Planescape: Farrow, a shadow elf spy, resides in Sigil, where he spies on every one of the factions there (he's described as having 15 personalities, one for each faction).
He spies because he's been hired to spy by the fiend Shemeshka the Marauder. He's been banished to Sigil against his will (by the wizards of Glantri), and doesn't know how to get back, so he's not spying for Rafiel or for his people. His mind shattered when the philosophical energies of the Outer Planes empowered his 15 various disguises, making them autonomous individuals of various races. Most of his personalities don't realize they're spies at all; only one of them appears as a shadowelf. Until he pulls himself back together, he's unlikely to find his way back to Mystara.
He was, however, a spy in his former life as well, like so many shadowelves, and he did spy in the name of his people at the time.
Ravenloft: Meredoth, an Alphatian wizard, is currently trapped in the Demiplane of Dread, where he is the Dark Lord of the Nocturnal Sea.
Meredoth originally dwelled in Todstein, an island near Alphas. It is possible that he has returned to Mystara like Lord Soth managed to escape and return to Krynn. Is Todstein also the name of the original island. If so, was it originally settled by Hattians or Heldanners? What are Meredoth's plans now that he is back?
Also, the Land of Grey Mists where the d'Ambrevilles were entrapped for nearly a century may or may not be Ravenloft.
Spelljammer: No references to Mystara in the Spelljammer supplements, though Mystaraspace has been dealth with in Mystara products, Dragon Magazine articles etc. Mystara space has also been discussed in various fan discussions related as to how it could relate to spelljammer.
Greyhawk: The module Return to the Keep on the Borderlands has a suggested setting of the Yeomanry, and features as NPCs one Dubricus d'Ambreville (of a family of eccentric wizards), as well as Third, a warrior maiden of Maruda (Madarua) from Cynidicea, and two characters who are assassins from "distant Cathos City"- a location from module M2: Maze of the Riddling Minotaur.
Where is Cathos city btw? I seem to recall something about it being on one of the islands of the Thanegioth Archipelago?
Dubricius d'Ambreville and the others have probably found their way to another Keep of the Borderlands, Castellan Keep in Karameikos....
Warduke, a villainous foe who has combatted the likes of Strongheart the Paladin and Figgen the halfling, is a former henchman to the Horned Society. Figgen is known to maintain (according to Gaz4) a residence in Ierendi.
Freeport: Countess d'Ambreville owns an upscale brothel in the city of Freeport, where she also plies her trade as an assassin.
Alfhild a Northwoman Raider has escaped from her former fiancee of King Ragnar (most likely of Soderfjord) and is rumoured to be raiding the seas around Freeport. Her husbond has also been reported looking for her in the region. The people of Freeport are suspcious of them both.
Blackmoor: Not much need be said here, as the Blackmoor/Mystara connection is pretty explicit. The Beagle also appeared in Foul Weather, a D20 modern scenario, where it was controlled by a human crew in trouble and nearly destroyed. These events could have occurred prior to the ship being discovered by the Galactic Federation and given to captain Bork Riesling.
Blackmoor also has connections to numerous other settings as does the Egg of Coot.
I am curious if people have thoughts on how these characters can be brought back to Mystara and made use of for Mystara-only campaigns?
Anyone?
Håvard
Meredoth originally dwelled in Todstein, an island near Alphas. It is possible that he has returned to Mystara like Lord Soth managed to escape and return to Krynn. Is Todstein also the name of the original island. If so, was it originally settled by Hattians or Heldanners? What are Meredoth's plans now that he is back?
That reminds me - wasn't Jagger von Drachenfels supposed to be Alphatian, despite his Hattian name? Lemme look it up... Ok, the von Drachenfels family is of mixed Alphatian-Thyatian descent: Frau Hildegard (Jagger's mother) is Thyatian, while Frau Gertrud (paternal aunt, I assume) leads the Alphatian faction. So we've still got an Alphatian with a Hattian sounding name - I wonder if they're related to Meredoth? Maybe they're from Todstein, and escaped to Glantri when everyone else there got sucked away to Ravenloft.
