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[[Category:Npc]]
(please do not edit- WIP)
In the fictional Ravenloft Campaign setting, a darklord (sometimes referred to as "domain lord") is an [[nonplayer character]] whose [[evil]] has drawn the attention of [[the Dark Powers]]. Each darklord is ultimately [[imprisoned]] inside a [[domain]], a [[prison]] ultimately reflective of the darklord's personality, nature and crimes. A domain usually, but not always, comprises a body of land and/or water considerable enough that it might be considered a small, discrete nation or realm. Though [[imprisoned]] within, the conditions that bind a darklord to a realm also give the darklord great power over the domain. (This is not to say darklords necessarily have temporal rule over their domain, but they are often in positions of political power or other leadership roles. Exceptions, such as [[Adam]] do exist.)
 
Each darklord suffer from his or her own personal [[curse]], crafted to torment through poetic justice. To go along with their imprisonment, darklords are prevented from ever achieving their ultimate goals. The great and often unnatural powers, including the connection to their domains, might be considered "rewards" in compensation, but ultimately these boons are miniscule in relation to the personal hells that darklords suffer.
 
==Becoming a Darklord==
Darklords are always creatures of great [[evil]], figures for the most part beyond redemption. They are not [[victim]]s but rather ultimately [[villain]]s, having at least hypothetically walked the path to damnation of their own choosing. It takes great acts of evil to earn the attentions of the Dark Powers.
 
The [[transgression|transgressions]] that damn a darklord may be successive over time, as following a series of failed [[Powers Checks]] along a [[Path of Corruption]] if the potential darklord has entered or is native to the [[Demiplane of Dread]]. On the other hand, [[:category:Act of Ultimate Darkness|acts of ultimate darkness]], deeds so foul they outweigh all other sins, may draw greater attention from the Dark Powers. As such, living outside the Demiplane is no protection for the greatly wicked, as the Demiplane may drawn in new darklords from perpetrators of great evil from the [[Prime Material Plane]].
 
If a [[Player Character]] performs enough evil acts, that character may become a darklord. However, darklords are villains that prevent them from being run by players. Hence, a player character that becomes a darklord also becomes a [[NPC]], with the player losing control over the character.
 
==Powers of a Darklord==
Darklords are often gifted with unnatural powers that go beyond the capabilities of their [[race]] or [[class]]. These powers can vary far and wide, from exuding [[poison]] to [[immortality]] or even [[:category:Reality Warper|reality warping]]. Of course, a few darklords receive little to no unusual powers, but might receive political or other powers of leadership that they would not otherwise have gained. [[Vlad Drakov]] and [[Thakok-An]] are two examples.
 
As previously mentioned, a darklord wields great power within their domain-prison, such that they may be considered the "warden" of the domain, in addition to being its ultimate [[prisoner]]. Reflecting this theme, darklords commonly have power over "closing the [[border|borders]]" of their domains, an ability to shut out travel whether in or out. No mortal magic (such as [[teleportation]] [[spell|spells]]) is capable of moving past or circumventing close domain borders. Similarly, if a darklord has a specially granted control over certain denizens over his domain, such as [[undead]] or [[animal|animals]], this control overcomes magical or conventional means that might otherwise challenge it.
 
Of course, no matter what special powers darklords may have, none of them will grant darklords escape from domains or their curses.
 
==List of Canon Darklords, by Domain==
===[[The Core]]===
*[[Barovia]]: [[Strahd von Zarovich]]
*[[Borca]]: [[Ivana Boritsi]] and [[Ivan Dilisnya]]
*[[Darkon]]: [[Azalin Rex]]
*[[Dementlieu]]: [[Dominic d'Honaire]]
*[[Falkovnia]]: [[Vlad Drakov]]
*[[Forlorn]]: [[Tristen ApBlanc]]
*[[Hazlan]]: [[Hazlik]]
*[[Invidia]]: [[Gabrielle Aderre]]
*[[Lamordia]]: [[Adam]]
*[[Mordent]]: [[Wilfred Godefroy]]
*[[Necropolis]]: [[Death]]
*The [[Nocturnal Sea]]: [[Meredoth]]
*[[Nova Vaasa]]: [[Malken]]
*[[Richemulot]]: [[Jacqueline Renier]]
*The [[Sea of Sorrows]]: [[Captain Pieter van Riese]]
*The [[Shadow Rift]]: [[Gwydion the Sorcerer-Fiend]]
*[[Sithicus]]: [[Inza Kulchevich]]
*[[Tepest]]: [[The Three Hags]]
*[[Valachan]]: [[Urik von Kharkov]]
*[[Verbrek]]: [[Alfred Timothy]]
 
