Shadowveil Keep
Adorning the crest of a small but imposing hill, and surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs rests Shadowveil Keep. Its elegant Gothic-styled towers and baroque embellishments cast mischievous and incoherent shadows while the watchful eyes of a thousand gargoyles and grotesque stone beasts stare contemptuously from their weathered granite perches by the sharp light of a clear Blood Moon. Framed by an otherworldly elegance that towers over the landscape commanding reverence and awe from all who approach. Forever an academic sanctuary and storehouse of knowledge, the true genesis of the building has become lost to time and circumstance. There have been many claims about its origins throughout the castle’s many millennia of known and recorded history, but most were a part of the countless power struggles that went on within the walls. Remnants of a lost civilization, the heart of a great entity, or built by the gods, many have looked, more have guessed, but none, have ever found the answer. From the Whispering Gallery to the Endless Labyrinth, Shadowveil Keep is rife with undiscovered mysteries and hidden secrets. From the rumours of ancient and exclusive arcana secreted within the Obsidian Halls to the tales of the legendary treasures protected within the Vault of Echoes. One who comes here seeking is sure to find, yet be wary with whom you wander the cavernous halls. Beyond the grandeur, the Keep is a nexus of power, a convergence of ley lines, and a repository for forbidden and otherwise lost or forgotten knowledge. When needed, a cage and a vault for those things too dangerous to leave unattended or in lesser hands. Many things to many peoples, it stands as a testament to the deep magics that bind the multiverse and shape its very essence.
History and Construction
The true foundations of the Keep are a fact shrouded deeply in mystery and forever lost to the annals of time. Fantastical rumours and theories, however, persist despite the lack of any supporting evidence whatsoever. Some say the keep was manifested from the confluence of celestial power and multiversal alignments and is, in fact, a Domovoi and therefore itself a Guardian. Others claim that it’s the last remnant of a lost and forgotten civilization, or built by the gods from the heart of a powerful and forgotten enemy. Perhaps one of the firstborn dragons, or even a deceased god from the antecedent cosmos. The most common contention, and by far the most likely, is that the citadel was constructed by its first known and recorded occupants, a mysterious assembly of mages from across Tír Na Laochra, known simply as The Covenant. While they are not officially recognized, or known to have actually built the stronghold, the Covenant are unarguably recognized as its first occupants and masters. While records of earlier groups do exist, none are consistent or accepted. The general belief is that prior, to the arrival of the Covenant the fortress had undergone a period of abandonment, though this is also unconfirmed. There are also many records pointing to different groups as the builders or founders of the castle, however, nearly all of these are known to be false plants and claims made as part of attempts to seize or maintain control of the citadel. While complete records of lordship are not possible to replicate, some having been lost due to floods or fire, others due to political machinations, it is clear that ownership of the bastion, which was then called Aetherhold, changed hands many times. In all the eons, while the cast of lords, ladies, and other assorted self-appointed nobles and dignitaries rotated through like the hands on a clock, the castle’s underlying purpose has never changed. It has remained a haven for knowledge and study of all kinds, and while it is permitted, individuals have rarely sought out the hold for mundane knowledge. Along with being a repository for books and knowledge, the Keep also became a warehouse for all manner of lost, stolen, and guarded artifacts. Some are stored here to keep members of the populace from abusing their power, others are here to keep the artifacts from abusing the populace, though a few are here just for safekeeping.
