Hrad Elfloch

Part of Settlements of Juhnvechteya
Part of Culture of Juhnvechteya
Hrad Elfloch is a castle in Karred. It was built in the reign of Johazlos the Old. Uniquely, all its defenses face inward, and it has no source of natural water, no kitchen, no external defenses, and it is far from any major roads. This is due to its origins, as it was built to seal off a large pit in the ground, thought to be a gateway to hell. 
The castle was constructed in the year 501, following reports of wretched half-human animals and winged beasts emerged from the local area. Duke Johazlos ordered several knights to investigate these rumors, and they stumbled upon a great hole these creatures were emerging from. None could see its bottom, but the presence of these beasts crawling and flying from its depths was frightening enough to warrant the sealing of the pit. Thus began the construction of a new castle, dubbed Elfloch, or The Fae-Pit. 
As stated previously, the castle’s thickest and strongest defenses are built around the pit, which is sealed by a large stone cap, upon which a chapel is built. Crenellations and loopholes all face inward, and the castle has a vaulted stone roof, unusual for a simple Hrad. To add to its already strange architecture, the castle has no noble quarters, only sparse living space for its defenders. It’s walls are covered in frescoes and paintings of demons, fae creatures, and of ravens. 
There are several unusual occurrences at the castle. It is said to have a number of diverse ghosts, most taking the form of animals or animal-human hybrids, while others say that there are the spirits of winged beasts within its walls. Each night at midnight, it is said that thumping sounds can be heard below the floor of the chapel, from within the pit, which resonate throughout the stone structure. Finally, the entire forest surrounding Hrad Elfloch is home to an abundance of unusually large ravens, which remain totally silent.
The castle does not belong to an aristocratic family, rather it belongs to the office of the Duke of Stribrna Joraje, and it is entrusted to a rotation of knights and nobles, whose duty it is to maintain the fortress and to prevent what lurks below from escaping. The person holding the office of Castellan is sworn to forgo all political ambitions for their tenure. The current castellan is Ritter Jens Nosterbruch of Matrin-Skiskora.
Category:Folklore of Juhnvechteya
Category:Culture of Juhnvechteya
Category:Settlements of Juhnvechteya