What real societies are the different realms based off of?

[ZombieTonyBlair]

Hello. I'm planning out a ravenloft campaign when I return to college in the fall, and I find that I'm not as knowledgable about the core realms as I probably should be. I have a bunch of books with information on the realms but I'm having trouble shifting through and mentally organizing all the information. One thing that I have noticed is that many of the realms are loosey based on different famous historical societies and cities. I've managed to figure out a few, but I was hoping that the fine, canny people on this board could help me make up a cheat sheet for myself.

Example:
Barovia is loosely based off of the Transylvanian countryside durring the dark ages.

Any help would be greatly appriciated.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Check out the FAQ here at the FoS.

People and Places Section, question 15 & 16:
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/FAQs.htm

[Jester of the FoS]

If you have questions about specific realms please ask. If you ask a really good question I may even add it to the next update of the FAQ.
Most domains have some connection to either a real world or some place famous from gothic literature. Most of the connections are easy to spot from the ruler or language but some are definetly harder.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

Of the top of my head:

Barovia: Transylvania
Borca: 1700s Italy
Invidia: Medieval Italy
Sithicus: Silvanesti Elven
Mordent: 1700s England
Dementlieu: 1700s France
Lamordia: 1700s Scandenavia
Darkon: Medieval Europe with a hint of modern America
Tepest: Medieval Scotland/Ireland with a Salem twist
Kartakass: Medieval Germany
Forlorn: Medival Scotland

[ZombieTonyBlair]

Thank you, that was exactly what I was looking for. Borca and Dementlieu were giving me trouble, I knew they both couldn't be france, but I didn't think of Italy for some reason.

A list like this for all the realms in the core, or maybe even all the realms would be real useful, I remember looking for such a list in the FAQ when I first came to this site.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

Tepest also has some ties to Celtic Britain, most of the pantheon comes from that

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

The list is a new addition to the FAQ, I believe. If it wasn't there last time you looked, take a look now. It's not complete, but it's close...

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

It's been a little while since the FAQ was changed, at least a good few months ago

[Ultramyth]

From Art in various products, Dementieu is 1500-1600s france, Mordent is late 18th century-1810 england or perhaps even later...

Lamordia is meant to be swiss german (frankenstein). 18th century (but Mordenheim's inventions are 19th century and in some cases surpass even modern technology (celular regeneration, cloning, etc)).

Technically, according to the RLPHB, Mordent and Dementlieu should be on par with one another, with Dementlieu slightly ahead. Dementlieu is probably meant to reflect the revolution (there is a slightly democratic system of government in place) period, so late 18th century, otherwise, logically, the glory days of high fashion and France - the Sun King era (Louis XIV).

Falkovnia is meant to be a mixture of nazi germany and romania (Vlad the Impaler, i.e. the commonly acknowledged forerunner and inspiration to Stoker's Dracula. I personally get more of a russian vibe off of it.

Nova Vassa seems to be a little scandinavian (at least from the gazetteers - the language guide is either norweigan or danish, I can't tell you which, but it's definately one of the two).

[Troile]

Darkon is Russia...its huge and expansive and they have a secret police...

Its even situated where Russia would be if you super imposed the Core onto Europe.

[Kessler]

From Art in various products, Dementieu is 1500-1600s france, Mordent is late 18th century-1810 england or perhaps even later...

I would put Dementlieu 18th c. France, Mordent 17th-18th c. England. Lamordia 19th c. Germany, Borca 16th c. Italy (Cesare Borgia and poisoning), Richemulot 16th c. Spain maybe?

Falkovnia is meant to be a mixture of nazi germany and romania (Vlad the Impaler, i.e. the commonly acknowledged forerunner and inspiration to Stoker's Dracula. I personally get more of a russian vibe off of it.

Yes, for me Falkovina is based on nazi Germany and mainly on Soviet Union during Stalinl times. Romania - not at all, exept Vlad's name and his dinner entertainment.

Nova Vassa seems to be a little scandinavian (at least from the gazetteers - the language guide is either norweigan or danish, I can't tell you which, but it's definately one of the two).

According to Gaz's artwork and their love for horses I would make it Hungary.

[Jakob]

Borca: 1700s Italy
Invidia: Medieval Italy

Since you're talking about my country, allow me to correct.

Borca: 1590-1620 in Italy
Invidia: 14th century Italy, but with ogres.

Note that the vicinity of Richemulot and Dementlieu made tastes and fashion more advanced than technology (Dementlieu represents the massification of tastes of the southern Core... ).

[Brandi]

I've often thought of Darkon as, in some ways, a twisted version of the United States (Kargat aside): you've got it formed from 13 smaller regions, it takes the concept of the melting pot to a disturbing extreme, and such culture as it has tends to be more of a lighthearted pop-culture form-- pulp fiction, popular and lurid plays, bordering-on-tabloid news...

[Dominique]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that Darkon was evil US. It's even the birthplace of the evangelical movement. (Which is not to draw offensive comparisons between lawful evil Ezrans and American evangelicals. I just find it interesting that the only strongly evangelical religion in Ravenloft is native to Darkon.)

[Mangrum]

I've often thought of Darkon as, in some ways, a twisted version of the United States

That was my exact intent while writing its entry in Gaz II. Frankly, if I'd written that material a year later, it would have been even darker and more explicit.