Paridon

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Paridon
[[Image:|350px]]
Culture Level Renaissance (9)[1]
Ecology Sparse[1]
Climate & Terrain Temperate settled area[1]
Year Formed 551 BC[2][3]
Population 11,600[4]
Races (%) Humans 99%, Other 2%[4]
Languages Zherisian[4]
Religions Divinity of Mankind[4]
Government Aristocratic Republic[4]
Ruler(s) The City Council[4]
Darklord(s) Sodo[5][6]
Nationality Paridoner[4]
Analog Victorian London[7]
Related Categories
Locations in Paridon
Transportation in Paridon
Inhabitants of Paridon
Former Inhabitants of Paridon
Flora of Paridon
Fauna of Paridon
Native Monsters of Paridon

Loosely based on Victorian London[7], Paridon is a domain designed around the idea of social decay, one which happens to be infested with dread doppelgangers. The darklord is the doppelganger Sodo, who is referred to by the human inhabitants as "Flickerflame" because he cannot control his shape-changing powers and is constantly "flickering" in form. Previously an island of terror, Paridon and the domain of Timor (located within the sewers) form the Zherisia cluster.[8]

Beyond the shapechangers that hide among the populace and the marikith or other horrors from Timor below, few native inhuman monsters inhabit the fog covered streets of Paridon. However, there are all too many human evils here, including murderers that walk the streets at night. The most infamous of these madmen is Bloody Jack, a serial killer who takes six lives without fail every 13 years.[8] Most recently, he struck in 755 BC.[2][3] On a more mundane but widespread level, Paridoner society is also afflicted by the social ills of mass hunger and a stiff class divide.[8]

History

Prior to its capture by the Mists, Paridon and the surrounding land of Zherisia were located on some unknown world of the Prime Material Plane. Several dread doppelganger clans lived hidden among the humans of the city. One particularly sadistic and traitorous doppelganger systematically betrayed and wiped out all of the elders of his clan, subsequently seizing power. When his treachery became great enough, the Dark Powers drew in Paridon and some of the nearby land.[9] The year was 551 BC.[10][2][3]

In 586 BC, the murderer known as Bloody Jack went on his first spree, claiming the lives of six victims. "Bloody Jack" would continue the pattern every thirteen years right up to the present day.[11]

Even prior to the loss of the arable land surrounding the city, the problems of scarcity (particularly food scarcity) ran rampant in Paridon.[12] In 740 BC, the Grand Conjunction occurred, and Paridon became alone in the mists, the surrounding land outside of the city lost entirely.[13] Starvation ensued, though the issue was ameliorated somewhat a few years later as people started disappearing from their homes and the population dropped. Coinciding with the drop in population, the layout of the sewer networks beneath the city became changed.[14] Unknown to the general populace, Paridon had joined with the underground remnants of Timor to form the Zherisia cluster in 744 BC.[10][2][3] Seeping up from the depths of Timor, the marikith and other denizens of that domain became a new threat to the people of Paridon.[14]

Biology

Flora

Fauna

Native Horrors

Locations in Paridon

Boroughs of Paridon

Noncanon Information

The Zherisia Gazetteer, a netbook released by Fraternity of Shadows, further details the sprawling city of Paridon above and the domain of Timor below.[17]

Chronology

  • 691 BC - Zherisian Parliament allows the Stamp Act to expire, which leads to the success of news publications on a timely basis.[22]
  • 700 BC - As the century turns, there are five major newspapers competing for readers in Paridon.[22]
  • 740 BC-741 BC - During the winter, numerous riots break out as food shortages and poor conditions wear down quality of life for the people of Paridon. A curfew is established until the following spring of 741 BC.[24]
  • 749 BC - The economy begins showing signs of recovery.[28]
  • 750 BC - On the tenth anniversary of the Great Upheaval, the island of Zherisia is declared no more. A memorial consisting of a fountain with an everburning torch is erected.[28]

Paridon in Ravenloft Modules

Paridon and Bloody Jack are featured in the 2nd Edition mode Hour of the Knife and its sequel, Shadow of the Knife.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.182
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ravenloft Third Edition p.17
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.183
  5. Hour of the Knife p.4
  6. Domains of Dread p.118
  7. 7.0 7.1 Hour of the Knife p.8
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Domains of Dread p. 117-118
  9. Hour of the Knife p. 38; Domains of Dread p. 118
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Domains of Dread p.16
  11. 11.0 11.1 According to Hour of the Knife p. 5, the knife was first used in this fashion 156 years ago from the time of the module. According to Domains of Dread p. 17, the events of HotK happened in the year 742 BC.
  12. Realm of Terror p. 86 (Black Boxed Set)
  13. Ravenloft Campaign Setting: Domains and Denizens (Red boxed set) p. 41
  14. 14.0 14.1 Domains of Dread p.116-117
  15. Ravenloft Third Edition p. 163
  16. 16.0 16.1 Domains of Dread p. 118
  17. http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html
  18. Zherisia Gazetteer p. 48
  19. Zherisia Gazetteer p. 49
  20. 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 Extrapolated from the date of the first spree (156 years from the time of the module, according Hour of the Knife p. 5) Domains of Dread p. 17 places that time at 742 BC. HotK p. 5 specifies that the murders occur at 13 year intervals
  21. According to Hour of the Knife p. 20, S.H. Williby is aged 60 at the time of the module. Domains of Dread p. 17 says that the events of Hour of the Knife takes place in 742 BC
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Zherisia Gazetteer p. 41
  23. Hour of the Knife p. 62 says she has been in practiced for five years at the time of the module. Domains of Dread p. 17 says that the events of Hour of the Knife takes place in 742 BC
  24. Zherisia Gazetteer p. 50
  25. 25.0 25.1 Domains of Dread p.17
  26. Hour of the Knife
  27. Zherisia Gazetteer p. 107
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Zherisia Gazetteer p. 51
  29. Ravenloft Third Edition p.18
  30. 30.0 30.1 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.20
  31. Zherisia Gazetteer p. 40

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Ravenloft Third Edition

Domains of Dread
Hour of the Knife

Secrets of the Dread Realms - p7
Ravenloft Third Edition - pp18,110,163-165
Domains of Dread pp 117-118
Hour of the Knife - pp8-9,10
Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - p41
Realm of Terror - p86

Ravenloft Campaign Setting - poster map
Hour of the Knife - poster map