Category:The Shadowlands: Difference between revisions

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{{canon}}
[[The Shadowlands]] is a [[Cluster]], composed of [[Avonleigh]], [[Nidala]], and [[Shadowborn Manor]].


'''WIKISEED FROM CATALOGUE :''' [[Cluster]]''(Please edit freely, then remove this note and WIKISEED label)''
==Chronology==
*[[611 BC]] - ([[The Great Kingdom]]) Wielded by a [[possessed]] [[monk]], [[Ebonbane]] strikes down [[Kateri Shadowborn]] in her own home.<ref name="Darklords p. 30">[[Darklords]] p. 30</ref> [[Shadowborn Manor]] is claimed by [[the Mists]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref> Kateri rises as a [[geist]].<ref name="Darklords p. 30">[[Darklords]] p. 30</ref>


'''WIKISEED FROM CATALOGUE :''' Composed of [[Avonleigh]], [[Nidala]], and [[Shadowborn Manor]]''(Please edit freely, then remove this note and WIKISEED label)''
* [[615 BC]] - The Mists draw in [[Elena Faith-hold]] after years of bloodshed caused by her [[War of Evil]]. She continues her fanatical crusade against evil in the [[Land of Mists]], killing the populations of ten towns.<ref name="Islands of Terror]] p. 7-10">[[Islands of Terror]] p. 7-10</ref> Thanks to Elena's [[transgression]]s, [[Nidala]] forms.<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
 
* [[631 BC]] - (Approximately) [[Alexi Shadowborn]] founds the second incarnation of [[:category:The Circle (Society)|the Circle]] in the [[Land of Mists]]. The [[Knights of the Shadows]] refer to its members.<ref name="Domains of Dread p. 133">[[Domains of Dread]] p. 133; "Since its inception some 12 decades ago", approximately 120 years from [[751 BC]], the current date of Domains of Dread.</ref>
 
* [[646 BC]] - ([[The Great Kingdom]]) The evil inside [[Morgoroth]] is reawakened by the [[killing]] of [[Lambert]]. Morgoroth kidnaps [[Aurora Shadowborn]] and takes her back to his home, [[Tergeron Manor]]. When [[Ferran Shadowborn]] and the rest of his knights give chase confront Morgoroth in his home, where they are slaughtered to the last man.<ref name="A Light in the Belfry Audio CD">[[A Light in the Belfry]] Audio CD</ref> In Ravenloft, [[Avonleigh]] arises from [[the Phantasmal Forest]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
 
* [[646 BC]] - Morgoroth attempted to construct a magic [[Morgoroth's Mirror|mirror]] to escape the Demiplane of Dread, but the effort backfires with a blast of eldritch power. The blast destroys the [[mirror]], separating it into thirteen [[ethereal]] shards. In addition, the blast destroys Morgoroth's physical form and dispersed his ethereal essence throughout [[Tergeron Manor]]. Driven [[mad]], his malign intelligence became one with the manor itself.<ref name="A Light in the Belfry Audio CD">[[A Light in the Belfry]] Audio CD</ref>
 
* [[747 BC]] - [[The Shadowlands]] [[cluster]] forms from [[Nidala]], [[Avonleigh]], and [[Shadowborn Manor]].<ref name="DoD p.17">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLCS p.18">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.18</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.20">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.20</ref>
 
* [[751 BC]] - [[Gondegal]] becomes leader of [[the Circle]]<ref name="Champions of the Mists p. 48">[[Champions of the Mists]] p. 48</ref>
 
*{{netbook-small}} [[754 BC]] - In the first half of the year, [[Irvyne Wolfe]], aka [[the Red Wolf]], meets [[Nadia Wolfe|Nadia]]. They fall in love. In the summer, they are [[married]]. Weeks later, the [[Vistani]] deliver a prophecy to them. [[Maureve]] decodes the [[prophecy]] as meaning that a true [[paladin]] will be born and eventually otherthrow [[Elena Faith-hold]]. Still later, Nadia becomes pregnant but keeps her husband from knowing.<ref>[[The Red Wolf (Article)]], [[Book of Shadows]]</ref>
 
==[[John W. Mangrum]] on the [[The Kargatane (Real World)|Kargatane]]'s vision for [[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume X]]==
{{potential-canon}}
* The [[Phantasmal Forest]] doesn't have a fixed shape. [[Shadowborn Manor]], [[Avonleigh]], and numerous tiny little domains all float around in it, sort of like [[pocket domains]]. The best way to think of it is to consider the [[Phantasmal Forest]] an amoeba, with [[Shadowborn Manor]] its nucleus. The [[Phantasmal Forest]] exists because [[Ebonbane | Ebonebane's]] evil is so pervasive and powerful that it seeps through the planar membranes of his domain, so to speak. Since first appearing, it's slowly spread around [[Nidala]], like an ooze absorbing its prey, to the point that "today," there's only one shrinking stretch of border that leads directly to the [[Mists]]. In all other directions, one must pass through the [[Phantasmal Forest]] to reach any other domain.
 
