Darkon: Difference between revisions
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==Emergence and Azalin== | |||
A feudal fantasy nation ruled over by the [[lich]]-king [[Azalin Rex]], '''Darkon''' is the largest domain in [[Ravenloft]]. Physically, it takes up the northern third of the main continent, the [[Core]], and its population easily exceeds that of any other single domain. Politically, Darkon is stable but not very influential, with its various nobles kept in check by Azalin's machinations. | A feudal fantasy nation ruled over by the [[lich]]-king [[Azalin Rex]], '''Darkon''' is the largest domain in [[Ravenloft]]. Physically, it takes up the northern third of the main continent, the [[Core]], and its population easily exceeds that of any other single domain. Politically, Darkon is stable but not very influential, with its various nobles kept in check by Azalin's machinations. | ||
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Due to Azalin's desire for unswerving loyalty, Darkon has the most obvious and unique curse in Ravenloft. After spending from one to three months within its borders, anyone not native to Darkon loses all memory of their original homeland, instead believing themselves to have always lived in Darkon. Additionally, they lose all personal desire to leave the country, though some do so anyway out of necessity or circumstance. The memories include a whole new life history and victim often adopt gravestones at the local cemeteries as graves of their ancestors. The lost memories return upon leaving the domain. In [[From the Shadows]], it is shown that their memories are magically recorded in a book in a library in [[Castle Avernus]]. | Due to Azalin's desire for unswerving loyalty, Darkon has the most obvious and unique curse in Ravenloft. After spending from one to three months within its borders, anyone not native to Darkon loses all memory of their original homeland, instead believing themselves to have always lived in Darkon. Additionally, they lose all personal desire to leave the country, though some do so anyway out of necessity or circumstance. The memories include a whole new life history and victim often adopt gravestones at the local cemeteries as graves of their ancestors. The lost memories return upon leaving the domain. In [[From the Shadows]], it is shown that their memories are magically recorded in a book in a library in [[Castle Avernus]]. | ||
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Some possible workarounds exist, but these involve doctoring the books in the Avernus library. As a plot device, it is possible that [[Azalin]] may bargain with powerful outsiders to restore their memories in exchange for a service. For low-level characters, another potential plot device is to have a "finder's agency" investigate their lost memories, which could uncover many events in neighboring Ravenloft domains. Also, the aimless vulnerability of individuals newly mind-wiped lends itself to interesting slavery or gang-related plots. | Some possible workarounds exist, but these involve doctoring the books in the Avernus library. As a plot device, it is possible that [[Azalin]] may bargain with powerful outsiders to restore their memories in exchange for a service. For low-level characters, another potential plot device is to have a "finder's agency" investigate their lost memories, which could uncover many events in neighboring Ravenloft domains. Also, the aimless vulnerability of individuals newly mind-wiped lends itself to interesting slavery or gang-related plots. | ||
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Azalin's desire to escape Ravenloft led to the disastrous [[Grand Conjunction]] in [[740]] Barovian Calendar, nearly destroying the [[Demiplane of Dread]]. His next escape attempt resulted in the equally catastrophic [[Requiem]], destroying his physical form and turning the capital city of Darkon, [[Il Aluk]], into a city of the undead, now called [[Necropolis]]. For the five years of Azalin's disappearance, Darkon itself was known as Necropolis due to the influence of that city's [[darklord]], Death. Azalin was restored to his body and his throne in time, and now plots a third escape attempt, the details of which are unknown. | Azalin's desire to escape Ravenloft led to the disastrous [[Grand Conjunction]] in [[740]] Barovian Calendar, nearly destroying the [[Demiplane of Dread]]. His next escape attempt resulted in the equally catastrophic [[Requiem]], destroying his physical form and turning the capital city of Darkon, [[Il Aluk]], into a city of the undead, now called [[Necropolis]]. For the five years of Azalin's disappearance, Darkon itself was known as Necropolis due to the influence of that city's [[darklord]], Death. Azalin was restored to his body and his throne in time, and now plots a third escape attempt, the details of which are unknown. | ||
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Darkon is one of the few domains of Ravenloft to accept demihumans such as elves and dwarves as equal citizens, and one of the few to embrace arcane magic openly. Darkon is often considered decadent by its neighbors, appropriate enough as Azalin encourages his citizens to debase themselves as a means of salving his own ego. | Darkon is one of the few domains of Ravenloft to accept demihumans such as elves and dwarves as equal citizens, and one of the few to embrace arcane magic openly. Darkon is often considered decadent by its neighbors, appropriate enough as Azalin encourages his citizens to debase themselves as a means of salving his own ego. | ||
==Things, Creatures & Personnages of Legend== | ==Things, Creatures & Personnages of Legend== | ||
*[[Azalin Rex]] | *[[Azalin Rex]] | ||
*[[Kargat| The Kargat]] | |||
* | *[[Kargatane]] | ||
*[[Eternal Order]] | |||
==Biology== | ==Biology== | ||
Revision as of 03:51, 11 February 2010
| Darkon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Culture Level | Dark Age to Chivalric |
| Ecology | Full |
| Climate & Terrain | Temperate forest, hill, plain, swamp |
| Year Formed | 579 BC |
| Population | ~120,000 |
| Races (%) | Humans 75%, Halflings 14%, Gnomes 5%, Elves 3%, Half-Elves 1%, Dwarves 1%, Other 1% |
| Languages | Darkonese, Halfling, Gnome, Elven, Dwarven, Falkovnian, Lamordian, Mordentish, Tepestani, Vaasi |
| Religions | The Eternal Order, Ezra, the Overseer |
| Government | Feudal monarchy |
| Ruler(s) | Azalin Rex |
| Darklord(s) | Azalin Rex |
| Nationality | {{{nationality}}} |
| Analog | European High Fantasy |
| Related Categories | |
| Locations in Darkon | |
| Transportation in Darkon | |
| Inhabitants of Darkon | |
| Former Inhabitants of Darkon | |
| Flora of Darkon | |
| Fauna of Darkon | |
| Native Monsters of Darkon | |
Emergence and Azalin
A feudal fantasy nation ruled over by the lich-king Azalin Rex, Darkon is the largest domain in Ravenloft. Physically, it takes up the northern third of the main continent, the Core, and its population easily exceeds that of any other single domain. Politically, Darkon is stable but not very influential, with its various nobles kept in check by Azalin's machinations.
