Lake Avily
Lake Avily was a body of water described as peaceful and serene, situated amid mountainous terrain. A village stood directly on its shores, and the lake served as a landmark and resting point across multiple conflicts depicted in the Adventures of Baron Von Monocle series. It later became the site of a pivotal act of treachery that shaped the succession of the Rislandian throne.
Description
Lake Avily was characterized by its calm, tranquil atmosphere. The surrounding landscape was mountainous, lending the area a secluded and sheltered quality. A village was situated by the lake, providing accommodations and shelter for travelers in the region. Ambassador Sheila McRose described the lake as elegant, expressing particular fondness for visiting it.
An estate or palace was built on a cliff overlooking the lake, with a back structure that hung directly over the cliff's edge. A deck extended from this structure, offering a view down to Lake Avily below.
Role in The Fight for Rislandia
In The Fight For Rislandia, Lake Avily lay close to the location where The Liliana (Airship) landed. The text notes that "Lake Avily was close, a peaceful and serene place." King Malaky XV and his retinue made their accommodations in the village situated by the lake during this period, using it as a base of operations in the surrounding region.
Role in The Steam Knight
In The Steam Knight, Lake Avily served as a retreat location for King Malaky XVI's group, who took refuge at an estate built on a cliff above the lake. The back structure of the estate hung over the cliff, and a deck extended from the palace out over the cliff edge, affording a direct view of Lake Avily beyond. Ambassador Sheila McRose remarked upon arriving, "I do love my visits to Lake Avily. It's so elegant here."
The group took a stroll around the lake during their stay. James Gentry and Zaira von Monocle walked along its shore at night. James's presence at Lake Avily during this period coincided with a visit by Ethan von Lantern and Zaira to Plainsroad Village, as Ethan later noted: "When you were up at Lake Avily, Zaira and I came here."
Spoiler: The Steam Knight 2
This section reveals events from “The Steam Knight 2”.
Notable Visitors
- King Malaky XV and his retinue (The Fight for Rislandia)
- Ambassador Sheila McRose (The Steam Knight)
- James Gentry (The Steam Knight)
- Zaira von Monocle (The Steam Knight)
In A History of Rislandia
According to A History of Rislandia, Lake Avily is most prominently discussed in the context of the Lake Avily Estate, also known as The King's Retreat, a royal property situated on its shores.
The Lake Avily Estate
According to A History of Rislandia, the Lake Avily Estate — formally referred to as The King's Retreat — is described as "a beautiful glass-walled structure built on a cliff overlooking Lake Bethany." The sourcebook places the estate on the shores of Lake Bethany in southern Rislandia, and states it was founded in Year 250 as a royal retreat. It maintains a staff and guard complement of approximately 100 persons.
The estate's main house features glass walls offering panoramic views of the lake, luxurious furnishings and artwork, and guest rooms for the royal family and advisors. Its grounds include gardens, walking paths, a private beach, stables, servant quarters, and guard barracks. The sourcebook describes its dual purpose: serving as a retreat for the royal family during times of peace and as an evacuation point during times of war.
Spoiler: The Steam Knight 2
This section reveals events from “The Steam Knight 2”.
Lake Bethany and the Estate's Location
According to A History of Rislandia, the Lake Avily Estate overlooks Lake Bethany — not Lake Avily itself. The sourcebook consistently describes the estate as situated on the shores of Lake Bethany, while also associating the assassination attempt on King Malaky XVI with the name "Lake Avily." The relationship between the two lake names as used in the sourcebook is not explicitly resolved; it is possible the sourcebook treats "Lake Avily" as the colloquial name for the estate or its immediate locale, while "Lake Bethany" is the formal geographic designation of the body of water.