Juiyan's Castle
Juiyan's Castle was a mechanized subterranean fortress hidden beneath the desert, owned and operated by the desert wizard Juiyan. Designed for concealment and self-sufficiency, it could be raised from or lowered back into the ground through a combination of arcane ritual and steam-driven machinery. The castle appeared in The Blood of Giants.
"A castle in the sand... concealed beneath desert, the perfect camouflage."
Description
Exterior
The castle was constructed of large stones, each approximately as tall as a man and as wide across, cut and colored to blend with the surrounding sand for camouflage. It featured four rooms positioned equidistant from one another, a top deck, windows, and a large gate at the front. A large narthex at the entrance was covered to prevent sand from entering the interior. Pulleys and gears were mounted on the sidewalls, driving the structure's vertical movement.
Interior
The interior of the castle was decorated with tapestries hung on the walls in the manner of rugs, brass sculptures representing stars, and gas lamps. Common areas included a reception area, a small fireplace, chairs, and a sofa. One of the towers contained a control room, from which Juiyan operated the castle using a control board fitted with dials, levers, and steam piping. The castle contained enough individual rooms to house each member of a visiting group separately, and was staffed by servants.
Mechanics
The castle was raised from underground when Juiyan drew symbols in the sand with his staff. It could likewise be lowered back beneath the surface to shelter its occupants from the desert sun. Its ongoing operation was maintained by Juiyan working at the control board in the tower's control room, which incorporated dials, levers, and steam piping.
Role in The Blood of Giants
In The Blood of Giants, the narrator's group was hosted at Juiyan's Castle, with each crew member given an individual room. During their stay, the narrator left her cape at the castle. The castle was subsequently sacked or sold out to the Nightmen, as Juiyan betrayed the narrator's group to the Nightmen in exchange for their protection.
Related Locations
- Artacala Desert — the desert region in which the castle was concealed
- Nightmen City — seat of the Nightmen who received Juiyan's betrayal
- Nightmen Arena — associated Nightmen location
On the world map
The official world map marks Sinking Castle in west-central Artacala, within the Artacala Desert, between Nightman Cavern and Great Jehrom.
In A History of Rislandia
According to A History of Rislandia, Juiyan's Castle is described as "a mechanized fortress that could rise from the sand and descend to escape the heat." The sourcebook confirms its connection to The Blood of Giants and its owner Juiyan.
Location
Juiyan's Castle is located in the Artacala Desert.
Mobility
The suggestion in A History of Rislandia that the castle's location is unknown and that it is "possibly mobile" goes beyond what the novels establish. The novel-based account on this page describes a fixed subterranean structure that rises and descends vertically at a single site; the sourcebook's speculation about mobility is an addition not supported by the novel's depiction.