Ravenloft Setting:

I have given the basic mechanics of Ravenloft in the thread titled "The Demiplane of Dread". However characters would not know any of those things. I have done this for the sole purpose of the players to better understand what they are getting themselves into. And to better understand the setting.

Things shall be revealed in time to your characters, but in the beginning the only information they will know about the land will be whatever I have written about each domain in the threads titled "Domains".

One thing I must say to clear up any confusion is that "Ravenloft" is the title of the game system produced by TSR. Anyone living in the demiplane does not call the land or the world "Ravenloft". If a person was to refer to the land, they would simply call it that, "the land". Or they would call the land by whatever domain (country so to speak) they are referring to; such as Barovia, Dementlieu, Nova Vaasa, ect. They do not know they are trapped within a "Demiplane".

Yes, there is a castle that does have the name "Castle Ravenloft", but that is simply a place. Granted it was a major theme in creating the game but there is no character that would know that.

Characters have very little knowledge of things outside of everyday life. Most characters know that they live in a land where sometimes, the mists gather and form new lands. All character are aware of "The Mists", those on the borders of some domains and the same ones that sometimes appear in the land themselves.

All characters are aware that the land is separated into domains. They do not know that each domain is a personalized prison to its Dark Lord. They only view them as divided countries with political borders.

I am going to begin the adventure assuming that all characters have never traveled the Misty Border. This is of course unless your character is originally from an island domain or is not a native.

Monsters:

Characters have absolutely zero knowledge of any monster that has ever existed in any AD&D game, unless, the creature is listed under the encounters section of a domain. Yes, sometimes people appear out of the Mists, and talk with the natives of the lands, but more often than not, natives usually want nothing to do with those people. (Your characters are obviously the exception as they will more than likely be interested or perhaps not, depends on you the player). And the appearance of someone from the Mists is a rarity. People do not just appear often and spread like wildfire.

If a character is older or you would just like to add a little spice to something, you may have your character know of a "legend" or "fairy tale" about a monster listed in the Monsters Compendium. But remember that they are just that to your character, a fairy tale or legend. Please keep this to a minimum.

Character Level:

Your characters will begin at 2nd level. The way I view "low levels" is this: They are the most realistic. 1st level I consider to be the fledgling apprentice. The character has rudimentary or basic knowledge of the skills of his class. Now this does not mean he/she is good at any of those skills at all. They are not, they are only just starting out and will fumble them up more than anything. Think of them as a normal human that has a few things they are good at or a few "talents" so to speak, nothing more.

2nd level I consider to be just a touch above 1st (obviously). This means the character has just a little more knowledge and experience than the apprentice. Keep in mind that just because a character is 2nd level does not mean they are worldly. A character can spend years living in a cloister and gain levels through practice of their arts. Going along these lines, Age has absolutely nothing to do with level. Feel free to make your character whatever age you desire.

Personally, I enjoy low level adventures the most, but consider 1st level too much of a risk for players. I mean come on, a kobold could kill you by itself. But then again, when you think about it, anything determined with intent and brandishing a blade would make me fear for my life.