The Grand Conjunction

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Overview

Also known popularly as the Great Upheaval, the Grand Conjunction is perhaps the most famous and influential conjunction the Land of Mists has ever experienced. Foretold by the dukkar Hyskosa and triggered by the machinations of Azalin[1], the Grand Conjunction rocked the Demiplane of Dread to its foundations. For a brief time, the domains of Ravenloft (and the Misty Border itself) were busted open, allowing darklords and other evils to spill through into the Material Plane. However, Azalin proved to be his undoing, for his impatience caused his minions to fulfill the last two couplets of the Hyskosa's Hexad. This caused the Conjunction to collapse and the domains to reform, drawing back in their former prisoners.[2]

Background

The events of the Grand Conjunction and those building up to it were a series of modules (see below) that were self-contained but could, with some work, be played together as a campaign. Each of the modules was associated with a particular couplet in they Hyskoska Prophecy.[2]

The dukkar Hyskosa wrote a prophecy and hexad that consisted of six couplets in 735 BC. They are as follows[1]:

Each of the signs of the Hexad corresponded with the following modules as follows[3]:

The only two explicitly linked modules were from the Shadows and Roots of Evil, which put the 6th and 5th couplets out of order.

Soon after Azalin discovered the prophecy, he sought to force it to occur and hit two birds with one stone. First, he would be able to escape his hated prison.[1] Second, as Strahd was a "linchpin" to the Demiplane's existence, it would result in the vampire's ultimate destruction.[4] This was to Azalin a bonus because they have been hated enemies for hundreds of years.

As mentioned previously, Azalin's impatience caused his dupes to fulfill the fifth and sixth signs out of order, thereby undoing the Conjunction. However, that is not to say that it did not have dramatic effects within the Demiplane and without.

Geographical Effects of the Grand Conjunction

Despite the closure of the Grand Conjunction, it still reshaped the Core's geography. Some domains "merely" had their shape, borders, and even neighboring domains changed. For example, Valachan rotated 90 degrees during the Grand Conjunction.[5] and gained access to the Sea of Sorrows for the very first time. The Sea of Sorrows itself got its own darklord for the first time.[2]

For other domains, the changes were more drastic. Arak, Arkandale, Dorvinia, and Gundarak, ceased to be, their lands absorbed into or merged with neighboring domains. Bluetspur, G'Henna, and the Nightmare Lands were thrown from the Core and became Islands of Terror. Markovia was displaced but eventually rediscovered as an island in the Sea of Sorrows[2], its climate and flora visibly changing from temperate to tropical.[6] Perhaps the greatest damage to the Core was the gaping, shadow8y abyss appeared where G'Henna and Markovia formerly were. It is known as the Shadow Rift.[2]

The Islands of Terror did not go without their own changes. Farelle, Sanguinia, and Vechor all disappeared, seemingly destroyed.[2] (However, they would return in later Ravenloft products.) Rokushima Taiyoo and Dominia were formed as a result of the Grand Conjunction.[2]

Some changes wrought (or possibly wrought) by the Grand Conjunction have taken more time. The formation of the Nocturnal Sea from Nebligtode was one such delayed effect.[7] In addition, many of its islands were previously Islands of Terror.[8] The formation of the clusters from initially separate islands of terror seem to indicate new trend for the Demiplane, but the exact meaning of that trend is a mystery. Even whether they are true aftereffects of the the Grand Conjunction remain elusive.[9]

Reaction to the Grand Conjunction

  • The chaos convinced Teodorus Raines that the end is nigh. After several years of failure spreading the Faith in Darkon[10], Raines established the Nevuchar Springs Sect of the Church of Ezra in 751 BC.[11][12]
  • Wyan becomes convinced the Grand Conjunction was the work of the malign Fey. Alarmed by what happened to Markovia and G'Henna and to the existence of the Shadow Rift, Wyan organizes the Tepestani Inquisition to fight off the threats the Fey bear upon humanity. Meanwhile, the Tepestani people turn more inward and less friendly to foreigners or foreign ideas.
  • Once close when they were apart, close proximity makes Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya bitter enemies.
  • The Annexation of Gundarak commences as the forces of Strahd and later Gabrielle Aderre move in to conquer the territory formerly belonging to Gundarak.
  • After briefly seeing old enemies thrive back in Thay but being unable to punish them[13], Hazlik performed an about-face on his views of magic. He now condoned it and began taking apprentices.[14] Furthermore, Hazlik traveled to Ramulai and created the Red Academy.[15]
  • The Grand Conjunction left a mark on Azalin's ego, turning his attention away from his domain and onto developing the Doomsday Device. While he was distracted, his carefully crafted network of power started to become unglued. This set a precedence that continued into and through the Shrouded Years.[16]
  • The Grand Conjunction is commonly referred to by the people of Sri Raji as the "Rebirth of Kali", a time when Kali annihilated the old world and birthed it anew.[17][18] Since the Grand Conjunction, Kali has seen an upsurge in worship, both within Sri Raji and even sometimes without.[19]

Summary of Effects

Major Geographical Effects

Absorbed Domains

Displaced Domains

New Domains

Vanished Domains

References

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

The Ravenloft Campaign Setting
Domains of Dread

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp13,15,19,50,61
Ravenloft Third Edition - pp14-15,18,19,25
Domains of Dread - pp15, 18, 39
Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Realm of Terror - pp18-19
The Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - pp4-5,10,12,21,23,31,34-35,37
Roots of Evil - pp8-9,11,40 Download Now!
From the Shadows - p4,19-20 Download Now!
Servants of Darkness - pp3,8,12

The Great Upheaval
Great Upheaval
Great Upheaval, The
Grand Conjunction, The
Grand Conjunction