Location The White Orchid

[Ianthe]

The White Orchid Description: The White Orchid is a lovely, if unassuming, building that backs onto the Silver Lake in a busy neighbourhood of shops and entertainment locales. The building itself is made of white stone, though the stone is frequently hidden by purple-flowered vines that drape thickly across its surface. A narrow archway frames the black door and orchid knocker that guard the entrance, while a small plaque on the left side of the door spells out the business' name in cursive Kontinese. Once inside, visitors will find themselves in a tapered entryway. The stone walls are white, and ornamentation is limited except for a potted white orchid on the right side of the entry. Light wood flooring flows seamlessly throughout the entire interior of the building. A small office sits immediately to the left. The office door is almost always open so that anyone sitting at the desk can easily see newcomers arrive. Straight ahead and slightly to the right of the building's entrance is an open archway that leads into the main meditation room. Further to the right of the open archway is a hallway that leads to the back of the building where a flooded staircase invites visitors to the underwater meditation space. Office: The White Orchid's office is 200 square feet and contains a light wood desk. Two straight-backed wooden chairs, each made of light-coloured wood and cushioned with white fabric, face one another on either side of the desk. A journal lies on the center of the desk's surface with a quill and black ink to its right. Three simple wooden shelves are nailed to one of the walls, one above the other. Each shelf contains a neat assortment of writing utensils, parchment, and candles. Main Meditation Room: The main meditation room is an open space cleared of any furniture save the stacked meditation cushions on the far side of the room. A lap harp, skillfully crafted from vianwood, sits next to the stacked meditation cushions. Nearest to the archway lies a stone fireplace, used to warm the space during colder seasons. A framed painting of a white orchid, undoubtedly painted by a local artist, hangs above the fireplace as if to remind the visitor of the business' naming origin. White curtains, made of a lightweight cotton fabric, cover the entire length of one wall, and behind these curtains is a windowed door that leads to the outer stone patio. During warm weather, the curtains are often pulled aside to allow for air to drift in through the patio door. Stone Patio: The white stone patio is sparsely decorated, since the cushions used for outdoor meditation are always stored in the main meditation room. The back end of the patio overlooks the Silver Lake, while the rest of it faces a neighbouring business that has an outdoor deck of its own. A stone railing, high enough to reach the waist of most konti, separates the patio from the lake and the building's neighbours. A simple stone bench sits closest to the Silver Lake, though the stunning view is hidden from all but the tallest seated konti. Underwater Meditation Room: One of the White Orchid's most interesting offerings is the underwater meditation room that backs on to the Silver Lake. The room is flooded with Vision Water, but is segregated from the rest of the lake via a stone wall. A small opening at the bottom of the wall allows fresh water to flow in and out, and sometimes a surprised fish will make an appearance. The floor is also paved with stone, though it is not unusual to see underwater plants popping up through its cracks. The room itself has no ornamentation or furniture. It is a clean space that konti and other gilled races often use to practice a floating meditation without interruption. The White Orchid is typically open from the 8th bell to the 18th bell, with an hour's closure midway through the day for lunch. The business is closed during all official Muran holidays. Employees, Services, & Membership:   Founder Name: Ianthe N'asira Title: Owner Race: Konti Date of Birth: 47th Day of Spring, 460 AV Place of Birth: Mura Ianthe is the sole owner of The White Orchid. She opened her business in the summer of 514 AV in order to fulfill her dream of teaching meditation to Murans and foreigners alike. Years of practice have shown her that everyone can benefit from learning meditation and beginning a practice of their own. She particularly encourages young konti Seers to join her classes, as there is much to be gained from having a calm mind when seeking answers in the Chavena. The White Orchid's founder takes a holistic approach to meditation and feels that the state of one's mind has a powerful effect on all areas of life. If the mind is polluted with negativity and distraction, this chaos will manifest itself in one's relationships, business, combat training, or craft. Her classes also emphasize the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle through good diet and exercise, as the state of one's body can conversely affect the state of one's mind. She places much importance on self-knowledge, discipline, and inner peace, and seamlessly integrates these values into her practice and teachings. During business hours, Ianthe is most often found either in her office or teaching a class. She organizes and runs all workshops and classes, and also provides private lessons and tours upon request. All membership sign-ups and employment inquiries should be directed to her.   Services Services Note: At this time, all workshops, classes, and private lessons are taught by Ianthe. Meditation Workshops: The White Orchid hosts an in-house meditation workshop once every seven days. Workshops are typically taught as one-off classes that focus either on a specific discussion topic relating to meditation or on a particular target market. An example of a discussion topic might be "Deep Breathing," while an example of a target market might be "Writers and Meditation". Classes are structured to combine both lecture and practice. Each workshop can accommodate 5-10 people and lasts between 1-2 bells. Open to konti and non-konti. Cost: 8 gm/workshop Group Meditation Classes: For those who are looking to begin a guided meditation practice on a regular basis, the group meditation offering fits the bill. Group meditation is often taught to young konti (15-35 years in age) as a way for them to formally hone their Divination abilities, grow their self-knowledge, and become closer to the divine. Other group classes are available, however, and can be targeted to a wider audience - for example, tourists, healers, or artists. Classes last 2.5 bells and are open to only 3-5 people at a time in order for the feedback to be personalized. Open to konti and non-konti, though some group classes are only available for konti. Cost: 15 gm/class Private Meditation Lessons: If a client would like to receive individualized guidance that targets their personal strengths and weaknesses, they can opt for private meditation lessons. Each lesson is offered on a one-on-one basis and is designed with the client's needs in mind. The lessons are often structured in a discussion/practice/discussion format and can last anywhere between 2-5 bells, depending on the client's request. Cost: Starting at 25 gm/lesson   Membership Membership Membership Benefits: The purchase of a seasonal membership offers access to The White Orchid's three meditation spaces (indoor, outdoor, and underwater) at any time during off-class business hours. Members can come and go as they please, and are free to use any available equipment. The meditation is self-directed, though members may choose to offer guidance to one another so long as they are not a distraction to anyone else. Membership Price: 35 GM/season. Please seek out Ianthe if you wish to purchase a seasonal membership to The White Orchid. She will add your name to the list of members, provide you with an introductory tour, and answer any questions you may have.