"I do not know, I have kept the books, because they belonged to my father and my father’s father - they are part and parcel of the House of Cordova, which I hold in trust for my son, and my son’s son - but my father never cared for them and nor do I. I saw no reason to hide them from Semjaza."
- —Don Rodrigo Cordova conversing with Orfeo the Minstrel.
House Cordova is an Estalian noble house that has always been loyal to Zaragoz's ruling House diAvila.[1c]
House Cordova was allegedly cursed by the defeated wizards who had once aided Serafima Quixana, a member of a rival family. Some claim that these wizards had "cursed the house," seemingly referring to the building itself. However, Estevan Sceberra, a wizard in the service of House Cordova may have misinterpreted this statement, believing that the curse was upon Cordovan blood rather than the family's home.[1d]
This potential misunderstanding may have led to the intervention of Duke Marsilio diAvila's troops against House Cordova's loyal steward Cristoforo.[1d]
Cordova Estates[]
Found halfway up the crag of the town of Zaragoz, Rodrigo Cordova's home is managed by his loyal and cautious steward Cristoforo.[1a]
The servant's sleeping-quarters are found within the attic, containing a very tiny room in particular that has a bed with legs instead of a pallet of straw, and clean linen.[1a]
A narrow garden surrounds the building, as well as clinging to the ledge beside said-building.[1a][1f]
The kitchen has bread better than that of the standard fare found in the Estalian settlements of the Irrana Mountains, whose grain is imported, with the higher quality reserved for those of higher social station.[1a]
A ballroom with large doors leads to the house's terrace. A curtained balcony resides at one end of the ballroom.[1b]
A false wall in the cellar leads to Dwarfish workings leading into the hollow mountain. But a legend also tells that the house has a secret tunnel leading to the castle of Zaragoz, and that it was instrumental in the coup that brough the last Quixana duke to power in the town. What's more, a curse is said to befall any who cast Dark Magic within its halls.[1b][1e]
Climbing up the main stairs from the ground floor of the house, one will find the foot of a gloomy, smaller stairway leading to the servants' attics.[1d]
The upper floors are dimly lit, by candles much poorer than those used downstairs, and fewer in number. They also cast strange shadows in the alcoves and doorways, making it all too easy to believe that the house's ancient walls are somehow alive, waiting to be awakened from their stillness.[1d]
Many are the books and scrolls gathered within the house, once owned by wizards, though the Cordovas have not kept a wizard of their own for three generations. Were it not for Semjaza, they would remain unread, and even he can only read a few. This is because they are written in many different languages. Cristoforo, who has sufficient skill in the literary arts to keep account of all Rodrigo's business affairs, cannot make head or tail of any but a few them.[1d]
This collection of arcane texts can be found by going up the house's principal staircase, then along a carpeted corridor, which leads to a wing beyond the rooms which are commonly used. Herein lies a small, locked room, whose key hides within the recesses where candles are set nearby. The room is dark and dingy, with a glazed window whose diamond-shaped pieces are heavily begrimed.[1d]
Narrow and with wide shelves on either side, books are stored in untidy heaps. A table with two chairs rests at the centre of the room, cluttered with scrolls, stubbed candles, and writing equipment. Though the room is dry as a bone, this has not kept the parchments on the shelves from rotting, with some books having become black with dust and fungi.[1d]
Notable Cordovas[]
- Don Rodrigo Cordova - Don Rodrigo is a nobleman of Zaragoz, and the son of Marguerite Cordova. Appearing to be around nineteen to twenty years of age, Rodrigo is a brave and clever man, well-known within the aforementioned town.[1a]
- Marguerite Cordova - Marguerite is the mother of Rodrigo Cordova. She became a Cordova after marrying Rodrigo's father.[1a]
Notable Connections[]
- Cristoforo - Cristoforo is not a member of House Cordova, but the steward who manages the family's estates.[1a]