allthekeys (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
allthekeys) wrote2010-10-30 05:44 pm
allthekeys) wrote2010-10-30 05:44 pm
Entry tags:
Chore List - Standard
Groundskeeping - Gardens
A far larger task than it appears; the gardens cover more territory than the small walled-in town. To make matters worse, the plants seem to overgrow the paths quicker than should be accounted for by normal growth, although characters that are younger teens will find that they seem to have an easier time passing through and dealing with the plants than others.
A strange, humanoid figure made of plant growth with ominous thorns can be found rooted into the ground among the trees and overgrowth, a carved mask of a leafy, fanged face on the “head”; it does not move or seem overgrown, but after the “gardeners” move away from it or look away, it will often be gone, to be found somewhere else in the garden in a different position; it always seems to be watching… Younger characters may find clear patches that almost seem prepared in pockets, with it watching the clearing as if standing guard, with fruit and clear water in fountains readily available, while child characters will find it moving to stop them from going back to the guard-patrolled areas. Anyone over 18 may never see or find these secluded sanctuaries. The Green Man is harmless during the day so long as none of the guests make hostile moves towards it.
The note on the board discourages entering the stone maze if the entrance is found.
Groundskeeping - Yard/road, Stables/animal tending
This task partly includes sweeping the yard and the road leading to the gate; the guards that work in the yard are fairly conscientious and neat, so there isn’t much need to worry about picking up practice weapons, although there may be occasions of cleaning up after the hounds. The fence around the garden often needs trimming, as the flowering vines and climbing roses try to creep out over the statues and adjacent walls.
This chore also includes tending to the stables and animal enclosures, which is the far more work-intensive side; mucking stalls, feeding animals - who are often better fed than the guests, although their feed isn’t quite palatable and those trying to steal meat will find the guards close by - and occasionally helping the guards exercise dogs, birds, and horses in the yard. Most of the animals are relatively well behaved, although the peacocks and geese in the outdoor aviary are still belligerent.
Guests working in the stables will often see stray guards that don't seem to be on any kind of schedule wandering in, petting the hounds or slipping extra bits of food and treats to the animals.
Basement
Much of the cleaning duties here are simple enough - scrubbing floors and walls, dusting, and cleaning up the crafting areas; for the course of the day, those characters with this task can freely come and go through the locked and barred barriers in the crafting rooms, although others will find them solidly locked. The area is somewhat claustrophobic and the air is still and stale; there is an occasional flicker of gleaming silver eyes in the dark, although further investigation finds nothing.
Of course, the torture chamber itself is a less routine chore to clean, and there always seems to be fresh blood, bits of scorched skin, and hair caught in the tools; there is also an expectation to run food from the kitchens to the craftsman’s rooms, and collect the mostly-eaten remains later, despite a lack of ever seeing the unfortunate prisoners.
The generator room is still inaccessible past the locked gate.
First Floor
Nearly all of this job is cleaning, and there is a great deal of it to do; floors get scuffed and dirt is tracked in and out, dust settles on things through windows, curtains and tapestries need straightening, while the vases scattered about need periodic dumping with dying flowers replaced with fresh cuttings from whatever is accessible of the gardens. Open windows bring in light and air. There is periodic guard traffic; they will not interfere, although those assigned this floor who are trying to shirk duties might find a suit of armor tapping its foot and prodding at them, while questions about where to find things will get answered quickly with wordless pointing or occasionally a guard playing guide.
Their first recourse with things done poorly or half-done is to find one of the assigned guests and lead them to it with some charades and concerned gestures. For those cleaning their quarters and bath, they take only passing notice, and also seem unbothered if stray moments are taken to indulge the resident cat interrupting people for attention.
If the steward's room is sabotaged or there are attempts at theft or pranking, the culprit will likely find that he has no sense of humor - to the tune of possible beheading.
Kitchen
The groups working the kitchen may have a smaller area to cover, but they find themselves under the harsh watch of the Cook, who they will quickly find to be a demanding taskmaster that somehow is quick to notice slacking off or shoddy work. Besides those assigned to cooking and food preparation tasks, there will be others charged with cleaning floors, washing dishes and pans, cleaning counters, while another handful will be given directions to take prepared food and deliver it - sometimes to the dining room for whatever unseen individuals are there, sometimes to guards at the grand staircase to take upstairs.
Some of the feed for the castle animals is also prepared in the kitchens, and sent to deliver to the stables; stray scraps of meat and fat are collected, grain and seed mixed with grasses and hay for horses and birds. In addition, fruit preserves, smoked meat, and similar is often passed off to be stored in the pantries.
The gruel is in ever-present large pots simmering; the cook keeps special watch to make sure the servants aren't trying to doctor it by adding things to make it more palatable.
Those trying to snatch tastes of food going out of the kitchen will find it difficult to get past the cook's watchful eye, no matter how preoccupied he may seem at any given moment. Conversation is allowed, as long as it does not interfere with their work or disrupt others.
Laundry
Those assigned laundry will find themselves directed to the guard's bathing rooms, with an assortment of washboards and basins; the back of the room is strung with laundry lines. The washing ranges from clothing that is only a little better quality than that of the guests themselves, to some elaborate dresses, vests, slacks and shirts that may take special care in handling.
