Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft

As soon as Isolde took up the blade, it rekindled • Isolde dreads the day when the Carnival crosses
the grief and fury she had suppressed for so long, paths with its fey counterpart for a second time.
awakening the desire to avenge her long-dead com­ Were that to happen, Isolde would be forced to
panions by slaying the fiend she knows as the Caller relinquish the Carnival to its true shadar-kai mas­
(see "Mist Wanderers" later in this chapter for de­ ters, and Nepenthe along with it.
tails). Isolde always chooses the Carnival's stops
based on her predictions of the Caller's next steps, ROLEPLAYING ISOLDE
and if her pursuit forces the Carnival into danger,
so be it. Only by ridding Isolde of Nepenthe can she The Carnival is the closest thing Isolde has to a
truly escape the Dark Powers' clutches. But Isolde family and a home, and she expects everyone who
will never part with the blade willingly, and if it is works for her to carry their weight. She endlessly
taken from the Carnival, the sword will always find overburdens herself, struggling to protect those
its way back. around her as her hate for the Caller drives her for­
ward at any cost.
In addition to having the properties of a holy
avenger, Nepenthe is a sentient, neutral evil weapon Personality Trait. "We all contribute so that
with an Intelligence of 10, a Wisdom of 8, and a we all benefit. Those who do not carry the burden
Charisma of 18. It has hearing and darkvision out do not eat."
to a range of 60 feet. It can read and understand El­
vish. It can also speak Elvish, but only through the Ideal. "Those most deserving of aid are those who
voice of its wielder, with whom the sword can com­ never ask for it."
municate telepathically. When using its telepathy to
speak to Isolde, the sword can mimic the voices of Bond. "You share a bond with those you travel
Isolde's fallen companions as it drives her to catch with, a bond closer than blood. Choose well who you
their fiendish killer. Unlike Isolde, whose motives share the road with, lest you carry them forever."
are good, the sword is corrupt and irredeemable.
Flaw. "For my victories and scars, I deserve more
FREEDOM OF THE MISTS than a nursemaid's duty."

The Carnival travels through the Mists and between ADVE NTURES IN T H E CARNIVAL
other Domains of Dread as Isolde pleases-though
the Dark Powers occasionally send it off course. The Carnival deals i n fabricated spectacles and
The Carnival provides one of the few means of cheap surprises, but it disguises actual marvels of
escaping from another Darklord's domain, since it a far deadlier sort. Even as the Carnival's troupers
ignores the closed borders of other domains. Other astonish their visitors with amazing performances,
Darklords cannot travel with the Carnival to escape a surreal world of outlandish beings, dangerous
their own domains, however. bargains, and deadly tricks encroaches on the fes­
tivities, threatening performers and audiences alike.
CLOSING THE BORDERS The Carnival provides a safe place for a time, but
the longer it lingers, the greater the danger grows­
Nepenthe can close the borders of its domain, as whether from intolerant common folk, jaded troup­
detailed in "The Mists" at the start of this chapter. ers, dangerous fey, or Isolde's tireless quest.
With the sword's consent, Isolde can do the same.
When the Carnival's borders close, the Mists are Consider the plots on the Carnival Adventures ta­
filled with eerie, colorful lights and distant music, ble when planning adventures in this domain.
echoing memories of past carnivals.
C A R N I VA L A DV E N T U R E S
ISOLDE'S TORMENT
d4 Adventure
Isolde is both protector and prisoner of the Carnival.
The following truths endlessly weigh upon her: One of the Carnival's performers has been a r­
rested by a local sheriff. H ermos asks the party to
• The Carnival constantly grows, bringing addi­ return the trouper, either to save them or to m ake
tional souls dependent on Isolde's guardianship. them face Carnival j ustice.
She's tortured by her obligation toward the Carni­
val's troupers and her vow to avenge her murdered 2 A local h ires the party to find a loved one who
companions. disappeared at the Carnival. The trail leads to a
Litwick M arket vendor whose tri n kets turn people
• Isolde obsessively plots the perfect confrontation into their favorite animals.
with her immortal quarry, the Caller. But the
small concerns of the Carnival nag at her cease­ 3 The Carnival adopts a new performer escaping
lessly, exacerbated by the fey interlopers drawn to thei r fam i ly. The performer asks the party to deter
her presence. Her burdens drive her to seek seclu­ family mem bers i ntent on bringing them home.
sion to keep her legendary temper in check.
4 The characters fi nd a mirror holding the disem­
bodied reflection ofTindafulus, a mage trapped by 87
his own reflection. He wants the party to find his
duplicate, who escaped with a mysterious carnival.

C H APTER 3 j DOMA I N S OF RAVEN LOFT