So I've been following the "evolution" of Marya Markovia to St. Markovia across the various editions of the Castle Ravenloft adventure. Interesting stuff, to say the least. Considering how to reconcile it with the "proper" timeline of the campaign setting.
Originally Marya was poisoned by a glass of wine intended for her lover by Endorovich the Terrible, who was implied to be some former king of the Zarovichs or at least a vassal who killed many servants in his grief and anger at poisoning the woman he loved. Later, "St. Markovia" was decoupled from that origin and became a powerful cleric of Pelor who fought Strahd and lost. In Curse of Strahd her Abbey was converted to an insane asylum in which a angel is conducting weird experiments on the Belmot clan.
So, to reconcile everything I propose the following. St. Markovia was a cleric of the Morninglord rather than Pelor. She was a Dawnslayer, a Harkener who collected reports of lycanthropes and studied theories on curing the condition. She confronted Strahd and was destroyed. Perhaps Endorovich was fed a lie by Strahd for the sake of being cruel. Her death was not caused by a poisoning blunder, but Endorovich went mad and harmed many anyway.
St. Markovia's research into lycanthropy led to the experiments on the Belmots as scene in Curse of Strahd. The remnants of her family also retained some of that lore. The went about calling themselves Markov to distance themselves from the famous saint, knowing Strahd's animosity towards her. But the philosophies about humanity and the beast contained in Markovia's old research inspired Frantisek Markov to begin his infamous experiments.
Thoughts?
Saint Markovia and the Markovs
Saint Markovia and the Markovs
I'm just a ghost in this house.
- The Lesser Evil
- Evil Genius
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Re: Saint Markovia and the Markovs
Marya and Saint Markovia seem to be two separate people. (Marya is mentioned along with Endorovich the Terrible in Curse of Strahd on page 87 under Crypt 7.) The Markov/Markovia difference, although not explicitly mentioned anywhere, may be due to how certain surnames work in the naming scheme, ending in different syllables depending on the descendant's gender. Examples include Petrovich (male)/Petrovna (female), Martikov (Male)/Martikovna (female), Targalov (male)/Targalovna (female), etc.- this naming scheme doesn't always seem to have been understood by the designers- hence why we had people like Yagno Petrovna (who should have been named Yagno Petrovich). Beyond this trivial nitpicking, my biggest question is who did the experimenting. It would seem out of character for Saint Markovia to perform evil research that lead to the creation of the Belviews (not Belmots). The work could've certainly came from her disciples as they fell into depravity following her destruction, however.
Would you intend on substituting somebody for the angel to actually perform the transformations of the Belviews?
Would you intend on substituting somebody for the angel to actually perform the transformations of the Belviews?
- ewancummins
- Evil Genius
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- Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm
Re: Saint Markovia and the Markovs
PARTIAL NOTES for something I might not get around to running:
The only bit relevant here is the indirect reference to Saint Markovia and the Doctor of Krezk (a Belview, from Curse of Strahd).
My basic idea was Prime Material Barovia as an isolated backwater surrounded by lands that reflect some elements of Ravenloft setting materials:
Gundarak and the possible Neueruni connection
Saint Markovia and the Abbot
etc etc
VIEW CONTENT:
My basic idea was Prime Material Barovia as an isolated backwater surrounded by lands that reflect some elements of Ravenloft setting materials:
Gundarak and the possible Neueruni connection
Saint Markovia and the Abbot
etc etc
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.
-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)