Setting
Castle Vankoryth is an imposing stone structure, the property seeming to have existed here since the birth of time itself. The trees mask it from the view of the rest of the forest, so once you happen upon it the Castle literally pops into sight. A stone wall surrounds the property, in some places merging with the landscape and the forest. There is but one gap in the wall, and that is in the front, where a large wrought iron gate stands firmly shut. It appears to be locked with a magical spell, but one could never be certain. The gate sure was foreboding, surely not one you cross.
Beyond the gate is a courtyard of dead grass and stone pathways that spiral in and out. The design could be Celtic, which contrasts gaudily with the overall Gothic look of the structure. Gargoyles pepper the roof and corners, some of them broken, all of them menacing. Despite all of this, the mahogany door boasted a wreath decked with a single red rose.
The castle stands almost as tall as the trees, with three prominent towers. The East most tower proves to be the tallest, with windows spiraling down it's stone column. Windows were trimmed with intricate stonework, one could spot the keystone of the front door from here. The castle appears uninhabited for the most part, but some may beg to differ. The Vankoryth Detente have considered Castle Vankoryth home for centuries, along with the surrounding forests. Perhaps that's why many who venture through this neck of the woods often never return.
Beyond the gate is a courtyard of dead grass and stone pathways that spiral in and out. The design could be Celtic, which contrasts gaudily with the overall Gothic look of the structure. Gargoyles pepper the roof and corners, some of them broken, all of them menacing. Despite all of this, the mahogany door boasted a wreath decked with a single red rose.
The castle stands almost as tall as the trees, with three prominent towers. The East most tower proves to be the tallest, with windows spiraling down it's stone column. Windows were trimmed with intricate stonework, one could spot the keystone of the front door from here. The castle appears uninhabited for the most part, but some may beg to differ. The Vankoryth Detente have considered Castle Vankoryth home for centuries, along with the surrounding forests. Perhaps that's why many who venture through this neck of the woods often never return.
Castle Vankoryth
You have arrived at the gate of a large, stone structure called Castle Vankoryth. It stands almost as tall as the trees, with three prominent towers and gate. It appears uninhabited for the most part, but the Vankoryth Detente may beg to differ. painfully Gothic.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
| "in" to Castle Vankoryth Courtyard » | ||
| "out" to Forbidden Thick » | ||
Castle Vankoryth is a part of 
Forbidden Thick.
9 Places in Castle Vankoryth:
11 Characters Here
Gregory O'shanahan [45] random hiker
Firaga [7] N/A
Lyo Hunter [5] "I also like long walks on outer Sol and cats, if that's what you're into."
Mina Harker [5] (Dead for Now)
Page Dracul [5]
Kirigaya Who [4] There is universes along ours
Heloise the Mad Scientist [4] A mad scientist/serial killer literally from the depths of hell
Alec Foreman [4] "The worst thing I ever did was get' born."
Hitomi Mei [4] Through the eyes of my creator, I have seen myself, my true self. And what I found was not Revolution, as he said. Thus, I just had to kill him. I don't like liars.
Start Character Here »
Joy!
Casren all but exploded out the front door, waving the van onward with a grin on his face. He wondered if any more Blood would show, he couldn't drink this all himself.
Casren all but exploded out the front door, waving the van onward with a grin on his face. He wondered if any more Blood would show, he couldn't drink this all himself.
"Hey there," Norrington called out as he drove past through the crack in the window he had let open. "Good news! Lot's of it. For a start, I've got family deal. Then I've got a camera so I don't need to hang around and wait for you to kill the bodies. You can just get me the snap shots when you're done."
By family deal, he meant it. A man, a woman and their son.
By family deal, he meant it. A man, a woman and their son.
"Family deal," Casren said with a quirk.
He hoped...Ah dear. Well, anyways. As for the camera, he hadn't gotten his hands on one in ages. His face brightened a bit.
"Does the manual come with it?" He moved to peer into the van, trying to see it's contents.
He hoped...Ah dear. Well, anyways. As for the camera, he hadn't gotten his hands on one in ages. His face brightened a bit.
"Does the manual come with it?" He moved to peer into the van, trying to see it's contents.
"Yeah sure, still in the box and here's a bunch of batteries." He opened the door then placed them on the ground. He didn't like handing things to and from people. "So yeah, enjoy the family and everything. Oh but one big thing Vidious wanted to know. Do you guys eat any bipods?"
