Silver Keep
 Silver Keep
| |
 The castle viewed from a distance | |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Owner |  thesprazzzler
|
| Contributors |  theschlozmeister and  Eilidh23
|
| Category | Castles |
| Underground? | No |
| Public? | Yes |
| Started | 14/05/2015 |
| Completed | 25/05/2018 |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | X=-4731 Y=119 Z=2451 |
| Dimension | Overworld |
| Map Link | |
Silver Keep is a large hilltop castle, primarily constructed by thesprazzzler, but with help from many others.
Inspiration and Style
Like so many of his builds, Silver Keep was inspired by another build on the server. This time it was 
Waterboy0048's truly wonderful Sky Castle. You can clearly see the stylistic influences carried over when viewing the two castles on the live map.
Minas Tirith was also a primary inspiration for the castle, however it does not follow its regulated shape, instead aiming to replicate the steep narrow streets that so wonderfully frame any inhabitants.
Stylistically the build was largely intended as an experiment into thesprazzzler and theschlozmeister's "neo-noob" concept. Whilst the palate is simple, and detail is sparse, when viewed in union the castle creates a complex shape offering interesting views. It harks back to days of old where stone brick was but a glimmer in the eye of Notch, and stairs were for losers.
Build Progress
Keep
The castle was started with thesprazzzler's private inner keep. This was built on an inaccessible hilltop, surrounded by soaring cliffs. Whilst fortified, this area is more designed for luxury, with thesprazzzler's spacious private quarters roofed with fine spruce, setting it apart from the rest of the castle. Accompanying it is a small courtyard for personal horses, as well as an expansive wing to house the servants.
Upper Courtyard
Next constructed was a cramped courtyard on a rocky outcrop to the South of the inner keep. It consists of two main buildings surrounding a walled area containing a small stable, with a gatehouse at either end. One of the two buildings is inhabited by 
Reaxion, a good friend of thesprazzzler's, whilst the other remains unused at the time of writing.
Eilidh23's Tower
Despite the fact the inner keep remained completely inaccessible, thesprazzzler delayed building a bridge as he was not sure he could build one he would be happy with. Instead, he turned his attention towards a small ridge extending off the plateau. Despite being really much too small for a building, thesprazzzler constructed a slim tower, reachable only via a slender bridge. The tower has three cosy floors, with a balcony extending over a dizzying drop from the top floor, yet offering a fantastic view.
Keep Bridge
After finding success with the bridge to Eilidh23's tower, thesprazzzler set out to bridge the gap between the upper courtyard and the keep. After initial designs in singleplayer, he set to work. He created a delicate stone bridge, gated at both ends, and void of any hand rails, giving easy access to a lethal fall either side.
Horses
As one of the primary inspirations of this castle had always been Minas Tirith, thesprazzzler had long toyed with the idea of replicating the scene where the army descends through the city. Of course this required horses, leading to a slight problem. The closest place thesprazzzler had access to horses was at spawn, roughly a 5km trek. Still, this did not stop thesprazzzler, and in one crazed fervour deep into the night, he made the trip twice, riding one horse and dragging along two more. This abysmal idea reached a titillating climax when he approached the castle from the wrong direction and was presented with almost sheer cliffs. Never one to quit[dubious], he dragged all three horses up the cliff one block at a time, until eventually they were all safely accounted for within the walls.
Lower Courtyard
After the traumatising experience of the horse transfer, thesprazzzler once again set out to make progress on the castle. After creating some temporary stables to house the horses, he began progress on the expansive lower courtyard. He started with a gatehouse in the East, leading to the upper courtyard, before working his way West, and then North, erecting structures and walls alike. The final part of the castle to be completed was the South-Western corner of the lower courtyard. It was sealed with a complex arrangement of multi-tiered battlements.
Current Condition
The castle is largely complete, with the keep, upper, and lower courtyards all sealed and all buildings covered, but mainly not yet furnished.