I'd make Todstein a mixed Heldann/Alphatian colony, ruled by "pure" Alphatians (thus Meredoth's non-Heldannic name). Many Alphatians mingled with the Heldanners and adopted their ways, so that most of the population now thinks of itself as Alphatian (with its respect for wizards) but has more of a Heldannic culture. Only the highest nobility and those that want to curry favour with them keep scrupulously to Alphatian customs. That way the von Drachenfels family is actually a Hattian/Heldannic/Alphatian cross (note also that they probably weren't very important on Todstein, due to their "commoner" names). It'd be really interesting to see how a returned Todstein interacts with the new Heldannic Order: would they approve of the new esteem for clerics as a form of spellcaster, or hate the Knights for their harsh discipline?
In the MYSTARA(R) adventure >Mark of Amber< (page 62), a wizardess from the fantastic French province of Averoigne is said to have invented >potions of time travel<, with which she explored Earth's history for her own amusement. She now lives in Glantri, maintaining her youth with other magical potions. Averoigne could be part of a magical Europe around AD 1600 in HR4 >A Mighty Fortress<, and this wizardess could be met at various times through Earth's history prior to her move to the world of Mystara.
The HR series looks like AD&D sourcebooks for various historical periods (vikings, etc) so I don't know if they count as "another world" or not - but it then goes on:
The RAVENLOFT(R) campaign expansion, >Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales<, shows this same magical Earth in the late 19th century, though with a dark strain of horror. (The world is here nicknamed "Gothic Earth.")
So, basically, there are at least a couple of other products that suggest connecting existing D&D worlds to "Earth-like settings", and Averoigne could be one of those settings. Tenuous, but I thought I'd mention it.
Here's another one: http://www.mystaranet.jamm.com/vaults/html/chron.html (excerpt from the Chronomancy supplement for AD&D 2nd Ed)
the Vaults is now at http://www.pandius.com so the above link would http://www.pandius.com/chron.html
Where is Cathos city btw? I seem to recall something about it being on one of the islands of the Thanegioth Archipelago?
No location has ever been given, though I've made maps (one not quite completed) for two possible locations- off the north coast of Garganin in Davania, and the westernmost islands in the Thanegioth chain (west of the Isle of Dread).
In any case, somewhere in the Sea of Dread is most likely, given the minotaurs and the Greek-ish (Milenian) sounding names in the module.
[EDIT] Now that I think of it, though, somewhere in the region around Skothar (Minaea) might work as well, given the Milenian influence over there. Maybe Cathos city can be one of the Minaean cities? That might actually work out better, as one of the things so problematic about the TA setting (to me) was figuring out why a city and suburban dwellers wouldn't have had more of an impact on the region (which is generally considered "lost world" and low-tech).
The more I think of it, the more I like it. Cathos can be an island near Minaea, and Vacros can be as well? Most likely in the Minaean Straits between Skothar and Bellissaria somewhere, or perhaps slightly north, in the bay of Skothar.
That reminds me - wasn't Jagger von Drachenfels supposed to be Alphatian, despite his Hattian name?
The Hattian side of the Aalbanese comes from the Hattians that came to Glantri with the other Thyatians back c. 720 AC.
Though the Heldann Freeholds are now largely considered Hattian, bear in mind that this is a recent influence. The Hattians (Heldannic Knights) only took over the region around 50 years ago or thereabouts, prior to that, Heldann was very much a Nordic culture in the vein of the Northern Reaches territories, with nordic sounding names (for instance, Freiburg was called Haldisvall before the arrival of the Hattians).
I'd make Todstein a mixed Heldann/Alphatian colony, ruled by "pure" Alphatians (thus Meredoth's non-Heldannic name).
Meredoth's Domains of Dread entry notes that he was granted a barony in Norwold, so presumably he is from mainland Alphatia, thus his name.
He appeared in Ravenloft c. 635 BC (Barovian Calendar), which is about 120 years in RL's past (at least- I don't know what the current 3rd Edition RL date is). Time in RL is weird, though, so it's anyone's guess as to what year that would be in Mystara terms.
(My own theory, based on the idea that RL's timescale is consistent with the outer worlds, and the theory- I think originally suggested by James Mishler- that the Barovians are actually Traladarans, is that Meredoth crossed over in 900 AC, and the Strahd/Barovia/RL thing occurred originally in 616 AC Mystara time).