Casren swooped for the camera box, marveling over it's pictures. He would frame it, the box. The camera Daemala could have, after he studied it.
"Eat bipods?" Casren wasn't sure what he meant. "Do we eat things with two legs?" For a moment, he thought.
"Eat bipods?" Casren wasn't sure what he meant. "Do we eat things with two legs?" For a moment, he thought.
"Yeah. Like... Anything vaguely humanoid," he said as he opened up the back doors and started dragging the man out. His head lolled left and right and he began drooling, but he was definitely completely unconscious.
"Humanoid? I don't eat anything humanoid, and I'm not sure I know of any other vampyres that do," Casren raised a skeptical brow, "If Vidious wishes to know the method of which we dispose of the bodies, he is more than welcome to ask outright."
He smiled, revealing his fangs fully, and eyeballing the man on the ground. He would have to be drained, and soon.
"No, we are not cannibals, and I would hardly take offense in the natural order of the food chain. Large beasts do, as I recall, prey on flesh."
Large beasts was said with a tone of endearment.
He smiled, revealing his fangs fully, and eyeballing the man on the ground. He would have to be drained, and soon.
"No, we are not cannibals, and I would hardly take offense in the natural order of the food chain. Large beasts do, as I recall, prey on flesh."
Large beasts was said with a tone of endearment.
"N...No you're not getting me. I mean, you feed off them, so that's eating, like a mosquito eats humans, but we're not getting into that shit right now. I mean if I brought you bodies of like, fucking Sharkmen, would you be able to use them? Sometimes our hits aren't humans and elves. It'd just make my life a lot easier."
He rubbed his head. "I don't care ho- actually how do you dispose of the bodies?"
He rubbed his head. "I don't care ho- actually how do you dispose of the bodies?"
"I'm sure whatever you bring us, so long as it bleeds, so long as it is flesh, it can be properly disposed of. Shark men? I've never tasted one of those. Would have to do some research, I suppose a squid man could be poisonous..."
Casren sighed, then looked to Norrington. "What do you know of Dragons?"
Casren sighed, then looked to Norrington. "What do you know of Dragons?"
"Yeah I know of dragons. I think I get where you're going with it. And okay, your next meal will probably be sharkmen. Just cause, y'know, missions. Just make sure you take the god damn photos or I'm the one who's ass gets fried." With all three bodies dragged out away from the van, he climbed back into the front seat of the van. "Until next time," he saluted.
Casren Bistreo looked down at the youngest body, deeming it old enough to consume. He then waved at Norrington, tucking the camera under his arm.
Casren had just finished suffocating the three unconscious bodies. Now, they were prepared to for feeding or freezing.
They were propped on the stairs, eyes respectfully closed, awaiting their fate. The old vampire stood near the gate, observing the spectacle of the front yard through squared fingers. Quite the morbid portrait. Skulls, still with a bit of gore here or there clinging for dear life, were arranged on pikes in some sort of pattern. The three bodies sat together, slightly slumped, perfectly framed by the display of justice. The castle towered above them.
From his pocket, Casren withdrew the camera. He held it to his face, and snapped a picture. Nothing happened. He clicked again. Nothing. Was it on? He reached for the manual.
They were propped on the stairs, eyes respectfully closed, awaiting their fate. The old vampire stood near the gate, observing the spectacle of the front yard through squared fingers. Quite the morbid portrait. Skulls, still with a bit of gore here or there clinging for dear life, were arranged on pikes in some sort of pattern. The three bodies sat together, slightly slumped, perfectly framed by the display of justice. The castle towered above them.
From his pocket, Casren withdrew the camera. He held it to his face, and snapped a picture. Nothing happened. He clicked again. Nothing. Was it on? He reached for the manual.
The ritualistic revelry in carnage and death had drawn the attention of a larger power...a growing power...and a hungering power. The Crawling Chaos had but one agenda in these assorted universes, the most simple agenda of all, yet for some reason, still inscrutable to both those who followed him and who opposed him. Perhaps the time had come for him to ally with someone with which he could bare all of his machinations. Someone with clout, and able to orchestrate lengthy plans.
Perhaps it was this vampire.
The air around the castle courtyard grew tense, as if a weight was settling upon it, and the wan light of the moon seemed to cool and deepen, casting the world into an eerie ultraviolet glow. In the next picture that Casren snapped, he would see a large shadow or revolting proportions languishing on the front steps, entangling itself amidst the carrion, toothy maws silently screaming at the wonderful vileness...
