Bluebeard

Bluebeard is the darklord of the island nation of Blaustein, located well off the coast of Dementlieu in the Sea of Sorrows. He resides in Castle Bluebeard, and unlike many darklords, he is beloved by his subjects.

Biography

Bluebeard was the ruler of a small nation from an unknown world. His rule was considered just and fair, and as a ruler he was considered to be quite generous. Unfortunately for him, he was an incredibly ugly man -- a blue-tinted beard and all -- which to his credit, he overcame with his own charms and being incredibly wealthy didn't hurt, either. Despite all of his good qualities, however, Bluebeard could not keep a wife.

He would find a woman to marry, and soon after the wedding he would leave the castle for a time, handing its care over to his new wife. He would give her a set of keys to every door in the castle, and pointing out the one special golden key which opened a room at the very top floor. His instruction was to never open that particular door, with vague consequences. So far none of his wives have been able to overcome this temptation; and when they did open the door they found his grisly collection of former wives, hung up by meathooks with their throats slit. By opening the door, the key -- which was magical in nature -- would have a bloody mark that would appear that could not be removed except by Bluebeard himself. He would return to the castle soon after, and demand to see the keys. If they fell into his temptation (which they always did), they shared the same fate as the other women in the room. Marcella was his fourth wife and victim, and her death was the catalyst that brought the nation into the mists.

Current Sketch

After becoming a darklord, Bluebeard was gifted by the Dark Powers with a minor charisma increase, which does not make him handsome by any means but does not leave him as ugly as he once was. He is also able to perfectly detect any lie.

He is still the de facto leader of Blaustein, although his rule was twisted to be even more sadistic. Simply displeasing him is a death sentence, yet the populace still holds him in incredibly high regard.

He is unable to marry any women who are native to Blaustein, as their visages always twist to the posthumous appearance of one of his dead wives. This curse does not affect women who were born foreign of Blaustein, and Bluebeard along with this subjects are always on the constant lookout for any attractive women who fit this criteria.

Bluebeard is also haunted by the ghosts of the wives he killed. Every third night must be spent in his castle in order to sleep, and he always awakes to the frightening caress of the specters of his murdered wives. Like his subjects, they are utterly devoted to him, yet in the most twisted way possible. While he considers this distressing, it has not stopped him from sending another wife to the same fate.

It is currently unknown if he has any dealings with any other nation or darklord.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Ravenloft Third Edition Domains of Dread Darklords
		Darklords - p26
		Ravenloft Third Edition - p138 Domains of Dread - p73 Tales of Ravenloft:Sight and Sound - pp144-156 Darklords - pp22-25