Castle Von Bruinwald is the mansion of Baloo's family. It debuted in "The Balooest of the Bluebloods".
Description[]
This palatial estate, located just outside Cape Suzette, is the ancestral home of the illustrious Von Bruinwald baronage. Containing 650 rooms, Castle Von Bruinwald is one of the world's largest surviving castles. Due to three centuries of unpaid back taxes, however, the castle has been repossessed by the law firm of Featheridge, Featheridge, and Nowinski.
Castle Von Bruinwald is an incredibly vast structure, containing countless dining rooms and guest rooms, many master bedrooms, several bathrooms, a library, an indoor swimming pool, and a basement kitchen. Most of the outlying areas of the castle have not been tended to in years, due to the enormous size of the estate and the confusing layout of the castle's hallways. Furthermore, dozens of deadly boobytraps have been installed in the castle, as part of the housekeepers' attempts over the years to exterminate the Von Bruinwald line.
Points of interest[]
Courtyard: Decorative shrubbery and an elaborate maze of hedges borders the path leading to the castle's main gate.
Cupid Room: This innocent-looking room, decorated with heart-shaped pillows and mattresses, contains a multitude of automated dart-launchers disguised as cherubic gold statues.
Dining Hall: Large enough to seat 20 people, Castle Von Bruinwald's main dining hall is decorated with a large table and ornate chandelier. A variety of foods are available, including delicacies such as wild boar and Bavarian cupcakes (two Von Bruinwald family favorites).
Front Gate: This elegantly gilded gate is the main entrance to Castle Von Bruinwald. For security reasons, an electric current can be sent through the gate by throwing a lever at the foot of the castle.
Hall of Barons: Castle Von Bruinwald's main gallery features portraits of each of the twelve Barons of Bruinwald.
Kitchen: Located in the basement of the castle, the kitchen is rigged with several flame-shooting ovens, a guillotine-equipped refrigerator, various cutlery launchers, and a sub-floor furnace concealed by a trapdoor.
Master Bedroom: The castle's spacious master bedroom sports a secret revolving bookcase, as well as flame throwers cleverly disguised as candelabras.
Swimming Pool: The centerpiece of the castle's recreation rooms, the swimming pool features ornate design and luxurious décor.
History[]
Astonishing as it may seem, Baloo is actually distantly related to royalty — namely, the prestigious Von Bruinwald baronage. Considered the "bluest of bluebloods," the Von Bruinwald line lasted for nearly 300 years and consisted of no less than twelve barons, each of which bore a striking resemblence to Baloo himself. Valued at $500 million, the Von Bruinwald estate was indeed one of the wealthiest in history. However, legend held that there was a mysterious curse upon the Von Bruinwalds, a curse responsible for the untimely (and most unusual) demises of all twelve barons. Some examples:
- The Second Baron encountered a shark in the castle swimming pool.
- The Fourth Baron did not find the "electric eel soup" agreeable.
- The Sixth Baron slipped on a pad of butter and fell during his evening stroll along the parapet.
- The Seventh Baron mysteriously expired on the staircase leading to the kitchen.
- The Ninth Baron choked on a cupcake.
Since Baloo was related indirectly to the Von Bruinwald lineage, it took some time for financial representative Austin Featheridge — of the "Featheridge, Featheridge, and Nowinski" law firm — to track him down. Proclaimed to be the long-lost 13th Baron of Bruinwald, Baloo was whisked away to Castle Von Bruinwald to enjoy his new lifestyle.
Before long, however, the mysterious "Von Bruinwald curse" began plaguing Baloo as well. A little amateur sleuthing by Baloo and Rebecca revealed that the twelve barons had actually been done in by their housekeepers, who made each demise appear to have been a peculiar accident. This grisly task had been passed down from generation to generation of housekeepers, and with no successor to the Von Bruinwald line after Baloo, the inheritance would ultimately revert to the current butler and maid, Hans and Helga! Surviving numerous attempts on their life, Baloo and Rebecca called in police to apprehend the two housekeepers.
Unfortunately, there was yet a curse on the Von Bruinwalds — 300 years' worth of unpaid back taxes — which forced Mr. Featheridge to repossess the entire estate, ending Baloo's brief tenure as a Baron of Bruinwald.
Gallery[]
