The Blood Castle

The Blood Castle was the third story in the Disillusioned Slough 4.

## Synopsis

Tom, Areex, and Kieli find themselves in a mysterious castle with a dark secret

## Plot

### Part 1

After leaving the smog-filled cities of Ogrunis, the trio finds themselves in a medieval village on a dark, stormy world. While exploring the village, Kieli finds a clearing that looks up upon a giant city. The trio then sets off to find info on the castle. Finding an inn where they can find shelter for the night, Tom asks the innkeeper - a man named Chomis - what the origin of the castle is. Chomis almost immediately realises that Tom is an alien (or a demon) and begins bowing at his feet.

Once Chomis finishes bowing, Tom asks him again what the origin and purpose of the castle is. This shocks Chomis. Chomis then informs Tom that the castle is used by their demon overlords. After Tom tries to ask Chomis more information, Chomis shuts him down - saying that the demons expressly forbid the Maledrosians from visiting the castle. Only those that are chosen are allowed into the castle and only one chosen has returned - the mad man Jakiyth. Tom and Areex then search for Jakiyth as Kieli sleeps.

Tom and Areex are able to track Jakiyth to a house on the edge of the village where Jakiyth is watched by Nynaeave. Areex is left to watch outside. Tom talks to Jakiyth - with Jakiyth telling his story.

A young farmer, Jakiyth was chosen along with a young girl named Wynakel and several other Maledrosians. Jakiyth and Wynakel met the demons - beings with leathery skin and large horns. Jakiyth talks with one of the demons - who introduces herself as Encelar. While this happens, Jakiyth can hear what sounds like screaming and realises that Encelar is just distracting him while the fellow demons butcher his fellows. Jakiyth is able to escape by jumping out of a window. Jakiyth is nearly pulled back in by a demon (possibly Encelar) but Jakiyth is able to kick the demon's hand off his ankle. Jakiyth then swam back to the village.

Jakiyth then says that he hasn't gone public with the story - fearing that he would be found by the demons and killed. Once this is done, Tom leaves Jakiyth - reconnecting with Areex. The duo then return to the inn and wake Kieli up. Kieli talks about a pain in her hands that hasn't been going away. Tom then tells Kieli about the story - with Kieli vaguely remembering the demons on Agloria. Tom also remembers the Aglorian demons - along with several other demons embedded in the cultures of the Slough. He then reveals that he plans to visit the castle and figure out who exactly the demons are - and how they've spread themselves across an entire dimensional chain.

### Part 2

A few minutes later, the trio looks down on the castle. Finding that a large lake separates the village from the castle, Kieli wishes to call off the expedition due to her not wanting to get wet by swimming. That's when Areex reveals that the dimension warper has stuck. Tom then calls Kieli and Areex over. The duo finds Tom standing in front of a small boat. This boat was used by fishermen before the demons forbid fishing.

Using the boat to get over to the village, the trio manage to reach the castle. They very quickly find the main door of the castle but find it locked. Areex takes out their gun to try to blow the door open, however, Kieli finds a back door that lets the trio enter. Tom and Areex look for the main room in the castle while Kieli looks at a side room and is grabbed by something with leathery skin.

Tom and Areex eventually find the "living room" of the castle. Nobody is in this room. Areex comments on how empty the castle is. The duo then hears something dripping. They then find a side room which is filled with corpses. This leads Tom to think that the "demons" are actually Great Vampires - until Areex finds a broken piece of a yellow claw. Tom and Areex then hear something moving in the living room.

Going back, Tom and Areex find that the room has been subtly moved. Glasses of a red liquid - which appears to be blood - are set on a table. Its then that Tom realises that Kieli has gone missing.

Kieli wakes up in a dark room. She is then grabbed by something with cold leathery hands. This is revealed to be one of the demons - with blood still on its fangs and claws. Kieli initially assumes that the demon plans to kill her, however, the demon - who is named Dah'son - reveals that she has another use for Kieli.

While this is happening, Tom and Areex look for Kieli. They eventually find a dark room at the top of the castle with what look to be gargoyles in it. Areex begins looking at one of the gargoyles - which grabs them by the throat. The "gargoyles" are then revealed to be the Aglorian demons. Another demon grabs Tom by the shoulders. Kieli is then dragged to the group and thrown in front of Tom and Areex. The leader of the demons - Dah'son - stands in front of a plinth which then opens up. Dah'son then pours a large canister of blood into it. The plinth then begins glowing a fierce green. Kieli then falls to the floor and begins morphing into one of the demons. Tom then realises what the demons are - the Mirik.

## Cast

* Tom - Tom Baker
* Areex - Jon Culshaw
* Kieli - Susan Engel
* Mad Man Jakiyth - TBA
* Nynaeve - TBA
* Chomis - TBA
* Fleet Commander Dah'son - Beth Chalmers
* Encelar - TBA
* Wynakel - TBA

rest to be added

## References

### Characters

* Chomis is a Maledrosian innkeeper.
* Jakiyth is a sacrifice that managed to "escape" the Mirik.

## Notes

* This story is completed in "The Demons"

## Continuity

* Tom, Areex, and Kieli have faced the Mirik before (CW: The Three Worlds)