Spotlight on Valachan

[Five]

I'm not dissuaded. I simply meant that I didn't want to turn this thread into a "summarize this source for me please" sort of thread. Or, my input being outdated at best. Know what I mean? Wrong choice of words on my part. My intention is to go find and dig through those sources you've listed and spit out a few more thoughts and or observations. With luck I'll be up-to-date within a few days.

In the meantime, is there any official reason why the map of Valachan changed? I understand that official is what the reader says, but I'm just wondering about the discrepancy.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

No specific out-of-character reason I'm aware of, aside from how it made the map fit a little more easily on the page.

[Ryan Naylor]

From a Gaz IV point of view, Valachan doesn't border the Sea of Sorrows. It stops at Mordent (and I think has done since Domains of Dread), which is why the gaz doesn't mention any sea traffic.

No official reason beyond the way the map was drawn, although the Sea of Sorrows has always been described as particularly mutable in how much was mist bound and how much wasn't.

The Valachani do have a lot of river traffic though, and the Arden is a fairly enormous river.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

If you mean the pre-grand conjunction to post-grand conjunction map change, yeah, that's got a reason. The grand Conjunction shifted lots of domains around, though Valachan is the only one that actually got rotated. The Gaz mentions this and that the buildings built to face north now face east.

If you mean the moving misty border, and disappearing coastline, nope, no reason that I've seen, in or out of character.

[twinwolf]

on the topic of lady adeline, there is also a breif description of what her attentions have done to both the body and the psyche of one of her victims. i believe it's in VRA, the name of the gnomish woman escapes me as i don't have my books here in front of me.

[Five]

Ok, so I got my hands on a copy of Gaz IV. I struck out on the Dungeon magazines, but I'll still count it a victory.

As I read the entry on Valachan a few things popped into my head. More than a few, because it really opened up on what I thought I knew about the domain, but I'll list the preliminary 'notes'.

Also, I should note that in this thread it was an exchange between Strahdsbuddy and Manofevil that first suggested a possible link between Von Kharkov and Azalin. I just never saw it until Gaz IV reiterated it. For me anyway.


1) Black Leopards, The Cat's Claws, White Fever epidemic:

Is this the Baron's vampire aspect's attempt at mimicking Azalin's secret police? A force that he would have at least some level of intimate knowledge of (hence the assassination). To a then still developing 'human' mind, Azalin would have been THE supreme aspect/being of society. And later, to a then still developing vampire mind, Azalin would have represented THE supreme aspect/being of undead society. Either way, Azalin would have appeared almost godlike. Does he hold Azalin to such high esteem? And can that be one of the reasons why the Baron chose to become a vampire? In part to feed that underlying power lust? Seize a chance at becoming a supreme ruler of sentient beings AND their worst nightmares. Don't forget, up until this point he had been nothing but a pawn in the schemes of the only other (as far as we're told) authority figure in his life, Morphayas. If the emotional trauma was that great, then such a hunger for revenge would ultimately lead to a hunger for supremacy. A hunger already fuming, ready to just EXPLODE, somewhere not so deep in the subconscious...

And if this is indeed idol-worshipping, then would the Baron's vampire mind want to take Valachan to an economic level equal to or even surpassing that of Darkon? Suddenly, a gradual and steady rise in river trade and shipping in general (assuming it could exist, depending on what game source you have in front of you) would be a probability, not just a possibility. Generational, but Von Kharkov’s got the time.

But, the interesting thing to me here is, how would the leopard aspect react to such a scheme? Again, assuming there actually is a personality war happening in the Von Kharkov's head/body. Pushed to the side, poked, kicked, spat at by this pungent would-be 'master'. All instincts are against such restraints. Or some such thing. Play out the solitary aspect of his animal persona. Rotipher, work your magic! Heh.

Or, are the similarities between the two networks one born out of efficiency? A perfection of the familiar, as it was. A smaller, more tightly-run force could certainly warrant S' observation "the baron's ability to uncover secrets is certainly unrivaled and has often let him move in time to solve problems before they could truly begin." That's not a light thing to say, considering the source. A cracked or broken link (in the chain of information) is, after all, more easily noticed on a shorter length of chain.

By the way, I really liked the resonance of The Cat's Claws in my brain. That whole Big Brother/Person of Interest with a malevolent twist theme..I'd love to discuss them further, if anybody's game.

