Welcome to Wonderful World of Darklords! In this episode, we're looking at a property that Disney has adapted for both Mickey Mouse and the Muppets: A Christmas Carol. At its heart, A Christmas Carol is a story of redemption--so how do we square that with darklords, who are fundamentally irredeemable? By sending your PCs into a trippy journey through the past, present, and future of a character who isn't the darklord, that's how. Topics discussed include:

• Why we didn't choose Scrooge as our darklord, instead opting for another miser whose prison comes with hate;
• Concrete examples of past, present, and future visions for Scrooge, a beloved canon NPC, and two PC archetypes;
• Ways for your non-Charisma PCs to help Scrooge be a better person (because even the Ghost of Christmas Future had an astronomical Intimidation bonus);
• Various levels of dreamscape weirdness, from "we're literally just doing A Christmas Carol" to "we just cited the last two episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion;"
• And more!

The full write-up for Scrooge and Marley is available for free on DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/504721/Scrooge-and-Marley-A-Ravenloft-Domain-of-Dread?view_as_pub=1

The Verge Games Christmas Carol adventure that we "borrowed" much of this domain from is available on their website: https://vergegames.org/all-products/p/christmas-carol-adventure-book

The Nightmare Lands, which we "borrowed"...pretty much the rest of this domain from, is available on DM's Guild: The Nightmare Lands (2e) - Wizards of the Coast | Ravenloft | AD&D 2nd Ed. | AD&D 2nd Ed. | Ravenloft | Dungeon Masters Guild You

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

08:27 The Lord

31:33 The Land

40:36 Dread Possibilities

1:27:42 Parting Thoughts

1:50:51 D’s Parting Thoughts

All music recordings are in the public domain (mark 1.0) and are licensed through https://musopen.org:

Chopin Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.1 (main theme), performed by Eduardo Vinuela

Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 12 in C Minor: “Ocean” (darklord theme), performed by Edward Neeman

Chopin Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (land theme), performed by Luke Faulkner

Rachmaninoff Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3 - 2. Prélude in C sharp minor (Dread Possibilities), performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Chopin Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (parting thoughts), performed by Luke Faulkner

Dialog for Yensid was written by Azalin Rex himself: http://www.tumblr.com/darklordazalin

The Wonderful World of Darklords logo was designed by Halite Jones, whom you can find on Tumblr and Instagram: https://www.tumblr.com/halite-jones and http://www.instagram.com/insta_halite

Contact us on:

Gmail: wonderfulworldofdarklords@gmail.com

Facebook: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Tumblr: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Patreon: www.patreon.com/WonderfulWorldofDarklords

YouTube: @wonderfulworldofdarklord

Welcome to Wonderful World of Darklords! In the spirit of Thanksgiving and of thankfulness for you, our listeners, we're presenting the domain you chose in our Listeners' Choice poll: Spirited Away. Yubaba is an excellent villain, Chihiro's parents and No-Face give us some phenomenal horror moments, and we actually see the bathhouse's borders close in the first twenty minutes of the movie...but the bathhouse feels more like a Domain of Delight than of Dread, and Yubaba doesn't have much of a backstory even in ancillary materials, so we had our work cut out for us. Topics discussed include:

• An Act of Ultimate Darkness and element of tragedy/relatability for Yubaba that plays into some themes we might not have been able to work into the domain otherwise;
• Why Zeniba and Yubaba hate each other with the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns, and how to play up that rivalry in a way that lends itself to more traditional D&D antics than Ghibli movies typically allow;
• How to get your PCs to seek out jobs in the bathhouse and sign their names away to Yubaba even though there's no way in the Nine Hells they're going to think it's a good idea;
• The sorts of adventures one can have in a setting that doesn't lend itself to combat, puzzle-solving, or the disarming of traps;
• and more!

The full write-up for the Bathhouse of the Spirits is available for free on DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/501385/The-Bath-House-of-the-Spirits-A-Ravenloft-Domain-of-Dread?affiliate_id=241770

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

06:20 The Lord

53:02 The Land

1:09:29 Dread Possibilities

1:32:32 Parting Thoughts

2:02:12 D’s Parting Thoughts

All music recordings are in the public domain (mark 1.0) and are licensed through https://musopen.org:

Chopin Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.1 (main theme), performed by Eduardo Vinuela

Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 12 in C Minor: “Ocean” (darklord theme), performed by Edward Neeman

Chopin Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (land theme), performed by Luke Faulkner

Rachmaninoff Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3 - 2. Prélude in C sharp minor (Dread Possibilities), performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Chopin Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (parting thoughts), performed by Luke Faulkner

