The Tale of Castle Kaltenbach

This story begins and takes place in a remote town in eastern Austria, Anno Domini 1714. I’m not a history major nor am I interested in history therefore I am sure there is plenty of errors here (that’s one of the reasons I put this story in the ‘Fantasy/Sci-Fi’ category). If you find any, please, just ignore them or treat them as historical fiction.

I labeled this ‘Fantasy/Sci-Fi’, because it’s probably the broadest of categories but I’d certainly like to see it develop into other genres. Don’t hesitate to contribute a piece of your writing and add a twist to the story; the setting is quite flexible and interesting in my opinion. Have fun.

Although it was definitely not the end of its troubles, the end of the war against the Turks brought relief to the Holy Roman Empire and, although many brave men had faced their at the battlefields, the great army returned home. Thus, from the hostile eastern lands, back to his quiet estate near the town of Cold Creek in Moravia came margrave Christoph Rainer von Kaltbach along with his trusty soldiers.

His people celebrated the safe return of their lord for it marked the end of his vicegerent’s tyranny and, surely, better times ahead. Indeed, margrave von Kaltbach was a just and competent (if a little severe) leader who quickly managed to restore law and order in his province. Life was still hard in the shadow of the Kaltbach Castle, but at least safe and peaceful.

Still, even as the old harmony was being restored, sorrow was to haunt the land again.

During one cold autumn a messenger spread the word that the margrave’s beloved wife had died. The church bells rang in many towns and cities of eastern Moravia, hundreds of subjects prayed for Charlotte von Kaltenbach’s soul. The land mourned the loss of their lady, yet no one and nothing could ease the suffering of their lord. Seasons passed and during that time it was often heard that the margrave had become a bitter, cynical man and was rarely seen outside of his home. The Castle of the Kaltenbach family (a splendid example of grand architecture built atop a wooded hill, on the shore of a quiet, misty lake), although a shining monument to the sovereign’s protection over his people in earlier days, now seemed like an old and lone giant looming over the town of Cold Creek. The people felt sorry for their master but there was nothing any of them could do to help.

In time, though, Christoph von Kaltenbach recovered from his loss… or so it seemed. Visitors from distant lands and countries began visiting him quite often and, from the sounds of joy and merriment coming from the castle, one could tell that happiness finally returned to the Kaltenbach home.

But the rapid change in the margrave's mood and the mysterious guests he received quickly had the whole town talking. The many people who worked inside and visited Cold Creek told strange stories and wove unnerving theories. Few believed them but rumors never needed belief to spread. The town was soon whispering tales of romantic adventures and wild orgies, decadence and subversion, insanity and , sometimes even magic. All of them took place at the dark castle on the hill.

Some of those tales were quite close to the truth.