The Gymnasium is an "in" spot for the athletically inclined
aristocrasy.  Many of them are here more to be seen and to see people
than to really work out. On the other hand, Bertrand McPherson, the
swordmaster, is a real profesional (He also is enough of a politician
to know that he needs the patronage of the wealthy to survive.)

In total, there are 4 Masters in the Gymnasium, McPherson, Tetrus
Duncan, the brawling/wrestling/boxing instructor, Henry Bouffard,
another swordsman (who specializes in light weapons and fancy styles),
and Aaren Illius, a healer and herbalist.  With a small compliment of
servants, they run the Gym, and teach people their arts.  Individual
instruction is pricey, but often advanced pupils teach classes or
individuals for less.

Adventuring possibliities here include meetings with people and talk,
the ever presant advertisements for well trained fighters, advancement
training, and healing.  There is never a shortage of would- be
socialites here and players may find a way to get in good with an
aristocrate, meet a government official, or buddy up to someone else
important.

 McPherson is a short, red-haired man (some say he has dwarvish blood
in him).  He favors the heavy weapons, and is proficient in most 1
handed heavy weapons and all 2 handed ones. He tends to be quiet, and
touchy.  He also is confident enough in his abilities that in matters
of weaponry, he is quite rude.  Though he is not a part of the upper
class society of Aern, McPherson is known about town.  He does have
extensive contacts with the Wessel family and with the Army.

Tetrus (he prefers his first name) is about average size, but well
developed.  He is kind and friendly.  Most of his lessons are by
example, but he is nice about it and pulls most of his blows before
they really hurt.  Though he is probably one of the top 10 unarmed
combat specialists in the provinces, he is only able to teach MA to
rank 1.  Fancier moves must be developed on your own, and are hard to
perfect.  He can teach of few levels of defense as well.  Tetrus is a
gamesman and is often seen in the gambling halls.  He is often in
debt, but his money from the gymnasium has always covered it.  He has
occasionally tried his hand at a little larceny, but is not as much a
thief as a rogue.

Henry Bouffard looks like a swordsman.  From his thin pointed moustash
to his ruffled and laced clothes and build to his precise and
gracefull movements, his looks scream swordsman to the world.  And,
true to them he is probably the most accomplished rapier fighter in
the provinces.  Adding to this is amazing skill at 2 weapon fighting,
thrown weapons, tumbling in combat, acrobatics and disarming moves,
and you have an incredible man.  He seems rather aloof at first, but
this is mostly because he is a foreigner (From the Theocracy) and is a
bit uneasy with some of the customes and manners of Aern.  He is an
invaluable source of info about the temple state and has much
knowledge and many contacts in/about the capital city.  Henry is well
known in the finer circles of the city.  He is an acomplished dancer
and poet as well as the best swordsman in town (at least by his own
estimate).  At any given moment, he may be head-over-heels in love
with any of a number of aristocratic ladies.  He is always true to
them, but somehow, something always stops the affair before things go
to far.  Instead of giving him a reputation as a cad, his exploits
have made him one of the most desired men in Aern.

Aaron Illius is a large man, ruddy of complection and with a full
brown beard, though no hair at all on the top of his head.  He tends
to wear bright colors, but usually, they are stained from his
gardening.  He is the herbalist of the gymnasium, the medical
assistance should anyone need it, and the quarterstaff instucter.
(McPherson is usually to busy to bother with insturction in the
staff.)  He is a quite man mostly, but loves a good joke.  He knows
McPherson from adventuring together, but they are not truely friends.
His garden grows herbs to treat most minor wounds, and he is skilled
in first aid.  He has some knowledge of healing magic, but does not
use it much.


The gymnasium itself is a large building.  It takes up almost 200 ft
of frontage on one of the major streets.  Allong the street is a
columnade of twenty foot tall pillars supporting a 15 foot wide
overhang.  Under the shade of this ledge, there are usually a number
of street people performing and sages discusing various matters.
Since it is an important local in the city, public anouncements are
always read and posted here.

