Arak and Gwydion (Some Thoughts on the Shadow Elves' History) By R. Sweeney Gwydion isn't a 'real' demon, but rather a creature of great power from the plane of shadow. Gwydion's evil was his enslavement of the ShadowElves. His torment is his betrayal by Arak. Unlike Vecna, he was not on the prime and could only be 'trapped' because he was trying to follow the Shadow Elves into RL. (Presumably to kill them or re-enslave them). I wonder what Arak was thinking, however. Would there be anyplace he could take the Shadow elves into exile where Gwydion could not follow? Did he think he could hide from such a powerful creature? Gwydion must have had an enemy. A sibling perhaps. The Shadow Elves must have acted as some sort of armed forces for him. Arak must have believed that if Gwydion suddenly found himself without his Slaves, he would have been destroyed by his rivals. However, there other.. less satisfying, perhaps, ways of re-writing ShadowElf history. Gwydion, the shadow-being, falls 'in love' with an elf from some other world. They mate, bear children. Woman dies, Gwydion takes his children and their children as slaves. Millenia pass. Arak was Gwydion's favorite. Perhaps, Gwydion had mated with one of the Shadow elves of unsurpassed beauty and begat Arak. Thus, he set his son above all the other slaves. Arak, however, desired more than to be the head of the slaves. He managed to betray his father to his enemies. Arak had intended patricide. He was going to take away Gwydion's protective armed forces, leaving him vulnerable to attack by his other enemies. Arak's true intent being on claiming Rulership of the Shadow elves when they had escaped Gwydion. Arak would have been a tyrant over his people.. just as his father was. His bid to 'free' the ShadowElves would have only been an ultimate betrayal as the Elves realized they had simply fled one master for another. Unfortunately for Arak, he fled to Ravenloft. As he stepped into RL, Arak had expected Gwydion's enemies to attack him, giving the ShadowElves time to escape. This did not materialize, however, and Arak was forced to face down his own father. Gwydion found Arak harder to fight, however, as his act of attempted patricide and intended betrayal of the Shadow Elves had earned him a domain as soon as he entered Ravenloft. With the strength of a domain lord, he was able to fight off Gwydion for a time. However, even as a domain lord, he was not strong enough. To saves his son and daughter, he gave them the Regala and closed the gate. Gwydion and Arak have fought in the gateway ever since. Gwydion fears that if he destroys Arak, the gate would collapse around him, destroying him. Gwydion can feel Arak's connection to the Land, but does not understand it. Thus, when his son thought he 'heard' his father from the Gate, he had. However, Gwydion had merely waited until the gate was open, thrust the weaker Arak aside, and attempted to enter RL. For an added twist, Arak's daughter, Maeve, knew her father lived in the gate but also feared that Arak would enslave his people as Gwydion had done. (Or knew this had been his plan). So, she thwarts her brother to prevent becoming a slave again.. even thought she knows her father lives on in the gate. Synopsis: We make Arak the lord, and Gwydion just a powerful fiend trapped with him in the Obsidian gate. With the alternate history, we can understand how Arak's betrayal would have earned him a doman. And.. how being trapped in the gate would be his curse. Robert Sweeney Cathedrals of the Church of Ezra By C.D. Nichols The cathedrals are grouped by city (if a cathedral is not in a city it is listed under the domain it is in). The headquarters of the orders have the name of the order housed there listed after the entry. Necropolis: Le Sentier de Sephirot (Yamakites) Neuvuchar Springs: La Cathedrale de la Mere Holie Sophia (Sophians) La Cathedrale deux Sablex Martira Bay: Le Dom de la Melange La Tour d'Arrose du Mer (Itians) Viaki: Der Sumpfkirche Karg: Der Dom du Grau Neblus: La Cathedrale de Notre Dame de la Brume Nartok: Die Katedral der Umglik La Cathedrale du St. Zhaver Falkovnia: La Bastione du Evangelion (Rachaelians) Stangengard: Der Tyrannkirche Lekar: Der Dorndom Die Habichtdom Silbervas: Der Folterdom Dementlieu: Castle Nigramous (Justines) Port-a-Lucine: La Cathedrale de la Pensee Idee L'Eglise de la Echelle La Cathedrale de St. Pere du Viln La Cathedrale du Notre Perditione Le Ruin de Ste. Mere des Larmes La Cathedrale de l'Etoile du Nord (Petranes) Chateaufaux: La Cathedrale du Hochzeit Mordent: La Retraite du Viridian (Halanes) Mordentshire: L'Eglise du Gewissen Invidia: Le Maison du Coeur (Mishnad) La Retraite de la Herbes (Judasites) Karina: L'Eglise du Notre Peindre Dame Borca: La Bague deux Seele (Anchorites) Lechburg: La Cathedrale des Juene Filles du Yermo Levakrest: La Grande Cathedrale d'Ezra (Ezradim, Numerians, Dominicans) Le Citee Holie d'Eglise d'Ezra La Cathedrale du Baiser La Cathedrale de Notre Guerier Der Zaubererdom Richemulot: Le Repos du Pecheur (Daniellians) Ste. Ronges: Le Kirche du Lemkott Pont-a-Museau: La Cathedrale de Ste. Shtshure L'Archivee d'Ezra (Burakim) Mortigny: Die Dom Farfoylt Barovia: Le Chateau du Neon Genesis (Marians) Linguistic Note (or: The Hidden Meaning of the Churches’ Names) Here's the translations of the Ezran cathedrals. I used a mixture of French, German, Yiddish, Greek/Latin, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, and Hebraic (I think). Some of these names are references to secrets within the Church of Ezra or the domain they reside in. Others just sounded good. Necropolis: Le Sentier de Sephirot (Yamakites)/ The Path of Sephirot Neuvuchar Springs: La Cathedrale de la Mere Holie Sophia (Sophians)/ The Cathedral of the Holy Mother Sophia La Cathedrale du Sablex/ The Cathedral of the Sands Martira Bay: Le Dom de la Melange/ The Cathedral of the Blend La Tour d'Arrose du Mer (Itians)/ The Tower of Seaspray Viaki: Die Sumpfkirche/ The Mire Church Karg: Der Dom des Grau/ The Cathedral of the Grey Neblus: La Cathedrale de Notre Dame de la Brume/ The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Mists Nartok: Die Katedral der Umglik/ The Cathedral of Misfortune La Cathedrale du St. Zhaver/ The Cathedral of Saint Rust Falkovnia: La Bastione du Evangelion (Rachaelians)/ The Bastion of the Messenger Stangengard: Die Tyrannkirche/ The Tyrant Church Lekar: Der Dorndom/ The Thorn Cathedral Der Habichtdom/ The Hawk Cathedral Silbervas: Der Folterdom/ The Torture Cathedral Dementlieu: Castle Nigramous (Justines)/ from MCS map Port-a-Lucine: La Cathedrale de la Pensee Idee/ The Cathedral of the Contemplative Thought L'Eglise de la Echelle/ The Church of the Balances La Cathedrale de St. Pere du Viln/ The Cathedral of the Sainted Father of Will La Cathedrale du Notre Perditione/ The Cathedral of Our Perdition Le Ruin de Ste. Mere des Larmes/ The Ruin of the Sainted Mother of Tears La Cathedrale de l'Etoile du Nord (Petranes)/ The Cathedral of the North Star Chateaufaux: La Cathedrale du Hochzeit/ The Cathedral of Weddings Mordent: La Retraite du Viridian (Halanes)/ The Retreat of Viridian Mordentshire: L'Eglise du Gewissen/ The Church of Conscience Invidia: Le Maison du Coeur (Mishnad)/ The House of the Heart La Retraite de l'Herbes (Judasites)/ The Retreat of the Herbs Karina: L'Eglise du Notre Peindre Dame/ The Church of Our Painted Lady Borca: La Bague du Seele (Anchorites)/ The Ring of Souls Lechburg: La Cathedrale des Juene Filles du Yermo/ The Cathedral of the Young Girls of the Wilderness Levakrest: La Grande Cathedrale d'Ezra (Ezradim, Numerians, Dominicans)/ The Great Cathedral of Ezra La Cité Holie d'Eglise d'Ezra/ The Holy City of the Church of Ezra La Cathedrale du Baiser/ The Cathedral of the Kiss La Cathedrale de Notre Guerier/ The Cathedral of Our Healer Der Zaubererdom/ The Sorceror Cathedral Richemulot: Le Repos du Pecheur (Daniellians)/ The Rest of Sinners Ste. Ronges: Le Kirche du Lemkott/ The Church of Limb-flesh Pont-a-Museau: La Cathedrale de Ste. Shtshure/ The Cathedral of Saint Rat L'Archivee d'Ezra (Burakim)/ The Archive of Ezra Mortigny: Die Dom Farfoylt/ The Cathedral Rotten Barovia: Le Chateau du Neon Genesis (Marians)/ The House of New Beginnings Chris D. Nichols DARKLORDS’ & NPCs’ AGE By J.W. Mangrum & A. Ray In the year 750 BC (Barovian Calendar): Abu al Mir is 25 years old. Adam is 67, but he hasn't aged a day since he was "born." Must be the exercise. Alexi Shadowborn is 142 years old. Alfred Timothy is 41 but his lycanthropic heritage makes him look younger. Andres Duvall (the Bardic Lich ) is 165 years old. Azalin is 348 years old, but he’s been a lich for only 272 years. Daglan Daegon is approx. 597 years old (if still alive). Diamabel is 182 years old and became a Darklord 160 years ago. Dominic d'Honaire (the "baby" among the original darklords) is now 50. Draga Salt-Biter is 47 years old but contracted lycanthropy at the age of 35. Eowin Timothy , oldest member of the Timothy clan, is still sniffing around Mordent at 90. Frantisek Markov is 75, and he does age normally. Duke Gundar is circa 512 years old (or 562 years old non-canon), but has been a vampire for 461 years. Elena Faith-Hold is 178 years old (just speculative figures). Gabrielle Aderre is 40, although she looks younger.