The Ravenloft Campaign:

The Ravenloft Campaign was massive in scope and stretched over a period of 6 years. This makes it very difficult to summarize but i will try. First off, it actually consisted of 2 seperate campaigns. The first campaign dealt with the heroes traveling through the demiplane of dread facing its horrors and searching for a means of escape. The second campaign had the characters returning to Ravenloft to hunt down and destroy each of the darklords.


The Heroes:
During the first campiagn in Ravenloft there were more then 4 adventuring parties all played by serperate players. The survivors of the original parties would form the super party that would return for the sequel campaign. Here are the original parties.

Amer Strongblade (cheez)-Paladin of Lathander (Forgotten realms)
Loom (mike pultz)-Grugach elf fighter (Greyhawk)
Flennetar Steelforge (Fred walker) -Dwarven cleric of Moradin (FR)
Zondyr (boof) -Human Monk (?)

Drazzius Gladdensnoot (groza) -Forest gnome cleric of Gond (FR)
Falkrin Icereaver (Fred walker) -Dwarf fighter werelynx (Ravenloft)

Jerod Salamnia (Vin Basso) -Human fighter undead hunter (FR)
Janzen Cloakshadow (pete) -Human Paldin of Mystra (FR)

Serbian Lightbringer (ring) -Human priest of Lathander (FR)
Mordenthaxus (larry) -Minataur Paladin of Paladine (dragonlance)
Emeric (buck) -Elf fighter (GH)


Horrors of Ravenloft (the first ravenloft campaign):
Most of the original campaign consisted of published ravenloft modules stung together to create a storyline. It follow the plot line of the Hyskosa scroll. Where the players through their adventures would observe 6 prophecised events that would fortell something catyclismic. Below is the modules as they unfolded.

Night of the Walking Dead:
This was the intorductory adventure for ravenloft. Each charcter found themselves transported via the mist into a swamp. They had been swallowed by Ravenloft. They were now in the domain of Souragne. They characters met up in the swamp and together fought for survival. They came upon a young tramatized boy named Luc Taraskon. The boy would recite strange prophecies. Soon the party found themselves in the small town Marais d' Taraskon. Their they fell into a plot involing a damned family. The parents and eldest brother killed. While both remaining brothers were insane. Luc badly tramitized and the second oldest brother had become a serial killer. After the party killed the serial killer a curse came upon the town. The dead rose and began killing everyone. The party came upon the hyskosa scroll. An ancient scripture that fortold 6 events that would transpire and lead to soemthing caticlismic in the demiplane. As the dead continued to walk the town turned to the party for help. The thus fought their way into the graveyard to the source of the curse. There they found the oldest brother Marcel had risen from the dead and become a zombie lord. After slaying him the party witnessed the first prophecy of Hyskosa. The dead were all put to rest. Soon after the party left town seeking a way out of the demiplane.

The Created
The party had traveled into a new domain and come upon a city of artists. Everything seemed well until the puppet show. One of the puppets called Maligno had taken upon the cursed soul of his creater. Now him and his marrionet footsoldiers were stealing the bodies of townsfolk. The party fell victum to this and had to travel as puppets themselves to regain their bodies. After retrieving their bodies the party killed Maligno and escaped from the city.

Blood in Moondale
The party found themselves traveling through a terrible snowstorm. They soon sought refuge in the small town of Moondale. Their they befirend a vampire innkeeper named Donte. But the town itself was being plaqued by werewolves. The party became deputised by the city captain Rasputin. The captain led the party to hunt down and kill the Lycanthropes.

Touch of death
The party found themselves crossing into a new domain. One of burning desert. Upon reaching civilization they found this place too to be cursed. A priestess had died and returned from death as a mummy. The party had to travel to ancient tombs to unlock Anktepot. The father of all mummies. Once done Anktepot killed Senmet which fulfilled the second part of Huskosa's prophecy. .

Adams Wrath
By this point the charcters had traveled far accross the demiplane and reahced its shores. They had attempted to take charter on a ship to escape the vile place. The ship led by the wickedness of the realm crashed and shattered upon the coastal shores. The characters survived the sinking but were supsequently slain by sea hags. They found themselves revived as flesh golems by the sick and demented Doctor Mordenheim. The doctor had them slaving for him but when he heard they were powerful heries he made a deal with them. He would revive their bodies if they would hunt down his enemy. A vile creation he called Adam. The party agreed. Once adam was destroyed the party escaped into the mists.

Web of Illusion
The characters exited the mists into a tropical jungle. They made their way to the castle of Arijani. The lord of the domain of Sri Raja. There they intended to kill the rahkasa lord so that the domain would transpire back into the prime material pane, getting them out of Ravenloft. Inside the palace the party faced many traps and illusions but eventually they slaughtered the dark lord Arijani. Unfortunatly the domain did not seis to exist. Instead it summoned a new lord. A black dragon from a distant world know only as Autrilar. The party chose to make their way out of Sri raja. It was during this adventure that party really began to feel the dark influence of Ravenloft dark powers. Flennetar having been driven made attempted to kill himself. The party did what they could for him but were forced to leave him behind. Loom also began to act more wickedly. The evil was beginning to permeate his soul.

