While this was likely a deliberate decision to frame the Domains-not the Darklords-as the true “meat” of the setting, the Darklords’ intimate connection to the lands they rule makes this a questionable decision.
Several Domains even bury or divide their Darklords’ histories, forcing readers to assemble their lore like pieces of a puzzle. In Har’Akir, the ancient mummy Ankhtepot is now eternally tormented for the horrific crime of deposing an unpopular and unworthy monarch. In Lamordia, the “punishment” of mad scientist Viktra Mordenheim is now offset by her subjects’ love and adoration. In Barovia, the vampiric conqueror Strahd von Zarovich was now lured into evil by the cult of the Priests of Osybus. While most lore changes are benign, the histories of several Darklords have suffered greatly. No longer is Dementlieu ruled by a master manipulator instead, its residents must play a never-ending charade of fairy-tale nobility-where exposure means death. Darkon, the realm of the lich-king Azalin Rex, now faces apocalypse following its Darklord’s disappearance. The Carnival, 2e’s travelling band of horror, no longer terrorizes visitors with supernaturally disfigured “Freaks” (though this is probably for the best). Some traditional Ravenloft fans will doubtless be disappointed to find discrepancies from past lore. When combined with the book’s diverse portfolio of horror, few DMs will finish this book feeling uninspired. Rudolph van Richten, gives DMs a colorful suite of NPCs and factions to enhance any session.
The “Travelers in the Mists” described in the book, such as the occultist Keepers of the Feather, the mysterious wanderer Firan Zal’honan, and the students of famed monster hunter Dr.
The isolated Domains may now drift alone through the mists, but Ravenloft’s 5e rendition is remarkably coherent, providing equal support for a series of independent horror romps or an epic campaign seeking escape from the Dark Powers’ grasp. Though each realm is a Darklord’s prison, they are also settings in their own right, presenting hooks for exploration and adventure beyond Curse of Strahd’s villain-centric story. The Mourning Rail thunders through the cursed fog, its cars echoing with the screams of the damned.įrom the Lovecraftian Bluetspar to the intrigue-infested Borca and the haunted ghost train Cyre 1313 (”The Mourning Rail”) these horrific realms are evocative and interesting places.