Todstein doesn't sound terribly Heldannic, though, but perhaps it could still be, as you suggest, a Hattian territory. There was a lot of back and forth between Thyatis and Alphatia over Norwold territories back in the day.
To further the supposition process, the DoD entry states that Meredoth moved onto (and claimed) Todstein as his own ("an island off the coast of his territory"), while allowing his retainers to care for and administer lands to his Alphatian subjects. If we presume that the island outside of Alpha is Todstein, then it stands to reason that Meredoth's colony was yet another attempt to resettle the Alpha region (attempted at least once before, in AC 15).
That could have subsequently led into Alphatia's continued attempts to settle Norwold (the armies led by the Alphatian overlord in CM3: Sabre River, as well as the most recent efforts with Ericall and Lernal the Swill).
Also of note, the island of Graben (formerly Nebligtode) and Knammen are two areas currently under Meredoth's jurisdiction. Given their names, they are probably islands created to house settlers of the region under his control... but again, they have Hattian sounding names.
[EDIT] Apparently, the domain (consisting of these three islands) was formerly known as Nebligtode, not the island of Graben itself. Now Meredoth's domain is the entire Sea of Sorrows.
Planescape: Farrow, a shadow elf spy, resides in Sigil, where he spies on every one of the factions there (he's described as having 15 personalities, one for each faction).
As a reverse connection, Factol Sarin of the Harmonium wears a Red Steel suit of plate armor.
Ravenloft: Meredoth, an Alphatian wizard, is currently trapped in the Demiplane of Dread, where he is the Dark Lord of the Nocturnal Sea.
This character can be easily used by setting the entire Ship of Horror module in Mystara. Just assume that Captain Garvyn is also a Mystaran (may be a Savage Coast privateer, for example, or a Vestland merchant/raider), and that Todstein and Graben are still off the Norwold coast.
Actually, it really doesn't matter much whether the adventure takes place in Mystara or in Ravenloft, since the PCs are basically forced to stay on the ship for most of the adventure.
[EDIT] Now that I think of it, though, somewhere in the region around Skothar (Minaea) might work as well, given the Milenian influence over there. Maybe Cathos city can be one of the Minaean cities? That might actually work out better, as one of the things so problematic about the TA setting (to me) was figuring out why a city and suburban dwellers wouldn't have had more of an impact on the region (which is generally considered "lost world" and low-tech).
The more I think of it, the more I like it. Cathos can be an island near Minaea, and Vacros can be as well? Most likely in the Minaean Straits between Skothar and Bellissaria somewhere, or perhaps slightly north, in the bay of Skothar.
Interesting. How much has been developed of this area? Would this suggest more Minotaur activity in that region? A separate minotaur civilization even?
Håvard
Meredoth's Domains of Dread entry notes that he was granted a barony in Norwold, so presumably he is from mainland Alphatia, thus his name.
Agreed. Meredoth is most likely an Alphatian.
He appeared in Ravenloft c. 635 BC (Barovian Calendar), which is about 120 years in RL's past (at least- I don't know what the current 3rd Edition RL date is). Time in RL is weird, though, so it's anyone's guess as to what year that would be in Mystara terms.
(My own theory, based on the idea that RL's timescale is consistent with the outer worlds, and the theory- I think originally suggested by James Mishler- that the Barovians are actually Traladarans, is that Meredoth crossed over in 900 AC, and the Strahd/Barovia/RL thing occurred originally in 616 AC Mystara time).
Todstein doesn't sound terribly Heldannic, though, but perhaps it could still be, as you suggest, a Hattian territory. There was a lot of back and forth between Thyatis and Alphatia over Norwold territories back in the day.
When I said Heldannic I meant like that of the Heldannic Knights ie Hattian, but when I think of it it seems more likely that these lands originally were settled/colonized by regular Hattians and later taken over by Alphatians.
To further the supposition process, the DoD entry states that Meredoth moved onto (and claimed) Todstein as his own ("an island off the coast of his territory"), while allowing his retainers to care for and administer lands to his Alphatian subjects. If we presume that the island outside of Alpha is Todstein, then it stands to reason that Meredoth's colony was yet another attempt to resettle the Alpha region (attempted at least once before, in AC 15).