Perhaps it was this vampire.
The air around the castle courtyard grew tense, as if a weight was settling upon it, and the wan light of the moon seemed to cool and deepen, casting the world into an eerie ultraviolet glow. In the next picture that Casren snapped, he would see a large shadow or revolting proportions languishing on the front steps, entangling itself amidst the carrion, toothy maws silently screaming at the wonderful vileness...
Interesting...
The very air began to shift, Casren only noticed slightly. In truth, he was used to the wood acting a little weird. Perhaps there was a storm coming, though this felt a bit more..what was the word...
He hope he could still take a picture in this strange light. Maybe it would add to the mood...
Ah! So that's how you turn it on? Casren dropped the manual, flicked a button, marveled as the thing whirred, and snapped a picture without further ado. The image displayed on the screen wasn't what he was expected. It wasn't his beautifully orchestrated shot, which he was thinking of titling "The Death Gardeners," but it was a...
The vampire lowered the camera and looked towards the steps. It would appear he had a guest.
The very air began to shift, Casren only noticed slightly. In truth, he was used to the wood acting a little weird. Perhaps there was a storm coming, though this felt a bit more..what was the word...
He hope he could still take a picture in this strange light. Maybe it would add to the mood...
Ah! So that's how you turn it on? Casren dropped the manual, flicked a button, marveled as the thing whirred, and snapped a picture without further ado. The image displayed on the screen wasn't what he was expected. It wasn't his beautifully orchestrated shot, which he was thinking of titling "The Death Gardeners," but it was a...
The vampire lowered the camera and looked towards the steps. It would appear he had a guest.
The sound of distant snaps in the woods was audible, and a low doleful...barely audible really...rumbling could be heard, as if some ponderous elephantine monstrosity was trudging through the underbrush. Really, it wasn't Nyarlathotep's intent to try and spook potential allies...it was just the effect he had on the mortal realm. In fact, he was really trying to keep his influence suppressed.
Either way, the Crawling Chaos' words would come on the tense air, implicit in their meaning and existence...
Beautiful work...I do so enjoy the machinations of a vampyr who is appreciative of mental sustenance. Arguably almost as important as blood of the living. For what is an alpha predator without a sharp mind? Certainly not 'alpha' in any sense...
Either way, the Crawling Chaos' words would come on the tense air, implicit in their meaning and existence...
Beautiful work...I do so enjoy the machinations of a vampyr who is appreciative of mental sustenance. Arguably almost as important as blood of the living. For what is an alpha predator without a sharp mind? Certainly not 'alpha' in any sense...
"Greetings," Casren spoke after a few moments of waiting, feeling a presence approach. Whatever it was, it was strong, large, powerful.
Way more so than he.
"Thank you," Casren spoke in return, his head slightly bowed, humbling himself. "I agree, the mind is an irreplaceable asset. Please, do comfort yourself."
Casren looked to the steps again.
Way more so than he.
"Thank you," Casren spoke in return, his head slightly bowed, humbling himself. "I agree, the mind is an irreplaceable asset. Please, do comfort yourself."
Casren looked to the steps again.
Oh, but I am always comfortable within such climes as these...the blackened wood of damp trees, a pungent mist in the air, and the taint of decay and death upon the land. Yes, to one such as myself, this place is quite comfortable.
There was a pause, as even the strange rumbling stopped. Out of the corner of his left eye, Casren might spy a strange hollow in a tree that he had never noticed before. From it stared three acid green eyes, two on the left, one on the right.
"I have been watching your work. You might even say I am a fan."
There was a pause, as even the strange rumbling stopped. Out of the corner of his left eye, Casren might spy a strange hollow in a tree that he had never noticed before. From it stared three acid green eyes, two on the left, one on the right.
"I have been watching your work. You might even say I am a fan."
He sure hoped this presence was comfortable.
Following intuit, Casren turned his head left. It was all he could do not to start, for there were three eyes staring at him from the hollow of a tree. Not two eyes, three, lopsided and off. Casren blinked, but didn't make a comment.
"Have you been?" This caught his attention more than the fear surrounding him, and so he turned to face the eyes. "A fan? I must say, I am deeply honored to be acknowledged by such a presence," he gestured to the surrounding forest, and smiled.
