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196

Seasons / Green Corn Moon [August]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:13:29 PM »

Late Summer
August
Green Corn Moon
 
As the heat begins to wane slightly, temperatures within the Keep reach boiling point. Twelve moons of training regimes come to fruition as Oberon Castle hosts the Annual Oberon Castle Royal Tournament of the Corn on a number of carefully prepared Lists (marked fields). Events include melee jousting (team-focussed lance free-for-alls across an open list) individual jousting, running at the rings (lancing rings on horseback), padded swordplay, hands-free horse riding control, archery, spear throwing, armour-less fist fighting (wrestling) and armoured fighting on foot with a poleaxe, sword and rondel.
 

The children of nobles and royals deemed too young for full combat also participate in practice tournament events of running at the rings, wooden swordfights, horse-control demonstrations (the horse is directed over a course at different paces by way of the rider’s will alone, no reins are touched, in a display of extreme control and the communication necessary between man and beast on real fields of war) and targeting the quintain; a wooden target mounted on a horizontal pole at which the knight-to-be aims his lance. If the lance hits true, the quintain swings harmlessly aside; if hit askew, the weighted arm will swing with enough velocity to unseat the rider.

The length of the Tournament depends on the amount of entries, though it generally runs for a period of two weeks, this being the amount of time it takes for the round-robin style battles to resolve themselves to a champion for each event and one for the most coveted prize of all; Grand Champion of the Tournament of the Corn.

The Keep is thrown into turmoil as relatives of varying degrees of closeness come to stay, houses swelling to accommodate the visitors who would guarantee themselves an opportunity have a first-hand look at the festivities at the cheapest of rates. All inn rooms are booked out – sometimes double-booked, in the cheaper sections! – and the Tent Pitch stretches as far as the eye can see. Indeed, the population swells to nearly double and the strain is plain to see in relationships as well as accommodation.

In addition to the multitude of near and distant relatives showing up unannounced, the Gauntlet and every carnival act hoping to win the general population’s money arrive. It soon becomes apparent that the central business of the Tournament is hardly on the lists, as the Castle is infected with the spirit of festival. Parties run late every night, food and alcohol are shared freely and romance can be had by those of any breeding. All sorts of competitions – from baking to drinking to the prize products of a crop – are held and sales of livestock, plants and new inventions leave more than one purse empty.

Tournament time is generally when those of noble breeding will wed; families are gathered already and connective strings are yanked in the hopes that someone knows someone else well enough to coax the royals into attending and thereby blessing new unions… particularly with gifts. The Ordained himself is a highly-sought overseer of such weddings but only those with enough money to lavish the reception with the best of wines and foods will see his attendance in and beyond the service.

The tradition of fighting for a particular lady’s honour has been toned down in recent years, due to the strain it causes among the noble families – should a knight nominate a lady to fight for, he will generally choose a beautiful wife of a noble of higher rank and it is expected (if she agrees to his declaration to fight for her and offers a token piece of her clothing for him to sport on his armour or lance-tip) that she will favour him with her presence in his bed that night, should he win the match. Although the deed is all part of the chivalry of the tournament, this courting act of polite aristocratic adultery is mostly absent these days.
 

The farming community does not look forward to this moon with nearly as much enthusiasm; their crops are almost ready for harvest and they are eager to meet the continual demands for the amounts of fresh produce necessary to sustain the exorbitant crowds in the Keep. At the same time, the farms closest to the Keep walls are harried constantly by drunken scoundrels out to cause mischief, squatters unable to get any closer to the festival events and thieves who see nearby crops as invitations to feed freely. These are generally the fields laid and harvested early, to avoid such losses, but the timing is heavily dependent on the amount of Egg Moon rain preceding (although most in the community will help with this process, there are some – jealous of the prime positioning of farms to the Castle, which is generally a bonus – who gloat in such troubles, seeing it as payback for holding prime lands).

197

Seasons / Full Thunder Moon [July]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:11:54 PM »

Mid Summer
July
Full Thunder Moon
 
The swell of summer ripens everything in its time and during this moon it seems the sky grows fatter than any; streaks of days are spent beneath grey skies that grow steadily more ominous until the oppressive heat bursts them in a rumbling, deafening display of celestial splendour.  Lightning strikes randomly, thunder booms with gut-wrenching cracks of ferocity and rain pounds mercilessly down.  Although snow is looked upon as a higher blessing than rain, it is hail that visits frequently during this season and hail alone that is the outcast cousin; no-one welcomes its arrival and it annually leaves behind another moon’s worth of reconstruction work or numerous fields of destroyed crops.