[Five]

on the topic of lady adeline, there is also a breif description of what her attentions have done to both the body and the psyche of one of her victims. i believe it's in VRA, the name of the gnomish woman escapes me as i don't have my books here in front of me.

VRA = Van Richten's Arsenal, right?

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

VRA = Van Richten's Arsenal, right?

Yup. The victim twinwolf is talking about is the gnome wizard Perseyus Lathenna.

[Five]

2) "Rumor has it that Lady Adeline frequently travels to Sithicus to rally support and attack Azrael's forces; von Kharkov appears to be maneuvering into position to annex the realm, supplanting Azrael with the loyal Lady Adeline." (Gaz IV)

Interesting. To me, this can be read as either a) von Kharkov actually is looking to 'Darkon' his realm (see Azalin's suggested influence on von Kharkov's vampire aspect above), that b) Lady Adeline is trying to pawn him into expanding her own sphere of influence (evil), or, that c) it's just that: rumor.

Personally, I'm starting to like what my brain is formulating in regards to Lady Adeline. There most definitely is room for us to 'Darth Vader' her.

a) Is she under direct orders to crush Sithicus into submission and or annihilation? Is there something in the elves blood that von Kharkov wants, for either himself, or his elite (an army of quasi-immortal, bite-sized Black Leopards)? Is it simply resource acquisition for that 'future tomorrow'? Define "support". Is this support as in The Cat's Claws in a foreign land?

If yes to any of it, then this is indeed an interesting generation one war tactic. More to come.


b) Is Lady Adeline actually trying to play von Kharkov so boldly as to help her achieve personal domination over such a large population of her 'life species'? Does von Kharkov see through her attempt? Is his leopard aspect (through intuition, etc) actually working with his vampire aspect, for once, to keep the 'vessel' alive (or, in this case, appearance of alive) by keeping him in tune to the suggestions? Or could the leopard aspect, either on its own or through intelligent and or bestial distraction, ultimately sabotage the vampire aspect into allowing Lady Adeline to go ahead with her schemes and manipulations? If aware, why would he allow her to whisper in his ear like that, and grant her even the slightest of nods? Has von Kharkov already replaced Lady Adeline with another, that in fact he just wants to see what her hunt might drag in?

Later, I'd like to take a crack at Lady Adeline and possible motives from her point of view. For now though, I'm going to default von Kharkov.

c) Yeah. It's just a rumor. 'S' is misinformed by von Kharkov's network of...misinformers.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

Kharkov's relationship with Adeline is interesting, certainly. Her outward appearance and her sick obsession with spreading her own twisted aesthetics (a bit like Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker) would be a severe turn-off for most potential allies. But Kharkov's origin as a non-sapient non-humanoid probably mean that he has no built-in, visceral distaste for her looks or how she deforms people. Intellectually, he knows it's what human society would consider hideous, but he doesn't feel it, so he can work with her where others might shy away.

The cat would be even more indifferent to what she looks like, and could possibly even feel a bit appreciative of the way she cripples people. Wounded prey is easy prey, and a crippled charisma means the quarry will be outcast and find no shelter in the herd. That, plus her gender and the fact that she's 100% diurnal and it's mostly nocturnal, would lead it to tolerate her sharing its hunting ground, same as a normal leopard wouldn't much care about an eagle hunting on its turf.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

a) Is she under direct orders to crush Sithicus into submission and or annihilation? Is there something in the elves blood that von Kharkov wants, for either himself, or his elite (an army of quasi-immortal, bite-sized Black Leopards)? Is it simply resource acquisition for that 'future tomorrow'? Define "support". Is this support as in The Cat's Claws in a foreign land?

Perhaps Kharkov has heard garbled reports about how the Black Rose had been using mirrors to visit his past, and believes that he could use them to alter his own history? Valachan's lord is plagued by so many regrets, even a rumor of something that could let him change the past is bound to tempt the guy. He doesn't have to know exactly how Soth's mirrors worked or if they still exist: he just has to think they can help him. In which case, the current power vacuum in Sithicus would draw him like the scent of a bleeding antelope fawn.

