Castle Tristenoira
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This section contains canon info from officially published sources |
Castle Tristenoira, located in Forlorn, is the fortress of the darklord Tristen Apblanc. It is unique in the fact that the castle exists within three wholly separate time periods, two of these periods extending directly into the Prime Material Plane.
Description
The castle itself is built around what once used to be a Sacred Grove inhabited and protected by druids, but now only one tree is left. Tristen is bound to this particular tree and is unable to leave the vicinity of it. Its appearance changes to suit which time period it has shifted to, but adventurers will always arrive at the castle in its final, modern state.[1]
Those who specialize in time magic and the like will find the castle to be a very interesting locale, despite the danger. The time shift of the castle is inherent and happens quickly and in order. The earliest period in the Prime Material Plane was a relatively happier time when the castle was new and inhabited by Tristen and his human family, and long before its appearance in Ravenloft proper -- but clearly showing the ability of the Demiplane to secure its interests even beyond time itself. Everything and everyone can move in and out of the castle premises freely, except for the player characters and Tristen himself. Doing so would provide a very easy escape from Ravenloft. Despite this, actions taken by the player characters may directly affect events that occur in the Prime Material Plane during that long-past time period, depending on what method the D.M. has chosen to handle the passage of time in Castle Tristenoira.
The second period is a later, darker period and still in the Prime Material Plane, but with the castle practically uninhabited and on the brink of Forlon's appropriation by the Demiplane. The third period is the modern-day, and the only time period where explorers can leave the castle.
The castle's time-shifting ability is unknown to Tristen. Also unknown to him is the very tree that binds him (and causes him great pain when it is harmed) will actually free him if it is ever destroyed. This action will trigger a separate time shift into the far, grim future. It is possible for the characters to shift back to the pivotal moment of Tristen's life, where he is still an infant, and only through this can escape from the Demiplane be achieved.
The castle is home to a great many ghosts, all of whom came into being due to Tristen's evil. Many of them are not even aware that they are dead.
Tristen's many transgressions throughout history have transformed the castle into a rank 5 sinkhole of evil.[2]
Castle Tristenoira's Temporal Shifts
Foreigners whom intrude upon Castle Tristenoira will find they will experience temporal shifts as they move from one location to another within the castle. The Castles Forlorn boxed set labels the three primary time periods intruders may experience as Castle A, Castle B, and Castle C.[1] For an overview on how temporal shifts might occur and how they might affect each other, please see Castles Forlorn: Eve of Sorrows p. 3-6.
Castle A
Castle A corresponds to the Forfarian Calendar year of 1839 (452 BC). The castle is still intact and filled with humans, most of them from Birnam. It lacks the ominous, decayed nature of the castle in later periods due to the recent completion of the castle's construction.However, some ghosts and the like inhabit the castle, and rumors about monstrous activity will pop up from time to time.[1] During this time, the castle is known as the Lord's Tower.[3]
During this time period, Tristen is in the Minstrel ApBlanc guise known by later historian (though those living in this time period know him as Tristen.[4]
Castle B
The time period takes place during the Time of Terror, corresponding to year 1934 of the Forfarian Calendar (547 BC, the year that Forfar entered the Demiplane of Dread.[1] During this time period, the castle is known as Castle ApBlanc[3], having been reconstructed 25 years before from the decrepit Lord's Tower supposedly abandoned for a number of years prior to its reconstruction. Although recently reconstructed, Tristen and his servants have neglected the castle's upkeep due to Tristen's focus on consolidating his power and overthrowing the ApFittle Family Indeed, many of the ApFittles can be found in Castle ApBlanc's dungeons. Tristen's mercenaries comprise most of the living that patrol the halls. In addition, there is a noticeable spike in the activity of incorporeal undead within the castle.[5]
During this time period, Tristen is in his Marc ApBlanc guise.[4]
Castle C
This time period corresponds to the year current to when the Ravenloft campaign is being run. In the Castles Forlorn boxed set, this is 2122 Forfarian Calendar 735 BC. Although a barbican and a handful of new structures have been created, most of the castle has fallen into ruin, making travel through it unsafe. Monsters such as goblyns and worgs roam the halls, having replaced Tristen's human servants. All of the ghosts and spirits mentioned in the boxed set wander these halls.[6] During this time period, the castle is known as Castle Tristenoira.[7]
As the only living humanoid encountered will now be Tristen's druid prisoners or his goblyn servants, Tristen has no special alias during this time period.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Weeping Lands p. 67
- ↑ Gazetteer I p. 133
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Weeping Lands p. 11
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Eve of Sorrows p. 5
- ↑ Weeping Lands p. 67-68
- ↑ Weeping Lands p. 68
- ↑ Weeping Lands p. 15
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
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Realm of Terror |
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Realm of Terror - reference card | |
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Ravenloft Third Edition - p121 | |
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Castles Forlorn:Poster Map | |
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Lord's Tower |
