Denholm Keep

Geography

Denholm Keep is the ancestral seat of Clan Wylfdon (Deeerwolf).
The keep sits at the foot of The Farden Mountains on the eastern shores of Loch Den.

The Donshore Forest stretches for several miles behind the castle before covering the first peaks of the mountains.

Denholm is linked to the bustling town of Belhoden on the other side of the loch by a series of large and well-made bridges.
The stone bridges span several important rocky islands called The Crags. Several of these islands are themselves inhabited by the local clansmen.
Most of The Clanbearers from Clan Wylfdon live either in the keep or in Belhoden.

Due to its advantageous and secure position, the chieftains of Clan Wylfdon have been able to control and run the clan affairs from Denholm keep for centuries.
From Belhoden, The Aftonwheen river carries goods and people to Loch Morgunt and the rest of Alven. The river valley is deep, sheltered and productive.

In the east, it only takes two days for a courier to reach The Icy Sretch coast and its quiet and cosy fishing villages, as well as a few well-equipped seafaring vessels.

The Aftonwheen is the lifeblood of Farden, and controlling its people and waters is a great advantage. Clan Ramshead has always had its sights on the fertile lands to the south.
Up to now, Ramshead never had the power or the allies to act upon its greed and envy, but times are a-changing.

History

Clan Wylfddon is one of the most ancient clans of Alven.
It is almost certain that the clan was formed before The Darkening, slowly increasing its hold and lands in Farden.

The present clan borders were set up 200 years ago and have not changed since then.
Clan Wylfddon has been at peace for a long time, enabling its communities and towns to become prosperous and well-connected to the rest of Alven.

Clan Wylfdon is well known for the primary resources it provides the rest of Alven: wood, cheese, fruit, cured meats, wool, cloth, - even angora and silk these days.

The present keep was built 150 years ago.
As such, the castle's architecture belongs to the 'The Modern Style'.

The building was built as a more open and lighter version of the older one.
Paintings of the Old Keep which was destroyed still exist.

They show a dark and looming fortress, flanked by four very high, roofed towers and small arrow holes instead of windows.

A huge wooden gate, several trees thick, barred the entrance to a small, high-walled, courtyard.
The gate was placed right at the edge of the loch, the water offering extra protection from assailants.

Layout

The present keep is a more laid-back affair.
There are still four towers on every corner of the the keep but they are not as tall and forbidding as the old ones.

The grey stones of the Farden mountains, which have been reused from the previous keep, are now carved into beautiful friezes of legendary animals and boast the finest tracery of stone foliage.


The courtyard has been opened up to become a large paved forecourt. Horses and carriages drive up to the beautiful black, smooth, veined grey marble doors.

A gate and wall still keep intruders away, but instead of the forbidding wooden drawbridge, now stands a finely wrought iron gate.
The motif on the gate is filled with scenes of deerwolves hunting, playing among golden-leaved trees of fine metal.

The building itself is on three floors: the third floor of the building is upheld by a set of black marble columns.
The columns are themselves decorated in a gorgeous spiral of golden trees where stone deerwolves play peekaboo among the enchanting foliage.
The Deerwolf is the clan 's totem and animus and can be found carved throughout.

There are 40 rooms in the keep, 15 or so per floor. This is not counting the warrens of cellars and vaults underneath the keep.
These ancient rooms, some of them enormous, have been salvaged from the previous incarnation of the castle.
Even the present Clanbearers do not fully know the extent of the accommodation below ground

Ground Floor

The black marble doors open up into a relatively simple foyer of grey marble and stone.
A sobriety that does not match the exuberance of the outside, but screams elegance.

Four doors lead to rooms on either side and two enormous, gold-framed, mirrors are placed between the sets of doors.
An enormous black glass chandelier in the Frencalian style hung from above and casts intriguing shadows on the ceiling and walls.
Many family antiques are displayed in the foyer, making it clear to everyone that the Wylfdons are a most ancient and respected clan.

The ground floor is all business: it contains two waiting rooms, one for the clansmen who come to petition or visit and another for non-clan people.
The blue waiting room, as it is known, is used for messengers or lower dignitaries from visiting clans.

Then, following the waiting rooms is a series of offices where clan business is conducted daily.
The chieftain has its own office, but also The Clan Bursar and a secretary who helps out in the many clan matters that come under the Clanbearers' purview or attention.

First Floor

On the first floor is also found the kitchen giving onto a small vegetable garden and courtyard.
There are also other utility rooms as befits an establishment of that size.

At the back of the building is a large sunroom, used daily by the Chieftain's family.
It leads to a terrace and faces a beautiful wild garden leading to the Donshore forest.
This is where the family eats breakfast and lunch. Many of the Clanbearers in the keep also partake of the forever buffet set up in a corner of the room.

Second Floor

On the second floor, one can find the more formal rooms of the keep: an enormous reception room leading to a very long and narrow balcony, a music room, a formal dining room (where clan dinners are still served), the libary, another sunroom usually used for quiet activities in the evening, a card room (off the reception room), a billard room and other utility rooms needed to run important social events e.g. a powder room etc.

Third Floor

The third floor is more private and houses bedrooms, personal boudoirs and guest rooms as well as three or four bathrooms. The attics are also quite extensive and contain a few more 'clansmen' rooms and storage.

Nowadays, they are not needed and the clansmen working at the keep either go home to the town of Belhoden, or are given some of the guest rooms on the third floor.