Image copyrighted to Howard J. Patridge.

In the cold summer country snaking up the coast far from the city, is an isolated crop of dark forests. A single dirt road thred upon over the years by horse drawn carriages, leads up to the Dark Pleasures Inn. It was once a grand chateau. Under the guise of daylight, the area and chateau seem harmless enough. When the curtain of nightfall chokes the landscape, reality takes on a more sinister twist. At night, lamentations fill the winds, the howl battering over the flat mound where a weathered stone chateau rests. Once, it was the home of a proud family. Decadance and hedonistic persuits finally consumed the members of the family, leading into demise. No one is sure what happened years ago. All that anyone recalls is that the mutilated corpses of the members were strewn from room to room coloring the walls in blood of the once magnificent chateau. For many years, it stood uninhabited save for the ghosts of slaves, pets, Masters, and Mistresses. Moans of pleasure, of pain, whimpers begging for release or supplications of the lust to continue unending echo in the night through the stone corridors. The unending snap of the lash agaisnt taut flesh resounds off the thick walls from the dungeon and what is fondly called the Red Tear, the master bedchamber.

The chateau once more has a new Mistress. It was bought for a mere 1,000 gold pieces. The last heir of the doomed bloodline was in haste to get rid of the accursed lands and chateau. Now, it has been restored and open as an inn welcoming the brave of heart and weary travellers. This place still has many secrets. Many of the bedchambers are sound proof. In some areas, one will experience hot spots while in others the chlll from the grave creeps upon one freezing the blood. The inn is a vortex for carnal pain and pleasures of all types. Those that risk staying the night, risk being sucked into the vortex to test their limits and sanity.

Each bedchamber is an expression of opulance for each has a four posted canopy bed with thick velvet curtains. All bedchambers have their own baths with a large ceramic tub. Some of the salons are open to the patrons such as the reading and gaming palours. The gardens and the fruit orchards have been replanted to their original glory. Only the Red Tear is off limits to patrons, reserved for the Mistress of the Chateau.

The common room is where most of the activity is found. On nights, when there is a full boisterous house of patrons, the ghastly sounds of the resident ghosts are drowned out. Otherwise, one will hear moanings, the dragging of chains, among other disemboweled sounds of the night.

Here rich golden oak wood panels line the walls. Into each, a coiled serpent over the leg of buckling black unicorn has been carved into a high relief. Black iron torch sconces line the few places where the original stone work of the wall still shows providing a low comfortable illumination. A massive stone walk in hunter's hearth dominates the room in the far wall facing the large singular black wood door. Various tables are strewn about the common area while piles of throws and cushions are ready to receive the weary in front of the hearth. Massive thick wood beams support the rafters. Scents of spiced apple and lime linger in the air from the wood that is always smoldering in the hearth. The bar carries an assortment of drinks. For an extra price a meal can be bought. For a bit more, one can spend the night.

Concept of the Stygian Shroud Inn/Dark Pleasures Inn copyrighted to G.E.Blessing B., © 2002