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Who's next?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Aug 08, 2006 14:48:34 If, for some strange reason, all the current darklords suddenly died (it would probably be Azalin's fault), who would take over? Just thought it would be fun to talk about. Here are my ideas of who would take who's place.

Strahd:Castle Ravenloft (as a phantasmagora)
Gabrielle:Mallochio
Alfred:Nathan
Dominic:The Brain
Hazlic:Elani
Jaqueline:Luise
#2
emjaysmash
Aug 09, 2006 18:27:18 This is going a little back, but i intkh it said in the Red Box setting (2nd Ed.) that if a Darklord was killed,the killer, or the next "most evil" person in the area would become the darklord.
#3
darkor
Aug 09, 2006 19:34:36 I think that Jaque would take the place of his mother, just to get on the nerve of huntie Louise. ^^
#4
cat_god
Aug 11, 2006 15:01:02 What about Inza Kulchevich (I know I didn't pell that right, I just don't want to check that)?

Who would take over there? And what about the domains where there's only one person, and that's the darklord? I believe the winding road was like that, with the headless horseman.
#5
Mortepierre
Aug 11, 2006 17:35:31
What about Inza Kulchevich (I know I didn't pell that right, I just don't want to check that)?

Well, she already took over.. from Soth :P
#6
rotipher
Aug 11, 2006 20:55:09
And what about the domains where there's only one person, and that's the darklord? I believe the winding road was like that, with the headless horseman.

They just vanish altogether. Pocket domains are temporary phenomena that virtually never outlive the lord they were created to house.
#7
emjaysmash
Aug 11, 2006 21:14:48
They just vanish altogether. Pocket domains are temporary phenomena that virtually never outlive the lord they were created to house.

So Could a Domain Vnaish from under a Darklords Feet? If so, How screwed would he be?
#8
rotipher
Aug 11, 2006 23:14:50 A pocket domain collapses after its darklord is slain, not before. Sometimes this ejects the lord's killer(s) into Ravenloft, other times into the Material Plane. Either way, the darklord is already toast when the realm disappears, so no, AFAWK a domain won't ever fall apart under the feet of its lord.
#9
cat_god
Aug 13, 2006 19:40:48
Well, she already took over.. from Soth :P

I actually meant who would take over after her, but then I realized that Azrael is still going around the domain.
#10
Mortepierre
Aug 14, 2006 2:24:50 Eh, in a sense, Azrael is already "enjoying" his future curse without even being a darklord yet. No one truly respects him as the boss, there are elves everywhere, and he can't find a single dwarf to torment :D
#11
ravenloftlover347
Aug 20, 2006 11:17:13 So if an evil character kills a darklord they become the new darklord? Yes, a new way to screw over the players of evil characters in my games!
#12
Mortepierre
Aug 20, 2006 17:39:04 Actually, that works only if their evil catches the interest of the DP. Small-time criminals don't make darklords. You've to be evil above and beyond others, sort of, to catch their eye and qualify.

Even if you do, there is a big chance the domain whose darklord you just killed won't stay "stable" when you take over. It could vanish, replaced utterly by something more fitting. It could "adapt" itself to you. Heck, it might even go POOF! and leave you stranded in the mists till the DP think of a suitable domain to make you suffer.
#13
zombiegleemax
Aug 20, 2006 23:53:35
So if an evil character kills a darklord they become the new darklord? Yes, a new way to screw over the players of evil characters in my games!

There seems to be a theme (though not always) to what makes someone become a darklord. Usually they betray a loved one or family for selfish gain, in a BIG WAY! (You know like murdering your brother on his wedding day to steal his would-be bride. Or killing your son to gain arcane power.) This is not a rule though so there are many other possibilities.

Actually, that works only if their evil catches the interest of the DP. Small-time criminals don't make darklords. You've to be evil above and beyond others, sort of, to catch their eye and qualify.

Even if you do, there is a big chance the domain whose darklord you just killed won't stay "stable" when you take over. It could vanish, replaced utterly by something more fitting. It could "adapt" itself to you. Heck, it might even go POOF! and leave you stranded in the mists till the DP think of a suitable domain to make you suffer.

