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. Being incredibly wealthy didn't hurt either. Despite all of his good qualities, however, Bluebeard could not achieve a lasting marriage.

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 point 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 on 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 the woman had given into temptation (which each invariably did), she would then share the same fate as the other women in the room. Marcella was his fourth wife and victim. Her death was not the final, but eventually Bluebear's repeated murders brought Blaustein into Ravenloft

Current Sketch

After becoming a darklord, Bluebeard was given a minor charisma increase by the Dark Powers, 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.

Bluebeard 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. This is because he also has complete control over their memories, and freely erases or rewrites their recollections of his atrocities.

Bluebeard is unable to marry any women who are native to Blaustein, even though they would be perfectly willing, as their visages always twist to the posthumous appearance of one of his dead wives in his eyes. 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. Lorel, an outlander he grabbed through the Mists, was his latest wife (and victim.)

Bluebeard is also haunted by the ghosts of the wives he killed. He must spend every third night 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 Bluebeard considers this distressing, it has not stopped him from sending more wives to the same fate.

It is currently unknown whether Bluebeard has any dealings with any other nations or darklords, at least beyond welcoming in his harbour ships including those engaged in piracy.

Stats

2nd Edition: male human fighter 5, Lawful Evil

3.5 Edition: Aristocrat 4/Thug 4

Pathfinder: male caliban fighter 9, Lawful Evil, CR 10 (as of 760 BC

Sources

Within canon sources, Bluebeard is most thorougly described in Darklords (p.22-27). In the Tales of Ravenloft: Sight and Sound short story, he encounters Lord Henredon, an outlander seeking the return of his sister Lorel.

He is also described in the Blaustein article in Quoth the Raven Issue 19, where he is referred to as Lord Raoul Morrell

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