:It's not necessarily the size that makes the [[Phantasmal Forest]] easy to get lost in -- it's that the [[Phantasmal Forest]] is a manifestation of the [[Misty Border]], and like the [[Mists]], it's directionless. Nothing leaves tracks, and there are no trails to follow. (The BoS story discusses this.)
 
* After it was trapped in Ravenloft, [[Ebonbane]] spent decades corrupting every aspect of the late [[Kateri Shadowborn | Kateri Shadowborn's life]]. It wiped out [[Shadowborn Family | her family]], corrupted her allies, and so on. Each time it successfully turned one of [[Lady Kateri Shadowborn | Lady Shadowborn's]] former friends or ties to evil, it drew them into the [[Phantasmal Forest]], and thus Ravenloft. They're all still out there, pseudodarklords of pathetic little psuedodomains.
 
:[[Morgoroth]] and [[Elena Faith-hold]] stand apart because they damned themselves, with minimal involvement from [[Ebonbane]]. Thus, although their corruption delights [[Ebonbane]] and ultimately feeds into its evil, they do not serve [[Ebonbane]], unlike the other pearls in its collection.
 
* [[Pseudodomains]] -- pearls in the oil, I think I called them in the RL DMG -- include Kateri's unicorn mount [[Addar]], now driven [[mad]] and equally lost in overweening pride and self-loathing. His 'domain' is a small glade that travels with him. He can act as a [[guide]] for those who play to his vanity.
 
:Another is [[Forenoon Abbey]], a monastery significant to [[Lady Kateri Shadowborn | Lady Shadowborn]] that's now the home of the undead [[Ahltrian (Ghoul) | Ahltrian]]. This was the first pearl in [[Ebonbane | Ebonbane's]] collection -- the first thing beloved of [[Kateri Shadowborn | Kateri]] that it destroyed after returning to the world.
 
* [[Ebonbane]] can animate anyone who dies in [[Shadowborn Manor]] or the [[Phantasmal Forest]] as an intelligent [[ghoul]]. If a [[humanoid]] corpse is left lying in the mire of the [[Phantasmal Forest]], then after a few minutes it sinks into the swampy earth and, a few days later, digs out of the mud at [[Forenoon Abbey]], now one of the [[Ahltrian]] and [[slave | utterly subservient]] to [[Ebonbane]].
 
* The [[Phantasmal Forest]] is trackless and directionless; getting lost is the norm. It used to lead back to the [[The Great Kingdom (Shadowborn) | Great Kingdom]] on [[Kateri Shadowborn | Kateri Shadowborn's]] [[Outlander World | homeworld]], but those planar pathways closed as [[Ebonbane]] wiped out the last remnants of her legacy.
 
* The general thrust of adventuring in the [[domain]] is the conflict between the human evil of [[Elena Faith-hold]] and the monstrous, all-consuming evil of [[Ebonbane]], and the prospects of Elena's once again being offered a true evil to fight. What would her reaction be? Meanwhile, [[Ebonbane]] is monomaniacally fixated on destroying and/or desecrating everything th ....
 
* [[Ebonbane]] can't leave its tiny [[domain]], but the [[Ahltrian (Ghoul) | Ahltrian]] can. They regularly steal into [[Nidala]] to wreak havoc. Their ultimate goal, beyond simple destruction, is to pull Elena into their ranks, and thus add the whole of [[Nidala]] to Ebonbane's holdings. (This would, presumably, let [[Ebonbane]] extend its senses into the land, and possibly mean that any corpses left on the soil, anywhere, would be sucked down into the [[Ahltrian (Ghoul) | Ahltrian]].) Essentially, the whole [[domain]] would become just another part of the amorphous, sunless [[Phantasmal Forest]].
 
* And, of course, the [[Knights of the Circle]] must make an annual pilgrimage to first [[Avonleigh]] and then [[Shadowborn Manor]] to maintain the magic that keeps [[Alexi Shadowborn]], Ebonbane's current [[prison]], in stasis.
 
* [[Morgoroth]] is the third player in a two-sided battle, falling somewhere in between Elena and Ebonbane, but too wrapped up in his own concerns to be an active participant. If the inherent struggle of the [[Shadowlands]] is human evil vs. monstrous evil, he falls somewhere in between. He is a monster, but he holds no allegiance to [[Ebonbane]] and in fact has a strong motivation to keep the [[fiend]] in check. This makes him a potential ally -- not of Elena, but of the Circle, who have to deal with him every year. However, unless you play to his single "redeeming quality" -- his desire to keep his innocent captive alive indefinitely -- he's as treacherous and malevolent as they come.


