Jedes Keep Great Hall

The great hall is huge but simply decorated. Thick red velvet curtains hang alongside the windows. They are closed only in the winter months, to reduce draughts. A huge shield bearing the blazon of Earl Dariúnè, actually a six-foot-high wooden frame with embroidered cloth stretched over it, hangs on the wall high above the fireplace.
The blazons of the local landholding clans—Doulzârn, Ercamber, Erwyne, Mazerony, Orteyan, Poúlty, and Vaén—hang along the curved northern wall. The arms of the bailiff clans—Halgalen, Kaphin, and Lartyne—hang from the balcony. The wooden shield bearing the arms of Lartyne was freshly painted over the winter, Sir Krisagon having only recently arrived in Chéwintin, and it stands out from the others. Clan Mirdârne’s blazon hangs from the central pillar. The sole blazon on the wall opposite the fireplace is that of Sir Laban of Tyart, winner of last year’s tourney. All of these blazons are painted onto wooden knight shields.
The great hall is an echoing, empty room. The keep’s residents, including the bonded masters and the garrison, eat two meals a day here. For most of the year the ladies eat with the men. Their presence makes for forty or more folk, filling seven or eight tables, a number easily accommodated within the hall. During the Horse Fair and Tourney the ladies dine on the gallery.
The head chambermaid, Cralla of Aven, the 21-year-old daughter of the cook, sleeps in the great hall along with six other chambermaids, all women from Jédes and the surrounding villages. Two scribes, Torbris and Eldaen of Aphria, and two apprentice clothiers also sleep here. Four other servants, Elarit of Veris and her daughters, live in a cottage in the village.
Cralla is fastidious about her work. She is usually quiet and reserved, but she pours scorn on the man-at-arms Padrig of Lunn, who is conducting affairs with two of the young chambermaids. The two maids, Brenna of Selis and Yritha of Tannis, vie for his affections. Both giggle and flirt when he approaches. Cralla was Padrig’s first conquest when he arrived at the keep. She was dumped two years ago for a prettier girl and now hates her former lover with a venom.
The hall is furnished with simple trestle tables and benches, all made from local timber. The tables can be moved to one side to provide accommodation for visitors. As the king always brings a large retinue to Jédes, a great many knights are quartered here during the annual horse fair and tourney.
There are three ornately carved chairs in the room. One chair, carved with Jarin knotwork, is used by Sir Shernâth; a second, carved with hunting scenes, is used by Sir Tamys. The third, which is kept next to the fireplace and covered with an embroidered blanket, is ornately carved with dragons and wyverns and made from Býrian dark hardwood. This chair was a present to King Miginath from Lady Erila Kaphin, and reserved exclusively for his use; Sir Shernâth is its guardian.
The constable recently had one of the servant girls, Brenna of Selis, whipped and placed in the oubliette for four days because she sat in it when she thought that no-one was looking. Brenna still has nightmares about the experience. Most of the keep staff were surprised by the severity of the punishment, as Sir Shernâth is normally more merciful in his dispensation of justice.