This is the one time of the year where all areas of the kingdom are humbled to equality, no structure or position being any worse or better should the Gods deem destruction necessary.  After heavy storms – especially if there was hail – it is a common sight for town tradespersons to travel to the outlying farming properties to give expert help in fixing excessively damaged properties.

The markets and the butchers feel the pinch of destroyed crops and livestock if the storms prove too disastrous, as do the farmers counting on their sale to continue living.  More than one hat-in-hand trudge to the house of a Noble overlord occurs now, as farmers enter the Keep reluctantly to inform their lords that they will not be able to meet their quotas this season.  If the Noble is not adequately prepared for such calamities, he could find himself performing the same act of contrition in turn; approaching the King for leniency.

In the blink of an eye, lazy, happy days spent preparing for tournament fun can turn to disaster should the storms prove malicious.  All pray for rain without disaster at this time.
 
During this moon, however, there is plenty of excitement about the Keep as local tournaments or Pas d’Armes (knights and nobles define an area wherein they will allow no traffic to pass without facing them to a challenge with the lance, the contest concluding only after the designated amount of lances are broken) are held in the lead up to Oberon Castle’s regal fare.
 
Nobles and lesser Royals interested in building up a reputation are often absent for the entire month, following the trail of tournaments, practising for the ‘real’ thing next moon.  The King never feels the need to prove himself anywhere but upon his own lists; he is often spotted at this time more than any other, overseeing the mending or creation of new battle fields, and wherever he goes, a small crowd of wide-eyed onlookers follow at a distance deemed acceptable by the Palace Guards.
 
Final touches are made to the spectators’ areas at this time, seating is extended or refurbished, new fences to stop the interference of onlookers are erected, the royal viewing box is overhauled.  Rooves for the seating boxes of all royal kin and the most elite of nobles are checked and – perhaps most importantly – the winner’s daises are placed.  The King oversees the raising of the pavilion holding all the colour-coded shields for the nominations of entry into the Tournament’s events in a jovial ceremony at the beginning of the moon.  Afterwards, drinks and tales of past victories take place and the pavilion is manned henceforth by those able to verify the elevated bloodlines of those wishing to enter the Tournament.

198

Seasons / Full Strawberry Moon [June]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:10:40 PM »

Early Summer
June
Full Strawberry Moon
 
Very suddenly the air turns hot and the days grow long as Oberon’s lifeblood begins to pulse more slowly and strongly.  While crops sprout determinedly beneath the sun’s rays, occasional rains spill down briefly as the clouds growing fat and angry in the mild humidity strain to their limit.  Farmers continue with their spring projects but the heat begins to wear on nerves and hours spent in the sun become limited.
 
On the longest day of the year, summer’s solstice (the 21st of June), a day of no trade is declared and for the entire stretch of daylight, naught but play is accomplished.  Families picnic, swim, fish, have foot races and contests of strength; whatever the chosen activity, it is undertaken in the spirit of fun and family, designed to capitalise on the sun’s light and to rejoice in life itself.  Should the day dawn rainy, the same rules apply and family festivities merely take place under cover.  This respite is welcome as the only official holiday - and all too brief after a year of anticipation.
 
In the Keep work continues on house and business expansions but all work and trade grinds to a halt for an hour or three every afternoon as proprietors and labourers head home for a nap or to a cool area by a river or lake.  They return to their businesses refreshed, their hours of operation not diminished, just extended into the evening as they take advantage of the greater amount of daylight.  This practice continues through the three moons of the season.
 
Children of esteemed breeding find their schooling takes a turn for the far more enjoyable as their tutors school them in the finer arts of horse riding, archery, jousting, swordplay and any number of other outdoor pursuits their elite parents deem fitting for them to pursue.  The offspring of commoners also find their parents less enthused about enforcing curfews and allow them to adventure across country – after all their chores are done, of course.  They spend seemingly-endless time indulging in games of fancy borne of sweeping imaginations with friends, playing tricks on annoying siblings or simply dreaming of a life to come in the crook of an ancient tree.
 
Late-night liaisons beneath the full moon in such balmy weather either lead to shock betrothal announcements in the next moon (though the flush imbued to cheeks by the Strawberry Moon during times of such sensual cravings tends to fade quickly upon the arrival of squalling newborns nine moons later) or to arrests by the Keep Guards for crimes against the monarchy.  Like the plump, juicy fruit this moon is named after, however, the great temptations of life – love and riches - are too great to resist at such a stirring time of year… and what is life without a little fun, after all?

