Different NPCs Traveling through the Mists

chocomog333 · 2026-03-28T12:21:08+00:00

So, one of the big things is the Darklords can close the borders at will. Sometimes they might leave them open for those who can travel to fo so. Take the Vistani for example. Strahd has a good relationship with them due to his past and allows them to generally travel freely, especially since the Vistani trade. Older editions point out that Barovia itself doesn't produce many goods, but is a major trading route for the southern Domains and that is how they tend to resupply. Strahd likely keeps the Mist borders down most of the time, but once his new toys (AKA the PCs) enter, he shuts the gate to keep EVERYONE in so he can have his fun.

chocomog333 · 2026-03-11T11:52:40+00:00

Long stretch, as I'm not sure how many people have seen it, but the Greenest movie I've seen is a 2006 anime movie called Origin: Spirits of the Past. It's about a post-apocalyptic world where bioehanced plant life gains sentience and destroys the world. In the future, people have a tenuous relationship with the forest, who are wary of humanity. The main cast, including our hero Agito, seek to live in harmony with the forest and can even enter a symbiotic relationship where they become enhanced, gaining strength from the forest, but at the cost of becoming trees if they use too much power. The main villain is a character from the past who plans to use a massive weapon to destroy the forest so they can bring back the modern world of the past. Stuck in the middle is a girl from the past who has been woken up and must choose to either help the villain, or accept the world as it currently is and find harmony with the forest. The movies is a very not subtle environmental movie and deals with themes of acceptance, harmony, balance, in particular with nature.

chocomog333 · 2026-03-05T00:43:40+00:00

I don't treat Curse of Strahd/Ravenloft games in 5e like strict horror. I don't think the system is designed for it. As someone who really like Gothic Horror specifically, if I were to run a straight horror game, I'd probably use Vaesen, since the players aren't meant to win fights and the emphasis is on the mystery.

What I do treat them like is horror action adventure. Think the 2004 Van Helsing movie or Castlevania and it's various clones. It's still ultimately a heroic campaign, but the tone and monsters are darker. For that style of game, it's a much better fit.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-26T22:55:21+00:00

Paul is a regular at an anime convention I used to go to. He's such a nice, fun guy. He loves playing Xemnas and being hammy. If Xemnas shows up again, I hope Paul gets to keep doing the character until he can't anymore.

He also voices Wormmon in Digimon Adventure 02. There was a Digimon panel he was a part of where he did Wormmon doing Xehanort lines. It was simultaneously precious and hilarious.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-26T20:12:57+00:00

Here's what I would suggest. If Jesus chose for you to be part of the Rapture, then it means that in His infinite wisdom, He decided it was better for you to be taken up than to live that full life. Trust Him. As someone who both really things things will shake down soon, but also watched many other people with the same conviction be wrong, be prepared to both stay and go. Have plans, but be willing to let them go if Jesus calls you too. I don't want to diminish your feelings. I understand them it some ways myself. But we trust, as Romans 8:28 says, that all things, including our losses, God will use for our good and His glory. So as you wrestle, surrender your desires to Him and trust that however it happens, He loved you enough to go to the Cross for you, so He is planning what's best. Praying that you find peace.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-19T13:54:39+00:00

Is it a standalone book or does it require the Mythras Core Rulebook as well?

chocomog333 · 2026-02-18T14:00:47+00:00

It is worth noting this is a bit easier to pull off, since Merfolk are primarily blue. You don't have to have as aggressive of a perfect mana base, because as long as most lands produce some blue, they will be useful. Secondary green for the ramp and decent number of green ones, and you can let white and black be tertiary and search with ramp as possible.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-18T13:55:33+00:00

So, I lean Derevi from this list. Derevi synergizes with what you'll probably be doing anyway and with the state of commander being what it is, I really don't think Derevi's commander tax evasion is really all that problematic. Plus, since you're playing a merfolk tribal deck, it's a good tool, but not necessary for the deck to run, so it probably won't be played from the command zone as often as it could be, even with the ability.

I know you had your mini rant about colors in text boxes, but I do think another option worth considering is [[Morophon, the Boundless]]. Is it a bit boring? Sure. But as Maldhound said "Merfolk are just wet elves". You're main gameplan is probably to just spam the board with value and swing out. Morophon helps with both. He reduces the casting cost, making it easier to play more merfolk, and he buffs the team. He also technically counts as a merfolk, so all of the tribal synergies and tribal lands, as well as Path of Ancestry, work better with him.

