Castleton

What is Castleton

Castleton is an international collaborative TTRPG story told with over 100+ content creators from all over the world. Part One of the story aired between June 1st and July 27th, with Part Two airing between Nov 10, 2024 and March 15th, 2025.

What is Castleton about? Every three years, The Demigod city known as The Castle hosts the Matching Season, a grand event where every eligible Unmatched from Arma, Eldron, and Cerul gather for three months to forge alliances, renegotiate trade agreements, and compete for love. At the end of the three month season the Gods declare one pair to be the ‘Perfect Match’ which wins them lands and titles, as well as blessings upon the nation they come from. It is a story that explores themes of loss, hierarchy, identity, power struggles, romance, manipulation, and trauma.

Each episode of the story premiers on Saturday at 7pm EST. Winters Tales Twitch Channel. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

History

Before the Castle, before the very first 'Matching Season', the land was known by another name. A name that was long forgotten through the chaos and unrest. El'donroch.

One continent, one place of rest, one roch. But rest was rarely had. Before the Castle was erected (BC); The Gods did not interfere. They left the mortals to do as mortals do; love, grow, fight, die. Cerul, once known as Cerulean (named after its proximity to the clearest of blue seas) is the longest standing monarchy. The Kings of past each more arrogant and self-serving than the last. The lands to the northwest were divided into clans of warriors, herders and merchants spanning the Great Canyon from Grey's Keep to the marshes in the north.

And then there were the southern lands consisting of 9 smaller countries who banded together during the Great War to defend from the land seizing Cerulites, or the fierce combatants and clans that Cerul angered to the west. They named their alliance after the land, Eldron ('one people' - El meaning one, and Dron meaning people.) In order to survive, the 9 rulers declared that they would give up their titles as Kings and Queens, to be equals and lead together. "Work Together and Weep together, as One."

The Great War went on for over 60 years; 2 generations that knew nothing but war, until the Gods revealed themselves. Though it wasn't the Gods that made that choice, but a child of theirs. The God of Creatures and Creations, often roamed the land of El'donroch as inspiration for new creatures or creations. Their mortal lover was a clan Chief, and gave the God 2 children; Ammaya the Demigod of Wings in honour of their love that took flight, and the Nadala Demigod of Perseverance so that their love could survive. However, when the first child was born, the God of Death and Destruction created their own child as a counterpart. Entropy. When it was clear that these Demigods could just be created, not necessarily born, the third God of the Triune, Sun and Skies, in turn wanted a child too. First came their daughter, The Demigod of Evanescence, followed by their son, the Demigod of Thunder.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Map of El'donroch

But these Demigods did not have a place amongst the Gods. The 'heavens' weren't made for them, and the rest of the Council of the Gods were struggling with the power imbalance of having more members in the House of the Triune. However it wasn't until Perseverance directly affected the lives and futures of the mortals (something the Gods could not do... or would not do) that they stepped forth and revealed their power and majesty. Arithia fell, the lands and the Chief at the hands of both the Cerulites and the Eldronese on the battlefield.

In her grief, Nadala revealed herself and gave up her immortality to feed her purview into the land itself. She shone bright and broke the battlefield. Her sacrifice and power would allow for the mortals (and some say the dormant magic within them) to persevere. Although her display could not erase one truth. Death. As her mortal parent gave in to Entropy, she gathered the mortal form and held up his weapon in a great display as the divine left her. She declared that she would inherit the title and clan, but the other clans did not stop there. They too gave her their clans and laid down their weapons at her feet; Gladius, Mace, Dao, Scythe, Halberd, Glaive. She united the clans into an Empire in the name of the Gods and their magic.

That day Creatures and Creations lost both their love, and their daughter, after which they agreed with the Council of the Gods that something needed to change. And so, from the very battleground of the Great War, a new roch was lifted into the sky. As a beacon between the 3 mortal nations that remained; Cerul, Eldron and Arma.

The Castle would be a haven for the Demigods. A space that was theirs. But it would also need governing so that no other lives would be unnecessarily lost. Wisdom and Warfare saw fit that The Duchess be created from their own flesh to lead and preside over the Demigod city. And within the heart of the city, a glowing auburn egg from which Wisdom and Warfare's safeguard would hatch; the Demigod of Discipline, more powerful than any of the Children of the Triune in case they decided to act against the Gods (or each other) ever again. As the Castle was formed, and The Duchess waited for her sibling to hatch, Fitzwilliam was gifted to her, a construct to protect her and guide her as a right-hand man. The Demigod of Gambit.

And when the city was ready, it breathed. And the heart within it opened. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎

Cast, Characters, Episodes

Cast

List of Cast Members and Appearances: Cast and Characters

Characters

Castleton has an ensemble cast which is the largest in the TTRPG Actual Play space. Comprised of roughly 120 individuals the cast is split amongst the 4 nations annotated by the standards below:

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Arma‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Cerul ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ Eldron ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎The Castle

Episodes

All episode of Castleton premiered on Winters Tales twitch and were eventually rereleased on the Winters Tales youtube at a later date.

All production and DM'ing for each episode was done by AJ Winters while combat encounters were arranged and managed by Robert Hartley.

Part 1

Season one covers the first weeks events of the 3 month long endeavor that is The Matching Season.

No. overall	No. In Season	Title	GM / Directed by	Original air date	Summary
1	1	The First Day	AJ Winters	June 1st, 2024	Episode 1
2	2	We Have a Ball to Get To	AJ Winters	June 8th, 2024	Episode 2
3	3	How to Win Dates	AJ Winters	June 15th, 2024	Episode 3
4	4	Ballroom Battlefield	AJ Winters	June 22nd, 2024	Episode 4
5	5	Letters of Love and Lies	AJ Winters	June 29th, 2024	Episode 5
6	6	The Root of Deceit	AJ Winters	July 6th, 2024	Episode 6
7	7	A Nation Divided	AJ Winters	July 13th, 2024	Episode 7
8	8	In the Hands of Favor and Fate	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	July 20th, 2024	Episode 8
9	9	Dances, Daggers, and Declarations	AJ Winters	July 27th, 2024	Episode 9

Part 2

Season two covers the events of the following 30 days of the matching season and the start of trials, romance, and the end of the matching season.

No. overall	No. In Season	Title	GM / Directed by	Original air date	Summary
10	1	The Spark Point	AJ Winters	Nov 9th, 2024	Episode 1
11	2	Embers Ignite	AJ Winters	Nov 16th, 2024	Episode 2
12	3	A Legacy Must Endure	AJ Winters	Nov 23rd, 2024	Episode 3
13	4	Burning Bridges	AJ Winters	Nov 30th, 2024	Episode 4
14	5	Simmering or Scorched?	AJ Winters	Dec 7th, 2024	Episode 5
15	6	Stolen, Gifted or Traded	AJ Winters	Jan 4th, 2025	Episode 6
16	7	A Reason to Fight	AJ Winters	Jan 11th, 2025	Episode 7
17	8	War on the Horizon	AJ Winters	Jan 18th, 2025	Episode 8
18	9	The Silence Before the Storm	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	Jan 25th, 2025	Episode 9
19	10	Retribution	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	Feb 1st, 2025	Episode 10
20	11	Rebellion	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	Feb 8th, 2025	Episode 11
21	12	Remorse	AJ Winters	Feb 15th, 2025	Episode 12
22	13	Echo	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	Feb 22nd, 2025	Episode 13
23	14	Entropy	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	March 4th, 2025	Episode 14
24	15	End	AJ Winters & Robert Hartley	March 8th, 2025	Episode 15