#I'Cath

[darklordazalin]

Azalin Reviews: Darklord Tsien Chiang (5e)

Domain: I’Cath Domain Formation: Unspecified (older lore: 732 BC) Power Level: 💀💀💀⚫⚫ Sources: Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft (5e)

Tsien Chiang’s history is vastly different in the good doctor’s latest guide than in previous accounts. Though she now rules a city of people instead of no one, these people do little more than toil away in a dream-scape of Tsien’s design as she does all in her power to ignore reality.

As a child, Tsien fled north into the mountains after her home was destroyed by an invading force. There she was discovered by a gold dragon who gave her shelter and in return, Tsien promised to serve him.

The dragon taught her the ways of magic and medicines, though withheld “dangerous” magics from her as she often spoke of avenging her family and reclaiming her people’s land and the dragon did not wish their pupil to resort to such violent vengeance.

Tsien, naturally, ignored such foolishness and secretly plotted her revenge. She discovered a spell to create the Nightingale Bell made from the scale of a gold dragon that would bring the ringer’s dreams into reality. Instead of asking her dragon mentor for a scale, Tsien decided to poison him and take a scale for herself. Tsien, however, was so inept in toxicology that the poison she created to place her mentor into a deep sleep killed him instead, leaving on a single golden scale behind. Convenient? Or yet another sign that our tormentors have more influence on our lives prior to them claiming us?

She brought the Nightingale Bell to her previous home and rang it, wishing for all the invaders to vanish, which they did in an instance. Awed by her power (well, more the power of the bell), the people made Tsien their Queen.

Tsien ruled for many years with the goal of creating the perfect empire. She was a stern and demanding ruler, which eventually took its toll (pun intended) on her people. Uprising occurred, which led to executions and more uprisings. Eventually assassins broke into her palace and slaughtered her four daughters. Tsien survived and rang the Nightingale Bell once more to seek her vengeance. Instead, the bell cracked and the Mists brought her into the land of I’Cath.

It’s unclear how things came to this point, but there are hints that Tsien was so wrapped up in her dreams of a perfect empire that she did not pay attention to the reality of her situation. Dwelling on dreams can be as dangerous as hope.

Within the Mists, I’Cath is a decaying city of starving people imprisoned within a ‘perfect’ dream. Tsien works on perfecting her dream by keeping her people in a deep, magical sleep brought on by the Nightingale Bell. Perhaps it is the dream versions of her daughters that keep her within this fake dream as she ignores the undead versions of her daughters that haunt the real city?

As a Darklord, Tsien is said to be a mage with absolute power over her dream city with an army of jiangshi at her disposal. Not an easy woman to get to.

[wealmostaneckbeard]

12 Ravenloft Realms, 12 quests:

Barovia: A dryad in Svalich woods punched a vampire through his chest, almost staking his heart. In retaliation the vampire severed the dryad's arm and then ran away, he probably died somewhere. The Dryad would like her arm back and is willing to give a reward.

Bluetspur: Welcome to the Dangerous Knowledge Quarantine District, citizen! You will be working alongside Grimlocks to transcribe and find applications for possibly cursed knowledge. This arcane lore could kill the entire illithid psionic network or any foolish mortals, so caution is mandatory. As you were listening to this message, knowledge of a simplified version of Qualith has been uploaded to your brain.

Borca: Ivana Boritsi has a acquired a list of Ivan Dilisnya's sleeper agents and needs them assassinated. These agents are animated toys who look and act just like real people. Nobody else knows or realizes these people are just toys, least of all the toys themselves. Show no mercy for these impersonators and Ivana might just find you interesting.

The Carnival: Redcaps have been soaking their caps in the viscera drawn from Professor Pacali's Hall of Horrors and are undergoing strange mutations. Eliminate them and the Carnival will go to any realm of Ravenloft that you desire.

Darkon: Alcio "Baron" Metus needs an artifact recovered from Castle Avernus in Lychgate. It's a standard cursed glowing sword, can absorb magic or the life force from it's wielder. Grab it and haul ass back to Martira Bay.

