Overview
Greifberg is the fortified castle that dominates the skyline above Svartrau, the capital of Vale Sangora. Perched on the crags overlooking the city, the castle is the seat of power for Brencis, the vampire lord who deposed the previous human ruler and installed his vampiric regime. Coen's family is held captive within its walls, making an assault on Greifberg one of the player's core objectives throughout the game.
History
Before Brencis took control, Greifberg belonged to Knyaz Skender Dragosti, a human lord described as tall, handsome, and always richly dressed, but cruel and merciless when displeased. Skender used the proceeds from the Silver Mines to expand the dungeons beneath the castle rather than fund religious institutions. His reign ended when Brencis and the Vrakhiri vampire faction arrived in the valley and overthrew him.
Design philosophy
Rebel Wolves took inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when designing Greifberg's role in the game. Players can attempt to assault the castle at almost any point, though doing so early will be extremely difficult. This open-ended approach means the game never locks players out of their primary objective, instead letting the difficulty curve serve as a natural gate.
Gameplay role
The castle's presence on the skyline is a constant visual reminder of the player's goal. Different approaches to Greifberg become available depending on which quests the player completes, which allies they recruit, and how much notoriety they have accumulated. The time mechanic also applies: spending days preparing makes the assault easier but leaves fewer days to complete other objectives before the 30-day deadline.
Surrounding area
Greifberg sits above the Silberkreis district, the wealthiest part of Svartrau and the area closest to the castle. Below the wealthy quarter lies The Middens, a contrasting zone with its own character and faction presence. The gap between wealthy Silberkreis and neglected Middens mirrors the social divide under Brencis's rule.