The mansion, though it might be better called a castle, is overwhelming in both size and anachronism, it doesn’t fit into this area, or even into this era; yet here it stands before you. Its darkness is only broken by its form, the turrets, angles and very stones of the edifice are somewhat ‘lighter’ where the sun manages to seep through the canopy of tree limbs and reflect off of the obsidian stone.

As your eyes take in the magnificent masonry, you feel the hairs on the back of your neck rise and you get the distinct impression that the mansion is looking back at you.

Your heart thunders in your ears as you take another step closer, towards the door that is like a gaping maw, threatening to swallow you should you get too near.

Just as you finally sum up the nerve to lift a slightly trembling hand towards the great portal’s knocker, eerily fashioned to look like a human femur (it’s not a real human femur, right?), the door creeks open on its own causing you to jump slightly and recoil you hand as if it had been bitten by a viper.

But no, not on its own, now you see a man standing before you. Straight cinnamon hair cascades around a face of such delicate appearance that you are reminded of a porcelain doll, eyes of such a deep green they are like living emeralds, and perfect cupid’s bow lips which do not smile, make this man as ill fitting of the area as the mansion itself. The pure black suit he wears, with some white accents, show that while an odd style, this is the suit of the butler or majordomo to the mansion.

He stares at you for quite a while before you notice he’s asked you a question, and you rush to answer, “I was sent by the council.” Your voice sounds unsure and so he remains standing in the doorway, waiting for you to explain yourself. You murmur your name then find your voice again before saying louder, “They have sent me to see the Cardinal.” The Majordomo looks dubious still, but bows his head and backs up, opening the door wider and stepping aside to let you in.

The moment you step through the threshold you realize you have made a grievous mistake, one that may very well cost you your life, but not until after such lengthy torture that you will have wished yourself dead many times over. You enter the home of the Marquis de Sade, Tzimisce Elder, a Cardinal of the Sabbat, and the father of Sadism.