Dialog for Yensid was written by Azalin Rex himself: http://www.tumblr.com/darklordazalin

The Wonderful World of Darklords logo was designed by Halite Jones, whom you can find on Tumblr and Instagram: https://www.tumblr.com/halite-jones and http://www.instagram.com/insta_halite

Contact us on:

Gmail: wonderfulworldofdarklords@gmail.com

Facebook: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Tumblr: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Patreon: www.patreon.com/WonderfulWorldofDarklords

YouTube: @wonderfulworldofdarklord

Happy Halloween from Wonderful World of Darklords! Night on Bald Mountain is such an important part of Disney's spooky legacy that we had no choice but to make an episode about it . . . but how the heck do you make Chernobog a darklord? If you can answer that question, we salute you. We opted to make him something akin to a Mist Traveler, but without the "traveling" part since he has a mountain for legs. Topics discussed include:

• why this isn't a Peddler's Tale, even though it probably should be;
• how Chernobog came to be fused with a mountain, and why that mountain is actually several mountains in a weird metaphysical sense;
• story ideas for Bald Mountain that range from folk horror to Seven Samurai to Strahd and Azalin meeting up and snarking at each other;
• how to have an entire campaign when your Big Bad is a stationary demon who only wakes for up one night out of the year;
• and more!

The full write-up for Bald Mountain is available for free on DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/496393

All music recordings are in the public domain (mark 1.0) and are licensed through https://musopen.org:

Chopin Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.1 (main theme), performed by Eduardo Vinuela

The Wonderful World of Darklords logo was designed by Halite Jones, whom you can find on Tumblr and Instagram: https://www.tumblr.com/halite-jones and http://www.instagram.com/insta_halite

Contact us on:

Gmail: wonderfulworldofdarklords@gmail.com

Facebook: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Tumblr: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Patreon: www.patreon.com/WonderfulWorldofDarklords

YouTube: @wonderfulworldofdarklord

This is what you give me to work with?

Well honey, I've seen worse!

We're going to turn this sow's ear

Into a silk purse

Welcome to Wonderful World of Darklords! In this episode, we're taking a look at a deeply flawed Disney movie whose numerous defects include an underdeveloped villain, an underdeveloped setting, and underdeveloped potential for some light existential horror. Luckily, our raison d'etre is developing villains, settings, and heavy existential horror, so we're here to extract the most wondrous, beautiful parts of this movie and help them come to fruition. Topics discussed include:

• How to represent removing and/or granting a wish with the mechanics of D&D, other than "I guess Magnifico's giving that one woman a Flying speed;"
• Some AU timeline shenanigans so you can have a fully evil, post-Act of Ultimate Darkness Magnifico who retains his Act One subtlety;
• The genre that best matches the plot and themes of Wish, which was a terrible fit for "Disney fairy tale pastiche" but a beautiful fit for a Ravenloft domain;
• Ideas for working in the evil power couple version of Magnifico and Amaya from the concept art;
• and more!

The full writeup for Rosas is available on DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/493104/The-Kingdom-of-Roses-A-Ravenloft-Domain-of-Dread?affiliate_id=241770

The jungle juice recipe we used for Book Club of Dread is here: https://www.staysnatched.com/jungle-juice-recipe/ Honestly, though, in the spirit of jungle juice, you're probably best off just mixing together whatever juices you have in the fridge and throwing in some alcohol if you want.

Also, per a listener request: introducing timestamps!

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

4:32 The Lord

39:05 The Land

59:49 Dread Possibilities

1:23:59 Parting Thoughts

1:50:13 D's Parting Thoughts

All music recordings are in the public domain (mark 1.0) and are licensed through https://musopen.org:

Chopin Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.1 (main theme), performed by Eduardo Vinuela

Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 12 in C Minor: “Ocean” (darklord theme), performed by Edward Neeman

Chopin Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (land theme), performed by Luke Faulkner

Rachmaninoff Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3 - 2. Prélude in C sharp minor (Dread Possibilities), performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Chopin Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (parting thoughts), performed by Luke Faulkner

Dialog for Yensid was written by Azalin Rex himself: http://www.tumblr.com/darklordazalin

The Wonderful World of Darklords logo was designed by Halite Jones, whom you can find on Tumblr and Instagram: https://www.tumblr.com/halite-jones and http://www.instagram.com/insta_halite

Contact us on:

Gmail: wonderfulworldofdarklords@gmail.com

Facebook: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Tumblr: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Patreon: www.patreon.com/WonderfulWorldofDarklords

