Asbury Manor

Asbury Manor, located in the east of the township of Penwick, stands as a testament to the architectural prowess and agricultural strength of House Asbury. This article delves into the intricate details of the manor and its demesne, providing an extensive overview of its history, operations, and political significance.
Asbury Manor is a fortified estate situated in Asbury Meadows. The manor and its surrounding lands are pivotal to the agricultural output of the Viscounty of Verbobonc, representing a significant holding for House Asbury.

Location and Description

Asbury Meadows

The manor is situated within Asbury Meadows, a fertile and expansive area stretching nearly 40 miles west from the Gnarley Forest near the Fens of Tor, and extending 20 miles north to south. This central location within the Viscounty provides strategic and agricultural advantages.

Manor House

• Construction: The manor house, constructed under the direction of a master mason, features impeccably straight and level stone walls. The use of old-growth oak and meticulously crafted stonework ensures both durability and aesthetic appeal.
• Windows: The nobles’ chambers and chapel boast glass windows, while other rooms are fitted with horn or taut sheepskin. All windows have two-inch-thick oak shutters, iron-clad on the ground floor.
• Roofing: The flat roofs are made of thick oak planks, waterproofed with tarred rope and covered with flagstones. Pitched roofs have slate shingles to protect against fire.
• Fireplaces: Fireplaces are used throughout the manor instead of braziers, providing warmth with minimal smoke. The manor's design ensures it remains warm and draft-free.

The Demesne

Demesne Land
The Asbury Demesne refers to the land directly controlled and farmed by the Baroness, without being leased to tenants. This centralizes agricultural production and supports the manor's self-sufficiency.

Outer Yard

• Layout: The outer yard is the hub of agricultural operations. It includes dormitories for single male and female workers, supervised by the bailiff and his wife. The cottars from the village join the workforce each morning.
• Operations: Workers disperse from the yard to various parts of the demesne, performing tasks critical to the manor’s productivity.

Historical Context

Founding
Asbury Manor was established following a land grant in the east-central Viscounty. The grant included Asbury Meadow, where the manor house was constructed, lending its name to the estate.

Construction

The manor's construction was a significant investment, costing twice as much and taking three times as long as typical buildings of similar size. This investment reflects the strategic importance and expected longevity of the estate.

Political Significance

Verbobonc Politics
Asbury Manor plays a crucial role in the politics of the Viscounty. Its productivity and strategic location contribute to the political leverage of House Asbury.

Relationships with Other Lords

• House Milinous:
  As a key ally, House Asbury maintains a strong stance against with House Milinous attempt to combine their baronies.
• House Langmuir: Neighboring houses like Langmuir have cooperative, albeit competitive, relationships with Asbury Manor, driven by mutual interests in maintaining regional stability.

Current Operations

Agricultural Production
The demesne's vast fields produce a variety of crops, supporting both the manor and the surrounding township. The operations are a model of medieval agricultural efficiency.

Outer Yard Activities

• Dormitory: Houses single workers, managed by the bailiff and his wife.
• Daily Labor: Each morning, villagers and cottars gather in the yard before dispersing to work on the demesne’s fields.

Local Politics and Relationships

Lord's Role
The lord of Asbury Manor is a significant local figure, balancing the demands of managing the estate with broader political responsibilities. Relations with Penwick Leaders

• Mayor Connor Grantham: House Asbury collaborates with Penwick's mayor on regional issues, although differences in priorities sometimes cause friction.
• Church Relations: Maintaining a delicate balance, the manor supports local churches like St. Cuthbert and the The Order of Rao while ensuring its own interests are preserved.
• The Old Faith Alliances: House Asbury actively supports and cooperates with the Old Faith, venerating Beory, the Lady of Autumn, and Obad-Hai. This alignment strengthens ties with local druids and the folk who hold these deities in reverence.

