Darkon: Difference between revisions

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*[[625 BC]] [[Urik von Kharkov]]'s [[vampire]] master is slain. Kharkov flees, casually [[murder]]ing any souls unfortunate to cross his path.<ref name="Darklords p. 54">[[Darklords]] p.54</ref> As a result, [[Valachan]] forms, and he becomes a [[darklord]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
*[[625 BC]] [[Urik von Kharkov]]'s [[vampire]] master is slain. Kharkov flees, casually [[murder]]ing any souls unfortunate to cross his path.<ref name="Darklords p. 54">[[Darklords]] p.54</ref> As a result, [[Valachan]] forms, and he becomes a [[darklord]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
*[[630 BC]] The [[Sea of Sorrows]] forms, giving Darkon its first avenue of sea trade.<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref>
*[[630 BC]] The [[Sea of Sorrows]] forms, giving Darkon its first avenue of sea trade.<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref>
*[[637 BC]] [[Frederick van Richten]] establishes the [[Richten Haus]] [[estate]] on the outskirts of [[Rivalis]].<ref name="Bleak House: Homecoming p. 29>[[Bleak House: Homecoming]] p. 29</ref>
*[[650 BC]] [[The Kargat]] establish the [[Faith of the Overseer]] in [[Darkon]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
*[[650 BC]] [[The Kargat]] establish the [[Faith of the Overseer]] in [[Darkon]].<ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
*{{netbook-small}}[[651 BC]] [[Carcharodon Isle (Domain)|Carcharodon Isle]] forms in the [[Sea of Sorrows]] near [[Martira Bay]]<ref name=BoSp.74>[[The Book of Souls (Netbook)]] p.74</ref> It eventually falls under [[Darkonian]] rule, specifically that of [[the Kargat]].<ref name=BoSp.73>[[The Book of Souls (Netbook)]] p.73</ref>
*{{netbook-small}}[[651 BC]] [[Carcharodon Isle (Domain)|Carcharodon Isle]] forms in the [[Sea of Sorrows]] near [[Martira Bay]]<ref name=BoSp.74>[[The Book of Souls (Netbook)]] p.74</ref> It eventually falls under [[Darkonian]] rule, specifically that of [[the Kargat]].<ref name=BoSp.73>[[The Book of Souls (Netbook)]] p.73</ref>
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*[[728 BC]] [[Dr. Van Richten]] and his companions defeats the [[Phantom Army]].<ref>[[Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts]] p. 91</ref>
*[[728 BC]] [[Dr. Van Richten]] and his companions defeats the [[Phantom Army]].<ref>[[Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts]] p. 91</ref>
*[[734 BC]] [[Salizarr]] is drawn from [[Cormyr]] into the [[sewer]]s of [[Il Aluk]].<ref>[[Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II]]</ref>
*[[734 BC]] [[Salizarr]] is drawn from [[Cormyr]] into the [[sewer]]s of [[Il Aluk]].<ref>[[Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II]]</ref>
*[[734 BC]] [[Batholomew Nylreav]] is given knighthood in return for acts performed on behalf of [[Darkon]].<ref name ="Book of Sorrows p. 77">[[Book of Sorrows]] p. 77</ref>
*[[735 BC]] [[Azalin]] discovers [[Hyskosa's Hexad]]<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 22">[[Gazetteer II]] p. 22</ref>
*[[735 BC]] [[Azalin]] discovers [[Hyskosa's Hexad]]<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 22">[[Gazetteer II]] p. 22</ref>
*[[736 BC]] [[Elsepeth]] goes to [[Nartok]].
*[[736 BC]] [[Elsepeth]] goes to [[Nartok]].
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*[[740 BC]] Panicked by the Grand Conjunction, Hermos and the rest of the folks from L'Morai flee from Darkon into [[Falkovnia]] seeking a better life. [[Isolde (Carnival)|Isolde]] saves them from certain demise. Under her leadership, a new [[Carnival (Society)|Carnival]] assembles.<ref name="Carnival p. 40">[[Carnival]] p. 40</ref>
*[[740 BC]] Panicked by the Grand Conjunction, Hermos and the rest of the folks from L'Morai flee from Darkon into [[Falkovnia]] seeking a better life. [[Isolde (Carnival)|Isolde]] saves them from certain demise. Under her leadership, a new [[Carnival (Society)|Carnival]] assembles.<ref name="Carnival p. 40">[[Carnival]] p. 40</ref>
*[[743 BC]] [[Carnival]] returns to [[Darkon]]. [[Tenira Courant]] enlists.<ref name="Carnival p. 49">[[Carnival]] p. 49</ref>
*[[743 BC]] [[Carnival]] returns to [[Darkon]]. [[Tenira Courant]] enlists.<ref name="Carnival p. 49">[[Carnival]] p. 49</ref>
*[[746 BC]] [[William Gruhman]] meanders through [[Martira Bay]] after being cut off from his [[doppelganger plant]] by some twist of fate.<ref name="The Forgotten Children p. 55-56">[[The Forgotten Children]] p.55-56</ref>
*[[744 BC]] After an unnatural rise in monster incursions, [[murder]]s, and [[caliban]] births in [[Viaki]], a couple of [[hag]]s are discovered as the source. They are dispatched.<ref name ="Gaz II p. 47">[[Gazetteer II]] p. 47</ref> [[Glennis MacFadden]], the third hag in the [[coven]] goes undiscovered. She melds into Viaki [[society]] under the guise of a [[human]] [[midwife]] and even [[advisor]] to the city council.<ref name="Requiem:TGH Necropolis p.15">[[Requiem: The Grim Harvest - Necropolis]] p.15</ref> She is still pursuing her dream of revenge undiscovered as of [[756 BC]].<ref name ="Gaz II p. 48">[[Gazetteer II]] p. 48</ref>
