Verti Castle

Verti Castle is a ruined castle and tourist attraction in Diamondheart. It is named after its owner, Admiral Verti, who was known for leading Diamondheart's navy against Atlinthaia during the Southern Conflict.

The Southern Conflict

For much of its history, the Southern Continent has been engaged in an international religious war between the different factions of the Een faith, as well as some of the minor religions. Admiral Verti was an Een leader who led Diamondheart's navy in trying to defeat Atlinthaia, and was highly successful. Some blame him for the elimination of the old Atlintaian religion. While he was a major force in the conversion of early Atlinthaians to the Een faith, it is less likely that the old religion died out, so much as evolved, merging with the that of Xurugwi refugees.

Retirement

Little is known of Admiral Verti's retirement from the navy, as it happened rather suddenly, with the only documented reason being that he never wanted to see the ocean again. Thus, he moved into a castle built in Diamondheart's desert valley. Some speculate that Verti's family was killed by a Mermish soldier, as neither his wife nor children went to live with him. Others believe he was discovered to have betrayed either his family or his country and retired rather than being disgraced. A third theory states that he was given the land as part of a government plan to dispose of him for some reason. This is supported by the fact that Verti did not commission the building of the castle, but was given it, and that his death took place shortly after.

Drowning

While little is known of Admiral Verti's retirement, even less is known of his death. What is known is that the castle flooded during the desert's monsoon season, and he died in the flood. Though historians believe the castle filled with water and would have killed anyone inside, Verti's body was found in the basement. This has led many to believe that sometime before the storm, he was chained to the wall in his own basement. This is also supported by the mysterious words "no more," which were scratched on the basement wall.

A Haunted Home

The valley in Diamondheart remains a popular tourist attraction for both local and foreign visitors. It is now a national park and popular hiking location. Verti Castle is one of the most popular places within the park. Every year, thousands of visitors tour the castle and see Verti's famous last words. Nevertheless, drownings continue to happen there, and some believe the castle is haunted. Its location in the valley means that every year during monsoon season, the castle again fills up with water. While park staff warn of the danger, there are inevitably people every year who venture to the castle during the rainy days. Those who have been lucky enough to pass smaller rains in and near the castle claim that they here the words "no more," echo through the structure. Some believe that it's the ghost of Admiral Verti, reliving his demise, while others believe it is the castle itself, calling for an end to the perpetual drowning it undergoes year after year.

Coming Soon: a soundscape of the castle drowning

Type

Castle

Atlinathain Myths

While most of the stories about Verti Castle hail from Diamondheart, Atlinthaia also has a version of Verti's death. The story says that Verti angered the ocean with his bloodshed, and she vowed she would avenge her children, whom he had wronged. He fled to the desert, thinking she could not follow him there, but the ocean took the form of a human woman and found him in the desert. There, she locked him in the basement and sent the rain to devour him. Some versions even say she tethered his soul to the castle, so that it could continue to feel her wrath year after year.
The oldest version of this story traces back to mere decades after Verti's death, which reveals the degree of impact he had on Atlinthaian society during the war. While the story is the same, Verti specifically angered the Mother Goddess (typically represented by the Ocean) and had her daughter, Death (typically represented by the sky) deliver her to Verti Castle in order to dispose of him. This story also speaks to the fact that Verti did not wipe out the old Atlinthaian religion.