Arrival of the Baron and the Faire
The last group to hold power within the keep before the Baron was the Congress of the Veiled Star. An ally to the Guardians of Tír na Laochra, little is known of the Congress, save for their renowned knowledge of translocation and inter-planar travel. At this time, it was known that the Aetherhold was as stationary as any other building. It was while searching for a way to take their stronghold with them to the front lines of equilibratory incursions, that the members of the Veiled Star vanished. Arising one morning to go about their duties, the junior associates of the order could not find their senior fellows anywhere on the grounds. Further and subsequent investigations revealed them to have vanished from the multiverse altogether. With the novices and acolytes unable to defend their order’s position, the resulting power vacuum led to absolute bedlam both within the walls of Aetherhold, and abroad, wherever the different warring faction members found themselves. It was amongst this pandemonium, one particularly bloody evening, that Baron Samedi, Guardian of the Crossroads and Sovereign of the Silent Kingdom arrived quietly in the castle courtyard alongside the Blood Moon Faire. With little fanfare and no acknowledgment or acquiescence from the present residents, the Midnight Reveler immediately commenced the Endorsement Gala. This was a one-time event at which the Baron gained the support and endorsement of every disparate faction within the walls, while none present truly had a choice in the Baron’s ascension, all were eager to advocate for it. When he was later questioned about his unusual, yet timely arrival, the Lord of the Grave responded that he had been possessed of a powerful vision that the Keep required him.
Claiming of the Castle
The ramparts called out in desperation, and the Patron of the Last Passage had answered. The different delegations within the Keep while all slightly perturbed that they, themselves had failed to seize control, and the prestige that would have come with it, were secretly relieved that the fighting and chaos had passed. The Aetherhold was a place of study, and learning, not warfare and combat. Of course, several outlying, often bipartisan, groups were unhappy with the situation. However, they and the rest of the realm quickly realized that attempting to remove the Baron head-on was extremely unwise, and were forced into accepting the new regime. The spirit of the citadel itself helped to quell some of the most rebellious and problematic cells. The living walls trapped rioters in the catacombs and pushed others into the castle sewers to wash them away through long-forgotten portals. While the insurgents and rebels were eventually subdued, and peace restored to the grounds, dark rumours have swirled about the fortress ever since. They say that the Old Grandmother herself, the first witch... Baba Yaga had been the one trying to usurp the Baron and wrest control of the hold, to forward her own mysterious and nefarious ends. It’s widely agreed upon as a good thing that Grandmother did not win, but the murmurs in the shadows still whisper of her continued ambition and efforts to one day confiscate control of the eldritch sanctuary.Binding of Aetherhold
It was the spirit of the hold that summoned him, and so it was that spirit with which he made a pact. When the bloodshed had subsided, and peace once again reigned within the halls the Baron entered communion with structure. What, if anything, passed between the two, none can say, what is known is that when the Baron emerged from his trance, he declared the pact sealed the ritual set in motion. Designed to finish the work that the Congress of the Veiled Star had begun, and to forever bind castle, keeper, and Faire until one should cease. When it was completed the Aetherhold emerged, reborn as Shadowveil Keep. Unmoored from reality the structure and surrounding hillside were eternally twisted and transformed from their contact with the veil, permeated with the eerie and lingering presence of death. No longer chained to the rigid earth, the fortress was free to wander any lands its master chose alongside the travelling Faire to which it was now bound and entangled. Although gradual to build, the Faire and the Keep have been tied for so long, that the symbiosis between the two has become integral to their existence. They are essentially a single economic entity, their records and expenses being kept separately internally, but none of their trade partners consider them apart, if the Faire owes, collectors will come knocking at the castle. The two also rely on each other for mutual protection, the Faire’s criers and promoters provide intelligence, while the steadfast walls and wandering nature of the citadel, keep everyone safe. Beyond all this, their fates became intrinsically entwined with each other at the conclusion of the ritual. The end of one would mean the end of its counterpart. It is for this reason, more than any other, that the Baron chose to complete the Veiled Star’s work and untether his new home.Inter-Planar Nexus
The Keep continued to maintain its prominence as an erudite refuge and continues to host travellers of all persuasions within its halls. Sitting on a major convergence of inter-planar ley lines, along with boasting one of the largest, most comprehensive libraries in the multiverse, attracts all kinds of visitors to the castle, for all kinds of reasons. Aside from its inexplicable mobility, the fortress is also a nexus of inter-planar gateways, rivalling in number even the fabled city of portals. Most of these are patrolled by the Shadow Watch, the Keep’s internal security brigade, but some are guarded by more dangerous entities and spells. They are all watched by special undetectable wards to control and monitor access to the interior of the stronghold. This unique intersection of planes, worlds, and cultures, creates a melting pot of heritages that has given rise to a distinctive culture and tradition all its own, one infused with the essence of death as a natural part of life. It is a heritage that has found itself continuously at the forefront of arcane research efforts, despite the many eons and layers of domestic intrigue among the factions. The Baron cares nothing for these factions, or their ambitions, goals, and outlooks, so long as they keep the peace and follow the rules. It is his ability to command such obedience to these standards that has led to the fortress becoming a premiere diplomatic venue for those who can find and afford it.
Expanding Influence
As host to various delegates and envoys, the grounds have naturally attracted a great deal of trade and economic activity. The activities of the Faire only amplify this effect, for the Keep’s patron, and most of his staff, may be immortal, but they’re not all, nor are all the residents and guests. The needs of the living must be met. To this end, and as a result of all the travel, many merchants make their way through the Keep’s courtyards and outer bazaars. In keeping with its status as a pinnacle consular center, Shadowveil is renowned for its cultural inclusivity and acceptance practices. Traditional celebrations of all kinds, from all over the multiverse are observed within its walls. This even means that on occasion multiple celebrations will happen concurrently. The staff does their utmost to cater to guests present in the Keep at the appropriate times, leading to a wealth of opportunities to explore and learn new cultures that might not normally be available to outsiders. A welcomed side-effect of all the foot traffic constantly parading through his home has led to the Baron possessing a myriad network of connections to rival even that of the Brighteyes Exchange Company. He and his cohorts mostly leverage these connections to gather information of all kinds, nothing is too insignificant to report to them, and they will gladly pay for even the most innocuous details from the most remote of locales. This wide-ranging influence generally means that there is little the Baron cannot manage to get done and even fewer places that he cannot reach or find. It’s also why the fair always has its paperwork and permits in order wherever it happens to find itself.Architecture and Environment
Shadowveil Keep presents a facade comprised of an indecipherable blend of medieval architectural periods from its soaring Gothic towers and Romanesque arches to the Byzantine domes and harsh, angular Anglo-Saxon service buildings, amongst other far more exotic and intriguing styles. Uncounted gargoyles, gorgons, and other myriad monsters crawl along the walls through the baroque-styled reliefs. Projecting twisted shadows as the battle the heroes set opposing them, bringing hope in their shining hearts, and balance to the gloom. And so the fortress projects an eerie, menacing, and yet somehow, not unwelcoming presence that looms in the moonlight and shadows. This perpetual shade enshrouds the Keep in persistent shadows, creating an eternal twilight in its immediate vicinity. Sunset arrives prematurely, dawn is invariably delayed, and the sun itself remains a distant, elusive presence. Even at its zenith, it remains aloof, either veiled behind imposing cloud cover or lingering just below the horizon, its direct rays a phenomenon unseen since the days of the Aetherhold. A solar eclipse is the only exception, when daylight’s elusive source momentarily reveals itself, illuminating the dense, roiling mists that cloak the citadel and its environs. Moreover in the vicinity of battlefields and mass graves, the air is laden with the falling ash of an interminable source, an effect that is enhanced with the recency of the atrocity. Intensifying the mystique, the grounds remain inexplicably clear of snow and obstruction, with no witnesses to their maintenance – a silent testament to the multiplicity of secrets within the walls. The aura of mystery that envelops Shadowveil Keep extends beyond the periphery and penetrates the very stones of its imposing architecture. With walls that seem to breathe and morph over time, it’s an enigma that defies decryption. This living aspect allows the structure to assimilate the nuance of the many cultures it has encountered through its fabled existence. Evolving its appearance and maintaining its integrity in a subtle, almost imperceptible waltz of form and function. The evidence of this dance can be seen recorded in the annals of history, in aged paintings and tapestries that capture the Keep’s iconic form through the ages. While clearly displaying the timeless silhouette of the citadel, they also reveal discrepancies that challenge the observer's perception. These unobtrusive adaptations serve not only to defend against times implacable advances but to mirror the ever-changing worlds that the Keep oversees, further deepening the multi-layered arcana within and around these storied ramparts.
Enduring and Shifting Landscapes
Unlike the ever-evolving architecture, the landscape, maintains a more steadfast, though no less mystifying, presence. Perched atop a defensible hill, Shadowveil Keep is flanked on three sides by modest, yet formidable cliffs, crowned with the imposing walls of the Keep. Among these, concealed passages wind their way into the catacombs below, their entrances obscured by the imposing contours of the land. The surrounding stands of trees, styled the Twilight Groves, thrive in defiance of the eternal dusk as they guard secrets of their own – ruins as old as the keep itself, their origin and purpose, lost to time. Silent sentinels, they lay scattered across the scenery, observing. It is among these remnants of a forgotten age that the Blood Moon Faire erects its tents and pavilions, weaving a tapestry of impermanent festivity around the decaying symbols of stability and continuity. When it’s time to break down and relocate, the Faire pitches its tents and sets out on the road. As the last wagons round the bend and disappear, the mists enveloping Shadowveil Keep swell and consume the surrounding countryside, ushering the Keep and its constituent estate to the liminal space between worlds. Portal and translocation magic function normally, but the mists will prevent any form of mundane travel while speeding them through the in-between, always ensuring their arrival just ahead of the Faire. Inside the fog, any vestiges of the previous host terrain quickly fade, and the groves return bearing fruit, should they have departed. Life within continues unabated. As the citadel arrives at its destination it quietly assimilates into the terrain. An otherworldly fog rolls in and space-time warps and folds, displacing the landscape, without disturbing it, for the Keep’s own piece of continuum, it’s by this process that Keep avoids disturbing the existing world. As the mists withdraw to the walls they transform the landscape behind them, leaving the estate a reflection of the surrounding climate. The cliffs and the ruins remain as constants in this routine reincarnation, while the Twilight Groves either adapt to a hospitable enough environment or linger in between, awaiting more favourable conditions.Prominent Locations within the Keep
Despite the ever-shifting exterior, the interior spaces of the castle have remained largely untouched through the passage of time. Within these sturdy walls lie storied spaces, each with its own history and secrets that weave a tapestry of tales that spans dimensions and stretches to the furthest corners of the multiverse. These chambers echo with whispers of the countless lives lived within the fortress’s embrace, each stone a voiceless witness, enduring to recount their sagas for future generations.
The Whispering Gallery
One such space, the Whispering Gallery, greets guests who enter by the main antechamber and make their way to the great library. A multi-tiered hallway lined with artworks, every one animated and speaking. Each contains a fragment of the subject's soul, granting them an impersonation of life. The paintings babble and chatter constantly. Bound forever to their frames, the residents engage in the only thing left to them, conversing, with each other, themselves, and with any passersby that they can ensnare. The reasons for their presence, be they punitive or panegyrical, are as varied and numerous as the works themselves. Beyond the immediate enchantment in this corridor, there lies a deeper, unspoken narrative. Alive with whispers of the past, it serves not only as a passageway but as an unexpected haven that blurs the boundaries between time and eternity. A threshold between worlds, this showcase becomes a meeting ground where the past converges on the present, and art transcends the substance of mere visual expression to become a true window into the soul that it encapsulates. Here, amid the ceaseless dialogue, the Gallery’s eternal inhabitants recount tales of valour, tragedy, and everyday life. A unique communion, they offer an opportunity to glean ancient wisdom from epochs past, making every journey through the Whispering Gallery an expedition through the quintessence of history itself.The Obsidian Hall
Further within, the Obsidian Hall rests beneath the great library, accessible only through the catacombs, and open only by invitation. The Hall is a revered sanctuary and shrine to an ancient and all but forgotten deity of knowledge and the grave. Constructed from a dark navy obsidian, the entire hall radiates with an unusual dark glow, that while odd, is strangely comforting. From behind the dark glow, shifting celestial maps sprawl across the majestic ceilings in an oscillating dance of stellar illumination from a myriad selection of foreign planes, worlds, and even regions. These maps are normally focused on whatever realm the Faire is attending, however they can be changed to any other by request to the staff. As restless as the ceilings, the walls of the Hall, lined with a vast assortment of texts, continuously re-modulate, re-sort, and restock themselves, with no evident cause or explanation of the activity or the order in which scripts are left. First-time visitors learn upon further inspection, that the shelves provide a collection of texts most relevant to their reason