The main doors to the building are in the center.  They are 15 feet
tall wood, bound with brass.  During the day they stand open allowing
free entrance to the anteroom inside.  There, benches line the walls,
and two fountains cool the air.  The room in lit by a large skylight,
and torches allong the wall if necessary.  Here people wait, discuss
buisiness, and gossip.  Opposite the entry, there is a reception
table.  There, a girl waits to hear the needs of the patrons.  She has
a bell that she uses to summon a messanger from inside if that is
necessary.  For most patrons, she recognizes them or their house
emblems, so they are escorted into the main room.  She can summon two
guards who stand ready inside with a shrill wistle.  (Guards are low
level, armed in soft leather, but carry spears and short swords.  They
are mostly around to keep out undesirables who are loitering too long
in the entry room.)

In the main room there are always many activities going on.
Instructors are giving lessons in weaponry to small groups and
individuals.  There is a bath off the the right, which is run by Aaren
with the help of 6 girls and 2 overseers (the girls are slaves.  The
overseers actually run the baths, though Aaren does see to it
sometimes.)  This is mostly a place for a good relaxing massage.  More
amourous persuits are for elsewhere.  Off to the left, there is a door
leading to the private apartments of the four owners and some of the
better instructers.  Also on the left hand wall are offices used by
McPherson and Henry.  Tetrus keeps his office in a series of rooms
behind the back wall of the main room.  Some of these extra rooms are
used for meditation classes and so on that he teaches.

On the right wall in the far corner from the entry is the office of
Aaren.  This is mostly just a small study and an infirmery.  There is
a door to the backyard (enclosed by a 12 foot high fence) which holds
both Aaren's herb garden and a larger vegtables garden.  The backyard
can also be reached directly through a door in the rear wall.  That
leads to an covered walkway with the quarters for the servants and
attendants on the right and some storage rooms and the kitchen on the
left.

@begin(asciimap)
_______________
|              |
|              |_+____________________________________________
|              |   ________________                           |
|              +  |                |                          |
|______________|  +                |                          |
|              |  |                |                          |
|___________+__|+_|________________|_______________________+__|
|    |  |                                          +    +     |
|    |  |                                          |____|_____|
|    |  |                                            _________|
|    |  |                                           +         |
|    |  |                                           |         |
|    |  |                                           |         |
|    |  |                                           |         |
|    |  |                                           |         |
|____|_+_______________________+++++________________|_________|
                        |                 |
                        |                 |
                        |_______+++_______|
@end(asciimap)

The map above is a crude attempt to draw the layout in ASCII.
Hopefully which rooms are which will be evident.  The crosses are
doors.  There are always 2 guards just inside the large inner doors.
There are also the various instructors who are probably enough to
deter any violence in the building.  On a usual day, there will be
about 10 people in the baths at any time, and 20 to 40 on the practice
floor.  Aside from the 4 owners, there are about 8 to 10 other
instructors and about 15 servants.  (Of whom most are free, but the
massage girls are slaves (and valuable ones)) There are provisions for
most types of combat practice here, though not for anything requiring
a horse.  The clientel is mostly of the merchant classes or above.
Prices for simple instruction are fairly low, but once individual
instruction is desired (even from a lesser instructor than one of the
four owners) training becomes pricey.  As the rapier is in vogue with
the noble houses, would be members of the upper crust can often be
seen practicing here.

I've left a lot out of the development of the gymnasium so far.  For
example, I haven't developed any of the minor instructors.  I feel
they should be made as needed to fit into the campaign at hand.
Prices I can't judge for other campaigns, but I'm thinking of a months
surplus wages for an artisan for any kind of personalized training.
People do come here just to work-out though.  For a modest fee, one
can enter the main room and spar with a partner if there is room.
Medical service is provided, but one is expected to donate to the gym
if extensive treatment is necessary.

I hope this sparks people's interests.

Doug Bonar
bonar@math.rutgers.edu