Uldien Caer Ubael

CAER UBAEL

The keep of Caer Ubael is fairly recent, built in 569 TR on the site of the old Jarin hill fort, the foundations of which are still underneath the main keep (not accessible and thus not shown). The original plans for the structure were much grander but local economics did not prosper as much as was anticipated in the 6th century and cut-backs had to be made to keep the building from bankrupting the baronial household. The finished design is servicable as a fortification, but not in the least comfortable for living and so the barons decided to remain in their old manor house and use the Caer only to house guests, entertain important visitors, and as a garrison for half their troops stationed in Uldien.
The plans show the keep in its dayto- day arrangement. When noble visitors with larger entourages announce themselves, additional furniture is borrowed from the local guildsmen who in turn get tax breaks for this service. This eases the strain on the Baron's purse but can lead to hectic preparations if important visitors show up unexpectedly.

GROUND FLOOR

(1) This large storage room holds the keep's supplies of grain, smoked and salted fish and meat, wine and ale, and other necessities needed to provision the garrison and keep enough emergency supplies on hand in case of a siege. The servants shun the eastern part this area, preferring the longer way through the archers' gallery and only entering it when necessary, because it is rumoured to be haunted by the restless ghost of a mason who drunkenly fell to his death here from a scaffolding when the keep was built. Ondra the cook claims to have seen him last Navek, translucent and moaning, with a large wooden splinter sticking out through his chest.

(2) The large kitchen is an unpopular place to work in, because of the poor ventilation – the chimney does not work properly and the single arrow-slit is hardly wide enough to draw off the smoke and fumes. Especially when grand feasts are prepared here the working conditions become hellish.

(3) The archers' gallery is used to house the keep servants. Since the keep houses just half of the garrison, only two servants are quartered here: the cook Ondra of Glavin sleeping next to the kitchen, who is subordinate to the manor's cook Gerla of Hundern, and the servant Harlyn of Latryn, who has his bed at the far end of the gallery. Ondra is a shy 16-year old popular with the garrison's men-at-arms, but constable Selvos Yaronne makes sure that the men do not cross the line.

(4) A cistern fed by rainwater collected in the roof gutters and fed down here through a pipe in the wall of the Basca Tower. The cistern is used mainly as a siege supply, since the keep's courtyard has a freshwater well that provides the garrison's daily needs. This has led to poor maintenance of the cistern, which has eroded the mortar sealing the gaps in the stonework. Soon the cistern will start leaking, costing a small fortune to repair and possibly ruining some of the supplies stored next door, if the leak is not discovered in time.

(5) The treasury is used mainly to store the taxes, levies, and dues owed to the Baron's liege, Earl Dariune. The Baron's own coffers suffer from chronic emptiness due to the large sums needed to maintain the Abbey, butter up the local economy, and supply and pay the baron's force of 20 men-atarms. Only the Baroness' deft juggling of the finances and sometimes under-handed dealings maintain the Barony in comfort and style. The Baron turns a blind eye to his wife's finagling, instead concentrating on the traditional knight's activities: jousting, hunting, and representing – an arrangement that has worked brilliantly so far.

(6) The armory stores hundreds of weapons, mostly spears, polearms, and shields for the peasant militia, and several suits of armour and sealed barrels of arrows for the garrison. The arms are taken out regularly for militia training and for routine checks and maintenance and are in good condition.

(7) This side-chamber holds valuable back-up weaponry like swords, falchions, maces, and siege supplies of worth. The south-western corner is kept clear of heavy objects, because of the hidden trapdoor that gives access to the secret tunnel connecting the keep and the Abbey (see #7 and #8 in the description of the cellars of Uldien Abbey for further details).

SECOND FLOOR

(1) The keep is entered on this level. After passing through a barred metal door guarded day and night by one of the men-at-arms, a visitor enters the great hall that takes up most of the floor space. Dominated by the banqueting table and two open fireplaces and overshadowed by the third floor balcony, the hall is the center-piece of the Baron's social activities. The tapestries along the walls depict scenes from clan Ubael's history. These are (clock-wise around the hall, beginning next to the entrance from the yard): Uldine Ubael's death at the hands of Londel troops, Sir Remnar Ubael swearing allegiance to Earl Qywald Dariune, Saint Uldine holding her hand protectively over the Barony, the founding of Uldien Abbey, elevation to Barony status, building of the keep, Sir Basca fighting side-by-side with Earl Alessa Dariune during the Baronial Revolt of 599 TR, Sir Basca swearing allegiance to the newly crowned King Haldan Elendsa in 603 TR, Baron Konin leading a mounted charge of Uldien knights at the Battle of the Ramala Gap in 673 TR. The great hall is usually only used for banquets hosting important visitors. Most less formal gatherings are held in the manor's hall.

