Question about Ravenloft's name - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Question about Ravenloft's name

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jjeff
Jun 28, 2007 19:36:51 Just asking, where can I find out WHY Ravenloft is called Ravenloft? The in-game answer, not the OOC answer.

Always thought it was linked to the fact that Stradh's family emblem was a raven and that the castle was on Raven's bluff or something.

Anyone?
#2
humanbing
Jun 28, 2007 19:55:39 The first that I heard as to an explanation was in the novel "I, Strahd" where Strahd's crusade to unite Barovia wasn't fully over until he conquered Darian's castle.

Once the castle fell and Strahd occupied it, he named it Ravenloft in honor of his mother, Queen Ravenia von Roeyen.

This brings up interesting questions.

Say for example that his father was King Barov, after whom the entire kingdom is named. (Which is, I believe, the reason given in I, Strahd.)

Why is Strahd himself only a Count?

This makes me believe that at one point, Barovia was considerably larger than the domain in Ravenloft happens to be. When Strahd made his pact with the Dark Powers and slew Sergei, the Demiplane of Dread absorbed only a county of the kingdom, and hence Strahd scrupulously named himself Count only, not King. (Perhaps out of respect for his own father.)

Either way it's an interesting little anomaly.
#3
sptjanly
Jun 28, 2007 19:56:39 Castle Ravenloft was named after his mother Ravenia after the Terg army was defeated.
#4
sptjanly
Jun 28, 2007 19:58:08 Nevermind, your question I see was answered.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jjeff Jun 28, 2007 19:36:51	Just asking, where can I find out WHY Ravenloft is called Ravenloft? The in-game answer, not the OOC answer. Always thought it was linked to the fact that Stradh's family emblem was a raven and that the castle was on Raven's bluff or something. Anyone?
#2 humanbing Jun 28, 2007 19:55:39	The first that I heard as to an explanation was in the novel "I, Strahd" where Strahd's crusade to unite Barovia wasn't fully over until he conquered Darian's castle. Once the castle fell and Strahd occupied it, he named it Ravenloft in honor of his mother, Queen Ravenia von Roeyen. This brings up interesting questions. Say for example that his father was King Barov, after whom the entire kingdom is named. (Which is, I believe, the reason given in I, Strahd.) Why is Strahd himself only a Count? This makes me believe that at one point, Barovia was considerably larger than the domain in Ravenloft happens to be. When Strahd made his pact with the Dark Powers and slew Sergei, the Demiplane of Dread absorbed only a county of the kingdom, and hence Strahd scrupulously named himself Count only, not King. (Perhaps out of respect for his own father.) Either way it's an interesting little anomaly.
#3 sptjanly Jun 28, 2007 19:56:39	Castle Ravenloft was named after his mother Ravenia after the Terg army was defeated.
#4 sptjanly Jun 28, 2007 19:58:08	Nevermind, your question I see was answered.