Beforford Castle Fortress

Castle Fortress on the edge of the town of Beforford.

Purpose / Function

Defense against invaders or in war.

Design

Expense:

Moderate. The fortress was built with a medium budget, perhaps allowing for a small comfort or two.

Design Theme:

Glory. Prestige and triumph.

Entries

Alternate Entries:

Maintained Tunnel. A tunnel leads out of the fortress, which is well-maintained and in good repair. It shows signs of recent (but not heavy) use.

Sensory & Appearance

Condition:

Average. The fortress is usable, sound, and habitable, though minor issues may be present, or a good clean may be needed. If under construction, the basics are complete and allow residents to, at least, live and function adequately. Further work or repairs should take no more than a year.

Denizens

Residents:

New (Peaceful). Non-original residents reside in the fortress, after obtaining it peacefully. Perhaps the fortress was purchased, inherited, or was a gift. These new residents could also be allies of the original residents, acting as stewards. The fortress could even have been found abandoned, so the new residents moved in.

Residents Relations:

Outside Ties. An important individual in the fortress is in a relationship with someone living outside the fortress.

Resident Hobbies:

History (domestic or foreign)

Resident Attitude:

Irritated. The residents are perturbed by this place. Something about it, or their situation, is irksome and grates on them daily.

Resident - Great Person:

Warrior. A person known for their martial prowess, or valor, in battle.

FLEET & REGIMENT NUMBERS:

2nd Fleet

Regiment was formed in 517SA during the Tarwickian Conflict.
Based in Beforford.
Regiment composition in 521SA:
Fleet: 1 (Naval)

1st (Mazionter) Regiment

Regiment was formed in 520SA during the Tarwickian Conflict.
Stationed in Beforford.

Regiment composition in 521SA:

Cavalry: 3920
Archers: 352
Infantry: 135
Artillery: 7

Contents & Furnishings

KEEP

Shape: Round. A circular keep can offer defense against certain weather and attacks, as the curved surface (depending on its extremity) will deflect weak or glancing blows. However, the interior can be limited, especially in an overall small keep.
Size: Medium.
Floor Space: (7x7 / 9 squares)
Exterior Wall Thickness: 5 ft. (1 square)
Number of Floors: One. One above-ground floor, no cellar.
Entry Defenses: Reinforced heavy door.
Furnishings: Decent. The contents of the keep are of serviceable quality, or in good condition.

ROOMS:

(1) Bedroom

Area designated for resting, containing a bed or beds.

(1) Kitchen

Area for cooking and food preparation.

(1) Dining and Receiving

General area with tables, as well as benches and/or chairs.

(1) Cell

Holding area for prisoner(s).

CASTLE:

Geographic Advantages: none.
Style: Concentric. Similar to a fortified keep, but with a second, additional wall surrounding everything. Additional outbuildings (typically of lesser strategic value) may be placed in this additional space.
Size: Large
Curtain Wall Thickness (Stone/Wood): (25 ft. / 20 ft.)
Curtain Wall Weight (Stone/Wood): (20 ft. / 15 ft.)
Curtain Wall Towers:
Tower Shapes: Round (Cylinder)
Tower Size/ Height(= to wall height +[ ]): Medium [+10 ft]
Floor Area: (5x5 / 7 squares)
Tower Roofs: Shallow Slope Roof

Curtain Wall Defenses:

Brattice. A singular projecting space (similar to machicolations), placed over a vulnerable area, such as a passage. Like machicolations, this allows defenders to rain down attacks on an enemy directly below them, and also allows for flanking fire along the wall.
Magical Defenses. The castle is protected by something magical.
Blocking Wards. These wards prevent creatures, or objects, from entering or passing a certain point. They can fail if the ward sustains too much damage in a short span of time.

Barbican: None

This is a forward structure acting as a checkpoint and, for attackers, a forced navigation of lethal obstacles leading up to the castle’s main gate. If the castle is concentric with a second wall, this is the entry through the outer wall.

Gatehouses:

Strong Gatehouse. One and a half times the height and thickness of its wall. Entry is covered by heavy doors and a portcullis.
A gatehouse guards a primary passage through a castle wall, and is often one of the best protected parts of the castle. A gatehouse has, at the very least, large, heavy doors, able to be barred when necessary. There could also be a portcullis (a large grill made of heavy wood or metal) to be dropped to seal attackers out (or in!).

Moat:

Dry Moat. The moat is not filled with water and is, instead, a deep pit encircling the fortification. This could be purposeful, or the lack of water could be due to drought.
A moat is a trench dug around a fortification designed to present a very difficult obstacle, and to make undermining the walls, or approaching them with siege equipment, difficult or impossible. Often they are filled with water (usually by diverting a nearby stream or river), but they can also be left dry. Moats are also an excellent place for other hazards, such as dangerous animals or hazardous objects.
Moat Width: 25ft
Moat Depth: 40ft

Barracks Location:

Built-In [Walls]. The barracks facilities are attached to the fortress walls (in the walls if they are thick enough, attached to them if not), and house the garrison. Within, there could be separate quarters (for officers, training, etc.), or there could simply be common areas, used as needed.

Bailey Outbuildings:

The bailey is the space within the castle’s innermost walls. In this space are located any additional buildings needed by the residents.

Outbuilding 1 Size: Large. 10x10 / 100 squares

Stables

Outbuilding 2 Size: Small. 6x6 / 36 squares

Servant’s Quarters

Outbuilding 3 Size: Medium. 8x8 / 64 squares

Forge

Outbuilding 4 Size: Large. 10x10 / 100 squares

Bake House
Kitchens

Special Properties

Oddities:

Haunted. A local spirit occupies the fortress - perhaps an ex-resident, or someone linked to the fortress grounds somehow.

Special Feature:

Miraculous Event. The structure was the site of something miraculous or amazing.

Magical Properties:

Desecrated Ground. The bodies of the fallen tend to rise and turn against their living comrades.

Bizarre Location:

Mobile. The fortress is built in such a way as to allow it to move. It could be on wheels, organic legs, the back of a massive beast, a manufactured platform, or magical landmass, to name a few options.

Architecture

Primary Building Material:

Brick. Man-made blocks, comprised of mud, clay, or sand, mixed with a binding material such as straw, baked hard.

Resource Origin:

Partially Stolen. Building materials were gathered illicitly over time, perhaps by hijacking ships and other cargo transports, or commandeering materials from a quarry not under the builders’ control.

History

Reason for Construction:

Prophecy. It was foretold that a fortress would be needed on this site.

Past History:

Ensured Silence. The architect of this fortress was mprisoned (before or after the fortress was built).

Current Issue:

Unwanted Attention. Unfriendly outsiders have recently become interested in the fortress (or those inside it).
Issue Severity: Serious. The issue is a cause of real concern and requires attention soon, lest it worsen.

Founding Date

Age: Ancient . The fortress was completed more than 500 years ago.

Type

Castle

Parent Location

Beforford

Environmental Effects

Location in Relation to Settlement:

Edge of Settlement. The fortress is located on the outer border of the settlement proper, perhaps connected to, or surrounded by, its border wall, if it possesses one.

Environment:

Coastal. The fortress is near a large body of water, such as a lake or ocean.

Local Impact:

Disruptive. The fortress disturbed the area in which it was built. This may or may not have been intentional.

Local Impact Change:

Stable. Things have stayed roughly the same.