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Narration Description Asbury Manor

The wagon rounds the next hill and Asbury Manor comes into sight. While the manor house is smaller then that of the Mayor of Penwick, it seems to be in somewhat better shape. It is a hive of activity. People can be seen working surrounding fields, others are repairing fences and a few are engaged in erecting a stout, stone building that features a large chimney near the trail that runs back to Penwick village.
Guards wearing House Asbury tabards equipped with crossbows from high up top of the central gatehouse parapet are shouting to the court below and pointing your way. In answer, a chorus of dogs howl loudly from within the manor courtyard. The manor house seems well constructed. The stone walls are straight, level, and plumb. As a result, they are exceptionally tight, strong, and draft free. The wood is all old-growth oak; single pieces are used wherever possible. The pitched roofs are built with narrower, three-inch-thick planks and covered with slate shingles.
Your expedition passes the main gates through the gatehouse. The courtyard is small but kept neat and tidy. It is cobbled to keep down the mud. Two sheds for firewood have been built against the main hall wall. A stone-lined well, surrounded by a waisthigh wall, serves the manor. The rope and bucket are attached to a winch. To the left are stables large enough to house two dozen beasts with a large comfortable kennel for the household prized hunting dogs. Most the dogs are free to roam the courtyard, but are currently being corralled to behave themselves across the courtyard.

Asbury Manor

A Detailed Layout
The manor of Lady Elinor Asbury is a grand and imposing structure, standing as a testament to the historical and cultural richness of a baroness. This comprehensive layout and description delve into the various floors and rooms of the manor, highlighting its architectural splendor and the activities within.

Ground Floor

1. Dry Moat

The manor house is surrounded by a moat that is 10 feet deep and 15 feet across. It is kept dry to keep the cellars from getting damp. Grass grows in the bottom of the moat and it is used as a pen for the manor’s geese. The geese make a lot of noise when disturbed, acting as a living alarm system.

2. Gatehouse

This is the only access to the manor house. The groin-vaulted entrance is protected by two sets of six-inch thick iron-clad oak doors. The gates are normally open during the day, with two men-at-arms always on guard. The existing wooden bridge was supposed to be replaced with a drawbridge but one was never installed. The bridge can be dismantled in a half day if necessary.

3. Courtyard

The large green courtyard is used for ceremonies and accommodating large wagon caravans. Kept green to feed the geese, it features two sheds for firewood against the main hall wall, serving the manor’s 16 fireplaces. A stone-lined well, surrounded by a waist-high wall, provides clear and cold water. The rope and bucket are attached to a winch for easy access.

4. Knight-Retainer’s Quarters | Sir Thomas Hadlee

The lord displays his wealth by keeping a knight as his personal retainer. The young knight, Sir Thomas Hadlee, commands the small manor guard. He shares this fine room with his wife, Hiedil. They do not yet have any children, but are trying.

5. Sage's Quarters | Viggo Hougaard

A scholar, Viggo Hougaard, employed by the lord to educate the household. This room doubles as a classroom for the noble children during the day.

6. Chamberlain’s Quarters | Olaf Berg

The chamberlain, Olaf Berg, is responsible for purchasing all supplies and supervising the household servants. He can read and write and keeps accurate accounts of household expenses. He wields significant power because he effectively runs the household and controls access to the lord. He has a comfortable corner room that he shares with his wife, eldest son and daughter-in-law, and two younger unmarried daughters. The family members are all employed as domestic servants.

7. Kitchen and Bakehouse

With stone walls and groin vaulting for fire protection, this room is dominated by a massive fireplace capable of cooking an entire ox and a smaller baking oven. The double doors from the courtyard are usually left open during the day to dissipate heat. A trapdoor leads to the cellars, and a spiral stone staircase connects to the nobles’ quarters above and the cellar below.

8. Great Hall

The social and legal hub of the manor, the great hall hosts feasts by night and manages manor concerns by day. Two heavy doors enter at ground level from the courtyard and kitchen. The lord’s table sits on a wooden dais, with four large fireplaces heating the room. A stone staircase leads to the catwalk above, and a locked door secures access to the cellar and siege stores below.

9. Bathhouse

The bathhouse features a large wooden tub and a big fireplace for heating water. Servants draw water from the well, heat it in cauldrons, and fill the tub. A drain empties into the dry moat, where the water seeps away.

10. Brew House

Dedicated to supplying the household’s beer and ale, the brew house keeps extra supplies cool in the cellar of the great hall.

11. Granary

The large barn holds the finished products of agricultural work, including grains, smoked and salted meat, seed for next year’s planting, and reserves for crop failure. It is kept neat, tight, and dry, with numerous cats keeping the rats and mice to a minimum.

12. Kennel

The manor lord’s prized hunting dogs roam the courtyard by day and sleep in this comfortable kennel by night.

