Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 martinaj Jan 16, 2009 21:44:10	Alright, first off, I know that this is somewhat related to an older edition, but I'm putting it here because the question is more closely tied to Ravenloft than it is to 3.5. I finally managed to get my hands on all of the Ravenloft Gazetteers (the fifth IS the last one, right?), and I must say, I am hungry for some answers. Some questions came up during the reading, and I was hoping someone had the answers I'm looking for. I know that this being Ravenloft, there may well be no concrete answers and the DM is meant to determine the answers for himself or herself, but I'm hoping for something that clicks into the lore of the world here. I'm running a campaign in 3.5 right now (thinking of a 4th ed conversion, though), and I was hoping to see if there is anything out about this stuff before I start making everything up. 1. Exactly who is the woman writing the Doomsday Gazetteers, and are there stats for her anywhere (this seems to me to be the most likely question to have no real answer). 2. Does anyone know if a concrete model of Azalin's goals in this endeavor ever surfaced? He obviously needs Malochio for something, and then there was that guy that the author met in Tepest that mentioned several children. I'm very curious as to exactly what Azalin is up to. 3. Slightly related to my last questions, who is that guy that the author meets in Tepest? The one that has the child she took from Nova Vassa? He seems pretty important, and I definitely get the impression that he's some major hidden player in the realm's politics. 4. This one is mostly out of simple curiosity and less out of a burning need for answers, but does anyone know what the bracer that Azalin gave to the author does? I would be eternally grateful to anyone who can answer any of these questions.
#2 The_Jester Jan 17, 2009 11:38:16	1. Exactly who is the woman writing the Doomsday Gazetteers, and are there stats for her anywhere (this seems to me to be the most likely question to have no real answer). Her title is "S". She's the daughter of a Darkonian scholar and a new character created for the Gaz, and possibly more (there's rumours that she's tied to Azalin or other Darkonian). She has no stats anywhere as the Gaz series ended early (they wanted to do 13 and cover ALL the domains but the developers declined and only focused on the Core). 2. Does anyone know if a concrete model of Azalin's goals in this endeavor ever surfaced? He obviously needs Malochio for something, and then there was that guy that the author met in Tepest that mentioned several children. I'm very curious as to exactly what Azalin is up to. No, there's been some varied and rampant fan speculation but the authors have been mum. The guy met in Tepest was the Gentleman Caller, a creation of 2e author Steve Miller and instigator of trouble (he appears in several 2e adventures such as the Evil Eye and the accessory Carnival. The plan actually involves his children, of which Mallochio is one. There was supposed to be one/Gaz but due to problems with Gaz2 (delays that caused a domain to be pulled and added to Gaz3) there are no children in Gaz2 and two in Gaz3. Azalin's plan is supposedly not one of escape (he's learned his lesson) and his little speech in the chapter headings of the 3e Ravenloft Campaign Setting book also gives clues. But there's not enough of the plan revealed to do more than wildly guess. 3. Slightly related to my last questions, who is that guy that the author meets in Tepest? The one that has the child she took from Nova Vassa? He seems pretty important, and I definitely get the impression that he's some major hidden player in the realm's politics. Yes, the Gentleman Caller has popped-up in numerous products in the 2e line and become quite the player in Ravenloft. He's known for setting-up the problems then leaving before the real trouble starts, so by the time PCs/heroes get involved he's long gone. 4. This one is mostly out of simple curiosity and less out of a burning need for answers, but does anyone know what the bracer that Azalin gave to the author does? Actually yes, this has been revealed by the authors. They act like a variant on the clone and magic jar spells. So that when she dies, her mind is transfered to pre-prepared clone of herself. That way she can "die" and get into danger without ending Azalin's research.
#3 martinaj Jan 17, 2009 17:42:09	Excellent. Thank you very much for your help. A thought did occur to me. It's obviously too far fetched to have been the originally intended plan, but hey, now that's on us. Azalin has MANY notes despairing over S's softer side. The obvious reason is that he doesn't care for such weakness in his minions, but if we get creative, we could find a more specific reason. What if a DM where to concoct a plot in which Azalin was attempted to tailor someone already under his control into a darklord?