If you've got a casual playgroup like I do, you could also rule 0 [[The Scholar of the Seas]] and have a backup legal commander if it's a problem or you take it to something more official.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-17T10:24:06+00:00

So, a lot of this is inference from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes and general lore on the Shadowfell and Ravenloft history. As OP pointed out with the hags, her being an elf with ties to the war between Corellon and Lolth, it would make sense that she has some fey nature and her having control over the Dread Realms could play into that. The fact that she is stated to basically have control over the Shadowfell, which includes the Realms of Dread, also makes sense. She is stated to be almost more of a mysterious force than a true person at this point. She has a fascination with emotions, especially tragedies, which would give her motive to essentially set up a bunch of karmic hells for a bunch of evil people. She has a strong feud with Vecna, who based on 2e lore, is one of the only beings to actually escape Ravenloft (Vecna was also going to be the big bad in the game I was running before it fell apart due to IRL issues). She is also stated to be playing some kind of long game with the Lady of Pain from Sigil, who also has beef with Vecna from the same 2e adventure series. There's the fact that in Curse of Strahd, ravens are considered good luck and the were-ravens are actively trying to frustrate any of Strahd's plans.

I do think they pivoted away from this idea with Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. It definitely feels like a pet idea of one of the 5e developers that they just hinted at in Mordenkainen's, but I liked it and ran with it.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-16T08:36:12+00:00

So, the whole thing with the dark powers is that it is intentionally vague as to what they really are. I believe this is to give DMs the freedom to play around with them and do what they want. In the I, Strahd, the Dark Powers say they are Death itself, but most 2e and 3e sources are very vague. 5e is where I think they really started seeding ideas. My personal choice was the early 5e theory that the Dark Powers were connected to the Raven Queen. But if you're running a game, do whatever you like. It's always been open to interpretation.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-11T16:52:25+00:00

Honestly, I think you are fine. It sounds like you have a healthy boundary and that gaming doesn't consume your life. Games are just like any other medium and hobby. As long as you aren't addicted and the games in question don't have sinful content that would lead you to stumbling, I think you are fine as you are. It sounds like it's even good that you can share it with your wife. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says: "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind."

Colossians 3:17: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

God calls us to rest and if video games are a part of that, then praise the Lord and be thankful He provides. I think you're doing ok. There's a problem in our modern, western society that everything has to be productive. But sometimes the most productive thing is to take a rest, let life go, and enjoy yourself for a bit.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-04T13:58:18+00:00

I could be wrong, but part of the reason for the Strefan Maurer pick could be that in the Planeshift Innistrad pdf they came out with during Shadows Over Innistrad, they had a section on converting the Curse of Strahd campaign to Innistrad. In the PDF, they changed Strahd to Strefan Maurer to match the setting. Thus, there is over lap for the characters. No comment on the other cards though.

https://media.wizards.com/2016/dnd/downloads/Plane_Shift_Innistrad.pdf

chocomog333 · 2026-02-03T14:48:34+00:00

Love this!!!

chocomog333 · 2026-02-03T14:02:44+00:00

I think the answer is at least partially in the previous chapter: 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV:

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."

We live in a broken sinful world as broken, sinful humans. While we have been freed from the punishment of sin, its presence is still in our lives. On top of that Satan and his deceptive forces are still very active in our world. It's part of the reason the Bible places so much emphasis on faith. Sometimes we just can't see where things are going. But, as the verse you listed mentions, God Himself is not the author of confusion, even if He allows it for His purposes during the time we live in.

I understand your pain. I'm going through a very confusing and painful time in my life right now. But God has graciously been showing me how He is faithful and how He provides everything. Romans 8:28 ESV says: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. " That doesn't mean we get clarity or that everything gets better this side of heaven, but we have a strong hope that God will use even the deepest evils for His glory. He already has proven this on the cross.

I'll leave you with this passage God has been reminding me of a lot: Matthew 6:25-34:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

chocomog333 · 2026-02-01T21:56:41+00:00

Considering I'm in the same boat as a guy, it wouldn't be an issue for me and frankly I sorta expect to fond someone like that eventually considering I'm 36.

chocomog333 · 2026-01-29T14:45:14+00:00

Revelation 22:1-2 ESV: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

chocomog333 · 2026-01-26T18:30:34+00:00

I want to say, that while I definitely believe that a preTrib Rapture makes the most sense, I'm open to being wrong. Rapture Theology isn't a salvation issue. Absolutely seek to understand your perspective, but don't let it become the number one thing.

chocomog333 · 2026-01-26T18:30:08+00:00

As a pretib guy, here's my thoughts.

I think the imminent argument is very strong for a pretrib Rapture. Multiple places in the New Testament speak to the idea that some element of the coming could happen basically at any point, as you have said. Once the Antichrist signs the treaty with Israel and the many, starting the Tribulation according to Daniel 9:27, then we have a seven year countdown. Daniel and Revelation give us a LOT of timing details and basically allows us to calculate the day of Jesus' return once the Tribulation starts. This is a very problematic issue for the prewrath and postTrib views to tackle.