Dark of the Moon
Having escaped through the north the party found themselves in a snow covered tundra which threaten to kill all of them. It was during this adventure that Amers mount was killed. This adventure had the heroes hunted by werewolves. Eventually they hunted down the wolf lord and escaped.

House of Strahd
Alas the party found themselves in the heart of the demiplane. The realm of Barovia. The realm of count strahd von zarovich. Here the party would make their stand. They would travel into the dreaded Castle Ravenloft and slay the vampire lord. It took many attempts and many of party members were slain. During this adventure the second party ravenloft party was making their toward the castle. That party consisted of Drazzius, flennetar, Jerod and Damanthius. The dark socerer damanthius turned evil here and attempted to kill his entire party. He almost succeeded save for falkrin's lycanthropy. Once in werelynx from falkrin managed to slay damanthius. The party proceeded on. With both parties working against strahd the vampire lord was vulnerable. In the end it was Amer Strongblade who cut the vampire lord down. The heroes found themselves claimed by the mists once more. They had defeated strahd but not destroyed him, they would not be free of the demiplane.

When Black roses Bloom
The heroes traveled into the domain of Sithicus. And could not escape. They were forced to enter the darks halls of Nedregard keep. The home of the dreaded Lord Soth. They were forced to battle Soths general, the foul werebadger Azreal. The heroes fortunatly did not have to face soth directly but instead had to find a means to drop the borders of Sithicus. They were successful and got the hell out of their before Soth destroyed them all.

Ship of Horrors
This adventure saw all the adventuring parties of Ravenloft linking up on a sailing vessel. Andrais delnivien was now in the mists questing to keep his old friend damanthius from returning from the grave. In this adventure the party learned of the ships curse. They would all die at sea if they did not succeed. The heroes became splintered and only Drazzius and Falkrin survived to face the source of the curse. A ancient and evil Necromancer. named Meridoth. This fulfilled the 3rd part of Hyskosa's prophecy. The heroes won the day but the good forces in Ravenloft had been seperated, their strength weakened.
House of Daegon
After regrouping the party found themselves questing to fulfill the prophecy of Hyskosa. Their last attempt at ever escaping ravenloft. They had to travel to a dreadful asylum of the undead and face great horrors. It was during this adventure the party fulfilled the 4th prophecy of Hyskosa.
(Note: In the published version of the hyskosa Prophecies, the module Feast of Goblins would have fulfilled the 4th prophecy but i did not own this adventure at the time.)

From the shadows
By this point the heroes had become very powerful. They had set out to kill Ravenlofts most powerful dark lord. The lich king azalin. But they would never reach their destination. Atleast not the way they intended. A dark rider came upon them. A headless rider weilding a sickle. He slew the entire party one at a time. The party found themselves revived by the lich azalin. Azalin was probing their memories for information on his greatest enemy. The vampire lord Count strahd. Azalin then made the heroes unwilling particpants in his agenda. Azalin had long sought a means to escape ravenloft. And now he had discovered a way he might be able to do it. He sent the heroes back in time. The heroes themselves possessing the bodies of people who lived long ago. They were at a point in history over 400 years ago in the town of barovia. This is were ravenloft began. Strahds brother was going to marry the girl strahd loved. It was at this time that strahd had forged an agreement with the dark powers, this is where he became a vampire and killed his family. The heroes witnessed these events and then did as azalin instructed. They changed small things in the timeline in such a way to weaken ravenlofts walls in the present. Having done this the characters were returned to the present. Once back in time the characters escape while azalin was busy preparing spells. In the dungeons of azalins castle they found Hyskosa the seer, the author of the hyskosa scroll. The seer had been kept alive by azalin. Hyskosa explained that azalin was trying to make the prophecies occur out of order and force ravenlofts gates open. He had to be stopped. The party tracked azalin all the way to the end of the demiplane. The battle was long and grueling. Azalin almost wiped the party out with his Mordenkainen Disjunction. In the ned the party did kill azalin however. They saw the borders of ravenloft collapsing and escaped from the demiplane.

