The Blank Shields - Mercenary HeadQuarters
The keep, like most things associately with the Blank Shields, is more functional than pretty. The bulk of the interior is made up of rooms like this one; the keep is in many ways a fortified barracks building. All told, the keep can sleep 3 full companies (75 soldiers) at a time, which means a full operating capacity of 6 companies (150 soldiers) makes this a very crowded place to be!
Typically there are only 3 companies in residence at any given time; a company of veterans and trainers matched to a company of new recruits, and a company (not usually fully ranked) of injured and recovering.
| | 
|
| | The Captain enforces strict discipline and patrols like these can be seen in the halls at any time of the day or night. Dhugal doesn’t put much stock in passwords or other “advanced” security, though. His system is very simple, and all the Blank Shields are told “If you don’t recognize and know a soldier by name, stop what you’re doing, and escort them to someone who does.”
It makes for a hectic few days around recruitment time, but Dhugal figures it’s well worth the effort. “To an outsider, we’re nameless and faceless; that’s part of the point with having no heraldry. But to another Blank Shield, everyone has a name, everyone is *someone*, and that makes a difference in the field. Everyone puts in more if putting in less might kill someone they know.“
|
| | The keep is also well set up to withstand a seige in the unlikely event that it happens. Part of the pool at the back of the canyon is inside the keep, and barred off with a grate. A regular source of fresh water, combined with ample food storage, means the keep could be cut off for months at a time before needing to worry.
| | 
|
Finally, here are some images showing cutaway views of the keep.
Back to the courtyard.
Up Back to the gate
|
