The Gardens cascade down the hillside in a series of terraces connected by winding paths and occasional staircases. What began as practical agriculture — taking advantage of Venturia's remarkable fertility — has evolved over centuries into something between public park and living artwork.
What Grows Here
The Gardener's Guild maintains these spaces with techniques developed nowhere else. They've learned which plants thrive in Venturia's peculiar conditions, and which produce results that would be impossible elsewhere.
- Roses that bloom in seventeen colors, including three that don't have proper names
- Fruit trees that bear year-round regardless of season
- Flowers that glow faintly at twilight
- Ancient trees with bark like weathered silver — the oldest specimens predate the city itself, and supposedly grew on this hillside when the di Errante estates were still occupied
Daily Life
Citizens come here to walk, to court, to conduct business in settings more pleasant than offices, to sit and think. The Gardens are technically public property — but the Guild has authority to close certain sections when they're "in transition."
These closures can last days or weeks. During them, strange sounds and lights are sometimes reported from behind the barriers.
Character Hooks
- Guild member trained in Venturia's unique horticulture
- Someone who got lost in the Gardens and found something strange
- Groundskeeper who tends the oldest trees
- Former romantic who had their heart broken among the flowers
- Person who remembers the Gardens differently than they are now
Connections
- Strider — Names this location in its connections.
- The Market Tiers — Cross-references this location.
Gallery
