Darklord and NPC Equivalents

[Stygian Inquirer]

My players have been restless and asking dozens of questions like "Isn't that Strahd guy based on Dracula?" and "Is there a darklord based on Dorian Gray?" Then, I started wondering, where DO all of these darklords come from? I started to put together a table of the domain, the darklord and their literary equivalent persona or story. I got around 10 and then I was drawing a blank so I thought that this forum might help to finish the table.
Below is a relatively complete list of the 3rd Edition and even some 2nd Edition realms and their darklords. Following the darklord is the literary equivalent of the Darklord and/or Realm. As people post responses, I will update the list.

Domain - Darklord - Equivalent
Avonleigh - Morgoroth -
Barovia - Count Strahd von Zarovich - Dracula
Blaustein - Blue Beard - Bluebeard
Bluetspur - The Illithid God-Brain -
Borca - Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya - Ivana and Caesar Borgia
Carnival - Isolde - Freaks
Castle Island - The Lady of the Lake - The Lady of the Lake
Darkon - Azalin Rex -
Dementlieu - Dominic D'Honaire - Iago
Dominia - Dr. Daclaud Heinfroth (Dr. Dominiani) -
Falkovnia - Vlad Drakov - Vlad Tepes
Forlorn - Tristen ApBlanc -
Ghastria - Marquis Stezen D'Polarno - Dorian Gray
G'Henna - Yagno Petrovna -
Har'Akir - Pharaoh Ankhtepot -
Hazlan - Hazlik -
Invidia - Gabrielle Aderre -
The Isle of Demise - Althea - Medusa
Isle of the Ravens - The Lady of Ravens - Circe
Kartakass - Harkon Lukas -
Keening - Tristessa -
Kislova - Baroness Ilsabet Obour - Elizabeth Bathory
Lamordia - Adam, Mordenheim's Monster - Frankenstein's Monster
Liffe - Baron Lyron Eversong -
L'ile de la Tempete - Captain Alain Monette -
Markovia - Frantisek Markov - Dr. Moreau
Mordent - Lord Wilfred Godefrey -
Necropolis - Death - Death
Nidala - Elena Faith-hold -
Nova Vaasa - Malken - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Odiare - Maligno - Pinocchio
Paridon - Sodo -
Pharazia - Diamabel -
Richemulot - Jacqueline Renier -
Rokushima Taiyoo - Shinpi Haki -
Sanguinia - Prince Ladislav Mircea -
Saragoss - Draga Salt-Biter -
Sebua - Tiyet -
Shadowborn Manor - Ebonbane -
Sithicus - Inza Kulchevich -
Souragne - Anton Misroi - Baron Samedi
Sri Raji - Arijani - Ravana
Tepest - The Three Hags -
The House of Lament - The House of Lament - The Shining
The Nocturnal Sea - Meredoth -
The Sea Of Sorrows - Captain Pieter van Riese - The Flying Dutchman
The Shadow Rift - Gwydion -
The Wildlands - Crocodile -
Timor - The Hive Queen - Aliens
Valachan - Baron Urik Von Kharkov - Beauty and the Beast
Vechor - Easan the Mad -
Verbrek - Alfred Timothy -
Vorostokov - Gregor Zolnik -
Winding Road - Headless Horseman - Legend of Sleepy Hollow

There are also many NPCs that have literary or factual antecedents. Some examples will be found below. If you have any NPC equivalents, you can post those too.

Alanik Ray and Arthur Sedgwick - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
"Bloody Jack" - Jack the Ripper
Van Richten - Van Helsing
The Brain - Professor Moriarty
Aggie - Nessie
The Nightmare Court - Freddy Krueger
Inajira - Mephistopheles
Lord Soth - Darth Vader

[Willowhugger]

Avonleigh - Morgoroth -

Morgoth is your fairly stereotypical evil sorcerer.

Bluetspur - The Illithid God-Brain -

An argument can be made he's based on Cthulhu.

Borca - Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya -

Ivana Borgia and Caesar Borgia.

Carnival - Isolde -

The movie Freaks. ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

Darkon - Azalin Rex -

Wizard Kings are less common. I'd have to say the Horned King from Chronicles of Prydain or a warmed over Vecna.

Dementlieu - Dominic D'Honaire -

No Evil Hypnotists spring to mind.

Dominia - Dr. Daclaud Heinfroth (Dr. Dominiani) -

Oddly, Doctor Giggles.

Falkovnia - Vlad Drakov -

The historical Vlad the Impaler mixed with some Adolf Hitler.

Forlorn - Tristen ApBlanc -

Scottish Ghost story. Not sure if there's a equivalent.

Ghastria - Marquis Stezen D'Polarno - Dorian Gray

G'Henna - Yagno Petrovna -

Yango is pretty damn far out. However, still a stereotypical evil priest.

Har'Akir - Pharaoh Ankhtepot -

Imhoteps' the Mummy (original)

Hazlan - Hazlik -

Just a Red Wizard of Thay.

Invidia - Gabrielle Aderre -

one of the fallen woman steroetypes, evil "Gypsy"

Isle of the Ravens - The Lady of Ravens -

Circe from Greek Myth.

