Olokand Castle

CELLAR

The cellars are used primarily for storage. Caer Olokand could withstand a lengthy siege and the stores are routinely checked by the steward of the castle, Sir Taran Serolis. If he finds an abundance of rat-chewed crates and stores, the servants are punished with bread and water rations until the rat numbers are greatly reduced. The foundations of Sanric Tower are higher than later additions, creating differences in floor level.
[1] The cellar of Sanric Tower has a crypt containing thirty tombs, arranged in three horizontal rows of ten. Here are buried the four kings of Nurelia, ten earls of Olokand (407- 603), and five earlas. There are also three empty tombs and eight containing unknown occupants. Supplies and equipment for the Royal Chelebin tournament are stowed in the connecting storeroom, including colorful marquees, pegs, ropes and other cordage, torch poles, and metal fixtures of all kinds. There are also spare bedding supplies, cushions, rugs, and curtains for castle apartments.
[2] The northern most lower tomb has a mechanically-hidden panel leading to the royal escape route by way of a small chamber. The chamber has a supply of old and rusty weapons, rotten stores, and a statue of an unknown man. The tunnel’s egress is the basement of the Kald & Castle [10] through a secret door unknown to the innkeeper.
[3] The cellar of the southeast tower has a chamber of interrogation, and cells for prisoners of middle to low status. A guard from the ground floor comes down to check on prisoners (if any) roughly every hour.
[4] The wine cellar in the northeast tower, accessible from the pantry and kitchen on the floors above, contains a number of barrels of very old, high quality wine left over from Miginath’s years as sheriff. The new wine steward of Caer Olokand, Korol of Valada, considers some of these wines exceptional. Sir Maldan dislikes wine.
[5] The main cellar and northwest tower hold siege stores. The foodstuffs are rotated often to lessen spoilage although some stores may have been overlooked.

GROUND FLOOR

This is the base level (+0) for all spot heights. The ground floor of Sanric Tower is higher at +4.
[1] The keep’s main entrance is in the north wall. Access is by means of a stone stairway and wooden drawbridge. There is a sturdy portcullis; both it and the drawbridge are controlled by winches from behind the redoubt wall. A huge iron-bound oak door guards the inner castle, although it almost always stands open.
[2] The passageway running west from the officers’ dormitory in the northwest tower leads to the towers of the inner bailey. There is more guard accommodation in those towers, but it is unused except during the Royal Chelebin Tournament of Chivalry, when every available bed accommodates at least one person.
[3] The majority of the castle servants sleep here. It is cold and drafty in winter and hot in summer. The cry of prisoners in the cells below often disturbs the sleep of the servants. A secret door conceals a long disused cupboard. It contains the skeleton of a young male holding a thick book. Centuries of grime and redecoration efforts have hidden the door completely, but the wood is thin and easily broken. The floor is flagged stone, and careful observation will reveal a pattern near the secret door.
[4] The main guard room, which houses the senior castle guards. In winter, this room is often the driest and warmest in the whole castle, and competition for bed space in this room is fierce. In summer the room remains pleasant, whatever the outside temperature. Due to a fluke of construction, the below-ground crypt cools the flagged floor, and a breeze from the staircase circulates enough air to draw heat and odors up the chimney.

SECOND FLOOR

The second floor of the castle has the most daily activity. The kitchens are busy all day, and there is constant traffic in the Great Hall.
[1] This level of Sanric Tower contains the Royal Council Chamber, an imposing room dominated by tapestries either side of the throne that depict the glorious past of clan Elendsa. During the king’s four month sojourn at Olokand, Kaldor is ruled from this room. Most of the discussions held by the royal court are conducted here. During the remainder of the year, the sheriff occasionally uses the chamber to meet important delegations. Prior to the tournament, the room is used by the numerous staff when planning for the event.
[2] The Great Hall is where the entire household dines, and is also used to host the royal (supreme) and shire courts; the trestle tables and most of the chairs and benches are stored away in the side alcove on such occasions. The Great Hall is overlooked by the gallery on the third floor, which is accessed by matching stairways in the south. The main source of illumination is the chandelier, and a huge glazed and barred window on the third floor.
[3] The southeast tower was once used for holding important prisoners. In 718, following a minor fall, King Miginath elected to use these chambers as his own, so he would not have to climb a further three floors up to the State Chamber. The room is now used only by the king and two attendants.
[4] Petitioners and witnesses to supreme and shire courts await their turn in the guardroom. They may sometimes be forced to stand for several hours before they are called or dismissed for the day.

