Ghastria
On the surface, Ghastria appears to be a genteel and prosperous land—its vineyards bountiful, its manors lively, its nobles cultured and welcoming. Yet behind every smile lies a gnawing hunger, behind every painted mask a withered truth. In Ghastria, the illusion of civility is everything, and the rot beneath the surface is ignored—until it is time to feast.
Once a famed painter and decadent noble of great charm, Marquis Stezen D’Polarno sought immortality not in flesh alone, but in legacy and beauty. He made a secret pact to preserve his soul within his self-portrait. When the deal was struck, the portrait captured all his corruption—and he was freed from age, guilt, and shame.
But in Ghastria, his deal twists. Though Stezen remains forever youthful and elegant by day, he becomes a ravening monster by night, hungering not for flesh, but for life—for the vibrancy and essence of those around him.
- By day, the Marquis is charming, witty, and seemingly benevolent.
- By night, he stalks the island like a vampire of vitality, feeding on guests or favored artists to preserve his own elegance.
- The Portrait of D’Polarno, hidden deep within Marche Oblique, continues to age and grow grotesque, bearing every sin the Marquis commits.
The people of Ghastria revere him, fear him, and need him—for as long as they admire and praise him, he allows them to share in his stasis.
Ghastria is a domain of illusion, decay beneath splendor, and the cost of vanity.
- Decadence as damnation: The nobles of Ghastria revel in masked balls, extravagant feasts, and nightly performances. Behind closed doors, cannibalism and soul-thievery are practiced in genteel silence.
- Beauty at all costs: No one grows old in Ghastria unless punished. Those who fall out of favor age in hours, then vanish.
- The mask and the monster: Guests who visit Ghastria often find themselves changed. Their emotions are drained for art, their memories painted over. Those who refuse to pretend often disappear.
- Art as curse: Paintings in Ghastria can trap souls, preserve agony, or rewrite reality. The Marquis commissions these constantly, sometimes from visiting artists… who never leave.
Ghastria is locked in a cycle of hollow adoration. It hungers for culture, praise, and elegance, yet nothing satisfies. The island remains beautiful—but stagnant. Music plays, but it is always the same. Wine flows, but never sates.
The Marquis himself cannot die, yet he also cannot truly live. He is adored by all, but no one truly knows him. His soul decays in silence, as all around him pretend not to notice.
Geography
Ghastria is a picturesque island shrouded by ocean mists and forgotten charts. Its terrain is a painter’s fantasy: rolling vineyards, gilded groves, serene lakes, and noble estates. But something is always off—the birdsong too perfect, the flowers too still, the people too poised.
- Veilsfield, the island’s main settlement, is a well-maintained village whose cobblestone streets and neat homes are surrounded by vast estates and pleasure gardens. The locals smile through hollow eyes.
- Marche Oblique, the Marquis’s mansion, stands at the edge of a cliff, its windows ever lit by candlelight, its guests always in masks.
- The Isle’s Coastline is shrouded in thick fog and treacherous rocks. No ship that leaves Ghastria ever returns.
- The Autumn Fields are eternally trapped in harvest—ripe, vibrant, and heavy with fruit and grain that never spoils, but bears no seed.
Despite its lushness, no animals breed in Ghastria, no infants cry, and no one ages beyond their prime—unless they fall from favor.
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