Kartakass - Harkon Lukas -

Werewolf movie character.

Keening - Tristessa -

Almost identical to actual Celtic myth only Drow.

Lamordia - Adam, Mordenheim's Monster - Frankenstein's Monster
Liffe - Baron Lyron Eversong -

A really bad idea.

Mordent - Lord Wilfred Godefrey -

English Ghost story, his house is based on "The Haunting."

Necropolis - Death - Death

Nidala - Elena Faith-hold -

Anti-Joean of Arc.

Nova Vaasa - Malken - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Odiare - Maligno - Pinocchio

Paridon - Sodo -

Perhaps an homage to the changing nature of Jack the Ripper.

Pharazia - Diamabel -

Iblis, the Satan of Muslim myth.

Richemulot - Jacqueline Renier -

Rats from Lovecraft.

Rokushima Taiyoo - Shinpi Haki -

Oda Nobunaga.

Sanguinia - Prince Ladislav Mircea -

Vlad Dracula's son.

Saragoss - Draga Salt-Biter -

Duck Tales' "Swamp of Kelp"

Sebua - Tiyet -

Another variant Mummy.

Shadowborn Manor - Ebonbane -

Dark Excalibur.

Sithicus - Inza Kulchevich -

Another 'bad Vistani' not worth speaking about. Possibly Dhampir legend if the hints that Gundar raped her mother are true.

Sri Raji - Arijani -

Ravana from Hindu legends.

Tepest - The Three Hags -

The Three Witches from Macbeth.

The House of Lament - The House of Lament - The Amityville Horror

The Nocturnal Sea - Meredoth -

Another steoretypical evil wizard. Possibly Herbert West from Re-animator if you read the subtext.

The Sea Of Sorrows - Captain Pieter van Riese -

The Flying Dutchman, Captain from Frankenstein's beginning.

The Shadow Rift - Gwydion -

Cthulhu. Possibly Tuatha De Daanan or Formorian from Celtic Legend.

The Wildlands - Crocodile -

African Folk Tale.

Timor - The Hive Queen -

Aliens.

Valachan - Baron Urik Von Kharkov -

Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad influenced Dracula.

Vechor - Easan the Mad -

Stereotypical mad scientist.

Verbrek - Alfred Timothy -

Another werewolf story variant.

Vorostokov - Gregor Zolnik -

Russian Folk Tale.

Winding Road - Headless Horseman - Legend of Sleepy Hollow

There are also many NPCs that have literary or factual antecedents. Some examples will be found below. If you have any NPC equivalents, you can post those too.

Toben the Many - Hannibal Lecter
Alanik Ray and Arthur Sedgwick - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
"Bloody Jack" - Jack the Ripper

[Dominique]

Kharkov also has more than a little "Beauty and the Beast" going for him.

And, of course, the NPC that's almost too obvious to bear mentioning (but hey, if we're including Strahdracula . . .):

Van Richten-Van Helsing

[Mad Skipper]

Borca (Ivana Boritsi) - I'd have to say Madame de Villefort, The Count of Monte Cristo.

The Sea Of Sorrows (Captain Pieter van Riese) - A blend of "the Mariner", the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Captain Ahab, Moby Dick. Maybe?

[Stygian Inquirer]

Kharkov also has more than a little "Beauty and the Beast" going for him.

True enough. Change has been made.

And, of course, the NPC that's almost too obvious to bear mentioning (but hey, if we're including Strahdracula . . .):

Van Richten-Van Helsing

Oops... I totally spaced. Change has been made and head has been smacked on desk.

Sri Raji - Arijani - Ravana from Hindu legends.

You're right. Change has been made.

Upon further review and reading, it looks like Captain Pieter van Riese is gleaned from the story of the Flying Dutchman. Change has been made.

I will do some reading and see if I can substantiate any of the other suggestions thus far or it may be a case of majority rules for conflicting ideas (example: Captain Pieter van Riese: is he A blend of "the Mariner", the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Captain Ahab, Moby Dick; or is he The Flying Dutchman, Captain from Frankenstein's beginning?). Lets keep the input coming and we may get a full list.

Also one of my players has suggested that Liffe - Baron Lyron Eversong - is the Phantom of the Opera. Any opinion on that as I am somewhat torn?

[Willowhugger]

Dracov really is Vlad Tepes.

He's not Dracula though, which is what may be throwing you. Dracula is Bram Stroker's creation and a literary creature.

Vlad Tepes is a conqueror who may have been mentally ill and enjoyed impaling his victims and bathing his bread in their blood. He also was not exactly known for his military sucesses in the end.

Anketepot is pretty close to Imhotep in any case. He only will act if his domain is invaded by tomb raiders and he longingly dreams of lost Egypt even when its totally destroyed.

He can also absorb the life of others to transform himself into a good looking Egyptian dude, that the "Mummy"'s newer version didn't invent.

A strong case can also be made that Tristan Al Blanc is Macbeth. His revised origin makes him a usurper and a man who destroyed his family who lives surrounded by the ghosts of his past.