That could have subsequently led into Alphatia's continued attempts to settle Norwold (the armies led by the Alphatian overlord in CM3: Sabre River, as well as the most recent efforts with Ericall and Lernal the Swill).
Also of note, the island of Graben (formerly Nebligtode) and Knammen are two areas currently under Meredoth's jurisdiction. Given their names, they are probably islands created to house settlers of the region under his control... but again, they have Hattian sounding names.
[EDIT] Apparently, the domain (consisting of these three islands) was formerly known as Nebligtode, not the island of Graben itself. Now Meredoth's domain is the entire Sea of Sorrows.
Are you suggesting Meredoth's original domain was the city of Alpha? If there was more that one island, are the others too small to appear on the map?
Håvard
As a reverse connection, Factol Sarin of the Harmonium wears a Red Steel suit of plate armor.
I think Planescape Red Steel is actually a form of metal from the Abyss or the Nine Hells, and not Savage Coast Red Steel. Don't recall exactly where I read this, though.
Interesting. How much has been developed of this area? Would this suggest more Minotaur activity in that region? A separate minotaur civilization even?
Not much has been developed, beyond what is in the module. The minotaurs are mentioned to have been brought from the far continents by the Vacrosians, and are currently all dead (having been trapped within the labyrinth of Vacros when the Cathosians destroyed that civilization several hundred years ago). The people of Vacros are said to worship Kiranjo the Minotaur, hence their ties to the minotaurs. Kiranjo might be another name for Gylgarid, or might be some other Immortal.
Are you suggesting Meredoth's original domain was the city of Alpha?
Possibly. We know that Alphatians have tried to settle in that region before (Cape Alpha- though canon is confusing on whether it was Alphatians or Thyatians who settled, and which of the two destroyed it; there are at least two conflicting accounts, IIRC).
Perhaps they attempted it again, with Meredoth. When Meredoth disappeared into the mists, the residents of Alpha may have not been pulled in- just the islanders- and they continued to settle the lands over the course of the next century.
If there was more that one island, are the others too small to appear on the map?
The islands look about the same size as Todstein, on the Domains of Dread map, but I just downloaded the Ship of Horrors module from WotC to check and see. It looks (at first glance) like the sizes of the islands in the module and in DoD have changed somewhat- Knammen, at least, looks larger in DoD than in SoH.
I think Planescape Red Steel is actually a form of metal from the Abyss or the Nine Hells, and not Savage Coast Red Steel. Don't recall exactly where I read this, though.
That would be Baatorian Green Steel. Red Steel is still from... Red Steel. ;)
I think Planescape Red Steel is actually a form of metal from the Abyss or the Nine Hells, and not Savage Coast Red Steel. Don't recall exactly where I read this, though.
Baatorian Greensteel is the Hellish alloy. Some have nominated "redsteel" as the equivalent Abyssal alloy, but that's not official (officially it's called Abyssal Bloodiron as of 3e, and it wasn't in 2nd edition at all), and anyway it's very unlikely that Sarin, a lawful good paladin and head of a faction that thinks of the Abyss as their oldest and greatest enemy, would wear Abyssal armor.
So it's probably safe to assume that Sarin does indeed have Savage Coast-style red steel armor.
it's very unlikely that Sarin, a lawful good paladin and head of a faction that thinks of the Abyss as their oldest and greatest enemy, would wear Abyssal armor.
Moreover, the Factol's Manifesto specifies that this particular Red Steel comes from a prime world.
Planescape:
A demon from the Planescape Setting appears in Dark Knight of Karameikos. He also refers to the Bloodwars.
Aerial Adventures
The Aerial Adventures series (Cant remember which d20 publisher) included the city of Sellayne. It was built by Sky Elves rather than Sky Gnomes, but it is close enough to Serraine to be worth mentioning.
Wilderlands of High Adventure
The wilderlands are connected to Blackmoor since they are linked by the Valley of the Ancients. This also, by default links the Wilderlands to Mystara's historical pasts. Some fan based material has also elaborated on this connection. Also IIRC the Wilderlands has Rakasta (or something similar).
