PRIVATE APARTMENTS: Special quarters are available for well-to-do families, rich merchants, guildmasters, and the like.The superintendent (or bailiff) of the outer bailey* of the fortress lives here. BAILIFF’S TOWER: The whole tower is 40 feet high, with a 5-foot-tall battlement atop it.
Its double doors are chained and padlocked, and the corporal of the watch must be called to gain entry, as he has the keys. The building is the same as the stable (4., above) with respect to height, parapet, etc. COMMON WAREHOUSE: Visiting merchants and other travelers who have quantities of goods are required to keep their materials here until they are either sold to the persons at the KEEP or taken elsewhere.There are always 5-8 lackeys inside tending to horses and mules and gear. The gateside wall is pierced for archery. COMMON STABLE: This long building is about 15’ high, with a 3’ parapet* atop its flat roof, so that it can be used in defense of the gate.Beside him is a man in robes (a scribe) who records the name of each person who enters or leaves, and flanking each man is another man-at-arms in plate with pole arms. He is dressed in plate mail and carries a shield, with sword and dagger at his waist. All entrants, save those of the garrison, will be required to dismount and stable their animals (area 4., below). ENTRY YARD: This narrow place is paved.Each is clad in chain mail, and have longswords on their sides, daggers on their belts and shields on their backs. FLANKING TOWERS: Atop each tower are four guards armed with heavy crossbows ready to fire.It is obvious that the building is constructed of great blocks of the hardest granite, undoubtedly common throughout the entire fortress. The passage is about 10’ wide and high, the ceiling above pierced with murder holes*, and walls to either side slitted for archery. There is a portcullis’ at the entry and large gates at the far end of the passage. A deep crevice in front of the place is spanned by a drawbridge (usually up).
All have holes for bow and crossbow fire. MAIN GATE: Two towers 30’ high with battlements*, flank a gatehouse 20’ high.Here, at one of civilization’s strongholds between good lands and bad, you will base yourselves and equip for forays against the wicked monsters who lurk in the wilds. Ahead, up the winding road, atop a sheer-wailed mount of stone, looms the great KEEP. Now you must fend for yourselves your fate is in your hands, for better or worse. There is much to learn, and you are willing and eager to be about it! Each of you has come with everything which could possibly be given you to help. You have it in you to become great, but you must gain experience and knowledge and greater skill. Of course, you are inexperienced, but you have your skills and a heart that cries out for adventure. You are indeed members of that exceptional class, adventurers who have journeyed to the KEEP ON THE BORDERLANDS in search of fame and fortune. True, some few who do survive the process will turn from Law and good and serve the masters of Chaos, but most will remain faithful and ready to fight chaos wherever it threatens to infect the Realm. They will be tried in the fire of combat, those who return, hardened and more fit. Here, these individuals will become skilled in their profession, be it fighter or magic-user, cleric or thief. Such adventurers meet the forces of Chaos in a testing ground where only the fittest will return to relate the tale. It is these adventurers who, provided they survive the challenge, carry the battle to the enemy. Bold adventurers from the Realm set off for the Borderlands to seek their fortune. Yet, there are always certain exceptional and brave members of humanity, as well as similar individuals among its allies - dwarves, elves, and halflings - who rise above the common level and join battle to stave off the darkness which would otherwise overwhelm the land.
If it were not for a stout few, many in the Realm would indeed fall prey to the evil which surrounds them. Always the forces of Chaos press upon its borders, seeking to enslave its populace, rape its riches, and steal its treasures. The Realm of mankind is narrow and constricted.