Udolpho of Veloria; Udolpho Monestary

(Relates to @Udolpho Monastery , @Montoni, Inquisitor Revenant of Veloria, & @The Veiled Portrait of Udolpho)

“The sea does not forget. Nor do its saints.”

High above @The Middle Sea, perched on a cliffside terrace veiled in mist, stands @Udolpho Manor. Once a retreat for the nobles and @Chamber of Stella Maris alike, it became infamous as the seat of Count Montoni—a noble inquisitor turned tyrant during the waning years of the Convergence.

@Montoni, Inquisitor Revenant of Veloria was a zealot of the old rites, a man who believed Stella Maris demanded purity not just of soul, but of bloodline and ambition. He ruled Udolpho as both warden and priest, interrogating diplomats, silencing dissenters, and purging “impure” doctrine from Veloria’s spiritual canon.

His obsession culminated in the commissioning of a sacred portrait, @The Veiled Portrait of Udolpho —painted by a blind prophetess in the temple crypts. Veiled in silk and sealed with saltwater rites, the portrait was said to reflect not the sitter’s likeness, but their soul’s corruption. Those who gazed upon it saw visions of betrayal, shame, or forbidden desire. Some leapt from the cliffs. Others vanished into the sea.

When Montoni died—some say drowned in his own baptismal font—Udolpho was sealed. But the portrait remains. And Montoni’s spirit, bound by divine wrath and personal pride, still walks the flooded halls, interrogating intruders with spectral authority

@Montoni, Inquisitor Revenant of Veloria

A spectral nobleman in ceremonial plate armor, standing in a flooded basilica atop a cliffside terrace, his robes salt-stained and embroidered with celestial symbols, face pale and stern beneath a cracked golden mask, eyes glowing with cold authority, holding a ritual blade etched with sea runes, surrounded by mist and broken stained glass, water lapping at marble steps, moonlight filtering through shattered arches, atmosphere of tragic grandeur and spiritual dread.

@The Veiled Portrait of Udolpho

A flooded basilica chamber carved into a cliffside, with salt-stained marble columns, broken stained glass windows casting colored light across the water, celestial mosaics faded and cracked on the vaulted ceiling, ritual altars half-submerged, candlelight flickering on damp stone walls, mist curling through open archways, relics and scrolls floating in the shallows, atmosphere of sacred ruin and Gothic mystery.

Traits

Silken Veil. Any creature that looks directly at the portrait must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On failure, they experience one of the following effects (roll d4):

  1. Salt Guilt: Take 4d10 psychic damage and become frightened for 1 minute.

  2. Mariner’s Temptation: See an illusion of a loved one offering false guidance (DC 15 Insight to disbelieve).

  3. Drowned Shame: Become restrained by spectral chains for 1 minute (save ends at end of turn).

  4. Spiritual Collapse: Lose ability to distinguish illusion from reality (disadvantage on Insight and Perception for 1 hour).

Tide of Revelation (Recharge 6): The portrait emits a wave of psychic energy. All creatures within 30 ft. must make a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or take 22 (5d8) psychic damage and be stunned until the end of their next turn.

Montoni’s Link: If @Montoni, Inquisitor Revenant of Veloria is destroyed, the portrait loses its magic. If the portrait is destroyed, Montoni loses his legendary actions for 1 hour.