13. Stables

The warhorses of the lord, his knight retainer, and steward, plus three valuable palfreys, are kept in stalls at night. The ostler takes them to pasture to graze during the day, with tack and saddles hung along the front wall.

Second Floor

1. Guard Room

A staircase from the courtyard leads to the second floor of the gatehouse. The guardroom has a fireplace and a table with stools for the guards when off duty.

2. Informary

This snug, warm room at the end of the corridor is occupied by the three ladies-in-waiting (all noble relatives). They assist with the care of the wounded and sick of the holding. Work closely with Priest Paxton and use of beds here to tend the patients. Currently,Artus Kellan is being treated here.

3. Chapel

Simply furnished with benches, an altar, and religious tapestries, the chapel features a large stained glass window.

4. Priest's Room | Ralf

Ralf, the House Priest of Rao provides spiritual comfort and advice to the household. He also supervises weddings and funerals and administers the sacraments. His room is spacious but plain. The second bed is for noble guests; two more single cots can be added if necessary. When guests visit, the priest moves in with the sage on the ground floor. This room has been earmarked for the lord’s children when they are old enough. When that happens, the priest will move in with the sage permanently.

5. Steward’s Room | Sir Armount

Sir Armount Andalarian, The lord’s closest confidant is his steward. The steward, who is also a knight, visits and inspects the lord’s other manors several times a year. This helps ensure the honesty of the bailiffs. The steward is in his forties, not as quick as he was when he commanded the manor guard in his youth, but more experienced. He can not only read and write, but also is skilled with numbers and auditing and can easily spot a scam or embezzlement. He shares his well-appointed quarters with his wife, their two boys, and their infant daughter.

6. Solar

The lord’s bed chamber is richly decorated with an elaborately carved four-poster bed, embroidered heavy curtains, and comfortable high-backed chairs in front of the fireplace. A ladder leads up to the loft.

7. Catwalk

The five-foot-wide catwalk encircles the great hall, providing access to nine arrow slits and the lord’s solar. The catwalk is a popular sleeping area for lower-ranking visitors due to the heat rising from the fireplaces below. A steep ladder leads up to the parapet.

8. South Parapet

Facing the river and shaded by the granary and great hall, this parapet is less desirable but still pleasant. It is the unofficial gathering spot for senior servants.

9. Hay Loft

The voluminous hayloft stores large quantities of fodder for the lord’s prized horses, with plans to triple the storage capacity by adding planks and timbers.

10. East Parapet

Overlooking the countryside, the east parapet is a popular place to relax on warm summer evenings. Chairs are brought from the hall, and a brazier is set up for fires in the evening.

11. Steward’s Room | Boditea Greensward

Boditea Greensward of House Asbury is cousin to Baroness Elinor Asbury. She serves House Asbury as steward supervising both the lord's estate and household. is a relative of the lord. She keeps track of the lord’s clan business, teaches clan history to the household, and conducts negotiations on the lord’s behalf. Her large desk is strewn with records of heraldry, family trees of the noble families of the kingdom, and official manor records. She stays in this comfortable, quiet room.

12. Guest Room

Another guest room for visitors.

13. Clothier’s Room and Workshop

The lord’s bonded clothier lives here with his family. The room is dominated by a large loom, and the chamber is warmed by a fireplace and well lit by three windows.

Third Floor

1. Guard’s Quarters

A trapdoor and ladder provide access to this chamber from the guardroom below. The garrison consists of a sergeant, two men-at-arms, and two archers. The sergeant also acts as the lord’s huntsman and has a single bed, while the men share two bunks.

2. Sleeping Loft | Adventurers

The main sleeping quarters for servants and lower-ranking guests (adventurers). The large room has a sloped roof, with straw ticks laid out for the servants. Extra bedrolls are stacked, ready for use. The only source of heat is the warm air rising from the kitchen and noble quarters below.

The large room has a sloped roof. The floor is finished with broad planks that hundreds of feet have polished to a shine. Several straw ticks are already laid out for the servants who sleep here, including two areas sectioned off with blankets for the cook, Pedr Gittins, and his wife (the alewife), Britia and the ostler, Sion Probert, and his wife, Petti. Extra bedrolls are stacked, ready for use. The only source of heat is the warm air that rises up the stairwell from the kitchen and noble quarters below. It can be quite warm in the summer but the windows can be opened to let the heat out. In the winter, the rising heat is rarely enough and the loft can be bitterly cold at night.