Roots of Evil
The party had escaped ravenloft into a distant prime material world. The world from which strahd had originally lived. While here the party found the real barovia. (note:The barovia in ravenloft is but a construct created through magic to replicate the real barovia). While adventuring here the party discovered the worst thing possible. Strahd had also escaped ravenloft. As they sought deeper they disvoered that all of ravenlofts darklords had been released. Azalin had tricked them. In the last adventure the party had changed the timeline to weaken ravenlofts borders. Then they had defeated azalin, as he had planned, at the very edge of the realm. When the heroes escaped ravenloft they took azalins soul gem phylactory with them. Carrying the darklord out of the demiplane. This created rift in the demiplane through which the other lords were escaping. Things had to be put right. The heroes soon encounter Inajira. A creature spoke of in Hyskosa's prophecy. The creature was fiend from the lower planes who had long ago made a deal with strahd. One strahd never got the chance to make good on as he was sucked into ravenloft. Now after 400 years the fiend had returned to talk vengeance on the vampire lord. Injira told the heroes how they could send strahd back into the prison of ravenloft and the heroes set to it. The adventure culminated with a 3 way battle between azalin, strahd, and Inajira. This created enough diversion for the charcters to open the void and send them back into ravenloft. The heroes were finally freed and the darklords were back were they belonged.

With the heroes escape from Ravenloft the first campaign came to an end


Beyond the Darkness (The second Ravenloft Campaign):
Having leaved in peace for many years all of the fromer heroes had become very powerful. But the enemies they had left behind had not forgotten them. The second campaign begins here. Below are the modules as they unfolded.

The Dark Power
The party all awoke in Oblivion. They were met by an awe inspiring entity that existed neither in time or space. The Being was called Kronos, the immortal patriarch keeper of time. You see there are many creatures throughout the multiverse that maintain the ability to manipulate time. But their are rules to such mettling. Gods for one are never allowed to manipulate time. And in balance those mortal beings who do alter time are not permitted to interfer with the timelines where gods are concerned. Afer the heroes had exited ravenloft azalin had sought vengeance. Using the same magic he had used to send the party back in time. He was no using other soldiers to quest back through time to kill the characters ancestors. Thus wiping them from the timeline. It would have worked too, save for one thing. By killing drazzius's great great grandfather azalin had wiped out not only the existence of drazzius, but also the existence of Ulv Grimhand. God of earth and stone, and father of drazzius. This violation was sent to Kronos. Kronos was not to hold azalin responsible however. Instead Kronos condemned the Dark power of Ravenloft who until this time was unknown. It was learned here that ravenloft was created and maintained by the dark god Kuth Krythlu. A neutral god, son of the eternal god Aru. Kronos petitioned the overgods to strip Kuth krythlu of his true godhood and it was done. But Kuth Krythlu was still a demigod and super powerful being. So kronos set forth the heroes. But first they would have to reenter the timeline and stop the slaying of their ancestors. So one by one the party traveled through time setting things right. But the worst discover was who had killed their ancestors. It was Loom and Damanthius. 2 Former heroes. After saving their ancestors the party had to once again enter the demiplane of dread. Once there they delved into the shadowrift and came upon the black tower of Kuth Krythlu. They entered the tower and killed the weaken demigod. Upon doing so Ravenloft was not destroyed as the heroes had perhaps thought. Instead Kuth Krythlus power was dispersed throughout all the darklords of ravenloft. The heroes would have to destroy each and every darklord to utterly and finally destroy Ravenloft. And so the second campaign into ravenloft began.

Alone in the Darkness
----This was a series of solo adventures where each of the Ravenloft heroes were forced to conquer a draklord on their own.--------------------------------

-Part 1: The Baron: (A solo adventure for Falkrin (fred walker)-)
Falkrin found himself in the domain of Valachan. He traveled to castle Pantera and Faced Baron Kharkov, the vampire darklord. Falkrin killed him and became new of Valachan.
Part 2: (A solo adventure for Drazzius and Karius (groza)-)
Karius and Drazzius amnaged to stay togther. They found themselves in the domain of tempest and together faced the darklords of Tempest. Tempest was a unique domain for it had a shared lord ship. Instead of one darklord there were 3 Hags. The gnomish brothers salughtered them and became joint lords of Tempest.
Part 3: (A solo adventure for Emeric (Buck)-)
Emeric found himself in the dreadful domain of Keening. Once there he was joined by Gondegal the mad fighter. Together they sought out the darklord who was a powerful Banshee named Tristessa. Emeric became the new lord of Keening.
Part 4: (A solo adventure for Janzen (pete)-)
Janzen found himself in the horrible domain of Sithicus. The realm of lord soth. Once there he was joined by Zondyr the monk. Together they stormed Nedregard castle and faced lord soth. Somehow Janzen defeated the darklord and became new lord of Sithicus.
Part 5: (A solo adventure for Serbian (ring)-)
Serbian found himself in Darkon, realm of Azalin. Once there he was joined by Grizzly, the good werebear. Together they stormed Azalins castle. Once there Azalin brought down the pain upon them. Grizzly was ahniliated. Serbian managed to do some damage but found himself caught helpless in a bigbys crushing hand. It would have been done save for Damanthius and loom turned on azalin. Azalin was finally killed by serbian while damanthius and loom made off.
Part 6: (A solo adventure for Amer (cheez)-)
Amer stomgblade found himself in the worst place. The domain of barovia. There he was joined by the vampire hunter Rudolf von richten. Togther they stormed Castle ravenloft and killed count strahd. Amer became new lord of Barovia. The ghost of strahds dead brother appeared to amer and informed him that the von zarovich bloodline ran in his veins and that he was to be the new lord of ravenloft.

