The Castle of the Bloated One - Library Complex

August 26, 1977 Original Concept

The Library Complex was the hardest area for me to design for TCofBO, because I couldn't picture how it should look. I thought about the various real world libraries I had visited, from our local county to the Smithsonian in DC, but, none of those captured the exact image in my head.

I wanted a sprawling library with hundreds of shelves and reams of books. Then it dawned on me that columns to support the structure could play into my hands, so a single large room, some 70 feet wide by 140 feet long was laid out. One large room quickly mutated into three, all connected by small passages.

A secret door led to the Tunnels to the North, and twin Eastern passages fed into the Prison Complex proper. Lastly, a connecting passage led into the heart of the Motte Tower sub-basement to the West.

The Library was open for business.

Cheers,

The Castle of the Bloated One - Barracks Complex

September 10, 1977 Original Concept

The Barracks Complex was developed on a crisp September morning after I had returned from a walk in the woods behind my Grandparent's house. I spent about 6 hours working on the layout, having connecting tunnels that fed back into the main guard-tower, and filled it with quarters, supplies and weapons.

A hidden northern passage leads directly into the "Constables Precept", which serves as an escape tunnel network for the royalty and perhaps other nefarious activities. 

A southern passage originally led to the tunnels beneath "Oldtown", although the entrance collapsed some sixty years previously; due in part to what is widely considered Bulette or Purpleworm activity. Hence a set of sealed iron bars mark the region and little is known of what lies beyond the debris.

Included below is the Barracks Complex:

 Cheers,

The Castle of the Bloated One - Manor

August 30, 1977 Original Concept

The Vargas Manor is a simple 2 story structure, with a small cellar. Vargas Helmgren built it for his ailing wife during her first pregnancy. Fortunately she recovered to see the M&B finished, and it was her idea to include a smokehouse to preserve the fish and venison that are plentiful in the region. The Bailey also includes a stable, two smaller storage houses and a triple level guard tower.

As the years passed, more families moved into the region, and the small community grew into what has become a popular reprieve for travelers on the Salt Route.

The Manor and Buildings:

Cheers,

The Castle of the Bloated One - Prison Levels

August 26, 1977 Original Concept

The prison was built directly onto the existing Flora Lab foundation beginning in 528, incorporating it's layout onto the sub-structure. Each floor has a Continual Light Mirror built into the ceiling, which can be adjusted with a baffle rope/pulley system.

The first floor is filled with cell blocks, while level two contains a walkway to oversee the cells below and duel guard quarters. Level three is for special cases and also includes a sparring area. The basement is used for storage, but has some undiscovered, and dangerous, secrets.

The Prison Levels:

Cheers,

The Castle of the Bloated One - Prison Complex

August 25, 1977 Original Concept

The Floral Lab was originally designed as a facility for study of Flora and Fauna, and had minimal access from the ground level. Rather, a hidden entrance was devised to keep the place secretive, and documents speak of odd experimentation being the prime focus.

One such example occurred in 502. The village of Rhad-du-cet, which borders the Deep Marsh, was overrun by Shambling Mounds and it's entire population decimated. In 504, the Sage Miros Chanel discovered that the entire population of the village had been infected with the Shambling Curse by a contagion that was created in the Floral Lab. All research in the facility ceased immediately and the building remained empty for 7 years while Miros and the Council of Crestfallen dealt with the plants and neutralized the facility.

In 528, work began to expand the lab, and it reopened in 533 as a prison for the vile and hardened criminal faction. No entrance above ground lead into the prison from within the castle proper, although there are unconfirmed rumors of hidden passages.

Presented below is the Prison Complex:

The Castle of the Bloated One - Motte & Bailey Tower

August 25, 1977 Original Concept

The Motte & Bailey Tower at Vargas was originally designed as a storehouse of information, predating Crestfallen Library by some 400 years. In it's day, travelers came to seek the council of the sage - Miros Chanel, and spend time searching the large (for it's time) 800 book collection.

Miros designed the layout based on an early M&B South of Yggsburgh, adding in a few surprises and secrets of his own. The sub-level gave direct access to the dungeons, and another large collection of books, although the proper magic to open the doorway has long since been forgotten.

Presented below is the M&B Tower complex, with levels and furnishings:

 Cheers,

The Castle of the Bloated One - Mausoleum Complex

August 25, 1977 Original Concept

The Mausoleum was created to house the Helmgren and Linkholm clans, but it also came to be a place where the minor Lords (and Ladies) of the land found their final resting place. In 652, the last corridors were finished and the first Lord, Davish Penlin was laid to rest shortly thereafter. Davish had been the unfortunate victim of a ghast attack near the old village, and his head was buried separately from the body.

The first ceremony within the Mausoleum was laying the bones of Vargas Helmgren. Harrod Helmgren and Semias Linkholm felt he deserved a place of honor and his is the only tomb to have a separate chamber.

The finished Mausoleum Complex:

Cheers,