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CreditsDesign: David Wise

Editing: Jonatha Ariadne CaspianProduct Coordination: Harold Johnson and Steve Miller

Cover Art: Scott BurdickInterior Art: Stephan Fabian

Art Coordination: Peggy Cooper and Paul JaquaysGraphics Coordination: Sarah Feggestad

Electronic Pre-press Coordination: Tim CoumbeTypographer: Nancy J. Kerkstra

This book is affectionately dedicated to the Demipiane of Dread itself, for the author is one ofseveral Frankensteins who have looked upon Ravenloft and proudly proclaimed, "It—is—alive!"

TSR, Inc.201 Sheridan Springs Road

Lake GenevaWI 53147

U.S.A.

TSR Ltd.120 Church EndCherry HintonCambridge CB1 3LBUnited Kingdom

9496XXX1501

ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, RAVENLOFT, MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM, and AD&D are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. MONSTROUSMANUAL, and the TSR logo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. All TSR characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereofare trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. © 1995 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in the book trade for English-language products of TSR, Inc.Distributed to the book trade in the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. Thismaterial is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of this material orartwork herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR, Inc.

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Introduction 4A Confession 4

An Old Tale Retold 5The First Glimmer of Hope 6

Chapter I: History and Legends 8The Vanquished Conqueror 9

The Tale of Vistan 10The Forlorn Wanderer 10

The Splintering 11The Spiteful Gods 11

The War for All Time 12Chapter II: Vistani Life 13Rituals 14

Setting and Striking Camp 15The Prastonata 15The Doroq 16Moon Rituals 17

Tribal Organization 19Adoption 20Exclusion 21

Everyday Life 22Living Off the Land 22Love and Marriage 23Death and Funeral Rites 23

Nomadism 25The Vardo 26No Trace of Their Passing 27

Dark Neutrality 27Law and Justice 28Punishment 30

Banishment 30Exile 31

Communication 31The Patterna 32Tralaks 33Paaterns 33

Conclusion 33Chapter III: The Tasques 34Overview 35The Kaldresh 36

Attitudes and Behavior 37Beliefs Concerning Time 38Specific Powers 38The Defining Craft 39The Kamii 40The Equaar 42The Vatraska 45

The Boem 49Attitudes and Behavior 50Beliefs Concerning Time 51Specific Powers 51The Defining Craft 52The Naiat 53

The Corvara 56The Manusa 57

Attitudes and Behavior 59Beliefs Concerning Time 61Specific Powers 61The Defining Craft 62The Canjar 63The Zarooan 66

Conclusion 68Chapter IV: Curses and the Evil Eye 70Curse Types 70

The Scar 71The Poisonous Carrot 71Doombringer 72Alienation 73Torture and Terror 73

Focus Items 74Breaking a Curse 75The Evil Eye 75

Known Effects 77Chapter V: Salient Abilities and Vulnerabilities. . 78Prescient Sight 78

The Tribal Seer 79The Legend of the Dukkar 79A Key Weakness 80

Mist Navigation 81Tracking Magic 82

Slowing the Prey 82Vista-chiri and Other Minions 83Powers Over Monsters 83Static Burn 85Conclusion 87The Last Steps 87A Final Farewell 90Appendix: Vistani Player Character Kits 91Character Background 91

Public Image 91Alignment 92Race 92

Universal Abilities 92Universal Drawbacks 92Tribal Abilities 93

Kamii 93Equaar 93Vatraska 93Naiat 94Corvara 94Canjar 94Zarovan 95

Conclusion 95Glossary 96

Evil Eye Check Modifier Table 77

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, ''"Hi

afe upon the solid rock the uglyhouses stand:Come and see my shining palacebuilt upon the sand!

—Edna St. Vincent Millay

For more than three decades, now,I have undertaken to investigateand expose creatures of darknessto the purifying light of truth andknowledge. "Hero" I am named insome circles; "sage" and "masterhunter" I am called in others. ThatI have survived countlesssupernatural assaults is a marvelamong my peers; my name isspoken with fear and loathingamong my foes.

