Kinniver Castle (TCG)

__TOC__
The largest and most complex of the castles presented in this book. Kinniver looms over the ap. proaches to a great city: a royal capital, perhaps. Certainly only the greatest of lords could afford to build and maintain the place. As it is, Kinniver is the sort of castle which would be the prime seat of some mighty government. Other government buildings would exist in the city, including military installations. However, Kinniver would be the home of the royal family and the base for the king's elite guards.
Most probably, it would take any years for Kinniver to reach its present state of completion. A first donjon and palisade would be erected on the highest point of the island when the capital was young, and further works would be added as the city (and the royal power) grew.
As we find it now, Kinniver sprawls over most of a large island situated slightly off-center in a large river. The main channel of the river is fairly shallow, and has some dangerous rocks, making the deeper, narrower side channel the better bet for navigation. That side channel is spanned by a fortified bridge, which arches over the center of the flow, allowing small ships to pass underneath. The city is surrounded by a wall, though the population (especially along the riverside) is spreading out beyond the wall's protection.
The basic design is of three baileys, arranged in line. In addition, the slope of the island allows each set of fortifications to guard and reinforce those below it.
The Wharf area sits outside the castle proper. The Lower Bailey is the main entry point from the city. The Middle Bailey provides another gate for making sorties, as well as a further staging area in the event the Lower Bailey is taken. The Upper Bailey aids in the defense of both Lower and Middle Baileys. The Citadel is a moated keep at the highest point of the island. The Watergate is a fortified postern.
It should be noted that using a design this complex in actual gaming is difficult. One cannot show all the rooms of the castle, only the buildings. In addition, because of the hilliness, not all floors are on the same level. To help with reading the map, a generalized elevation, showing certain buildings, together with water line and ground level, is given.
: 1. Wharf. These are the government docks. Most trade on the river ties up at the city docks across the river, but policing the traffic is the function of the local authorities. The wall between 3 & 23 is one story tall (15' to the wall walk plus battlements).
: 2. Jetties. These two jetties function as breakwaters, to shelter the wharf. They are stone pathways with low parapets. 2a is reached via the Breakwater Tower (9): 2b is reached via steps surrounding the Downstream Tower (3).
: 3. Downstream Tower. A 2story tower (Basement, First Story. and Conical Roof with battlements). Ladders and trap doors allow movement up and down.
: 4. Tavern. A typical grog shop. if somewhat small. A place for merchants and boatmen waiting on the customs officials and guardsmen off-duty to loiter.
: 5. Dock Authorities. A tollhouse. The Harbormaster (for both. sides of the river) would have his offices here.
: 6. Lower Bailey. This area is generally cluttered with siege machinery, wagons, livestock, and what-have-you. Most locals never get further in, so they conduct their business here. Most equipment used in warfare is needed beyond the castle, so there is no point in taking it higher up the island. The walls are one story high, as per the wharf. Behind buildings 12 & 13 is a line, which represents ground too steep to build upon. Similar lines show in other areas of the castle, and stand for the same thing. Using contour lines (as on a topographical map) was considered, but makes the final castle design too cluttered.
: 7. Bridge Gatehouse. A formidable obstacle. 7a and b are the two U-shaped towers, with 7c the passageway between them (note that there are also two portcullises, two gates, and two murder holes). 7d is the drawbridge connecting the gatehouse to the bridge across the channel, 7e. The passageway through the gate. house slopes up. Trap doors lead down into a dank cellar. The basement is at bridge level. There is a first story over that, and a battlemented roof with long, pitched timber roofs.
: 8. Wharf Gatehouse. Similar to 7, but smaller. There is no cellar.
: 9. Breakwater Tower. Similar to 3. above.
: 10. Stable. One and a half stories high. Horses and a coach are kept on the ground floor (basement); a half loft above stores fodder and sleeps ostlers.
: 11. Lavabo. A one-story stone building, with sinks to wash in and a cluster of garderobes.
: 12. Barn. A two-story barn. The upper level is for storing sacks of food, hay, etc.
: 13. Barracks. About 80 soldiers could be accommodated here, plus their cook, etc. There is a cellar underneath the building. where the company mess and storage would be; the basement and first story are living quarters.
: 14. Workshops. Simple one-story wooden buildings, these are for the master craftsmen of the castle like the smith, armorer, mason, and carpenter.
: 15. Upstream Tower. As 3.
: 16. Postern Tower. As 3.
: 17. Postern Door. This tight door allows egress from the castle. but is too small for assault. It is also placed in a very narrow, high place.
: 18. Watergate Path. This narrow path winds down to the Wa
tergate, where a boat is usually kept.
: 19. Middle Bailey. Note that walls of the Middle Bailey are higher than the lower walls. These are two stories high (30' to the wall walk, plus battlements). The middle of the bailey is kept clear for exercise for both man and beast. A tilting path could be put here. Military drill is held here. A parade ground could also be made of it.
: 20. Gate. A simple gate, but flanked by strong towers. Please note that 42 cannot be entered from the Middle Bailey. Control of the gate is therefore the duty of troops in 21. There is a wall walk on the first story, above the gate.