[[Category:Cluster]]
[[Category:Cluster]]
{{ref}}


==Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue==
==Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue==

Latest revision as of 17:13, 9 June 2024

The Shadowlands is a Cluster, composed of Avonleigh, Nidala, and Shadowborn Manor.

Chronology

  • 646 BC - Morgoroth attempted to construct a magic mirror to escape the Demiplane of Dread, but the effort backfires with a blast of eldritch power. The blast destroys the mirror, separating it into thirteen ethereal shards. In addition, the blast destroys Morgoroth's physical form and dispersed his ethereal essence throughout Tergeron Manor. Driven mad, his malign intelligence became one with the manor itself.[6]

John W. Mangrum on the Kargatane's vision for Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume X

It's not necessarily the size that makes the Phantasmal Forest easy to get lost in -- it's that the Phantasmal Forest is a manifestation of the Misty Border, and like the Mists, it's directionless. Nothing leaves tracks, and there are no trails to follow. (The BoS story discusses this.)
  • After it was trapped in Ravenloft, Ebonbane spent decades corrupting every aspect of the late Kateri Shadowborn's life. It wiped out her family, corrupted her allies, and so on. Each time it successfully turned one of Lady Shadowborn's former friends or ties to evil, it drew them into the Phantasmal Forest, and thus Ravenloft. They're all still out there, pseudodarklords of pathetic little psuedodomains.
Morgoroth and Elena Faith-hold stand apart because they damned themselves, with minimal involvement from Ebonbane. Thus, although their corruption delights Ebonbane and ultimately feeds into its evil, they do not serve Ebonbane, unlike the other pearls in its collection.
  • Pseudodomains -- pearls in the oil, I think I called them in the RL DMG -- include Kateri's unicorn mount Addar, now driven mad and equally lost in overweening pride and self-loathing. His 'domain' is a small glade that travels with him. He can act as a guide for those who play to his vanity.
Another is Forenoon Abbey, a monastery significant to Lady Shadowborn that's now the home of the undead Ahltrian. This was the first pearl in Ebonbane's collection -- the first thing beloved of Kateri that it destroyed after returning to the world.
  • The general thrust of adventuring in the domain is the conflict between the human evil of Elena Faith-hold and the monstrous, all-consuming evil of Ebonbane, and the prospects of Elena's once again being offered a true evil to fight. What would her reaction be? Meanwhile, Ebonbane is monomaniacally fixated on destroying and/or desecrating everything th ....
  • Ebonbane can't leave its tiny domain, but the Ahltrian can. They regularly steal into Nidala to wreak havoc. Their ultimate goal, beyond simple destruction, is to pull Elena into their ranks, and thus add the whole of Nidala to Ebonbane's holdings. (This would, presumably, let Ebonbane extend its senses into the land, and possibly mean that any corpses left on the soil, anywhere, would be sucked down into the Ahltrian.) Essentially, the whole domain would become just another part of the amorphous, sunless Phantasmal Forest.
  • Morgoroth is the third player in a two-sided battle, falling somewhere in between Elena and Ebonbane, but too wrapped up in his own concerns to be an active participant. If the inherent struggle of the Shadowlands is human evil vs. monstrous evil, he falls somewhere in between. He is a monster, but he holds no allegiance to Ebonbane and in fact has a strong motivation to keep the fiend in check. This makes him a potential ally -- not of Elena, but of the Circle, who have to deal with him every year. However, unless you play to his single "redeeming quality" -- his desire to keep his innocent captive alive indefinitely -- he's as treacherous and malevolent as they come.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Darklords p. 30
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ravenloft Third Edition p.17
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19
  4. ↑ Islands of Terror p. 7-10
  5. ↑ Domains of Dread p. 133; "Since its inception some 12 decades ago", approximately 120 years from 751 BC, the current date of Domains of Dread.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Light in the Belfry Audio CD
  7. ↑ Domains of Dread p.17
  8. ↑ Ravenloft Third Edition p.18
  9. ↑ Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.20
  10. ↑ Champions of the Mists p. 48
  11. ↑ The Red Wolf (Article), Book of Shadows

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Ravenloft Third Edition

Ravenloft Third Edition - pp15,18,155-159

Ravenloft Third Edition - p156

The Shadowborn Cluster Shadowlands, The Shadowlands


Subcategories

This category has only the following subcategory.

H

Pages in category "The Shadowlands"

The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.

A

N

P

S

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