*[[746 BC]] [[William Gruhman]] meanders through [[Martira Bay]] after being cut off from his [[doppelganger plant]] by some twist of fate.<ref name="The Forgotten Children p. 55-56">[[The Forgotten Children]] p.55-56</ref>  
*[[747 BC]] As [[Carnival]] stops by the [[Brautislava Institute]], [[Professor Pacali]] decides to follow them to study their [[abnormal physiology]]. He eventually falls victim to [[the Twisting]].<ref name="Carnival p. 44">[[Carnival]] p. 44</ref>
*[[747 BC]] As [[Carnival]] stops by the [[Brautislava Institute]], [[Professor Pacali]] decides to follow them to study their [[abnormal physiology]]. He eventually falls victim to [[the Twisting]].<ref name="Carnival p. 44">[[Carnival]] p. 44</ref>
*[[747 BC]] [[Karimana Reldkasen]] is awarded the title of [[Baroness of Martira Bay]] after she reveals her husband's [[corruption]] to [[Azalin]].<ref name="Bleak House Book III p. 25">[[Bleak House: Heroes, Monsters, and Settings]] p.25</ref>
*[[747 BC]] [[Karimana Reldkasen]] is awarded the title of [[Baroness of Martira Bay]] after she reveals her husband's [[corruption]] to [[Azalin]].<ref name="Bleak House Book III p. 25">[[Bleak House: Heroes, Monsters, and Settings]] p.25</ref>
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*[[750 BC]] '''December:''' [[The Requiem]] occurs.<ref>[[Requiem]]</ref><ref name="DoD p.17">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref> As a result, Azalin [[disappears]], apparently destroyed. [[Il Aluk]] is engulfed by [[the Shroud]], becoming [[Necropolis]]. However, at this point it is still a part of Darkon.
*[[750 BC]] '''December:''' [[The Requiem]] occurs.<ref>[[Requiem]]</ref><ref name="DoD p.17">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref> As a result, Azalin [[disappears]], apparently destroyed. [[Il Aluk]] is engulfed by [[the Shroud]], becoming [[Necropolis]]. However, at this point it is still a part of Darkon.
*750 BC-[[755 BC]] [[The Shrouded Years]] As Azalin struggles to regain corporeal form, his mind reaches out to those of his subjects in the [[Drowning Dreams]]. Although his loyal minions can sense him, so can [[Death]]. Death sends out his Horsemen to prevent Azalin's resurrection and wreak devastation upon Darkon.<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 23-24">[[Gazetteer II]] p. 23-24</ref>
*750 BC-[[755 BC]] [[The Shrouded Years]] As Azalin struggles to regain corporeal form, his mind reaches out to those of his subjects in the [[Drowning Dreams]]. Although his loyal minions can sense him, so can [[Death]]. Death sends out his Horsemen to prevent Azalin's resurrection and wreak devastation upon Darkon.<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 23-24">[[Gazetteer II]] p. 23-24</ref>
*[[751 BC]] After becoming the wife of [[Burgomaster Borganov]]'s wife, [[Hilde Borgangov]] becomes the [[high priest|high priestess]] of [[Tidemore]]. She converts  
*[[751 BC]] After becoming the wife of [[Burgomaster Borganov]]'s wife, [[Hilde Borgannov]] becomes the [[high priest|high priestess]] of [[Tidemore]]. She converts most of the town to an obscure, aquatic [[religion]].
*[[Lazy Kazandra]] restructures [[the Kargatane]] to meet the demands of a world without Azalin and turns them into her own [[puppet]]s.<ref name="Domains of Dread p. 157">[[Domains of Dread P.157</ref>
*[[Lady Kazandra]] restructures [[the Kargatane]] to meet the demands of a world without Azalin and turns them into her own [[puppet]]s.<ref name="Domains of Dread p. 157">[[Domains of Dread P.157</ref>
*[[751 BC]] [[Bastion Teodorus Raines]] writes the ''[[Fourth Book of Ezra]]'' and is recognized as the Bastion of the Darkonian [[Church of Ezra]].<ref name="RLCS p.18">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.18</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.20">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.20</ref>[ He cleanses and occupies [[the Last Redoubt]] in [[Nevuchar Springs]].<ref name="Gaz II p.39">[[Gazetteer II]] p.39</ref>
*[[751 BC]] [[Bastion Teodorus Raines]] writes the ''[[Fourth Book of Ezra]]'' and is recognized as the Bastion of the Darkonian [[Church of Ezra]].<ref name="RLCS p.18">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.18</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.20">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.20</ref>[ He cleanses and occupies [[the Last Redoubt]] in [[Nevuchar Springs]].<ref name="Gaz II p.39">[[Gazetteer II]] p.39</ref>
*[[751 BC]] '''March:''' [[Falkovnia]] launches its fifth invasion of [[Darkon]] in the [[March of Doom]]. Falkovnian forces reach as far north as [[Nartok]] before being turned back by the undead.
*[[751 BC]] '''March:''' [[Falkovnia]] launches its fifth invasion of [[Darkon]] in the [[March of Doom]]. Falkovnian forces reach as far north as [[Nartok]] before being turned back by the undead.

