Castlevania (Lords of Shadow)



The Bernhard Castle (known as Vampire Castle or the Castle in the Lords of Shadow, and Dracula's Castle in Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2) was the home of Vampire Dark Lord Carmilla and her vampiric horde. It was previously owned by Friedrich von Frankenstein, Walter Bernhard and the Bernhard family. When Carmilla took over, she drove the most of the Bernhard family out, but kept Frankenstein in order to torture him, and to continue making creations for her. After defeating Carmilla and The Forgotten One, Gabriel Belmont, now known as "Dracul" or "Dracula", took residence in the castle.

Background
It is said that castle was haunted long before the vampires came to dwell among its walls. The Bernhard clan made a pact with a hellspawn, which resulted in the building itself becoming possessed by the demon. It may just be a myth to harm the reputation of the family, but the fact that the castle could be a living entity may explain how, after centuries, no one had been able to create a complete map of there castle, even after expending considerable resources on the task.

The castle's Maze Gardens were once the most beautiful in all of Europe. Many pilgrims would visit the Castle grounds from lands far away to witness their timeless beauty.

Although the castle's original owners are unknown, it was ruled by the Bernhard family, who were evidenced to be a group of evil sorcerers through their actions. Perhaps at the same time or later, Friedrich von Frankenstein also owned the castle. At an unknown point in time, the Bernhard family had summoned the Forgotten One, a powerful demon. However, the Forgotten One was too powerful to control, and broke free. The events of this took place at an unknown time, although it could have occurred as a result of the Bernhard family attempting to fend off the Brotherhood of Light. The Brotherhood eventually managed to combine their powers to seal the Forgotten One into another dimension, and built a new area around the castle in order to house him in the event that he managed to escape.

At a point in the past, the Brotherhood of Light's founders were tricked into ascending to heaven, also splitting their light sides, which ascended to heaven, from their dark sides, which remained on Earth. The Lords of Shadow, as they were called, went their separate ways, although Carmilla remained in order to watch over in the event that the Forgotten One was to escape, fearing what would happen if he did.

After Gabriel returned after being summoned by Laura to confront the Forgotten One, whose bonds had now been broken, the two explored the underground layers of the castle, finally reaching the Founders' Quarters. After drinking all Laura's blood in order to progress, as only dark beings could enter, Gabriel continues into the underworld to confront the Forgotten One.

Gabriel defeated the Forgotten One, and returned to the castle, taking residence in it as Dark Lord. Here, most of the creatures bowed down to him. The structure of the castle changed dramatically by the Hunchback dwarves who began to take residence there, who began to repair and expand on the castle. Gabriel, now known as Dracul and Dracula, used the castle as his base of operations for his planned vengeance on the Brotherhood and remaking of the world.

After Alucard and Simon defeated Dracula, the castle collapsed. Though it would later resurrect again along with Dracula. It would survive into modern times with its immortal master, surrounded by Wygol City build around the expansive castle.

Castle Structure
Like the original Dracula's Castle, the castle was said to be able to change form after a pact with a demon which actually possessed the castle. Although this may be untrue, the castle remains very vast and not all of its depths are known. Following the rise of Gabriel Belmont as Dracula, the structure of the castle was changed dramatically in some portions of the castle by the Hunchback dwarves who began to take residence there, who began to repair and expand on the castle. Following the defeat of Dracula by Simon and Alucard, the castle completely crumbled.

In Modern times, the castle remains intact. Areas of the castle that have been modernized are considered part of Wygol City.

Below is a list of known castle areas, in order of progression.
 * Lords of Shadow:
 * Gabriel Version
 * Castle Sewers
 * Maze Gardens
 * Castle Hall
 * Refectory
 * Balcony
 * Electric Laboratory
 * Chromatic Observatory
 * Outer Wall
 * The Clockwork Tower
 * The Throne Room
 * Abandoned Wing (Resurrection Dlc)
 * Founders' Quarters (Resurrection Dlc)
 * Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate:
 * Trevor Version
 * Castle Entrance
 * Unholy Church
 * Crypt
 * Cemetery
 * Entrance Bridge
 * Crypt's Labyrinth
 * Simon Version
 * Cursed Village
 * Not actually part of the castle, but a small village built near the castle, it lies not far from the Castle's Outer Wall. Mostly wooden structures, and a windmill.
 * Castle's Outer Wall
 * The road leads up to a bridge, and a drawbridge, that leads to the Castle Entrance (a graveyard in Trevor's quest). If the drawbridge is closed off, the access into the castle through an underground route created by pilgrims centuries before to worship the spirit of a woman who it was claimed had the power of healing. These tunnels they travelled through to seek health and good fortune lead into and are part of the Forgotten Caves where the healer's shrine is located.
 * Forgotten Caves
 * This is the location of the shrine of the healer, where Simon finds the Spirit of Belnades, that both apparently represents the centuries-dead healer, but also the spirit of his dead mother Sypha, it lies on the edge of the Deadly Waterfalls. This section and the part of the tunnel in the previous section must date back to before or during the time of the Bernard family.
 * Deadly Waterfalls
 * A place of underground streams and waterfalls. Thousands of corpses of men, women and children that were thrown into the castle moat during the First War infected the underground streams. The rivers that flow under the castle became a death trap, capable of dissolving flesh, bone and the very soul within. This area opens up into an area just below the bridge, into a section of rooms within the inner wall. In later times, the floor collapsed near the front gate of the Castle Hall (where trevor finally defeated the Lady of the Crypt), allowing access into the hall, from the rooms below.
 * Castle Hall
 * The Main Hall of the Castle (previously seen in Lords of Shadow). It is lined with glass windows, and black statues. There are a few side doors, one leading outside, where the Night Watchmen comes from. At this point in history, the gate leading into the game room is closed off. Behind this door lies the great animated chessboard, designed by vampires to kill time during their long nights. It was said that a human is invited to play from time to time. If he wins, he is received into the Vampire Clan. If he loses, he is included in the dinner menu. An elevator leads down to the Guards room. Near the front gate, there is the skeletal remains of the Lady of the Crypt.
 * Guards Room
 * Cells
 * Inner Cells
 * Vertical Prison
 * Kitchen
 * Theatre
 * Terrace
 * Ballroom
 * Courtyard
 * Library
 * Toy Maker's Funfair
 * Main Tower Outside
 * Throne Room
 * Lords of Shadow 2: