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Post by Aledüne Nevaar on Sept 28, 2023 17:34:53 GMT -5
Nestled high in the forbidding crags of Dragons Peak, where jagged peaks scrape the heavens and snow-capped summits pierce the skies, stands the imposing citadel known as "Draculheim". In what little Lachesis had learned from her god, this ancient abandoned fortress has been used as the home for various vampire lords throughout the ages. Carved from the very mountain itself, exudes an eerie and commanding presence amidst the chaotic mountain range. The place is is remarkably intact, as if ancient magic is keeping the worst of the storms and chaos at bay.
The path up to the castle was a difficult track. The place is far away from the travelled path, and if Lachesis wasn't who she was the trip would have been nigh impossible unless you knew the exact pathing to take to avoid the streams of lava, monsters and various terrain obstructions she had to make her way past to get there. Its clear this place was forgotten, from a time long ago as the gothic architecture carries an almost alien quality to them.
At the foot of the fortress is a large staircase that circles a spire in the natural mountain. Following it up it leads to a tower and a bridge leading into the the castle proper. Upon closer inspection the place seems to be reinforced with some form of magically reinforced obsidian. Likely one of the many reasons the place is still somewhat whole after the aeons. The tower she found herself in was unguarded, and was likely at some point used as a barracks, now it lay empty, blackened by years of sooth and ash from the nearby volcanic activity. The structure itself is solid, but the furniture was long gone.
Out the door of the tower she was now facing the fortress fully. No sounds but for the mountain and a swarm of bats flying high over her head. On the other side of the bridge she meets her first real obstacle, undead. Four of them standing guard in front of the gate itself, the portcullis lowered the place is certainly no longer abandoned.
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Post by Lachesis Calyptra on Oct 11, 2023 23:53:49 GMT -5
Lachesis Calyptra is no stranger to vampires.
It would be a difficult feat to be one, considering the place she calls home and the space she’s carved for herself in the world; she’s clawed her way back from bedrock with talons whetted on the bones of fools, built herself anew in shadow, cast away old flesh and blood to be reborn in dark waters, the moon as her witness and its light as her guide. She’s seen all manner of monsters since– the wolves that wear human skin that lurk in the woods, rotting corpses that still roam the earth, those charming strangers who look so close to ordinary but are just shy of it, whether it’s something in their eyes or their ears or the glint of too-sharp teeth.
Oh, yes, she’s quite familiar– such is the way of the swamp, of marshes roamed by monsters, of a life defined by calling upon the things that whisper in the dark, but Lachesis is usually quite content to… leave them be, in most regards. Aspen is the exception, naturally, but in a benign sense– she’s content to plague her with gifts of sticky caramels and surprise visits, haunting her more like a moth haunts a lamp than a specter haunts a house.
But there is always room for more exceptions in life, and Lachesis will never say no to a request that benefits her.
It’s hard to resist it when information practically falls into her lap– when her “sisters” whisper of ancient citadels housing ancient sins, abandoned fortresses revived with the breath of unlife, the song of the dead sonorous as it echoes through cavernous halls. It’s harder still to resist it when a little bit more investigation bears such interesting fruit, and… well, a trip out to Dragon’s Cradle is hardly too difficult of a trek. She’s ventured further for less, weathered stranger storms for stranger things; in the end, what’s a little walk for something so… valuable?
And now, here it stands– carved from stone and veiled in clouds stands the fortress Lachesis has come to see, a small brigade of undead the sole thing standing between her and access to whatever lies within. There’s four of them, standing at attention, ready to defend their master– she’s outnumbered, but…
Well. What kind of witch would she be if she was dissuaded by something like this?
She emerges from where she’s taken refuge in the shadows, scarlet-painted lips twisted up in a smile as she saunters over, closer, heels clicking against stone, Bella and Donna dormant, dragging along behind her, the metal claws affixed to her hands clinking like jewelry as she stops a distance away from the guards and lifts her hand to flutter her fingers in a wave–
and calls down a bright, shining beam of light over them in the process. [1]
“Oops,” she laughs softly, voice singsong. “My bad.”
[1] Piercing Light
Bringing:
- Bella (Dancing Chain) - Donna (Dancing Chain)
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Post by Aledüne Nevaar on Oct 12, 2023 10:05:53 GMT -5
The unnatural darkness around the castle is pierced by the light coming from above. The undead in the radiance quickly crumbles, proving nothing in front of real power making it clear to Lachesis that they were here for little more than a show. The silence falls after the undead stops moving, the sounds of the chains dancing around her the only thing audible around her as she continues forward.
As she steps closer however, the portcullis opens slowly, opening the way for her into the interior of the castle, and invitation. There is no courtyard, and the few windows around that allows the air to enter are high up, never allowing the light of day to penetrate down to the floors. Obviously constructed for someone with an aversion to the the light of day.
The undead in the interior doesn't carry weapons, a few coming down the stairs with piles of books, but they step out of her way, clearly not trying to stop her advance.
The interior seems to have been recently reconstructed and maintained, as further into other wings of the castle only ruins can be glimpsed. The entrance however, and one of the staircases leading up unto the second floor landing was new, and a carpet leads from the stairs and further down a hallway that was clearly lived in. Candles leading the way, bearing a cold green flame shows her further down the hallway, and rounding a corner she sees a knight, clad in armour. Dressed in a black armour, carrying a shield with the symbol of Solaris, and an obsidian blade with the same symbol. His eyes stern, seem to glow with a sickening yelling tint in what would otherwise be a beautiful green colour. His skin is tanned, healthy and his hair is black. His weapons are sheathed, but he gives her a watchful glance as they see each other. Stepping aside he doesn't speak, only making way for her to enter the room behind him, another invitation by the current master of the castle. A trap? Perhaps, but there was no aggression revealed in the eyes of the night, only a slight sadness and strong pride.From where she is standing at the corner where the hallway turned she can see that the room is a library. A fireplace with the same green flame is lighting up the interior, revealing ruined books littering the floor. Some having their pages ripped out, some stacked properly into piles.
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