for visiting, possibly containing any work housed nearly anywhere in the castle. Any further assistance patrons require, can be requested from the staff, the Obsidian Stewards. The Obsidian Stewards, cloaked in black robes, as dark as the hall they attend, are the last disciples of the enigmatic deity once revered within. Their existence is dedicated to the dissemination of boundless knowledge unto death, an epitome enshrined within the very substrate of the Hall. As guardians of this sacred catalogue, they navigate the vagaries of the Hall's many nuances with an innate understanding, guiding seekers to the texts that breathe the answers they seek most. Beyond their role as custodians of the lore, the Stewards must also maintain the enchantments that sustain the core of the Hall, the supposed heart of the forgotten god. Their chants echo softly through the Hall and the surrounding passages, creating a sonic tapestry that renews what little remaining life force there is within. In their silent vigil, the Stewards embody the will of their forgotten god, ensuring that the flow of knowledge remains unimpeded and that the hall remains a beacon for those questing for enlightenment or solace within its shadowed embrace.The Vault of Echoes
Nestled within the deepest regions of the tunnels beneath the fortress lies the Vault of Echoes, one of the most exclusive places in the multiverse, it protects and houses some of the most dangerous and powerful artifacts in all of the cosmos. Crafted by the finest masons and locksmiths any world has ever seen, the floors, walls, and ceilings are all made of unnaturally black marble with iridescent silver veins running through it. Sourced from an unknown quarry, in a decimated and adrift plane, it is harder than any known substance and is utterly immutable. A single entrance, large enough to fit a building through, is guarded by an equally enormous door, wrought from the same stone, and an equally unknown metal alloy. The panels of the door are inscribed with innumerable ancient runes of protection and containment. Behind the panels, and throughout the vault, clockwork constructions of unmatched precision and complexity whir and click, providing ventilation and climate controls, as well as controlling smaller doors throughout the interior. Guarded zealously by the Echo Wardens, a sect of militant scholars, sworn to absolute secrecy. They take these vows so seriously they submit to magically binding oaths that compel them to silence and communicate with none outside their order. The exceptions to this are, Baron Samedi and his direct agents, under whose grace they are allowed to continue their duty, and the Gearkeepers, the sect of clockwork technicians and mages that live within and maintain the vault and its mechanisms. Supported by an elaborate and sophisticated network of wards and traps, both arcane and mechanical, these two distinct, but united sects, stand vigilant against any who would seek to breach the vault’s sanctity. It is this combination of zealous dedication, mechanical genius, and formidable architecture and technology, that has given rise to the Vault of Echoes' reputation as one of the most impregnable sanctuaries in the multiverse, a silent custodian of both the mysterious and the terrifying.The Endless Labyrinth and Clandestine Collectives
The Obsidian Stewards, the Echo Wardens, and the Gearkeepers are but three of the multitudinous factions dwelling within the foundations of Shadowveil Keep. The citadel’s upper levels are held and attended by sects directly loyal to the Baron. Most of these factions, many of which drift in and out of favour for a variety of reasons, also maintain a steady presence within the depths. As with all of them, they possess an array of goals and objectives, powered by an equally diverse arrangement of motivations. There are many reasons to venture to the depths below the Keep, visits to the Vault of Echoes or the Obsidian Hall are a frequent cause, among many other mystic locations, ancient and knowledgeable delegations, secret repositories, and much more. Beyond the motivating fear of the Baron, the various contingents beneath the ramparts often hold divided, or outright alien allegiances, it is wise to be certain of friend and foe before dealing too closely with any of them. While many of the sects housed here, directly oppose one another, often while vying for favour and the right to crawl from the basement, none dare to violate the Baron’s edicts of no hostilities within his walls. Those who defy these sanctions find their souls instantly forfeited and their goals foiled, often in hilariously comedic fashion. Anyone that is does not immediately find themselves amongst the dead for violating the Baron’s decrees, may find themselves entombed in the endless depths beneath his abode. The are no designated areas that are reserved for prisoners, and no particular faction to handle the task of jailing. However there are some factions whose entire purpose is to guard certain areas of the keep, such as the Echo Wardens, and it’s not beyond the Lord of the Grave to take advantage of this. There are also other, more esoteric and enigmatic, dangers and pitfalls throughout the labyrinth as well, ancient secrets here for a forgotten purpose and many that have just been forgotten.
