Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft introduces you to the isolated, scary Domains Of Dread. These are otherworldly realms that have been stolen from Faerûn. Each domain is surrounded by mist to prevent people from leaving and is ruled by Darklords and Dark Powers.
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The unknowing nature of these domains is what makes it so enticing to set your next Dungeons And Dragons campaign within them. No matter your tastes, there is something for everyone in Ravenloft to explore. These intriguing domains can all be easily homebrewed and crafted into your ideal setting. But out of all of the 39 options in Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft, which domains are worth checking out first?
10 Har'Akir
Har'Akir is the domain of the ancient dead. The relics of this world have been buried by the sands of time. Within this realm is the City of the Dead, which Pharaoh Ankhtepot rules. Ankhtepot is a mummified former high priest with plenty of dark secrets. He rules over this land while searching for his powerful lost treasure.
This setting could make your players feel like a Tomb Raider as they plunder through various ancient trap-filled crypts. There are plenty of opportunities to test your party's skills with handling puzzles as labyrinths, pyramids, and oases await those that dare enter this harsh domain.
9 Souragne
Anton Misroi seemed to be a respected fellow, but within the walls of his prison, he was a sad*stic warden. When the prisoners rioted and drowned Anton in the swamps outside, the Dark Powers resurrected the warden as a Darklord. The prison and the surrounding swamp became the domain of Souragne and the undead warden is always eager to take in new prisoners.
The setting has a lot of undead creatures within it and a magical swamp to add a dash of mystery. Souragne could be perfect for an evil-aligned party, as they attempt to break out of this horrid prison, using cunning schemes to outwit the terrifying Darklord.
8 Odaire
Odaire is one of the smaller Domains Of Dread, with a unique Darklord too. The Darklord is a marionette brought to life, called Maligno. Angered by no one accepting him as real, the marionette insisted his creator crafted more toy siblings. With the help of these Carrionettes, Maligno removed all of the adults from the village of Odaire. Only children remain, trapped with their new puppet ruler in Ravenloft.
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The Carrionettes are a nice change of pace from . They are incredibly unsettling and are desperate for their souls to switch to more suitable bodies. Can your players save the children from this tragic domain before it's too late? Odaire is like Little Lamplight from Fallout 3, with an even darker twist.
7 Bluetspur
Bluetspur is the domain of alien memories. It is perfect for fans of cosmic horror and adds a science-fiction edge to your campaign. Underneath the almost uninhabitable surface of Bluetspur are various cave systems full of the mysterious Illithid - incredibly dangerous entities that can mess with your memories. They are under the command of the God-Brain: A dying Elder Brain desperate for knowledge.
Bluetspur works great for intermittent flashback sessions in your main campaign. A player might have memories gradually restored, letting them play a lower-level version of their character again, to see fleeting glimpses of what they forgot had happened during their alien abduction to Bluetspur.
6 Hazlan
Hazlan is a domain doomed by magic. It is full of incredible spells and magic knows no bounds. It feels like the fantasy version of Rapture from Bioshock. The Darklord, Hazlik, is a powerful Wizard that encourages his apprentices to perform world-breaking experiments. Hazlan is treated as a laboratory, and its residents are the test subjects.
In this crumbling world, your party could be apprentices of Hazlik, finally taking a stand. They are trapped in a domain where powerful wild magic is set of by every spell and need to stop Hazlik before the chaos spirals out of control.
5 I'Cath
This Domain Of Dread is two realities, the real world and the dream world. In the real world of I'Cath, those that are still awake struggle to survive, haunted by the Jiangshi (souls trapped within their corpses) that are striving to bend reality to match the dream world. This dream world belongs to the Darklord Tsien Chiang. She's created what she sees as a perfect version of I'Cath. With both versions of the city ever-changing, it is a constantly shifting maze for players to get lost within.
The dreamworld of I'Cath will allow you to flesh out an entirely new reality that can change at will. Your players will be constantly questioning which reality is real.
4 Mordent
Mordent is the domain of the haunted. The realm is riddled with ghosts, creating the ultimate creepy atmosphere for your players. If someone dies in Mordent, they become a restless spirit. Everywhere is haunted in Mordent, and everyone has a spooky story to tell. Often new ghosts will be claimed by the domain's Darklord Wilfred Godefroy. He is an angry spirit, haunted by his past mistakes, desperate to reach a more peaceful afterlife, no matter the cost.
Mordent offers a chance for death to not signify the end of the campaign. Instead, your players become ghosts, haunting the lands, and trying to put an end to their endless torment.
3 Moving Domains
Not all Domains Of Dread are static. Some smaller domains teleport randomly. Their purpose is often to lure unsuspecting people into Ravenloft. They can come in various forms:
- The Carnival is a bright, intoxicating wonderland with fantastic performances. But the longer the carnival is in town, the more likely it is that grizzly accidents will begin to occur. Stay too long at the carnival and it might have already shifted through the mists again.
- The Mourning Rail, Cyre 1313, is a magical lightning rail that carries its undead passengers through the mists endlessly.
- The Rider's Bridge is home to the Headless Rider. Make it to the other side of the bridge and you'll be in a new reality.
These domains can appear anywhere and make for great ways to begin your campaign without resorting to the usual cliches. Their small size also works for one-shots to give your players a taste of the Domains Of Dread.
2 Darkon
Darkon is one of the most unique Domains Of Dread, as it no longer has a Darklord. Because of this, the lands of Darkon are slowly being reclaimed by the mists. The residents of this crumbling land are desperate and lost. Reality is decaying around them, and many are claiming to be the rightful Inheritor of the title of Darklord. This Domain has seemingly already been defeated. Players can explore crumbled civilizations or witness the true power of the mists destroying the world around them.
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How to save Darkon can be quite an intricate puzzle for your party. It creates a real sense of urgency for the campaign. If your players cannot fix this domain or escape it, they too will be lost to the mists. There are many exciting ways to go with this concept. Are the players just interested in getting as many people out of this domain? Will they perhaps try to become Darklords themselves to gain control? Or is there something else they can do?
1 Barovia
Barovia is the domain of the first vampire: Strahd Von Zarovich, a charismatic antagonist that can provide incredible social encounters for your players as he pops up frequently to check upon them. He has control over everything within this domain, from the animals to the weather, and players will need to find alternative ways of defeating him if they want any hope of escaping this land.
The Curse Of Strahd campaign book, Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft, and all of the countless homebrew suggestions online make this domain stand out. It has a little bit of everything: challenging threats, creepy stories, fantastic set pieces, and more. You can't go wrong with sending your players to Barovia. They just need to make sure they are prepared for a grueling adventure.
NEXT: Dungeons And Dragons: Magic Items For A Mid-Level Party
