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Message: <blockquote data-quote="touc" data-source="post: 7406771" data-attributes="member: 19270">Running it myself at the moment!In a full-blown Ravenloft campaign, Dark Lords can open/close the borders at will. Generally they're left open so trade can occur, and the Vistani have had a long-standing deal to travel freely even when the borders of Barovia are closed. Barovia connects to other realms, so currency remains meaningful for trade. Barovia, in the current book, relies on its Wine. Travel during the day and on the roads is fairly safe, even in these times. However, the party has arrived at a special time when Strahd is a bit agitated over a girl. This isn't always the way things are. He normally runs a tight ship and keeps his Realm in line. In older editions, he had to. Other lords, from time to time, would march an army into other lands. Of course, given the Dark Powers, it's never going to actually work, but Strahd would need to defend his people. It's a love-hate relationship. There's far, far worse Dark Lords out there. Strahd generally keeps to his obsessions while other lords take a more personal hand in the lives of their citizens. It's just a special time, again thanks to Strahd stalking his prey. Normally he'd ensure any trade issues are solved, and that any monsters don't get too out of line or too powerful. Of course, the people don't seem to thank him given he's not exactly forgiving about collecting taxes and keeping order. But of course, on the side, Strahd is bored. He's got eternity trapped with the dull, unimaginative peasants of Barovia whose greatest threat to him has been trying to skim taxes off on the side. Along comes some play-things. In literature, he did the same thing with Jander Sunstar, Lord Soth, and any others who crossed his path. The more powerful they were, the more he was drawn to them...until they stepped out of line and dared to challenge the make-up of his world.  Good horror always leaves the imagination running, but having read ahead as I'm running this, I think it's something that helps make the entire "sucked into the fog" make more sense. Of course, I will tinker and foreshadow and I've always liked the original Ravenloft wherein Dark Deeds could lead to Dark Gifts, and eventually the Dark Powers would own you.</blockquote>

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