Description
The walls are woven from tightly patterned flax reinforced with wooden slats, and the steep thatched roof extends wide to create shaded areas for work and practice. Inside, the floor is made of smooth, oiled planks that serve as both living surface and training ground. Sleeping platforms line the walls, divided for minimal privacy but arranged with military precision. The central space remains open for combat drills, group exercises, and haka performances, while racks along the walls display training weapons and ceremonial carvings that honor past warriors.
Daily life within the Bachelor's House is structured around discipline and improvement. Residents rise before dawn for conditioning drills, followed by martial instruction, settlement duties, and specialized training in weapon techniques or canoe handling. Evenings are spent maintaining gear, sharing stories, or listening to visiting elders. Fire pits provide warmth and serve as gathering points for discussion, while the constant rhythm of shared routines fosters loyalty and endurance. The atmosphere is equal parts barracks, temple, and family hall.
The structure also includes areas dedicated to maintenance and craftsmanship. Along one wall, tools and materials are organized for repairing armor, crafting weapons, and practicing essential survival trades. Heavy stones and ropes are used for strength training, while water vessels, grooming tools, and decorative pigments near the bathing area support both hygiene and ceremonial readiness. Outside, spear targets and sparring circles extend training into the open air, keeping the residents active and connected to the land and sea they defend.
Beyond training, the Bachelor's House functions as a social cornerstone. It teaches cooperation, respect, and leadership, preparing residents for future family life and community roles. Competitions strengthen resolve without undermining unity, and public events showcase the young warriors’ progress. When one marries, he leaves the house through a ceremony of honor, marking his transition into adulthood. The Bachelor's House stands as a symbol of discipline, unity, and the enduring strength of those who protect the settlement.
Benefits
The Bachelor's House generates 2 Prestige, as maintaining a well-trained warrior class demonstrates the settlement's strength and organizational capability. The structure houses 15 to 20 unmarried young warriors, providing them with disciplined communal living that develops martial skills and character. All residents gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls and CMB checks while defending the settlement or while fighting alongside other Bachelor's House residents, reflecting the coordinated training and brotherhood developed through shared living. Once per week, the Duke can call upon the Bachelor's House residents to perform a group haka that grants all settlement defenders a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear for 24 hours, as the powerful display of martial prowess inspires courage. Additionally, the presence of trained young warriors provides the settlement with an organized defense force, reducing the chance of successful raids or attacks by potential enemies.