The palace was draped in a shroud of shadow, with tendrils of thick, dark mist swirling around its base like a living entity. The stone surface bore deep cracks, through which wisps of greenish-black smoke seeped, exuding a putrid odor that hung heavily in the air. Gargoyles, once symbols of protection, now looked like twisted, anguished faces carved from stone, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. They seemed to shift and writhe, as if aware of the intruders approaching.
The massive entrance gates were framed by twisted iron wrought with intricate designs that resembled thorny vines, their sharp edges glistening like fangs. The gates themselves were ajar, creaking eerily as they swayed in the stagnant air, inviting but foreboding. Above, tall, narrow windows pierced the palace's façade, their glass shattered or blackened, leaving only a dark void that hinted at the horrors lurking within.
