Need Some Info On Ravenloft's Nightmare Court and Their Minions

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

leliel

May 30, 2008 13:40:58
As it says on the tin, I am interested in the Nightmare Court getting "interested" in my PCs minds, but I have no info on them other than fanon, and that isn't exactly reliable.

The reason is, one of the BBEGs for an upcoming 4E campaign is an escaped denizen of Ravenloft (and not the good, too-heroic-for-the-Land-of-Mists kind, either;more like multiple failed dark powers checks, able-to-barely-outwit-the-DPs-and-exercising-freedom-liberally-if-you-know-what-I-mean kind), and as you can imagine, the Dark Powers are somwhat cheesed about this, and they've allowed the astrological phemnomenon that allowed him to escape to remain stable enough to the point that there are certain "effects" on the outside world-one of which is that the Nightmare Court now have the ability to influence the Material Plane (the point being to guilt him into coming back; despite being on his way to becoming a darklord, he has a fairly robust conscience underneath his dark exterior-indeed, his own particular curse is to be eternally reminded of the hero he once was, and how far he fell from that ideal).

So, what do I need to know about the Nightmare Court to make an effective story arc involving them?
#2

gotten

May 30, 2008 14:32:59
(Repost from the D&D general thread where you asked the same question)

You know, instead of getting a half-baked report with many key ingredients missing, why don't you buy the Nightmare Lands boxed set? You can get it in your hands within minutes if you buy the PDF from Paizo. The boxed set is pretty cool and will give you all the info you ask, plus ideas on Nightmare Land campaigns. I don't think it's very expensive either.

Joël
#3

highpriestmikhal

May 30, 2008 14:40:29
The Nightmare Court use dreaming minds as seeds to grow nightmares around a particular theme, chosen by the court member who is feeding off of the nightmare. If a dreamer can't resist their efforts, they suffer the effects of no sleep (no natural healing, arcane casters can't prepare spells, fatigue, etc.) and one point of Intelligence damage. You could make this just a Will save, but it's more fun to play it out. The dreams are shaped by the "theme" of the court member involved--dark things like betrayal, loss, hate, madness, terror, envy, fear, you name it.

As for the NC itself, it's best to keep them as vague as possible. They're the literal boogeymen that haunt sleepers. Putting a name and a face to them is only good if you plan on having the PCs fight them directly. Let the unknown and the players' imaginations do all the work.

And this isn't half-baked, okay? It's not even quarter-baked. This raw from my insane mind. ::mad cackle as men in white put him in a straitjacket::
#4

leliel

May 31, 2008 15:33:52
(Repost from the D&D general thread where you asked the same question)

You know, instead of getting a half-baked report with many key ingredients missing, why don't you buy the Nightmare Lands boxed set? You can get it in your hands within minutes if you buy the PDF from Paizo. The boxed set is pretty cool and will give you all the info you ask, plus ideas on Nightmare Land campaigns. I don't think it's very expensive either.

Joël

OK, just show (or PM) me a link, and I'll get it.
#5

highpriestmikhal

May 31, 2008 15:43:55
Here. And in deference to Joel, there really is way too much for a post to even scratch the surface. I just wish they'd given us an update on Dr. Illhousen; the last I heard he was trying to escape the NL with an orderly--who is also his lover and mother to his child. What kind of influence would that domain have on a non-Abber Nomad born there?
#6

gotten

May 31, 2008 22:57:53
Thanks for the link! I'm sure you will like this product as most people who read it do.