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=== Domains of Dread === There are many Domains of Dread that makeup the landscape of Ravenloft. The Domains are surrounded by strange mists that can ensnare both people and places in Prime Material Plane and pull them into the Domains. Each Domain is ruled by a Darklord, but each Darklord was imprisoned in their Domain by the Dark Powers.<ref name="cbr2">{{cite web|date=2021-05-13|title=Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Things to Know About Ravenloft Before Van Richten's Guide|url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-ravenloft-van-richtens-guide-facts/|access-date=2021-05-14|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Dungeons">{{cite web|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=May 11, 2021|title=Dungeons & Dragons: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft Provides a New Take on a Beloved Campaign Setting|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft-review/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=ComicBook.com|language=en}}</ref> The Dark Powers "are believed to have been responsible for the overall creation of the Dread Domains".<ref name="cbr2"/> The concept of Domains and locations in Ravenloft besides Barovia and Mordent was introduced in the 2nd Edition campaign setting book ''[[Ravenloft: Realm of Terror]]'' (1990).<ref name="drivethrurpg"/> This book outlined that the size of Ravenloft is "40,000 square miles [spanning] 26 different domains, including Barovia and Mordent. All of the core domains are overviewed in ''Ravenloft'', as are eight 'islands'".<ref name="drivethrurpg"/> The revised 2nd Edition boxset ''Ravenloft Campaign Setting'' (1994) is an update to ''Realm of Terror'', but it removes Domains that were destroyed in the Grand Conjunction adventure series and adds new Domains.<ref name="drivethrurpg2">{{Cite web|last=Appelcline|first=Shannon|title=Ravenloft Campaign Setting, Revised, Boxed Set (2e) {{!}} Product History|url=https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/28838/Ravenloft-Campaign-Setting-Revised-Boxed-Set-2e|access-date=2021-05-13|website=DriveThruRPG|language=en}}</ref> The [[metaplot]] of the adventure series was used to update the setting: "David Wise, leader of the 'Kargat' of ''Ravenloft'' designers at TSR, has said there were a few reasons for the changes. Some domains were changed or removed because they didn't fit into Ravenloft ecologically [...]. Some domains were removed or merged because their lords were too similar, and finally some islands of terror were kicked to the curb just because they were 'less exciting'. [...] A few domains that had appeared since the publication of ''Ravenloft: Realm of Terror'' were notably missing [...]. All told, ''Ravenloft Campaign Setting'' covers 20 core domains and nine islands".<ref name="drivethrurpg2"/> The 5th Edition campaign guide ''[[Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft]]'' (2021) includes an overview of 39 Domains and many Domains are given a "wholesale revision" while "other Domains keep their original lore but are advanced in other ways".<ref name="Dungeons"/> Rob Wieland, writing for [[Forbes]], explained that in this book "many of the domains have new Darklords that reflect their original character but have details changed to better fit the type of horror the domain is supposed to represent".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wieland|first=Rob|date=May 17, 2021|title=An Exclusive Look Inside Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwieland/2021/05/17/an-exclusive-look-inside-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> Some of the more notable Domains include: * Barovia: the first Domain introduced and "foreboding" home of Strahd von Zarovich.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: a visual history |last1=Witwer |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=Kyle |last3=Peterson |first3=Jonathan |last4=Witwer |first4=Sam |last5=Manganiello |first5=Joe |date=October 2018 |isbn=9780399580949 |publisher=[[Ten Speed Press]] |oclc=1033548473 |page=229}}</ref><ref name="Hick4to6" /><ref name="polygon4"/> This domain was "inspired by [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]''".<ref name="screenrant">{{cite web|date=2021-05-13|title=D&D: Why Ravenloft's Lamordia Is Perfect For Frankenstein Fans|url=https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-ravenloft-lamordia-domains-frankenstein-horror-setting/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}</ref> * Carnival: this domain<ref name="cbr3">{{Cite web|date=2021-05-22|title=Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Domains in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft|url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-van-richtens-guide-ravenloft-best-domains/|access-date=2021-05-22|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref> "wanders the mists" itself, "populated by wild performers and a powerful, living sword".<ref name="polygon4"/> * Darkon: this domain is<ref name="cbr3"/> "a broken land [...] whose central castle is frozen mid-explosion, its disparate rooms desperately trying to reassemble the whole in mid-air",<ref name="polygon4"/> and "Darkon is now a Domain in decline after the disappearance of the iconic lich Azalin".<ref name="Dungeons"/> * Falkovnia: in its original incarnation, this domain's "Darklord was a fairly basic analog for [[Vlad the Impaler]] [...] and it had few defining characteristics beyond being a land ruled by a brutal warlord with a penchant for ultraviolence".<ref name="ign2">{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Jon|date=5 May 2021|title=How D&D is Going Full 'Zombie Apocalypse' Mode in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dnd-ravenloft-book-van-richtens-guide-early-look-preview-falkovnia-zombie-apocalypse|access-date=2021-05-14|website=IGN}}</ref> In ''Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft'', "Falkovnia has been reimagined as a nightmarish Groundhog's Day-style loop, where a struggling nation—which happens to be ruled by a brutal warlord—is endlessly besieged by massive hordes of the walking dead, who just so happen to look like everyone this warlord has ever killed".<ref name="ign2"/> The Darklord Vladeska "Drakov's ruthless efficiency and relentless perfectionism has turned her into a tyrant. Rather than retreat and save the lives of citizens and soldiers alike, every day she rebuilds the barricades that keep death at bay. Those same walls keep her trapped within".<ref name="polygon4"/> * Hazlan: this domain<ref name="cbr3"/> is a magocracy ruled by the [[Red Wizards of Thay|Red Wizard]] Hazlik who treats the domain as a "vast magical laboratory".<ref name="gizmodo">{{cite web|date=2021-05-17|title=D&D's Guide to Ravenloft: Magical Disaster Horrors Await Players|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/d-ds-guide-to-ravenloft-magical-disaster-horrors-await-1846888128|access-date=2021-05-17|website=io9|language=en-us}}</ref> [[F. Wesley Schneider|Wes Schneider]], lead designer of ''Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft'', highlighted that "Hazlan's a great example of a Ravenloft domain where the 'technology' behind its horror concept has improved since its origin. [...] Since the '90s, our collective imaginations have expanded on what an evil magic dystopia might look like. [...] Hazlan is a domain where anything wizards could do they've done to the extreme, and they're still doing it, all in the name of magical discovery and with the effects scarring the realm's people and land. This makes it the domain for all manner of weird monsters, amoral experiments, magical contagions, unnatural weather, collapsing reality, meteor showers, mutations, disasters, and so much more".<ref name="gizmodo"/> * Lamordia: this domain "paid homage" to ''[[Frankenstein]]'' by [[Mary Shelley]].<ref name="screenrant"/> In its original incarnation, Lamordia was a coastal domain with two small settlements<ref name="screenrant"/> and was ruled by [[Adam (Ravenloft)|Adam]], a flesh golem-like creature created by Doctor [[Victor Mordenheim]]. In ''Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft'', the region is now ruled by Viktra Mordenheim, a mad scientist tormented by her inability to replicate the Unbreakable Heart device that keeps her reborn lover Elise alive, even as Elise flees from her at every turn.<ref name="Dungeons"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/dungeons-dragons-dnd-van-richtens-guide-ravenloft-lamordia-frankenstein-preview |title=D&D's Ravenloft settings include Lamordia, a domain of 'stitches and semi-dead flesh' |publisher=Syfy.com |date=2021-05-03|access-date=2021-05-22}}</ref>
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