Château d'Ombrage

*I had a moment of doubt, but that... that is the sort of alchemist's legend I like.*[src]
Lucas, in awe of the castle

The **Château d'Ombrage** ("Shade/Umbrage Castle" in English) is an abandoned and run-down ruin of a castle located in the Aquitaine region of France.

## History

### Background

Built during an unknown time, although rumored to be centuries old (But before the 6th century, as evidenced by the plans of the castle found below), the castle was constructed by "L'Ordre" as a last defense against the rats that accompanied a manifestation of the Prima Macula, a curse that would cause massive outbreaks of plagues and unstoppable swarms of rats. However, it fell into ruin along with a nearby village which was destroyed in a single night, likely by the rats. Whether the castle was overwhelmed or simply abandoned is unknown (The absence of skeletons suggests the second possibility).

The castle is built around a main defense preventing the arrival of rats. This defense is circular in shape and features movable brazier mechanisms and independent platforms separated by drawbridges, the flames allowing the rats to be moved and blocked in a deep false. The shape of the three central platforms refers to the mosaics just below, or in the living room of the keep, and recalls the symbol of the order at the origin of the castle. It surely allowed after its construction to work on elixirs despite the plague, thanks to the alchemical laboratory. It is assumed that the crypt in the basement of the castle houses someone from the order who originally built it. The surrounding dwellings confirm that this castle was mainly there to house the alchemists in the event of an invasion of rats. The presence of complex mechanisms to access the castle makes it possible to be certain that it is scientists at the origin of all these constructions.

It remained as merely a legend lost to time, known only to a few. Laurentius is thought to have maybe once stayed here and likely left some equipment and books behind there.

### The Path Before Us

The castle would fulfill its original purpose once again when the Prima Macula returned in the blood of Hugo de Rune, and the plague rats once again began to flood the countryside. A French alchemist named Laurentius, Hugo's doctor, told Hugo, his older sister Amicia, and his own apprentice Lucas to go to the castle, which even Lucas was not sure really existed. However, after evading the English Army, the Inquisition, and numerous swarms of rats they finally found the castle. After using its built-in pitfall traps to clear out the rats, the children made the Château their new permanent hideout.

### Our Home

The next day, the children become acquainted with their new home: Lucas has already set up shop in the laboratory, Hugo finds plenty to marvel at, Amicia finds that the courtyard has never looked better, and Mélie makes preparations to infiltrate the nearby town to liberate her brother Arthur, who is being held at the Bastion.

While initially content to remain in their new home, Amicia soon realizes that the Macula in Hugo's blood is getting worse. Upon Lucas' advice, she resolves to join Mélie in journeying to the town, in order to infiltrate the University in search of a rare-but-forbidden book of alchemical knowledge: the Sanguinis Itinera.

### Alive

Amicia and Rodric return from their mission at the University just as day breaks. Watching from the castle tower, Lucas and Hugo quickly greet them at the drawbridge. Introductions are made, and Lucas finally obtains the Sanguinis Itinera, much to the young alchemist's spellbound awe.

Three weeks later, the chill of winter has arrived. It is December, 1348, and despite Lucas' efforts, the Prima Macula in Hugo's blood continues to spread. Lucas finally concludes that he needs a proper laboratory in which to work, not unlike that once used by Béatrice de Rune, Amicia and Hugo's mother.

As if responding on that very note, Mélie returns at last, having managed to successfully rescue Arthur from the Bastion. In spite of the welcome reunion, Arthur proves the source of even more grim news: Béatrice de Rune is alive. Amicia resolves to keep this information hidden from her brother, but unbeknownst to her, Hugo overhears the entire conversation. As the Macula triggers another seizure in him, Amicia and Lucas resolve to return to the De Rune estate in search of Béatrice's laboratory.

### All That Remains

Returning from the ruins of the de Rune estate with Hugo's cure in tow, Amicia and Lucas quickly administer the elixir to Hugo. During this moment, Hugo takes the opportunity to ask Amicia once again about their mother. Unaware that Hugo has already overheard the news, Amicia lies to her brother once more, telling him that Béatrice won't be coming back, but that she is no longer in any pain.

### Penance

The next day, Amicia wakes to find Hugo gone. Rising in a panic, she and the other children quickly search the castle, only for Amicia to find her family pendant, hanging from the tree alone—Hugo has fled the castle in search of their mother.

In desperation, Amicia quickly chases after him, only for Hugo to ultimately be captured by the Inquisition.

### Remembrance

After Hugo fully learns to control the rats, the Inquisition uses him to launch an attack on the castle. Now under the command of Lord Nicholas, Hugo unleashes a rat horde so massive that it overflows the pit and destroys the brazier defenses. After Amicia manages to get through to her brother, the two of them use the rats to battle Nicholas in the courtyard. There, Arthur is killed, and the children abandon the castle to take the fight to the Inquisition at the Cathedral. The survivors of the final battle never returned to the castle, instead going their separate ways, leaving the fortress to further crumble into ruin.

## Design and Layout

The only known way to reach the castle is by following an old Roman aqueduct, passing through a hidden tunnel and crossing an underground lake via a reaction ferry. Past that is a pitfall trap to keep out rats and a large door opening to a view of the castle.

Built on a rocky outcrop and accessible only by a narrow cliff-side path and a short stone walkway, the castle is built around a large circular courtyard with several special traps designed to trap large groups of rats that find their way into the castle. These work with pitfalls lined with stone and movable braziers, some of which are pushed and others roll on their own, where defenders can use their light to flush the rats into the hole where they cannot escape.

The interior buildings include a laboratory with alchemy equipment, books, and supplies, a smaller courtyard with a tree and a scenic view, a great hall with a fireplace, hallways, and other rooms not shown.

As the castle is in ruins, several areas are blocked by debris or the doors are rusted shut, although Rodric manages to open one later by bashing it with his shoulder, which he joked was "almost painless". There are holes in some of the walls such as one in the laboratory. Many of the castle's rooms are also overgrown with ivy and other plants, and the furniture within has fallen to pieces.

## Gallery

### The Path Before Us

A subterranean lake leads to a tunnel beneath the castleA tunnel on the other side of the underground lake introduces the children to the castle's defense systemThe children's first view of the castleThe central courtyard is initially swarming with rats
### Our Home

A new day dawnsThe Great HallThe unknown tomb the children can find for an AchievementLucas is already hard at work... on the Great WorkThe courtyard certainly looks better
### Alive

Winter has come to the castleThe courtyard will soon fill up with snowAmicia's new training ground and Rodric's forge
### Remembrance

Even in the cold of winter, Château d'Ombrage stands resoluteDespite the beauty of a winter sunset, Amicia recognizes the danger of the coming nightThe small storage space where Amicia can find rockfoils growingAfter much labor, the children have created a Great Hall worthy of a castleAmicia's collection is nearly completeLucas' tidy hands have certainly fixed up the laboratoryOnce a lonely grave, the tomb has become a chapel to afford proper reverence to the castle's guardianIn the darkness of winter, the courtyard braziers keep both the rats and the cold at bayUnder attack by the rats, the castle's defenses are overrunIn the wake of Nicholas' attack, the courtyard lies in flaming ruin