The Hags and the Tepest should be next to him in my opinion

Timor and Aliens is based on the nature of the creatures and the fact that they kidnap people in order to infect them with their stinger and transform them into their own kind. The whole fact that they feed on "fear" I think is an homage to their status as horror movie creatures.

You also forgot the Nightmare Court, which is based on Freddy Krueger in concept.

Ivana Borgia had the reputation as an infamous poisoner, even if she was innocent in real life. Ivana Bortisi's history is almost identical to hers, even down to the fact she loved a bard before "someone" (actually her father the Pope-yes, you read that right) had him murdered. In real life, Ivana had a child by him and it was oddly claimed by her brother....in what was perhaps the dumbest attempt to cover up an illegitimate birth of all time (her father did too in the second dumbest)

Caesar Borgia, in addition to being Ivana Borgia's brother was also a cruel and ruthless conqueror who was the inspiration for Maciavelli's the Prince. His love of his sister (Ivan) is no doubt a parody on Ivana Borgia's silly reality above. Caesar came from the Borgias who were reknowned Poisoners well before his line.

[Jack of Tears]

>>Dementlieu - Dominic D'Honaire - <<

I'm going to say, inspired by Rasputin.

[Willowhugger]

>>Dementlieu - Dominic D'Honaire - <<

I'm going to say, inspired by Rasputin.

I wouldn't say that.

Since Alanik Ray was there, perhaps Professor Moriarity?

[Coan]

The Brain is more the Professor than Dominic.

[Stygian Inquirer]

>>Dementlieu - Dominic D'Honaire - <<

I'm going to say, inspired by Rasputin.

I agree with the Rasputin diagnosis.

The Brain is more the Professor than Dominic.

I can see that too.

Dracov really is Vlad Tepes.

He's not Dracula though, which is what may be throwing you. Dracula is Bram Stroker's creation and a literary creature.

Vlad Tepes is a conqueror who may have been mentally ill and enjoyed impaling his victims and bathing his bread in their blood. He also was not exactly known for his military sucesses in the end.

There are also some elements of that in Strahd. In the book I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin, it talks about how Strahd would impale the head of thieves and Kargat agents. However, I do agree with you about the Vlad Tepes diagnosis for Drakov.

Anketepot is pretty close to Imhotep in any case.

I agree.

You also forgot the Nightmare Court, which is based on Freddy Krueger in concept.

My bad.

The changes above as well as some others have been made.

Keep them coming guys. Thanks Willowhugger for explaining some of your choices. That made it a lot easier to analyze them, but I am still not sure about the Tristen Apblanc - Macbeth parallel or if the hags are the three witches.

I am checking out some of the suggestions that have not been changed yet to make sure they fit. I love to see all of this knowledge coming together.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

The Isle of Demise - Althea - Medusa

[Jack of Tears]

>>I am still not sure about the Tristen Apblanc - Macbeth parallel or if the hags are the three witches. <<

I can see passing elements of Mcbeth or even Lady Mcbeth .. I think it would be an amusing take to suggest he is butchering the forests to prevent Burhnam wood from marching against him. ::winks::

The witches, from what I've picked up the very few times they are mentioned .. seem to represent every wicked witch steriotype found in faerytales. One of the books, (can't recall which) even mentions that one of the sisters is forced into an over by some unruly children. So I'm guessing they have no single place .. they belong to Hansel and Grettal, Sleeping Beauty, Show White, the tales of Babba Yagga and all others equally.

Of course, they could be Snap, Crackle and Pop.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

Dominic d'Honaire -- Dr. Caligari, with a dash of Damion Thorn's childhood

Vebrek -- nobody specific for Alfred, but the domain itself is straight out of the Howling films

[Rucht Lilavivat]

Interesting topic.

While some of this parallels are spot-on, I think you might be reaching for some.

Toben the Many based on Lecter? I could see that in the web enhancement (again, why it wasn't included to begin with). However, I think he stands on his own in the Walking Dead Guide. There's alot more going on there than Lecter. There's a little bit of the Joker, Bullseye, and especially Castor Troy from Face/Off. Lecter, I think, is alot more intelligent than Toben. He's more cautious. And probably more dangerous.

I disagree that Anketepot is based on Imhotep. First of all, Anketepot's character was written long before the current Mummy movie was made. I don't think Anketepot was based on Boris Karloff's Mummy either, since the two characters are very different. I think that Anketepot is someone taking the mummy creature from D&D and seeing how it might work in Ravenloft.

The House of Lament is a haunted house. I think it bears less resemblance to Amityville and more resemblance to the classic Haunted House story. There's elements of The Shining in the House of Lament and even the Haunting of Hill House.

Dominic D'Honaire as Rasputin? Where's the "mad monk" factor? Where's where's the totally insane part? Or the totally unkillable part? I think that Dominic is more Iago than Rasputin.

Again, I think there's more to Baron Von Kharkov than Beauty and the Beast.

All the other parallels are pretty good, though.

[Willowhugger]

I am not basing Ankhetepot on the Mummy, I mentioned that. On previous Mummy films actually and while osteniably Strahd has nothing in common with Dracula, the two are close ENOUGH for this purpose.