Ryan Naylor wrote:Azalin thought it was Strahd linking himself to Barovia via his "I am the Ancient, I am the land" speech with the Ba'al Verzi dagger that did it (see I, Strahd I and II for details) - he was the first to tie himself so tightly to his realm that the Mists could snatch up him *and* the land. Further evidence - you will note that Forlorn (the second domain) has a lord who is equally intimately tied to his land before entry (by Rual's curse binding him to the grove). Har'Akir is perhaps a similar story, as the Black Lands pharaoh is obviously a Fisher King figure to some extent.
This is exactly the answer I was looking for. Something that just made Strahd that little bit "more" than other lords.
Now, to work out how to sever his ties to the land...
Ryan Naylor wrote:Azalin thought it was Strahd linking himself to Barovia via his "I am the Ancient, I am the land" speech with the Ba'al Verzi dagger that did it (see I, Strahd I and II for details) - he was the first to tie himself so tightly to his realm that the Mists could snatch up him *and* the land. Further evidence - you will note that Forlorn (the second domain) has a lord who is equally intimately tied to his land before entry (by Rual's curse binding him to the grove). Har'Akir is perhaps a similar story, as the Black Lands pharaoh is obviously a Fisher King figure to some extent.
This is exactly the answer I was looking for. Something that just made Strahd that little bit "more" than other lords.
Now, to work out how to sever his ties to the land...
I don't think that making it hallowed would do it. The tie to the land was created when he was still mortal, and it was, in a way, a consecration in its own right.
Deranged Comics Fan
Strife-monger
Daughter of a Troll
Well think of something to counter his little ritual. I believe he cut his land and claimed it as his own. Perhaps if someone 'defeated him' or took castle ravenloft they could do the same ritual bleeding their blood into the land.
Yea, I'm thinking that some kind of ritual is needed - perhaps involving the Ba'al Verzi dagger, and probably with Sergei and Tatyana's latest incarnation in attendance. Basically, I'm thinking that one has to sever Strahd's ties to the land in order to defeat him once and for all (essentially, he can't die while Barovia exists and vice-versa) and destroy the Demiplane. Of course, this is all just Azalin 's latest plan to escape - and like always, is doomed to failure.
