Where the corruption began and the story of Tainted Halls

 So far the first three posts have included light, happier areas of Tainted Halls, but I suppose I had better go over the story I came up with for the structure and show where the corruption began. So today, I will show the Hell's Gate. The area it is built in is kind of small, so I am still working with this to improve the creepiness factors.

Hell's Gate

Once upon a time...(yes, I am going that route) there was an Alchemist, so renowned for his advances and discoveries, that his favor with the local Lord of the area, granted him a castle to do with as he liked.

Being what he was, an Alchemist, he chose to turn the castle into both a workshop and a library, to document everything he had learned. He planted every sort of herb and shrub, every sort of tree. Set up all sorts of contraptions here and there, using the whole building as a way to learn more and more. The Lord of the area indulged his every whim. The Hell's Gate was just one of those whims.

Given his close relationship with the Lord, The Alchemist also grew closer to the Lord's sister. They fell in love, and got married. They had eight children. Yes, eight. The Alchemist's wife passed away during child birth of the youngest, leaving the Alchemist heartbroken. But he still had to step in and do his best. And of course the Alchemist raised his children with the knowledge he possessed, to continue his legacy. As they grew older, the Alchemist brought his children before him and advised that in the event of his passing, he wished for all of his children to share this castle and the treasures within.

All of the children openly agreed, except one, the youngest. He had grown up shunned by his siblings as the reason their mother had passed. They had treated him as less than dirt when their father wasn't watching, and brought the servants in on the games too. He had grown twisted with no one to trust, and spent more and more time experimenting around the Hell's Gate. Time went on and their father eventually passed away. This was the final straw for the youngest as their father was the only one that had treated him kindly.

The youngest carefully orchestrated the murders of all of his siblings as he was quite mad by this point, and carried out his plans flawlessly. Any servants that may have been around have long fled. There is one sibling left, you, the player. And you are trapped. Any attempts to leave are thwarted by infinite gardens and mazes, new sections of the castle that once did not exist, and monsters in the dark.

This is the story of The Tainted Halls. The area I will show is pretty small compared to others and is a work in progress again. The theme isn't dark enough for me, given what that area is.

The lone candle representing your life

In the room where the Hell's Gate is barred off, on the back wall is a set of seven candles. Only the middle one is lit, representing your life. I'd imagine the youngest brother would snuff the flame out, the moment the player has been taken care of. But there is one more candle that isn't really seen. Look closely, do you see it?

Do you see the hidden candle?

Behind the Hell's Gate

The eighth candle, representing the youngest brother, is behind the gate. The portal marred the representation of his life, while it sits separate from his siblings. Yes, I get that my poetic sense is cheesy, but setting that aside, this is what these candles represent.

In the room there are heads on stakes, skulls and bones that did not exist in the time of his father. I used a trail of redstone to look like a blood path being pulled through the portal. The room consists mostly of nether brick and nether block variations. But there are still bits and pieces of the castle stonework visible. This room needs a bit of a touch-up.

Now you know the story of The Tainted Halls. I hope to see you for future blogs, going over more details of the structure. If you have any ideas, send me a comment, they may be included in the structure in the future.

EDIT - I couldn't stand the way the chamber looked so, here are the changes I've made for a bit of a spookier edge:



I use these for my build:
https://conquestreforged.com/
https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/corail-pillar