Gazetteer Metaplot

[cure]

If there is to be an escape, but not by Azalin himself, and if fear is to be put into the 'soul' of the Dark Powers, could it be something as 'banal' as freeing the being trapped in the Obsidian Gate of the Shadow Rift? That power, given half a chance, has already badly scarred the spacial and temporal fabric of Ravenloft? In the fullness of time, what damange could it deal out and could the Dark Powers themselves be thereby harmed, either indirectly through the shredding of their creation or directly through more esoteric means?

[Lucius]

There´s a long time since nobody posts any new speculation here. So here is one more:

Ravenloft Gazetteer IV, page 48

"...Malocchio seems neither afraid or not affetcted by the wrath of the vistani, despite the many dying or wronged gypsies who cursed his name with all the venom they could muster. Vistani curses, feared throughout the Land of Mists, appear to be totally powerless against the Dukkar, and the vistani have suffered all the more for it."

Azalin comment:

"Were you not so intent on your own agenda, my little scholar, you might now see exactly how this demonspawn fits into my plans. But you will see someday, little one. You will indeed."

What I can conclude is that Azalin wnats to use the Dukkar and the other sons of the GC to freed himself form his darklrod curse. Doing this in a way that the geography of the demiplane will remain the same, and the darklrods willr emain bound to their respective domains, but without their curses. So he will be able to learn new magic and to give a new life to Irik.

Sure the other darklrods will start to pursue his own interests, staring varios conflicts through the Land of Mists (this also explains Azalin comments about Tara Kolyana in gaz I)

I´m just wondering, now that WW has not more the rights over the setting, if the Gaz metaplot can be discussed by the authors.

[Jester of the FoS]

They've chosen not to, even after WW returned control. From what I recall the reasoning was threefold:

1) The plot might still technically be the intellectual copyright of White Wolf. They've returned the licenced setting but the metaplot was not leased to them, it was independant of the deal, thus it may still be owned by that company.

2) Revealing the plot might limit player creativity as we have dozens of ideas throughout the web.

3) People continually read into what they say and misinterpret things, so after a couple weeks everyone would be fighting over nuances and trivialities. They'd continue to twist whatever was said to fit their own theories.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Yeah, but this way, the Gazs will always remain unfinished business...

:provoking: Who said there ever was a plot? Maybe there was no concept behind the Gazs at all!

I mean, a short summary would be enough - not that it would have too much impact on most games, but, hey, I'd really like to know...

[Alanik Ray]

C'mon people!!! It's been almost 3 years!!!

As Dr. Evil used to say, "Throw us a freaking bone here!"

[Scipio]

Well, I've put off jumping into the "random and wild speculation" game for a while, so I guess it's my turn.

After reading the passage in R3E it seems to me that Azalin has indeed stopped attempting escape, at least for now. The key sentence to me is "But here, my tormenters, the implacable forces that shape this realm, deny me the greatest gifts of my intellect." This combined with the line "I have stolen a glimpse at knowledge my tormentors do not wish me to have" and the fact that the first part of Azalin's plan involved information gathering, suggests to me that perhaps his goal is a greater understanding of the realm. He wants to figure out the "mysteries" that even the DPs don't understand.

I believe that perhaps these mysteries may include the DPs apparent inability to confine Malocchio, something which would greatly interest Azalin. I think he believes that perhaps, if he can understand that, he can find a way to weasel out of his curse, and if not escape the demiplane, at least learn new magic and get back Irik.

[Isabella]

Back when the thread was still alive my theory was that Azalin's main plan was to use the children of the gentleman caller to somehow destroy or neutralize the Dark Powers; it's possible that the DPs limited control over the some of them. But I get the feeling that Azalin's plan doesn't explain half of the Time of Unparalled Darkness, and there's a whole slew of questions about S, her bracer, and the other major players that is pretty much the domain of fan speculation now. (I'd imagine the Gentleman Caller himself is hoping to use this as a means of escape.)

To be honest, with all the fan guesses, ideas, and plot hooks found buried in this thread (despite the constant assurace of the creators that it is all wrong), it might be better just to leave it nebulous. Right now it's like a giant mass of Dread Possibilities, which each GM can use as s/he sees fit; maing a "official" version, despite the fact the GM can choose to disregard it, seems to slow down alternate fan creations on that particular subject.

[Steve Miller]

Azalin's secret plan was...


(spoiler)


... to start a pizza and Chinese food delivery network that would cover the Core and Island domains of the demiplane.

S. was doing market research, but Azaline didn't let her know, because he feared she would sell the idea to Strahd.

[Le Noir Faineant]

You are a very, very sick man, Mr Miller... And you made me spit my mornign coffee over my desk. Many thanks!

[Scipio]

See, I would've bought it better if he were going to start a coffeeshop. I mean I could see Starbucks as part of an evil scheme.

[Alanik Ray]

Azalin's secret plan was...


(spoiler)


... to start a pizza and Chinese food delivery network that would cover the Core and Island domains of the demiplane.

S. was doing market research, but Azaline didn't let her know, because he feared she would sell the idea to Strahd.

That's... just... mean (rolling power check).

Seriously now, Steve, Mangrum... anyone?

[Lucius]

As Dr. Evil used to say, "Throw us a freaking bone here!"

Azalin: "Here is" Throwing his femur on you.