(2) The small council chamber is used only when highranking nobles or churchmen come to Uldien. The Baron's liege Earl Troda Dariune detests the drafty tower room and prefers to discuss politics with his vassal at Dariune house or at Ubael Manor.

(3) The second floor of Basca Tower is furnished as a guest suite and kept clean for unexpected guests of higher station. Originally this suite was intended to house the Baron and his wife, but the cold and uncomfortable living conditions serve to keep a stay here as short as possible. The most prominent guest staying here in the past was king Torastra who spent a single night in this room in 676 TR, after which he moved to Ubael Manor for the rest of his visit.

(4) The rooms attached to the guest suite house servants, squires, and guards serving the personage staying in the suite. For most of the year these rooms stand empty.

THIRD FLOOR

(1) The gallery over-looking the great hall serves as a garrison for ten men-at-arms, all trained as longbowmen. Curtains separate the sleeping areas from the main gallery, offering a measure of privacy and keeping out the chill. When guests are present, the soldiers are billeted out to the archers' gallery on the ground floor, which becomes packed with men and gear.

(2) The small common room in the attached tower is used by off-duty men-at-arms for recreation and entertainment. Games of skill and chance are popular with the men, but Constable Selvos Yaronne forbids gambling for money and the presence of women. In return, the constable never comes here to give his men their privacy, as long as his rules are adhered to.

(3) Constable Selvos uses this part of Basca Tower as a briefing room for meetings with his men, hearings of disciplinary breaches, and the reception of petitioners from town or abroad. As a defensive measure, the double set of doors leading to this area are the only means of accessing the interior of Basca Tower from the main keep.

(4) The private quarters and office of Constable Selvos Yaronne are rather unadorned and austere, as is the man himself. The younger brother of Lord Salton Yaronne of Deldbar Manor seldomly smiles, but is always conscientious in his duties, fair in his judgements, and loyal to his Baron. His men do not especially like him, but respect him thoroughly – just as Selvos wants to be seen. In private, Selvos shows a different side, with humour dry enough to evaporate a lake instantly and a great knowledge of art and music. His men would be shocked to hear him sing or recite poetry. The constable keeps meticulous records of all kinds in the chest next to his writing table: tax lists, watch schedules, supply and storage lists, and financial records. The center-piece of the room is his exquiste full mail armour with plate cuirass and great helm, which he won at the joust of the Chelebin Tournament at Olokand in 715 TR.

(5) Ildren Kobarney, Sir Selvos' 17- year-old squire lives here. He is rather shy and taciturn and fears his master's displeasure greatly. He has developed the skill of fading into the background to perfection, and most residents of Uldien regularly forget that Sir Selvos even has a squire.

(6) This room houses sergeant Fallon of Ursin, younger brother of the innkeeper of the Brigand's Head and right-hand-man of Sir Selvos. Fallon is an expert marksman with the longbow, a hard-drinking veteran of many skirmishes, and deeply adored by the Baron's men-at-arms. He is fast friends with Sir Selvos and strictly enforces discipline among the men, but often intercedes with the constable when one of the men kicks over the traces.

FOURTH FLOOR

(1) The roof of the keep has a wide wall-walk along the crenellations that is patrolled day-and-night by one of the garrison's archers. The projecting southern corner of the Basca Tower prevents a full circuit, but the sentinel compensates this by climbing atop the platform of the Basca Tower (not shown) during his rounds, using a ladder leaned against the tower wall. From the tower platform the view around into the countryside is very good – on clear days a sharp-eyed guard can see a man-sized object out to a distance of about 4 leagues (10 miles or 16 kilometres) from the tower platform.

(2) The small attached tower is used as a shelter from inclement weather by the guards between their patrol rounds. A narrow ladder leads up onto the tower platform (not shown).

(3) The top-most floor of Basca Tower stands empty on purpose. In case of a siege, archers have free access to the embrasures and arrow-loops and can be easily supplied with fresh arrows by runners who do not have to wind their way around interior walls. This floor is only used as guest accommodations when guests with very large entourages have to be housed. Metal eyelets sunk into the roof beams allow curtains to be hung from the rafters, partitioning the area off to create a small measure of privacy for guests staying here – and allowing the partitions to be taken down within moments should trouble arise.