Kerekasztal

Kerekasztal is said to be located in the wild lands of Dnuor Elbat where it overlooks the Essenoyl Sea. It is a tall, circular tower of white marble and famed meeting place of the knights of the realms. Stories say that it is always tended to by three women, called the Three Sisters. Although their age descriptions put them more likely as three different generations they do refer to each other as sister.
Directions to the tower seem to change from visitor to visitor with the road or path twisting to the north or veering to the south. The terrain changes with each telling as well from steep cliffs to fetid swamps to dark forests. Strangely the way out is always a clear straight road out to the border of the woods.

Purpose / Function

Kerekasztal’s original purpose has been lost to the mists of time, however each of its recent incarnations has the noble tower being used as a meeting place for the leaders of the knightly orders. Only knights and their squires and pages may enter the great tower. In the tower all knights regardless of patron, liege, alliance, age, or rank are considered equals. Here they meet to discuss the most important of matters and address concerns that affect all of their nations and homelands. The leaders convene in the great chamber to deliberate the issues and each receives one vote when called for.

Alterations

Although the tower has been abandoned and left in ruin several times, each reconstruction effort has reported that the building only ever needed a bit of cleaning up, washing, and plant removal. There has never been any records of any additions being constructed or parts being removed. The gardens and fountains always grow a little wild and keep the groundskeepers very busy.

Architecture

This building is constructed of gleaming white marble that shines with a radiant glow in the morning dew. Each floor is perfectly circular with each rising level having a shorter diameter and flat roofs. A view from above would give the impression of a series of concentric and evenly spaced circles.
Entrances to the first floor hall are through the north or south archways. There are no doors to this level and the inside is open with soaring 20 foot ceilings and two staircases at the east and west sides. Around the perimeter of the room are beautiful tapestries depicting each of the Knightly Virtues and in between them are lifelike statues of brave knights from the ancient past.
The stairs down to the first basement lead to the barracks for the squires and pages. A further set of stairs leads down to the second basement and what has become the wine cellar and cool storage area.
The stairs up from the entrance hall leads to the second floor general kitchen and cafeteria and food storage areas. Here the squires and pages eat and drink. The third floor contains the dining area for the knights themselves.
On the fourth floor is the great meeting hall where the leaders of the knightly orders discuss and plan the important issues of the day. Two great windows allow the rising and setting sun to shine through during the equinoxes.
Above this are the private meeting rooms of the fifth floor. The sixth floor contains the sleeping quarters of the knights. Then the seventh floor contains the library. The steps continue up to a sealed archway and whatever lies beyond is unknown to all.

Defenses

As a building dedicated to the eternal promise of peace, it does not have any type of defensive fortifications, surrounding walls, or weapons. Rumors persist of strange magics and that spirits in the mists await for anyone foolish enough to bring violence to the gardens surrounding the tower.

History

Most of the history of Kerekasztal is a mystery. It is thought to be thousands of years old, but no one knows exactly how old it is, when it was built, or by whom. It is believed that the ancient records had been destroyed when the early kingdoms where overrun and shattered. Since that time most of the new accounts have been lost through the centuries of infighting, war, and destruction. We do know that the tower has gone through many periods of ruin and restoration and according to recent stories it has been restored at least twice. Seemingly in the darkest of times the kingdoms band together and the knights join forces under the tower of Kerekasztal to drive back the evil and lift the darkness from the land.

Tourism

This is a very scared and hallowed building to many of the knightly orders. It was used in historic times with historic leaders and now continues as a revered meeting place for the Grand Masters of the knightly orders. Although none of them directly own it they all feel a deep responsibility to keep it as is. Only under very special circumstances are people allowed to enter the gardens and no one can enter the building itself without an escort.

Current Status:
This building has undergone constant cycles of ruin and repair and ruin and repair again.

Founding Date

The original construction date of this ancient tower has been lost to the ravages of time.

Type

Tower

Related Professions

• Knight