Baseta Keep

GROUND FLOOR

[1] Butchery/Salting: Sir Eres keeps a fine table, and on account of that, his kitchen staff includes a bonded master salter, Brenial of Mevurk. Much of his work takes place here and the hanging meats and cheeses give the whole area a sharp, tangy aroma. His specialty is sausages made from offal. Several cats keep guard over the delicacies in their own way. This entry to the keep is both a weak point in the defense and a sally port as needed.

[2] Secret Treasury: Only the Constable, his son, and the Earl of Vemion know about this chamber, accessible through a secret door in the cask. (No one is permitted to tap this cask which is said to contain a fine distillation the Constable is saving for a special occasion.) Entry into the treasury involves crawling through the cask, though the Constable barely fits through these days.

[3] Storage/Well: This chamber which houses the keep’s well is used to store odd pieces of furniture, non-perishable items, and anything which isn’t expected to be needed in the near future.

[4] Inquiry Room/Dungeon: The Constable has little need for harsh interrogation methods, and on the very rare occasions he does, acts as his own interrogator. The cell, however, is used to house those destined for the gallows until the appointed day.

[5] Armory: This chamber houses the spare arms for the keep. There is enough weaponry here to outfit at least a second company of men-at-arms. A small chest holds ready silver coin, usually about £2.

SECOND FLOOR

[1] Entry/Storage: The main entrance to the keep which is not especially defensible. Much of this chamber is given over to storage of common and frequently used items.

[2] Barracks: Half of Baseta’s garrison of light foot men-at-arms are quartered here. These men are mainly tasked with guarding the keep.
Chapel:
Senior Barracks: These separate quarters serve the captain of the company, Elgam of Waddor, and the sergeant of the guard.

[3] Great Hall: Sir Eres duly loves a feast, especially after a successful hunt. He is generous of hand and table, and will invite as many to dine here as possible. Most days, this hall sees only those who live in the caer and the few normal guests (such as Dewmanda of Cheselith).

[4] Garde-Robes: The main lavatories of the keep. Sir Eres frequently talks of relocating them, but nothing ever comes of it. Meanwhile, they remain between the kitchen and the Great Hall, constributing their own special aromas to both.

[5] Kitchen: The domain of the Chief Cook, Aldo of Zetinam, who rules this place with iron-fisted humor. More meticulous in his cooking and its presentation than Sir Eres, he samples every dish before it leaves his kitchen in order to assure it meets his exacting standards. He is known to poke his head into into the Great Hall during feasts to see how his culinary creations are being received.

[6] Ready Storage: Ale, wine, and other frequently used items are stored here. Along with one barrel of oil that is ready to be poured down the stairs in case an attacker breaches the sally port.

THIRD FLOOR

[1] Knights Quarters: Those knights rendering feudal service are usually quartered here, their squires bedding down wherever they can.
Most of the knights enjoy their time at Baseta, with its few burdens and many social opportunities. In better weather, they often gather on the battlements to carouse and gamble over libations.

[2] Gallery: In Baseta, the tradition of the Ladies’ Gallery is maintained, and the women of the household eat here separately from the men who feast below.
However, since the only lady of the household is Wilia of Margant, and she insists on eating in the Great Hall, the custom is honored infrequently.

[3] Sir Miren’s Quarters: The dour knight spends much time here, drinking. His father is beside himself with worry. The merry atmosphere of the constable’s court has been upset by his son’s demeanor.
Once a fine jouster and a popular ladies’ champion, Sir Miren recently returned from the Solori Crusades on the Melderyni frontier a changed man.
He avoids his father’s festivities, preferring long solitary rides through the countryside.
His former sense of humor has turned dark and a little disturbing. He has become fixated on the brief nature of mortal life.
Sir Eres neither understands nor approves of the change in his son.

[4] Council Chamber: Sir Eres holds important, but confidential meetings in the chamber. In the northeast corner is a private shrine to Larani.

[5] Captain of the Guard’s Quarters: Sir Tranepter Kressenta occupies this room. A scion of the Nephshire clan, he is presently courting Lady Yylie Karondal, a relative of Sir Eris Karondal of Hethreron, sheriff of Balimshire.

[6] Constable’s Quarters: Sir Eres shares these spacious rooms with his mistress Lady Wilia of Margant.
She serves as seneschal of the caer, but in all other respects, as the lady of the castle.
Once, long ago, Sir Eres proposed marriage to her and she turned him down. Now, as she is getting older, she wonders if she should have accepted.
She knows Sir Eres has no interest in more children at his age, but she has lately begin to think differently for herself.
It may have something to do with the change in Sir Miren, or the Constable’s doubts over his position.
Nevertheless, Lady Wilia is contemplating a change; retiring to a manor with the man she loves and starting a family.

ROOF

[1] Upper Battlements: The upper battlements of the caer are rarely guarded. In the event of an attack, however, they provide crucial defensive positions.
[2] Tower Fourth Level: The eastern tower of the keep has a fourth level, the highest point of the keep. Sir Eres sometimes ascends to its roof when he has something to contemplate. He finds the view to the river and over the town concentrates his thinking.

OLD TOWER

[1] Cellar/Crypt: Rarely entered anymore, the stone ceiling collapsed decades ago. The present inhabitants of the caer know about the crypts, but do not know who is buried here as the tombs have no inscriptions.
Punishment detail for the garrison includes ‘guarding the old ones’ though only for the most serious infractions.

[2] Ground Floor: The floor here collapsed decades ago, primarily due to age and lack of maintenance. This was the original keep of Caer Baseta, and when the larger fortress was built, this structure was relegated to barracks.
The flooring has grown more unstable with the passage of time, and it wouldn’t take much to bring more of it down.

[3] Second Floor: Six men-at-arms are quartered here. Despite the ramshackle condition of the tower, the guards stationed here like it as they are usually too far away for the captain of the guard to assign them impromptu duties.
Their main responsibility is to patrol the palisade, though at night, they often just watch from the tower roof. In winter, especially when the wind is off the Kald, this chamber is cold, drafty, and moans.

STABLE/METALSMITH

[1] Smithy: Moster of Jaksyrth, bonded master metalsmith to the caer is kept busy here shoeing horses, and making or repairing the various metal implements required to maintain the keep.

[2] Stables: Lycenis of Kadados, who is the bonded master ostler, cares for the horses of the keep as well as those of important visitors. He oversees two stableboys, who try to avoid him whenever they can.

[3] Quarters: Most of the structure is open to the south, but a wattle and daub ‘cabin’ occupies this end. The two masters sleep here, but as Moster cannot abide Lycenis, he spends his nights as often as not at the Bustling Pig [22].

[4] Hayloft: The two mistreated stableboys sleep here in the loft. Lycenis will beat them for the slightest infraction, saying he intends to force character on them. One is contemplating running away. The other is contemplating murder.

GATEHOUSE

[1] Quarters: Accessible only by ladder, this chamber serves as quarters for the four men-at-arms charged with guarding the gatehouse. Very little threatening ever seems to happen, and the guards have become lax.

[2] Roof: The only access to the interior of the gatehouse is via the ladders, which are easily pulled up if needed. With the caer high up on a near impassable escarpment, this is the most vulnerable part of the fortress. Nevertheless, a powerful defense could be offered from these ramparts.