Dementliu: No one wants to admit it but visitors have been disappearing from the Bonniville Museum of the Sea. Also, no one wants to admit that the new creatures on display are disturbingly familiar. On behalf of the Lord Governor could you figure out why that is?

Falkovnia: A rumor has been going around that Vladeska Drakov's birthday is coming up and everyone is making plans and gifts for the feared warlord. Either help Drakov stop this party from happening by executing people or join the secret planning committee.

Har'Akir: A band of wandering tabaxi have rolled into Muhar. Everyone loves their music and art. They have crafted a legendary magical musical instrument and will trade it for an urn filled with water from the Red Oasis.

Hazlan: Construction of a mobile stilt-legged refinery has finished in Sly-Var. The magical construct has to be escorted to The Brew where it will extract useful alchemical compounds. The route will be dangerous and non-magical mercenaries are being hired. Some apprentices have muttered that the refinery might have a mind of it's own...

I'Cath: The city is being invaded by Yatsukahagi (functionally Chitine from Volo's Guide to Monster) from another dark realm. Tsien Chiang's is annoyed at having to use her magic, Jiangshi, and wits to combat this threat while her great city still isn't finished. The spider-people believe a fugitive has fled from their realm and has taken shelter somewhere in the city.

Kalakeri: Help some Yuan-Ti purebloods escape Arijani and Reeva's clutches and get them back to Naga Island and their people. These snakeskins happen to have valuable information about Ramya's undead condition.

Kartakass: A trading card game called "Wolves and Deer" has become popular throughout the realm. This irks Harkon Lukas because it's distracting people from his performances. He wants to find the printer making these cards and kill them. Fanatics of this card game want adventurers to stop him.

[casketsanctum]

A Ravenloft Reading Recommendation (ARRR!)

Alright, everyone! It's almost Halloween, and you (probably) recently got Curse of Strahd and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft but you want to know more about these terror-filled prisons. Well, grab your adventuring gear and delve with me into the Domains of Dread! This'll be a long one, so strap in and remember: Mistipedia is your friend.

This list covers Second Edition Ravenloft, Third Edition Ravenloft, and the novels. I can only hope I got everything in this.

Let's start with...

Second Edition Ravenloft

Realm of Terror

This is the original campaign setting for 2e Ravenloft, coming with 144 pages of rules, NPCs and domains, as well as a bunch of other goodies (maps, card stock sheets, and a transparent map overlay). Realm of Terror predates the Grand Conjunction timeline, so in terms of in-game time... it's a bit out of date. A lot of it, according to John Mangrum, is incoherent and many of the dates in this contradict others, so be careful about what you use here.

- You get... Rules for the Demiplane of Dread, alternate rules for Classes, Spells, the Dark Powers Check, fear and horror rules, as well as new spells, new magical items, and the different Dark Lords and Domains you can explore.

Ravenloft Campaign Setting (Box)

The revised campaign setting for 2nd Edition. Takes Grand Conjunction into account. Not to be confused for the book from 3rd Edition.

Domains of Dread

Third and final version of Ravenloft in the days of TSR. Introduces clusters and pocket domains, as well as new secret societies and several new classes. Postdates Requiem: The Grim Harvest.

Masque of the Red Death

A sub-setting of Ravenloft, taking place on a 1890's Gothic Earth.

- The Gothic Earth Gazetteer: Like the Ravenloft Gazetteers, you get details on the lands of Gothic Earth and their inhabitants. - A Guide to Transylvania

And More...

Islands of Terror - Self explanatory, new island domains! Nidala, Wildlands, Sceana, I'Cath, etc.

Darklords - This covers a handful darklords.

Forbidden Lore - A Ravenloft setting expansion. Rules for the Tarokka Deck and Dikesha Dice. Secret societies, spells, cursed items, as well as expanded psionics, curses, and power checks. You also get the domain of Kalidnay.

Forged in Darkness - Lots of cursed items.

Children of the Night: Vampires - 13 New vampire NPCs. Children of the Night: Ghosts - 13 New ghost NPCs. Children of the Night: Werebeasts - 13 New lycanthrope NPCs. Children of the Night: The Created - 13 New construct NPCs.

Champions of the Mists - New heroic NPCs and new Character Kits.

