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![[Under Construction]](undercon.gif) Our Castle Home
Here we are using our own castle
to give some basic nomenclature (what things are called) as it applies to our
own castle. There are some terms not used here but your can find a little
more about castle structure, function and
terminology visit:
or
Their glossary page has more terms than used on my
site. Their site offers an extensive database of links to all things Castle
related!
If you visited our home page then
probably got a brief tour of the castle. Here you will find some repetition, but
also a little more detail.
Anything in black indicates an
explanation or definition of terminology or nomenclature.
The "gatehouse" refers to the complex of
structures surrounding and associated with entry to the castle. The bell
towers and bridge are considered part of the gatehouse proper. The gate wall and
two towers make up the rest of this castle's gatehouse.
*The Bell Towers
are our first line of defense.
We call
them Bell towers because house the bells used to toll the watches, certain
events and warnings.
The Bell towers are technically part
of the "gatehouse." They are connected by an entry gate leading to the only safe
passage to the castle and its protected valley.
From here, guards stand watch
over all who enter and leave and are ready to signal problems out side our
valley. That is why the castle folk call them the watchtowers of our world.
*The western bell tower is our center
for communications.
Our town criers
wait there for important news and dispatch it as soon he possible. He is also
the one you will have to contact to receive word (or pass word on to us) from within the castle about
special events or news.
*Our cartiers operate out the
eastern bell tower maintaining the only stable beyond the castle's defenses. (We try to
keep our castle clean, so we try not to have horses traveling through it all the
time.)
 A cartier is
one who carries out the duties of transporting goods from one place to another.
(Shipping and handling department) This is taken care of by the individual
vendors unless otherwise stated.
*This bridge, between the bell
towers and the entry gate, is the only easy entrance to our valley. The valley
is surrounded by the jagged, encircling rim of an ancient volcano. This rim has
only one depression, exposing the fertile bowl of the valley. While an
occasional rockslide does present a danger, its teeth like rocks make crossing
it quite hazardous. We do have posts in the mountain peaks to watch for climber,
but the treacherous crossing adds and air of safety to the inhabitants and
allows them to live in relative peace.
The single depression is bounded
by a river that cuts deep and fast, running from one waterfall at the
depression's beginning to another at its end. The jagged rim and the raging river
make the bridge from the bell towers to the gatehouse the only safe
passage in. In effect this river acts as our moat.
A
moat is a deep, wide entrenchment dug for defense of a castle or town.
The Outer
ward is a less defensible area of a castle that is surrounded by the
outermost wall(s) and hold non-essential structures.
In this castle, the retaining wall
and mountain rim make up the outermost wall. The retaining wall was built
to hold the river back during flooding and set up the whole valley as the
castles "outer ward." The river its self acts as a mote that creates one of our greatest
defenses. (If you fall off the bridge you move rapidly down stream and quickly a
waterfall that drops to more jagged rocks before continuing on.)
*As you pass through the bell tower gate,
the castle's gate wall looms
before you.
In the western gate tower is the headquarters for our castle guard.
The gentlemen that make up the
castle guard are true knights,
trained from their youth to know the meaning
of courtesy and honor. They would be glad to help you with any security issues.
Yes, we have some modern security items here,
including home security and identity
protection.
They will also help you with information about
armor
and its nomenclature.
In the other gate tower you will find
the
Merchants Guild,
which provides several job
opportunities. It also provides information on various
ways to promote any opportunity you may wish, and if
you wish to sell at our castle you will have to use them as a contact point. Other business related information and
services are available including
credit card
processing and social networking information.
 Half way
between the gate and the keep is the first of several wells. Wells are vital to supplying
the city with water not only for drinking, but also for fire control. If you
need a beverage stop at the well.
 The
Market place is found in the inner ward or courtyard
of the castle. On "market day" many shacks are filled with vendors provide
a variety of places to shop. Like a modern mall there is food and clothing and
toys-- almost anything you need. Although this only occurred once or twice a
week in medieval castles, with the internet, every day is "Market Day."
Inner
ward holds every the castle needs to endure a siege. everything inside the
walls. The keep is one of the main thing here.
The Keep is the strangest, best
defended part of a castle. It houses the royal family on the upper
levels, but is also home to our
Apothecary where you will find
100% natural, no artificial ingredient products. Here you will also find the
"Lord's kitchen" was where the food
was prepared for the lord of castle and any guests he may invite to a periodic
feast. Ours is generally open to any one looking for a feast or fresh food
delivered to their table.
The apothecary was the one who supplied all the medicinal need of the people.
The knowledge of herbs and plants allowed him to mix concoctions to aid people
in recovering or maintaining their health.
Near the valley watch tower is the
granary.
Here, or at the mill, you will find the miller's wares and other non-prepared
food items or cooking needs, since this is where the castle food supplies are
stored for winter, the septennate (seventh year of a sabbatical cycle) and the
year of jubilee. Since our castle protects the valley's only entrance, the food
source is well protected.
Although we don't expect a siege
we do maintain five additional watch towers about the castle walls. These watch
towers watch for problem's in the mountains or in the valley, as well as within
the castle walls. They also provide a defensive point should they become
necessary.
The
stock pile lies just
the other side of the same wall in the valley. There is where is building and
other raw materials are stored until such time as they are needed. This usually
included building materials and craft materials such as are needed for armor and
weapons. Our craftsmen keep the stockpile busy.
In every community of medieval times religion played an
important role. Among the recognized religions there seemed to be a fundamental
belief in a creator that had a moral code by which he would judge all mankind.
This is our "Sanctuary."
The place of worship was also the center of learning
for the community. So may find some educational thing on this page as well as
religious.
Our wall may not seem all that
imposing to
someone used to sky scrapers and big city buildings, but they hold a defensive
purpose.
The outside wall has an allure or
"wall walk." Our castle's allure connects all the watch towers for easy
reinforcement. It is lined on the outside with the protective battlements.
Battlements
are a protective wall built to allow soldiers
to travel the allure (or, sometimes, tower tops) with some degree of safety.
They usually contain crenellations aiding defense of the wall by allowing
archers to shoot effectively through the low section (the crenel) while hiding
behind the merlons or high parts.
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