: 21. Middlegate Tower. Given over mostly to storage and guarding the gate, this tower has a cellar. a basement (gate level), a first story, a second story, and a conical timber roof with battlements.
: 22. Barracks. Similar to 13. except that in addition to cellar, basement, and first story, this building has a flat roof, which can be used for exercise and sword. play.
: 23. Guardhouse Tower. This tower would constitute the headquarters for the guards, and also the prison for offenders among the soldiery. It has cellar (lockup). basement (office), first & second stories (HQ), and conical roof with battlements.
: 24. Living Quarters. This two story building has a basement and first floor (but no cellar) and provides living quarters for many of the castle's residents.
: 25. Downstream Gatehouse. As 8, but with 3 stories (a basement plus first and second stories (wall walk)) and roof.
: 26. Storage. One story building for keeping supplies and tools.
: 27. Bastion. A U-shaped Bastion and non-enclosed U-shaped tower. Ground level is two stories high. Wall walk level is covered with a floor. A catapult is mounted here, to command the downstream approaches.
: 28. Living Quarters. As 24.
: 29. Whitewater Tower. So called for its view of the rocky main channel. This tower has a cellar, basement, first story, second story, and roof.
: 30. Storehouse. A one and a half story building, with stuff stacked all the way up the sides. and in the middle.
: 31. Upper Bailey. Walls two stories high, as in the Middle Bailey. The grass is tended well here, flowers border the walks. This is the State House part of the castle.
: 32. Upper Gatehouse. Largest of the gatehouses, but similar to them all. This structure contains a cellar, basement (gate level), first story, second story, and roof.
: 33. Well. This area serves as a water supply if access to the river is cut off.
: 34. State Apartments. Living quarters for the royal family and state guests. This building has a cellar, basement, first story, and second story. The roof is pitched and made of slate.
: 35. Annex. Living quarters for servants, kitchen help, and such. As a rule, as many as 34 persons might be slept here. There is a cellar, basement, and first story.
: 36. Chapel. A large U-shaped tower, typical of medieval times. The cellar is the Crypt, where the royal tombs are. The basement level is the Chapel proper, while the first story has a balcony in back, with galleries above the aisles. The second story has a small balcony in the rear, with a clerestory walk along the sides (a narrow walk along the tall glass windows). The clerestory allows access to the bailey wall. The roof is a long, pitched timber affair, with rounded ends, surrounded by battlements It can be reached by the spiral staircase running from crypt to roof.
: 37. Warden's Tower. The chief upstream-looking tower, this also governs the Watergate approach. It is set very deep in the earth. The lowest floor, known as the Pit, is a dungeon, and above that is the sub-cellar (guardroom). Further up is the cellar, then the basement (at ground level), and first & second stories. The roof is flat, and hosts artillery to command the upstream approaches.
: 38. Forebuilding. This building allows access to one of the drawbridges which leads to the citadel. It contains stairs and small offices for royal clerks. A cellar, basement, and first story (bridge level) make up this structure which is topped off by a pitched roof surrounded by battlements.
: 39. Lavabo. This washroom and garderobe area has two stories, a basement and a first floor, plus a flat roof, allowing access between 38 and 40 on all levels. Middens are carved into the rock, below, and access is from the Lower Bailey for cleaning.
: 40. Great Hall. The cellar below this area is for food storage. The basement level has the main dining area; court is also held here (note the dais here). Dashed lines represent the first story, a balcony, with gallery running all around the hall. The roof is pitched, with battlements. Access to the roof battlements is from Bailey Wall.
: 41. Entry. This is a one-story high entry hall.
: 42. Kitchen Tower. This area is used for food storage, brewing. living quarters, etc. It has a subcellar, cellar, basement, first story, second story, and a conical roof with battlements.
: 43. Kitchen. This area has only two levels, a cellar and a basement. The roof slopes down from the wall.
: 44. Kitchen Annex. The cellar is used for storage, the basement is both an office and living quarters for the master cook.
: The roof slopes down from the wall.
: 45. Citadel. This structure is the chief stronghold for any attempt at a last-gasp defense. State prisoners are sometimes kept here instead of in the Warden's Tower. There is an armory, and several state apartments. A pier between 45 and 38 supports the ends of two drawbridges, which alone supply access to the tower. The building consists of a sub-cellar (with an auxiliary well), cellar, basement. as well as first, second, and third stories. The building is covered by a conical roof with battlements (reached by ladder via a trap door). Stairs are internal with no supplementary tower. Note that the Citadel has the most floors above ground; it also sits on the highest level of the island.
: 46. Watergate Postern. The basement level is the gate. The first story is a flat, battlemented roof for defense.
: 47. Ramp. This is a long and battlemented walk.
: 48. Watergate Tower. This square tower is the only means of direct access to 47.
: 49. Watergate Pool. This Small dock serves as a landing area for one or two boats. Fast messenger boats or royal pleasure craft are kept here. This also provides a means of hustling dangerous prisoners into custody: persons who must be transported without ruckus can be brought into the castle this way without landing, or going through crowds.