There are basins filled with hot water, ash, and lye for soaking the clothes in, and some ash and lye soaps made with animal fat are on hand as well for scrubbing.
A far larger task than it appears; the gardens cover more territory than the small walled-in town. To make matters worse, the plants seem to overgrow the paths quicker than should be accounted for by normal growth, although characters that are younger teens will find that they seem to have an easier time passing through and dealing with the plants than others.
A strange, humanoid figure made of plant growth with ominous thorns can be found rooted into the ground among the trees and overgrowth, a carved mask of a leafy, fanged face on the “head”; it does not move or seem overgrown, but after the “gardeners” move away from it or look away, it will often be gone, to be found somewhere else in the garden in a different position; it always seems to be watching… Younger characters may find clear patches that almost seem prepared in pockets, with it watching the clearing as if standing guard, with fruit and clear water in fountains readily available, while child characters will find it moving to stop them from going back to the guard-patrolled areas. Anyone over 18 may never see or find these secluded sanctuaries. The Green Man is harmless during the day so long as none of the guests make hostile moves towards it.
The note on the board discourages entering the stone maze if the entrance is found.
Groundskeeping - Yard/road, Stables/animal tending
This task partly includes sweeping the yard and the road leading to the gate; the guards that work in the yard are fairly conscientious and neat, so there isn’t much need to worry about picking up practice weapons, although there may be occasions of cleaning up after the hounds. The fence around the garden often needs trimming, as the flowering vines and climbing roses try to creep out over the statues and adjacent walls.
This chore also includes tending to the stables and animal enclosures, which is the far more work-intensive side; mucking stalls, feeding animals - who are often better fed than the guests, although their feed isn’t quite palatable and those trying to steal meat will find the guards close by - and occasionally helping the guards exercise dogs, birds, and horses in the yard. Most of the animals are relatively well behaved, although the peacocks and geese in the outdoor aviary are still belligerent.
Guests working in the stables will often see stray guards that don't seem to be on any kind of schedule wandering in, petting the hounds or slipping extra bits of food and treats to the animals.
Basement
Much of the cleaning duties here are simple enough - scrubbing floors and walls, dusting, and cleaning up the crafting areas; for the course of the day, those characters with this task can freely come and go through the locked and barred barriers in the crafting rooms, although others will find them solidly locked. The area is somewhat claustrophobic and the air is still and stale; there is an occasional flicker of gleaming silver eyes in the dark, although further investigation finds nothing.
Of course, the torture chamber itself is a less routine chore to clean, and there always seems to be fresh blood, bits of scorched skin, and hair caught in the tools; there is also an expectation to run food from the kitchens to the craftsman’s rooms, and collect the mostly-eaten remains later, despite a lack of ever seeing the unfortunate prisoners.
The generator room is still inaccessible past the locked gate.
First Floor
Nearly all of this job is cleaning, and there is a great deal of it to do; floors get scuffed and dirt is tracked in and out, dust settles on things through windows, curtains and tapestries need straightening, while the vases scattered about need periodic dumping with dying flowers replaced with fresh cuttings from whatever is accessible of the gardens. Open windows bring in light and air. There is periodic guard traffic; they will not interfere, although those assigned this floor who are trying to shirk duties might find a suit of armor tapping its foot and prodding at them, while questions about where to find things will get answered quickly with wordless pointing or occasionally a guard playing guide.
Their first recourse with things done poorly or half-done is to find one of the assigned guests and lead them to it with some charades and concerned gestures. For those cleaning their quarters and bath, they take only passing notice, and also seem unbothered if stray moments are taken to indulge the resident cat interrupting people for attention.
If the steward's room is sabotaged or there are attempts at theft or pranking, the culprit will likely find that he has no sense of humor - to the tune of possible beheading.
Kitchen
The groups working the kitchen may have a smaller area to cover, but they find themselves under the harsh watch of the Cook, who they will quickly find to be a demanding taskmaster that somehow is quick to notice slacking off or shoddy work. Besides those assigned to cooking and food preparation tasks, there will be others charged with cleaning floors, washing dishes and pans, cleaning counters, while another handful will be given directions to take prepared food and deliver it - sometimes to the dining room for whatever unseen individuals are there, sometimes to guards at the grand staircase to take upstairs.
Some of the feed for the castle animals is also prepared in the kitchens, and sent to deliver to the stables; stray scraps of meat and fat are collected, grain and seed mixed with grasses and hay for horses and birds. In addition, fruit preserves, smoked meat, and similar is often passed off to be stored in the pantries.
The gruel is in ever-present large pots simmering; the cook keeps special watch to make sure the servants aren't trying to doctor it by adding things to make it more palatable.
Those trying to snatch tastes of food going out of the kitchen will find it difficult to get past the cook's watchful eye, no matter how preoccupied he may seem at any given moment. Conversation is allowed, as long as it does not interfere with their work or disrupt others.
Laundry
Those assigned laundry will find themselves directed to the guard's bathing rooms, with an assortment of washboards and basins; the back of the room is strung with laundry lines. The washing ranges from clothing that is only a little better quality than that of the guests themselves, to some elaborate dresses, vests, slacks and shirts that may take special care in handling.
There are basins filled with hot water, ash, and lye for soaking the clothes in, and some ash and lye soaps made with animal fat are on hand as well for scrubbing.