199

Seasons / Milk Moon [May]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:09:29 PM »

Late Spring
May
Milk Moon

Spring showers have brought forth life in every corner of the lands. Wild animals are sighted making tentative, fiercely protective outings with their newborns, the streams are gurgling and flowers and greenery are everywhere. Livestock farmers are feeling the strain of long nights attending multiple – and sometimes overdue and difficult – births and are disheartened and made bitter at Talon’s wrath should their losses tally equal to, or greater than, their gains.
 
On the land, a certain restlessness sets in as all crops are planted and the watching and waiting begins. Prayers for frequent rains interspersed with bright days of sunshine are whispered before going to bed and the daylight hours are spent fruitfully; mending fences and dilapidated buildings, creating dams and clearing new land.
 
As the days begin to subtly lengthen and the weather to grow warmer, ground is frequently broken on new, important buildings, whether it be the home of newlyweds, a bigger and better barn or new stock yards. The farming community lives and breathes by the edict that many hands make light work and once crops have been attended to, they willingly pitch in to help one another out. Many a community meal is shared at this time, the recipients of the goodwill expected to cater for all the willing hands and hungry mouths that turn up to build their new structure (many a rift has been known to spring up at such times too; whether over the resentment of these hospitality expectations, sprung from the nervousness of planting in a dry spring time or borne of sheer jealousy that someone now has a newer, better structure than them is anybody’s guess!).
 
In the Keep, the term ‘spring clean’ is more than just lip service as everything is washed down, checked and mended before the fury of hot summer storms strike, looking for a feed of loose shingles or badly-grouted stonework. Masons begin laying the stones around foundations they’ve been laying for the past two moons and skilled crafters of every shape and form are contracted for new work that suddenly becomes vital in such luxuriant, burgeoning times.
 
Wandering bards and showpersons are seen frequently at this time, travelling newly mended roads in cordial weather, spinning tales such as that of the unnamed farmer in an outlying county whose ewe gave birth to a two-headed lamb or putting on puppet shows about fanciful love-matches between beautiful peasant girls and lovelorn royals. Some pre-tournament hopefuls may also arrive, scouring the quieter areas for talented swordsmen, jousters, fist fighters and archers amidst the common bloodlines, talent scouts for nobles or distant royals of outlying areas rebellious enough to sponsor their entry in the upcoming Oberon Castle Royal Tournament of the Corn.

200

Seasons / Egg Moon [April]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:08:08 PM »

Mid Spring
April
Egg Moon

The Egg Celebrations welcome in Mid Spring, where the circle of life and fertility is honoured.  There are many traditions to be held in these overnight celebrations (over the course of two days).  Egg painting is a common theme in every house, though there tend to be competitions held for the most beautifully decorated egg, where the winner\'s art will be gifted to the King himself - a time honoured tradition, and a grand prize is bestowed in return.  Prizes over the years have included horses, jewels, and once it was rumoured to have been a knighting into nobility.
 
Most farming couples choose this time – when life is most blessed by Adora – to wed.  Dowries are exchanged for beautiful lasses, the buying of lands or the subdividing of family acreage is negotiated (mostly with the Noble who holds the deed) and two lives become one.  New wives who fall pregnant before their wedding moon wanes are considered especially blessed.

May is a busy month for farmers as they prepare their fields for the new crops, deciding which will be planted, which will feed livestock and which will be fallow.  Rain falls periodically, allowing those determined enough, to plant their first few crops.  Farmers of livestock begin to see a steady increase in the amount of newborns on their property.  Should the rainfall and the rate of healthy births continue, Adora’s name is spoken benevolently and frequently as the season augurs healthy crops, indicating that the Egg Celebrations have pleased her.

201

Seasons / Full Crow Moon [March]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:07:16 PM »

Early Spring
March
Full Crow Moon

The ground softens and robins begin to appear as the first earthworms wriggle out.  The cawing of crows signal the end of winter and the fall of snow is melting by day and freezing at night, allowing a thin crust to crunch underfoot.  Children play in the snow once more and the faces of farmers and castle-folk alike are cast in smiles as they have survived yet another harsh winter.

Maple syrup is the new flavour and graces every menu for breakfast and dessert.  The older children tend to make their first earnings by tree-tapping and selling off what they have collected at the markets, whose business consists mostly of the selling of fine and rudimentary apparel knitted or stitched over the long, cold moons when there was little else to turn idle hands to.

