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Bluetspur

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
curtisin
Mar 04, 2006 10:21:23 I just picked up the Lords of Madness sourcebooks, which has got me hooked on using aberrations in my Ravenloft Campaign... Seeing that there's already a domain, where the PCs could easily encounter these (and using the one of the Mistways (I think it's from Hazlik) they could easily get there).
However, the actual knowledge I have of that domain is limited as to what's in the Ravenloft Players Handbook, and I haven't been able to find any of the old sourcebooks to lay my grubby hands on, so I'm kinda stymied.
Could someone enlighten me as to who/what the Darklord is, and what the history/current clack/anything else interesting inside that domain is?

Your help is much appreciated.
#2
The_Jester
Mar 04, 2006 11:34:35 Both Karatakass, Barovia and Hazlin could all have connections to Bluetspur and Mind Flayers/aberrations in their borders. Before the Grand Conjunction when some lands were moved about Bluetspur bordered both (and Barovia).
All three are detailed and fully described in Gazetteer I.

Hazlan itself is ruled by Hazlik, a Red Wizard of Thay who was pulled from the Forgotten Realms setting. You can use the prestige class in the DMG or stick with a specialist wizard if you wish to stat him yourself.

The domain itself struggles under a race-based class system and it is one of the few places magic is openly taught (after a reversal of law, it used to be banned).
For some adventure hooks check out the this list offered by the Fraternity of Shadows:
clicky
#3
curtisin
Mar 05, 2006 2:27:50 Thanks for the answer Jester, but I'm well aware of the story of Hazlan/Hazlik as I have the Gazeteer Vol. I (I have all 5 of them as a matter of fact).

What I really need is some information on Bluetspur itself... I already know how to get my players to enter it, but some description of landmarks and such is what I need.
#4
Mortepierre
Mar 05, 2006 16:43:09 Well, you'll find most info on that domain in either

http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/rv/rv-domain.htm

or

http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/rv/rv-rq2.htm

both of which are available as low-cost pdf download from a variety of websites (RPGNow, etc..)
#5
thanael
Mar 06, 2006 7:17:30 Here's what the Ravenloft Catalogue on kargatane.com has on Bluetspur:

Domain: Bluetspur
Show me records related to "Bluetspur"

Main Sources: Ravenloft Third Edition, Domains of Dread, Thoughts of Darkness

Description:
Secrets of the Dread Realms - p7
Ravenloft Third Edition - pp13,17,110,166-167
Domains of Dread - pp84-85
Ravenloft Campaign Setting: Domains and Denizens - pp34-35
Thoughts of Darkness - throughout
Realm of Terror - pp65-66

Maps:
Ravenloft Third Edition - p167
Domains of Dread - p84
Ravenloft Campaign Setting - poster map
Thoughts of Darkness - inner back cover
Realm of Terror - poster map

See also:
Island of Terror (Domain)
Ruled by the Illithid God-Brain (NPC)
Part of the Core before the Grand Conjunction (Event)
#6
thanael
Mar 06, 2006 7:20:45 There's are one or two nice article on the Illithid Godbrain and on using psionics in the netbooks. Best ask at the Fraternity boards: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

Or check out the index to fan material/netbooks here: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Mausoleum/Ravenloft_fanstuff.doc
#7
humanbing
Mar 07, 2006 20:55:58 To try to give some direct help to the starter of the thread, here's a brief run up of what I remember from 2nd ed. Bluetspur:

Since the Grand Conjunction it's been a separate Island of Terror. The designers thought the terrain and climate were so alien they didn't belong in the Core.

The domain has no sun or moon. What light there is is provided entirely by the neverending lightning storms that punctuate the night.

The lord is the Illithid God-brain, which lives in a briny pool underground in the caverns of Bluetspur. Its psionic powers are strong enough so that it can touch the minds of anybody in the domain, and a low psionic buzz proves distracting to psionic wanderers.

The illithids of Bluetspur need human brains to reproduce. They capture humans and immobilize them, then chew through their skulls and deposit eggs in their forebrains. The illithid hatchling comes out and consumes the brain before becoming aware.

