Hall of Nine
Overview
The Hall of Nine is the central building of the Olmara Planetary Council located in the capital Veldary of Veldara on the northern continent Velda. Built on an island surrounded by cold tidal waters it stands as the political and diplomatic heart of Olmara. Its nine sided dome rises above the bridges and covered arcades of the city reflecting the light of the twin moons Isa and Delme on its smooth metal and translucent stone surfaces.
Designed as a monument of austerity and balance the Hall embodies the ritual of the Ennead without ornament. Its structure cultivates silence focus and the sense that decisions flow like water through defined channels.
Architecture
- The core is a nine sided rotunda with an oculus aligned to the midpoint of Light Day.
- Nine wings radiate from the rotunda each tied to a conceptual current of governance legislation diplomacy economy defense environment energy education culture and justice.
Others interpret them as the nine days of the Ennead Shade Seed Forge Law Flow Wind Earth Water Light. - The Shade and Flow wings lead to enclosed gardens of silence while the Forge and Law wings open into committee halls and legal chambers.
- Floors carry stream like patterns converging toward the rotunda reinforcing the sense of political currents.
- Walls and domes are lined with sound absorbing fibers extinguishing even whispers.
- Discreet Comla interpretation bays hide behind perforated panels allowing silent translation without disturbing the visual calm.
- Circulation follows the principle of circular flow with no true endpoints and corridors that curve naturally back to the center.
The City and its Setting
The Hall dominates the center of Veldary a lagoon city of bridges islands and covered walkways. Streets are sheltered with transparent materials and the waters beneath reflect pale shifting light. In the northern culture of Velda silence is considered a mark of courtesy and Veldary the city of silence preserves this rule with precision.
The Hall has long been the focal point of the Planetary Council. It contains deliberation halls offices gardens with controlled water currents and dedicated silent arcades that shield visitors from external noise and public scrutiny.
Cloister of Mist
In the eastern wing lies the Cloister of Mist a translucent dome surrounded by gardens covered in permanent vapor. The mist blurs outlines distorts shadows and prevents lip reading offering perfect isolation.
Inside the Cloister a circular table houses embedded communication ports and soft sound absorbing seating. Metallic panels gently reflect dim light making the space seem boundless. A holocast unit rests at one side usually silent. Peripheral corridors lead to private rooms and hidden exits.
The Cloister of Mist hosts unofficial or secret meetings between delegates. No microphones cameras or formal recording systems exist. Decisions taken there are never announced held in a silence that resembles prayer.
Atmosphere
The Hall carries an air of ritual calm. The sound of water in the gardens the shifting light on smooth surfaces and the slow measured movement of people create the impression that the city itself participates in discourse. It is a place where politics becomes ceremony and silence becomes the highest form of communication.
Symbolism
The Hall’s geometry binds the rhythm of the Ennead to the work of governance. Each wing serves as both symbolic dedication and functional domain. The rotunda represents the unified body of the Planetary Council and the flowing floor motifs remind delegates that decisions like water spread outward shaping the fate of nations.
Notes
The Hall of Nine stands as one of the most iconic structures on Olmara integrating diplomacy architecture and timekeeping into a single quiet ritual. The Hall of Nine Currents is an older ceremonial name still used in formal documents and by delegates who emphasize the flow based philosophy of planetary governance.