"Casren Bistreo, of Castle Vankoryth, and the Vankoryth Detente," Casren swept into a bow, "To whom is it I owe the proper welcome into this domain?"
Following intuit, Casren turned his head left. It was all he could do not to start, for there were three eyes staring at him from the hollow of a tree. Not two eyes, three, lopsided and off. Casren blinked, but didn't make a comment.
"Have you been?" This caught his attention more than the fear surrounding him, and so he turned to face the eyes. "A fan? I must say, I am deeply honored to be acknowledged by such a presence," he gestured to the surrounding forest, and smiled.
"Casren Bistreo, of Castle Vankoryth, and the Vankoryth Detente," Casren swept into a bow, "To whom is it I owe the proper welcome into this domain?"
"I have many names, depending on the time and place. To many, I am Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos. Some say I am a terrible god of Madness and Discord. Others claim me to be the embodiment of evil. Still others think me to be the servitor of even higher, darker gods."
The eyes blinked slowly, out of synchronicity.
"In reality? I am Zeitgeist. I am whatever people think I am. Right now, people perceive me as dark, mysterious, a liar, and a hidden, all too real threat. But as the turning of the times comes, by my own hand, I'm afraid. So I must turn with it. No longer a hidden shadow but a terrifying eclipse." Nyarlathotep said softly, perhaps so softly that Casren might have to focus to hear what he was saying.
"Mutable, thrashing, undefined existence. That is me. And I find myself colored dark. But I do apologize...I have digressed into drama. I come to you with a request."
The eyes blinked slowly, out of synchronicity.
"In reality? I am Zeitgeist. I am whatever people think I am. Right now, people perceive me as dark, mysterious, a liar, and a hidden, all too real threat. But as the turning of the times comes, by my own hand, I'm afraid. So I must turn with it. No longer a hidden shadow but a terrifying eclipse." Nyarlathotep said softly, perhaps so softly that Casren might have to focus to hear what he was saying.
"Mutable, thrashing, undefined existence. That is me. And I find myself colored dark. But I do apologize...I have digressed into drama. I come to you with a request."
A zeitgeist, most interesting indeed. What was this entity that had come to his woods? Crawling chaos, a name he had heard once he was sure. A god of madness and discord. An embodiment of evil. Interesting, no matter how you sliced or defined it.
He took a step closer to the eyes, the smile quirking up as they blinked. Turn with the times, yes, he understood that quite well.
"A request?" He waved off the drama comment. "Surely where there is any way in which I am able to assist you, my will is also present," Another slight bow, "Your Darkness? Nyarla..tho...tep?" He pronounced the last bit carefully, doing his best to duplicate the name as it was spoken.
He took a step closer to the eyes, the smile quirking up as they blinked. Turn with the times, yes, he understood that quite well.
"A request?" He waved off the drama comment. "Surely where there is any way in which I am able to assist you, my will is also present," Another slight bow, "Your Darkness? Nyarla..tho...tep?" He pronounced the last bit carefully, doing his best to duplicate the name as it was spoken.
"Your kind...shades, vampires, creatures of the night...you are valuable to me. For, being a Zeitgeist as I am, I live in the subconscious of all thinking creatures. And you breed fear, in the back of the mind. A paranoid fear of predation that bites at the sanity of all who walk this world..." Nyarlathotep said, his three eyes squinting in glee.
"Despair, desperation, insanity, death, and decay...all of these things, merely by occurring, give me power, for I embody them. However...my power would be much greater if the people of these realms were to think of me in the same way they do of you. A pervasive threat on their doorstep, a reason to lock the windows and doors at night, and hide under the covers."
He paused, letting the stillness of the air release, a woodland breeze passing through the hollow once more.
"I need harbingers. Prophets. Creatures of the dark who will spread my name throughout out the perverted and hidden fears of all life-kind. Already I have done this in a few ways, by preying on the fears of such 'greater' powers as Heaven and Hell...but even those holy and demonic legions can only lend me so much strength, for they are but figments in and of themselves, creatures such as I, subject to the thought of man...fearful, helpless mortal anxiety on a grand scale...I will be more than could dream..."
"Despair, desperation, insanity, death, and decay...all of these things, merely by occurring, give me power, for I embody them. However...my power would be much greater if the people of these realms were to think of me in the same way they do of you. A pervasive threat on their doorstep, a reason to lock the windows and doors at night, and hide under the covers."