Thoughts of Darkness
The party finally regrouped back in Barovia where amer was now king. From here they would launch their campaign to eliminate all the darklords. They thus et off into the domain of Bluetspur. Thats where it would start. Once there they had to battle Strahds step daughter Lyssa von Zarovich and some vile vampiric illithiads. In the end they destroyed the illithiad god brain who was the darklord.

Manifestation:
This was a long series of adventures where the party stormed accross the lands of the demiplane slaying all the darklords.
1- Fall of Kartakas:The party traveled to Kartakas and killed Harkon Lukas, the vampire darklord
2- Invidia's Demise:The party traveled to Invidia and slew 3- Hell comes to Nova Vaasa:The party traveled to the domain of Nova vaasa and killed the powerful ghost Triten Hireguard.
4- Borca's Destruction:The party traveled to the domain of Borca and killed everything they saw including the darklord.
5- Hail to Falkonovia:The party traveled to falkonovia and destroyed King Vlad drakov.
6- Castle Forlorn: The party traveled to the domain of Forlorn to assault the massive castle there. They faced a massive dinasaur that nearly killed them all. Finally they conquered the castle and killed Triten Abplank, a half vampire.
7- Richmelut's End:The party enetered the domain of Richmelut and killed the wererat darklord Jaculine Renier.
8- Verbrek: The party traveled to the domain of Verbrek and killed everyone including the darklord whose identity they never determined but again did not matter as they just killed everyone.
9- The house on Gryphon Hill:The party traveled to the domain of Mordent and killed the darklord named lord Godefroy. They also uncovered many tales of Strahd early years in ravenloft including how he first encountered Azalin. They also encounter Starhd who now had the harmless form of a crimson death.
10- Doom to Dementluei:The party traveled to the domain of Dementluei and killed the darklord Dominic d'honair, the evil bard darklord.
11- The nightmare lands:The party found themselves imprisoned in the nightmare lands but eventually escaped and killed the Dreamlord who was the lord of that domain.
12- The sea of sorrows:The party was on their way top the island domain of Malkovia when they inadvertaintly discovered that the sea of sorrows was actually its own domain. They killed the darklord captain reise and continued on their quest.
13- The island of Doctor Markov:The party reached the beast infected and hunted down and destroyed Markov, the beastman darklord.
14- Dominia:The party traveled with Doctor Rudolf von Richten to the tiny dominia. The home of Von Richtens arch enemy Doctor Dominion. Once there the party helped kill Doctor domina and Von ritchen became the new lord of that domain.

(After leaving Dominia the party learned that the few remaining darklords were making alliances to face them. This alliance was led by azalin who was now working with the black dragon autrilar and the demilich lord Hazlik. Aside from this Loom and Damanthius had also been killing darklords and amassing power. Dark time were ahead.)

Lamordia:The party next trveled the lamorida to once again face the darklord adam. Unbeknownest to them Loom and Damanthius had already slain both adam and doctor mordenheim. Now they wait to ambush the party. Damanthius disguised himself as Doctor mordenheim, a friend to the party. When he got the party in a compromised position he let set the attack. Loom and the shadow dragon ebb came out of no where. The party barely survived and managed finally to kill Loom and damanthius.

The Final Confrontation:With all the other lords slain and only one realm left to conquer the party headed for the last aerie. The terrible domain of Darkon where lord azalin and the black dragon Autrilar waited. In the depths of azalins castle the battle would transpire. Both Gondegal and Von ritchen accompanied the party for this final confrontation. The party had to face an axis of evil consisting of Azalin, Autrilar, Hazlik, an undead dragon, and a type 4 demon. But the heroes of the hex would not be denied. All these fiends fell and the party had finally destroyed Ravenloft.

Epilogue:Once the characters had killed all the darklords and absorbed all of Kuth Krythlus power they now held the ultimate control over the realm of Ravenloft. Through their collective wills which now held godly power they transubstantiated the landmass of ravenloft in the western ocean of Abeir Toril (forgotten realms). From that point forward it would be known as Ravenloft island. A sovereign nation with a council of rulers made of the party members. The landmass was split up into seven parts. Each region ruled by one of the party members.


