Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
Beneath the Eye of Belenus
I have a confession to make. I don't really find Nidala and it's darklord all that interesting. I know there's a lot of history and lore out there, but for me that's more of a barrier than a boon. I've never read anything other than Elena's entry in
Islands of Terror and Ebonbane's entry in
Darklords so whenever the Shadowlands cluster comes up I always feel like I'm missing context.
All that to say, most of the subject matter covered in this article is just meh to me; but, that does not necessarily reflect my opinion article itself.
I appreciate that you call out your biases when they are relevant to a review. That helps tremendously when trying to figure out how an article might be improved. In this particular case, it's useful to know the sources with which you were familiar because that draws attention to the many sources which Speedwagon and I were taking too much for granted. I had forgotten quite how much a sprawling mess the Shadowlands lore is.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
First Half – The Domain, etc.
The Phantasmal Forest – I don't like the way the Phantasmal Forest is described as a domain without a darklord. I always thought it served the same function as the Mists do elsewhere, i.e. as a tool of the Dark Powers. Having either Morgoroth or Ebonbane being able to control it makes it lose some of its mystery. It may seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference.
The Phantasmal Forest originated as part of Avonleigh in
A Light in the Belfry, where it was simply the name of the forest around Tergeron Manor. However, Speedwagon and I both really liked Mangrum's "Pearls in the Oil" idea, which gives considerable influence over the Phantasmal Forest to Ebonbane. To reconcile the two perspectives and to increase interaction among the domains, we decided to declare the Phantasmal Forest a contested territory.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
The Belenite Faith - As always, the authors excels at delineating religious orders and the like and his treatise on the Belenite faith is very well done. I also appreciate the short compare/contrast with other theocracies in the Demiplane.
The compare/contrast arose from Speedwagon regularly asking me, "So, Ian, how are these things different?" Eventually I realized that maybe my answers would be useful to readers as well.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
Ebonbane – As written here, he seems rather listless and anemic. After his encounter with Alexi this darklord's menace seems to have diminished quite a bit. Maybe the problem is that this article focuses too much on Ebonbane's failures instead of his victories? Or maybe this Darklord is so one-note that there's not much more that can be done with him? Mangrum's description of “Pearls in the Oil” made the Ebonbane more of an active player in the cluster's make-up, but here he seems to be sidelined.
In this section we probably should have called out Speedwagon's "Secrets of the Phantasmal Forest" from QtR30. That article runs with Mangrum's "Pearls in the Oil" idea, and even a brief synopsis might have helped to avert the reaction you had.
Also, confession time: I personally find Ebonbane so one-note that there's not much more that can be done with him. I feel that the most interesting thing about Ebonbane is Kateri Shadowborn, and the next most interesting thing is Alexi Shadowborn. Also, the small scope of his domain is tremendously limiting, which is why Speedy and I tried to find ways to expand his influence into the rest of the Shadowlands.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
DP: She Who Fights with Monsters – This sidebar really crystallized Elena's dichotomy for me. For all intents and purposes she IS Banemaw - a dragon in spirit, if not form. Think about it... She goes on rampages, she's egotistical and can't admit when she's wrong, and she guards her treasure (the love of her people) zealously. It's a perfectly twisted version of the usual fairytale set-up. I think introducing a real dragon into this domain, even though it may seem too fantastical of an element to some, would be a great way to force her to face what she has become.
I belong to the camp that fervently believes Banemaw should remain a fiction, and you've just pointed out very precisely why.
On the other hand, I probably could be convinced to accept the inclusion of some
other dragon as part of an endgame adventure for Nidala.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
Second Half – Secret Societies
The Alhtrian – I appreciate the different history and personalities that the authors have given this pack of ghouls. Just because you're undead doesn't mean you can't pursue hobbies!
The individual Ahltrian (and their hobbies) were all Speedy's creations!
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
The Guardians of Morals – Of course, the authors do their usual stellar job when it comes to filling out hypocritical priesthoods with some truly nasty characters.
Thank you.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
Hunters of the Boar's Den – I like these guys because they're not attached to the backstory of any darklords or other power players in the domain.
I am most fond of domains which have room for groups unrelated to the domain's larger plot.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
Knights of the Shadows – It's nice to see a concise origin for these guys, but this group still seems like an afterthought to me. With all the political maneuvering going on between the various factions here, the Knight's presence doesn't seem to factor into this cluster at all. I wish the author would have made them more active on their "home turf."
The Knights of the Shadows are an odd faction. Their origins are deeply tied to the Shadowlands, and they do return every year to rebind Ebonbane with the elemental keys. Otherwise, though, individual members need not have anything to do with the Shadowlands. They are a general-purpose band of do-gooders. In fact, sometimes I feel that you can't throw a stone at Ravenloft lore without hitting a Knight of the Shadows. The Knights are tremendously useful, but their minimally-related nature makes a comprehensive summary difficult. In the end, we included the brief write-up of the Knights largely to introduce Halafrin Lonshadow, who has a role in our proposed endgame scenario.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
The Last Circle – These guys are a nice counterpoint to Ebonbane's Alhtrians, but it does make the cluster a bit top heavy with ghouls.
Yeah, that's tricky to avoid when you've got a necromancer contending with a fiend who creates ghouls.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
The Moonshadows – This group fills the role I wanted the Knights of the Shadows to take, but to an even lesser degree. I find them unsatisfactory as a group of their own.
We felt that Avonleigh needed a faction of its own. However, it is useful to know that we did not do enough to differentiate it.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
The Woodlarks – I love everything about these guys. They're not tied to any other group and add a much-needed bright spot to an otherwise dour domain.
Gotta provide a reason for hope!
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
The Woodsmen – While I like the role they serve, their name is way too similar to the Woodlarks and I can see how easy it would be for both DMs and players to confuse the two.
Yeah, that's entirely on me. I had already created the Woodlarks and written the story "Ardaghy" by the time I stumbled across Elena's woodsmen in
Islands of Terror. I never came up with a replacement name for the Woodlarks that I liked, and I didn't feel I could rename the canon group. And then I came up with the title of the associated adventure, "Of Larks and Men", and at that point I was committed to my unfortunate decision.
Jeremy16 wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:06 pm
Overall
This article does a good job of combining all the disparate elements of the cluster into a more cohesive whole than other treatments. Unfortunately, that still doesn't change my mind about the cluster as whole.
The second half of article, however, introduces much more interesting elements into the mix. The authors have a knack not just for ecclesiastical intrigue but intraparty conflict that really brings the secret societies (and their members) that permeate this land to life.
Even if we did not spark an interest in these domains for you, I'm still glad you found aspects of the article to appreciate. Your feedback is always very much welcome.