ElfQuest
Cutter, Skywise and Leetah appear under different names in the Elves of Alfheim gazetteer. More ElfQuest influence can also be found in that book. Ilsundal's Great Quest might also be inspired by these graphic novels.
Averoigne/Cthulhu:
Nouvelle Averoigne is based on CA Smith's short stories. This also links Mystara to the Cthulhu mythos.
Håvard
Aerial Adventures
The Aerial Adventures series (Cant remember which d20 publisher) included the city of Sellayne. It was built by Sky Elves rather than Sky Gnomes, but it is close enough to Serraine to be worth mentioning.
Goodman Games is the publisher, but that's a good catch- I hadn't noticed that one.
Averoigne/Cthulhu:
Nouvelle Averoigne is based on CA Smith's short stories. This also links Mystara to the Cthulhu mythos.
Also, IIRC, the Masque of the Red Death setting is supposed to be the same world as the Averoigne/Cthulhu setting (it's the RW earth, in any case) and so there is one further connection there, and possibly with RL. (Not entirely sure how/if MotRD and RL are connected.)
Via the Cthulhu Mythos (and, in particular, the CAS stories) we have Mystara linkage to Hyborea/Hyperborea of the Conan cycle of stories by Howard and others, as well, and any linkages thus provided via those stories.
A few more:
Wilderlands of High Adventure
The wilderlands are connected to Blackmoor since they are linked by the Valley of the Ancients. This also, by default links the Wilderlands to Mystara's historical pasts. Some fan based material has also elaborated on this connection. Also IIRC the Wilderlands has Rakasta (or something similar).
Håvard
Isn't this one just that Blackmoor was placed in the setting of Judges Guild's Wilderlands, just like Blackmoor was placed in the setting Mystara's past? Just pointing out that if this is true, than you can argue that Greyhawk is linked to Mystara's historical past.
One more to add, the First Quest boxed set used Karameikos to set its adventures, and one of those adventures linked Mystara to the Spelljammer setting.
Isn't this one just that Blackmoor was placed in the setting of Judges Guild's Wilderlands, just like Blackmoor was placed in the setting Mystara's past? Just pointing out that if this is true, than you can argue that Greyhawk is linked to Mystara's historical past.
More and more I'm liking the idea that Blackmoor is one of those Moorcockian "Eternal Cities", like Tanelorn, and has iterations in every world somewhere.
Goodman Games is the publisher, but that's a good catch- I hadn't noticed that one.
Ah, thanks! I flipped through the supplement once, but it didnt look very interesting to me though.
Also, IIRC, the Masque of the Red Death setting is supposed to be the same world as the Averoigne/Cthulhu setting (it's the RW earth, in any case) and so there is one further connection there, and possibly with RL. (Not entirely sure how/if MotRD and RL are connected.).
MotRD lays within the Mists, but it is not connected to the other RL realms, at least not the way it was presented in the original version. It is based on 19th C earth and its Mythology/Horror. I didn't spot any Cthulhu references in it though.
Via the Cthulhu Mythos (and, in particular, the CAS stories) we have Mystara linkage to Hyborea/Hyperborea of the Conan cycle of stories by Howard and others, as well, and any linkages thus provided via those stories
Whew, this is getting messy ;)
Håvard
Isn't this one just that Blackmoor was placed in the setting of Judges Guild's Wilderlands, just like Blackmoor was placed in the setting Mystara's past? Just pointing out that if this is true, than you can argue that Greyhawk is linked to Mystara's historical past.
One more to add, the First Quest boxed set used Karameikos to set its adventures, and one of those adventures linked Mystara to the Spelljammer setting.
Yep, you are right. This can get astray. I'm still trying to get the WL to fit within Mystara at the time of Blackmoor though. Could be useful for developing the rest of Mystara in this period BC 4000-3000
Which FQ adventure linked Mystara and SJ? Tales of the Comet?
More and more I'm liking the idea that Blackmoor is one of those Moorcockian "Eternal Cities", like Tanelorn, and has iterations in every world somewhere.
Hmmm....
I have resisted this idea for a while, but I am starting to think that this isnt such a bad idea afterall....
Håvard
(My own theory, based on the idea that RL's timescale is consistent with the outer worlds, and the theory- I think originally suggested by James Mishler- that the Barovians are actually Traladarans, is that Meredoth crossed over in 900 AC, and the Strahd/Barovia/RL thing occurred originally in 616 AC Mystara time).
