#goblyns

Domain: Daglan Domain Formation: 736 BC Power Level: 💀💀💀⚫⚫ (3/5 Skulls) Sources: Gazetteer I (3e); Denizens of Dread (3e), Geast of Goblyns (2e)

Radaga was, for a brief moment, the Darklord of the short-lived Domain of Daglan. Daglan was made up of grasslands and forests with a complete culture of people who wore unshapely robes and buried their dead in barrow mounds. It was as if it had been designed for those with an inhuman nature to blend in.

Radaga comes from a forgotten land and was once the priest of a minor, unnamed goddess. She was obsessed with her own beauty and only sought to improve upon it and use it to subjugate men to her will. We all need goals, I suppose. Our tormentors listened to Radaga’s wishes and as she they brought her into the Domain of Kartakass, she was granted the power to remain forever beautiful and control men. These wishes, of course, were twisted. Radaga could retain her youthful appearance only by sacrificing beautiful women and stealing their splendor. She could subjugate men to her will by raising undead under her control.

Our tormentors also ensured that if she dies, she would come back as a wight, her beauty forever gone. Lastly, she came to possess the Crown of Souls, which allows her to transform humanoids into Goblyns under her control and grants the wearer with some rather powerful defensive and offensive abilities. Radaga, having grown up an orphan, did not know she was the last living descendant of Daglan, a powerful warlock who created the Crown of Souls for a warlord. Since the Daglan was the only one who had the knowledge on how to destroy the crown, the warlord killed him. The warlock foresaw this betrayal and used a magic jar spell to transfer his spirit into the crown. While within, Daglan can attempt to possess those that wear it, though his will was not strong enough to defeat the warlord’s. The crown was eventually lost and found by an elf during one of the warlord’s many campaigns. The elf’s spirit was drawn into the crown and ever since has been battling for control of it with Daglan. Daglan’s will grows stronger as the crown absorbs his ancestors’ spirits when they die. Daglan played a very long game with this crown…

A band of Adventurers manipulated, as they often are, by Harkon Lukas’s daughter Akriel and Dr. Dominiani, sought the Crown of Souls. In doing so, they killed Radaga who came back as a wight and escaped with her army of undead into the Mists, forming the Domain of Daglan.

The Adventurers followed her and ended her life a second time. When Radaga was defeated, Daglan gained control of the Crown of Souls and, for a very brief moment, was the Darklord of Daglan before the Mists swallowed the Domain whole and spat out the Adventurers.

Radaga was quite powerful and very inventive. She created the first pyroskeleton in the Mists and had an army of rather intelligent skeletons under her control. It is also speculated that she is responsible, though not on purpose, for the creation of goblyn fog – a form of mists that warps everything it touches from animating plants to transforming humanoids into goblyns.

While conducting research in Kartakass, my little scholar discovered rumors that Radaga may be back, skulking around the Dead Hills.

I know this isn't really the site for promotions but I just put a free adventure up on DMs Guild set in Kartakass that features some of Radaga though a lot of wolves as well..Including some werewolves that use an abandoned theme park as their den. Happy Halloween!

Ravenloft Lore Tuesdays Domain Focus for June: Forlorn Domain Formation: 547 BC Darklord: Tristen ApBlanc

Lore: NPC – Herrd of Clan ApKie

Herrd is a goblyn, which are unique to the demiplanes of dread. They are humanoids that are transformed into goblyns. Similar to a skeleton or zombie under the dominion of the necromancer that created them, goblyns must obey their creator.

The Darklord of the Domain of Forlorn, Tristen ApBlanc, has telepathic control over every goblyn in his lands. Every goblyn that is, except for Herrd of the ApKie goblyn clan. To avoid his ruler’s commands, Herrd wears a ring of mind shielding at all times. Curious as it would simply be a matter of Tristen caring enough to have his swarm of goblyns remove the ring or remove Herrd entirely, but perhaps the pathetic Darklord finds Herrd’s antics amusing.

Herrd was once a human soldier who was transformed into a goblyn when Forlorn was claimed by the Mists. He does not remember his life as a human nor Forlorn’s original Kingdom of Forfar. Living amongst the goblyns in the forests and caves of Forlorn, Herrd’s ambition is to challenge Tristen’s control over the goblyn clans. Herrd longs for the ‘freedom’ of his people…that is, freedom from Tristen so that he would be free to lord over them himself.

If it wasn’t for Tristen’s absolute control over the others, Herrd would likely obtain his wish. He is larger, stronger, and far more intelligent than a typical goblyn and they naturally follow him already. He is a rather imposing figure, wearing nothing more than a black and red kilt decorated with fiery red human hair.

How to Use Herrd in Your Games

If the PCs are working against Tristen, then Herrd could be a valuable ally. Though unlikely to aid them directly in combat against the vampire/ghost Darklord, Herrd can provide valuable information about the land of Forlorn and its ruler.

Goblyns are mostly found in Forlorn, but they’re also quite common in the Domains of Kartakass, Darkon, and occasionally Barovia. Herrd could leave Forlorn and attempt to recruit or rule over goblyns in other Domains. This could result in more organized groups of goblyns causing chaos in townships.