Art is another popular pastime during winter and on the day of the spring equinox (the 21st of March) very important fruits of such labours are displayed on nearly every door in the region.  Generally they are meticulous carvings done in panels of lovingly prepared woods, though they can be tapestries or weavings displayed in the styling of a wreath.

Whatever the medium, all display an animal that best describes the family’s focus in this, the season of awakening; a frog for renewal, fertility and springtime; a bear as a protector, for physical strength and leadership (most often adorning he doors of homes that have lost loved ones); a pair of hummingbirds for devotion, life cycles, permanence and eternity, they are ferocious defenders of their territory, their hearts and tenacity defiant of their small size; a deer for those who hunt but also as a symbol of familial protection and swiftness in all deeds; a lizard symbolising perseverance and the keeping of secrets, it is an all-knowing creature; a tadpole for renewal and fertility but more potent than the frog, for the tadpole changes its body structure and is inherently more powerful for it; a turtle, a feminine symbol encapsulating renewal and fertility but also the perseverance of long-agedness; an eagle, a master of the skies and carrier of prayers, possessing wisdom and courage beyond human weakness and a symbol of visions, spirits and the future; and a wolf, a powerful symbol of the hunt, death and a wily portent that trouble may lie ahead but there is strength enough within to endure it.

The King’s own door is adorned with runners the same as those on display on the palace gates.  On all of them is the same scene of all these animals interacting so that no favour for any animal spirit is shown, but the strengths of all are present.

It is tradition that you plant a seed of the tree type you made your door plate from – generally adding it to the line of windbreak trees for farmers, the courtyard for residents of the Innerkeep and to the tent pitch for those of the Outerkeep – once your door plate or tapestry is on display.  In this way, the cycle of life is reinforced, no matter the chosen animal.

In the beginning of April there is a humming of preparation for the Egg Celebrations, where fertility and the circle of life is celebrated.  Both Gods are honoured during this celebration, for new life can only begin when the old one gives way.  It is a happy time of hopes and dreams for many.

202

Seasons / Full Hunger Moon [February]

« on: January 28, 2006, 11:00:09 PM »

Late Winter
February
Full Hunger Moon


The snow is at its thickest fall and hunting becomes a tactical game of precision and immense skill. Wolves are a menace now, and even hunters travel in groups of three to watch each other\'s backs. The children of farmers often gain their first taste of killing when desperate wild animals encroach on the livestock in their barns, being forced to help their parents beat them off with rudimentary weapons or farm equipment. Despite their best efforts, sheep and calves are often lost and, tragically, humans don’t always survive these forays either.
 
Natural deaths are at their highest, the frozen homeless who have not sought refuge are lugged away by the city guards to bury in the graves dug when the ground was soft and family members accompanying loved ones who have fallen to the scathing beast of winter can be seen trudging awkwardly through the snow in truly dismal funeral processions.
 
Children are least seen during this time; it is too cold and dangerous for the farming offspring to play any longer, the noble children are still studying at class or at home - rugged up and protected - and the children from the Keep families are usually brought to work with their parents to earn their keep and not to stray into numerous perils.
 
Those that haven\'t rationed well are finding their toughest time now.

203

Oberon Castle Archives / The Dungeons

« on: January 27, 2006, 11:21:28 PM »

The dungeons have two levels. Neither one is a place anybody wants to visit, but one is decidedly worse than the other.
 
The stench is the first noticeable thing upon moving downstairs and past the first iron door. Rotting food, human waste, the decomposing fur of rats that have had their bones picked clean by starving prisoners all lend to the opressing ambience that is the dungeons far beneath the rich floors of the palace.

Cold stone floors, slime-riddled wooden pillars and heavy steel bars are the most prominant decorative pieces. Add some metal hooks into the walls to hold chains, for those that annoy the guards or are fit for their amusement.
 
The first level is even with the sewers, which run directly past the northern cells, but the smell coming from the dirty and rat-infested water is rank enough to fill the entire dungeon. The reek is obviously more over-powering the further north one travels - so the prisoners that are repeat offenders tend to be stuck here, in their cage with a batch of hay in one corner to sleep on and a hole in the other corner to squat over. The cells further away are no different, but at least the smell isn\'t so much that a prisoner would gag with every breath. Most of the criminals found here are pickpockets or food-thieves, or those of a more noble distinction (no matter the severity of their crime).
 
