Castle Great Hall

[Red Gypsy]

Here you will find the first room you will enter in the Castle. The Great Hall.
The first thing you will see is the Great Halls large stair case which splits off into three directions once it meets the middle of the black stoned wall it is built onto.
The banisters are a made from a dark wood and the wooden steps the same, the large rug that runs through the middle of it and the other two stair case in the room is a dark crimson with a black throne design at each side.
Above you, you find sets of gothic chandeliers with black candles that give off a red flame and still light up the castle as if it was in the sun.
You also find portraits of the dead being raised or enemies being skinned or tortured to death and many others of which Goh enjoys and spends his time doing.
At ground level their are two doors that lead into many of the ground floor rooms such as the dinning room and kitchen and others, at the middle of the stairs in a dark wooden door that leads down into the dungeons and torture rooms. The two sets of stairs on either side lead up into the second floor where the bedrooms are located and stair well to the towers.
 

[ElisaMarie]

Telestra pulled open the doors to the Great hall and stepping in pulling the doors closed behind her in a slam as she slowly made her way towards the stairs.
Her growled as her head twitched towards the side and she then slowly looked over her should and around to her back, it was clear her friend inside her had mixed feelings of this place, the smell of death and decay filled her nose so strongly with her enhanced smell.

"Deal with it, we need power....these only so much are body can do at this time...and so much we can't do against bloody magic...we need it to get stronger...then who else will tech us and take 'US' in then this Goh person"
Telestra said, most would think to herself but it was her talking to the parasite inside her.

 

[cTheAngelofMusic]

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☠ Goh Necrarch Hyuga☠

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Goh had put back on his mask in his chambers and put on new cloths. a Elegant Black shirt that was fitting to his form along with matching pants. A blood red sash acted as a belt. His cape was also of the same color with a great black dragon design on the back. He waited for Ilea to return from her bath. "come let us greet this guest..." he said and majestically made his way down the great stairway towards where the young lady stood talking to .."herself".

"Ah...I bid you welcome. to my home. Please want you make your self comfortable." he said and snapped his fingers. two golums appeared and placed a chair on the black marble floor and disappeared.
"please...sit" he said, standing on the open stairway so that he stood above her showing his power and dominance,

 

[Red Gypsy]

Ilea moved down the stairs behind him for the moment, waiting until he stopped before moving to stand on one of the steps below him. She was putting herself between him and the stranger. Not because he couldn't defend himself, but because she would gladly offer herself for injury before allowing him to get hurt.

She was dressed in a pair of very tight leather pants and a bra-like top with boots that came up to her knees and blades perfectly placed about her body, the leather in the deep crimson of freshly spilled blood. The same crimson of the eyes that looked down the stairs at Telestra.

She said nothing, knowing that she didn't need to just yet. She'd made her position perfectly clear and no one could order her away but the man behind her...  

[ElisaMarie]

Telestra was still somewhat rambling with herself from others perspective but as soon as she heard Goh's voice her head span round to see a man in a mask, black shirt and pants and a cape.

Her eyes watched him before she suddenly found herself turning around at the snap of his fingers when two golums appeared behind her and placing down a chair"Yes its a chair, he wants us to sit down, no I'm not going to beat someone to death with a chair this time"Telestra said to 'herself' before looking over the chair.

She turned around to see IIea now standing between her and Goh, she slowly looked over IIea in her very tight leathers pants and bra like top with a small smile as she lowered herself down into the chair"No not food, yes yes very tasty looking...but not food...stop being so jittery" Telestra said to 'herself'.

 

[cTheAngelofMusic]

╔═══»

☠ Goh Necrarch Hyuga☠

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Goh smiled and spoke a word so soft no one could be sure what was said. but the silver chair in which Telestra sat began to morph silver bar crossed over his body tying her to the chair and pinning her arms to the arm rests. The chair then began to move on its own as its legs began to walk, and fallow after Goh who moved back up the stairs and hall.

"Now that we are all comfortable....let us go for a walk. Come.." he said walking silently down the hall.
Black robed and armored guards stood as statues as he walked silently past them to a pare of great black doors.

The clack and red armored guards opened the doors and bowed low as Goh entered his throne room. fallowed by the walking chair with its prisoner.

He walked up to his throne and sat and looked down upon his prisoner. "tell me child, why have you come at the risk of your own life...it would seem you are a fool to come uninvited into my home."

 

[Red Gypsy]

Haeo

Ilea gave a soft smile to Shale when he put his arm around her waist and was content to move at his side to the doorway of the dungeon then paused there long enough to move up on her toes and gave him a kiss to his cheek then moved into the great hall ahead of him.

