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Returning 35 results for 'Creating Domains of Dread'.
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Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Creating Domains of Dread Ravenloft is a place where your nightmares can run wild, where anything you can imagine in moments of dread or despair can come to frightful life among the Mists. The
setting as a whole is made up of countless isolated domains, each one a perfect expression of a particular flavor of the macabre. Creating your own domain allows you to blend legendary evils, unexpected
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
of additional domains that make up the Domains of Dread. Detail and explore these domains in your adventures as you please, or use them as examples when creating your own domains using the guidance in
Other Domains of Dread The Land of the Mists comprise more than the domains presented in this chapter thus far. Countless domains drift through the Mists. The following lands hint at the multitudes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Domains of Dread In remote corners of the Shadowfell, it is easy to reach horrific demiplanes ruled over by accursed beings of terrible evil. The best known of these is the valley of Barovia
, overlooked by the towering spires of Castle Ravenloft and ruled by Count Strahd von Zarovich, the first vampire. Beings of the Shadowfell called the Dark Powers created these domains as prisons for these “darklords,” and through cruelty or carelessness trapped innocent mortals in these domains as well.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Reborn in the Domains of Dread When creating a reborn, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3): Har’Akir
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Dhampirs in the Domains of Dread When creating a dhampir, ask your DM if it makes sense for your character to have ties to one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3): Barovia. In
the shadow of Castle Ravenloft, tales flourish of those who love or descend from vampires. You might have such a connection, but dread what would happen if others in your insular community found out
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Hexbloods in the Domains of Dread When creating a hexblood, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Life in the Domains of Dread The realities of the Domains of Dread seem strange or impossible to individuals from other worlds, but for those who live among the Mists, they’re facts of life. With no
Dread, some more pervasively than others. The same language spoken in multiple domains might bear subtle differences or unique words. Speakers from different domains might also have distinct accents
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
Dead Three into the region she inhabits, creating the following effects:
Creeping Dread. Terror runs rampant in Karas’s domain. Within 1 mile of the lair, creatures other than members of the
instead.Multiattack. Karas makes two attacks using Dread Dagger or Tyrant’s Blade in any combination.
Dread Dagger. Melee or Ranged Attack Roll: +8;{"diceNotation":"1d20+8", "rollType":"to hit
Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
creating a hexblood, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3):
Hazlan. The bizarre magic of this crumbling
changed you and forced you from your home.
6
A slighted druid transformed you and bound you to live only so long as a sacred tree bears fruit.
Hexbloods in the Domains of Dread
When
Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
itchy straw stuffing inside you.
Reborn in the Domains of Dread
When creating a reborn, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains
of Dread (detailed in chapter 3):
Har’Akir. You died and endured the burial rites of this desert realm, yet somehow a soul—yours or another’s—has taken refuge in your
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into
, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty.
Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities given form by the
Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
changed your body, making you reliant on others for vital fluids.
Dhampirs in the Domains of Dread
When creating a dhampir, ask your DM if it makes sense for your character to have ties to
one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3):
Barovia. In the shadow of Castle Ravenloft, tales flourish of those who love or descend from vampires. You might have such a connection
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into other realms to slake unnameable hungers.
Customizing a Horror
An unspeakable horror has one of four body compositions
hidden in the haze. They might even wish to dwell amid the endless fog, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
, forcing them into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they
the endless fog, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty.
Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into other realms to slake unnameable hungers.
Customizing a Horror
An unspeakable horror
evils lurk amid the Mists, the yet-to-be-realized imaginings of the Dark Powers and the remnants of ruined domains. While such nightmares typically manifest as nothing more than impressions, whispers, or
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink
fog, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty.
Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities given form by
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Creating a Darklord Domains are mocking reflections of the evils they confine. Each has a purpose, being a prison designed to torture a deliberately chosen villain. To devise a Domain of Dread, you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Birth of a Darklord Upon the completion of the Darklord’s greatest irredeemable act, the Mists drag them—and perhaps the lands around them—into the Domains of Dread. At this point, you should have an
your players’ characters and the section on creating nonplayer characters in the Dungeon Master’s Guide as you desire. Now, everything the Darklord knew changes and they find themself a prisoner within a domain of their own.