THIRD FLOOR

The gallery level is mainly given to sleeping quarters, any of which may be used to keep prisoners of status.
[1] When the king is present, the northeast tower is occupied by the Lord High Chamberlain, Princess Meliem Elendsa, the king’s niece and the officer responsible for the administration of his household. As there is no Queen, Princess Meliem takes on the role of Lady of the House. She is also the Master of the Royal Chelebin Tournament of Chivalry. The remarkable success and growth of the tournament over the past decade is due to her administrative talent and experience.
[2] This level of Sanric Tower was made into a chapel when the rest of the keep was added. The chapel is dedicated to Larani, although Peonians of the household may also worship here. The chaplain, Sigolan of Jorwynn, is a member of the permanent staff of the castle and has a small chamber adjacent to the chapel for his family. They always eat at one of the upper tables.
[3] There is an enormous chandelier suspended from the ceiling that provides illumination to the Great Hall below. Maintaining the chandelier, replacing candles, cleaning the precious glass tubes, dusting the brackets, etc., is the duty of one castle servant. Perfumed candles are imported from Tashal for the chandelier. The glazed and barred window in the south wall is eight feet square, with hundreds of individual panes of stained glass. The window depicts a triumphant King Torastra at the siege of Burzyn.
[4] The apartment in the northwest tower is used by the sheriff whenever the king is in residence. This move never fails to annoy the sheriff ’s wife when she spends time visiting her husband. She thinks her husband ought to have the unused state chamber on the fifth floor, but is too much the politician to petition the king on this matter.

FOURTH FLOOR

The fourth floor is mainly used as private quarters. When the king is present, the whole level is turned into royal apartments and the sheriff moves to the guest chambers on the third floor.
[1] The sheriff resides in Sanric Tower, except when the king is present. Two members of the castle guard are billeted just outside the door. The room is always given to the Serekela (Archbishop) of Kaldor during the Royal Chelebin Tournament. At other times, the room is vacant, or used by the king to rest during the day.
[2] The lady’s chamber is not officially used since there is no queen. There is a secret passage linking the queen’s inner chamber to Sanric Tower. It has not been used for a considerable period; spider webs festoon the walls and ceiling, and the floor is very dusty. When the king is in residence, the room is used by the Lord Privy Seal, Erila Kaphin.
[3] The private hall is used for discussions between the king and his closest advisors, or for private celebrations. The main illumination for this hall is from the barred window in the north wall, which is five feet wide and twelve feet tall. This window is made up of many small panes of glass which provide a somewhat distorted view of the North Common.
[4] The grand apartments in the two north towers are used by visiting great nobles, and by prominent members of the king’s court when he is in residence.

FIFTH FLOOR (Roof)

[1] State Chamber for the king, but now sparsely furnished (see 2nd Floor #3) and used occasionally for prominent guests. The chamber was assigned to the Earl of Neph (Gardiren) and his party during the Royal Chelebin Tournament of Chivalry last year. The corpulent and libertine earl, although pleased with this honor, daily regretted the climb to this floor. Above the chamber is the roof of Sanric Tower, eleven feet higher than the other castle towers. The roof is flat and accessible by the circular stairs, or by ladder from the lower roof of the castle. There is always at least one guard on lookout on the roof.
[2] A pigeon house on the roof of the northwest tower, which is always kept well stocked. Pigeon pie is a favorite of the Sheriff.
[3] Olokand’s machicolations and hoardings were an afterthought. They are timber additions to the outside of the battlements. It has been so long since the castle was besieged, its defenses have been neglected. There are no longer stores of rock or oil and the strength of the hoarding is suspect. In places, the hoarding supports have almost rotted through, and this has affected the mortar of the supporting stonework. Some areas of the hoarding would likely collapse under the weight of an armoured man. The new mason will likely have a fit when he inspects the roof.
[4] It is rare to find anyone on the lower roof, despite the excellent view. Smoke from the castle’s four chimneys tends to swirl between the hip roofs in choking clouds.