The adventure Thoughts of Darkness introduced several interesting characters, including Bonespur, a high-level bounty hunter who rode a nightmare; Lyssa von Zarovich, the great-niece of Strahd and a vampire old beyond her years; and The High Master Illithid, which dared to attempt to usurp the God-brain's power.

Also, the adventure maintained that drow elves could be found there, although the designers eliminated Arak (a 2nd edition drow domain) so it's up to you whether to call them drow or shadow elves.
#8
curtisin
Mar 11, 2006 14:54:32 Thanks HumanBing.. This is exactly what I needed....

(On a side note: You guys should have seen the faces on my players when they started "hearing voices"... They are pretty close to figuring out that it's a mind flayer that's messing with them and I'm very much looking forward to them realising it... Especially the Cleric who's convinced himself that he's hearing the voice of his deity)
#9
thanael
Mar 12, 2006 12:34:14 Do you know the great netbook articles on the Godbrain and on playing psions in RL ?
#10
curtisin
Mar 13, 2006 1:50:37 No, I'm afraid I don't know those... Where can I find them?
#11
thanael
Mar 13, 2006 3:46:49 Here's are all the references to psionics and the Godbrain from the list of ravenloft fanmaterial that i linked to above:

Book of Sacrifes (2001) llithid God-Brain - God Brain, Darklord (Bluetspur)

Book of Souls (1997) Realms Beyond - pscionisist, psionics

Quoth the Raven #6 Psionics Archetypes (Minds in the Mists)

The Undead Sea Scrolls 2002 Psionics In Ravenloft - A guide for DMs who wish to incorporate psions and psionic-users in their games...with a bonus inclusion of a psionic-using Illithid, completely adaptable for The Land of Mists.

Book of Secrets (1999) Inesko Krolov - psioniscist 14th level, NE, body thief

Book of Souls (1997) Into the Mists - PC class: Grave robber, Somniomancer (psionic), Storyteller (bard), Vampire slayer, Were-wizard, Wich Hunter, Jinx'd