The Ravenloft Oncore Module
Years after the campaign ended the heroes were summoned back into action one last time.
Shadow of the Past
All of the Ravenloft lords found there lands under seige. Creatures had been plaging their lands and they were coming from beneath the surface. The ravenloft alliance united and were joined by Karius's old friend Andrais delnivien. Together the entered the underground beneath Darkon. Soon the Heroes learned that shadow of the past survived. Unbenkownst to them there had always been an underdark area in ravenloft. It was called the domain Arak, a drow city. Its darklord had been a drow preistess. But during the time of Manifestation Azalin had killed the Drow priestess and assorbed Arak into his own domain. Thus the heroes never knew that beneath their sovereign nation lied a dark city of drow. But once the heroes entered the city they learned more. Autrilar had been a black dragon but when he teamed up with azalin, he had done so for a price. He agreed to help azalin but only if azalin taught him the secret of Lichdom. When the heroes had slain Autrilar in the final battle of ravenloft they had forced Autrilars final step into Lichdom. He was now a Dracolich and he had been plotting his vengeance for some time. For decades Autrilar had taken form in disguise as a drow, now he was using that form to be lord of Arak, and the drow served him. He was being aided also by a drow lich and a drow blade singer named Vzul N'tathshyr, one of Andrais's worst enemies. So the party faced the dracolich and killed him once and for all.

Shadows Fall:
-Emeric-Zondyr----Lucius (NPC/Papo)-Sir Verdant (NPC/Cheez)-
Ravenloft had been reformed. The landmass, which the characters had freed, had once again been usurped by the Demiplane. The lords of Ravenloft were all dead (DM note: This is not entirely true). The only remaining Lord was Emeric. In the Lands of the Mourning Dawn Lucius, Radiant servant of Lathander and high priest of Serbian Lightbringer took up the Mantle. He set out into the lands of Darkness to find a new hope. In Barovia he joined up with Sir Verdant, General of Amer Strongblade’s forces. They were also joined by the long dormant Zondyr. The once hero of Ravenloft had finally come down from his contemplation in his monastery in Barovia. Together the minions of the Heroes of the hex traveled to Sithicus to find the Last remaining Lord of Ravenloft. The events that had unfolded had gone greatly unnoticed by Emeric. There had been a resurgence of undead and Emeric had been dealing with that. As Lucius and the companions arrived they told what they knew. The realm had been reacquired by Ravenloft. Damanthius had return and reunited with Loom. Together they had been systematically wiping out the lords of Ravenloft. Andrais Delnivien and Karius had joined up with Amer Strongblade to stop them. This was some time ago and presumable the Heroes had failed. Not long after this encounter a dark warrior approached. It was the half fiend Maalastation. (A faction of Maalastation’s splintered persona had reappeared on the Prime Material Plane after Oerthian heroes had destroyed his soul gem in Baalzebul’s vault. (See Greyhawk Legacy 17th –Hell Hath no Fury). As his soul appeared on the Prime Material Plane the evil unleashed had summoned him into Ravenloft. The events that followed are chronicled in Doomed Campaign Final Darkness). Maalastation told of how he had arrived in Ravenloft and joined up with Andrais and Karius. That they had traveled to the southern realm in the new region of Ravenloft. There they had come to the domain of Cavitius and met the Darklord called the whispered one. The darklord known throughout all prime material as Vecna. Vecna had explained that the demiplane was feeding off his power but that Ravenloft had a new master who had taken up residence in the Tower of Kuth Krythlu. Andrais and Karius had set out to fight this new Master. With this knowledge the party decided they would do the same. They utilized a Windwalk spell and set out to the Shadow Rift. There in the depths of the rift is where Emeric knew they would find the Tower of Kuth Krythlu and the New Master. During their flight something happened to Malastation. Magical forces began to consume him. He was being summoned out of Ravenloft. The Dark Powers fought to keep Maalastation. The voice of the summoner could be heard commanding the dark forces to release him. Finally Maalastation disappeared having been freed from Ravenloft. (The other side of this scenario and Maalstations continuing saga is chronicled in Invincible Campaign 35th Return of the Madmen). After Maalastation disappeared a rift had been opened into the Astral Plane (Note: Ravenloft is a demiplane which exists in the Astral Plane). The party saw an Astral Dreadnaught take notice and the creature came through the rift. The party destroyed the marauding creature as the dark powers repaired the rip. From this point the party proceed but were thwarted upon reaching the borders to Barovia. The borders had been sealed creating a wall of mist. The party decided to try and make their way around circumventing Barovia. They traveled to the borders of the neighboring domain of Invidia. Invidia’s borders were closed as well. An acidic rain blocked their way. The party rested and continued till they reached the border to Verbrek. The borders their permitted them entrance or so it seemed (DM note: Verbrek has no sealable borders). The party was free to go but Emeric could not pass. Lucius remembered Andrais mentioning this. As a Darklord Emeric could not leave his domain. Their conclusion was that Emeric would have to die so that a new darklord could be claimed. Thus Lucius cut down Emeric. Later Emeric was resurrected. But now Lucius was the new darklord and could not leave. It seemed the stress of being in the demiplane was sapping the parties capacity to think intelligently. Thus they returned to Nedregard keep and had Maveric kill Lucius. Lucius was then resurrected and Maverick was the new Darklord. The party was free to travel again. Upon crossing the border into Verbrek they were attacked by a negative elemental Nightwalker. They defeated the creature and proceeded. Upon coming to the border to Borca the party saw an army of undead approaching. They were soon comforted by a familiar voice. It was the former count, Strahd Von Zarovich. Strahd was now a crimson death. The form a destroyed vampire sometimes takes. Strahd explained that he and Azalin were kept as slaves to Vecna but now both had been destroyed. Vecna had dispatched Strahd now to aid the party in destroying the new master. If Strahd was successful Vecna had promised to destroy him finally. Azalin was truly dead but Vecna had sent the former body of the lich as a programmed Undead to lead an army of undead to aid the party in reaching the Shadow Rift. The party took this opportunity to gather as much information as they could from the deposed Darklord. He relayed the following information to them.

