The Laird’s
Keep is left over from the days that Hapsburg was a military outpost but before
today’s large village grew up here. The
Keep was the second phase outpost and it was built just after the mines were
discovered and the village started to grow.
A solid
stone outer wall surrounds a mixture of stone and wooden buildings that make up
the Laird’s home and the administrative center for Hapsburg.
To main room of the keep is known as the Great Hall, and it serves as the laird’s courtroom, meeting room and banqueting hall. The Great Hall is built of wood, and heavily decorated with tapestries that depict battle, hunting and pastoral scenes. There is a raised platform at one end of the hall for the Laird, his family, guests and advisers - while the ‘rest’ sit in the body of the hall. The hall is surrounded by offices, kitchens and work rooms. The Keep also includes quarters for the bailiff, the Laird’s Clerk (who is also his chaplain) and barracks for his soldiers.
The Laird
is an imposing, silver haired, man - he is tall and well built and tends to
wear good quality woolen clothing with a fur trimmed jack over the top.
He also wears a silver neck ornament, which looks a bit like a torc, which is
the symbol of his office as Laird of Hapsburg.
He walks with a slight limp and often carries a nice looking dagger at
his belt. The Laird is generally considered to be a fair man, if somewhat harsh
on occasion.
Sam
Whithe, Esquire
A hulk of
a man Sam stands six feet three inches in his stockinged feet and has muscles
to match. He is the Bailiff of Hapsburg
and is The Squire's man about the village. He rides a huge horse, wears
studded leather armour and prefers ‘Keeping the Peace’ to ‘Enforcing the Law’. Having said that he will use force if he need
to, although he prefers to use a non-lethal force is he is able to.
Sir James Robech
Sir James
is about 25 years old and is Captain of the Guard. He wears scale mail on a daily basis, and
carries a short sword, although he has banded mail and a range of other
weaponry for formal wear or serious battle situations. His father was a Knight in service and James
is carrying on the family tradition. When
on a mounted patrol, he rides a light war horse and carries a lance, he will be
wearing scale mail and carrying a long sword and shield.
Barett Kellham, Esquire
The Guard Lieutenant, Barett is a career soldier who has worked his way up through the ranks. Now in his mid 40’s he was promoted to the position of lieutenant and made a Squire in the Order a few years ago, he looks like the grizzled old veteran with a well worn face and greying hair. His men have very little chance of getting anything past him. On a daily basis, he will be found wearing studded leather armour and carrying a short sword. On mounted patrol he will have a light cross bow, shield and long sword.
Sub-Lt Peter Fians
Peter has recently finished his basic military training and has just started his 'officer' training as a Sub-Lieutenant at the keep. In battle he would carry Sir Kamlin's standard. Most of the time he can often be found with one of the other officers learning his trade, although he have some minor responsibilities of his own. On occasiona, he will 'step in' for one of the other officers, but they normally make sure he has a good squad of soldiers to work with in those circumstance.Guardsmen
The guard
are a unit of about 20 men and women who guard the keep and patrol the road
into Kethlow. On duty in the keep they
will be dressed in leather armour and carry a long-spear and light flail or a light
cross bow and dagger. On mounted patrol
they will all carry a light crossbow, light flail and a dagger.
Assistant Bailiffs
Men
normally dressed in leather armour carrying a baton of office, which had
exactly the same effect as a club in combat. They are all trained to use spear
and shield should there ever be a ‘proper’ battle situation.
Militiamen
The militia falls under the office of the Bailiff although various guardsmen help out with drill and weapon practice on a regular basis. They are prepared to form an irregular light infantry should they be required and are equipped with a mixture of simple weapons and makeshift armour. Short spears, clubs, slings and shields are favoured equipment for militiamen.
Based on the floor plan of Tamworth Castle