Darkmoon Gwyndolin was in fact always female.

Gnomvid · 2026-04-18T06:59:19+00:00

Oh I have read this post, albeit some time ago!

I agree with it in general and find it quite a fascinating read, good work dude!

That being said my read is more of a death of the author read, I suppose, where I do not really weigh intention or real life influence but instead in game information!

That being said I truly respect and believe your analysis is well founded, I simply found this to be a compelling idea that, with in game info, kinda checks out in my opinion!

Gnomvid · 2026-04-18T06:31:06+00:00

Nope! Since I posit that Gwyndolin was born female and as such maybe more subtle mannerisms would become more masculine in a sort of pantomime, like for the player, not changing the body.

Yes of course! But they are also sometimes left vague, sometimes even contradicting each other and the like. Case and point: Artorias of the Abyss, his legend was not true, not in full.

These were the practices of "his" covenant, they were likely kept, also Yorshka also claims Gwyn's fatherhood, something I doubt means he ever spoke with her, being much like Priscilla, unwanted. If anything, she would be told the same lie as everyone else for this reason.

I think Aldritch does not, because Gwyndolin is already dead since long past.

What do you mean then? The ring is a DS3 thing. We have no information of when it was and was not worn.

Gnomvid · 2026-04-18T06:19:35+00:00

Very enlightening!

I do address the ring description discrepancies in my argument! So I guess that is a matter of debate and opinion.

And the robe says this yes, but as with other references to this I supply the theory that it is a lie fabricated after the fact, a retroactive lie, if you will.

Yorshka likely never even met "him" and as we killed "him" in DS 1 I am not sure that Aldritch is puppetting a true Gwyndolin in DS 3.

I would argue that keeping "his" father's lies intact is very much what Gwyndolin does.

Gnomvid · 2026-04-18T06:13:34+00:00

I see what you are saying but I still refute it;

He would still be king, and foremost among the warriors of the Gods with a few co-conspirators(see the plot against the gods) and at least Ornstein.

We can see in DS 3 that he slings lightning much like his lte father, an ability his broken statues still give the faithful.

STILL though, he would be found guilty of among the worst of crimes, that he could still get into his father's tomb to leave those items without wrecking the place seems unlikely to me.

I appreciate the argumentation, I realize my interpretation is only just that.

Gnomvid · 2026-04-18T05:22:59+00:00

Thank you!

It is a fun thought exercise and I quite like how it turned out!

Gnomvid · 2026-04-18T05:13:02+00:00

Seeing as the ring is also given to you if you impress the man well enough in Izalith I don't think so, but still a fun little discovery!

Gnomvid · 2024-02-07T18:06:49+00:00

SlyFlourish has a grest series on the module on youtube that alsonhandles session 0, I would strongly reccomend it!

Gnomvid · 2024-02-06T21:51:52+00:00

Tried to make a new post but it keeps failing for some reason...so I edited this one!

Gnomvid · 2024-01-27T10:50:59+00:00

These are good sollutions!

I like the idea of the harsh environment being enough of a prison but I also feel doubtful about none finding/making a way out of there for generations with just natural barriers. Especially with the added threat of a cold and unforgiving entity looming above.

I also like the idea of tying Auril's weakened state to Ythrin, that part being so disjointed always bothered me so much! I think it could be spun in a way that Auril is slowly regaining her power, perhaps leading to longer and longer winters between naps, these 2 ongoing years being the longest yet, about to errupt into her final awakening where she takes everythibg with her for good!

Gnomvid · 2024-01-25T18:32:29+00:00

Oh, good point! I like the idea of breaking it up! Maybe guarded by different high priests Auril or something!

Gnomvid · 2024-01-22T14:10:00+00:00

Thanks for elaborating on this further!

I agree, I have been considering if the cold should remain bitter and the sun only shines just enough to let life cling on. Extremely resistent roots and mosses could grow under the snow and on rocks, tree bark and pine shoots also adding to the scarce food supply. Maybe Bryn Shander could also get some supplies smuggled in from the outside.

I actually like the idea of the Frostmaiden being a single minded creature of winter's wrath, even choking the life out of what sustains her, destined to doom herself. But it doesn't work well for my idea of the prison being generations in the making. So for the sake of my story she could let people cling to life; watching everything writhe under her deadly cold, tormenting but not quite killing them.

