I started playing D&D with the 3rd Edition. So, I don't know much about the older publications. (But I try to collect some of the older stuff. With success!)
The problem: I have a player in my group and she plays an elven warrior, age 160. I told her that she comes from Sithicus, but I couldn't tell her what she did before the formation of Sithicus in 720 BC. I read that Sithicus was a land from another plane, most possibly from the Forgotten Realms.
Here is my question: How many lands in Ravenloft have their origins in other Campaign Settings? Where can I find more informations about the past of these lands? Which land was Sithicus before it came to be Lord Soths/Black Roses domain?
For your info, someone asked the same question on the FoS message board recently ("Soth's Sithicus" in the general board). Our FAQ has a list of cross-setting NPC and places.
Just follow my sig
On what she did before the land was created ? Let me propose something: let's say she was "created" too with the rest of Sithicus population when this domain was created in Ravenloft. What she remembers from before that ? A little fuzzy, she has no clear idea of it. Or perhaps her memory has been altered to make her believe she was there before and she has false souvenirs of a life before the domain creation. That happens often in RL, i.e. false memory. It can lead to many adventure hooks.
Regards,
Joël
The problem: I have a player in my group and she plays an elven warrior, age 160. I told her that she comes from Sithicus, but I couldn't tell her what she did before the formation of Sithicus in 720 BC.
As I recall, characters in a newly-formed Domain often have false memories of their lives prior to the Domains' creation. Sometimes this is because they are abductees from another world, but in other cases it's because when you're creating a Domain from scratch that already seems to have a civilization and adult population, it generally doesn't do to have them know they've just been created, or to make them all have "forgotten" their lives prior to 5 minutes ago.
I read that Sithicus was a land from another plane, most possibly from the Forgotten Realms.
Again, IIRC, Sithicus is a flawed copy of Soth's homeland (the name of Soth's fortress, "Nedragaard Keep" means "Not Dargaard Keep," Soth's old home). This being so, Sithicus was never actually part of the world of Krynn (the Dragonlance campaign setting). It only looks just enough like it to drive Soth nuts.
Here is my question: How many lands in Ravenloft have their origins in other Campaign Settings? Where can I find more informations about the past of these lands? Which land was Sithicus before it came to be Lord Soths/Black Roses domain?
Let me see what I can remember...
- Sithicus - Dragonlance. As I recall, the elves there are of the Silvanesti tribe, so you can use that to shape their culture.
- Hazlan - Forgotten Realms. Hazlik is a Red Wizard of Thay.
- Valachan - Forgotten Realms, I think.
- Nova Vaasa - Forgotten Realms. Probably near Vaasa, given the name.
- Falkovnia - Dragonlance, but Drakov seems more patterned after legends of Vlad the Impaler.
- Darkon/Necropolis - I think Greyhawk, but I can't be sure.
- Vorostokov - Birthright.
- Odiare - Masque of the Red Death (A kind of "modern Ravenloft" as I understand it).
- Kalidnay - Dark Sun. It's worth noting that there's a City of Kalidnay also in the Dark Sun setting, but nobody really lives there (undead, on the other hand...).
- Vechor - Greyhawk.
You can find more information on Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance from their respective Campaign Setting books, or from the huge number of novels published involving each.
Birthright is out of print and Vorostokov isn't a core Domain anyway, so you probably don't need to bother.
Greyhawk is the default D&D setting, and you can find more information in Living Greyhawk or in various other D&D publications.
Dark Sun is out of print, but you might find some information at Athas.org.
In the Tales of ravenloft book - there is a short story involving Soth.
In this the elves he is hunting seem to be fairly nasty in there outlook and nothing like any Elven society in print (well except possibly the drow). So theres another idea. I think in the module 'When Black Roses Bloom' the elves are dull, depressing and generally lifeless -so again another idea.
Most of the domains in Ravenloft are not fully drawn out of the particular worlds.
However some of the darklords are and in some cases other parts of there individual prison are as well. But typically they are incomplete copies rather than areas totally just disappearing from the Dragonlance, Darksun and the Realms etc...
Soths castle is probably the best example of this. (as commented above by Crossover-Chronicler).