Concerning The Return of Ravenloft and the Emergence of Vecna:
Ravenloft was destroyed by the heroes of the hex some 12 years ago. There were many Dark Powers of Ravenloft, mysterious perhaps godlike beings which perpetuated the demiplane. But only the true power of Kuth Krythlu could wholly substantiate the demiplane. When the heroes of the Hex destroyed Kuth Krythlu and absorbed a portion of his power the Demiplane collapsed. Some 3 years later Vecna was cast through the void. (Events Chronicled in Greyhawk Legacy Vecna Lives). Long ago when Ravenloft was first created the dark powers sought to capture Vecna. They released magics that would sequester him. At the time Vecna was a god residing on the paraelemental plane of Ash. Beyond the power of Ravenloft. But 9 years ago Vecna returned to Oerth (Greyhawk) and launched a plot to become supreme god of Oerth. He arranged powerful artifacts at precise points across the face of Oerth and enchanted them to create a divine barrier. Thus effectively cutting off the other gods from Oerth. Then he returned to his ancient magic circle of Tovac Barugu and opened a gate thousands of years in the past. In the time when Vecna had ruled a portion of the world. Using this gate Vecna would attempt to Gate in his followers from the past and with their devotion he would ascend to true godhood and be the supreme power of Oerth. This attempt was thwarted by a parted of adventurers who hurled Vecna into the gate. As Vecna impacted upon the gate his presence corrupted the magic. He was cast into a voidic timestream. As his presence began to transcend the past the Dark magics send to sequester him took hold of the Lich. A conduit was created between the Demigod and the Black Tower. Fueled by Vecna’s divine power the Demiplane begins to grow anew. Though much perspective time had passed for the lich, Vecna could only exit the void of timespace through the same tear that he had entered. Thus Vecna appears in Ravenloft at the exact moment he is cast through the gate. When Vecna’s Physical form returns and he is imprisoned in Ravenloft the demiplane wholly reformed. New domains are created and it continues to grow. Unlike before there is no measure of control. The other dark powers act to create new domains but there is no master of the demiplane. Vecna, infact is a prisoner of his own power.

Concerning Autrilar, The New Master:
At the closing of the Ravenloft wars Autrilar joins Azalin to stand against the heroes of the hex. This allegiance is predicated upon a dark bargain. Autrilar will serve Azalin as long as Azalin teaches Autrilar the secrets of Lichdom. When the heroes of the hex destroyed Autrilar in the final battle he was reborn as a Dragonlich. Ravenloft enters forgotten realms while Autrilar takes refuge in the underdark of Ravenloft. There he becomes master of Arak, The drow city. A former domain of Ravenloft that eventually came to be ruled by Azalin. While the heroes of the hex freed Ravenloft they never knew of the existence of the city. Autrilar launches an assault to march his armies and assassinate the heroes of the hex. The heroes of the Hex along with Andrais Del Nivien defeat the drow and kill Autrilar. Of course the Heroes never seek out Autrilar Phylactery. So Autrilar survives. Many years later Autrilar returns to his origins in Cormyr were he was first encountered by Andrais delniveinen. There he becomes a lord of the Cult of The Dragon. A powerful cult who prophesies that dragons will return to rule the world and they hold great reverence for Dracoliches. The cult had opened operations in The ruins of Myth Drannor. Autrilar successfully completes a ritual that had once before been attempted and thwarted by Andrais Delnivien. Autrilar discovers a pool of radiance within Myth Drannor. The cult performs a long ritual be which Autrilar will merge with the pool and take control of the power of Mythal which once fueled the great elven city. (Note: It is at this time that Andrais’s brother Enray comes to Myth Drannor seeking the bladesinger Vzuul, for a brief time he encounters Mergin having fallen through a portal to the Banewarrens). After usurping the power of the Mythal Autrilar transcends mortal power. His consciousness grows to infinite intelligence. A level he cannot handle. He become s virtual insane. And enters a trance like state. His thoughts dwell on the past, on the demiplane that imprisoned him and those who had slain him. He returns to the Astral Plane to find the Demiplane already recreated. He usurps the power of the black tower and becomes the new master of Ravenloft. Utilizing this power he seeks to bring his former fate to his enemies. The heroes of the hex and Ravenloft island and reprocured by Ravenloft. The heroes become darklords as before. Andrais too suffers this fate as his town of Shadowy Brook is also annexed to Ravenloft.

