An impressive stone statue in the center of the room makes for a great focal point and conversation piece for gathering students, as well as a symbol of pride for the school, being none other than an interesting representation of the founder of Lumenspire, Eldric Lumenshade. Steps away, you notice the Groundskeeper, Gruffus Mossbrook, glaring at the grand statue.
An avant-garde wizard of his time, Eldric had a strong affinity for all living things. Quite the innovative mind, if you said so yourself. He heralded in a new age of magic that forever changed the wizarding world. There were those that wondered what other intriguing revelations he might have achieved if he hadn’t shifted his focus to creating this academy.
The statue itself depicts Eldric emerging from the trunk of a great tree, his stone arms stretched out like branches – one hand grasping a scroll and the other a stone torch. He looks towards the entrance of the common room, ready to greet students with open arms.
Engraved at the base of the statue is the following:
“From the ancient roots, The mighty tree of wisdom grows, While the tender saplings Look up in awe.”
There are four round, rotatable sections in the center of the statue where the founder’s body merges with that of the tree trunk. Each section contains each of the four house crests. If you’d like, you can rotate them here:
Ruffus Mossbrook, the Groundskeeper, grumbles as you approach, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. He adjusts the glasses on the bridge of his nose and turns to face you.
“Let me guess, you’re here to accuse me? Rubbish!”
He scowls as he says this, the obvious disdain in his voice pushing to the front and leading his charge of words.
“I can’t even cast spells, and you know darn well that I can’t, yet all your eyes turn towards me and for what good reason? You think I hate this world? You think it’s something to do with Lysandra? Has that mad headmaster filled your little minds with delusions and fantasies of dark witches returning to seek revenge? Rubbish! All unfounded rubbish!”
“Your little Viator friend, Shoecorn, is lucky I was next door and able to get here when I did. I likely scared off whoever it was that used unsanctioned magic in the common room, and if you ask me, it was probably the first person I saw here. Perpetrators always return to the scene of the crime, whether to marvel at their graffiti or gloat about whatever prank it is they’ve concocted and implemented, they always come back soon – and the first person I saw here was that boy’s own so-called best friend, Fitzroy!”