The lowermost level runs below the sewers, so that the water gushing above them drips down the walls or through the ceiling. Dank, cold and uncomfortable the cells are bigger, but prisoners here share. The pecking order is at its worst here, where hardened criminals and cut-throats kill each over scraps, bedding or misunderstandings. Most of the criminals here are forgotten about, and it is extremely rare to survive the experience of the lower cells.

204

Seasons / Full Wolf Moon [January]

« on: January 27, 2006, 09:29:04 AM »

Mid Winter
January
The Full Wolf Moon
Temperatures plummet and the earth is covered in deep snow, a blessing of the highest order, rejuvenating everything beneath it.

Outside the castle the farmlands are still, inhabitants venturing out after sundown only to travel to the tavern, or for greater necessities. It is dangerous to move too far from the farmlands for wolves are at their hungriest and boldest, some even daring to come near the borders of the farmers’ lands. Wolf pelts are a valuable trade, a reward for the hunter three-fold, as there is a wolf bounty, as well as a rich pelt and wolf meat tastes good when a family has nothing but preserved vegetables to live on.

The daytime is full of children\'s laughter and play, busy bodies make warm bodies, and so everywhere there is bustle.  Livestock is employed in the manner of pulling sleds and snow buggies to visit neighbours and skating on frozen waterways is extremely popular.  The children make games with sticks and rocks, teaming up to attempt to ‘score’ points against other teams, while the men set up fishing shacks on the ice and compete against one another for tempting the largest fish out of the icy depths on their poles.

Inside the castle walls crime soars as the hungry grow more desperate and those who would usually not steal find themselves considering the prospect in order to survive. The Guards have a harder time keeping an eye on everything, and are unable to move as rapidly in the snow.

Only the nobles seem to be unaffected by winter, moving easily through their side of town displaying their latest winter fashions on their way to tea and card gaming afternoons.  The children of the noble and royal lines do not enjoy this season nearly as much as the commoners, for winter lends itself naturally to academic pursuits.  They spend hours trapped indoors with tutors and parents, reading history and literature texts and practising mathematical equations and copperplate until their hands and eyes ache.  Seeing the raucous play of ‘lesser’ children through their double-thickness, glazed windows only makes them bitter and resentful, reinforcing the class lines of the next generation through anger.

205

Pending Characters / Oberon Castle Character Sheet

« on: January 27, 2006, 09:01:39 AM »

At the bottom of this page you'll find a blank character sheet for you to copy and paste from. Directly below is an outline of each field, how to fill it out and why it is important.

The title of your character sheet should be the full name of your character.

Full Name and Title: Everybody has two names, a first name and a family name. If there is no family (for example, an orphan) then they are assigned a family name by the church that runs the orphanage. Their title would be how they are perceived in social standings. If they are a guard and have rank, put down their rank. If they are a noble, put Lord or Lady, and if royal, the correct standing in the royal family. If they are poor then they are a Commoner (and there will be many commoners). Merchants are not noble, and only very few are recognised beyond 'Commoner' level. A largely successful merchant would be addressed as 'Sir' or 'Madam' by title.

Age: Most poor people live to about 60, or if they're lucky, 80. Most rich people live to about 75, or if they're lucky, 90. The age you choose for your character will have a lot of bearing on social standing. For instance, you cannot have a 19 year old private tutor. They will not be credible teachers based on their standing in the community (which will be non-existent before 25 unless they're noble/royal)

Birthday: Birthdays work the same way as in the real world. Pick a day in a particular month and write that down. Ignore year.  (eg; 15 July)

Occupation: What does your character do for a living. If they don't do anything, how do they get their money? Do they steal? Put down 'Thief'. If they beg, then 'Beggar'. Real easy.

Religion: There are no athiests. Even if they don't believe in the gods, they still have a religion that they must declare. Choose either Talon - God of Death (also responsible for the ending of things, such as the end of winter or summer, the end of the year, the end of the day or night.  Talon is usually followed by nobility or those of educated means) or Adora: God of Life (normally followed by farmers or commoners). Merchants and other those that are not farmers nor nobles can go either way. If your character is a noble that follows Adora, be prepared for your character to be picked on by other characters.  Also PLEASE STOP CHOOSING ONE RELIGION AND HAVING YOUR CHARACTER KEEP IT A SECRET, YOU ARE NOT BEING ORIGINAL!  Note the description in the 'Temples' forum: "Be you a follower of the Goddess of Life or the God of Death, you must choose wisely. It is strongly believed by all that both deities will cast aside those that hold one in their hearts and visit the temple of the other."