3. Squire’s Loft | Keld Hougaard

A ladder leads to this loft from the lord’s solar. The lord’s squire, Keld Hougaard, sleeps here, at the beck and call of his master. The current occupant doesn’t mind it in the winter; the warmth from the fireplace rises and makes this one of the most comfortable places to sleep. However, in the summer it can become stiflingly hot. The lord usually allows him to sleep on the catwalk in the great hall when the weather is too warm.

4. Strong Room

The strong room is aptly named, with twelve-inch-thick planks lining the floor and walls. An iron-clad door with a stout lock protects the lord’s treasure and valuables.

5. Loft

This spacious loft is rarely used, as it is only accessible by ladder. It is available for overflow guests.

Fourth Floor

1. Gatehouse Parapet

Used as a watchtower and sentry post, an archer is on duty here only if trouble is expected. From this vantage point, much of the lord’s manor can be seen.

2. Great Hall Parapet

The parapet running around the roof of the great hall is the same height as the gatehouse but rarely manned. A very long and spindly ladder from the catwalk provides the only access. It is typically only manned if the manor house is besieged.

Cellar

1. Kitchen Cellar

The cool, dark cellar stores food for immediate consumption or delicate items that can’t be stored in the granary. Good wine and excellent wine are kept locked in the wine cellar.

• Contents: Smoked meat, vegetables, dried fruit, barrels of salt beef, and fish. Spices, kept in chests, are extremely valuable and only accessible by the chamberlain and cook.
• Wine Storage: Average wine for lower-ranking guests, good wine for the lord’s daily table, and excellent wine for special occasions. Only the lord, steward, and chamberlain have keys to the wine cellar.

2. Siege Stores

Below the great hall is a large groin vaulted cellar filled with food set aside for famine or siege. Foods such as salted meat, sacks of grain, and other preserves are preferred. The great hall has its own well for emergencies. The armoury contains various weapons and armour for equipping the militia. The equipment is well greased but some items have rust.

• Location: Below the great hall.
• Contents: Long-lasting foods such as salted meat, sacks of grain, and preserves. Barred double doors lead to the kitchen cellar for easy access.
• Arms and Armour: The armoury contains short swords, maces, axes, short bows, spears, and various types of helmets and armor. Equipment is well greased but some items show rust.

Secret Passage

Show spoiler

This hidden escape route was constructed when the kitchen and solar block were added to the great hall. Only the lord and his wife know of its existence. The entrance to the passage is hidden behind a bookcase in the lord’s solar. A narrow landing gives access to a vertical shaft built into the thickness of the wall. A ladder descends 26 feet in the pitch dark to another small landing. A second secret door opens into the great hall cellar. Pushing the torch bracket up and out activates the secret door. A locked door leads from the landing into a small secret room. In the past, this room has been used to conceal those the lord did not wish the household to know about, including couriers and outlaw clan members. The chest contains preserved food, clothes, weapons, and money in the event the lord has to flee his manor. Bedrolls, backpacks, and canteens are stacked next to the chest. A second locked door leads to a long dark corridor across the manor and under the granary to the secret sally port. The sally port opens into the dry moat. A ladder is kept just inside the doorway to make it easy to climb out of the moat. The geese will still raise the alarm if someone enters the moat by this fashion.

The Demesne

Demesne Land
The demesne refers to the land directly controlled and farmed by the lord, without being leased to tenants. This centralizes agricultural production and supports the manor's self-sufficiency.

Outer Yard

The centre of demesne agricultural operations is the outer yard of the manor house. It includes various essential facilities and accommodations for workers:

