D&D: The Five Worst Domains of Dread in Ravenloft
Everywhere in Ravenloft is a bad place to be. But of all the horror zones in the Demiplanes of Dread, these five might just be the worst.
Ravenloft is known as the Demiplane of Dread. And, as the name suggests, it’s not a fun place to be. Nobody ever wants to go there – at least not in character. Out of character, players love it. What’s not to love about a place that conforms to various horror genres while tormenting a central figure with unending horrors? You go to a place, it’s extra spooky, and if you’re lucky, you leave before the cycle continues anew.
But where are the worst places in Ravenloft? Which of the Domains of Dread will you likely end up deadest, fastest? We’re here to help you figure out just how screwed you are, once your DM reveals what you see through the Mists…
Bluetspur
What if Mind Flayers, which are already terrible, were made even creepier and worse? You’d end up with the Dread Domain of Bluetspur. This place is an absolutely nightmarish realm to stumble into. On the surface, a scarred, apocalyptic wasteland full of oily twisting spires, storms of poison gas, and mountains that make you feel just a little bendy whenever you look at them. And yet. The topside is nice.
Deep beneath the landscape is a sprawling, subterranean city. Miles of tunnels, carved out over the centuries are just crawling with mind flayers doing what they do best. Except here, they also go out of their way to carry out psionic experiments on the hapless victims they capture
This is because they don’t just need brains. They feed on the intelligence of their victims. Why? Because the mind flayers in the Dread Domain of Bluetspur are actually vampiric mind flayers, created by an infected, corrupted Elder Brain known as the god brain which is trying to fight off its illness. But all it can do is hunger for more, and subsist for a time off of the memories brought to it by its loyal servants.
Odaire
Odaire, on the other hand, is much more straightforward. Odair is a small little hamlet that is filled with evil dolls, creepyp uppets and a sentient marionette named Maligno. This is where you’ll find the beings known as carrionettes, as well as a whole arsenal of creatures excited to freak you out when you glimpse them standing stock still in a place they weren’t.
It’s enough to make you nope out in a heartbeat.
Falkovnia
Falkovnia was once home to another big bad vampire known as Vlad Drakov (gee I wonder who that could be). But now it is home to a ruthless mercenary leader who rules with an iron fist and a deadly army. Vladeska Drakov once invaded this Domain of Dread. Now, she leads her forces against an ever-growing wave of zombies.
That’s right. Falkovnia is the dark fantasy zombie apocalypse playground. And it’s just terrifying. There are apocalypse zombies (which will spread the plague), zombie legions, and of course, the ruthless, despotic armies of a ruthless, despotic tyrant to contend with in this Domain of Dread.
Har’Akir
Har’Akir is where all the mummies live. This is a dark fantasy desert realm. Equal parts gritty horror and supernatural action thriller, Har’Akir is a desert realm riddled with ancient crypts – it is the City of the Dead. If you want that good good body horror that comes with mummification rituals, if you want forgotten gods that gnaw at your mind, if you want lost secrets and blood-soaked sands, Har’Akir is the place for you.
Barovia
Finally there’s Barovia. This is home to Strahd von Zarovich. And it is the iconic gothic horror setting for D&D. There’s a reason Curse of Strahd routinely comes out on top when people list their favorite D&D adventures. And a big part of that reason is the oppressive atmosphere of Barovia. It is the perfect place to brood against a parapet in a lightning storm. Or to be beset upon by the children of the night, what music they make.
Vampire horror is about as old as it gets when it comes to horror. And this Domain of Dread has the ultimate Darklord. Making it one of the worst places to end up in Ravenoft.
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