It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like RAVENLOFT

On the Down With D&D podcast, writer Shawn Merwin (who is writing at least one adventure for the next D&D Adventurers Guild season) responded to a query about whether the next season was "gothic" in nature -- "I can neither confirm nor deny that, although I've heard that much was talked about at Gamehole Con in Chris Perkins' seminar ... I think people who have heard that seminar know what's going on, but I still cannot say anything." That seminar, which I largely transcribed here, hinted really strongly at Ravenloft. (thanks to darjr for the scoop)

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In response to comments about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman, Merwin said "You like that kind of stuff? I get misty-eyed about it myself."

Of course, none of this is conclusive. But it's hard not to think that - if not Ravenloft itself - something Ravenloft-inspired is coming with the next D&D storyline.

They went on to discuss Baldman Games' (hosts of Winter Fantasy) announcements about D&D events at the convention in February. Regarding the Epic adventure being used to launch the upcoming season, which will debut at that convention, they have the following exchange:

Shawn Merwin: ...if you're into D&D at all, or if you're into Adventurer's League specifically, you will not want to miss.

Christopher Sniezak: I hear there may be blood and stakes involved?

Shawn Merwin: It's definitely possible.

It sounds a little to me like they have discussed this subject in more detail off-air. Whatever the case, these are not the first "gothic" hints we've gotten - it's certainly Beginning To Look A Lot Like Ravenloft, as Bing Crosby once famously sang.

If you want to listen to the full podcast, click here or on Strahd up above.

 

[darjr]

Thanks man. That's embarrassing. Anyway there is a blue dracolich in the board game. Ia there in the fiction?

 

[Remathilis]

Thanks man. That's embarrassing. Anyway there is a blue dracolich in the board game. Ia there in the fiction?

AFAIK, no. Strahd had some red dragons in 1e, but no dragons (dead or otherwise) since.

 

[Alzrius]

Yep, Birthright's was a retcon too. Still, as of DoD, every 2e setting except Council of Wyrms had a domain somewhere.

I always wondered if there was a domain that could really be attributed to Planescape, but that one tended to boil down to a matter of opinion.

 

[Remathilis]

I always wondered if there was a domain that could really be attributed to Planescape, but that one tended to boil down to a matter of opinion.

There was a incubus called the Gentleman Caller who could travel freely though other domains even though he was a dark lord himself. I think he's the closest to a PS dark lord.

 

[Alzrius]

There was a incubus called the Gentleman Caller who could travel freely though other domains even though he was a dark lord himself. I think he's the closest to a PS dark lord.

He wasn't a dark lord.

 

[Alzrius]

AFAIK, no. Strahd had some red dragons in 1e, but no dragons (dead or otherwise) since.

A nod to this was in the novel Knight of the Black Rose, where Lord Soth encounters (and slays) a red dragon during his rampage in Castle Ravenloft. Strahd later remarks that such creatures were "a rarity" there, but not irreplaceable.

Also, Azalin has a shadow dragon named Ebb in his castle in the adventure From the Shadows. In 3E, Ravenloft Gazetteer Vol. 2 has a "dread possibility" that Ebb has found a mate, and the two are about to have their first clutch of eggs.

 

[Remathilis]

He wasn't a dark lord.

I thought he was equivalent to a dark lord, but lacked a domain (or his domain moved with him, something like that. He was in Dark Lords and had a lizard foot)

 

[Remathilis]

A nod to this was in the novel Knight of the Black Rose, where Lord Soth encounters (and slays) a red dragon during his rampage in Castle Ravenloft. Strahd later remarks that such creatures were "a rarity" there, but not irreplaceable.

Also, Azalin has a shadow dragon named Ebb in his castle in the adventure From the Shadows. In 3E, Ravenloft Gazetteer Vol. 2 has a "dread possibility" that Ebb has found a mate, and the two are about to have their first clutch of eggs.

I knew of the shadow dragon, but I thought he was discussing Castle Ravenloft only. Didn't know about KotBR though...

 

[Alzrius]

I thought he was equivalent to a dark lord, but lacked a domain (or his domain moved with him, something like that. He was in Dark Lords and had a lizard foot)

The character from RR1 Darklords with the clawed and scaled left foot is Leederik, the Phantom Lover. He has a floating domain, which I believe is called "The Phantom Lover's Tower" (it's floating in the sense that it temporarily superimposes itself over the existing locale, whether inside or outside of Ravenloft).

He has a similar MO as the Gentleman Caller (e.g. seduce them, and ruin their life in the process, and then scram), but he's a distinct entity.

 

[Remathilis]

The character from RR1 Darklords with the clawed and scaled left foot is Leederik, the Phantom Lover. He has a floating domain, which I believe is called "The Phantom Lover's Tower" (it's floating in the sense that it temporarily superimposes itself over the existing locale, whether inside or outside of Ravenloft).

He has a similar MO as the Gentleman Caller (e.g. seduce them, and ruin their life in the process, and then scram), but he's a distinct entity.

Thanks, its been a while and its pretty easy to mix the two up.