As she headed towards the smaller throne placed there, she looked like the confident and deadly woman she'd been created to be, "On your knees. Darkness Abounds has a new Master. Greet Baron Shale properly or deal with me," she said to them all, her voice carrying a lethal beauty to it that had more than a few actually shivering in fear.

Usually, when her voice was beautiful to hear, someone either bled or died. Here, only Goh had ever heard her voice at it's true beauty. The only reason she was letting it remain so now was because of Shale. For him, she'd continue to be who she was no matter what.

She came to a stop on the first step of the riser that lead up to the throne and turned to look at the only living residents of the castle with narrowed crimson eyes, watching as they all dropped to their knees one by one as Shale followed her in.

The throne behind her was a smaller version of the one in the throne room. The one in the throne room was actually made of bones. This one was made of a metal version that was alot sturdier to sit in and better cushioned.

Once everyone else had gotten to their knees she did the same just as Shale moved up to stand in front of the throne. It was perfectly timed and carried just the right amount of theatricality to it all that it showed a very unique understanding in Ilea that very few had. She knew how to rule this place with the right mix of fear, dominance, and showmanship.  

[Haeo]

Red Gypsy

Ok, brain... work! Work you stim-addict sack of cholesterol!

Shale smiled with the small tingle left by Ilea's kiss hovering on his cheek. He also had a nice view as she moved into the large chamber, taking control of it very well with her presence alone. Her voice and choice of words were simply beautiful. This place truly did demand that kind of mastery, not so different from other places in the end.

Shale said nothing, preferring to wield silence over sound. He walked to the throne and sat. Then he stared. For several minutes he stared at those before him. Those minutes were long and terrifying for the confused subjects that knelt before him. The room slowly began to get brighter. The shadowy corners and gloomy nooks were glowing with a strengthening golden light tinged with amber.

The gathered people began to get nervous. Baron Shale had neither moved, nor spoken since he sat down. Yet, powerful magic was moving through the room. Streams of fluid sparks floated gently through the air from the glowing crevasses and corners. Some wound around the details in the architecture up to the ceiling where they formed a swirling galaxy of light and fire in a faint red mist. Others drifted across the floor and swept between the kneeling people without touching them, yet. The heat in the room was humid and pulsed in time with a heartbeat. The last of the streams flowed to the throne, settling in every crevasse and crack, seeming to turn it to flowing fire. Then the light suddenly diminished to a dull red that made the entire room look like it was covered in blood.

Yet, the heat did not diminish. In that shadowy red haze the streams of sparks slowly changed into lovely flowers of living amber on vines of gold that wound all over the room and bloomed in truly lovely fashion. The sight was glorious.

Then one of the prisoners stood up.

The lights above cast darts of amber flame in an arcing stream that struck the man, piercing his hands and feet and spine in many places. But, they didn't stop there. They lifted his still living body and carried it to one of the walls where they gently rooted themselves among the flowers. Amber grew through the man's veins and he began to scream.

Still, Shale did not move. He did not even turn his eyes to the spectacle.

The screams of the man continued until a glorious bloom of living amber emerged from his mouth. The crystal like clarity of its petals allowed easy vision of the man's face. The screams were silenced but the pain remained. The man was still alive. Then, finally, Shale spoke into the silence. These people were accustomed to painful death being a punishment. Now they were having to slowly realize that there were worse things.

"You are mine." Shale's voice was as soft and polished and the most subtle jewel. "Serve well and you will be rewarded well. Serve poorly and you will have cause to fear Ilea. Be disloyal and you will become additions to my ever-living garden."

Then golems moved into the room. These were heavily armored garrison versions, though they moved with surprising agility. One moved to stand behind each of the kneeling subjects.

"I expect that your fellow citizens may feel some resentment toward you for your sudden loyalty to your new master. These golems will assist you in accomplishing your duties without unduly diminishing your... lifespans. Lady Ilea is your immediate superior. Should you encounter complications that you feel are beyond your abilities you may choose to seek her guidance or aid." Shale fell silent for a long moment to let them put together the reality that any problem they had would be reported to Ilea and that she would be the one to punish incompetence. "Should you impress her. She may present your accomplishments to me. If I am impressed as well, you will be well rewarded for your capability." Then Shale stood. "Ilea, come to me, when you have finished attending to the re-arrangement of their duties. There is still the matter of decorating the grounds that needs to be discussed."

