The Land: As of this writing, Darkon is the largest domain in Ravenloft. It stretches across the northern edge of the entire Core, from the Misty Border in the east to the Sea of Sorrows in the west. The Balinoks loom on the southern horizon. To the north lies only Mist.

The Vuchar River flows east to west across Darkon, forming a broad valley spotted with backwaters and small ponds. Streams flow from the mountains to feed the river. Water is plentiful throughout Darkon, though its purity is sometimes in question.

Ravenloft's largest city, Il Aluk, is located on the Vuchar in Darkon. It has a population of 25,000. Compared to other domains, Darkon is littered with settlements. The table below their name, population, and racial mix. (Unlike most domains, Darkon is multiracial.) When a single race is given, it means roughly half the population is of that race, The remaining folk represent a mixture of races.

Village              Pop.                          Race

Il Aluk               25,000                     Mixed

Martira Bay       10,000                    Humans

Karg                 8,500                       Humans

Viaki                 8,000                      Humans

Nartok              7,500                      Humans

Rivalis               5,000                      Halflings

Corvia               4,000                     Dwarves

Tempe Falls       2,500                     Dwarves

Neblus                2,000                      Elves

Maykle                2,000                   Humans

Mayvin                1,500                     Gnomes

Delagia                1,500                    Halflings

Nevuchar Springs  1,000                  Elves

Sidnar                   1,000                   Elves

The Folk: Darkon is a racial melting pot. Visitors are often dazzled by the confusion of races and social customs. Darkon's people come from many different worlds and regions, most of them outside Ravenloft. A traveler can find any mixture of eye color, hair, and skin tone here.

Demihumans are disliked and distrusted in other lands, but Darkon has no such bias. Members of a given race do tend to be friendlier toward their own kind, however, and group together. Each village usually has a predominant race.

The folk share on fundamental trait. After a few months in Darkon, they lose all memory of their previous lives. Only the newcomers remember their ties to another realm. Eventually, all Darkonians believe that their family has lived in Darkon or neighboring domains for generations. Many who come alone to this land believe all their loved ones died in Darkon before them. As if to prove it, they adopt gravestones in a local cemetery and visit them faithfully. Since many Darkonians actually have been in Ravenloft for generations, it is impossible to know whose memories are false or true.

According to local legend, Darkon once was a realm of the dead, who were rudely displaced by the living. Eventually, the legend says, the dead will rise up to reclaim their land. Since this actually happened on several occasions -- the story is widely believed.  The culture level in this domain is very mixed.  It can be seen to have a combination of medieval, renaissance and pre-victorian all intertwined into one.

The Lord: King Azalin rules Darkon. He is the "iron fist in a velvet glove." He is a powerful wizard that has outlived any normal man.

Azalin sets the laws of his domain by decree. A baron governs each town and its surroundings, and is free to set minor regulations concerning that area. Each town has its own judicial system and a police force to enforce the baron's will. Most police officers are warriors with studded leather armor, short swords, and shields. All bow to Azalin.

Rumors of a secret police called the Kargat, maintained personally by Azalin himself float about.

Common:                               Rare:

Bats                                     Dopplegangers

Goblins                                 Griffons

Any undead                          Hippogriff

Kobolds                                   Imp

Jermlaine                               Invisible stalkers

Snakes                                   Lycanthropes

Spiders                                   Drow elves

Wolves                                    Leucrotta

                                                Sahuagin

                                               Shambling mound

                                                  Hags