In truth, this "virtuous" callingbegan as an obsessive effort todestroy a vampire who murderedmy child, and it has become forme a tedious and bleak career.Perhaps Lord Azalin enjoys the

mantle of nobility as he sits at CastleAvernus, but that quality is an albatross uponmy own neck, which grows heavier and morerank each passing day. Even as my lifehunting monsters began, I felt the weight oftime upon my weary shoulders. Today I am aman who has simply lived too long. Like aregretful lich, I find myself inextricably boundto an existence I sought in madness and,seemingly, must now endure for all eternity.Of course I shall die, but whether I shall everrest in my grave haunts my idle thoughts, andtorments me in my dreams.

By now, I can consider myself an expert onvampires, ghosts, liches, lycanthropes, golems,mummies, fiends, and all their ilk. Much have 1written concerning these evil creatures, andmany of them have been properly expungedfrom the world as a result. Yet I do not believethat this land of Mists is any purer for myefforts. And I must wonder: How many braveyoung heroes have sought glory, armed withmy research, and met unspeakable ends inspite of it? How many have died (and worse)

through some crucial omission of fact, somesubtle failure to report the whole truth aboutone of those monsters? How many of my own,precious comrades have suffered—perished—as 1 collected data for my infamousguidebooks? Was there ever so ignominious ascholar as myself?

It matters little that my beloved friends andcomrades-at-arms entered freely into mycompany. Small compensation that many ofthem have expressed a profound sense offulfillment in aiding my cause, even in themidst of their premature death throes. Theindisputable fact remains that I am everawash in their blood, drowning in guilt, surelylost to redemption for my part in theirdemises.

Without doubt, to accept my company is toembrace doom, and I cannot deny awarenessof that fact. From the very beginning of myquest to destroy creatures of evil, I have carriedDeath itself with me like a virulent disease,infecting all who dared to walk with me!

A Confession

Iexpect that those who think me a hero willchange their minds when they know thewhole truth about my life as a hunter of theunnatural. Nevertheless, I must reveal, hereand now, that 1 have been the indirect yetcertain cause of many deaths, and the loss ofmany good friends. Mistake me not! I do notmerely feel sorry for myself. Rather, 1 come togrips with a devastating realization:

Though I would not at first acknowledgeit, and for quite some time could not evenconcede the possibility, I now see that / amthe object of a baneful Vistani curse. Moretragically, the nature of this hex is such that1 have not borne the brunt; instead, farworse, those who surround me have fallenvictim to it!

Let me go back to the beginning, to the day Ibecame an unwitting tool of darkness, andenhance the reader's perspective with thewhole truth, withheld until now.

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An Old Tale RetoldIn my Guide to Vampires, I related the tragicstory of how my only child Erasmus was takenby Vistani and sold to the vampire BaronMetus. I explained how Erasmus was made aminion of the nightstalker, and how it was mymiserable part to free him from that fate at thepoint of a stake. Finally, I recounted the woefulloss of my beautiful wife Ingrid, murdered bythat same Baron Metus in retaliation for mysuccessful (if one could call it that) reclaimingof my son.

All that is true enough, and it pains me stillthese many years later. What I have neglectedto illuminate is how 1 tracked those Vistanikidnappers through the Mists, or how I"extracted" Erasmus's whereabouts from them.To think back on it fills me with remorse andself-loathing, yet 1 must let the full truth be toldbefore I can proceed to the subject of this, mylatest treatise.

In fact, the Vistani took Erasmus with myown, unwitting permission. They had broughtan extremely ill member of their tribe to meone evening and insisted that I treat him, but Iwas unable to save the young man's life. Infear of their retribution, I begged the Vistanito take anything of mine if they would onlywithhold their terrifying powers, of which Iknew nothing. To my lasting astonishment,they chose to surreptitiously take my son inexchange for their loss! By the time I realizedwhat had occurred, they were already an hourgone.