====Island Domains in the Nocturnal Sea====
(Note that [[Graben Island]] and [[Todstein]] are all part of the domain of the Nocturnal Sea.)
*[[Isle of the Ravens]]: [[The Lady of Ravens]]
*[[L'île de la Tempête]]: [[Alain Monette]]
*[[Liffe]]: [[Baron Lyron Evensong|Lyron Evensong]]
*[[Vechor]]: [[Easan]]
 
====Island Domains in the Sea of Sorrows====
*[[Blaustein]]: [[Bluebeard]]
*[[Demise]]: [[Althea]]
*[[Dominia]]: [[Dr. Daclaud Heinfroth|Daclaud Heinfroth]]
*[[Ghastria]]: [[Stezen d'Polarno]]
*[[The Isle]]: [[Dr. Blake Ramsay]]
*[[Markovia]]: [[Frantisek Markov]]
 
===[[Cluster]]s===
 
====[[The Amber Wastes]]====
*[[Har'Akir]]: [[Ankhtepot]]
*[[Pharazia]]: [[Diamabel]]
*[[Sebua]]: [[Tiyet]]
 
====[[The Frozen Reaches]]====
*[[Sanguinia]]: [[Prince Ladislav Mircea|Ladislav Mircea]]
*[[Vorostokov]]: [[Gregor Zolnik]]
 
====[[The Shadowlands]]====
*[[Avonleigh]]: [[Morgoroth the Black]]
*[[Nidala]]: [[Elena Faith-hold]]
*[[Shadowborn Manor]]: [[Ebonbane]]
 
====[[The Verduous Lands]]====
*[[Saragoss]]: [[Draga Saltbiter]]
*[[Sri Raji]]: [[Arijani]]
*[[The Wildlands]]: [[King Crocodile]]
 
====[[Zherisia]]====
*[[Paridon]]: [[Sodo]]
*[[Timor]]: [[The Hive Queen]]
 
===[[:category:Island of Terror|Islands of Terror]]===
*[[Bluetspur]]: [[The Illithid God-Brain (NPC)|The Illithid God-Brain]]
*[[G'Henna]]: [[Yagno Petrovna]]
*[[I'Cath]]: [[Tsien Chiang]]
*[[Kalidnay]]: [[Thakok-An]]
*[[Nosos]]: [[Malus Sceleris]]
*[[Souragne]]: [[Anton Misroi]]
*[[Staunton Bluffs]]: [[Sir Torrence Bleysmith|Torrence Bleysmith]]
 
===[[Pocket Domain]]s===
*[[Castle Island]] (in Tepest): [[The Lady of the Lake]]
*[[Davion (Domain)|Davion]]: [[Davion the Mad]]
*[[The Eyrie]]: [[The Baron]]
*[[the House of Lament]] (in Borca): The House of Lament
*[[the Nightmare Lands]]: [[The Nightmare Court]]
*[[Scaena]]: [[Lemot Sediam Juste]]
*[[The Winding Road]]: [[The Headless Horseman]]
 
===[[Shadowfell Domain]]s===
(Only listed if the darklord is different from above in case of duplications)
*[[Cyre 1313]]: [[the Last Passenger]]
*[[Darkon (Shadowfell)|Darkon]]: none known (Formerly Azalin Rex)
*[[Dementlieu (Shadowfell)|Dementlieu]]: [[Saidra d'Honaire]]
*[[The Endless Road]]: [[Eli van Hassen]]
*[[Falkovnia (Shadowfell)|Falkovnia]]: [[Vladeska Drakov]]
*[[Graefmotte]]: [[Lord Durven Graef|Durven Graef]]
*[[Histhaven]]: [[The Rag Man]]
*[[Kalakeri]]: [[Ramya Vasavadan]]
*[[Klorr (Domain)|Klorr]]: [[Klorr]]
*[[Lamordia (Shadowfell)|Lamordia]]: [[Dr. Viktra Mordenheim|Viktra Mordenheim]]
*[[Monadhan]]: [[Arantor]]
*[[The Rider's Bridge]]: [[The Headless Rider]]
*[[The Sea of Sorrows]]: [[Captain Pietra van Riese|Pietra van Riese]]
*[[Staunton Bluffs (Shadowfell)|Staunton Bluffs]]: [[Teresa Bleysmith]]
*[[Tepest (Shadowfell)|Tepest]]: [[Mother Lorinda]]
*[[Timbergorge (Domain)|Timbergorge]]: [[Silvermaw]]
*[[Tovag (Shadowfell)|Tovag]]: [[Kas the Betrayer]]
*[[Valachan (Shadowfell)|Valachan]]: [[Chakuna]]
*[[Vhage Agency]]: [[Flimira "Flintlock" Vhage]]
 