YouTube: @wonderfulworldofdarklord

Welcome to the second installment of the Wonderful World of Darklords Summer Blockbuster series! In this episode, we're going to look at the only movies in our series that actually busted blocks: the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. (Mostly the original trilogy, but we'll touch on 4 and 5). Topics discussed include:

• Which of the MANY candidates for darklord we settled on, plus AU discussions about the other possibilities (including potential torments, how to make the domain reflect them, and the type of adventure you can run with them, if you're wondering why this episode passed our usual 2:10 ceiling);
• The highly gameable hallmarks of a Pirates of the Caribbean adventure (credit to Ryan George's Pitch Meeting series), which you can use to make your own sessions feel appropriately Pirate-y;
• Trade wars between the East India Trading Company and the Boritsi Trading Company, both of which are constantly beset by pirates, and WHY ARE WE NOT PLAYING THIS GAME RIGHT NOW;
• Chicken Bone;
• and more!

The full writeup for Davy Jones' Locker is available on DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/486011/Davy-Jones-Locker-A-Ravenloft-Domain-of-Dread?affiliate_id=241770

If you want to fall down the same rabbit hole that Rachel fell down to reach D's adventures in this episode, this is a good start: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/overheard/article/queens-of-the-high-seas

Now, what are you looking at? Back to work!

All music recordings are in the public domain (mark 1.0) and are licensed through https://musopen.org:

Chopin Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.1 (main theme), performed by Eduardo Vinuela

Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 12 in C Minor: “Ocean” (darklord theme), performed by Edward Neeman

Chopin Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (land theme), performed by Luke Faulkner

Rachmaninoff Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3 - 2. Prélude in C sharp minor (Dread Possibilities), performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Chopin Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (parting thoughts), performed by Luke Faulkner

Dialog for Yensid was written by Azalin Rex himself: http://www.tumblr.com/darklordazalin

The Wonderful World of Darklords logo was designed by Halite Jones, whom you can find on Tumblr and Instagram: https://www.tumblr.com/halite-jones and http://www.instagram.com/insta_halite

Contact us on:

Gmail: wonderfulworldofdarklords@gmail.com

Facebook: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Tumblr: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Patreon: www.patreon.com/WonderfulWorldofDarklords

Welcome to Wonderful World of Darklords' Summer Blockbuster series! We're kicking off the summer with a cult favorite that did quite well for itself at the box office despite not busting any blocks: Holes. The warden is a phenomenal darklord, and the source material is already chockablock with curses and dark vengeance from beyond the grave despite being 90% realistic fiction, but how do you get a satisfying Holes adventure if none of your PCs have a no-good pig-stealing great-great-grandfather? Along with that question, topics discussed include:

• The undeniable advantage that D&D has in allowing the PCs to discover the backstory, which could be superfluous to playing a basic Holes adventure but is critical for enjoying it;
• How to have a prison break adventure if the warden is a darklord and can just close the borders whenever she feels like it;
• A use, at long last, for your character's proficiency in cook's utensils;
• In-depth discussion of an intense 2e Ravenloft prison break module, with ideas to either make Holes more like that module (for your hardcore roleplayers) or to make that adventure more like Holes (for your players who don't enjoy being punched in the face);
• and more!

The full writeup for Camp Greenlake is available on DM's Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/482201/Green-Lake-Prison-Camp-A-Ravenloft-Domain-of-Dread?affiliate_id=241770

Bleak House is also available on DM's Guild! (Sadly, not for free) https://www.dmsguild.com/product/201381/Bleak-House-2e

All music recordings are in the public domain (mark 1.0) and are licensed through https://musopen.org:

Chopin Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.1 (main theme), performed by Eduardo Vinuela

Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 12 in C Minor: “Ocean” (darklord theme), performed by Edward Neeman

Chopin Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (land theme), performed by Luke Faulkner

Rachmaninoff Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3 - 2. Prélude in C sharp minor (Dread Possibilities), performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Chopin Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (parting thoughts), performed by Luke Faulkner

Dialog for Yensid was written by Azalin Rex himself: http://www.tumblr.com/darklordazalin

The Wonderful World of Darklords logo was designed by Halite Jones, whom you can find on Tumblr and Instagram: https://www.tumblr.com/halite-jones and http://www.instagram.com/insta_halite

Contact us on:

Gmail: wonderfulworldofdarklords@gmail.com

Facebook: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Tumblr: @wonderfulworldofdarklords

Patreon: www.patreon.com/WonderfulWorldofDarklords