The Last Ride of the Doomed (Andrais):
Damanthuis’ Phylactory once back inside of Ravenloft becomes empowered once more. The wizard returns. He seeks out his old friend Loom and has Loom kill his master Emeric. Loom tells Damanthius he has done so but infact has not. Damanthius and Loom seek to kill the heroes of the hex. Serbian Falls to this fate. Later Andrias joins with Amer Strongblade and Gondegal and the heroes join forces with Damanthius to destroy Autrilar. They turn on one another in the battle. Autrilar victory becomes eminent. The surviving party members destroy Autrilar Phylactory though they know they are doomed. Autrilar kills Andrais, Amer, Karius, Gendegal and the rest.

Now the party had all the information they needed. They would descend the Shadow Rift and Destroy Autrilar. Upon approach of the Shadow Rift the party was met by a rising army of Shadows. Vecna’s army moved to intercept as the party made their descent. In the depths below they could hear Autrilar. He made a mockery of them as though they posed no threat. Finally the battle began. Autrilar went head to head with Emeric but had enough of that tactic. He began flying around and swooping in to attack. The party had little means to face this tactic. Finally after softening them up Autrilar returned to Emeric. The last lord of Ravenloft was slain. The battle did not however end there….


Shadows Fall: Part 2
-Emeric-Zondyr-Lucius (Papo/NPC)-
-Amer-Andrais-Karius (NPC)-Gondegal (NPC)--w-Dante-Grizzly--
With Emeric Slain the party’s hopes of victory grew slim. Autrilar was taunting them with his tactics. Finally Autrilar revealed that he had been maintaining an illusion. The party had thought they had badly wounded Autrilar when in fact only a few blows had made contact. Lucius created a Blade barrier to thwart the dragons swooping attacks. Autrilar began to play about with Emeric’s slain form. He put Emerics body just feet from the Blade barrier. An Obvious dare to draw the party out. Sir Verdant took the bait. Autrilar snatched up Sir Verdant and began to carry him high into the sky. Autrilar planned a special death for the paladin. He was going to fly him so high that before the Paladin’s flying spell would get him to safety he would fall to a horrible death. Meanwhile Zondyr recovered the body of Emeric and used the power of Necrozar (Emeric’s sword) to raise the fighter. Zondyr was in constant telepathic contact with Autrilar and knew they had some time before the dragon was done with Sir Verdant. Emeric decided they must reach the Black tower of Kuth Krythlu. Emeric ran for it while Zondyr and Lucius used a spell to become mist like forms. When the party reached the tower they came upon the dead bodies of the last group to have faced Autrilar (See Doomed Campaign Final Darkness). The bodies of Amer Strongblade, Gondegal, Andrais, Karius, Vzuul, Damanthius, and Loom. Emeric exhausted the powers of Necrozar to raise Amer, Andrais, and Gondegal. Still the party was very weak and at this point it seemed Autrilar was virtually undefeatable. It was time to implement the escape plan. Lucius would attempt to Planeshift the party back to the Prime Material Plane. But knowing that Ravenloft had ill effects on such magic it was going to be a risk. They gathered up the bodies of the dead and Planeshifted. They arrived in a snowy wilderness region. They began traveling north. They were soon attacked by werewolves but this battle-hardened party simply slaughtered them, Gondegal loved it. Not long after they determined they were in Ravenloft, in the domain of Invidia. Sithicus was to the south while Barovia was just east. They traveled south and then rested. During the night they were attacked by a vampire. They killed the creature but realized the demiplane was becoming increasingly aggressive. The next morning they were met once more by count Strahd Von Zarovich. The once Darklord was still a crimson death, a mist form of no power whatsoever. Strahd informed the party that Autrilar would not be coming after them. The dark powers were urging him to do so and Autrilar feared that the Dark powers were manipulating him. Emeric inquired into the origin of the dark powers. Strahd explained what he believed to the truth. He explained that when Gods die what remains of their form lies in the endless expanse of the Astral plane. Over millenium if the dead god maintain followers it is possible that they can return. Most of the time they simply linger in death for all eternity. The dark powers were the most evil and vile dead gods whose consciousness had reformed to some small degree and come to inhabit Ravenloft. Emeric began to relies that Strahd though a dark and evil enemy was most wise. He asks if Strahd could tell them of Autrilar weaknesses. Strahd said there were labrums of dark knowledge kept in his old castle in Barovia. Thus the party traveled east. They were attacked by skeletal Morhgs. Strahd explained that the party had become like a beacon to the evil wondering the land. Soon after they reached Ravenloft castle. The party rested while Strahd and Andrais researched Autrilar. The party developed a plan of attack. During this planning others came to join the battle. They were Dante the innkeeper vampire and Grizzly