The silent hall held a strong odor of terror as Baron Shale walked out without another glance. The living example made it clear what kind of decorative style could be planned. Yet, there was also a mix of greed and determination. Some might fail to manage their fear well enough to perform well. But, it was clear that others would adapt quite well. Their natural ability would be well rewarded.

But, for now, Shale walked smoothly toward the stairs. He was going upstairs. There was some unfinished business that he needed to prepare for.  

[Red Gypsy]

Haeo

Ilea stayed on her knee with no problem throughout everything thanks to long practice. She could stay on her knees like that for three days before she passed out. She only stood when he did and got to work as he moved up the stairs.

She put the living guards on simple duties, namely the main door and front gates. Easily done since there weren't many of them. The servants were easier to send out. She sent them to the tasks they already held, knowing that they wouldn't need any further training that way. The prisoners she gave a choice to: returning to the village or working in the castle. It wasn't much of a surprise when they chose to work, so she appointed them tasks with either bone servants or living ones to learn new tasks.

The only questions she got were from the prisoners, each wanting to know if they were going to live. She answered simply, "Work and remain loyal, you live. It's that simple," she told them all then finished with her task.

Once that was done, she followed Shale upstairs, fairly certain of where he was going....  

[Red Gypsy]

Haeo

Xankin

Ilea moved through the castle with a confidence that she, in truth, shouldn't have had. Part of that came from Shale's confidence in her, and part of it from knowing that Goh was gone. Her creator still terrified her; that would never go away. But she was confident in Shale's ability to stay alive and protect her from her nightmares.

She went into the kitchen to assess the supplies there and had to shake her head. The wine cellar had to be gone through very carefully first, since someone had apparently been dipping into the choices. She even sent a couple of the most rare casks into the Amber Forge's kitchen via golem, just to keep anyone else from wreaking havoc with the supply. That part done, she assessed the foodstuffs and arranged meals around the supplies.

Then she had a brilliant idea. At least, she hoped it was brilliant.

She called in Kirsa. After she'd given a delayed curtsy that had Ilea frowning at her, she gave her a new job, "Since Master Shale put you in charge of the first floor, I'll add that the kitchen is part of that duty. The foodstuffs are now being rearranged, but will need to be restocked. Go to the Overseer about it. I suggest you show him better manners. While he is my creation, his station is still higher than yours. As is mine," she started and was rewarded by a much more contrite look on the girl's face.

"Better... Now then, once the orders have been placed and delivered, meals should be arranged. I set up a few for the next couple of days. I will be assigning you a couple of books to read. I suggest you memorize them. Choose another inferior wine for our master and you will not like the results," she said in a reasonable tone.

She used the shadows to call up a couple of books on etiquette, kitchen management and cleanliness, and one on proper table settings. She handed them to the girl with a very firm look that encouraged instant acceptance, "Thank you, Ma'am. I'll do my best," was what she said.

Ilea frowned and shook her head, "Not your best, Kirsa. Work as if your next action might send you back to the dungeon," she corrected and was rewarded with a shiver of fear from the girl who clutched the books to her chest like a new comfort object.

That done, Ilea moved on to settling other servants and tasks as needed. She'd arranged the first meal to be set up in her rooms. After a few rearrangements there that probably only Shale would notice.

She was moving up the stairs when she felt a shiver of awareness that she wasn't familiar with. She felt something... She turned her head in the direction of the 'disturbance' she was feeling and knew that only the graveyard was that way. She didn't know how she knew, but she just knew that someone was raising the dead there. She simply reacted and managed to lay them all back.

That actually frightened her. She shouldn't have been able to do that from here. But she'd actually done it.

She covered her fear by calling up one of the living guards with his golem guardian, "Go to the graveyard. Find whoever raised the dead there and POLITELY ask them to come here," she told him, knowing that if he failed the golem would simply kill him and provide escort to their new 'guest', whoever it was...

She shook her head again as the guard and golem left, then moved on up the stairs to take a bath. The cellar had been in an atrocious state and she needed to get clean...  