• Hay Barn [A]: This large building stores animal feed for the winter. Fresh, sweet hay is piled into the barn throughout the summer.
• Ornamental Herb Garden : A small, walled pleasure garden with flowers and herbs, popular with the noble ladies of the household.
• Slaughter House [C]: Animals are brought in one at a time to be killed, hung, and butchered.
• Salting House [D]: After slaughter, the meat is brought here to be salted and packed into barrels for winter storage.
• Vegetable Garden [E]: A larger working garden providing fresh vegetables for the manor kitchens.
• Shearing Shed [F]: Used for shearing the lord’s several flocks of sheep.
• Bull Shed [G]: The bull is kept separate from the cows except during the breeding season.
• Cow House [H]: The herd of milk cows is milked before being let out to pasture in the morning and when they return in the evening. The building includes a buttery and cheese-making room.
• Dove Cote [I]: This hollow tower is lined with alcoves for doves, providing a year-round source of bird flesh for the lord’s table.
• Oxen Stalls [J]: The docile oxen are sheltered here.
• Stables [K]: Over the horse stables is the dormitory for the grooms and farm workers.
• Cart House [L]: Above the storage for wagons and carriages is the home of the bailiff, who runs the operations of the demesne and outer yard for the lord.
• Great Stone Barn [M]: This is the centre of industry in the outer yard. Two massive pairs of doors allow the wind to pass through the building and across the threshing floor. The building is stacked high with sheaves of wheat.
• Pig Pen [N]: Several large sows and one big boar are kept here at night and led out into the woods during the day by the swineherd.
• Orchard [O]: The orchard has apple, cherry, peach, and pear trees. There is a series of bee hives throughout the orchard, tended by the beekeeper.
• Fish Ponds [P]: Weirs have been built across the stream to retain water. Trout are reared in the ponds for consumption in the manor house.

2: Reeve

Duncan Temby the reeve is the senior tenant officer of the manor. Normally the villein with the most unfree acres, he supervises the operation of the manor. He presides at the village moot, decides what crops to plant, supervises the formation of the plough teams, and makes sure everyone does their proper share of work. He has a large stone house with a small walled compound surrounding his garden and fruit trees.

Manor House by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Maps

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  Asbury Demesne

  Asbury Demesne: is the agricultural and administrative hub of Asbury Manor, located in the fertile Asbury Meadows within the Viscounty of Verbobonc.

Manor Staff

Olaf Berg, Chamberlain

Chamberlain in charge of managing the household.

• Description: He stands about 5'5" and wears a brown collared shirt and green pants. He accessorizes with a black scarf around the waist and a bandolier diagonally across his shirt. His left leg appears badly burned and disfigured. His golden hair is lengthy and is close to two feet long.
• Personality: He is business-like. He takes instructions and follows them to the letter. He lacks restraint and is impulsive. He jumps in and acts without thinking all too often.

Olaf Berg, the Chamberlain by 3orcs

Sir Thomas Hadlee

Sir Thomas Hadlee
Description: Beholden to House Asbury knight in Retainer

Squire Keld Hougaard

Squire Keld Hougaard 
Squire to Sir Thomas Hadlee. As a cousin to Elinor Asbury and descendant to Aluna Greensward he was chosen to serve House Asbury as squire a future knight.

Viggo Hougaard, Sage

Description: This slender man stands about 5'10". He wears a faded coat and loose pants complete with small hat. His hair is greying and his face has many wrinkles. His coldness and shallowness do cause plenty of friction and reach all around. Fortunately his respect assures this isn't the case very often. As a family friend to Elinor Asbury's mother and Armount he decided to retire from the Mages Guild of the Silver Consortium and live out his life in the relaxing country side of House Asbury.

Sion Probert, Ostler

As the horse and dog trainer for House Asbury here at the Manor he tends to the stables and dog pens. He trusts no one. He is not readily capable for forgiveness and his ire never leaves him. He is kind towards other men and children and will generally offer men help without question. Others will generally need to prove themselves to him.

Ralf Paxton

Priest of The Order of Rao

• Description: A man with thick toned arms and a paunchy gut. He wears silk and lounges about seductively. His red hair, when down, is lengthy. His eyes are gray and catlike
• Personality: He is cool and collected. He likes to make quips and puns whenever he does anything. He also makes a point to compliment his superiors and flatter them. He cannot resist a sob story and will often dote over anyone who has one.
• History: He was born on a small isolated farm. He was an apprentice working in his father's forge. He's also a talented Farmer, but doesn't like to broadcast it.

Type

Manor house / Meeting hall

Owner

Elinor Asbury

Owning Organization

House Asbury

Contested By

• House Milinous

Characters in Location

• Keld Hougaard
• Thomas Hadlee
• Viggo Hougaard

by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Asbury Manor 1st floor

by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Asbury Manor 2nd floor

by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Asbury Manor 3rd floor

by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Asbury Manor 4th floor

by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Asbury Manor Basement

by Harn Writer's Guild Production: Written by Kerry Mould, Maps by Kerry Mould & Thomas Shook, Art by Richard Luschek, Editing by Brent Bailey.

Asbury Demesne