the were bear. Amer, Andrais, and Emeric took little solace from the aid of more replacement heroes. During their stay at the castle the party resurrected Karius. They now at least had a chance. The clerics of lathander placed many magical enchantments on the party. Then they marched once more to the face the enemy that would not fall. At the gates of the black tower Autrilar met them. He told them there would be no more tricks, no more taunting. Only death for the party. As Strahd watched from the side he smiled, as he knew that death was game that heroes also dealt in. Autrilar set the game off with a maximized breath weapon. Amer, Gondegal, Zondyr, Dante, Grizzly, and Emeric charged into battle while Andrais and Karius used spell support. Even the epic warriors could barely pierce Autrilars thick scales. Still the party was holding their own. Autrilar took to aerial tactics but the party was all enchanted with fly spells. Even with these enchantment Autrilar abilities were superior but it gave the party a chance. Andrias wielded endless fireballs as it seemed the only energy form that could harm the draconic. Karius meanwhile used dispelling and spell vulnerability to make the dragon susceptible to attack. The party hammered away at the creature for what seemed an eternity. As the battle seemed to be nearing its end Andrais noticed something disturbing. Something had entered the range of his True seeing spell. It was an invisible Autrilar. Somewhere in the middle of the battle a contingency had triggered Autrilar’s “Mislead” spell. Unknowingly the party had followed an illusion while Autrilar had slid of invisibly. While the powerful members of the party assaulted the illusion the invisible Autrilar had been picking off the weaker members. Grizzly and Dante fell to this. Then Autrilar came for Andrais. The other party members realized what was occurring but simply too far away to get back. Autrilar created a Prismatic wall out in the middle of the battlefield for reasons unknown. A moment later it became apparent. He used a flyby attack to pick up Andrais and then carry him through the wall. This attack made Andrais fall victim to all the effects of the wall. Andrais survived though he was paralyzed. Autrilar continued using this tactic against each of the party members. He could not however finish them of before the others returned. As the power of the all the heroes were once again unleashed Autrilar could not standup. The draconic teleported away. Luckily Lucius had used a locate object spell and thus he knew Autrilar had gone of the Black Tower. The party teleported in but the dragon was not present. A moment later a wall of force sealed the entrance. Andrais responded by stone shaping a new exit. Autrilar and the party clashed for the final time. Autrilar was fading. The end would come soon. Lucius binding the dragon with a dimensional anchor. Realizing he could not win the die Autrilar fled claiming that it was not over. The dragon took straight up into the sky. The party pursued but Autrilar was too fast. In a last fleeting attempt Karius shot a final volley of magic missiles into the beast. Autrilar disappeared into the mist above. As the party began to realize their failure they saw the shadow of Autrilar returning from above. The draconic was coming down. But he was not swooping, he was falling backwards, plummeting down upon them. They had killed the creature. A moment later the enormous draconic form of Autrilar crashed down, impaled upon the spire of the black tower. Autrilar had been slain. He heroes had won the day at last. Upon the dragons death the slayers felt a strange sensation. It was the powers of Ravenloft coming into them. They now collective controlled the realm. All the realm except a single domain. The domain of Vecna was still beyond their power. Strahd came to the party and begged them to destroy him. To free him of the demiplane and the powers which still fed him life. The party agreed and Strahd was finally irrevocably destroyed. The party discussed for a ling time what to do next. In the end it was decided they would disperse Ravenloft. Sending any new lands back to were they came from. Ravenloft core would return to forgotten realms to Reform Ravenloft island. Andrais realm of Shadowy Brook would return to Faerun. Ravenloft would continue to exist only as the black tower and the single domain of Cavitius. They would leave Vecna alone in his dark prison. After returning home Emeric and Andrais embarked on an endeavor to retrieve those heroes slain. Among the figures revived were Drazzius Gladdensnoot, Janzen Cloakshadow, Sir Verdant, Ravenwood, Barren Negate, Benny the cook, Grizzly, and others. Serbian Lightbringer though slain on Ravenloft had rematerialized on the prime material plane. The lords of Ravenloft had slain and all enemies were now dead. Everything was as it should have been and a new day dawned on the lands of the free.




The Lords of Ravenloft:
Amer Strongblade, Paladin King of Barovia
Janzen Cloakshadow, Paladin Lord of Darkon
Serbian Lightbringer, Lord of The realms of the Mourning dawn
Emeric, Ruler of the elvin lands,
Drazzius Gladdensnoot, Gnomish King of North Grimland
Karius Grimhand, Gnomish king of South Grimland

Home