Carnival - NPCs that make up Isolde's Carnival.

Classic Van Richten's Guides (Either 2nd or 3rd Edition)

These have Van Richten lore in it, so I would read these if not for the main content.

Van Richten's Arsenal With VR Arsenal, you get new tools and devices, new arcane and divine spells, new magic items, and alchemical devices and feats. It also comes with Prestige Classes like the Alchemical Philosopher and the Anchorite of the Mists, as well as a guide to plan investigations and battles and plenty of NPC stat sheets with detailed backgrounds.

Van Richten's Guide to Demons

Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts

Van Richten's Guide to the Ancient Dead

Van Richten's Guide to the Created

Van Richten's Guide to the Lich

Van Richten's Guide to the Mists - We usually ignore this book because of it's questionable lore.

Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey

Van Richten's Guide to the Vistani An excellent exploration of Vistani.

Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead

Van Richten's Guide to Vampires

Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts

Van Richten's Guide to Witches Included within VR's Compendium 3.

Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I (Vampires, Werebeasts, Created)

Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium II (Ghosts, Liches, Ancient Dead)

Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III (Demons, Vistani, Witches)

Modules

Feast of Goblyns - The first module of the Grand Conjunction series. Domains: Kartakass, Gundarak, Daglan.

Ship of Horror - The second module of the Grand Conjunction series. Domains: Sea of Sorrows, Nebigtode.

Touch of Death - The third module of the Grand Conjunction series. Domains: Har'Akir.

Night of the Walking Dead - Fourth module of the Grand Conjunction series. Domains: Sourange.

From the Shadows - Fifth module of the Grand Conjunction series. Domains: Darkon, Barovia.

Roots of Evil - Sixth and final module of the Grand Conjunction series and the follow-up of From the Shadows. Domains: Barovia.

Death Unchained - Part one of Grim Harvest.

Death Ascendant - Part two of Grim Harvest.

Requiem: the Grim Harvest (Boxed Set) - Death Triumphant, the last part of Grim Harvest.

Death Undaunted - Written by John Mangrum, never published, but still good!! Played it with a wonderful DM.

Book of Crypts - Nine short module anthology. Contains: Bride of Mordenheim, Blood in Moondale, The Dark Minstrel, The Cedar Chest, Corrupted Innocents, Rite of Terror, The Man With Three Faces, The Living Crypt, and Death's Cold Laughter.

Thoughts of Darkness - Elder brains, Mindflayers and a Von Zarovich, oh my! I played this one with a wonderful DM. Very fun.

The Created - Odaire

Web of Illusion - Sri Raji

Castles Forlorn - Forlorn

Dark of the Moon - Vorostokov

Adam's Wrath - Lamordia

The Awakening - Nova Vaasa

Hour of the Knife - Zherisia

Howls in the Night - Mordent

When Black Roses Blood - Sithicus

A Light in the Belfry (Boxed Set) - Avonleigh

Circle of Darkness - G'Henna

Chilling Tales (Anthology) - Through Darkened Eyes (Tepest), Undying Justice (Borca), Gazing into the Abyss (Darkon), Family Feud (Valachan), Surgeon's Blade (Lamordia), Scarlet Kiss (Mordentshire), Ancient Dead (Har'Akir), The Taskmaster's Leash (Dementlieu)

The Evil Eye - Invidia

The Nightmare Lands (Boxed Set)

Neither Man Nor Beast - Markovia

The Shadow Rift

Vecna Reborn

Die, Vecna, Die!

Third Edition Ravenloft

Ravenloft Third Edition (Campign Setting)

An update of Ravenloft to 3e.

Ravenloft Dungeon Master's Guide

Campaign creation, creating domains and communities, sinkholes of evil, samples of NPCs, as well as psionics and magic within Ravenloft. Cursed / Magic Items. Basically chapter one of Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, but more fleshed out.

Ravenloft Player's Handbook

New mechanics like class weaknesses and magic ratings.

Secrets of the Dread Realms - Contains a new prestige class and a list of darklords by domain (with detailed backgrounds!)