A truly evil PC usually does a LOT more then just kill a Dark Lord. They usually deserve there own special little place. (At least everyone I played with in an evil campaign did!) :D
#14
keg_of_ale
Aug 29, 2006 15:18:42 Strahd: Lyssa von Zarovich or Leo Dilisnya
Azalin: Death or Lady Kassandra
Adam: Merilee or another evil science freak
Dominic: The Brain
Godefroy: Sithington or the next most evil ghost in the Gryphon Manor
Jacquie: some other Renier
Ivana/Ivan (good luck killing them both): Bevel Boritsi?
Vlad: Viggo Drakov
The three Hags: Blackroot, or possibly that fanatic inquisitor who's Wyan's second in command (what's his name?)
Gwydion: Loht
Gabrielle: Malocchio
Von Kharkov: Lady Adeline
Alfred: Mother Fury?
Malken: Gaston Larouche?
Hazlik: Eleni?
Inza: I see only Azrael, but somehow it seems to easy. Some evil wizard elf, maybe?
Harkon: ???
Tristen ApBlanc: ???
Van Riese: Extend the whole domain to Markov?
Meredoth: Hilde Borganov?
#15
ravenloftlover347
Aug 30, 2006 18:32:31
Azalin: Death or Lady Kassandra
QUOTE]

Azalin's replacement would most likely be Lady Kassandra unless Death somehow caused his demise. Of course, this is just my opinion since Death has his own domain.
#16
zombiegleemax
Aug 30, 2006 21:17:32
since Death has his own domain.

I haven't played Ravenloft very long, so please help me here. Where can I read up on this?
#17
Mortepierre
Aug 31, 2006 2:56:54 Ravenloft Gazetteer II (by Arthaus)

Actually, do yourself a favor and pick up the whole Gaz series while it lasts. Best in-depth description of RL ever.
#18
zombiegleemax
Aug 31, 2006 16:39:52 Thank You. I was able to get them all in a set from E-bay, but haven't had the chance to read them all yet. This helps, thank you!
#19
darkor
Sep 03, 2006 20:18:28
I haven't played Ravenloft very long, so please help me here. Where can I read up on this?

It was also in the RLPhB I think...
#20
humanbing
Sep 11, 2006 16:02:34 If Azalin died... wow, that would be quite a succession power struggle!

I think Kazandra is not actually the most powerful Kargat member. She's just the most visible one, as Azalin promoted her for her help during the Drowning Years. The GazII even states that she is relatively very young and inexperienced as far as Kargat heads go. Of course, if there is a more powerful Kargat leader than her, then the Ravenloft products don't mention them by name, so if one of them were to take the reins we'd be dealing with a formerly unknown entity. Ulrik von Kharkov definitely counted as evil enough or interesting enough for the Mists to give him his own domain.

Ebb and/or Gloom strike me as being pretty compelling darklords. Styrix also is a deeply evil creature and her harvesting of souls would be a good practical trait for any leader of an overpopulous country. Don't forget also that Darkon has plenty of nobles, any one of whom might have been carrying out atrocities in their own free time as a public service. Baron Metus, responsible for setting Van Richten off on his crusade, is one. Tower of Doom also deals with another baron guilty of causing much suffering and pain.
#21
rotipher
Sep 11, 2006 17:32:31 Remember that the last time Azalin went AWOL, Darkon was temporarily divvied up among a number of potential candidates for darklordship. Their species, background, and habits varied widely, although only Death managed to hold onto an actual domain of his own after the Big A's return.

My guess is that nobody in Darkon would have the combo of sheer power, profound evil, and indominable willpower needed to inherit the whole of the lich's overgrown kingdom. If Azalin buys it for good, Darkon's sure to splinter into multiple smaller domains, each congealing around a particularly-nasty individual from that corner of the realm. These heirs wouldn't actually have to be the same villains as the candidates from before, either; heck, if Bastion Raines is pursuing his crusade viciously enough by then, he'd probably make a better darklord for the Mistlands than that boring elf ghost!
#22
zombiegleemax
Sep 13, 2006 19:00:17
Baron Metus, responsible for setting Van Richten off on his crusade, is one.

Yeah, but he's been deader than fried chicken since "Bleak House."

