Summer Palace

"Tell me about the Summer Palace."

— Tsunami, asking Riptide about her current location in The Lost Heir.

Template:Infobox Location The SeaWing Summer Palace is hidden on an island in the Bay of a Thousand Scales. Supposedly, the SeaWings used to be the only dragons who knew it's location. The Palace was created by the magic of Prince Albatross and the extreme use of his animus powers to make it was what drove him mad. The Summer Palace was used by the SeaWings as an above sea palace for themselves and their visitors. The palace was so well hidden that it remained out of harm by enemy tribes until it was finally destroyed in the War of SandWing Succession by Burn´s army. The Palace is, however, being rebuilt by Queen Coral.

Designer and Appearance

The palace is hidden by a thick canopy of trees, vines, leaves, and flowers enchanted by Fathom and Albatross to hide the palace. The only entrance is an underwater tunnel of unknown length, with breathing holes at various intervals specifically made for Blister and the SeaWings' allies rare visits. A twelve-level stone pavilion built by Prince Albatross was located near the center. He enchanted the pavilion to grow into the shape made of coral and other natural materials found in and by the sea. The palace is described as spectacular and beautiful and there are caves for guests, waterfalls, wading pools, and lavish decorations of pearls, emeralds, and other precious gems on the pavilion.

Feasting Hall

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The Dragonets of Destiny eating in the Feasting Hall

The Feasting Hall is where the SeaWing tribe eats. The food is prepared by chefs. The SeaWings sit at long, oval tables while eating their food. The Queen of the SeaWings sits on the highest chair, and if there is an honored guest, he or she sits next to the queen, on a seat not much lower.

Council Pavilion

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A SeaWIng report in the Council Pavilion

The SeaWing Council has their meetings at the Council Pavilion. On the pavilion are small pools each with a name inscripted on it: Defense, Communication, War, Secrets & Spies, Magic & Publishing, Treasury, Dragon Health, Hunting, Justice, Aquaculture, and, of course, Queen. Each council member sits in the pool labeled for the section they are in charge in. There is also a pool for Dragonet Care, where dragonet daughters who are with Coral (Like Anemone or Auklet) sit in and wait while the council discusses it's plans.

Library Pavilion

The Library Pavilion may be the most treasured level in the palace, as it is where Queen Coral writes her famed scrolls. Some of these scrolls include stories like The Missing Princess, The Tragedy of Orca, A Tail of Blood, and more. All most scrolls were destroyed in the attack on the Summer Palace, a few were saved from the fires.

Animus-Training Pavilion

One of the higher pavilions in the Summer Palace, the animus training pavilion was used to test Anenome´s animus powers so she could use them to win the war. Anenome was taught by Whirlpool, and their sessions were often visited by Queen Coral and Blister. The walls of the Pavilion were covered in spears, swords, and armor that were used in the training sessions.

Dungeon

The dungeon is where Queen Coral places her mediocre threats, but mostly she uses it to punish a SeaWing once they have done something wrong. Usually though, the SeaWing is allowed back out after, at most, a day or two of imprisonment.

Electric Eel Prison

Real-deal captured threats and criminals are held in this prison. Instead of cages, it has a different style of making sure prisoners don't escape: electric eels. On the top of each cell are long holes as "wide as a dragons tail" that pour down saltwater. The water is poured down on each four corners of a cell, trapping the prisoners inside. Inside the water are electric eels. The eels are very big and likely a special dragon killing species, like the Dragonbite Viper, since their shocks are so strong it is supposed to be able to kill a dragon. If the prisoners try to jump through the water, the eels will shock them and they will perish. This is what accidentally happened to Whirlpool.

History

The Summer Palace was build around the time of Darkstalker, with the magic of Albatross. When Albatross first showed the palace to Fathom, the green SeaWing described it as "ringed with forbidding-looking rocks and presenting only a high, sheer cliff face on all sides. The top was a "rioting jungle". He wasn't sure why anybody would want to live there.

After the SeaWing massacre, Queen Pearl decided to use the palace because nobody would ever want to go back to the Island Palace after the traumatising incident. The SeaWings fixed some parts of the palace, then settled in.

The Summer palace was used for the next two thousand years. The palace was decided to be kept hidden from other tribes, with a few exceptions like using it to house allies in wars. Blister, in the War of SandWing Succession, new the location of the palace and was allowed to go there.

The Summer Palace hiding place was so good that it was thought that it could never be found and destroyed by enemy tribes. This was not the case, however. A MudWing named Crocodile, (a Talons of Peace spy), was able to earn the trust of Webs, convince him to go back home, and then track him down in secret to the Summer Palace. Soon after, Crocodile led an army of SkyWings and MudWings to the location of the palace and it was destroyed by using Dragonflame Cactus and flaming logs. After the attack, the SeaWings fled to the Deep Palace.

The SeaWing Summer Palace was mentioned to be being rebuilt in Darkness of Dragons. This new Summer Palace was said to be not hidden away but instead more open to other tribes and hoped to be the center of diplomacy, trade and art in all of Pyrrhia. The palace architecture is being worked on by Queen Coral, Queen Glory, and Queen Moorhen.

Trivia

• The location of the ruins were not plotted until the publication of Moon Rising by Starflight, because that was when the guide and map were updated.

References

fr:Palais d'été pl:Pałac Letni ru:Летний дворец