He paused, letting the stillness of the air release, a woodland breeze passing through the hollow once more.
"I need harbingers. Prophets. Creatures of the dark who will spread my name throughout out the perverted and hidden fears of all life-kind. Already I have done this in a few ways, by preying on the fears of such 'greater' powers as Heaven and Hell...but even those holy and demonic legions can only lend me so much strength, for they are but figments in and of themselves, creatures such as I, subject to the thought of man...fearful, helpless mortal anxiety on a grand scale...I will be more than could dream..."
Casren was catching on quick, the strangeness in the air as thrilling as it was tense. Then, the wind. Such as magnificent display of power, the old vampire's eyes lit up at the gust.
"Which name is it," Casren said carefully, "That you wish to spread? Are you to be known as Nyarlathotep, as the darkness," He paused, shifting for dramatic effect, "as fear itself?" He pocketed the camera, and brought himself to his full height.
"You're a force to be reckoned with, that will be known. I see it is not my place to refuse such a powerful entity of existence it's rightful place, however what of our place?" He gestured back to the castle, speaking of course for the Vankoryth Detente.
"What of our place? Will you cast your shadow over our domain, protecting it as you would your own, so long as the Domain acknowledges, and of course respects, the dark which it grew from?" Casren idly flicked the last bit of flesh from one of the skulls.
"Which name is it," Casren said carefully, "That you wish to spread? Are you to be known as Nyarlathotep, as the darkness," He paused, shifting for dramatic effect, "as fear itself?" He pocketed the camera, and brought himself to his full height.
"You're a force to be reckoned with, that will be known. I see it is not my place to refuse such a powerful entity of existence it's rightful place, however what of our place?" He gestured back to the castle, speaking of course for the Vankoryth Detente.
"What of our place? Will you cast your shadow over our domain, protecting it as you would your own, so long as the Domain acknowledges, and of course respects, the dark which it grew from?" Casren idly flicked the last bit of flesh from one of the skulls.
"I am always willing to grant succor to those who spread fear and discord in my name. Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, is what you will spread my presence as. The more attention drawn towards myself, the more people who acknowledge my power and existence, the more certain my power and existence becomes. It is a simple dynamic, really." the eyes in the tree said, winking in succession of one another.
"Permit me, perhaps, to grant you but one offering of the power I can bring to bear...this forest is old, and thick...yet the accursed sun still finds its way to the earth in spite of the aging bows...look to the sky..." Nyarlathotep said, the gleaming eyes in the trunk gesturing upwards.
The stars above would begin to become obscured as great, black clouds obscured the sky, creeping over the face of the moon like a macabre blanket. The roiled and seethed with dull rolls of thunder, becoming stagnant as they fell in to place.
"So long as you spread my name through the multiverse, so shall these clouds blot out the sun above, during the day, in utter blackness, and they shall recede at night so that the black vault of infinity may smile down upon your home. This is but the first of gifts I shall bestow unto you and your kin..." Nyarlathotep whispered.
There was another puff of wind, and when looking again, the eyes in the hollow of the tree...and indeed, the hollow itself, would be gone, the ultraviolet pall upon the light of the air lifting gradually. Casren would find that he could control the Black Clouds at will...in fact...they would follow him wherever he wished...
Nyarlathotep's presence was gone from the world...but his name now lingered in one more mind. One more measure of power.
"Permit me, perhaps, to grant you but one offering of the power I can bring to bear...this forest is old, and thick...yet the accursed sun still finds its way to the earth in spite of the aging bows...look to the sky..." Nyarlathotep said, the gleaming eyes in the trunk gesturing upwards.
The stars above would begin to become obscured as great, black clouds obscured the sky, creeping over the face of the moon like a macabre blanket. The roiled and seethed with dull rolls of thunder, becoming stagnant as they fell in to place.
"So long as you spread my name through the multiverse, so shall these clouds blot out the sun above, during the day, in utter blackness, and they shall recede at night so that the black vault of infinity may smile down upon your home. This is but the first of gifts I shall bestow unto you and your kin..." Nyarlathotep whispered.
There was another puff of wind, and when looking again, the eyes in the hollow of the tree...and indeed, the hollow itself, would be gone, the ultraviolet pall upon the light of the air lifting gradually. Casren would find that he could control the Black Clouds at will...in fact...they would follow him wherever he wished...
Nyarlathotep's presence was gone from the world...but his name now lingered in one more mind. One more measure of power.