The Palace
The Palace is the name of the large castle and surrounding complex in the Capital of Autara.
The Palace is the residence of the Queen and the royal family and includes multiple courtyards, grand apartments, kitchens, gardens, etc as well as the large great hall where most of the state affairs are handled.
The complex is a large feat of stone architecture with large roofs and towers, and many auditions and changes made over the years. The complex is one of the largest in the Capital and is a key feature of the cityscape.
Features
The Great Hall
The great hall is the central structure of the palace, and is also the oldest and grandest. It is a large open room with the main doors located on one end and a dias on the other.
The room is used as the main stateroom of the palace, where court, entertainment, and feasts are held. This is the most public part of the palace as such is often the most bustling.
The Central Courtyard
The Central Courtyard is the innermost courtyard of the palace, due to it being enclosed it is technically a bailey. It is mostly used as a thoroughfare, where guests carriages arrive to let their occupants out, but it also can be used for leisure strolls and meeting friends.
Residence Hall
The Residence Hall is located on the second floor of the palace, overlooking the central courtyard. It includes the private apartments of the Royal family members as well as court members and honored guests.
These apartments are quite grand and luxurious with decorations and warm fireplaces; most apartments only consist of a bed chamber but the apartments of higher ranking court members -such as the queen- can also include a private solar or study adjoining the bedchamber.
The Servants’ Courtyard
The servants courtyard is the part of the palace where the servants stay, and where most of their work is performed. The courtyard consists of a small open space -the courtyard- which is surrounded by buildings that make up the servant’s quarters. There are also storage rooms and various work rooms located in this courtyard, so many of the palace servants spend most of their time here unless they are directly attending to a royal family member.
The servants' bedrooms are smaller when compared to the apartments of the court members, and oftentimes lower ranking servants will sleep in a larger shared room.
Kitchens
The Kitchens adjoin the great hall and the servants courtyard. It includes both pantry, buttery, and other food storage rooms alongside the kitchens where the food is prepared. The main kitchen chamber includes multiple large fireplaces and an oven that food can be cooked in.
There is also a slightly smaller privy kitchen where the food of the Queen, Royal family, and important guests is prepared to prevent any tampering.
There are stairs leading from the kitchens to the great hall, which allow easy delivery of food at feasts.
Outer Courtyard
The outer courtyard is the largest open space of the palace, often used by the palace guards for training. It is also home to the stables, the guardhouse, and similar buildings.
Gate House
The gate house is the first line of defence for the palace, opening into the outer courtyard. All people entering and leaving the palace must go through the gate house, unless they find a more secret route.
Palace Gardens
The back of the palace opens onto the palace gardens where courtiers and other residents can stroll and relax. Court events may also be held in the gardens, often games or entertainment.
The gardens are meticulously maintained by gardeners with well-trimmed topiaries and colorful and foreign flowers. There are also pavilions and other small structures.
History
The palace was built in the early reigns of the Autaran Queens, beginning in the first queen’s reign and continuing during the reign of her successor. The Palace has also been expanded and renovated over the generations and changed to fit into different styles and fashions that were popular in different eras.
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