Riverford Keep - 2nd Floor
 
Riverford Keep, 2nd Floor

Note that only major features of the castle are listed here.

1. North Tower
This is a service tower, mostly to allow quick travel between floors of the keep and can be used for storage or as an extra room, as needed. The 1'-wide windows spaced around the outer wall of the tower double as arrow slits for defenders to use bows and crossbows in times of siege.

2. Entrance Hall
This is the main entrance to the keep, and is appropriately designed to impress with limited space. The room is a mere 40'x40', yet appears much larger thanks to the design of the interior. Dominating the view as you enter is the huge stained glass window opposite the front doors. Six marble columns (3 left, 3 right) support the two 2nd-floor balconies to either side of the main entrance. The columns are decorated with gold trim and fitted with large candle sconces, while the balconies feature ornately carved wood trim and handrails. Two sets of wide circular stairs in the front end of the entrance lead up to the balconies. Directly above the front doors is a large circular stained-glass window, drawing attention to the vaulted ceiling and hanging candelabra overhead.

3. East Tower
This is the largest of the four keep towers, and serves many functions as needed. This floor of the tower serves as the bottom level of a large open room, which can be used as a bedroom, lab, or any other purpose needed. The staircase along the wall leads to the second level of the room.

4. Ballroom
This is the upper level of the ballroom, which features a decorated marble balcony with a wide stairway sweeping downward along two of the walls to the main floor below.

5. Inner Courtyard
This is a large open outdoor area above the inner courtyard, as seen in the map of the 1st floor of the keep.

6. Banquet Hall
This is the upper area of the main dining hall. This is just a large open area above the main floor of the room.

7. Storage Room
This is just a storage room, but it features a most unusual door on its south wall. This door is not really a door, but a clever bit of paint and molding over the wall to make it appear to be an old door that is simply swollen shut. It was designed to make intruders think there is just another storage room to the south of this one, but which is in fact a secret staircase leading from the library to a treasury room in the basement

8. Private Study
This is a small, private study just off the master bedroom to the south.

9. Library
This is the 2nd level of the main library of the castle. This level is a wide balcony overlooking the main floor. Most of the bookcases are 12' high, with 4' bookcases used at the balcony railing. A spiral staircase in one corner provides access to the 1st floor of the library. Another feature is a secret staircase hidden behind the bookcase in the opposite corner of the library. This staircase leads down into the basement area, to a hidden treasury room.

10. Master Bedroom
This bedroom features large windows overlooking the inner courtyard, and vaulted ceilings to make the room appear that much larger and grander. It is lavishly carpeted, with decorative wood trim along the walls and ceiling to give it a warm, comfortable feel.

11. Staff Quarters
These rooms are the living quarters for the highest-ranking members of the household staff and personal guards.

12. West Tower
This is a service tower, mostly to allow quick travel between floors of the keep and can be used for storage or as an extra room, as needed. The 1'-wide windows spaced around the outer wall of the tower double as arrow slits for defenders to use bows and crossbows in times of siege. This particular tower is also part of the outer wall that surrounds the keep's grounds.

13. Warehouse
This is the 2nd floor of the warehouse area. This floor of the warehouse is used to store non-essential and large items not currently in use. The western section contains a freight lift used to move large containers to storage between the floors of the warehouse area. The lift uses a winch and counterweight system similar to those used for drawbridges.

14. South Tower
This is a service tower, mostly to allow quick travel between floors of the keep and can be used for storage or as an extra room, as needed. The 1'-wide windows spaced around the outer wall of the tower double as arrow slits for defenders to use bows and crossbows in times of siege. This particular tower is also part of the outer wall that surrounds the keep's grounds.