I'd check out at least the first 4 of them. All the netbooks are available at the Fraternity Site in the Library: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Main_Page.html
#12
The_Jester
Mar 13, 2006 10:40:23 The Book of S___ series is only really availible on the Kargatane website.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 curtisin Mar 04, 2006 10:21:23	I just picked up the Lords of Madness sourcebooks, which has got me hooked on using aberrations in my Ravenloft Campaign... Seeing that there's already a domain, where the PCs could easily encounter these (and using the one of the Mistways (I think it's from Hazlik) they could easily get there). However, the actual knowledge I have of that domain is limited as to what's in the Ravenloft Players Handbook, and I haven't been able to find any of the old sourcebooks to lay my grubby hands on, so I'm kinda stymied. Could someone enlighten me as to who/what the Darklord is, and what the history/current clack/anything else interesting inside that domain is? Your help is much appreciated.
#2 The_Jester Mar 04, 2006 11:34:35	Both Karatakass, Barovia and Hazlin could all have connections to Bluetspur and Mind Flayers/aberrations in their borders. Before the Grand Conjunction when some lands were moved about Bluetspur bordered both (and Barovia). All three are detailed and fully described in Gazetteer I. Hazlan itself is ruled by Hazlik, a Red Wizard of Thay who was pulled from the Forgotten Realms setting. You can use the prestige class in the DMG or stick with a specialist wizard if you wish to stat him yourself. The domain itself struggles under a race-based class system and it is one of the few places magic is openly taught (after a reversal of law, it used to be banned). For some adventure hooks check out the this list offered by the Fraternity of Shadows: clicky
#3 curtisin Mar 05, 2006 2:27:50	Thanks for the answer Jester, but I'm well aware of the story of Hazlan/Hazlik as I have the Gazeteer Vol. I (I have all 5 of them as a matter of fact). What I really need is some information on Bluetspur itself... I already know how to get my players to enter it, but some description of landmarks and such is what I need.
#4 Mortepierre Mar 05, 2006 16:43:09	Well, you'll find most info on that domain in either http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/rv/rv-domain.htm or http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/rv/rv-rq2.htm both of which are available as low-cost pdf download from a variety of websites (RPGNow, etc..)
#5 thanael Mar 06, 2006 7:17:30	Here's what the Ravenloft Catalogue on kargatane.com has on Bluetspur: Domain: Bluetspur Show me records related to "Bluetspur" Main Sources: Ravenloft Third Edition, Domains of Dread, Thoughts of Darkness Description: Secrets of the Dread Realms - p7 Ravenloft Third Edition - pp13,17,110,166-167 Domains of Dread - pp84-85 Ravenloft Campaign Setting: Domains and Denizens - pp34-35 Thoughts of Darkness - throughout Realm of Terror - pp65-66 Maps: Ravenloft Third Edition - p167 Domains of Dread - p84 Ravenloft Campaign Setting - poster map Thoughts of Darkness - inner back cover Realm of Terror - poster map See also: Island of Terror (Domain) Ruled by the Illithid God-Brain (NPC) Part of the Core before the Grand Conjunction (Event)
#6 thanael Mar 06, 2006 7:20:45	There's are one or two nice article on the Illithid Godbrain and on using psionics in the netbooks. Best ask at the Fraternity boards: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1 Or check out the index to fan material/netbooks here: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Mausoleum/Ravenloft_fanstuff.doc
#7 humanbing Mar 07, 2006 20:55:58	To try to give some direct help to the starter of the thread, here's a brief run up of what I remember from 2nd ed. Bluetspur: Since the Grand Conjunction it's been a separate Island of Terror. The designers thought the terrain and climate were so alien they didn't belong in the Core. The domain has no sun or moon. What light there is is provided entirely by the neverending lightning storms that punctuate the night. The lord is the Illithid God-brain, which lives in a briny pool underground in the caverns of Bluetspur. Its psionic powers are strong enough so that it can touch the minds of anybody in the domain, and a low psionic buzz proves distracting to psionic wanderers. The illithids of Bluetspur need human brains to reproduce. They capture humans and immobilize them, then chew through their skulls and deposit eggs in their forebrains. The illithid hatchling comes out and consumes the brain before becoming aware. The adventure Thoughts of Darkness introduced several interesting characters, including Bonespur, a high-level bounty hunter who rode a nightmare; Lyssa von Zarovich, the great-niece of Strahd and a vampire old beyond her years; and The High Master Illithid, which dared to attempt to usurp the God-brain's power. Also, the adventure maintained that drow elves could be found there, although the designers eliminated Arak (a 2nd edition drow domain) so it's up to you whether to call them drow or shadow elves.
#8 curtisin Mar 11, 2006 14:54:32	Thanks HumanBing.. This is exactly what I needed.... (On a side note: You guys should have seen the faces on my players when they started "hearing voices"... They are pretty close to figuring out that it's a mind flayer that's messing with them and I'm very much looking forward to them realising it... Especially the Cleric who's convinced himself that he's hearing the voice of his deity)
#9 thanael Mar 12, 2006 12:34:14	Do you know the great netbook articles on the Godbrain and on playing psions in RL ?
#10 curtisin Mar 13, 2006 1:50:37	No, I'm afraid I don't know those... Where can I find them?
#11 thanael Mar 13, 2006 3:46:49	Here's are all the references to psionics and the Godbrain from the list of ravenloft fanmaterial that i linked to above: Book of Sacrifes (2001) llithid God-Brain - God Brain, Darklord (Bluetspur) Book of Souls (1997) Realms Beyond - pscionisist, psionics Quoth the Raven #6 Psionics Archetypes (Minds in the Mists) The Undead Sea Scrolls 2002 Psionics In Ravenloft - A guide for DMs who wish to incorporate psions and psionic-users in their games...with a bonus inclusion of a psionic-using Illithid, completely adaptable for The Land of Mists. Book of Secrets (1999) Inesko Krolov - psioniscist 14th level, NE, body thief Book of Souls (1997) Into the Mists - PC class: Grave robber, Somniomancer (psionic), Storyteller (bard), Vampire slayer, Were-wizard, Wich Hunter, Jinx'd I'd check out at least the first 4 of them. All the netbooks are available at the Fraternity Site in the Library: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Main_Page.html
#12 The_Jester Mar 13, 2006 10:40:23	The Book of S___ series is only really availible on the Kargatane website.