Pictures that would work for RavenLoft

[High Priest Mikhal]

A large problem with getting anything on Bathory is that the history has been told and re-told so many times on the Web it's practically the same story. Not to mention the "facts" are largely secondhand and were often obtained under torture (seriously, no testimony from a peasant was considered legally admissible unless extracted under torture; that's how little the nobles thought of them). Given just how long this was supposedly going on and the logistics of it I find the accepted stories too hard to swallow as truth. Far more likely her "blood bathing" and other acts are the worst crimes. Sewing her victims' mouths shut if they cried out too much is feasible for a woman willing to torture and murder.

One account I read (a physical book about vampirism at my library) was that her victims were virgins specifically and there was no blood bathing. Bathory was homosexual and was known to force her victims into acts of "carnal torture" before killing them. Blood shed during such acts, and they would be quite bloody, was coated on to her skin to "absorb the vital essence." When the local supply of appropriately aged victims ran out she lured in noble daughters who were virgins, which was when her peers finally put an end to everything and the blood bathing myth was born as a means of propaganda. Specific victim type, specific MO, classic serial killer. But no hard evidence of her ever actually bathing in blood. Plus as a lesbian the Church would have been eager to propagate the blood bathing story to reinforce ideas of homosexuality as evil.

[Zilfer]

Interesting!

[High Priest Mikhal]

Interesting!

That's one way of putting it. Bathory's story is a fine example of, "History is written by the winners." Not to mention the maxim, "A scholar with one papyrus has history, but a scholar with two has controversy." Sorting the truth from the centuries of hype and myth is proving nearly impossible online. The signal-to-noise ratio is absolutely abysmal. But like the Journals I'm not able to devote any time to actual, offline research because of medical issues. At least until I can get some tests done for a proper diagnosis. America's healthcare system; a model of inefficiency and ineptitude.

[Zilfer]

Interesting!

That's one way of putting it. Bathory's story is a fine example of, "History is written by the winners." Not to mention the maxim, "A scholar with one papyrus has history, but a scholar with two has controversy." Sorting the truth from the centuries of hype and myth is proving nearly impossible online. The signal-to-noise ratio is absolutely abysmal. But like the Journals I'm not able to devote any time to actual, offline research because of medical issues. At least until I can get some tests done for a proper diagnosis. America's healthcare system; a model of inefficiency and ineptitude.

It has highlights and downfalls just like everything else. *shrugs*

[Joël of the FoS]

A friend artist posted this:

http://lascauxhall.blogspot.ca/2013/07/ ... -soir.html

Does it remind you of a RL adventure in Mordent?

[HuManBing]

[Dion of the Fraternity]

[High Priest Mikhal]

ROFLMAO! I had a Chihuahuah for thirteen years (sadly she had to be put to sleep due to dehydration from a collapsing trachea; the breed is notorious for the latter) and I can say that's a pretty accurate reaction. As is the raven going for the tail like it's a worm.

Hmm...a were-Chihuahuah. Makes for some amusing Ravenloft Lite (humor).

[Hazgarn]

Oddly, I find this picture accurately depicts my insecurities as a Ravenloft DM, worried I'm not quite hitting the right tone. Nobody wants to feel like...well, like a bird harassing a small dog. Okay, it's an odd analogy, but still.

[HuManBing]

My Eternal Order has a significant historical conflict with an angelic being.

[Boris Drakov]

http://samflegal.files.wordpress.com/20 ... jpg?w=1024

Norse domain?

Necromancer?

[Boris Drakov]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nJLGJOxc1is/T ... isulfr.jpg

Norse domain?

Arkandale/Verbrek?

Kartakass even?

[Boris Drakov]

http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2 ... s_Wolf.PNG

A walk in the woods?

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/ori ... fenris.jpg

A difference of opinion, in the woods?

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/ ... 5cijnp.jpg

So, you wanna play at heroics?

[Boris Drakov]

http://thyra10.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/draugen.jpg

Are you sure you wanna take the boat out today?

http://media35a.dimu.no/media/image/TEM ... height=380

Let's steal that flower. She won't mind?

[Boris Drakov]

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2 ... _large.jpg

Ooops. I think it woke up...