ETCR author chat log

[Rotipher of the FoS]

I still think that vistani with no evil eye and working too much as Stradh's lackeys is boring, but that's just a minor think. If you play it in Ravenloft, that's the easiest thing to correct (the whole "we are going to kill Stradh, who's CR<=15" is a lot worst).

Interesting possibility:

If you want to shoehorn EtCR into a Ravenloft campaign, but don't like how its gypsies are described, you could easily rule that this adventure takes place during the 60 years that the Vistani vanished from Barovia. This is a "canon" event, at least according to the novels, and took place at a time when Strahd's magical skills were much less, as per his lower class level in EtCR.

So what are the EtCR "Vistani" doing there? Simple: when the real Vistani vanished, a sneaky hag saw the chance to assume the missing Madame Eva's identity, taking advantage of the raunie's intimidating reputation. The hag recruited a bunch of riffraff to pretend to be Vistani, so their subsequent crime-spree would be shielded by Strahd's prohibition against harming gypsies ... at least, shielded from the Barovians, who don't realize the true Vistani ever left.

Naturally, when the real Vistani get back, that hag is going to find herself cursed until she glows, then evil-eyed in the dark. But until that happens, she gets to play "Eva" to her black heart's content.

Just a thought.

[Jakob]

I still think that vistani with no evil eye and working too much as Stradh's lackeys is boring, but that's just a minor think. If you play it in Ravenloft, that's the easiest thing to correct (the whole "we are going to kill Stradh, who's CR<=15" is a lot worst).

Interesting possibility:

If you want to shoehorn EtCR into a Ravenloft campaign, but don't like how its gypsies are described, you could easily rule that this adventure takes place during the 60 years that the Vistani vanished from Barovia. This is a "canon" event, at least according to the novels, and took place at a time when Strahd's magical skills were much less, as per his lower class level in EtCR.

So what are the EtCR "Vistani" doing there? Simple: when the real Vistani vanished, a sneaky hag saw the chance to assume the missing Madame Eva's identity, taking advantage of the raunie's intimidating reputation. The hag recruited a bunch of riffraff to pretend to be Vistani, so their subsequent crime-spree would be shielded by Strahd's prohibition against harming gypsies ... at least, shielded from the Barovians, who don't realize the true Vistani ever left.

Naturally, when the real Vistani get back, that hag is going to find herself cursed until she glows, then evil-eyed in the dark. But until that happens, she gets to play "Eva" to her black heart's content.

Just a thought.

I knew there was a reason you made in the Fraternity... You truly ARE a criminal mastermind!

[cure]

If you want to shoehorn EtCR into a Ravenloft campaign, but don't like how its gypsies are described, you could easily rule that this adventure takes place during the 60 years that the Vistani vanished from Barovia. This is a "canon" event, at least according to the novels, and took place at a time when Strahd's magical skills were much less, as per his lower class level in EtCR.

This I like very, very much. But I can't recall any reference to this in the novels. Which? Where?

Thanx.

(Now just account for the Dread Elf Pirate of Lake Bartak portraits of Stahd and we are in business. His niece brided the official painter?)

[Algaris]

From what I remember it was mentioned in King of The Dead and was related to the fact that Strahd captured and tortured a Vistani in his castle. After this they just took off and left.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

(Now just account for the Dread Elf of Lake Bartak portraits of Stahd and we are in business. His niece bribed the official painter?)

Maybe that's a Disguise Self spell he wears when he's out hunting for a bite to drink, so Barovians won't connect his depredations to their Count?

"Nah, that wasn't the Devil Strahd, it was some elvish rock star in a cheesy blue romance-novel-cover suit and press-on nails...."

[cure]

An attempt to discredit the Morninglord perhaps? Or jealousy of Jander? Both?

[Jakob]

From what I remember it was mentioned in King of The Dead and was related to the fact that Strahd captured and tortured a Vistani in his castle. After this they just took off and left.

Anyone remember when this did happen?