Throneworld Court Palace
This is both a place and the courtiers who make it a microcultural society so I'm not sure how to categorize it, but I needed a place to put maps of the Chatcaavan palace/court.
The Fields
Where the court eats, outside on a field where pillows and tables are set on slightly elevated mounds overlooking a central pit/field; this central field is used for entertainments, particularly duels. There's a pillow for foreigners on the corner that I've forgotten the name of but it's in Wingless. The Emperor's pillow is black, apparently. [1] Chatcaava do not dress their tables with tablecloths, and they're low.
The tables are brought out in the morning and returned inside after the final meal, but the pillows are set out for each meal, and returned to the palace after each meal, by castrates who clean them and keep them free of mildew and damage. There is a single castrate (title-less but known for the job duty) whose sole job is to track all those pillows, see to their mending and replacement, and oversee their distribution daily.[2]
After the Emperor's restoration, a new mound was sculpted in front of his hillock for his favored courtiers. The tables on this new mound are set at angles so that the people at them can look both at the field and at the Emperor.[2]
The meals are mostly several courses of meat dishes (charred or raw), with flavored ices for palate cleansers. Wine and water are served.[2]
The Emperor's Tower
Long stairs. Nautilus-like shape.
The Queen's Tower
There is a broad central stairway through the core of this tower lined with jeweled mosaics, and guards stand outside the doors leading into the various chambers at each level. [3] There is surveillance throughout this tower, except in the Queen's suite. "You belong to the Emperor, my Queen. For anyone else to spy on you would have been an insult to him. Only he should have access to you." [4]
Catacombs
The aliens were kept here during Wingless, and later it was used for the escape. Poorly maintained; has a tunnel leading out of the palace, debouching near the palace landing pad. Had not been used for over a hundred revolutions when the Knife described it to the Queen Ransomed. [5]
The Menders
Imperial Nursery
Installed near the base of the tower. Guarded by males, overseen by tongueless female caretakers/slaves who were taken from rivals but not beautiful, significant or young enough to be remanded to the harem. Separated into at least two rooms; the room nearest the interior of the tower is reserved for female children, and the one with the window for male children. [6]
Gift Harem
Imperial Harem
Use Closet
Halfway between the Imperial Harem and the Queen's Suite, the use closet is reached from a door at a landing, and occupies the space beneath the final flight of stairs.[7] This is where the Chatcaava store implements of torture or pleasure for use in the harems. It is lit by a lamp that's usually left off and must be manually turned on. The items in it are itemized and displayed in an orderly fashion.
Queen's Suite
The Queen's Suite has multiple rooms, and a bathing chamber with three levels of pool (hottest to coolest). Plus a closet for storage, and lots of windows for falling out of.
Clinic
The clinic is never closed. [8] Females and menials are never treated there, only ranking males. Has a reception area, where Triage sits. Then a corridor leading back to various rooms, a room for gel-tanks, some surgery theaters, and the Surgeon's office.
Servant's Quarters
Sleeping chambers, kept fastidiously clean, with few belongings, and their pallets are meager and lack privacy. The end of their chambers is an external door, leading outside where they do other chores. [9]