Hair: Normal hair colouring only - this society does not put dye in their hair. Is it long or short? Glossy and silky or dry and course? Is it styled by a hairdresser or chopped with a knife? Clean or dirty?

Eyes: The colour and the shape. Eye colours are shades of blue, green, brown, hazel, gray

Nose: The shape of the nose. Big, small, normal, long, short, wide, thin? Describe it.

Lips: Full or thin? Wide or small? Always smiling or usually downturned? Colour? Do they wear gloss? Are their lips chapped?

Skin Color: All modern day races apply. In this world we have a mixed selection as well, with much less racism.

Height: In this world we have all sorts of various heights.  You can either put down an exact height (either imperial or metric) or a description will do just as well (ie; 'a little shorter than average', or 'very tall' or whatever describes your character best)

Weight: In this world we have all sorts of various weights.  You can either put down an exact weight (either imperial or metric) or a description is acceptable (ie; 'fit, but has a little beer belly' or 'extremely obese' or 'so skinny it seems s/he'll blow away in the wind' or whatever you think is best)

Physical Attractiveness: Describe in a short sentence how most people would view your character.  They might not look like much but have a charismatic smile that most people like.

Clothing: The kind of garb they usually wear.  Would they dress up when going out or not care how their clothing presents - is their clothing crisp and fresh or dirty and wrinkly?  Do they have enough coin to spend on nice clothes, and if so, would they blow their hard earned or easy wages on them?

Mother: Give us a brief outline of what they know about their mother.

Father: Give us a brief outline of what they know about their father.

Siblings: Give us a brief outline of what they know about their brothers/sisters, or if they even have any.

Childhood: Give us a brief outline of what their childhood was like when they were growing up.  Were they allowed to run around and play?  Did they have a lot of chores?  Think about their personality and link up their childhood to that - for instance, if they're claustrophobic as an adult, perhaps this is because they were locked in a cupboard as a child whenever they were naughty.  Child welfare didn't really exist in the middle ages.

Education: Briefly describe the quality of their formal education.  Ranges from none to private tutoring six days a week.  Think about their financial status when growing up when you decide what education to give them. Any special learned skills should be mentioned here as well, such as archery, horse-riding, blacksmithing, etc.

Natural Talents: What are they skilled at that they didn't necessarily learn?  Perception, quick reflexes, sharp witted; these are usually things that are from within.

Hobbies:  What do they do in their spare time?  Can they read?  If so, would they spend time with a book, or are they more likely to go hunting for the thrill of the chase?  Think about what personality and upbringing they have, sometimes hobbies are formed because they inherited their parents collection.

Personality: Don't just say 'unpredictable' because even though your character might seem to behave erratically to other people, there is usually a reason why they do what they do (whether they know it or not).  If they're a shy type, they're not going to suddenly stand up and sing in front of a crowd without a lot of preparation, nervousness and encouragement - and even then they might run away.  Choose the personality you want to play and don't change it without good reason.

Picture: If you have any, please feel free to add them at the bottom of the page.  Pictures is an added feature, please don't rely on it and ignore your descriptive prose.  Please no animated pictures.


Full Name and Title:

Age:

Birthday:

Occupation:

Religion:

Hair:

Eyes:

Nose:

Lips:

Skin Color:

Height:

Weight:

Physical Attractiveness:

Clothing:

Mother:

Father:

Siblings:

Childhood:

Education:

Natural Talents:

Hobbies:

Personality:

206

The Palace / The King\'s Banquet Hall

« on: January 27, 2006, 07:33:16 AM »

Banquet Hall:
It is a cavernous room with several long and sturdy tables that can seat every noble occupant in the castle with ease.
 
Adorning the walls are crests and banners of all houses within the castle’s territory. The clash of color would be the only decoration in the hall if not for the massive fireplace - made of the same stone the castle was built with - engulfing one wall. It is fed with only the sweetest smelling wood.
 
During gatherings and banquets, the lack of ornaments is made up for tenfold. The room is covered with flowers (if the season permits), and even ribbon streamers.
 
This is not to take away from the nobles’ choice of dress by any means. Not many colors worn have been figured out by nature yet.
 
All invited to these grand affairs are expected to attend, and all staying in the Noble Quarters are expected to make an appearance during the evening meal.
 
The Kitchen:
Windows are flung open hours before the sun rises even while candles are being lit for those preparing breakfast for the Lords and Ladies of the castle to see by.
 