Denizens of Darkness - New monsters! (3e)

Denizens of Dread - New monsters! (3.5e)

Heroes of Light - Focuses on heroic characters and deeds within Ravenloft. Prestige classes, secret societies, NPCs, and a heroic campaign guide.

Champions of Darkness - Focuses on anti-heroes. Prestige classes, secret societies, NPCs and an anti-hero campaign guide.

Legacy of the Blood - THIS IS A GOOD BOOK. Details on several powerful familes of the Core. Includes options to make characters related to that family and story hooks that go with it. Includes: Boritsi, d'Honaire, Dilisnya, Drakov, Godefroy, Hiregaard, Mordenheim, Renier, and the Von Zarovich families.

Masque of the Red Death (3rd Edition)

No modules in this one.

Ravenloft Gazetteers

A DM's dream come true... You get a massive amount of information and lore with these. Comes with a side-story. Very good!

- Volume 1 - Barovia, Hazlan, Forlorn, Kartakass

- Volume 2 - Darkon, Necropolis, Lamordia, Falkovnia

- Volume 3 - Dementlieu, Richemulot, Mordent

- Volume 4 - Borca, Invidia, Verbrek, Valachan, Sithicus

- Volume 5 - Nova Vaasa, Tepest, Keening, Shadow Rift

Modules

Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends - More modules! This is an anthology.

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft - Update to I6: Ravenloft.

Novels

Vampire of the Mists (Good!)

Knight of the Black Rose (Not a big fan of Soth, in my honest option.)

Dance of the Dead

Tapestry of Dark Souls

Carnival of Fear

I, Strahd (A classic.)

I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin (Read this one. Excellent!)

The Enemy Within

Mordenheim

Tales of Ravenloft (19 Short Stories - The Caretaker is my favorite. It has Strahd.)

Tower of Doom (Personally, if you don't want your eyes cursed, I would not read this. This has been a warning. I told you so.)

Baroness of Blood

Death of Darklord

Scholar of Decay

King of the Dead (A must-read. It's that good.)

To Sleep with Evil

Lord of the Necropolis

Shadowborn

Spectre of the Black Rose

Heart of Midnight

[jeeperso]

D&D Quotes Without Context

Ravenloft edition, Dementlieu 10.5

Here in Port-A-Lucine, THE event is the grand Masquerade hosted by the Duchess Saidra D’Honaire at her palatial island estate.

And now, from this week's Town Scrier, a glimpse at the latest in Dementlieu fashion, as worn by the enigmatic adventurers who have taken the city’s gossip by storm

First we have Jonathana, She Who Makes Torches Of Men, consort of the Ifreeti Princess Leshavna

Dame Jonni is wearing a stunning gown that mixes both Borcan and Hazlanti stylings, as beautiful as she is deadly

Up next is local musician and bon vivant Irost Coldplay, who most recently played the title role in a sold-out one-night only production of Fortunato’s Follies

while normally clinging to the long-outdated ‘Kartakassan look’, for tonight, Master Coldplay has adopted traditional Barovian. Many try to emulate the famed Count Zarovich, but only the Duchess can say if he succeeds.

Following behind him is the enigmatic Mister Gorbash, who single-handedly saved the aformentioned production, yet still arrived in style and a very nice hat

Gorbash is sporting a stylish yet practical I'Cath-inspired ensemble, capped off with an ever fashionable Port-A-Lucine captain's hat.

and bringing up the rear we have Sri Marshal, who was first seen arm-in-arm with Madame Y, one of Dementlieu’s own beloved Three Godmothers, before his debut during a fete at the  Bonniville Museum of the sea, refusing to be upstaged by Marquis Calix, before stunning everyone by visiting the Duchess herself the day before the ball, an unprecedented power move in our illustrious socal politics for his survival.

this armored gentleman is sporting a ceremonial cape and armored surcoat in Sithican dark elf fashion

Finally, walking arm in arm with the black knight is his plus one, Ms. Nyx Folkor, a professional treasure hunter whom while present at tall of these events the past week, was outshone by her companions.

regardless, Ms. Folkor has followed Dame Jonni’s example, sporting a Mordent/Borca fusion. hopefully it will be enough to meet the satisfaction of the Duchess

[darklordazalin]

Azalin Reviews: Darklord Tsien Chiang

Domain: I’Cath Domain Formation: 732 BC Power Level:💀💀💀💀⚫ Sources: Domains of Dread (2e), Islands of Terror (2e)

Previously, I wrote about Malus, the boy who hated all of nature because his druid father ignored him. This extreme rebellion continues with Tsien Chiang, a woman ignored by her father and decided she hated all those of the male persuasion just to spite him.