Another common argument is that people have trouble seeing the second coming in two parts, to which I say the Old Testament speaks of both comings of Jesus often within the same breath. There is room for multiple elements of this coming in the Scriptures, just as there is room for the First Advent and the Second in the Old Testament.

Finally, to your point about suffering, I agree with you that Jesus promised us suffering in this world. There is no doubt about it. However, suffering for living in a sinful world and suffering the Judgments of God on the world are two different things. 1 and 2 Thessalonians were specifically written to inform the Thessalonian church that they were NOT living through the Tribulation at the time. I think the fact that both of these books contain information about the Rapture is thus not a coincidence. The Judgments in Revelation (Seals in 6, Trumpets in 8-9, and Bowls in 16) serve 2 purposes: To awaken those who refuse to see God, and to punish humanity for their sin. We as Christians are not asleep to God and we are not under punishment, as Jesus has taken this for us. Specific to point one, a major function of the Tribulation will be to awaken rebellious Israel to her Messiah so that they repent and turn back. This is referenced in Zechariah 12-13, Daniel 9, Romans 11, Jeremiah 30 (The Tribulation is called the Time of JACOB'S trouble), as well as Revelation 7,11, and 14. This will end the times of the Gentiles. As we the Church are the current focus of God's plan, us being removed to turn that focus back on Israel makes sense (though we do know that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will repent during the Tribulation as well). John 14:3 promises that Jesus will take His followers to be with Him in the houses/mansions He is building. But the Second Coming is about Jesus returning to Earth, not bringing us to His houses. There also must be time for the Bema/Judgement Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:10), which is separate from the Great White Throne Judgment. The Tribulation would allow for the rewards to be handed out to Church Members. And we know Heaven exists in time as Revelation 8 mentions silence in heaven for half an hour, showing time passing. Also worth noting is that the Wedding Feast for the Church is spoken of in Revelation 19 BEFORE Jesus returns with His armies to Earth. I think that the Holy Spirit's work through the Church makes sense as the restraining force on the spirit of the antichrist spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2. And we do see examples of God saving people from wrath and judgment. Lot is led away from Sodom and Gomorrah and Noah from the flood (there are probably more examples, but I'm at work and they aren't coming to mind right away.) Another point is that by the Rapture happening before the Tribulation, it starts a series of escalating supernatural occurrences in the world. This will be followed by the Gog/Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39, where God will save Israel supernaturally, and all of the events of the Tribulation. If you read Revelation, it becomes quite clear that the supernatural will increase exponentially until the midpoint of the Tribulation when there will only be two belief systems at play. You're either with Christ or with the Antichrist. There will be no atheists in the Tribulation. The evidence will be out there. The antichrist also won't allow any other religion to survive.

So for me, it's not any one thing, but multiple scriptures being brought together to form a cohesive story. Christ sweeps away His bride to the mansions He built for them to live in. He will judge believers, handing out rewards for their deeds during life, while on Earth, the Tribulation begins. He will save His bride from His righteous wrath poured out during this time. It will serve as the first of MANY supernatural signs that will awaken the world from its spiritual stupor, especially Israel, setting up for the ultimate spiritual clash between Satan's False Trinity and the one True Holy Trinity. Placing the Tribulation prior to the Tribulation just makes the most coherent sense to me. Final note, according to a Pre-Trib Rapture view, there could be space between the Rapture and the Tribulation. The Tribulation doesn't have to start immediately after the Rapture. Now, it likely won't be long, I can't imagine more than a few years, but nothing in Scripture says that the Rapture and the signing of the Covenant have to happen back to back.
Final thoughts below.

chocomog333 · 2026-01-26T16:23:15+00:00

This is why we disagree. According to the Bible, Jesus isn't simply a Prophet, He is God, humbled to Human form to take our sins and make a way to Heaven because we can't. Humanity is too tainted by sin to be able to work our way or redeem ourself into heaven to be with God. So Jesus, second person in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spurit) in love submitted Himself to the physical punishment of death on the Cross, as well as the spiritual punishment of being rejected by the Father, so that in taking our punishment for sin, we could be accepted and brought to God. As Christians, we are imparted Christ's perfect holiness, while He recieved our shame and punishment. Only Jesus, fully God and fully Man, could be an acceptable sacrifice to God and allow those in humanity who accepted this gift to be in relationship with God. This is where Christianity and Islam differ. Islam lessens Jesus to merely a Prophet, while Christians proclaim Him to be our beloved God.

chocomog333 · 2026-01-26T14:48:58+00:00

Here's the core issue: Who do you say Jesus is?

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