Argynvostholt
A beacon of hope in the darkest of timelines
"I was looking at dead men. Before another hour passed, I’d send them wailing on their way to rotting hell. All of them."High above the river valley juts a quiet promontory upon which looms a sepulchral mansion, its turrets capped with fairytale cones, its towers lined with sculpted battlements. A third of the structure has collapsed, as has part of the roof, but the rest appears intact. A dark, octagonal tower rises above the surrounding architecture. Out of the fog comes a distant peal of thunder, quickly accompanied by the howling of wolves in the woods below, but the house stands silent, seeming like the fossilized remains of some long-dead thing smote upon the mountainside. The castle of Argynvostholt stands tall on a large outcropping at the foot of Mount Ghakis, a centuries old silent sentry against evil. Rumors abound that the castle is haunted, but only the new master of the castle, Snowball, could say for sure. Haunted or not, Argynvostholt is undoubtedly a safe refuge for those looking to escape Strahd's eye.- Strahd von Zarovich in I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire
Purpose / Function
Long ago, Lord Argynvost arrived in the beautiful, then-nameless valley of Barovia. He learned of the Amber Temple, a secret place of knowledge and evil, and decided to use his accumulated wealth to build a grand castle and attract valorous knights from across the land, with the goal of protecting and containing the evil within the temple.
But that was centuries ago. Now, the castle stands mostly empty, save for the heroic Snowball and his traveling companions who shelter here from Strahd.
Alterations
The south side of the building was damaged in an epic battle many years ago, but some reparations have been made on the bottom floor. Namely, the old ballroom has been converted into a pen for livestock and mounts, and some wooden boards have been mounted over busted windows to keep the elements and animals of Barovia at bay.
History
The building was constructed in the year -29 BD, and was once the headquarters for the Order of the Silver Dragon. The final explosive battle between the Order of the Silver Dragon and Strahd's armies destroyed the southern third of the building, and it was left empty and haunted for many years afterwards.
It was bequeathed to Snowball by the ghost of Argynvost himself, and now stands as a safe haven for Strahd's enemies.
Maps
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Argynvostholt Ground and Second Floor
A decrepit castle standing firm at the foot of Mount Ghakis. -
Argynvostholt Third Floor and Roof
A decrepit castle standing firm at the foot of Mount Ghakis.
RUINED STRUCTURE
1 AD
1 AD
Founding Date
-29 BD
Type
Castle
Owner
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments