Planescape and the Demiplane of Dread...

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 1:22:11
Just curious, but how would you treat this mysteryious(And downright scary, even compared to the lower planes) place in a Planescape campaign?
#2

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 1:38:01
Its a Demiplane. It floats through the Ethereal, a horrible rumor like the Flying utchman or other such phantoms. Its tendrils seem to be only able to grasp those on planes connected to the Ethereal, but exception may always occur.

Hm, do you think Ravenloft might somehow engulf one of the Mazes and their occupants if it was a person deserving of being misted?
#3

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 1:48:22
It could, but the dark powers only know who falls under that catagory.

I read once that Ravenloft once sent its tendrils into the Grey Waste and abducted a particuly nasty Night Hag, meaning that Ravenloft could send its influence pretty much everywhere, maybe even Sigil(The Lady better start behaving herself)

On a personal note Primus, what do you and your Modrons make of the Demiplane of Dread?
#4

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 2:15:35
... Demiplane 10010011101; AKA Ravenloft, the Demiplane of Dread...

A unique demiplane, 10010011101 is mobile, traversing the ethereal plane. The demiplane appears to travel about at the whim of mysterious entities referred to by natives as 'The Dark Powers'. Their control of the demiplane seems to rival that of powers in their realms. The exact nature of the Dark Powers is unknown.

10010011101's creator is unknown and it has seemingly existed for eons. Stable portals to the demiplane are rare and no permanent portals are catalogued. For a record of known planar gateways into 10010011101 please refer to the Index of Planar Portals. In any case, there is one known way of enterring the Demiplane.

One odd trait of 10010011101 is the "Mist". This fog separates the interior of the demiplane into realms. It also moves seemingly at the whim of the Dark Powers, engulfing realms, expanding others. These mists can extend outwards from 10010011101 onto other planes, drawing beings into the plane with no way of escaping. The mists seem to target those of extreme evil, creating entire realms for such beings. For some reason the demiplane seems to create elaborate setups for such beings, either in an attempt to teach them a lesson about their evil, or merely to mock them.

-----

Agents have been completely unable to record the exact planar effects within the demiplane. Due to its propensity for drawin in 'Evil' beings, creatures of pure Law have difficulty enterring the realm. 10010011101 has been deemed an anomolous demiplane, interesting, but unimportant in the grand scheme, and no threat to our stability.
#5

jasperdm

Jan 08, 2004 4:56:43
Speaking as a Cager caught by the place, Dread is a fine example of the prejudice of Primes. Even when sucked into a place where they have been breeding like cranium rats so long by all accounts they are Planars, they continue to consider anything from outside their tiny perspectives like a monster.

I am Seth Marik, namer of the Dustmen faction, and prisoner of this place. I am a mortif, a mostly-human descendant removed by several generations from an undead ancestor. The paintings and sketches you often see of the Dustman with the long ears, dark eyes and black, wiry hair askew in every direction? I posed for those.

I was working for the Mortuary, carting unburnable bodies to the plane of Ooze to be dissolved, when on my return trip through the Ethereal, I was distracted by a slight change in the pearlesent nature of the misty Ethereal...I thought I had found a border to Water, as the mists that envelopped me were foggy, cold and wet...before I knew it, I was lost in them, ad then, I arrived on solid ground...in the domain I now know as Ravenloft.

It is a pocket dimension, connected to several others by this Mist, and is saturated with negative energy, so much so that I can barely breathe sometimes. As a student of necromancy before becoming a namer, and my faith in the True Death sustaining me, I've been cataloguing this place...and I find it to be a horrid mirror of the Prime to match any Lower Planar trap. I am almost convinced that the place somehow borders a layer of the Abyss, but I'm utterly unable to guess how.

More later, my purchased spell is fading. Tell the factol I'm still seeking the Way. May our faction never waver.
#6

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 14:42:31
Someone once had a theory that Ravenloft was in reality an even more evil place than the Lower Planes(imagine that)

Nevertheless, its not a place I'd want to go(especially since it makes Carceri look easy to escape from by comparision)
#7

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 08, 2004 15:04:27
Indeed it's a specialized, roaming Ethereal Demiplane. It was mentioned in the Planescape 'Guide to the Ethereal'.

While it can only send the mists out to snatch those where the ethereal plane touches, I'm not aware that the dark powers have ever snagged anyone from the inner planes. It seems pretty specific for going after people on the prime material plane.

While the general idea seems to be that it only snags those of utterly evil nature like Azalin, Vecna, Strahd, etc. it can and has numerous times snagged actual fiends when they were present on the prime when the Demiplane of Dread wandered close to that world. Ravenloft cannot snag fiends, or anyone else for that matter, no matter how evil, from the outer planes or Sigil, period.

There's an Arcanaloth named Inajira trapped in Ravenloft that came to blows with both Azalin and Strahd and nearly took down Strahd. He's so dreamy. *acts like a girl in the late 80's/early 90's going gaga over NKOTB*
#8

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 21:59:05
But in Raveloft Monstrious Compendium Volume 2, it mentions that Azalin used his magic to summon a Night Hag directly into Ravenloft to help him find a way to escape. If Ravenloft can't touch anything not connected to the Ethereal Plane, than how did he accomplish that?
#9

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 08, 2004 22:21:15
That was Azalin's doing and not the mists I would presume. Did it mention if the Hag stayed in RL after the summoning? I don't know how summon spells work in the demiplane of dread. Theoretically I'd guess you can summon beings there for a short period, but they'd need to be willing to be bodily called there by a gate spell, maybe unless you forced it by having their true name or some such link to them.

*pondering*

Inajira the Arcanaloth went there on purpose to take revenge on Strahd who had screwed over the 'loth on a deal he'd made while still mortal.
#10

zombiegleemax

Jan 08, 2004 23:25:06
Normally, the Hag would have been returned to the Grey Waste, but remember, in Ravenloft, you can't leave once you get in.

Azalin orginally summoned the Hag in hopes that she could assist him in finding a way out of Ravenloft, but he lost interest after awile. What puzzles me is how the summon actually worked, since the Ethereal does not connect to the Outer Planes, and as such an Outer Planar summon spell should not have been able to work in the first place....

Meanwhile, the Night Hag(Now obsessed with leaving the demiplane) created a machine capable of actually leaving Ravenloft(Its a powerful artifact). It never said if it worked or not, but left that up to whatever DM choose to use the material.
#11

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 08, 2004 23:47:27
Probably just a fudging of the rules to make for a fun metaplot. *chuckle*

It was interesting to see how different fiends trapped in RL adapted to it. Some treated it as a personal kingdom and tied themselves to the land for increased power. Others like Inajira refused to tie themselves to the plane even at the expense of personal power and became hellbent on escaping.
#12

zombiegleemax

Jan 09, 2004 5:46:52
Originally posted by Sword_Of_Geddon
Normally, the Hag would have been returned to the Grey Waste, but remember, in Ravenloft, you can't leave once you get in.

Azalin orginally summoned the Hag in hopes that she could assist him in finding a way out of Ravenloft, but he lost interest after awile. What puzzles me is how the summon actually worked, since the Ethereal does not connect to the Outer Planes, and as such an Outer Planar summon spell should not have been able to work in the first place....

Meanwhile, the Night Hag(Now obsessed with leaving the demiplane) created a machine capable of actually leaving Ravenloft(Its a powerful artifact). It never said if it worked or not, but left that up to whatever DM choose to use the material.

The Rift Spanner would work, Styrix just has never had the oppurtunity to charge it fully.
#13

ashramry

Jan 09, 2004 16:19:52
personally i would have the location in the etheral of this demiplane be fairly common knowledge.......but its true nature has been mistaken for the demiplane of imprisonment (which i think should be far harder to find) simply b/c those that enter scarecly (if ever) leave.
also, i would nix the death pact of any dustmen who found there way there......

ashy
#14

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 09, 2004 17:19:44
*ponder* Oh now thats interesting, revoking the Dead Truce for any dustie that gets trapped there.

I like that.
#15

zombiegleemax

Jan 09, 2004 20:10:10
Summon spells work surprisingly better in Ravenloft than in other places. But their are a few(Very strange) quirks like any other plane.

First off, when one attempts to summon Elementals(Not sure about Para or Quasi Elementals) theres a 25% chance that the Elemental summoned will be of the Ravenloft variety.

As such, summoning a Water Elemental will end up summoning a Blood Elemental(yuck), a Grave Elemental will show up instead of an Earth Elemental, a Pyre Elemental will pop up instead of a Fire Elemental, and a Mist Elemental will show up instead of an Air Elemental.

These "Ravenloftamentals" are creatures from strange minor demiplanes connected to Ravenloft, possibly from small areas of the inner Planes engulfed and altered by the mists of Ravenloft.

Secondly, all summoned creatures, whether Elementals or Natives of the Outer or Prime Planes( I believe the 3rd edition term is "Outsider"), will find themselves trapped permanently inside the Demiplane. This, as you can imagine, makes Summoners one of the most risky professions inside Ravenloft(Its risky pretty much everywhere else as well)

On a complete unrelated note: I'd imagine that Ravenloft would cause a great many Dustmen to leave the faction.(THIS IS WHAT TRUE DEATH REALLY IS? YOU CAN COUNT ME OUT!!) Not only does the Demi-Plane nullify there abilities, but Undead live(or Unlive if you will) an EVEN more tortured existence than in other places. Not only that, but the place seems to have a sheer variety of Undead types(Elemental Liches, Penniligans, and the disgusting Boneless) not found in other places.

Makes you wonder if the Abyss is really so bad doesn't it?
#16

zombiegleemax

Jan 09, 2004 23:15:53
What if Ravenloft was a special 'Maze" created by The Lady?
#17

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 09, 2004 23:20:58
Doesn't fit her style, and I'd hate to define the Dark Powers. Even if that definition was to assign their creation or identity to a known yet utterly mysterious being such as Her Serenity.

Nor do I know enough about RL to make much speculation. ;)
#18

zombiegleemax

Jan 09, 2004 23:29:43
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
Doesn't fit her style, and I'd hate to define the Dark Powers. Even if that definition was to assign their creation or identity to a known yet utterly mysterious being such as Her Serenity.

Nor do I know enough about RL to make much speculation. ;)

From what I remember No one really knows how old it is. Yes Strahd wen there after he killed everyone in his castle but some claim there were other realms before Strahds.

If..I repeat if, She did for some strange reason create RL as a maze It may have gotten away from her or was intended for whoever the dark powers are. But somehow they learned to control it.

Just a theory anyway....really though who knows what she has doen in the past...
#19

zombiegleemax

Jan 11, 2004 12:26:34
I don't think that Ravenloft is a creation of the Lady. Strahd was the first Darklord, anything that is contrary is pure false history created by the Dark Powers. Strahd did nothing to anger the Lady, nor has he ever been to the Planes, let alone Sigil.

Fact is we will never know "why" the Demiplane of Dread exists or what the Dark Powers are. They're powerful enough to trap minor Gods (Gwidyon and Vecna are proof of this) but nothing more powerful.
#20

sildatorak

Jan 11, 2004 12:43:11
Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn
Strahd was the first Darklord, anything that is contrary is pure false history created by the Dark Powers. Strahd did nothing to anger the Lady, nor has he ever been to the Planes, let alone Sigil.

Yep, but if the Lady created Ravenloft, she probably did so as a maze for the Dark Powers rather than as any of the Darklords. I don't think she did, but if she did that's how it would have gone down.
#21

zombiegleemax

Jan 11, 2004 12:51:54
I doubt that as well. Her Serenity's mazes are practically impossible to break the fabric of, plus the DP regularly trap people from other worlds, meaning there would have to be a way out, and if they knew there was a way out, they'd take it rather than pull other people in. Remember, other people have escaped, most notibly Lord Soth and Vecna.
#22

zombiegleemax

Jan 11, 2004 13:03:03
Ravenloft is my specialty and has been ever since I6-Ravenloft (the original module) first came out...

1. A creature can be summoned to Ravenloft via spell... Once the creature is summoned, it is trapped in Ravenloft... Please refer to the VanRichten Monster Hunter Compendiums on Fiends... It will let you know what is going on... Also, refer to both the PHB and DMG for the Ravenloft Campaign setting and you will find that summoning spells do work and the summoned creatures will be trapped on the demiplane of Ravenloft itself...

2. The Lady Of Pain cannot be snagged by the "tendrils" of Ravenloft... She is to powerful... To wit, Vecna was entrapped on Ravenloft as a demi-god a short period of time until he had tricked Iuz, killed him (temporarily), assumed his portofolio in essence becoming a lesser god, and then forcing Ravenloft to eject him... Ravenloft has its limits and from this here alone shows it is not that powerful to keep a lesser god within its confines....
#23

bob_the_efreet

Jan 11, 2004 13:38:10
As for Vecna's escape, anyone with a divine rank of 6 or higher cannot be ensnared by the mists. This gives the implication that if the Dark Powers are ... well ... powers, they probably have a DR of 5 or 6.
#24

ashramry

Jan 11, 2004 13:56:15
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
Nor do I know enough about RL to make much speculation. ;)

well a fun idea (though there is no real substantiating evidence) is that the dark powers are nothing more than a group of Signers who have totally gone evil or nuts.
just a thought anyway.

ashy
#25

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 12, 2004 0:22:08
*grin* An evil, insane Signer is about as bad as a high level Illusionist on LSD. Not only does he see things, so will you. ;)
#26

zombiegleemax

Jan 12, 2004 2:34:07
As for Vecna's escape, anyone with a divine rank of 6 or higher cannot be ensnared by the mists. This gives the implication that if the Dark Powers are ... well ... powers, they probably have a DR of 5 or 6.

If you say so....
#27

zombiegleemax

Jan 12, 2004 3:27:42
Originally posted by Kewlmarine32
To wit, Vecna was entrapped on Ravenloft as a demi-god a short period of time until he had tricked Iuz, killed him (temporarily), assumed his portofolio in essence becoming a lesser god, and then forcing Ravenloft to eject him... Ravenloft has its limits and from this here alone shows it is not that powerful to keep a lesser god within its confines....

You are speaking of Die, Vecna, Die! module. Vecna did not become a lesser god by subsuming Iuz. He was specifically stated as a greater god in the module.

It is true that D&DG listed him as a lesser god, but this is likely to be (at least partly) due to the escape of Iuz at the end of the module.
#28

zombiegleemax

Jan 12, 2004 6:26:53
My policy on gods is that they are severly diminished in power when away from their normal plane and crystal sphere of influence.

still a power but not as powerful. gods who cross into other gods areas will not have as much clout, even if the god that controls that area is of lesser divine rank.

Gods respect each others territory most of the time, even if they are enemies.

think if Lolth went to dark sun setting...... she would still be a god and powerful but even the lesser gods of the world would be able to push her around, its their territory and she has no power over their crystal shere, in effect she would just be a very powerful outsider come to visit.
#29

zombiegleemax

Jan 12, 2004 12:04:48
So I can garner from the above responses that

1. The Demiplane of Dread has no impact on the Multiverse at large, but is merely a "minor" annoyance to be avoided by Planehoppers and Etherealists alike

2. Two, the Lady of Pain and other natives of the Great Ring have nothing to fear from Ravenloft's mists, despite rare occurances of Outer Planar beings like Night Hags getting summoned there.

Conclusion: Basically, Ravenloft is the "Bermuda Triangle" of the Planes. It has no impact on the rest of the Multiverse, and is not a threat to any Outer Planar being. Dread will just have to be excepted as a phanominon of the Planes.

For any unfortunate berks trapped with Strahd, Azrael, Angapot, and the rest of those friendly Domain Lords, well basically, it sucks to be you.
#30

bob_the_efreet

Jan 12, 2004 15:43:01
Originally posted by Kewlmarine32
If you say so....

I got the information on divine escape from Azalin, the official answer guy for 3.0 Ravenloft. The implication on divine rank of the Dark Powers was my own speculation, based on the above fact, of what their divine rank would be if the were powers (which they may or may not be). Also, if you'd like to refute my statements, 'if you say so' isn't considered a very stable argument.
#31

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 1:56:05
You are speaking of Die, Vecna, Die! module. Vecna did not become a lesser god by subsuming Iuz. He was specifically stated as a greater god in the module.

It is true that D&DG listed him as a lesser god, but this is likely to be (at least partly) due to the escape of Iuz at the end of the module.

I apologize, what I meant to say was that he was a Greater God after assuming the portfolio of Iuz after temporarily slaying him in the module you named so well... After forcing Ravenloft to eject him and his summary dismissal in Sigil, Iuz came back therefore sapping Vecna of his newfound power... Irregardless of the events, Vecna is still onehell of a nasty foe to deal with....
#32

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 1:59:42
I got the information on divine escape from Azalin, the official answer guy for 3.0 Ravenloft. The implication on divine rank of the Dark Powers was my own speculation, based on the above fact, of what their divine rank would be if the were powers (which they may or may not be). Also, if you'd like to refute my statements, 'if you say so' isn't considered a very stable argument.

I do not speculate on what others post... It either is or it is not... As you well stated, you speculated and as far as am concerned, it does not mean anything to me...

When it comes to rules, I prefer to stick with what is in the books and not mere speculation...

Sorry you took offense to the "If you say so" comment... I was not trying to be rude or abrupt...
#33

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 3:57:16
Originally posted by Bob the Efreet
As for Vecna's escape, anyone with a divine rank of 6 or higher cannot be ensnared by the mists. This gives the implication that if the Dark Powers are ... well ... powers, they probably have a DR of 5 or 6.

As stated earlier, Vecna was a greater god when he left Ravenloft. So the hypothesis should be that any one with divine rank 16+ cannot be ensnared by the mists. IIRC, in 2E original box set, it was said that Odin (greater god) could come and free the berserkers summoned by a horn of vahalla (sp?).
#34

tec-goblin

Jan 13, 2004 4:03:27
Well, I've posted it again, but I'll say you one of my ideas. The similarity of the Mazes and RL domains is very interesting. LoP is mysterious, unknown and traps all these, but most people think she behaves a bit differently than the Dark Powers.
So, I've compromised the two beliefs in my campaigns: LoP is the Avatar of Mists and AO combined. Mists and AO are the ultimate forces (but very very different indeed) and they created LoP to keep the gods in check.
So, LoP is half-dark powers - she doesn't create domains except from the mazes, which are, by many means domains (different from the rest, though)
#35

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 8:25:42
I really don't think that the Lady has any connection to Ao at all. Ao's only influence extends over the crystal sphere of Toril. If you want proof to back that up, read the end of the third book of the Avatar Trilogy, Waterdeep. In addition, the book tells that Ao answers to a power even higher than himself.

Her Serenity's influence and purpose seems to be only over Sigil, not over anything else. That could make her like the Dark Powers, but otherwise, I seriously doubt there's any connection at all. If someone took some very wild steps and used some minute details, he might be able to argue that the Demiplane of Dread was once a Maze that somehow became converted, but that's by far a long shot.

Either way, I am pretty sure Her Serenity has no connection to anything but Sigil. No Ao, no Dark Powers.

Ao's not the overpower of the entire Multiverse. He's just the overpower of one crystal sphere. His influence doesn't really extend beyond Toril.
#36

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 9:33:34
Ah, but Ao does have influence outside Toril.

In addition to being the overpower of Toril, Ao is also the overpower of DRAGONKIND!

On one world, theres a chain of islands governed by dragons called "Ao's Blood Isles".

So basically, Ao is just alittle bit stronger than most people think..

As for a connection with the Lady of Pain or Ravenloft, I think not.
.........................................................................................................

It is possible that Ravenloft was orginally a Maze, but there are a few points against that.

1. Ravenloft looks and feels like a Prime World, and doesn't have any Maze-like qualities.

2. Unlike a Maze, Ravenloft is infused with evil, and theres no exit.

But who knows, maybe at the very heart of the Demi-Plane, a maze exists that once imprisioned someone for offending the Lady of Pain.
#37

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 11:54:17
Are you sure you're not mistaking Ao for Io? There is a dragon deity named Io. At any rate, I'd be interested to know where you found this information about the islands.
#38

sildatorak

Jan 13, 2004 12:46:47
I believe that the Blood Isles are Io's Blood Isles and are from the Council of the Wyrms campaign setting. I could be mistaken, though.
#39

kuje31

Jan 13, 2004 12:48:54
Originally posted by Sword_Of_Geddon
Ah, but Ao does have influence outside Toril.

In addition to being the overpower of Toril, Ao is also the overpower of DRAGONKIND!

On one world, theres a chain of islands governed by dragons called "Ao's Blood Isles".

No he doesn't actually. IO, which is a seperate being, rules over the dragons and the Blood Isles.

AO only rules over the crystal sphere of Realmspace.
#40

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 13, 2004 13:05:52
There's been some hints of The Lady outside of Sigil actually. No reasons or explanations given, but inside a hollow cube in Acheron there were two seperate artifacts (generic sense of the word) with disturbing ties to her. A bladed staff of seemingly ancient age that could not be removed or safely touched without drawing a crackle of lightning, and a ruby with an stylized image of The Lady's face like a sunburst or rays of light rather than metal.

All that came from the module 'Doors of the Unknown'. *grin* One of my favorites precisely because of those unresolved questions it supplied.


And Io and Ao are two totally seperate beings. Ao is the overpower of Toril/Realmspace and has no influence outside of that world and its pantheon of deities (as they relate to that world), while Io is the deity of dragonkind. No connection whatsoever.
#41

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 14:13:50
Now that you mention it, there's also a strong theory of connection between Her Serenity and the Bladelings of Ocanthus. I'm not up to date on my bladeling lore, but I seem to remember they have some legends or other about a woman with bladed hair. Of course, coming from a bladeling, that could be most anyone in their race.
#42

ashramry

Jan 13, 2004 15:40:22
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
There's been some hints of The Lady outside of Sigil actually. No reasons or explanations given, but inside a hollow cube in Acheron there were two seperate artifacts (generic sense of the word) with disturbing ties to her. A bladed staff of seemingly ancient age that could not be removed or safely touched without drawing a crackle of lightning, and a ruby with an stylized image of The Lady's face like a sunburst or rays of light rather than metal.

All that came from the module 'Doors of the Unknown'. *grin* One of my favorites precisely because of those unresolved questions it supplied.



there is also a race that seem very Dabus-like living in the etheral or somewhere (dont have my books anywhere near at hand....) as i recall they float like the dabus and speak in visual written words, much like the dabus speak in visual rebus.

ashy
#43

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 15:49:47
There is also another odd tie to the Lady in "Doors to the Unknown." The beings of Logicus, a Prime World with an extremely lawful bent, have a healthy respect for the Lady. In fact, be greeting them with "I bring greetings fromt he Lady, she hopes the system fares well" you're guide ingratiates himself to the beings. Also, the creatures that tend the Logicus Prime unit appear to be cyborg dabus who float utilizing jet packs (as do all Logicus Units) and use mathematical rhebus symbols.
#44

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 13, 2004 17:44:00
Originally posted by ashramry
there is also a race that seem very Dabus-like living in the etheral or somewhere (dont have my books anywhere near at hand....) as i recall they float like the dabus and speak in visual written words, much like the dabus speak in visual rebus.

I believe that was the Phirblas. It's tempting to think that they're somehow descended from the Dabus, or that some of them were taken and altered by The Lady to become the dabus is the utterly bygone past of the planes. However aside from the odd physical appearances, there's nothing to tie them both together. The Phirblas are mostly ignorant of much outside of their demiplane, and seem to know nothing of what a dabus is. The Dabus for their part only say that Sigil itself birthed them.

Even so, its a tempting idea.
#45

zombiegleemax

Jan 13, 2004 21:04:43
So Io and Ao are two different Gods? Or are they three?
I seem to recall an Io in the Greek Pantheon somewhere.
.........................................................................................................

The situation here has certainly proved amusing to say the least.
I guess talking about the Demiplane of Dread would logically evolve into a discussion on Demi-Planes and the Lady of Pain, as they are interelated topics.

My take: Perhaps the Lady of Pain created the Bladelings as an experiment(Perhaps as a prelude to Sigil and the Dabus), and she ruled them for awile before going off to construct Sigil. Or maybe there happened to be a Bladeling Queen at one point who resembled the Lady of Pain(Imagine someone like that walking into Sigil).

Hmm, Sign of All, methinks yon Rilmani knows something about Her Serenity. Care to elabarate? Is the Lady of Pain, like Primus, a supreme ruler, only with the Rilmain instead of the Modrons?
#46

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 13, 2004 21:36:27
The overbalanced one gets ahead of himself. There's no link known between the Rilmani and Her Serenity, just that the Rilmani are TN and most people assume that The Lady is as well. Aside from (possible) alignment compatability, there's really no known links.

I know my darks, believe me. And if the Rilmani care to raise the issue with me well they can just march into Sigil and tell it to my face. Not that the metallic berks would ever dare to get within a mile of me. *arrogant preen while admiring own reflection*

;)

As far as the bladelings, it's again just speculation but fun speculation. The Bladelings worship both their the protective veil around their city of Zoronar and an unknown and unnamed deity that they refuse to discuss with non bladelings. It's possible that there's some connection there, but otherwise no real evidence.

Just ask my own personal Bladeling on a leash, Adamok Ebon. She does errands for me on occasion and I find her quite good at what she does. She doesn't seem to have any special feelings regarding Sigil or The Lady, so I don't think there's any connection there. If there was I'd have wormed it out of the girl by now.
#47

zombiegleemax

Jan 14, 2004 11:28:23
So Io and Ao are two different Gods? Or are they three?
I seem to recall an Io in the Greek Pantheon somewhere.

I think the Greek/Roman Io was a Titan rather than a deity. Could be wrong on that, though.

Hmm, Sign of All, methinks yon Rilmani knows something about Her Serenity. Care to elabarate? Is the Lady of Pain, like Primus, a supreme ruler, only with the Rilmain instead of the Modrons?

That's Center of All, if you please. And I'm the supreme ruler of the Rilmani. The Lady...well, let's say She and I have an understanding. But I will not elaborate more than that. What the Aurumachs and myself know about Her Serenity is something we keep about as secret as my existence in-game.

Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
The overbalanced one gets ahead of himself. There's no link known between the Rilmani and Her Serenity, just that the Rilmani are TN and most people assume that The Lady is as well. Aside from (possible) alignment compatability, there's really no known links.

That is unfortunately very true. But, there's nothing to prove that Center of All exists either, except for a few vague mentions. One thing can be said, though. The Rilmani are about as mysterious as the Lady is. How much do people really know about us? We uphold the balance and we have different shades of metal on our skin. That is about it. People haven't even been able to definitively say if we can actually use our magical powers at the base of the Spire.

I know my darks, believe me. And if the Rilmani care to raise the issue with me well they can just march into Sigil and tell it to my face. Not that the metallic berks would ever dare to get within a mile of me. *arrogant preen while admiring own reflection*

*grins evilly* You know exactly what we want you to know, and nothing more. Besides, we're already much, much closer to you than you suspect. We're everywhere, my dear yugoloth.

As far as the bladelings, it's again just speculation but fun speculation. The Bladelings worship both their the protective veil around their city of Zoronar and an unknown and unnamed deity that they refuse to discuss with non bladelings. It's possible that there's some connection there, but otherwise no real evidence.

Just ask my own personal Bladeling on a leash, Adamok Ebon. She does errands for me on occasion and I find her quite good at what she does. She doesn't seem to have any special feelings regarding Sigil or The Lady, so I don't think there's any connection there. If there was I'd have wormed it out of the girl by now.

I seem to remember a story somewhere. I can't remember where exactly. It might've been on the Mimir, but I think I read about it on the boards here. The story involved the Bladelings and mentioned a queen of theirs whose description was very strikingly similar to the Lady's.
#48

zombiegleemax

Jan 14, 2004 11:59:10
Well Center of All, if you are so mysterious, what can you tell me of beings possibly even more mysteryious: The Keepers?
#49

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 14, 2004 12:29:27
Search the boards for that word, somewhere on a thread I wrote up a pretty comprehensive history of The Keepers.
#50

zombiegleemax

Jan 14, 2004 13:42:52
I also wrote a quick story about a place in Pelion (I believe it was Pelion: I should check), where an isolated tribe of bladelings (ignorant to the existence of the other bladelings in Acheron) dwell. They dwell in a field of blades, petrified weapons some of a size so massive that gods probably couldn't retrieve them from the ground. The bladelings said that their Queen/Goddess dwelt atop the mightiest of the blades, one so massive that it's top had never been seen. And that she would lead them from their into Paradise, her bladed hair shining in the hot sun of Pelion.

Note: The thing itself wasn't written as well as I think it should be. I may redo it, making it better and all that.
#51

sildatorak

Jan 15, 2004 13:31:46
Originally posted by Sword_Of_Geddon
So Io and Ao are two different Gods? Or are they three?
I seem to recall an Io in the Greek Pantheon somewhere.

I think that there is an Eo/Io/Ao or something who is goddess of the dawn in the Greek/Roman pantheon, but that's just off the top of my bonebox.
#52

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 0:14:28
[i]
The Bladelings worship both their the protective veil around their city of Zoronar and an unknown and unnamed deity that they refuse to discuss with non bladelings.
[/b]

I believe that the protective veil around Zoronar is known as the Blood Forest. The Blood Forest itself, covered in embedded spines, invokes images of The Lady. The city is also circular in sharp, if I recall, just like Sigil.

Does anyone know about Bladelings in Sigil itself. After the Faction War, there has been a large number of Bladelings that have come to the City of Doors. The Foundry which was abandoned by the Godsmen after the war, is know inhabited by Bladelings who have rekindled its fires. Are there any other Bladelings groups that call Sigil home? One of my PC’s wishes to play a Bladeling and I am trying to collect as much info on these cutters as possible.

#53

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 0:20:21
Originally posted by Primus, the One and Prime
I also wrote a quick story about a place in Pelion (I believe it was Pelion: I should check), where an isolated tribe of bladelings (ignorant to the existence of the other bladelings in Acheron) dwell.

I would be interested in seeing this story Primus. I would love to incorporate it into my campaign. :D
#54

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 1:15:02
Originally posted by Sinker
Does anyone know about Bladelings in Sigil itself. After the Faction War, there has been a large number of Bladelings that have come to the City of Doors. The Foundry which was abandoned by the Godsmen after the war, is know inhabited by Bladelings who have rekindled its fires. Are there any other Bladelings groups that call Sigil home? One of my PC’s wishes to play a Bladeling and I am trying to collect as much info on these cutters as possible.

Well there's that clan of them operating the Foundry as you mention, and there's others wandering around the city doing their own thing but they're few and far between. Adamok Ebon is the most (ie. only) noted one and she's solitary to the point of being anti-social. She hunts things for Shemuszanthuszemus of 'Parts and Pieces' a body parts store, and she takes cutters willing to pay for her services on guided expeditions to the Beastlands to observe wildlife. However she refuses to allow them to hunt. She only hunts on her own, by herself as a sort of religious devotion (She's a cleric among other things). If they try and kill anything themselves she simply abandons them and returns to Sigil.

Ebon is also permenantly on call by myself as a 'fixer of problems'. *cough*Assassin*cough* She's rather good at what she does, and I think there's some mutual respect between the two of us.

Otherwise there's really no other concentrations of Bladelings in Sigil, they're pretty damn rare.
#55

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 1:38:45
Originally posted by Sinker
I believe that the protective veil around Zoronar is known as the Blood Forest. The Blood Forest itself, covered in embedded spines, invokes images of The Lady. The city is also circular in sharp, if I recall, just like Sigil.

Hmm, going back to look up the information the Bladelings worship the Blood Forest as Hriste, the Gray Whisper. Supposedly it has the power of a lesser deity. Their religion calls for frequent sacrifices (usually non Bladelings) to Hriste by impaling the victims on spikes of black Ocanthan ice.

The Blood Forest itself is spherical and there's no indication that Zoronar itself has any relation or appearance with Sigil. Aside the exterior of the Blood Forest being studded and pierced with shards of black ice and iron which could in some way be seen as appearing like The Lady's blades, any connection is a bit of a stretch. But speculation is where the fun starts...

There's also no mention of their deities besides Hriste, just 'unknown gods' that they worship in a vaguely druidic religion.

I've read other things but I'm fairly sure at this point that its bleedover from stuff that was on Mimir, and while interesting wasn't from the original source material.

And on other thing I noticed as I was reading, the 2nd layer of Acheron, Thuldanin... Rust Dragons, Bladelings, and other Acheron natives are immune to petrification. But also immune are Yugoloths, no reason given. That's just wierd. The only thing that springs to mind is that somehow it's connected to the 'loths vague connection to the Styx and that somehow they can tap that to protect themselves from the petrification attempt since either the source or the end of the Styx is personified by Ocanthus. This is a damn big stretch though, and I'm just trying to rationalize that glaring bit of wierdness with the petrification immunity... any other ideas?
#56

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 1:46:06
As a note, during events known as 'conjunctions,' the Demiplane of Dread intersects with other planes, even outer planes. During the Grand Conjunction, the domain of Dementlieu briefly intersected with Baator, drawing a pair of fiends, an amnizu and a barbazu, into that domain (as detailed in the supplement Chilling Tales).

Further, the Zarovan tribe of the Vistani can travel between the Demiplane of Dread and Sigil for brief periods of time, as seen in Van Richten's Guide to the Vistani.

Chris Nichols
#57

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 2:09:47
A saw that, however it doesn't fit with the planar dynamics of Ravenloft being a Demiplane. It's stuck in the ethereal...

Also, Vistani or not, you don't get into Sigil unless you're allowed.

I think this is a case of two campaign settings' designers not talking to each other as much as they should.
#58

bob_the_efreet

Jan 16, 2004 4:18:55
You may only get into Sigil if allowed to, but isn't anyone allowed into Sigil unless specifically banned for some reason (i.e. divinity)?
#59

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 10:50:58
Ok maybe you can settle a dispute here. A friend of mine claimes Ravenloft (barovia in particular) was part of faerun. Any truth to this?
#60

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 11:09:47
Well it was implied that they could travel back and forth between Ravenloft and other planes, a scene of Sigil was used as one of those random places in an IC scene from Von Richten's diary. I don't have a problem with their being portals from Sigil to Ravenloft, but it suggested that they could just flit in and out between the two places at whim which is a big no no.
#61

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 11:16:25
Originally posted by Plunderer_of_the_planes
Ok maybe you can settle a dispute here. A friend of mine claimes Ravenloft (barovia in particular) was part of faerun. Any truth to this?

First lets preface this with the fact that I am not, nor will I ever likely be, a Ravenloft loremaster. I know the planes, or hope that I do, and I haven't read a ton in depth to any of the other 2e settings such as RL or DarkSun. (though I've been trying to catch up on them recently)

Barovia to my knowledge was never given a specific prime world as its source, but nothing in it fits with Faerun's history or geography.

You could always ask Strahd himself or better yet Inajira I'm sure that dreamy 'loth would be happy to tell you some darks of the demiplane if only you'd sign his little book *grin*

However, that said, there's a number of people from Faerun who get snared by the Demiplane of Dread. There's one domain lord who was a Thayan Red Wizard, and Jander Sunstar was Faerunian as well IIRC.

My feeling is that your friend is blowing smoke on Barovia being part of Faerun. ;)

All them uppity FR fans *smirk full of Planescape snobbery*
#62

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 15:26:58
I think you are right. And even though I'm an uppity FR fan (and Planescpe fan etc etc) I never was much on RL until recently and thats just the 2e version not the 3e one.

That said I never really thought RL was part of FR to begin with....

Anyway thanks Shem, and BTW is that a new outfit?
#63

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 16:48:29
Thanks Shemeska, you've been most helpful.

Also, is there anywhere that I can find out the dark about this Adamok Ebon? I mean, all of it.
#64

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 16:54:16
Originally posted by Sinker
Thanks Shemeska, you've been most helpful.

Also, is there anywhere that I can find out the dark about this Adamok Ebon? I mean, all of it.

"You're welcome, and Edamok Ebon has a few pages devoted to her along with a picture by Tony DiTerlizzi in 'Uncaged: Faces of Sigil'. Wonderful book, so long as you ignore them listing my gender incorrectly."

(thats right, get all of the crossdressing Arcanaloth jokes out of your systems. Worst typo ever. *laugh*)

"Now, if you'll pardon me, I have to bask in adoration and flaunt myself."

*turns*

"Why yes, it is new. Do you like it? etc etc..." :D
#65

zombiegleemax

Jan 16, 2004 16:58:53
Originally posted by Plunderer_of_the_planes
Ok maybe you can settle a dispute here. A friend of mine claimes Ravenloft (barovia in particular) was part of faerun. Any truth to this?

Your friend is wrong. Barovia comes from an undisclosed prime world. Nova Vaasa, Hazlan, Kartakass, I'Cath and Valachan all have Realmsian roots though.
#66

xanxost_the_slaadi_dup

Jan 16, 2004 18:28:34
Aren't all Yugoloths technically hermaphrodites anyway?

*grin*
#67

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 16, 2004 19:01:30
Originally posted by Xanxost the Slaadi
Aren't all Yugoloths technically hermaphrodites anyway?

*grin*

*blush* "Lies, all lies I tell you. Not that I'll be showing off to a Green Slaad anytime soon."

*emphatic motions and gestures to obviously feminine traits to prove this point that can't be said or explained on the non 'mature' boards*
#68

tec-goblin

Jan 17, 2004 4:56:07
Originally posted by Sword_Of_Geddon

1. Ravenloft looks and feels like a Prime World, and doesn't have any Maze-like qualities.

2. Unlike a Maze, Ravenloft is infused with evil, and theres no exit.

But who knows, maybe at the very heart of the Demi-Plane, a maze exists that once imprisioned someone for offending the Lady of Pain.

Ravenloft has exits (but not for darklords) - they are just hard to find.
The whole Weekend in Hell concept is based on the fact that Ravenloft has some exits
#69

tec-goblin

Jan 17, 2004 5:01:19
Originally posted by ashramry
there is also a race that seem very Dabus-like living in the etheral or somewhere (dont have my books anywhere near at hand....) as i recall they float like the dabus and speak in visual written words, much like the dabus speak in visual rebus.

ashy

Don't forget the Ethergaunrs - they don't speak in rebus, but they speak with motions of their tendrils. They are mysterious, they make no sound and live in Ethereal. They also despise gods. See Fiend Folio
#70

zombiegleemax

Jan 17, 2004 8:41:46
Originally posted by tec-goblin
Don't forget the Ethergaunrs - they don't speak in rebus, but they speak with motions of their tendrils. They are mysterious, they make no sound and live in Ethereal. They also despise gods. See Fiend Folio

Just exactly how are the Ethergaunts likes the Dabus? The race mentioned by Ashramy is very close to the Dabus. The ethergaunts are more like a Gith offshoot than anything else. Sorry but I just don't see a relation to the Dabus there.
#71

sildatorak

Jan 17, 2004 10:58:14
Yeah, the Phirblas are extremely daubus like. My DM showed me the picture out of whatever MC it was and other than the skin tone it took me a second to nail what was wrong (the picture has him saying something like "Who is this Lady of Pain?" and it's in script rather than rhebus).
#72

zombiegleemax

Jan 17, 2004 23:55:28
Speaking of the dabus, is there a 3E writeup for them? Not looking for stats, necessarily, I'm just curious if WotC has published anything at all that talks about the dabus.
#73

zombiegleemax

Jan 18, 2004 8:33:07
I am pretty shore that there is an portal exiting Ravensloft at the centre of a maze on the Isle of Demise, the top most location in Lamordia. Are there any others?
#74

zombiegleemax

Jan 18, 2004 10:02:35
Originally posted by Center of All
Speaking of the dabus, is there a 3E writeup for them? Not looking for stats, necessarily, I'm just curious if WotC has published anything at all that talks about the dabus.

Not that I am aware of. I own most of the 3e books and there is nothing on them. Maybe the new Planewalkers handbook coming out will have them in it.
#75

zombiegleemax

Jan 18, 2004 20:03:08
Originally posted by Sinker
I am pretty shore that there is an portal exiting Ravensloft at the centre of a maze on the Isle of Demise, the top most location in Lamordia. Are there any others?

Close. The portal you're thinking of is actually on the Isle of Agony, another island in the Lamordian archipelago known as the Finger, which also contains Demise. Called the Portal of Fear, this exit from the Demiplane of Dread exists in a strange dimensional pocket within the Demiplane, which can only be reached by travelling through the lair of Mordenheim's monster, the darklord Adam, as well as the underwater tunnels connecting the lair with the surface. Further, the Portal of Fear is guarded by a zombie golem. Of course, you also have to ask yourself - do you ready want to jump into a portal that's a mist-filled, bottomless open grave?

Demise, by the way, and the labyrinth found there, is a small domain belonging to the darklord Althea, a medusa.

Chris Nichols
#76

bonemage

Jan 19, 2004 11:27:25
I just read through this thread today and decided to make a speculation on one comment I saw and answer the question about there being a great figure named Io not Eo or Ao. So anyway here they are.


Two, the Lady of Pain and other natives of the Great Ring have nothing to fear from Ravenloft's mists, despite rare occurances of Outer Planar beings like Night Hags getting summoned there.

Could these things be summoned from the prime material plane or ethreal? Afterall many creatures travel the planes or get summoned to various places.