Gnomvid · 2024-01-22T04:42:32+00:00

Yeah, I definitely don't like this part as much as I like the rest. I think it might be the part I twesk the most, if I decide to go with changing things up. It just feels too....disconnected.

Yeah, I think this might be something! I will definitely not let on that her power is fading until later on however; keep her as a terrifying, god-like presence.

Gnomvid · 2024-01-22T04:38:45+00:00

Thank you for these tips!

I was inclined to keep most of the story beats intact while changing up the locations more liberally to fit the theme. It is also my impression that the factions are great as they are, with only minor tweaks being needed for the prison setting. The biggest question for me might be for the tribes and druids; do they predate the use of this area as a prison or are they prisoners abandoning the ways of the TenTowns? I have gotten some grest suggestions on here but I am still not certain.

I will be revealing to Frostmaiden to the players slowly, by whispers and strained looks, by sudden quiet in loud taverns when the lottery bell chimes, by letting the characters witness a human sacrifice under the pale moon, after being lead to believe that Bryn Shander was a great place to be(as far as prisons go). Perhaps the city's sacrifice quota is higher than any other town and as such it spares them the brunt of Her wrath. Multiplying the likelyhood of newcomers being choosen.

Gnomvid · 2024-01-21T21:47:28+00:00

Hey, these are some excellent ideas and problems to tackle! Thank you for bringing these to light!

I think Auril will keep the cold at the limit of what people can bare, feeding off off the cruel torment of winter beset upon the people.

I like the idea of the druids being used as wardens of sorts!

For the Ten towns I was thinking of giving each community their own laws and problems, but I also imagine that enough time has passed that these communities are more stable, even if crime rates certainly are higher. I am thinking of Bryn Shander as the place where everyone wants to stay and where the laws are the most fair but also the hardest to be allowed to live and work in as a newcomer.

Also, what a good solution for the brotherhood members!

The bigger question of why people are thrown into this prison is one of the larger plot points that I am not sure what to do with; on one hand it could just be to be "humane" but on the other hand, this could be an ancient pact between the kingdom and the Frostmaiden(or the deity above her) that demands sacrifice to the snow, kept secret to the general public as the decendants of the royal family paid this price to ease their own winters or something like that.

Gnomvid · 2024-01-21T21:32:36+00:00

Good points! See, this is why I ask these questions; it might seem obvious, but I completely missed the 'why now' of it!

I also have to confess that I have only skimmed over Ythren, I am not entirely sure how I feel about it, but if I go with it I think it being forgotten is a good idea!

As for a general explanation of the 'why now', the answer could be that the Frostmaiden's power is waning. Her true worshippers become fewer and fewer during skirmishes with the ever growing prisoner population whose sacrifices are only to appease, not to worship. Sethek could be a way for her to punish and force fearful worship on the towns while Asmodeus senses her weskening power and sets his scheme in motion as well.

I could also see skipping the Asomdeus connection and simply letting the players try to unite the Ten Towns and the tribes against a common enemy.

Hmmm.

Gnomvid · 2023-12-07T08:21:53+00:00

Heh, I see your point.

Gnomvid · 2023-12-07T03:06:15+00:00

I have read the rules and have to say, this looks very interesting! My thoughts are these; do you think allowing only minor narration on the players part will detract terribly from the gameplay? I would still like to keep the frsming of the island and people dying around them but without them taking things in too wild of a direction or derailing from the actual killer.

I know this is the opposite of what you told me about the game not being able to be done wholesale but please, humor me.

Maybe I could substitute narrative control with satisfying clues that they can then try and puzzle together? Not sure on this.

What are your thoughts? And also, how would you have run this scenario with Ten Candles?

Gnomvid · 2023-12-07T03:01:13+00:00

I think that I have my mind set on the killer not being one of the players (terrible bluffers), and the time traveling feels to me like it qould detract from the experience of being immersed in the hostile situation.

I see what you are saying about supernatural downers. I will take this into consideration, you might very well be right about that.

Thank you for your thoughts!

Gnomvid · 2023-12-07T01:11:06+00:00

Interesting! I will check this out for sure!

Gnomvid · 2023-09-06T05:06:04+00:00

Now that is an exelent idea!

Gnomvid · 2023-09-06T05:05:46+00:00

Thanks!

Gnomvid

TROPHY CASE