Incensed beyond reason, I strapped the bodyof the dead Vistana to my horse and doggedlyfollowed that caravan through the woods ofwestern Darkon, naively allowing the sun to setbefore me without seeking shelter from thenight. Shortly after darkness fell, I was beset bymonsters who would have slain me, had notLord Azalin himself intervened and spared mylife. With his powerful magic, he took control ofa pack of zombies that wandered in the forest,and he spoke to me through them. In short,Lord Azalin placed a magical ward againstundead upon me, then animated the dead

Vistana and bade me learn if it still possessedthe ability to travel through the Mists and findits people. Unfortunately, I say in hindsight, itworked. I found the child stealers, but myunwelcome entourage included a growinghorde of voracious undead which could nottouch me due to Azalin's ward.

There is only a little more to tell, but it is themost difficult to report. I make no excuses formy actions: indeed, none can be made. When Ifound the caravan, I threatened to set thezombies upon the Vistani unless they returnedmy dear boy. They replied that he had beensold to Baron Metus.

Something inside me snapped. I went insanewith fury and released the zombies, and theentire tribe was eaten alive! I cannot—

But this is the crucial moment of the tale.As she died, the leader cursed me, saying,

"Live you always among monsters, and seeeveryone you love die beneath their claws."Even now, so many years later, I can hear herwords with a clarity that rivals the presentsound of my own voice. A short time later,when both Erasmus and Ingrid had beenruthlessly torn from my loving arms, I believedthat the curse had exacted its deadly toll, and Iwept until insatiate vengeance filled thevoluminous rift in my heart.

Now, after more than three decades ofbloodshed and agony and loss, it has slowlydawned upon me that the Vistana's curse hadnever slaked its own thirst for revenge. Greatlyreluctant yet determined to know the truth, I atlast consulted with Inarin Alster—a divinerwizard of no small ability—and he confirmedmy worst fears!

The curse lingers even to this day, and allthe true and stalwart friends I have known andlost are victims, not of outrageous fortune, butof my actions. True to the words of the dyingVistana, my life has been shielded from fateagain and again, while those whom I esteemabove any treasure have taken my place! Formy nearly forgotten act of hatred, 1 have servedup the flesh of my most cherished companionsto feed the appetites of darkest powers overthese many, many years!

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When the horrifying enormity of myrevelation swept over me, I railed bitterly at thecruel irony of my life. I recklessly swore to burnevery word I had ever written, and very nearlydid so. I even contemplated deliberately endingmy wretched existence in the most violent ofways. Most of all, I cursed the Vistani, who hadmade a monster of me and a mockery of mymost noble aspirations, and I swore to murderevery last gypsy I could find.

Thankfully, patience and wisdom stayed myhand. Drained of all spirit, I cast myself intobed and wept, as I had not done since myformer, blissful life was forever ripped from me.

The first Glimmer of HopeThat very same night, I awakened from mynightmares with a start, for my well-ingrainedinstincts told me I was not alone. 1 sat upabruptly and stared about my bedroom,quickly focusing upon a dark figure seated inthe corner chair. As I struggled to part the voidbetween sleep and wakefulness, the remnantsof my night terrors took the intruder's shapeand seemed to advance upon me with deadlyintent. Witless and frightened, I cried out like asnatched babe in the jaws of a fleeing wolf.

"Fear not, Rudolph van Richten," said agravelly, male voice. "I am come to heal you. Iam come to heal us both."

Hastily I lit a lantern by my bed and held upthe light to see my uninvited visitor. By then 1had steeled myself against the unexpected. Yetstill I gasped aloud, for the man had the look ofa darkling, a creature who was once Vistana,but who, for some crime or taboo, was cast outof his tribe. My first thought was that he hadcome to murder me as a means to appease hisformer people. Dark-skinned and gaunt, hegazed at me with eyes that burned cold. Hisbony hands rested in his lap, yet his long,jagged fingers flexed slightly, as if he mightsuddenly lash out at me.

