Molluscan Embassy Okanagan City

The Mollusca Consulate is an independent complex within the vast labyrinth that is The Warren. Considered the sovereign territory of House Mollusca, it is an amphibious structure, designed for the accommodation of the House in the event that they should again end up as refugees of the Lapin Protectorate. While originally much of it was built in haste, construction has continued over the years to make a place of comfort for the only truly aquatic House. It is occupied through much of the year by officials and diplomats, and Anassa JaySeaBoom frequently stays there with her son, Little Boom.   One accesses the Embassy via an elevator at the west end of the Warren, just off a dock on the shores of Okanagan Lake in the Bellavista area. The elevator descends quickly through a considerable distance underground. The same elevator eventually stops at the base of the Lapin Literomantic Library and the Chiropteran Embassy. It also provides access to the original Transcontinental Portal.   The Embassy is located within what was originally a self-contained underground lake. One enters through a pressurized airlock door, through a gate reminiscent of Zafforza City (possibly inspired by Atlantean architecture) deep within a cave. Complimentary diving gear and magical devices to enable water breathing are provided for visitors. Molluscans, however, also have access to a specifically "aquatic entrance" that is located in Kekuli Bay. This entrance is marked with an amethyst pillar to honour Molluscan colours.   Most of the Embassy is underwater. However, both "aquatic" and "amphibious" quarters are provided for resident Molluscans. These tend to be shared accomodations in a dormitory style, so they are simple, but comfortable, and capable of suiting the needs of almost any Molluscan. These quarters are each on opposite sides of the cavern, if only because Lapin's construction philosophy works with the existing space of an underground area, and putting them together might have required blasting out stone and risking structural integrity.   Both are sealed off for privacy from the rest of the cavern, except that the Amphibious Quarters also feature a lounge area with a view of the cavern through a large window of reinforced glass, as well as a formal conference room. Surface-dwelling visitors can watch fish literally swimming by the window as they sit and chat in relatively dry comfort.   In general, the cavern of the Embassy is quite brightly illuminated by underwater standards, and somewhat dim and mysterious by surface-dwelling ones. Contrary to what one might expect, Molluscan deep sea lighting is no better than that of surface-dwellers, and indeed, they seem to favour the high intensity blue-white LEDs that are common to underwater dock lighting. However, Molluscan lights rarely fail to maintain water- and air-tightness. It is still more than enough to navigate by, however, since all major features are marked with lighting, and can be seen a considerable distance away.   Some dim light, and heating, is provided by geothermal vents, part of the literomantically-enhanced technology that serves as the lion's share of the Warren's heating system.  

On the shores of the lake are a small number of terrestrial dwellings. Each is effectively a little house in the cavern, designated for those few Molluscans who are not wholly aquatic.   Beneath the water, one sees the glowing lights of an underwater village. Structures are mostly formed of durable concrete and stone, mostly in a similar turquoise shade as the water.   This is salt water, and a plethora of ocean life swims and grows among the buildings; most notably, the many eight-legged creatures that swim and scurry to and fro. Some are quite spectacular, with bioluminescent shapes suggesting stars in the night sky, lurking in the darker depths. Others seem to have an almost perfect ability to blend in with their surroundings... and a mischievous tendency to play tricks on the unwary.   A small coral reef has begun to form, but it is new.   It is likely this underwater lake is accessible to Okanagan Lake at some point, but only the Molluscans seem to know where.

— Princess Rowean, "Inside the Warren"