I've heard this theory before, and it just doesn't work. There is far too much known about Barovian culture and history that directly contradicts far too much of Mystaran culture/history that there's just no way this could work.
1. Language: The language of Barovia, balok, was well established before the domain entered the demiplane. There exists no such language on Mystara
2. Location: The adventure Roots of Evil has a present-day Prime Material version of Barovia, revealing the Barovia of the demiplane to be a facsimile of the real thing. There is no "Barovia" on Mystara
3. Religion: Roots of Evil has the high priestess referring to "gods" not Immortals. Also the former relgion of the sun god Andral. No such Immortal exists on Mystara.
4. Magic level: Forbidden Lore and I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire describe the death of Kir, high priest of Andral, who had to use a portion of his life force to create the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. While the Holy Symbol is certainly a powerful magic item, it would be child's play to create such a magic item on Mystara, and it certainly wouldn't require one's one life force.
5. History: Strahd's battle against the Tergs is well-known in both the Prime Material Barovia and the demiplane, as is his ancestor's struggles against the Neureni. Neither culture exists on Mystara, either on the surface or the Hollow World.
I could go on, but the point is, given the published facts about Barovia, there's simply no way it could plausibly be Mystaran in origin. You'd have to make up stuff and assume/presuppose things to make it work....i.e. you'd have to come up with a lot of ways to explain away the blatant contradictions in the published works of both settings.
Meredoth originally dwelled in Todstein, an island near Alphas. It is possible that he has returned to Mystara like Lord Soth managed to escape and return to Krynn. Is Todstein also the name of the original island. If so, was it originally settled by Hattians or Heldanners? What are Meredoth's plans now that he is back?
Merodoth is still in Ravenloft, the darklord of the Nocturnal Sea. Soth's escape was a fluke and tied to his personal history (i.e. accepting that the problems in his life were caused by his actions, and that he no longer wished to pursue the spirit of Kitiara--thus the Dark Powers lost interest in him, giving him the opportunity to escape).
Soth's escape was a fluke and tied to his personal history (i.e. accepting that the problems in his life were caused by his actions, and that he no longer wished to pursue the spirit of Kitiara--thus the Dark Powers lost interest in him, giving him the opportunity to escape).
Ah, but what of Vecna's escape? The "Serpent" might be willing to help yet another evil mage escape (but does Meredoth have to become a lich, then reborn first, just like the big V?)...
Ah, but what of Vecna's escape? The "Serpent" might be willing to help yet another evil mage escape (but does Meredoth have to become a lich, then reborn first, just like the big V?)...
Well, the Ravenloft Dungeon Master's Guide (3.5 ed.) states that Meredoth is still the darklord of the Nocturnal Sea.
As for Vecna, he was a demigod, and therefore not fully under the thumb of the Dark Powers. Technically, he shouldn't have been able to be captured by the Dark Powers in the first place, which is why he was able to escape (he tricked the demigod Iuz into entering the demiplane and absorbed his essence, becoming a lesser god, thereby making it impossible for the Dark Powers to imprison him any longer). And while its my opinion that only Vecna can hear "The Serpent," I suppose it's possible for someone else...but Meredoth isn't nearly close enough to Vecna's level to warrant the Serpent's attention...not even if he became a lich.
Aside from Vecna and Soth, which are both extraordinary circumstances, it should be nearly impossible for a darklord to escape Ravenloft once the Dark Powers have got their claws in them.
Merodoth is still in Ravenloft, the darklord of the Nocturnal Sea. Soth's escape was a fluke and tied to his personal history (i.e. accepting that the problems in his life were caused by his actions, and that he no longer wished to pursue the spirit of Kitiara--thus the Dark Powers lost interest in him, giving him the opportunity to escape).
The idea that Meredoth has returned to Mystara is not official. It is simply an idea that will allow us to make use of this Mystara-related character, even if we don't use the Ravenloft campaign. I am interested in good suggestions to how this would be possible like the ones presented by others above, but I am also interested in what consequences such a return would have.