Tsien was the princess of I’Cath and though she was intelligent and beautiful, her father saw no worth in her. Naturally, this resulted in an overlooked child who studied many subjects forbidden to her – war, necromancy, and toxicology. I suppose this was before her obsession with the number four as I am sure she would have chosen a forth course of study.

In Tsien’s land of Kara-tur the character for the number four is the same as it is for death. Four winds bring storms, heat, ice, and dust. Four curses are written upon the scrolls of the gods: pestilence, despair, malice, and ill fortune. Superstitious beliefs entail that one who can unravel the secret of the number four may also learn of the secrets of life and death. Did Tsien ever find out this secret? Well, she certainly tried.

Tsien crafted a tincture made of four deadly poisons that she administered to her father who died in extreme agony. Upon his death, she enchanted her mother and 3 brothers turning them into helpless idiots and Tsien was named the ruler of I’Cath.

Tsien ruled her land with an iron fist. She could have used a bit of a velvet glove approach as well, but I can appreciate the tight grip she had on her people.

Of course, despite how tyrannical and evil one becomes, one always obtains a fair amount of suitors whether they want them or not. Tsien would wait until she obtained four suitors then bade them to fight to the death, promising to wed the survivor. She wed four times through this ceremony of hers, ending the life of her husband and obtaining another when she saw fit. Through these marriages, she bore four daughters.

Three of these daughters inherited their mother’s evil and they were named Scream, Hate, and Spite. The fourth, however, was a pure spirit with a voice loved by the gods and was named Nightingale. I wonder if her mother had named her Malice if she would have turned out differently?

Tsien became one of the most feared and hated rulers in Kara-tur, but there was little to be done about her for, unlike Drakov, she was a military genius and a powerful sorceress. Any attempts at defeating her, she easily repelled. Unable to dethrone her, the surrounding lands offered her gifts in attempt to gain her favor. She was given fruit trees, which she killed all but four and transformed them into malicious, cursed creatures.

Tsien also demanded a tribute of four sacred bells. She transformed these bells, placing her daughter’s spirits within as well of a piece of herself in order to hold their souls’ captive. A rather unique method to make a phylactery though as obvious as the giant, golden dragon skull my tormentors ‘gifted’ me with. Whenever the bells toll, they bring about great evil, except for Nightingale’s bell, of course. Trapped within these bells, Tsien has complete control over her daughters bodies and none of them, daughters nor mother, ever age.

As the daughters received suitors, Tsien put them to the same ritual combat she had placed her own suitors and over time she created a palace made out these suitor’s bones. The carpets of her palace were made of their hair and the walls painted with their blood. The shear amount of suitors it must have taken to create such a place leads me to belief that perhaps all the men of her land were the complete dullards Tsien saw them as, given more kept on attempting to win the hearts' of her daughters.

The three evil sisters delighted in their mother’s cruelty. Nightingale, however, took pity upon those her mother tormented and pleaded with her to stop, but only received her mother’s cruel hand. Each time she was beaten, the gods sent a warning the Tsien, which she ignored.

However, it wasn’t until she had beaten her daughter four times for questioning her four times that the Mists came for her and brought her into the mist surrounded I’Cath.

I’Cath is only inhabited by Tsien and her four daughters, four evil trees, and four cursed bells. She dwells in her Palace of Bones with her three evil daughters and trapped Nightingale’s body within the summit of a high tower with stairs made from the ‘broken promises of men’ and thereby endless.

Though Tsien does not realize where she is and she rules over a land of no one, she is quite formidable. Not only is she a powerful sorceress, but our tormentors have gifted her with the ability to take on the form of a treant. The only way to destroy her is to destroy the bells that contain her and her daughter’s spirits.