The Nocturnal Sea
"Behind The Curtain: What’s In A Name? When it was introduced in the 2E module Ship of Horror, the domain of which the necromancer Meredoth is darklord was referred to as “Nebligtode”. In Domains of Dread, the same darklord’s territory is referred to as “Graben” in the Ravenloft Timeline, yet is re-styled “the Nocturnal Sea” in the geographic description of the Core. The Arthaus products are similarly inexact, listing the whole of the Nocturnal Sea as if it were a singular domain by that name. As the Nocturnal Sea is, to natives of Ravenloft, a geographic region that incorporates portions of at least half a dozen other domains, this Survey now restores the title of Meredoth’s domain to its original usage. In this and future FoS netbooks, “the Nocturnal Sea” will refer to the actual body of water, independent of domain borders. “Nebligtode” specifically means the sizable fraction of that Sea which falls under the necromancer’s purview as darklord."
--The Fraternity of Shadows - Survey on the Expedition to the Nocturnal Sea Gazette
The Nocturnal Sea serves as a passageway to The Nightmare Lands and is ruled by Meredoth the Sea Mage. He lives on an island populated by his undead creations, chief among them being lebendtod (from the German term "lebende Tote" - "living dead"). In his original realm on Mystara, Meredoth was awarded a barony. However, as the obligations of rulership constantly interfered with his ruthless experiments, Meredoth concocted a plan to kill all the inhabitants and turn them all into undead servants that would go his bidding without ever disturbing him again. It was this crime that saw him snatched by the Mists and granted stewardship of the Nocturnal Sea.
Ports
Eastern Core
- Tidemore is a small Darkonese fishing port, sitting in the shadow of the Mountains of Misery north of Rookhausen and well south of Nevuchar Springs. The town is governed by Burgomeister Borganov. It is rumoured to be home to strange rituals and fiendish sacrifices, particulary upon its rocky beach.
- Rookhausen sits currently in ruins, at the edge of the Nocturnal Sea, in the south-eastern Darkon not far from the border with Nova Vaasa and the village of Rutledge.
- Rutledge is a port harbouring roughly 250 souls on the Nocturnal Sea that straddles the border between Darkon and Nova Vaasa. It has, as yet, been claimed by neither. Its lifeblood is fishing but it also serves as a pirate haven.
- Mavalga is a small fishing port on the Nocturnal Sea that harbours a population of 209 souls. It is not far south of Rutledge which itself stands on the border of Darkon and Nova Vaasa. This is to say that Mavalga lies on the edge of the Ehrendton in northeastern Nova Vaasa. It was assaulted by the Bad Wind in 755 BC.
- Skibbygger Beach is the leading ship building centre in Nova Vaasa. It lies on the Nocturnal Sea just north of the mouth of Sydligdnar. It should be joined to Guldstrand Beach by a ferry.
- Guldstrand Beach is the leading port in Nova Vaasa. It lies on the Nocturnal Sea just south of the mouth of Sydligdnar. It is joined to Egertus by a steep path, to Kantora by a ferry, and almost certainly to Skibbygger Beach by a ferry.
- Kantora can be with fall ships from the Nocturnal Sea via the Sydligdnar, although with difficulty owing to its current.
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
Ravenloft Third Edition | ||
Secrets of the Dread Realms - p7 | ||
Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp8-9 | ||
Nebligtode Nocturnal Sea, The Nocturnal Sea |