrounded by a low, ten foot wall, built more to keep citizens from
wandering about the buildings than a serious military defense, which the city walls
provide. On average, the palace is fifty yards from the wall, though the palace is not
symmetrical. The ground is made of a pale yellow hard packed gravel. The main gate into
the White Palace courtyard is directly across from the grand staircase.
The white marble grand staircase is fifteen yards wide at the base, narrowing to six yards
at the top landing where the double doors leading into the palace are located. Half way up the fifteen foot tall staircase is an empty pedestal where a statue of Andropinis once stood.
There has been debate in the council about what to put in it's stead, but nothing has come
of these discussions.
The first building is the Entrance Hall. The landing at the top of the grand staircase holds a
colonnaded porch where two Wavir guards wait in the shade for any visitors to the White
Palace. Behind the guards are two great doors of stone that, when unlocked, slide easily
open at a touch as though they were hollow, but when closed, can deflect the strongest of
blows. Carved into the doors are scenes from Balic, one door showing Andropinis leading
the army of Balic to victory at sea, and the other showing the city above enormous fields of
grain. The key to these doors previously belonged to the Master of Doors, a position
among the templars, but now belongs to a high ranking ranking Wavir guard, Nhemkes.
The interior of the Entrance Hall is sparse. Opposite the double doors is a six inch stone
block shaped as a convex curve displaying carved scenes of Balic. This montage reached
nearly to the top of the rooms twenty five foot high ceiling and stands a few inches in front
of the rooms wall. Tall, narrow windows high upon the wall light the room in the day,
while globes of magical flame light it at night. In front of the montage is a desk, curving at
the same gentle angle as the block behind it, at which sit two receptionists to handle
visitors. The room typically has two guards, though more are stationed here if a crowd
gathers. To either side of the reception desk are hallway leading further into the White
Palace.
