While generally serving as the ward for Korth’s well-to-do—nobles from across the nation maintain secondary residences here—the highlight of Highcourt is Crownhome, King Kaius’s fortress-palace. Two massive rocky pillars flank the stronghold, which extends in a long line between them. The original structure dates back to before Karrn, although it has been restored and heavily fortified multiple times, both by the Kingdom of Galifar and during the Last War. Crownhome has never been breached in a siege; even Karrn’s victory two millennia ago required a brutal starvation campaign. Today, in addition to housing over a thousand soldiers, the building is outfitted with an enormous collection of siege engines that can reach all the way out to the Karrn River to defend against a naval assault.
Despite taking a wife, Kaius maintains a harem in the eastern wing of the building. Traditionally these residences are reserved for the family of the monarch, but since the Treaty of Thronehold the king’s brother and sister have lived abroad. The harem consists of about twenty adults and is safeguarded by Beauty (warforged she/her), a trustworthy and loyal servant of the King. In truth, the harem exists to sustain Kaius’ vampiric needs; most are followers of the Blood of Vol who believe that Kaius will find a solution to the curse of mortality.
Kaius’s audience chamber is rather austere, but it’s designed to put visitors off their guard. Elite guards escort visitors through a labyrinth of twisting corridors. When they climb a final set of stairs into the throne room, they find they’ve emerged from underneath Kaius’s iron throne (a gift from the Mror dwarves) and now stand with him above and behind them. Maps of Khorvaire cover every wall, and a board for the chesslike game of conqueror sits at Kaius’s right hand. The throne room is strictly for official audiences; Kaius takes no entertainment there, and his ceremonial duties are few. The queen rarely uses this chamber; she has a pleasant, tapestry-filled audience chamber of her own.
Source: Five Nations