[Xankin]

Red Gypsy

Xankin was easily escorted into the Great Hall without much of a hassle. His magical aura was strong, stronger than expected, and he tapped his fingers together impatiently as his mind worked up spell after spell. The raw magic on him was almost like a beacon to those who knew the weave of magic. Xankin was a lot of things....undead was questionable, lych was possible. The very mist that followed him like a plague stayed within his seemingly solid cloak, though he didn't even walk anywhere. He floated, as if his very power kept him from such hard works as walking. He waited....and waited....until he got bored. He reached his hand across the seat he sat in and towards the nearby fireplace, before he began whispering dark, almost forbidden words of arcana power. The weave stretched and bent, protesting his wild form of magic, until the result was brought to life: a creature of fire stepped out of the fireplace, raw and elemental, before it's body painfully began to form flesh, bone, and blood. It was halfway through forming into a true form of life when he was distracted by the noise of a servant doing something, causing the creature to writhe in raw agony as it's flesh slothed off it's bones and it fell apart. He sighed softly and sat back....he was crafting new spells, new magic that was nigh impossible to fathom, yet he was doing it. Beings between realms have lashed his spirit with ancient words and horrid truths, yet he survived...


He glanced around the grand hall, marvelling at its architecture, it's construction. His mask, pale as bone and expressionless as death, shown in the dark light of this place. No wonder he reformed here....it was the only place that would accept him. He knew he was evil, but where's the fun in being good? Good guys are boring, always with 'morals' and 'guilt' and 'basic compassion'. Magic wasn't built on such things....so he needn't worry about them. He stood up, his impatience growing, before he began to pace across the room....or, float really. He attempted another forbidden magic, extending his hand down to the wood floor and whispering in a different tongue words of power, slowly crafting what looked to be a raw construct of basic life. A flesh golem, out of thin air. Moisture made everything, from it's thick bones to its hunched stature, it's exposed flesh becoming protected by thick armor of bone. He chuckled and patted it's head, sending it off to stumble and explore the world. It would possibly kill itself, whether due to walking into a wall and exploding into fleshy bits or realizing it's nature and removing its own deformed skull....whatever it did, he was proud that magic still worked in this realm. Where was this powerful host he had heard so much about....?  

[Red Gypsy]

Xankin

A female servant approached from upstairs with another crystal golem following her. She was wearing a collar type necklace that formed three snakes spread out over her shoulder so that they looked in three different directions. She moved with a quiet confidence and her head held high, rather than most of the servants that looked like they were beaten and defeated.

She moved to give a polite curtsy in front of him and gave him a small smile as she gestured towards the stairs, "Miss Ilea is currently working on a project but will be with you soon. For now, if you'd like, I can show you to a room where you can rest. If you would like something to eat, I can help with that. If it's something else..." she paused there, not sure if she needed to continue.

Still, she was sure that he would tell her what he wanted and she would do her best to give it to him.

Ilea had to deal with the plot she'd discovered. She had to figure out what else she was dealing with... She would get the time to speak to her guest, but for now she had to deal with the issues of helping to rule an entire realm....  

[Xankin]

Red Gypsy

Xankin observed the small girl that approached him with content and interest, his hidden eyes examining her body not out of any feeling towards her like most others, but like a being examining their next subject. She felt the chill of him looking at her, through her, coldly examining her every bodily function as he touched his fingertips together. He slowly nodded, understanding that he was to possibly wait all day….or more. That thought vaguely aggravated him, but he wasn't to be too bothered by such fickle things as annoyance. He didn't notice, or more likely didn't care about, her inclination of anything further than a room.

"Very well. Lead me to this room you offer" he said calmly, red wisps of energy flowing out from under his cloak. That mask looked awfully like human bone….either way, what interested him more was the golem, it's twisted creation and likely painful existence looking nigh perfect to his aged sight. He began to float over to the stairs, a spectral hovering to his motion that almost made him look like a grim reaper. Food, something others ate that he could possibly enjoy himself. He hasn't eaten anything in centuries, a feeling that bothered him deep within his shattered soul, but he knew that if he wished to he likely could try to consume food. He started up the stairs, before calling back to the girl. "I request, kindly, from the one who constructs such beautiful creatures as these golems that follow you around, to have one sent to my room for…. examination. They interest me greatly, you see, and I wish to know more on them myself." He sounded indifferent when speaking to her, though she could tell a hint of envy left his voice as he glanced again down at the creature. Out of all the undead, Elemental, fey, and construct creatures he could conjure up and command….these were interesting to him. Quite interesting….  

[Red Gypsy]

Xankin

You can start a new thread for your room.

She gave another curtsy and started to lead the way up the stairs, "You'll have to ask Master Shale about that, sir. They are his creations, after all. But I do not believe that he will have a problem discussing their creation with you when he has time," she told him as she led the way up the stairs and down the hallways to the rooms.

When they got to his suite, she opened the main door for him and gestured inside, "Here you are, sir. If you have need of anything, simply ask for me. My name is Kirsa," she introduced herself with yet another curtsy then waited to see if he had another request.