I think that there is an Eo/Io/Ao or something who is goddess of the dawn in the Greek/Roman pantheon, but that's just off the top of my bonebox.

In some various tales Io is a preistess of Hera who Zues first cheats on Hera by having Io against her will while he was in the form of a bull. In some variations of the tale however it is Hera who turns Io into a hefer to prevent this attack by Zues but he appears to her as a cow and it happens anyway.

In another tale after this previous events Hera sends a stinging gadfly that almost drives this poor young women insane to punish her for what Zues did. Both gods seem very indifferent to the suffering they caused this young women as Zues fails to protect her and Hera punishes her for something she had no power to prevent.
#77

zombiegleemax

Jan 20, 2004 10:19:13
Originally posted by CNichols
Demise, by the way, and the labyrinth found there, is a small domain belonging to the darklord Althea, a medusa.

For some reason i thought that it was at the centre of Althea's labyrinth.

But is there any other portals that can lead one off the Demiplane. One of my PC's thought that there may have been one in the Shadow Rift.
#78

zombiegleemax

Jan 20, 2004 11:02:19
Its almost like the demiplane enjoys tormenting people trapped inside with possible escape routes, by putting them in impossible to reach locations!
#79

bob_the_efreet

Jan 20, 2004 18:02:46
Originally posted by Sinker
One of my PCs thought that there may have been one in the Shadow Rift.

There is. It's through the Obsidion Gate, and leads to the (demi)plane of shadow. Unfortunately, it also contains Gwydion, who, as far as I can tell, is some kind of überfiend.
#80

zombiegleemax

Jan 21, 2004 10:59:04
I've always assumed that, though Ravenloft is a demiplane in that it is a plane that is found in the Ethereal, it is really something unique: You are never safe from it :D Tendrils of the Mists can reach anywhere... And so do the Zarovan.
#81

bonemage

Jan 21, 2004 11:23:39
Nope when it originally grabbed Vecca he was using an avatar on the prime material plane. When he was just out there sitting on the Plane of Ash the Mists couldn't grab him but since he was channeling so much power through his avatar and getting a little greedy they nabbed him.
#82

zombiegleemax

Jan 21, 2004 11:50:59
Originally posted by Bonemage
Nope when it originally grabbed Vecca he was using an avatar on the prime material plane. When he was just out there sitting on the Plane of Ash the Mists couldn't grab him but since he was channeling so much power through his avatar and getting a little greedy they nabbed him.

Yes, but as seen it seems that sometimes during special circumstances it *can* in fact snatch planars. (the amnizu and erinyes mentioned before ex.)
#83

zombiegleemax

Jan 21, 2004 11:52:05
Originally posted by Bonemage
Nope when it originally grabbed Vecca he was using an avatar on the prime material plane. When he was just out there sitting on the Plane of Ash the Mists couldn't grab him but since he was channeling so much power through his avatar and getting a little greedy they nabbed him.

But it's nabbed from the Outer and Inner before. It's non-canon, but in CotN: Demons the mists subvert a portal and draw in an imp.
#84

zombiegleemax

Jan 21, 2004 12:41:57
Honestly, Ravenloft and Planescape don't really gel too well. It's a pity, 'cause I like both settings, but one is terrified while the other is jaded... Doesn;t seem to work right.
#85

zombiegleemax

Jan 21, 2004 12:45:25
((I'm a little bothered by some of the attitudes here.

Whose to say that a Planar on the Ring couldn't be grabbed by the Demiplane? Sure, it violates the known laws of the Multiverse, but since when has that ever stopped Planescape?

The Laws, despite what my glowing alter-ego might think, are guidelines. There are exceptions to every rule. Through mechanisms not currently visible, the Mists could possibley reach all the way into the Outer Planes. I think that'd make it more interesting and innately terrifying. Noone, not even the most jaded Planar can run from the Mists. Well, except in Sigil. And event hen, who knows what her Dread Majesty might let into the city every so often just for kicks.))
#86

bonemage

Jan 21, 2004 15:19:58
Well it's certainly possible but the point is mainly the Mists may not be that powerful. If they are going to start getting gods and their proxies on their home planes. Then the mists have to be much more powerful than many of the gods or forces in the multiverse.

The Hag arguement I suggested could be solved by the Hag having been snatched from the prime material plane.
#87

Shemeska_the_Marauder

Jan 21, 2004 17:47:18
I think that Planescape stuck to not tromping on Ravenloft's toes far more than Ravenloft avoided stepping on Planescape's toes.

That said I'll admit that while I don't like the mentions in RL of the mists from a demiplane snatching creatures from the outer planes, I can see ways to justify it.

Assume that every so often the Dark Powers of Ravenloft by wim or design snatch something from another plane that RL normally cannot encounter. Now also assume the Dark Powers themselves and not the mists as their proxy or somesuch do this act, much like a deity or some other powerful being reaching out with a gate or summoning. The snatching might cosmetically resemble the mists, but not be the demiplane as it normally snatches people. This action might be limited in its scope and frequency, etc so that only in conjunctions might such things happen.

Every rule and law has loopholes and the multiverse is infinitely strange, so probably anywhere but Sigil might be game, but only on very rare occasions and only for a scant few creatures, ie not deities or Archfiends.

I'm not too concerned about it to tell the truth. I'll save my churning Neutral Evil hatred for the 3e FR planes.
#88

zombiegleemax

Jan 21, 2004 19:10:48
Thing is, Ravenloft and Dragonlance never really fit well with Planescape, imho. The interesting thing about FR is that it fit extremely well... and they still decided to kill the connection.

That wacky, cooky WOTC. Never know what they'll do next.
#89

zombiegleemax

Jan 22, 2004 0:10:38
ravenloft doesnt fit well, but dragonlance has a place. not every prime can be super educated about the planes.
#90

zombiegleemax

Jan 22, 2004 15:11:47
I suppose that's true, but I've been an avid fan of dragonlance for years (longer than planescape) and I never really liked how they dealt with it. Still, I agree, it can be done 1000 times better than 'loft.