However, Soth's land is a place where memories were brought to life in a flawed way. Nothing is ever like it was remembered: paths are crooked where they were once straight, houses have twisted rooms and variations, trees are missing, rivers have changed course, etc.
For the elves of this land this is maddening, they do not feel the same kinship and bond to the land they once felt. It does not feel like their home, it does not feel the same. So they let everything fall into disrepair and are shockingly apathetic.
Let me see what I can remember...
- Sithicus - Dragonlance. As I recall, the elves there are of the Silvanesti tribe, so you can use that to shape their culture.
- Hazlan - Forgotten Realms. Hazlik is a Red Wizard of Thay.
- Valachan - Forgotten Realms, I think.
- Nova Vaasa - Forgotten Realms. Probably near Vaasa, given the name.
- Falkovnia - Dragonlance, but Drakov seems more patterned after legends of Vlad the Impaler.
- Darkon/Necropolis - I think Greyhawk, but I can't be sure.
- Vorostokov - Birthright.
- Odiare - Masque of the Red Death (A kind of "modern Ravenloft" as I understand it).
- Kalidnay - Dark Sun. It's worth noting that there's a City of Kalidnay also in the Dark Sun setting, but nobody really lives there (undead, on the other hand...).
- Vechor - Greyhawk.
I might add a few prominent characters -
From Krynn (Dragonlance) - Soth, Drakov (Thenol, Taladas), Merilee Markusa (Caergoth)
From the Realms - Hazlik (Red Wizard as stated), Von Kharkov (was 'created' by another Red Wizard), Nightblood the lich (former Red Wizard), Gondegal (Arabel), Harkon Lucas (Cormyr), the Hiregaard ancestors (possibly Vaasa), Jander Sunstar (Evermeet), Draga Saltbiter (Sea of Stars), The Spulzeer family. Mayonaka the Oriental vampire (Kara-Tur)
From Mystara - Meredoth, the Carnivale Brute (orc of Thar)
From Dark Sun - Thakok-An, Palik the thrax
From Oerth (Greyhawk) - Azalin, Easan (lands of Iuz), Vecna & Kas, King Doerdon/Puncheron, Ahmi Vanjuko
From Gothic Earth - Maligno (Italy)
From Cerilia (Birthright) - Gregor Zolnick
and most interestingly,
Able to travel to other worlds (usually to pull people into Ravenloft) - The Phantom Lover, and The Ship of Horror.
Of course you could even imagine that they had another darklord before Soth where they were an "island of terror" and he could have memory of the fight against this one and his fall that bring a cataclysm and Soth to their realm.
Able to travel to other worlds (usually to pull people into Ravenloft) - The Phantom Lover, and The Ship of Horror.
Oh, there are tons of those, since the old adventures usually had a way to pull in parties from elsewhere for "weekends of horror."
The Nightmare Court, The Headless Horseman, the Vistani, (specifically Raul from TEE), Scaena, I think the House of Lament might be able to do it too. Probably most of the pocket domains...
You gave me a lot to think about and to tell my players. I had a look at the d20 Dragonlance campaign setting and it helped me a lot with the "Sithicus problem". It will take a little time to follow all the hints and new ideas, but I am very happy. If someone can give more information about crossovers and domains from other planes, please let me know!
Currently, my group is hanging around in Mordentshire. It was Azalin and Stradhs fault that drew Mordent into the Mists ("Ravenloft II: House on Gryphon Hill") . I also read the Gazetters entry about Mordent.
But I am open for new ideas regarding Mordent!
There's the LG branch of the Church of Ezra there. Bastion Otrava's unusual nature may be a hook to hang an adventure on. (See the Book of Secrets at www.kargatane.com).
There's Van Richten or the Weathermay Twins, depending on your time frame, they can recruit the PC's for any number of ghost-busting or monster hunting activities.
The Lumley House adventure in Children of the Night: The Created fits well in Mordentshire. (I think it's actually set there explicitly.)
I've got an orignal adventure on my website set in Mordentshire:
ravenloft.home.att.net/dmpage.html
You can also search for Mordent at the RL Catalogue Database and see what comes up when you click "Show me records related to "Mordent":
http://www.kargatane.com/sotk/rldb/rldb.shtml
I think I missed the exact link, but on the FoS Site you will find a very good RL FAQ section that should give you answers to nearly all you questions...
R