Darklord (Ravenloft)

This article deals with Ravenloft. See also Dark Lord (disambiguation).

Darklord is a title used to refer to the mystically imprisoned and cursed ruler of a domain in Ravenloft, a campaign setting in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Background

A Darklord was originally an individual who had committed a truly horrific crime, which drew the attention of the enigmatic Dark Powers. The Dark Powers then proceeded to craft a personal kingdom around the Darklord. This crafted domain serves both as a kingdom and a prison: the Darklord gains incredible powers while within its borders but can never leave it, although most Darklords can seal their domain borders with a thought. Within their domains, the Darklords are forever tormented by the objects of their desires, which are often the objects for which they committed their crimes. The Dark Powers dangle these objects before the Darklords like the fruits of Tantalus. Each Darklord's desires and motivations differ: some desire love, some hunger for glorious victory, while others crave for the defeat and humiliation of their enemies, which may include other rival Darklords.

The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition supplement Darklords (1991) introduced sixteen new Darklords to the setting; "some of these Darklords would go on to have full adventures devoted to them, one would be the star of a SSI video game and still others would appear in published fiction. Yet others would never be seen again". Kevin Kulp, game designer, highlighted that "a notable aspect of this book is that most of the darklords aren't particularly powerful, even by 2nd edition AD&D standards. [...] It's also a nice reminder that just because someone is evil and despicable, they aren't necessarily particularly tough or good at combat. They may have other abilities, assets, or assistance". The 5th Edition sourcebook Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft highlights that the "Darklords work in a different way than the standard D&D boss [...]. Their ability to lockdown their domain, spread a plague, or manipulate dreams isn't something you can quantify with numbers. Instead, a Darklord's powers are something to be deployed over the course of many sessions, making the players wonder when and if they'll ever get a chance to face their foe. [...] The Darklords of Ravenloft do battle by turning allies into enemies, depriving heroes of sleep with nightly haunts, and dangling hope just to yank it away at the last moment. [...] When players finally defeat a Darklord, it will be because they persevered and were resourceful in unraveling their enemy's many schemes".

Darklords

Known darklords have included:

• Strahd von Zarovich, who was introduced in the original Ravenloft adventure
• Azalin Rex, who was introduced in Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill

• Adam
• Alfred Timothy
• Althea
• Anton Misroi
• Arantor
• Frantisek Markov
• Harkon Lukas
• Hazlik
• Ivana Boritsi
• Kas the Bloody-Handed
• Lord Soth
• Vecna
• Vlad Drakov/Vladeska Drakov

The supplement Darklords focuses on "sixteen different Darklords spread out over thirteen chapters". The Darklords introduced in this supplement are:

• Ankhtepot, a mummy
• Tristessa, a drow banshee
• Bluebeard
• Ebonbane, a living evil sword
• The Three Hags
• The Headless Horseman
• The House of Lament, an evil living house
• Von Kharkov, a panther who was polymorphed into a person and subsequently turned into a vampire
• Merilee, a child vampire
• Captain Alan Monette, a werebat pirate
• The Phantom Lover, an incubus
• Marquis Stezen d’Polarno, who drains the souls of victims
• Tiyet, a mummy who doesn't appear as undead
• Zolnik, a Loup de Noir werewolf