This should also be expanded to the other characters mentioned in this thread, finding out how if ever they can make it home and what they will be up to once they get here.
Help bring our boys* back home to Mystara! :D
*And girls,l like Countess D'Ambreville and Alfhild the Norsewoman.
Håvard
The idea that Meredoth has returned to Mystara is not official. It is simply an idea that will allow us to make use of this Mystara-related character, even if we don't use the Ravenloft campaign. I am interested in good suggestions to how this would be possible like the ones presented by others above, but I am also interested in what consequences such a return would have.
This should also be expanded to the other characters mentioned in this thread, finding out how if ever they can make it home and what they will be up to once they get here.
Help bring our boys* back home to Mystara! :D
*And girls,l like Countess D'Ambreville and Alfhild the Norsewoman.
Håvard
Well, technically, Meredoth is *really* a Ravenloft character. His connection to Mystara was "tacked on" in Domains of Dread, published a whole 5 years after he first appeared in Ship of Horror.
In any event, it would take something truly extraordinary for him to return to Mystara. Escape from Ravenloft is difficult enough for non-darklords; for darklords it's virtually impossible. Meredoth is such an insular character that he probably wouldn't search for such an escape on his own...so it would probably take something cataclysmic to the demiplane, such as the Grand Conjunction, for him to leave.
In any event, it would take something truly extraordinary for him to return to Mystara. Escape from Ravenloft is difficult enough for non-darklords; for darklords it's virtually impossible. Meredoth is such an insular character that he probably wouldn't search for such an escape on his own...so it would probably take something cataclysmic to the demiplane, such as the Grand Conjunction, for him to leave.
How about it being the result of an unexpected side effect of the Radience changing into draining Entropy?
A similar idea struck me about Farrow. Farrow was bannished to another world by the Wizards of the School of Glantri. Who more likely (or able) to do that than Etienne D'Ambreville himself? What if Etienne's disappearance after WotI removed the spell preventing Farrow from returning? What would Farrow be up to once he gets back?
Håvard
Which FQ adventure linked Mystara and SJ? Tales of the Comet?
Håvard
Sorry I did not get back to you before. It is the First Quest box set, it was released back in the mid-90's as a kind of introduction to AD&D after they cancelled the D&D line and just as they were moving Mystara over to AD&D.
The First Quest box set had a stripped down set of rules for 2E, and the adventure book had four adventures set in Mystara. The third, Across Wildspace, has a spelljamming hammership land somewhere in Karameikos.
The idea that Meredoth has returned to Mystara is not official. It is simply an idea that will allow us to make use of this Mystara-related character, even if we don't use the Ravenloft campaign. I am interested in good suggestions to how this would be possible like the ones presented by others above, but I am also interested in what consequences such a return would have.
Håvard
We don't really need to worry about being consistent with Ravenloft. We could just stat out Meredoth on Mystara as he is in Domains of Dread and put him off the coast of Norworld. For those who want to have consistency with Ravenloft, he can be sucked into the mists on a particular year in the past or the future as needed, since time doesn't have to be the same between the campaign settings.
Merodoth is still in Ravenloft, the darklord of the Nocturnal Sea. Soth's escape was a fluke and tied to his personal history (i.e. accepting that the problems in his life were caused by his actions, and that he no longer wished to pursue the spirit of Kitiara--thus the Dark Powers lost interest in him, giving him the opportunity to escape).
I was planning on running X2 Castle Amber where the players are actually in Ravenloft and the mists part to reveal the foyer that stars the module.
Thus unofficially adding Entienne d'Amberville in the escaped Ravenloft column.
Hmm...although he couldn't be considered a darklord. Which d'Amberville would be considered a darklord based on what we know about the d'Amberville family?
Hmm...although he couldn't be considered a darklord. Which d'Amberville would be considered a darklord based on what we know about the d'Amberville family?
Henri, for sure. In fact, my theory is that when Castle Amber was pulled into the Mists initially, Henri (and possibly Catharine) was going to be the domain's darklord, but Etienne's curse obliterated him in transit, and thus the domain was left without a darklord (leading, perhaps, to the relative "ease" with which Castle Amber was able to be released from the hold of the dark powers).
Now that Henri is back, of course, it's possible the powers might have renewed their interest in him.