Cardinal Castle
Cardinal Castle is one of the most well-regarded, misnomered fortresses in the Mortal Lands. Refurbrished into a mighty castle follwoing the The Night of Falling Crowns, Cardinal Castle is a refuge for the young heir who lives in the Kingdom of Ruben, Richard Dalreme VII. As he has grown, however, it has slowly become a prison and a cruel reminder of his ultimate destiny.
Cardinal Castle was first founded in 1832 as Cardinal Lodge, built by the great-grandfather of Prince Richard, King Godfryd Dalreme II. Its solid red brick construction, along with the nest of Cardinals that soon established its own home in the rafters of the entrance to the lodge, earned the building its name. It was a refuge for the royal family during the autumn months, when the harvests were being brought in and the hunters were about securing enough meat for the winter. The family Hunt was always held from Cardinal Lodge, where the children could play in the rolling hills behind the estate and the wives and queen would hold court in the grand hall, near the warm fireplace. While not as austere or grand as Dalreme Castle, Cardinal Lodge is well-known for its beauty and solid construction that has withstood almost a century.
Cardinal Lodge became more than a seasonal refuge after the Night of Falling Crowns, when Lord Alfonso Blackwood took the heir he had rescued from the flames to the safety of the lodge. Half the court followed him, and a new government was swiftly established in Sare. After several years, the Lodge was re-modeled, with several protective walls added around the estate and the central core turned into a fortress. Cardinal Castle is almost twice as large as the original Lodge, with far more facilities for the on-estate staff to live in, as well as several members of the court, a barracks, expanded kitchens, and a grand hall for the Lord to hold court. With Lord Blackwood's focus on the military and national expansion, it was a long battle by the Ladies of the court to re-establish the gardens, which had fallen by the wayside and had become overgrown and neglected in the years immediately following the Night of Falling Crowns. They finally re-opened to limited public viewing in 1917, decked in crimson and orange splendor.
For the earliest years of his life, Cardinal Castle was a refuge for the young prince as he was raised in the care of a tutor and nursemaid. As he grew, however, and began to chafe against the restrictive and narrow-minded vision of Lord Blackwood, Cardinal Castle began to feel more like a prison. It's notable that the Prince's favorite rooms in the estate are from the original construction, where the wood is just a little worn in, the wallpaper just a bit faded, and the stone bearing the scuff marks of many many dances. He can often be found lounging in what was formerly the grand hall of the Lodge, now turned into a lounge for the Men of the Court. Increasingly, though, he goes roving on his motorbike, seeking to put as much distance between him and Cardinal Castle as possible. Time will tell what becomes of the estate once the true heir to Dalreme is decided.
Cardinal Lodge
Cardinal Castle was first founded in 1832 as Cardinal Lodge, built by the great-grandfather of Prince Richard, King Godfryd Dalreme II. Its solid red brick construction, along with the nest of Cardinals that soon established its own home in the rafters of the entrance to the lodge, earned the building its name. It was a refuge for the royal family during the autumn months, when the harvests were being brought in and the hunters were about securing enough meat for the winter. The family Hunt was always held from Cardinal Lodge, where the children could play in the rolling hills behind the estate and the wives and queen would hold court in the grand hall, near the warm fireplace. While not as austere or grand as Dalreme Castle, Cardinal Lodge is well-known for its beauty and solid construction that has withstood almost a century.
Night Falls
Cardinal Lodge became more than a seasonal refuge after the Night of Falling Crowns, when Lord Alfonso Blackwood took the heir he had rescued from the flames to the safety of the lodge. Half the court followed him, and a new government was swiftly established in Sare. After several years, the Lodge was re-modeled, with several protective walls added around the estate and the central core turned into a fortress. Cardinal Castle is almost twice as large as the original Lodge, with far more facilities for the on-estate staff to live in, as well as several members of the court, a barracks, expanded kitchens, and a grand hall for the Lord to hold court. With Lord Blackwood's focus on the military and national expansion, it was a long battle by the Ladies of the court to re-establish the gardens, which had fallen by the wayside and had become overgrown and neglected in the years immediately following the Night of Falling Crowns. They finally re-opened to limited public viewing in 1917, decked in crimson and orange splendor.
A Refuge, A Cage
For the earliest years of his life, Cardinal Castle was a refuge for the young prince as he was raised in the care of a tutor and nursemaid. As he grew, however, and began to chafe against the restrictive and narrow-minded vision of Lord Blackwood, Cardinal Castle began to feel more like a prison. It's notable that the Prince's favorite rooms in the estate are from the original construction, where the wood is just a little worn in, the wallpaper just a bit faded, and the stone bearing the scuff marks of many many dances. He can often be found lounging in what was formerly the grand hall of the Lodge, now turned into a lounge for the Men of the Court. Increasingly, though, he goes roving on his motorbike, seeking to put as much distance between him and Cardinal Castle as possible. Time will tell what becomes of the estate once the true heir to Dalreme is decided.
"Don't ever tell Lord Blackwood I said this, but-I hate what he's done to the lodge. He took a beautiful estate and made it a cage. Grand arches and open windows were turned to solid walls and narrow slits. I wish I could have been here in the autumn, when the apples were all gathered up and made into ciders and pies and.... I've been told it was beautiful, back then."
A bittersweet refuge, poor prince... Great article!