I seized the silver dagger which I keepbeneath my pillow and brandished it at him, yethe made no move except to smile grimly.

"I am Arturi Radanavich," he told me, and

waited for the name to sink in. Sink in it did.Radanavich was the surname of the Vistani

tribe that stole my son, and whom Islaughtered in revenge! My jaw dropped inremembered horror.

"Yes, the same," he said in response. "I amthe sole survivor of that terrible night so longago, when you gave my people to the undead,though I was only a child then."

New tears welled in my eyes. "I thought noone had survived."

"I hid in my Nana's vardo, in a chest ofmagical clothing. The monsters would nottouch it."

After an awkward moment of silence, Imumbled, "What do you want of me?"

"As I said, I am come to heal you.""Heal me? What do you mean?""You are cursed by my tribe, Dr. Rudolph

van Richten, as you now finally realize, to liveforever among monsters and see all whom youlove die by them."

"Yes," I gritted through clenched teeth. "Iknow."

"But I, too, am cursed—by you.""By . . . me?""Do you not recall? No sooner did Nana lay

her curse upon you, than you returned a deadlycurse of your own. I will never forget the soundof your voice as you cried, CJndead take youas you have taken my son!'

"Yes, I have been pursued these thirty-sixyears by the walking dead. They follow mewherever I go, like a golem tracking its creator,and they make me an outcast. No tribe willgrant me asylum. No Vistana or giorgio willtake pity upon me. Nothing removes the taintyou have put upon the name of Radanavich!"

Giorgio. I recognized the term Vistani useamong themselves to signify outsiders, butvocabulary was not my overriding concern."Can you blame me?" I cried, suddenlytransported to the past. "You stole my child andsold him to a vampire!"

Arturi winced as he struggled with his ownwrath, but he held up his hand in a gesture ofplacation. "I know, I know, and that is why I amhere. I wish to break our mutual curse."

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Front CoverVan Richten's Guide to the VistaniTable of ContentsIntroductionA ConfessionAn Old Tale RetoldThe First Glimmer of Hope

Chapter I: History and LegendsThe Vanquished ConquerorThe Tale of Vistan

The Forlorn WandererThe Splintering

The Spiteful GodsThe War for All Time

Chapter II: Vistani LifeRitualsSetting and Striking CampThe PrastonataThe DoroqMoon Rituals

Tribal OrganizationAdoptionExclusion

Everyday LifeLiving Off the LandLove and MarriageDeath and Funeral Rites

NomadismThe VardoNo Trace of Their Passing

Dark NeutralityLaw and JusticePunishmentBanishmentExile

CommunicationThe PatternaTralaksPaaterns

Conclusion

Chapter III: The TasquesOverviewThe KaldreshAttitudes and BehaviorBeliefs Concerning TimeSpecific PowersThe Defining CraftThe KamiiThe EquaarThe Vatraska

The BoemAttitudes and BehaviorBeliefs Concerning TimeSpecific PowersThe Defining CraftThe NaiatThe Corvara

The ManusaAttitudes and BehaviorBeliefs Concerning TimeSpecific PowersThe Defining CraftThe CanjarThe Zarovan

Conclusion

Chapter IV: Curses and the Evil EyeCurse TypesThe ScarThe Poisonous CarrotDoombringerAlienationTorture and Terror

Focus ItemsBreaking a CurseThe Evil EyeKnown Effects

Chapter V: Salient Abilities and Vulnerabilities.Prescient SightThe Tribal SeerThe Legend of the DukkarA Key Weakness

Mist NavigationTracking MagicSlowing the Prey

Vista-chiri and Other MinionsPowers Over MonstersStatic BurnConclusionThe Last StepsA Final Farewell

Appendix: Vistani Player Character KitsCharacter BackgroundPublic ImageAlignmentRace

Universal AbilitiesUniversal DrawbacksTribal AbilitiesKamiiEquaarVatraskaNaiatCorvaraCanjarZarovan

Conclusion

Glossary

Back Cover