Aware of their darklordship?

[Faust]

Are thye aware that they are darklord?

I mean does dominic d'honaire for example knows that he cant leave is domain? And what happen when a darklord try to leave is domain? It act like an invisible wall? The mist deposit him back in his domain?

[Joël of the FoS]

yes, they are aware of the situation, I guess it is little voices in their head telling them of their new powers, like closing the border.

Any guess is fine, as non canon really answer this. It could be the mists as you say, or an invisible wall, or a repulsion to go further i.e. whatever suits you.

Jo

[Stygian Inquirer]

I think that there are groups that do know about their unique 'status' and groups that don't. The only ones who would really know what is going on are the ones who have studied Ravenloft (i.e. Strahd, Azalin, etc.).

You also have people who are unsuspecting such as Isolde, (Diamabel maybe) and Elena Faith-Hold who still believe that they are doing 'good'. They may believe their powers are from gifts from their gods or blessings.

[Ryan Naylor]

It depends on the darklord. Some clearly do know (Gwydion, Sodo, Strahd, Azalin), others clearly don't (Drakov, the Lady, ApBlanc, Hiregaard and Meredoth maybe). Go with what works best for your game. Those with Knowledge (RL) or who are likely to move around a lot (and try to leave) will. Others won't.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

You also have people who are unsuspecting such as Isolde...who still believe that they are doing 'good'. They may believe their powers are from gifts from their gods or blessings.

Isolde is good-aligned, and I would argue that she is doing good.

Of course, I disregard the line from CoD that says she's a CG darklord, but even if you allow for a good-aligned DL, it's safe to say they are doing good, which is why their alignment hasn't changed, as Elena's and Diamabel's did.

As for DL's who try to leave, it depends. Juste seems to be affected by his own border closure regardless of the borders, while Strahd is unaffected by the poison fog (duh) but according to his memoirs, he walks into the fog and walks back into Barovia, even theough he was walking in a straight line. He ever tried tying a rope to a tree and walking in to keep himself straight, and he walked out a few feet away with the light still taut on both sides!

Does anyone know of any other canon examples of DL's being restricted? I recall books saying that when so-and-so tried to leave, he/she was unable to, but only in the case of Juste do I recall specifics.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

When the lands surrounding Barovia appeared, Strahd felt an invisible wall surrounding the domain, impossible to break through.

Juste was terrified at the though of leaving his theatre, but I can't think of anyone else trying. Hell, ApBlanc can't even leave his castle.

[sabbattack]

Misroi also knows that he's trapped in his island. Most of them know they're trapped, just some of the (like Yagno or D'Polarmo) seem not to care of their little golden cage.

[Joël of the FoS]

It depends on the darklord. Some clearly do know (Gwydion, Sodo, Strahd, Azalin), others clearly don't (Drakov, the Lady, ApBlanc, Hiregaard and Meredoth maybe).

Interesting. But still they would guess that something is strange, i.e. when Drakov tried to cross his border (he surely did to investigate or lead his armies, at least in the start of his darklord reign), he couldn't.

But I agree that those who can't close their domains can be unaware of their status (except Ivan Dilisnya).

The ranks in knowledge (RL) is a good way to arbitrate, indeed.

Joël

[Darkknight]

I am thinking that the DL in power have a better chance to know that they are in fact the lords of the realm. Think of Adam and Victor... their struggle does not lead them to believe that they are the masters of Lamordia...

Does Maligno even have a clue at what a DL is?

Gregor?

Tiyet?

These beings and more probably understand that they are the power in the realm, but do they know what a DL is?

Has Tiyet ever tried to cross the border?

I leave the knowing up to those that have studied... Strahd, Azalin, Gwydion

[alhoon]

You also have people who are unsuspecting such as Isolde, (Diamabel maybe) and Elena Faith-Hold who still believe that they are doing 'good'. They may believe their powers are from gifts from their gods or blessings.

Isolde is a Darklord? ! ?
But she is a celestial! And she is good! She doesn't believe she is!

[Stygian Inquirer]

You also have people who are unsuspecting such as Isolde, (Diamabel maybe) and Elena Faith-Hold who still believe that they are doing 'good'. They may believe their powers are from gifts from their gods or blessings.

Isolde is a Darklord? ! ?
But she is a celestial! And she is good! She doesn't believe she is!

Well, she has her own pocket domain that follows her even if it is her reality wrinkle. Also, the Twisting is a rather cruel yet 'good' effect of her presence. In addition, she abandoned her brethren to get revenge on the GC. I would say that abandoning her noble cause for revenge would be wrong, if only on a moral or ethical level.

Misroi also knows that he's trapped in his island. Most of them know they're trapped, just some of the (like Yagno or D'Polarmo) seem not to care of their little golden cage.

Misroi is also confined to a single area of the swamps of Souragne so he is kind of 'doubly trapped'.

You also have people who are unsuspecting such as Isolde...who still believe that they are doing 'good'. They may believe their powers are from gifts from their gods or blessings.

Isolde is good-aligned, and I would argue that she is doing good.

The question is a moral one. Referring to page 52 of Champions of Darkness: "The phenomenon of Twisting began soon after Isolde appeared. It is the Dark Powers' reaction to Isolde... ...Somehow, the Dark Powers see deep within each person's soul and use the flaws discovered therein to reshape and change their victim's outward forms." and on page 54: "[Isolde] has the ability to accelerate the Twisting if she wishes... ...Twisting occurs with or without her conscious assistance, but she believes this to be a good thing". She may believe she is doing good but she also acts as a catalyst for the Dark Powers. Her presence allows the Dark Powers to disfigure innocent people into other beings. It is a moral and an opinion question: Is Isolde's presence a good thing if her presence can do this to people?

Of course, I disregard the line from CoD that says she's a CG darklord, but even if you allow for a good-aligned DL, it's safe to say they are doing good, which is why their alignment hasn't changed, as Elena's and Diamabel's did.

Even if you doubt CoD's status as a canon Ravenloft work, I do not think there would be any such argument against the Carnival accessory which also states this information (and in more detail BTW).

[Igor the Henchman]

The Twisting can be seen as a cruel effect, but it is not evil. All it does is show what you have in your soul for all to see. Note that many troupers are quite happy with their condition. Its those of evil nature that suffer most from it and so seek to rebel against their fate. To escape the unpleasant effects of the Twisting is actually quite easy: simply change your wicked ways. The Twisting is pretty much as evil as darklordship or the Powers Checks. It may be mad, unpredictable and unstable, but it still only really stings those who deserve it.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Even if you doubt CoD's status as a canon Ravenloft work, I do not think there would be any such argument against the Carnival accessory which also states this information (and in more detail BTW).

Yes, much more detail. It says that within the carnival, DL's hold no power (p.41), which is much more consistent with an outsider's reality wrinkle than a pocket domain. It never says that Isolde is a DL, though it says she resembles them, which is only natural; most fiends have a lot in common with DL's too.

[Bluebomber4evr]

Isolde, along with Malocchio, is one of those perpetually misunderstood characters that fans often claim to be a darklord even though they aren't.

Anywho, an interesting sidenote about darklords who try to leave their domains: I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire describes when Strahd tries to leave his domain. Every time he reached the border, he entered the mists. When he emerged from the mists he ended up in Barovia. No matter what he tried, the result was always the same.

[cure]

I recall the mist stories involving the good Count of Barovia.

But didn't he hit a wall when Forlorn appeared?

And to some small extent he managed to go beyond the bounds of Barovia via mental possession.