Captives of Death
There is a mind-bending array of entities imprisoned in the infinite maze, some are the Baron’s inherited captives, incarcerated in the depths since before his ownership of the castle. Others are magnanimous and charming, some horrific to even look upon, all, are treated as extremely dangerous, especially the more unknown quantities. Here are some of the more notable of the detainees housed within the endless depths.The Omnimental
Designated the omnimental, it is a singular entity of the Elemental Chaos, an ancient being embodying the full spectrum of the elemental forces. This specimen with its unique capacity to wield earth, fire, air, and water with equal master, and in any combination, is kept in perpetual stasis, its boundless energy carefully drawn off through arcane conduits. Tended by the most competent elementalists in the multiverse, this power is then used to breathe life into the Keep’s abundance of magical mechanisms and underpins a series of experiments that defy replication elsewhere. The omnimental serves as a keystone of the Keep’s operations and as a wellspring of elemental knowledge that fuels its ongoing saga of magical innovation.The Whispering Seer
Enshrouded in a nearly forgotten corner, the Whispering Seer, an ancient figure of youthful countenance resides in perpetual soliloquy. Blind, but blessed with sight beyond sight, he spews an unceasing stream of indecipherable gibberish in a language only he remembers, his voice a melody of untold mysteries. The reasons for his confinement within the catacombs have passed into one of those mysteries, obscured by the mists of both his own memory and that of the Keep’s denizens. The ceaseless incantations echoing from a fractured mind, weave a tapestry of prophetic visions, that create an enigmatic presence that permeates the stone corridors, compelling yet incomprehensible.The Fractured Mage
Within one corner of the maze, there is a section where some of the more troublesome, or nefarious inmates are kept. One of these chambers is the home of a wizard that flickers on the edge of perception, flitting in and out of existence, the Fractured Mage is a prisoner of his ambition. A once formidable spellcaster who sought to tamper with energies beyond his understanding, a victim of hubris, he exists now in a state of flux, his essence splintered across time and space. His cell has no lock, for it is a paradoxical space in which all realities collide, and is the only place he can maintain even a tenuous grip on the material. He is a living cautionary tale of the perils inherent in tampering with nature. This flickering apparition of a man, caught in an eternal loop of his catastrophic desires, serves as a haunting reminder of the limits of our aspirations.The Last Alchemist of Eldoria
Adjacent to this, is another cell that remains locked at all times. An endless laboratory space ensnares the genius of the Last Alchemist of Eldoria. Her name taken as part of her penance, this unparalleled master of the alchemical arts bears the weight of her homeland’s demise, a tragedy birthed by her creations. Known to have crafted the elusive Elixir of Life, a secret widely sought throughout the cosmos, it is the rumours and evidence of her role in unleashing a devastating plague upon Eldoria that mark her as one of the Keep’s most feared captives. Allowed to continue her experiments for the sake of knowledge and the benefit of many, she is kept under lock and key at all times and is closely and constantly monitored to ensure she does not escape.Conclusion
Transcending its physical form to become a legacy of the unknown and a crucible of ambition and sacrifice. Its story is woven
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