Until the evening meal is finished and the dishes are scrubbed the kitchen and its occupants are always on their feet, adding a dash of spice here, saving a nearly burnt pie there. The head kitchen maid happily declares it carefully controlled chaos.
 
Not even at night is the kitchen abandoned completely. There is always a loaf of bread to be found or a few pieces of pastry left in wait to deter any midnight scavengers from digging through pantries.

207

Oberon Castle Archives / The Courtyard

« on: January 27, 2006, 07:32:27 AM »

Paved Courtyard
The centre courtyard is paved in a formation diamond pattern with multi coloured stone tiles of greys, sandstone yellow and clay reds - tastefully designed of course. The centre boasts a large fountain of boggling dimensions. Circular and 20 paces in diameter, the fountain spouts 16 thin arcs of water that sprout a good 16 feet in the air before curving and meeting in the fountain\'s centre halfway upon their downward fall. Strategically placed lillies float on the water\'s ever shifting surface, and the shine of coins on the fountain\'s floor make for a glistening display. Positioned around the edges of the paved courtyard are pairs of benches for nobles to sit on as they chatter, pose and socialise. The presence of Palace Guards is ever present in this location, as they are stationed on every entrance to the palace, plus patrol the immediate area and grounds.


Shrub Maze
An extensive gardening headache, with only one entrance and exit, this tall shrub maze puts nobles in their place. There are those that have wandered through often enough that the maze becomes a worthwhile escape with no danger of losing themselves within. It has been rumoured (and such things have happened, but never admitted) that some have been forced to camp overnight in the maze, only to be discovered by smirking gardeners early the next morning and assisted to the exit. Within the maze are statues, small fountains, and benches to rest upon - all useable as landmarks (or trickery - as the same landmark has been used in different places to fool the public into thinking they\'ve gone in circles when they have not).

Gardens
Surrounding the paved courtyard on two edges (the north edge taken up by the palacial walls and the western edge by the shrubbery maze), are vast gardens. On the immediate east is an outlay of croquet, set up for up to four players to whack their balls through little hoops, or onto coloured posts or into their opponents balls, knocking them out of play. Further along is a landscaped stream, bridge and gazebo nearby, with an outside cookery for picnic meals. More lawns separate trees and goldfish ponds plus other tasteful and peacefully decorated areas for nobles and royals to while away their time.

Note that horses and other grazing animals are not allowed to graze on these grounds. The few times horses come near this area is when they assemble together in the hour before the foxhunt, or when they are led up from the stables for a royal or noble to mount in the courtyard.

The stables are positioned very near the gate entrance beyond the courtyard and gardens, so as not to interfere with the ambience, and also so any \'ruffian merchants\' that can afford the purchase of a horse (such as the travelling ones), do not enter further onto the grounds than is necessary).

208

The Scowling Boar / Scowling Boar Tavern

« on: January 27, 2006, 07:26:15 AM »

The Building
There are two levels. The lower level is constructed with huge blocks of sandstone and finished with dark oak for window surrounds and the door itself. Above the thick single hinged door (with a large iron ring pull for a handle), hangs a swinging sign with a charging boar painted upon it in bold red strokes.

The upper level is finished with a white paste overlay that has yellowed slightly with age. Decorative thatching that matches the houses of any nobles nearby - and they are nearby, for the tavern is not a \'roustabout\' location, but rather one of egos and sensibility. Therefore its presentation is immaculate.

The Tavern
Walking through the door presents the visitor with a rich wooden floor peppered with well crafted square tables, where matching cushioned chairs (with arms) gather around. The decor is mostly woodgrain and sedate greens - hunting colours. Minstrels are welcome to perform stories and songs about victorious hunts.

The tavern is where one brags of accomplishments - and the founder is said to have been responsible for taking down the boar after which the tavern is named. A prize boar\'s head on the mantle over the fireplace that nuzzles near one corner of the bar, warming the corner stools and nearby tables. It is a majestic beast, and could easily be described as \'scowling\'.

Double width stairs with a decoratively woven green runner leads to the lounge area, where there is a snuff room and stories ( the taller the better) are exchanged over expensive drinks.

209

Stables / The Stables

« on: January 27, 2006, 07:21:06 AM »

Nestled in one of the most convenient locations in the keep\'s grounds, the stables are a sprawling, bustling double-storeyed affair where there is rarely any rest. From the business of selling and stabling horses to the exclusion and protection of superior stock owned by nobility and Royals themselves, this structure is a hive of unceasing activity. An extremely long building shaped against the inner wall, it is situated closest to the (southern) Inner Gates with large, partitioned wood-fenced corrals at that end. Stock for sale is generally displayed here and horses whose owners can’t spare any more coppers than are necessary will have their beasts kept here. Although food and exercise is given for the merest amount of money, exposure to the elements is less than ideal.
 