Monsters
Vecna: Eve of Ruin
", "rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage.In the Domains of Dread, practitioners of foul magic perform a profane ritual that turns living creatures into fiendish killers. This ritual necessitates the use of a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Creating a Domain The guidelines in this section help you create your own unique Domain of Dread. This setting’s details should reflect the Darklord of the domain, being a reflection of that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Darklord’s Shadows A Darklord lurks at the heart of every Domain of Dread. Everything in their realm is inspired by or personalized to them in some way. Some domains might be dismal ruins reflective
domain often includes sights, sounds, and smells that serve as constant painful reminders of the Darklord’s wicked past. To start creating your domain, choose three of the evil acts your Darklord
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
correspondence relating to mysteries all across the Domains of Dread. She enlists agents to investigate these cases, and then report back to her. However, she never reveals her own past as a detective
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
that a domain isn’t a functional or even logical construction. Domains are glimpses into the Darklord’s static and often exaggerated or flawed perception of a time, place, or situation. A domain’s
out. These details can fade into the background as your adventures focus on more exciting threats, or you can highlight the cosmic dread that declares, yes, this place doesn’t make sense at all, yet it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
within their territories. The Mists slip through the Domains of Dread, rising to claim unwitting travelers or releasing terrors upon unsuspecting villagers. Most infamously, the Mists slither into other
worlds to claim innocents, villains, or whole lands, dragging them back to become the newest prisoners of Ravenloft. Inhabitants of the Domains of Dread know of the Mists and ascribe sinister stories
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Using This Book This book explores the Domains of Dread, the mysterious expanses of the Shadowfell that serve as backdrops for excitement and terror. It guides players and Dungeon Masters through the
process of creating characters, domains, and stories ripe for chilling D&D adventures. Chapter 1 details how players can create characters primed for fright-filled adventures. It presents options for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
the most notorious Domains of Dread. CULTIVATING HOPE
In Ravenloft, the Dark Powers control reality, the Mists foil escape attempts, and terrifying Darklords can appear at any moment. What hope do
Domains Sinister demiplanes known as domains constitute the realms of Ravenloft. These domains vary widely, but they share a number of common features: Domains Are Finite. The domains vary in size
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Featured Domains The following sections explore some of the most notorious Domains of Dread. Each of these realms is a setting unto itself and might host adventures of your design. These featured
the domain. Domain Focus. For most domains, this final section highlights specific story elements and provides domain-specific tools to aid you in creating adventures around the domain’s Darklord and the horror of their realm.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Travelers in the Mists Adventures in the Domains of Dread often indulge in a single domain’s distinctly frightful themes. But if you plan to run whole campaigns set in the Land of the Mists, creating
horror stories. While it’s true that most residents of the Domains of Dread never leave their home domains and wisely don’t fixate on what lies beyond the Mists, some daring souls do. Many such
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory
Chapter 1: Feywild Overview Domains of Delight are to the Feywild what Domains of Dread are to the Shadowfell: sequestered realms governed by powerful beings. Whereas a Domain of Dread is ruled by a
Darklord, a Domain of Delight is ruled by an archfey—the most powerful of Fey creatures. An archfey gives form to their Domain of Delight, shaping it in ways unique to their personality. Some Domains
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Genres of Horror This section describes several horror subgenres, elements common to certain types of horror stories you can use to inspire your own Darklords and Domains of Dread. These sections
provide suggestions for creating monsters; villains; torments for Darklords; settings; adventure sites; and plots evocative of horror stories, films, and games rooted in these genres, along with tables
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
their first steps into the Domains of Dread. During a séance, a spirit makes itself known to the Keepers of the Feather
Horror Adventures Creating your own horror adventures is like crafting any other D&D adventure with one exception: your goal is to horrify your players in the most fun way possible. Frightening
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Other Horror Genres In addition to the aforementioned terrors, consider exploring any of the following horror genres when creating adventures in the Domains of Dread. Beyond these, there are dozens
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Shadar-kai are the elves of the Shadowfell, originally drawn to that dread realm by the Raven Queen. Over the centuries, some of them have continued to serve her, while others have ventured into the
, shadar-kai can live to be over 750 years old.
Creating Your Character
At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
most wicked beings from across ages and worlds within inescapable, mist-shrouded domains. These are the Domains of Dread, the nightmare demiplanes that form the D&D setting of Ravenloft. Untold terrors
lurk within these lands, yet the collection of the Dark Powers is far from complete. This chapter provides information for the DM and explores the misty truths of the Domains of Dread, along with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
the voices of otherworldly ancients? Do the effects of drinking a potion of healing feel like grubs weaving wounds shut from within? Magic looks menacing in the Domains of Dread, but descriptive
embellishments shouldn’t change the actual effects of spells or magic items. Prison of Souls Everyone among the Domains of Dread is a prisoner. The Darklords number among the most prominent captives, but