I would agree with the "Darkon partitioned" theory, myself, if I thought that the domain would survive the ultimate demise of Azalin - which I think it actually probably would not, anyway. Darkon is too perfect a prison for Azalin: the largest on the Demiplane of Dread, but without a single way for him to get back to Oerth. I can't really see the Dark Powers having any use for it were Azalin to be permanently destroyed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 08, 2006 14:48:34	If, for some strange reason, all the current darklords suddenly died (it would probably be Azalin's fault), who would take over? Just thought it would be fun to talk about. Here are my ideas of who would take who's place. Strahd:Castle Ravenloft (as a phantasmagora) Gabrielle:Mallochio Alfred:Nathan Dominic:The Brain Hazlic:Elani Jaqueline:Luise
#2 emjaysmash Aug 09, 2006 18:27:18	This is going a little back, but i intkh it said in the Red Box setting (2nd Ed.) that if a Darklord was killed,the killer, or the next "most evil" person in the area would become the darklord.
#3 darkor Aug 09, 2006 19:34:36	I think that Jaque would take the place of his mother, just to get on the nerve of huntie Louise. ^^
#4 cat_god Aug 11, 2006 15:01:02	What about Inza Kulchevich (I know I didn't pell that right, I just don't want to check that)? Who would take over there? And what about the domains where there's only one person, and that's the darklord? I believe the winding road was like that, with the headless horseman.
#5 Mortepierre Aug 11, 2006 17:35:31	What about Inza Kulchevich (I know I didn't pell that right, I just don't want to check that)? Well, she already took over.. from Soth :P
#6 rotipher Aug 11, 2006 20:55:09	And what about the domains where there's only one person, and that's the darklord? I believe the winding road was like that, with the headless horseman. They just vanish altogether. Pocket domains are temporary phenomena that virtually never outlive the lord they were created to house.
#7 emjaysmash Aug 11, 2006 21:14:48	They just vanish altogether. Pocket domains are temporary phenomena that virtually never outlive the lord they were created to house. So Could a Domain Vnaish from under a Darklords Feet? If so, How screwed would he be?
#8 rotipher Aug 11, 2006 23:14:50	A pocket domain collapses after its darklord is slain, not before. Sometimes this ejects the lord's killer(s) into Ravenloft, other times into the Material Plane. Either way, the darklord is already toast when the realm disappears, so no, AFAWK a domain won't ever fall apart under the feet of its lord.
#9 cat_god Aug 13, 2006 19:40:48	Well, she already took over.. from Soth :P I actually meant who would take over after her, but then I realized that Azrael is still going around the domain.
#10 Mortepierre Aug 14, 2006 2:24:50	Eh, in a sense, Azrael is already "enjoying" his future curse without even being a darklord yet. No one truly respects him as the boss, there are elves everywhere, and he can't find a single dwarf to torment :D
#11 ravenloftlover347 Aug 20, 2006 11:17:13	So if an evil character kills a darklord they become the new darklord? Yes, a new way to screw over the players of evil characters in my games!
#12 Mortepierre Aug 20, 2006 17:39:04	Actually, that works only if their evil catches the interest of the DP. Small-time criminals don't make darklords. You've to be evil above and beyond others, sort of, to catch their eye and qualify. Even if you do, there is a big chance the domain whose darklord you just killed won't stay "stable" when you take over. It could vanish, replaced utterly by something more fitting. It could "adapt" itself to you. Heck, it might even go POOF! and leave you stranded in the mists till the DP think of a suitable domain to make you suffer.
#13 zombiegleemax Aug 20, 2006 23:53:35	So if an evil character kills a darklord they become the new darklord? Yes, a new way to screw over the players of evil characters in my games! There seems to be a theme (though not always) to what makes someone become a darklord. Usually they betray a loved one or family for selfish gain, in a BIG WAY! (You know like murdering your brother on his wedding day to steal his would-be bride. Or killing your son to gain arcane power.) This is not a rule though so there are many other possibilities. Actually, that works only if their evil catches the interest of the DP. Small-time criminals don't make darklords. You've to be evil above and beyond others, sort of, to catch their eye and qualify. Even if you do, there is a big chance the domain whose darklord you just killed won't stay "stable" when you take over. It could vanish, replaced utterly by something more fitting. It could "adapt" itself to you. Heck, it might even go POOF! and leave you stranded in the mists till the DP think of a suitable domain to make you suffer. A truly evil PC usually does a LOT more then just kill a Dark Lord. They usually deserve there own special little place. (At least everyone I played with in an evil campaign did!) :D