Normally he'd just send Adeline to fetch something he wants, but Sithicus is the one place where the locals are sure to know how to kill her, and Soth's abandoned castle is just too darned dark for her to enter lightly. (Plus, given her aesthetic obsessions, Kharkov may not trust her to handle mirrors: for all he knows, she might throw a fit and break them if she looks into one and sees her unmutilated past self.) So invading the place may be his only sure way to get ahold of the death knight's old possessions.

[Five]

Kharkov's relationship with Adeline is interesting, certainly. Her outward appearance and her sick obsession with spreading her own twisted aesthetics (a bit like Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker) would be a severe turn-off for most potential allies. But Kharkov's origin as a non-sapient non-humanoid probably mean that he has no built-in, visceral distaste for her looks or how she deforms people. Intellectually, he knows it's what human society would consider hideous, but he doesn't feel it, so he can work with her where others might shy away.

The cat would be even more indifferent to what she looks like, and could possibly even feel a bit appreciative of the way she cripples people. Wounded prey is easy prey, and a crippled charisma means the quarry will be outcast and find no shelter in the herd. That, plus her gender and the fact that she's 100% diurnal and it's mostly nocturnal, would lead it to tolerate her sharing its hunting ground, same as a normal leopard wouldn't much care about an eagle hunting on its turf.

I'll have a copy of "Chidren of the Night: Vampires" in my hands soon, so I'll have more input after I read up on Lady Adeline. Apparently my earlier tongue-in-cheek comment of her being an "EVILF" is incorrect..

[Five]

Perhaps Kharkov has heard garbled reports about how the Black Rose had been using mirrors to visit his past, and believes that he could use them to alter his own history? Valachan's lord is plagued by so many regrets, even a rumor of something that could let him change the past is bound to tempt the guy. He doesn't have to know exactly how Soth's mirrors worked or if they still exist: he just has to think they can help him. In which case, the current power vacuum in Sithicus would draw him like the scent of a bleeding antelope fawn.

Normally he'd just send Adeline to fetch something he wants, but Sithicus is the one place where the locals are sure to know how to kill her, and Soth's abandoned castle is just too darned dark for her to enter lightly. (Plus, given her aesthetic obsessions, Kharkov may not trust her to handle mirrors: for all he knows, she might throw a fit and break them if she looks into one and sees her unmutilated past self.) So invading the place may be his only sure way to get ahold of the death knight's old possessions.

I'll admit, I'm not overly familiar with Lord Soth. I never was a big Dragonlance fan, although I do have to thank them for "Tales Volume One: The Magic of Krynn". More specifically, "The Blood Sea Monster". A very Ravenloftian story in my opinion. To a then ten or eleven year old mind that short story was the best thing ever written. And, in retrospect, it was probably the resonance of that story that turned my eye towards the Black Box a few years later. Throw in the common ground of Stephen Fabian's artwork, the contents of that box, numerous before and after weekend movie rentals of VHS movies of the quality of "Rawhead Rex" and such (thanks Dad!), and here my brain is.

Anyway, that's that. I'll get back on topic now. Heh.

So, yeah. I'm generally ignorant of Soth and his back story.

From what I've read in Gaz IV, I think knowledge of those memory mirrors would draw von Kharkov's attention. Tainted knowledge that is. The thought that he could, as you said, change his past. The reality would probably blow him away. By that I mean reinforced revelation of that oh-so-long denied truth of his leopard aspect being the primary self. Now and forever. Which could prove interesting in that maybe that could be the beginning of the road for him embracing his feral past. Prime Hunter, as briefly mentioned earlier. A change of the Dark Lord, to be sure, but one that still plays off source material. I think.

Only thing is, if he wouldn't trust Lady Adeline for the reasons mentioned above, then who would he send to retrieve the mirrors? Varik Dakk through his network associates, which may or may not include 'recovery agent'/shanghaied PCs? I say that because if the Baron were to be the sort of individual to keep his secrets to himself, which by all (few) accounts that I've read he would be, then why would he reveal anything about his past to weaker beings than himself? By not sending out a Black Leopard, or Cat's Claw 'informer', he could keep the object of his desire (weakness) to himself.

I say this as an alternative to all-out war between Valachan and Sithicus. Which I'm not necessarily for or against. Just trying to provide options.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

I still want a Von Kharkov smiley.

If someone draws it, I'll put it up....

(I was planning on filling out the missing darklord smileys myself, but then realized:
a) I don't have that kind of talent
and
b) I don't have that kind of time...
)