Kevlin

Discussing all things Ravenloft
Post Reply
User avatar
The Giamarga
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 2313
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:11 pm
Location: wandering

Kevlin

Post by The Giamarga »

Here's another interesting NPC from the 1993 TSR Trading cards. Heads up HuManBing and Deepshadow! He's tied to the Iron Crown and Falkovnia...
Kevlin 12th level Noble Priest
AL NE

Equipment: Ring of human influence, ring of (vampiric) regeneration

Background: Kevlin is the head of a vile cult known as the Servants of the Iron Crown. This small sect of evil priests has taken root in the domain of Falkovnia and hopes to destroy that land's ruler, Vlad Drakov, so that they may seize power for themselves.

Source: 1992 TSR Trading card #320
Last edited by The Giamarga on Mon May 19, 2008 6:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Jester of the FoS
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:19 am
Location: A Canadian from Canadia

Post by Jester of the FoS »

I really need to get me those cards. Seems there's a wealth of untapped NPCs there.
User avatar
The Giamarga
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 2313
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:11 pm
Location: wandering

Post by The Giamarga »

Yup, they are a wellspring of inspiration for me. (Get the 1993 factory set first, then the 1992 one. The 93 set has more and better NPCs. )


Are the Servants of the Iron Crown mentioned anywhere else?
User avatar
DeepShadow of FoS
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 2916
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 1:43 pm
Location: Heinfroth's Asylum

Post by DeepShadow of FoS »

The Giamarga wrote:Yup, they are a wellspring of inspiration for me. (Get the 1993 factory set first, then the 1992 one. The 93 set has more and better NPCs. )


Are the Servants of the Iron Crown mentioned anywhere else?
The Iron Crown is the author of the Raiment of Clarity. Perhaps the cult arose from those who read the book?
The Avariel has borrowed wings,
The Puppeteer must cut the strings
The Orphan Queen must take the throne
The Queen of Orphans calls them home
User avatar
Dr Bloodworth
Criminal Mastermind
Criminal Mastermind
Posts: 144
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2004 9:38 pm
Location: Lancaster, PA

Post by Dr Bloodworth »

Azalin has an 'iron crown', doesn't he? Perhaps this cult is connected to Darkon? Part of the Eternal Order, maybe, or some group opposed to Death (as in the DL, not the concept). IE, I think it could be neat to have apparently heroic undead-slayers, which it later turns out are opposed just to undead not created by them and thus not controlled by them...
Better to betray the world, than for the world to betray me.
User avatar
Rotipher of the FoS
Thieving Crow
Thieving Crow
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:18 pm

Post by Rotipher of the FoS »

As the card places them in Falkovnia, not Darkon, my guess is that it's an exercise in state-sponsored terrorism on Azalin's part. He sends some of the Eternal Order's fanatical extremists into Drakov's territory to stir up bloody unrest among the downtrodden, and he weakens Falkovnia while foisting some of the Order's less-tractable holy rollers off on somebody else. At a minimum, he's killed two birds with one stone; even if they can't actually scrub Drakov, their very presence forces the Kingfuhrer to devote more assets to internal security rather than invading yet again.
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
User avatar
alhoon
Invisible Menace
Invisible Menace
Posts: 8826
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:46 pm
Location: Chania or Athens // Greece

Post by alhoon »

Not that Azalin has any fear for Drakov's invasions. However sending away the rubbish so that he can actually use the 1/10 that would survive and become smarter by the experience? That's something to gain. And as you said, he's sending undesirables.
"You truly see what a person is made of, when you begin to slice into them" - Semirhage
"I am not mad, no matter what you're implying." - Litalia
My DMGuild work!
User avatar
Rotipher of the FoS
Thieving Crow
Thieving Crow
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:18 pm

Post by Rotipher of the FoS »

He doesn't actually have to be afraid of Falkovnia to see the sense in undermining it. Having to interrupt some crucial experiment or arcane ritual in mid-chant, merely to deflect yet another ill-conceived, futile invasion by branded, raptor-shrieking thugs, gets so annoying.... :wink:
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
User avatar
HuManBing
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 3748
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:13 am
Contact:

Post by HuManBing »

Yes Kevlin is an interesting character, though suffering from the same level inflation that a lot of the trading cards do. If you had the patience to fully roll the stats up, I could definitely see him as a formidable foe.
User avatar
cure
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 12:34 pm

Post by cure »

Lawful Evil "Noble Priest"?
The cure for what ails you
User avatar
Rotipher of the FoS
Thieving Crow
Thieving Crow
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:18 pm

Post by Rotipher of the FoS »

"Noble Priest" was a character kit from 2E. In 3E terms, you could get an analogous effect by giving him 1 level of aristocrat, representing his toff upbringing before he entered the clergy.
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
Post Reply