Now what Azalin must be planning:

A common day in Invidia, until Mallochio realizes that he is free from his magical bound, before he starts teleporting over the places a servant enters the room:

"Milord , someone delivered this" showing a large box in the size of a coffin.

Mallochio: "okay, now leaveme before I start breaking everything in a murderous rampage!! "hummm, let´s see maybe a present from daddy...hum...a card from Azalin:"

"Dear little demonspawn, for my admiration I used your 12 brothers to break the spell binding you. Before you can enjoy your freedom, there´s one more gift, a beautful little scholar that has no more use to me. Enjoy!"


Mallochio looks to S magically sleeping inside the box

"Oh! What ugly woman, maybe she is a vistana...no..no..her nose resembles Vlad Drakov´s nose...she can´t be a vistana, what Azalin expect me to do to this crap?..Oh...what is this, a cool bracer! Great gift!...but I can´t remove this...

GUARDS!! MY SWORD!!!

"Right! The ugly woman had lost her arm, but this cool magical bracer is mine"

Mallochio puts the bracer and suddenly a flash of light.

Azalin (now in Mallochio´s body)looking to S: "Hah! This answer your insistent questions my little scholar??? The bracer was an adaptation of my phylactery, but in a fashion that would attract the Dukkar attention.

By the way, I don´t need you no more, so I can absorb your knowledge as I tried to do to some other clones..."

Time to go to my magical studies, so I can restore Irik to those old bones....oh..almost forgot:

TRY TO CATCH ME NOW MY FOOL TORMENTORS!!

[Hashmalum]

I was thinking along the lines of "possess Malocchio's body" myself, but rather than bring his phylactery to Malocchio, he must bring Malocchio to him--which means he must be freed first ("...give him that which he does seek..."). As for S's bracer, I'm guessing that it contains her soul and/or her memories, and whenever she gets killed, this is used to transfer her into a new, cloned body.

[Jakob]

As Dr. Evil used to say, "Throw us a freaking bone here!"

Azalin: "Here is" Throwing his femur on you.


Now what Azalin must be planning:

A common day in Invidia, until Mallochio realizes that he is free from his magical bound, before he starts teleporting over the places a servant enters the room:

"Milord , someone delivered this" showing a large box in the size of a coffin.

Mallochio: "okay, now leaveme before I start breaking everything in a murderous rampage!! "hummm, let´s see maybe a present from daddy...hum...a card from Azalin:"

"Dear little demonspawn, for my admiration I used your 12 brothers to break the spell binding you. Before you can enjoy your freedom, there´s one more gift, a beautful little scholar that has no more use to me. Enjoy!"


Mallochio looks to S magically sleeping inside the box

"Oh! What ugly woman, maybe she is a vistana...no..no..her nose resembles Vlad Drakov´s nose...she can´t be a vistana, what Azalin expect me to do to this crap?..Oh...what is this, a cool bracer! Great gift!...but I can´t remove this...

GUARDS!! MY SWORD!!!

"Right! The ugly woman had lost her arm, but this cool magical bracer is mine"

Mallochio puts the bracer and suddenly a flash of light.

Azalin (now in Mallochio´s body)looking to S: "Hah! This answer your insistent questions my little scholar??? The bracer was an adaptation of my phylactery, but in a fashion that would attract the Dukkar attention.

By the way, I don´t need you no more, so I can absorb your knowledge as I tried to do to some other clones..."

Time to go to my magical studies, so I can restore Irik to those old bones....oh..almost forgot:

TRY TO CATCH ME NOW MY FOOL TORMENTORS!!

...
That was... Interesting.

[Alanik Ray]

As Dr. Evil used to say, "Throw us a freaking bone here!"

Azalin: "Here is" Throwing his femur on you.


Now what Azalin must be planning:

A common day in Invidia, until Mallochio realizes that he is free from his magical bound, before he starts teleporting over the places a servant enters the room:

"Milord , someone delivered this" showing a large box in the size of a coffin.

Mallochio: "okay, now leaveme before I start breaking everything in a murderous rampage!! "hummm, let´s see maybe a present from daddy...hum...a card from Azalin:"

"Dear little demonspawn, for my admiration I used your 12 brothers to break the spell binding you. Before you can enjoy your freedom, there´s one more gift, a beautful little scholar that has no more use to me. Enjoy!"


Mallochio looks to S magically sleeping inside the box

"Oh! What ugly woman, maybe she is a vistana...no..no..her nose resembles Vlad Drakov´s nose...she can´t be a vistana, what Azalin expect me to do to this crap?..Oh...what is this, a cool bracer! Great gift!...but I can´t remove this...

GUARDS!! MY SWORD!!!

"Right! The ugly woman had lost her arm, but this cool magical bracer is mine"

Mallochio puts the bracer and suddenly a flash of light.

Azalin (now in Mallochio´s body)looking to S: "Hah! This answer your insistent questions my little scholar??? The bracer was an adaptation of my phylactery, but in a fashion that would attract the Dukkar attention.

By the way, I don´t need you no more, so I can absorb your knowledge as I tried to do to some other clones..."

Time to go to my magical studies, so I can restore Irik to those old bones....oh..almost forgot:

TRY TO CATCH ME NOW MY FOOL TORMENTORS!!

Niiiiice!!! High five!!!