King's Keep

The King's Keep is the royal palace and primary seat of power for King Alasdair V. Located upon a prominent hill in the capital city of Dalreoch, the keep serves as the administrative, ceremonial, and residential heart of the Kingdom of Dael Riata.

The keep is a magnificent light grey stone structure featuring four primary turrets. Each turret is crowned with a golden dome and flies the green flags of the royal house. Unlike the more austere fortifications found elsewhere in the realm, the King's Keep was designed to function as a palace while maintaining formidable defensive capabilities.

The Grand Hall is the central space for state functions, featuring a massive fireplace that serves as the backdrop for royal feasts and diplomatic negotiations. It is here that the King and his senior nobility gather to keep the King's Peace and manage the affairs of the Estates.

The upper levels of the keep house the private royal quarters. This area is divided into several specific chambers:

• King's Chambers: Includes a bedchamber, dressing room, and a private ante-chamber used for personal audiences.
• Queen's Chambers: Currently being prepared for Lady Elizabeth Wallis.
• Galleries: Internal walkways and viewing areas that overlook the lower courts and the River Reoch.

The keep is protected by a series of concentric defences, including an outer wall and a heavily fortified inner bailey. The gatehouses are manned by the City Guard, identifiable by their green shields with red diagonal stripes. The inner chambers and the person of the King are guarded by the elite King's Life Guard, who wear polished green enamelled armour.

The King's Keep stands on a site that has been inhabited longer than living memory. While the original foundations were laid by early lords (potentially of House Sioltach), the modern palace was largely rebuilt by Alasdair II. Inspired by his travels abroad, he transformed the martial fortress into a grand palace during a period of relative peace and prosperity.

The keep has remained the stable anchor of the monarchy throughout recent turmoils. During the Queen's War, it was a strategic prize for the rival coalitions. Following the assertion of his personal rule, King Alasdair V utilized the keep as a place of safety and a staging ground for his efforts to unify the noble houses.

• King Alasdair V: The current Sovereign and Grand Duke of Reoch.
• Sir Iain Alpin: Knight Commander of the Life Guard, responsible for the keep's internal security.
• Lady Elizabeth Wallis: The future Queen of Dael Riata and resident of the keep.
• Diarmid Murchadh: The 7th Earl of Uisdean, who performed his oath of allegiance within these walls.

• Dalreoch: The capital city surrounding the keep.
• Gallows Market: The site of royal proclamations located just outside the keep's walls.
• Water Gate: A major city entrance leading toward the merchant district and docks.
• Caer Suibhne: A neutral castle where the King occasionally holds summits away from the capital.