 
[[category:Character]][[category:Master]][[category:NPC]][[Category:Cursed]][[Category:Prisoner]][[Category:Ravenloft Lore]][[category:Corrupted by Failed Powers Checks]]
[[category:Punished]]
[[category:Evildoer]]
[[category:Villain]]

Latest revision as of 15:19, 18 April 2024

(please do not edit- WIP) In the fictional Ravenloft Campaign setting, a darklord (sometimes referred to as "domain lord") is an nonplayer character whose evil has drawn the attention of the Dark Powers. Each darklord is ultimately imprisoned inside a domain, a prison ultimately reflective of the darklord's personality, nature and crimes. A domain usually, but not always, comprises a body of land and/or water considerable enough that it might be considered a small, discrete nation or realm. Though imprisoned within, the conditions that bind a darklord to a realm also give the darklord great power over the domain. (This is not to say darklords necessarily have temporal rule over their domain, but they are often in positions of political power or other leadership roles. Exceptions, such as Adam do exist.)

Each darklord suffer from his or her own personal curse, crafted to torment through poetic justice. To go along with their imprisonment, darklords are prevented from ever achieving their ultimate goals. The great and often unnatural powers, including the connection to their domains, might be considered "rewards" in compensation, but ultimately these boons are miniscule in relation to the personal hells that darklords suffer.

Becoming a Darklord

Darklords are always creatures of great evil, figures for the most part beyond redemption. They are not victims but rather ultimately villains, having at least hypothetically walked the path to damnation of their own choosing. It takes great acts of evil to earn the attentions of the Dark Powers.

The transgressions that damn a darklord may be successive over time, as following a series of failed Powers Checks along a Path of Corruption if the potential darklord has entered or is native to the Demiplane of Dread. On the other hand, acts of ultimate darkness, deeds so foul they outweigh all other sins, may draw greater attention from the Dark Powers. As such, living outside the Demiplane is no protection for the greatly wicked, as the Demiplane may drawn in new darklords from perpetrators of great evil from the Prime Material Plane.

If a Player Character performs enough evil acts, that character may become a darklord. However, darklords are villains that prevent them from being run by players. Hence, a player character that becomes a darklord also becomes a NPC, with the player losing control over the character.

Powers of a Darklord

Darklords are often gifted with unnatural powers that go beyond the capabilities of their race or class. These powers can vary far and wide, from exuding poison to immortality or even reality warping. Of course, a few darklords receive little to no unusual powers, but might receive political or other powers of leadership that they would not otherwise have gained. Vlad Drakov and Thakok-An are two examples.

As previously mentioned, a darklord wields great power within their domain-prison, such that they may be considered the "warden" of the domain, in addition to being its ultimate prisoner. Reflecting this theme, darklords commonly have power over "closing the borders" of their domains, an ability to shut out travel whether in or out. No mortal magic (such as teleportation spells) is capable of moving past or circumventing close domain borders. Similarly, if a darklord has a specially granted control over certain denizens over his domain, such as undead or animals, this control overcomes magical or conventional means that might otherwise challenge it.

Of course, no matter what special powers darklords may have, none of them will grant darklords escape from domains or their curses.

List of Canon Darklords, by Domain

The Core

Island Domains in the Nocturnal Sea

(Note that Graben Island and Todstein are all part of the domain of the Nocturnal Sea.)

Island Domains in the Sea of Sorrows

Clusters

The Amber Wastes

The Frozen Reaches

The Shadowlands

The Verduous Lands

Zherisia

Islands of Terror

Pocket Domains

Shadowfell Domains

(Only listed if the darklord is different from above in case of duplications)

Subcategories

This category has the following 10 subcategories, out of 10 total.

C

D

P

S

Pages in category "Darklord"

The following 200 pages are in this category, out of 401 total.

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