In a real sense, Darkon's history is Azalin's history. After being driven out of his original homeland and finding himself in Ravenloft, Azal'Lan (originally a title meaning simply "Wizard King") was briefly befriended by Strahd von Zarovich, the darklord of Barovia. They were experimenting with a few magic spells to help each other escape until eventually Azalin gave up, and wandered into Darkon. After leaving, Azalin found himself the master of a sprawling domain that reflected his cruelty, his obsession with order, his cunning, and his greatest frustration: the inability to learn new magic.
Due to Azalin's desire for unswerving loyalty, Darkon has the most obvious and unique curse in Ravenloft. After spending from one to three months within its borders, anyone not native to Darkon loses all memory of their original homeland, instead believing themselves to have always lived in Darkon. Additionally, they lose all personal desire to leave the country, though some do so anyway out of necessity or circumstance. The memories include a whole new life history and victim often adopt gravestones at the local cemeteries as graves of their ancestors. The lost memories return upon leaving the domain. In From the Shadows, it is shown that their memories are magically recorded in a book in a library in Castle Avernus.
| This feature leads some to believe that Darkon is an unsuitable realm for an outsiders-based campaign. Some players have experimented with campaigns of rediscovery, where the players have no clue as to their "real" histories but can discover them through investigation. (Inspired by the movie Memento and the video game Planescape: Torment.)
Some possible workarounds exist, but these involve doctoring the books in the Avernus library. As a plot device, it is possible that Azalin may bargain with powerful outsiders to restore their memories in exchange for a service. For low-level characters, another potential plot device is to have a "finder's agency" investigate their lost memories, which could uncover many events in neighboring Ravenloft domains. Also, the aimless vulnerability of individuals newly mind-wiped lends itself to interesting slavery or gang-related plots. |
Azalin's desire to escape Ravenloft led to the disastrous Grand Conjunction in 740 Barovian Calendar, nearly destroying the Demiplane of Dread. His next escape attempt resulted in the equally catastrophic Requiem, destroying his physical form and turning the capital city of Darkon, Il Aluk, into a city of the undead, now called Necropolis. For the five years of Azalin's disappearance, Darkon itself was known as Necropolis due to the influence of that city's darklord, Death. Azalin was restored to his body and his throne in time, and now plots a third escape attempt, the details of which are unknown.
Darkon is one of the few domains of Ravenloft to accept demihumans such as elves and dwarves as equal citizens, and one of the few to embrace arcane magic openly. Darkon is often considered decadent by its neighbors, appropriate enough as Azalin encourages his citizens to debase themselves as a means of salving his own ego.
Things, Creatures & Personnages of Legend
Biology
Flora
Fauna
Native Horrors
Geography
Weather
Terrain
Mountains & Hills
- The Mountains of Misery
- The Forgotten Hills
Forest
Lakes
Landmarks
Communication
Rivers
- The Vuchar River
- The Tempe River
- The
Roads
- Argenteus Road
- Tempe Road
- Strigos Road (under construction)
Mistways
Frontiers
The Shadow Rift
Falkovnia
Lamordia
Sea of Sorrows
Misty Border
Nocturnal Sea
Nova Vaasa
Population Distrubtion
Cities
Towns
Villages
Authority
Darklord
Temporal Ruler
Spiritual Ruler
Church and State
Government
Law
Law-Enforcement
Extra-Judical
Information Gathering
Military Footing
- Any corpse in the land may rise to fight at the command of Azalin Rex.
Law-Enforcement
- Barons
- Kargat
Language & Culture
Darkonese
Inns & Taverns
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
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Ravenloft Third Edition |
|
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume II - pp8-53 | |
|
Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp7,17,19-21,24,55 | |
|
Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp8-9 |