#14 keg_of_ale Aug 29, 2006 15:18:42	Strahd: Lyssa von Zarovich or Leo Dilisnya Azalin: Death or Lady Kassandra Adam: Merilee or another evil science freak Dominic: The Brain Godefroy: Sithington or the next most evil ghost in the Gryphon Manor Jacquie: some other Renier Ivana/Ivan (good luck killing them both): Bevel Boritsi? Vlad: Viggo Drakov The three Hags: Blackroot, or possibly that fanatic inquisitor who's Wyan's second in command (what's his name?) Gwydion: Loht Gabrielle: Malocchio Von Kharkov: Lady Adeline Alfred: Mother Fury? Malken: Gaston Larouche? Hazlik: Eleni? Inza: I see only Azrael, but somehow it seems to easy. Some evil wizard elf, maybe? Harkon: ??? Tristen ApBlanc: ??? Van Riese: Extend the whole domain to Markov? Meredoth: Hilde Borganov?
#15 ravenloftlover347 Aug 30, 2006 18:32:31	Azalin: Death or Lady Kassandra QUOTE] Azalin's replacement would most likely be Lady Kassandra unless Death somehow caused his demise. Of course, this is just my opinion since Death has his own domain.
#16 zombiegleemax Aug 30, 2006 21:17:32	since Death has his own domain. I haven't played Ravenloft very long, so please help me here. Where can I read up on this?
#17 Mortepierre Aug 31, 2006 2:56:54	Ravenloft Gazetteer II (by Arthaus) Actually, do yourself a favor and pick up the whole Gaz series while it lasts. Best in-depth description of RL ever.
#18 zombiegleemax Aug 31, 2006 16:39:52	Thank You. I was able to get them all in a set from E-bay, but haven't had the chance to read them all yet. This helps, thank you!
#19 darkor Sep 03, 2006 20:18:28	I haven't played Ravenloft very long, so please help me here. Where can I read up on this? It was also in the RLPhB I think...
#20 humanbing Sep 11, 2006 16:02:34	If Azalin died... wow, that would be quite a succession power struggle! I think Kazandra is not actually the most powerful Kargat member. She's just the most visible one, as Azalin promoted her for her help during the Drowning Years. The GazII even states that she is relatively very young and inexperienced as far as Kargat heads go. Of course, if there is a more powerful Kargat leader than her, then the Ravenloft products don't mention them by name, so if one of them were to take the reins we'd be dealing with a formerly unknown entity. Ulrik von Kharkov definitely counted as evil enough or interesting enough for the Mists to give him his own domain. Ebb and/or Gloom strike me as being pretty compelling darklords. Styrix also is a deeply evil creature and her harvesting of souls would be a good practical trait for any leader of an overpopulous country. Don't forget also that Darkon has plenty of nobles, any one of whom might have been carrying out atrocities in their own free time as a public service. Baron Metus, responsible for setting Van Richten off on his crusade, is one. Tower of Doom also deals with another baron guilty of causing much suffering and pain.
#21 rotipher Sep 11, 2006 17:32:31	Remember that the last time Azalin went AWOL, Darkon was temporarily divvied up among a number of potential candidates for darklordship. Their species, background, and habits varied widely, although only Death managed to hold onto an actual domain of his own after the Big A's return. My guess is that nobody in Darkon would have the combo of sheer power, profound evil, and indominable willpower needed to inherit the whole of the lich's overgrown kingdom. If Azalin buys it for good, Darkon's sure to splinter into multiple smaller domains, each congealing around a particularly-nasty individual from that corner of the realm. These heirs wouldn't actually have to be the same villains as the candidates from before, either; heck, if Bastion Raines is pursuing his crusade viciously enough by then, he'd probably make a better darklord for the Mistlands than that boring elf ghost!
#22 zombiegleemax Sep 13, 2006 19:00:17	Baron Metus, responsible for setting Van Richten off on his crusade, is one. Yeah, but he's been deader than fried chicken since "Bleak House." I would agree with the "Darkon partitioned" theory, myself, if I thought that the domain would survive the ultimate demise of Azalin - which I think it actually probably would not, anyway. Darkon is too perfect a prison for Azalin: the largest on the Demiplane of Dread, but without a single way for him to get back to Oerth. I can't really see the Dark Powers having any use for it were Azalin to be permanently destroyed.