Revision as of 13:14, 7 February 2016

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 Faith of the Overseer
Government Feudal monarchy
Ruler(s) Azalin Rex
Darklord(s) Azalin Rex
Nationality Darkonian
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 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 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

Darkon map by the MCS. Note: Since this fan-made map predates 3rd Edition Ravenloft, there are some inconsistencies with the more recent maps.


Weather

Terrain

Mountains & Hills

Forest

Lakes

Landmarks

Communication

Rivers

Roads

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

Language & Culture

Darkonese

Inns & Taverns

Chronology


This page incorporates content from the inactive Mordent Cartographic Society. Used with their express permission.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Gazetteer II p. 23
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Gazetteer II p. 22
  3. Gazetteer II p.135
  4. Gazetteer II p.9
  5. Book of Sorrows p.60
  6. Gazetteer II p. 19
  7. Gazetteer II p.16
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Gazetteer II p.143
  9. 9.0 9.1 Darklords p.54
  10. 10.0 10.1 Ravenloft Third Edition p.17
  11. 11.0 11.1 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19
  12. Domains of Dread p.17
  13. Bleak House: Homecoming p. 29
  14. The Book of Souls (Netbook) p.74
  15. The Book of Souls (Netbook) p.73
  16. 16.0 16.1 Gazetteer II p.117
  17. 17.0 17.1 Gazetteer II p. 21
  18. Gazetteer II p.92-93
  19. Gazetteer II p. 29
  20. 20.0 20.1 Gazetteer II p. 93
  21. Book of Sorrows p.56
  22. [[Van Richten's Guide to the Created p.6
  23. 23.0 23.1 Gazetteer II p. 94
  24. Van Richten's Arsenal, p. 11
  25. The encounter is canon, being described in Van Richten's Guide to the Ancient Dead (Book) p.5-6. The date is speculation taken from John W. Mangrum's Unofficial Ravenloft Timeline (p. 26 based on several references in the official source material.)
  26. Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts p. 91
  27. Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II
  28. Book of Sorrows p. 77
  29. 29.0 29.1 Carnival p. 40
  30. Carnival p. 49
  31. Gazetteer II p. 47
  32. Requiem: The Grim Harvest - Necropolis p.15
  33. Gazetteer II p. 48
  34. The Forgotten Children p.55-56
  35. Carnival p. 44
  36. Bleak House: Heroes, Monsters, and Settings p.25
  37. Gazetteer II p. 23
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 Domains of Dread p.17
  39. 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 Ravenloft Third Edition p.18
  40. 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.20
  41. Gazetteer II p.138
  42. Requiem
  43. Gazetteer II p. 23-24
  44. [[Domains of Dread P.157
  45. Gazetteer II p.39
  46. Gazetteer II p.41
  47. Book of Secrets p.127
  48. Book of Sacrifices p. 118
  49. Undead Sea Scrolls 2002 p.129
  50. Gazetteer II p.24
  51. Gazetteer II p. 24
  52. Gazetteer II p.55

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Ravenloft Third Edition
Domains of Dread
Requiem: The Grim Harvest - Necropolis
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume II

Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume II - pp8-53

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp7,17,19-21,24,55
Ravenloft Third Edition - pp13,15,16,19,110,116-117
Domains of Dread - pp33-35
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I - pp 106-107, 241-242
Requiem: The Grim Harvest - Necropolis - pp1-32
Van Richten's Guide to The Created - p12,50-51,55
Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts - p5
The Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - pp11-13
Realm of Terror - pp67-68
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume II - pp8-53
I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin - p234, 256

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp8-9
Ravenloft Third Edition - inside cover
Domains of Dread - pp26-27
Requiem: The Grim Harvest - poster map
The Ravenloft Campaign Setting - poster map
Realm of Terror - poster map
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume II - p12