Comte Henry Château

Author’s Note – Unofficial, Stock Image used

The Comte Henry Château or Castle was the ancestral home of the Henry dynasty. The property had been in the family for generations had continued to be inhabited by an Henry until the last occupier, Christine in October 1998.

Little is known about the building’s history other than it was a very large castle situated close to the Loire Village within the Loire Valley. The property formed part of the hereditary title bestowed upon the holder of the title – Comte or Comtessa.

At some point Comte Henry, a nobleman within France formed a friendship with Oswell E Spencer, himself a nobleman. When the Comte was asked to be part of Spencer’s Umbrella Corporation, the Comte was delighted to take on the position within the Executive Board. As part of the deal, the Comte allowed Umbrella to use the building and over the years, its importance and development grew as part of Umbrella Europe’s portfolio.

At some point in the late 1980’s a state of the art laboratory was constructed underneath the property to facilitate the ongoing T-Virus research. The entire complex was constructed deep underground, away from prying eyes. A hidden turnable was even installed within the castle grounds.

For even more covert operations, a private underground railway system was installed and connected to the main French Railway system, allowing the distribution of materials to and from the facility without being detected.

In the early 1990’s following the discovery of the G-Virus within the test specimen Lisa Trevor, William Birkin redirected his studies into perfecting this new form of virus. The development impressed Spencer so much that he commissioned a new laboratory to be built in Raccoon City underneath the Lonsdale Marshalling Yard. Construction would take 2-3 years and in this time, William and Annette Birkin would spend their time between the Arklay Research Facility and the Comte Henry Château to refine ideas before he has his own lab.

Seemingly the Comte Henry Château appealed to Birkin that it was decided that its design was to be replicated in Raccoon City, meaning the layout of the laboratory was very similar once finalised.

In 1993 Birkin’s laboratory was completed and Birkin moved all his resources back to the United States leaving the facility relatively under utilised. Indeed, the Paris Branch was pressing ahead with its own research and it remains unclear as to exactly what research continued after the G-Virus project shifted back to Raccoon City.

In the same year, under mysterious circumstances, Comte Henry was killed. It was reported by his daughter at least that her father went mad and brandishing an axe, murdered 8 members of staff. He was also killed thereafter. Following his death, the title and the estate shifted to Christine Henry who adopted the title – Comtessa Henry.

Henry continued some degree of virology at the facility and in time was able to create the Licker BOW which were stored at the labs.

In 1998 following the Raccoon City Incident plans were made for USS Member Hunk to come to the Comte Henry Château to hand over the G-Virus he recovered from Birkin in Raccoon City. Arriving on 2nd October 1998, Hunk, along with other USS members arrived at the castle. They had however been followed by the female spy, Ada Wong, herself another survivor of Raccoon City.

Ada caused chaos and was able to eradicate the USS. Even Hunk was presumed dead. She was able to steal the G-Virus and fled into the nearby valley. During the battle a sample of the T-Virus leaked which quickly spread to the laboratory and surrounding area. The entire Loire Village of 1200 was infected over the next few days. Christine Henry was enraged by this but was able to bring her own home under control, containing the outbreak within the labs. She now waited within the home to await the French Military to bring her the G-Virus sample. She had struck a deal with the French Government and assumed they would do whatever they could to ensure they helped Henry.

Christine’s assumptions were correct and on 5th October 1998, Henry picked up a radio signal from a downed French Air Force team that had apprehended Ada Wong. She impersonated a local police force and directed the team towards the Comte Henry Château.

Arriving the next day, and upon entering the main hall, she activates the locking mechanism sealing them inside. Still pretending to be a police officer over the radio, she guides the team and Ada around the property to places at risk of Zombie Dog attacks. Henry assumes (correctly, again) that the leader of the group – Jacob – would have been briefed about her deal with the government and that he would assist in acquiring the G-Virus.

Henry however miscalculated Jacob’s greed and when she revealed herself to Ada in the Great Hall, she did not expect Jacob to blast at her with a machine gun – refusing to co-operate with her. The force of a follow up bullet caused Henry to fall through a window into the garden.

Henry made it to the underground laboratory but would eventually be murdered by Jacob – now intent on stealing the G-Virus himself. Jacob would however be unsuccessful when a member of his team – Philippe refused to assist his commanding officer, instead choosing Ada. Philippe infected himself with the G-Virus killing Jacob, but not before activating the self destruct system. Ada was able to flee the castle in time, but the self destruct took out not only the lab but Comte Henry Château itself on 8th October 1998.

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