Hocum's Fantasmagorium

The long-shuttered and storied building once known as Hocum's Fantasmagorium, located in the northern end of the Redroof district in the city of Kintargo, Ravounel, was purchased by Maercin Kelimber at some time recent to 4724 AR. Its renovation into a dry goods warehouse has been delayed by infestations of unusual vermin and imps.

Structure

Unlike most the district's buildings, the Fantasmagorium is constructed from Kintargo's distinctive white limestone rather than red brick.

History and exhibits

Hocum's Fantasmagorium once served Kintargo as a mix between a museum and freak-show. It was built in 4641 AR by Braedan "Hocum" Azperex to bring a little joy back to the city after the horrors of the Chelaxian Civil War.

During its heyday, the Fantasmagorium boasted several halls of exhibits:

• The Hall of Cryptids displayed a misidentified cyclops skull as well as the skeletons of a pair of sasquatches.
• The Hall of the Seas once contained live exhibits, mostly common local fish, but the collection also included a four-armed reefclaw and a pair of ningyos misidentified as 'Arcadian Mermaids'.
• The Insect Zoo included the remains of giant insects, including a scarab beetle, a giant ant, and a giant centipede.
• The Wax Gallery was a wax museum dedicated to local heroes, celebrities, and myths, including the infamous Temple Hill Slasher.
• The Hall of Historical Truths was, in fact, dedicated entirely to displays about rumours and urban legends.

Whilst Braedan Azperex's showmanship and charisma ensured that Hocum's Fantasmagorium was initially successful, the business struggled once the novelty wore off. Within 20 years, Hocum's Fantasmagorium had closed its doors for good.

Secret monastery

This page contains spoilers for the following products: plot points of In Hell's Bright Shadow.
You can disable this banner in your personal preferences.

Unknown to almost all, the building was secretly purchased by the Sacred Order of Archivists, a secret society of Iroran scholars dedicated to preserving the true history of Cheliax. Beneath Hocum's Fantasmagorium, they expanded the building's basement and created the secret Many-Steps Monastery.

The Sacred Order and their secret headquarters were destroyed by lackeys of Lord-Mayor Barzillai Thrune during the Night of Ashes in 4715 AR. Much its contents, including texts and artwork from pre-Thrune Cheliax, were captured by Barzillai in the raid.