Alden House
From GURPSworld Wiki
Alden House is a building located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA, south of Griffith Park. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Calvin Alden in 1923, and built in 1924.
The design was based on ancient Mayan temples and along with other buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright, such as the A. D. German Warehouse in Wisconsin and Hollyhock House in Hollywood, the Alden House is sometimes referred to as an example of the Mayan Revival style. Its prominent detail is the relief ornamentation on its textile blocks, inspired by the symmetrical reliefs of Mayan buildings in Uxmal.
Magdalena Carter has resided in the house since Alden's death in 1954. The house was bequeathed to the Promethean Foundation, with the stipulation that Ms. Carter be allowed to reside there until her death.
Public Facilities
Alden House is the headquarters of the Promethean Foundation. While the house is private and rarely open to the public, there are research facilities located across Glendower Avenue from the house.
See the Promethean Foundation for more information on these facilities.
Secret Facilities
The house is equipped with “mana reflectors” that enhance the local mana level within the boundaries of the house walls. These magical devices are built into every block of the house and may be at least in part a result of the ornamental design.
During the 1950s a number of underground chambers were constructed beneath the house. Some of these chambers were expanded from existing caves. The construction of the house above is particularly secure from digging underneath due to Frank Lloyd Wright's ingenious design and construction.
A bookcase in the hallway outside the bedroom hides a small private elevator that descends to the lower chambers. The lower chambers are constructed and decorated in a style similar to the house above.
The elevator exits into a circular room with five recessed doors, each labeled according to its purpose. There are no windows on any of the doors. Each door is permanently mage-locked and will permit entry only to a select few.
There are five chambers, one of which is undeveloped at this time. Each chamber houses a separate facility or function as described below.
Library. Enchanted by Slow Time (1/3 normal rate), this is a great place to study IQ-related skills. Two large study tables with six chairs at each table and six private study carrels are located here. Books of magic and lore are on the few shelves; the Foundation inherited an extensive collection from Miskatonic University. Dangerous magical texts are kept in the Warehouse, of course.
Temple. This is a generic circular ritual space that could be set up for any number of uses. A storage area contains ritual implements (non enchanted) from a number of religious and mystical traditions. Pentagrams may be drawn and erased on the floor with any stylus-like object – a stick, a sword, even just a finger! The walls behave in a similar manner. Tricksters should be careful what they writer on these walls, however. The temple is also enchanted to restore 1 FP per 5 minutes and 1 HP per hour.
Warehouse. Restricted to all except the Technology Director.
Enchantment Chamber. Restricted to all except the Enchanter.
See also
Ennis House – the inspiration for Alden House.