Both floors have two wide central walkways running from end to end, rows of stalls on either side of them. The cheapest stalls – on the bottom floor - are noticeably less spacious than those found on the second storey. The second floor is generally accessed by a wide ramp attached to the southern end of the building, above the sale yards, though there is a set of stairs at the other (of average width and leading directly to the northwest corner, where the Stable Master\'s quarters are). A fenced-off area is to be found in the north also, but this is an exercise and training yard with two rolling pits of fine sand for the royal thoroughbreds’ pleasure. A fourth and fifth enclosure farthest from the stable each hold a neat shelter, water trough and share the shade of an enormous elm tree; these paddocks dedicated to breeding and foaling.
 
Situated about four metres away from the Inner Wall as the Stables are - and at an angle that means the northern end is farther away from the wall than the southern – they have two wide cross walks equidistant from each other and the ends of the building, allowing access to either side of the structure and the yards. The narrow back of the southernmost end is overgrown with creeper vines curling around massive fig trees, blocking the way to the sales yards. Only the Stable Master is aware that there is a secret wooden door beneath the mass of foliage covering both sides of this section of the Inner Wall, found easily if you know what you are looking for, and large enough to allow a man and a horse through – or any number of young women - should the need for discretion (and the avoidance of guard sightings) arise.
 
Inside the stables there is an array of different stall styles, both open and closed, all laden with fresh hay. Stalls against the walls have shutters that can be thrust back to find a breeze in the warmer months or sealed perfectly to insulate in the colder ones. A tack room is situated at each end on both floors and in the opposite corners are the staff housing areas – complete with washrooms, bedrooms and kitchens. The Stable Master - George Linley - has a separate residence provided in the Keep’s grounds (because he has a family and it\'s more practical) but the Stable Manager - Bede Gallagher - is on the job 24/7 and sleeps in the most opulent of surrounds in the upper storey. The Stables are able to comfortably house over three hundred beasts but a minimal staff of twenty permanent and twenty casual staff is kept, most of them young due to the punishing workload so few staff and so many jobs leads to. Older workers are rarely able to meet and sustain the requirements of such a physical job.
 
A vast basement barn has been dug in a revolutionary storey beneath the Stables, accessible by two wide, cobbled ramps leading down from street on the palace side of the building. The ramps end at enormous double doors and are situated either side of the northernmost cross walkway’s entrance. Inside this dark, airless space, deals and deeds never spoken of in polite company are done, though the area is usually open to the sun during the day to accommodate the regular deliveries of hay and feed from the outlying farmlands, restricting the most wicked acts to darkness. The ramp doors are watched by patrolling Palace Guards and are generally not locked. Only the best, most voracious feline hunters are to be found as regular inhabitants in this secretive, grassy world, prowling endlessly amongst the towering sections of chaff, keeping the vermin problem to a non-existent level.
 
A farrier and a saddlery are found very close to the Stables, their interactions with the Stable staff frequent, their relationship with the Stable Manager and Master necessarily good.

210

Life In Oberon Castle / Inner Gates

« on: January 27, 2006, 07:19:44 AM »

The Inner Gates were once the outer gates, but as the township grew and houses and businesses nuzzled right up to the walls, another larger wall was built around them, with a little room to spare. That room has gone now though, for the buildings between the outer and inner walls have clustered together so tightly that the streets seem cloying and there is more shade than sunlight.

The inner gates have been renovated and reconstructed since the outer gate took over. There are now three entrances instead of the single main one (where a walk in a straight line south will take you from the front door of the palace, to the inner gates, then to the outer gates and beyond). There is an extra one to the northwest beyond the Guardhouse, which opens into the poorer areas where businesses like the Falcon\'s Mask Inn operate. There is also a gate to the northeast beyond the Scowling Boar Tavern, into the streets near the Temples - also a poorer area but not really a bad one. Stationed on either side of all these gates are two Palace Guards.

When someone describes the Inner Gates however, they truly mean the gates on the South-most end. These gates are grander than the other two, and a full winch system for opening and closing as opposed to the other gates where there is a thick and sturdy rope on each inside handle for the guards to pull shut (and risk rope-burn).