Black shores
Gestade (German for "Shore") is a level that occurs twice, the first of which being after we descend down into the hole in the mines, serving as a level between the Mines and Nowhere. It appears again following the Memory scene, where again after Elster jumps into the meat hole in the Penrose, she finds herself here.
The location appears similar to the landscape depicted in the Shores of Oblivion paintings, and is generally assumed to be the same location.
First Visit[edit]
Upon entering this first version of Gestade we find ourselves emerging from a dark tunnel, this tunnel vaguely takes the shape of the Hooded King in Yellow.
Further into Gestade we find a wall that is made out of flesh and running blood courses down its side.
The first visit to Gestade features several notes strewn about the shores, that if we read do not save to our memory. These notes are mostlly quotes from An Inhabitant of Carcosa and the King in Yellow that say the following:
This first version of Gestade also features a version of the King in Yellow, this version having 3 seals remaining on it. [1] Additionally, at the far end of the beach to the right, a Replikas hand can also be seen reaching out of a flesh wall. This visit ends after a timer, and following its conclusion Elster finds herself in Nowhere.
Second Visit[edit]
The second visit to Gestade features more notes that seem to be from the perspective of Ariane.
This visit is also different in that it also has a boat on the shore. This boat is similar to the one depicted in the Isle of the Dead painting, and upon entering Elster is able to progress to the next stage of the game, that being Corrupted ReEducation.
On this visit the King In Yellow can be found just out of reach floating in the water. This variant of the book contains 2 seals. [1]