Dun Gemrad
The Imperial Throne in Skìrah
Dun Gemrad, roughly translated from Old Speech as Castle Winter, is the residence and throne of the House of Winter. As the residency of the Earl of Frostern Hold and head of House Wintersblood, Dun Gemrad was the capital of the Kingdom of Frostern and a major point in the map of the Great Western Empire. Dun Gemrad is a large stone castle weathered with age and impressively fortified. The castle towers over the Great Glen, and is approached by a well kept road that leads to Talvel's Point. Like most other Imperial Era Frosian castle, Dun Gemrad is first protected by a wooden picket set atop a ten-foot tall earthen ring.
Design
The castle itself consists of 3 baileys - the inner, middle and outer baileys - with one entrance to the castle at the tip of the outer bailey and the sheer drop of the Great Glen behind the inner bailey. Each section is separated by rock-cut ditches that drop down for 25 feet. The rock-cut ditch between these two baileys means that there is a drawbridge that connects the two and this drawbridge, which needs to be lowered on both sides of the ditch, is the only way to reach the inner bailey. The entire castle is then fortified by a 25 foot tall curtain wall, rimmed with merlons. Beneath the castle is a maze of tunnel works that serve both as a secondary dungeon and provide access to secret tunnels for escape at the bottom of the Great Glen, as well as a series of chambers that serve as the dwelling and workshop for the High King's trusted seer and advisor.
Outer Bailey
The outer bailey is pentagon shaped, with buttresses rising from each corner to meet square guard towers with merlons, and ballistae and polybolos.
Middle Bailey
The middle bailey is an irregular polygon. Like the outer bailey, the wall of the middle bailey is studded with towers, however these ones are cylindrical and have trebuchets atop them for extra defence during siege. The large and wide courtyard behind the wall of the middle bailey has a number of small wooden buildings that serve both as the barracks for the armies of Wintersblood as well as a safe place for local farmers in times of crises. A small chapel dedicated to the Elder Gods Pantheon sits next to a well and there are several pens for livestock. The chapel is said to hold an artefact, the weapon of a long-dead hero of Frostern.
Below the Chapel holds the castle dungeons, built as a later addition to the actual castle. The corridors inside the dungeon are a sprawling maze of passages and cells. Prisoners are held in individual cells, but cracks in walls allows for inmates to see and hear each other. Despite the ageing appearance, the walls are especially sturdy. According to rumour, at the very bottom is a horrific torture pit where some creature is kept and fed by the rotting parts of dead prisoners. Within the tunnels and beneath the entire castle itself is a massive cave which acts as the natural water reservoir for the denizens inside. When under siege, the 4,000 people defending or surviving behind Dun Gemrad's walls have an un-poisonable water source that, as the Whiteraven's claim the castle could withstand 7 months of siege, statistics suggest has around 1.7 million litres of water.
Inner Bailey
The inner bailey is slightly raised on a hill and is surrounded by both the curtain walls of the middle bailey and its own curtain walls. The gatehouse between the middle and inner baileys is positioned at the back of the middle bailey and is flanked by two towers. The curtain walls of the inner bailey are studded with semi-circular projections and is curved, allowing for better absorption of siege weaponry attacks, and covered in arrow slits, allowing from archers to fire at all angles inside invading forces that somehow reach the middle bailey.
The main building of the castle is situated in the inner bailey and is a compact but ornate manor-keep of four floors that houses the Earl, and his family and servants. This manor features many great stained glass windows and is noted for the many exotic gemstones studded into the walls of the grand banquet room that also contains an ornate and famed tapestry and acts as the royal throne room of the High King. Inside the manor also contains a personal guardroom, a magnificent antechamber, a secondary informal dining room for family matters, a Zemtars Meadery brewery in the basement, a grand royal bed chamber with secret alcoves, and a duelling room.
Denizens
Housed inside the castle is every member of House Wintersblood, being the High King and his family, as well as the Dun Gemrad Household including member of court when needs be. The inn above the barracks provides shelter for any visitors, travellers or minor courtiers such as Bailiffs when tax-season starts.
A number of soldiers make their rounds between the walls, each clad in gambeson and armed with ranged weapons. A total of 40 pikemen and 60 crossbowmen are regularly stationed in Dun Gemrad. Protecting the castle is also a significant pack of peerless hunting hounds, 5 Earlsguard and 3 Knights (being High King Alnitak's 3 eldest sons).
History
The castle is best known for never falling in a siege. Even during the Civil-War, the Siege of Dun Gemrad outlasted the peace treaty, with the Wolfspacks not damaging or claiming the castle in the aftermath of the First Blood of Winter. It is said that Dun Gemrad was originally a piece crafted by the original members of House Whiteraven, who went on to be renown for both their architecture and innovation in keep building across the continent. If it is the case, then Dun Gemrad is regarded to be by far the greatest castle ever solely built by the Whiteravens.
Alternative Names
Castle Winter
Type
Castle
Parent Location
Owning Organization
Potential Military Protection
With assistance from the garrisoned troops at Talvel's Point, this is the maximum standing troops Dun Gemrad could be defended by; excluding nobles' personal levy, external armies and mercenary troops.- 382 Pikemen (40 from Castle, 342 from City)
- 288 Crossbowmen (60 from Castle, 228 from City)
- 66 Armoured Knights (3 from Castle, 63 from City)
- 5 Earlsguard Veterans
- 57 Clerics of War (Heavy Infantry)
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