The light shines pale on Yulareil. The immense mass of the multiple black stars that arc across the skies traps all but a fraction of the light they produce within their own gravitational pull. Bathing the realm in a soft glow that is never harsh upon the eyes.

Tucked away in a dimension sandwiched between the nightmarish realities of other Great Old Ones, Yulareil is the domain of Canthus, the Golden Goat. Simultaneously a prison to which he is eternally bound and a sanctuary for those who embrace his offer of corruption. The lonely island anchored in the middle of what seems to be an infinite expanse of ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.

Most of the island is wilderness covered in ancient forests where the trees twist into uncanny shapes. The buildings of the port city of Kholzkis exist in defiance of the laws of physics as humans know them. And looming above it all is a vast mountaintop temple, the dwelling of Canthus, his golden tentacles spreading outward from it like the roots of a great tree, weaving over and underneath the island landmass. Even stretching further beyond into the surrounding shallow seas as part of a grand network of writhing appendages.

Despite it's dark atmosphere and status as the dwelling of a Great Old One, Yulareil is an unusually serene and safe place to those who arrive bearing no hostile intentions. Neither the Prince nor his Cult will turn away those who arrive seeking a place of shelter from the horrors that might await them in any of it's neighbouring dimensions. Though they will fight ferociously to defend themselves and their land, most of the monstrous inhabitants are in fact gentle at heart and simply wish to live out eternity in peace.

Peace, however, does not equate to inactivity. The Cult of the Golden Goat is first and foremost a pleasure cult. Their bonfire-lit orgiastic revelries taking place out in the woods or decadent parades marching through the streets of Kholskis naked often being so raucous as to breach the veil of reality and manifest parts of Yulareil on other worlds... such as Earth. The celebrants occasionally returning home with a few new members in tow who became enthralled by the temptation on offer.

Often these new members stay for as long as they wish, then are allowed to leave without incident. It is relatively rare for one to remain and wish to join Canthus' monstrous brotherhood. But those that do become transformed, and are allowed to call Yulareil their home. Their companionship playing a vital part in keeping the Prince from slipping into the same apathy towards mortal life that the rest of his extended family have succumbed to.

I owe  Irbeus my DEEPEST thanks for this phenomenal piece, helping me bring to life one of the most important parts of my worldbuilding around Canthus. The realm he calls his home.

This piece is very personal for a lot of reasons. I'm happy it's finally here.