Chalet (structure)

Chalets in the 17th-century game world are seasonal mountain buildings constructed for temporary occupation during the warmer months, used while cattle are kept away from the valley's haymeadows during the growing season. They are set above the valley floor, typically on a slope or shelf where ground is stable and drainage is reliable, and are built to withstand exposure to wind, rain and long periods of abandonment. The structure is usually of timber laid upon a low stone foundation or footing, both to level the building and to keep the wood clear of ground moisture.

Inside, the space is simple and practical. Storage is built into the structure in the form of lofts, shelves or suspended racks, keeping goods dry and away from vermin. Furnishings are minimal and often fixed, consisting of platforms, benches or rough tables made as part of the building itself. A chalet is not intended for year-round habitation. It is built to be closed, secured and left unattended for months at a time, so its construction emphasises durability and resistance to weathering rather than comfort. Its presence indicates a maintained structure in an otherwise exposed setting, offering shelter that is dependable but austere, with little ornament and no accommodation beyond what is strictly necessary.

Construction

Period chalets are constructed of field stone and mortar, with little to no insulation; this provides protection against wind and little else during the winter. While some include a chimney, most do not. The roof is gently sloped, with overhanging eaves at the front and sides to prevent snowmelt and rainwater from eroding the foundation. Large gables support the front of the structure against heavy snowfall. Chalets are often set into the natural slope of the ground, both for temperature buffering and added structural support. Walls are thick and close-fitted to resist weather, with small openings rather than broad windows. A single door, often heavy and reinforced, serves as the main entrance. The roof is steeply pitched to shed rain and snow, commonly weighted or shingled in a way that resists uplift in strong winds.

The lower floor, typically 18 ft. by 25 ft., has a dirt surface. Stone stalls lined with straw are used for birthing or sick animals during the summer months. The upper floor is larger, approximately 20 ft. by 28 ft., divided between bunkrooms and a working area for producing butter and cheese from cow’s milk. This floor is made of flagstone laid over planking, while the roof's shape helps keep the space relatively cool during warm weather. Cooking is commonly done outdoors.

Access & Appropriation

Because the chalet is left unoccupied from October to March, it is generally understood that hunters and other travellers without malevolent intent may shelter there if necessary, especially if overtaken by a storm. A supply of wood is ordinarily kept sufficient for several weeks, though food cannot be relied upon. To protect these structures during the long winter vacancy, the mages' guild dispatches members to inscribe glyphs upon the chalet and upon the nearby mazots, small huts used to store valuable private goods. These protections are harmless to those of good intent, but are meant to punish intruders, helping preserve the buildings from occupation by malicious humanoids and monsters.

Occasionally, however, a chalet is seized by a creature capable of deactivating the glyphs. In such cases, it may become a winter lair from which the occupant preys upon those in the lower valley. Expeditions sent to clear out such infestations are dangerous owing to the cold and prodigious snowfall, but they are sometimes organised all the same. Multiple parties may be dispatched at once, each assigned to investigate a suspected occupied chalet and either deal with the threat or report back to the local village or town.

Anachronisms

The common perception of a beautiful "chalet" made entirely of wood, enriched with carvings and built as a private home is an 18th-19th century phenomenon, far post-dating the game world. Details concerning what these structures were in the 1600s are scant and unreliable... but for game purposes, the ideal of a pretty Alpine building should be discarded from the players' imaginations.

See also,
Alpine (range)
Rural Structures