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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 3975130" data-attributes="member: 7635">That was pretty much my idea as well, but with one difference. I assumed that the world was a boring, traditional D&D setting with elves, clerics, and ogres BEFORE the Dark Powers arrived. It was Strahd's intervention that brought the attention of these alien, unknowable, and utterly evil entities to the world, and its by their doing that all of the Ravenloftism's work. They obscure Divination to keep the local's in line. They have weakened the power of the Old Gods. They perverted magic. They whisper encouragement to those about to do evil. They become the ultimate bad-guy of the setting, and one that might not be able to be destroyed.I also assumed the Dark Lords are all in cahoots, in theory, with one another. However, spite, greed and vanity keep them now from ever putting up a unified force. Drakov might march against Azalin to show the Dark Powers HE is stronger and more powerful, but no other Dark Lord is going to help Azalin or Drakov (directly, that is) unless it benefits them as well. It adds a level of political intrigue to the world, and allows a weak link in the otherwise unified from Evil provides.Lastly, it removes the hodge-podge of "pulled from everywhere" domains that have little rhyme or reason and makes a world you can walk across, sail across, and otherwise travel through without massive culture shock from one domain to the next and without the necessity of mists (though they do have the ability to screw up the best travel plans). It also makes the Dark Lords WILLING partners in this endeavor who (think) they understand the bargain they made, and act as Conquering Lords. Some Dark Lords rule from the shadows, others openly. Some won through military might, others arcane prowess, others cunning macinations, but now they all have control (and thus the power) of the land without relying on ham-fisted game elements like Domain Borders and "the mists" to keep everything in check.Its the Ravenloft I would love to DM: organic, real, and with a flicker of hope against a true canopy of darkness (the ultimate PoL setting).</blockquote>

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