Gothic horror is about the terror within, not without. It shatters the illusion of humanity in a poignant way by holding a mirror up to us and saying: look at what we truly are, and look at what we pretend to be. Under that mask of civility, there is depravity. Under that thin veneer of society, there is wickedness. Under all the trappings of sophistication, are we not all predators or prey? Gothic horror shatters the lies we trick ourselves into believing and shows that we, not some distant entity, are and ever shall be the architects of our doom. The quest for perfection leads us to discover our own imperfection. Our quest for the divine leads us to believe we, ourselves, are gods. These are the themes that haunt stories of Gothic horror.
Consider the following genre tropes when creating, or within, a gothic horror domain:
Gothic stories include intense, even exaggerated, emotions. Romances, rivalries, and life-changing events are common in these adventures.
Atmosphere and a sense of dread are key to achieving a gothic feel. Set stories in an decrepit mansion, ruined cathedral, or other foreboding location.
Gothic heroes are often virtuous, deeply passionate, or courageous. Find ways for adventures to test characters' beliefs and morality.
Gothic villains are unrepentantly evil, but this shouldn't be immediately obvious. Drop hints about the villain's awful secrets before revealing them fully.
Sacrifices feature prominently in gothic stories. Give characters heart-wrenching choices to make.
Creatures imbued with tragedy or abominable origins work well in gothic horror adventures. Often, lower-level monsters embody aspects of a more powerful villain's evil, powers, or background. For example, @Swarm of Batses suggest a @Vampire, Vampire Form's connection to the creatures of the night, while @Werewolf, Hybrid Forms speak toward a @Vampire, Vampire Form's bloodthirsty nature. The following table provides examples, but the DM should come up with original ideas as well.
Gothic Horror Monsters
Challenge - Creature
1/4 - @Zombie
1 - @Ghoul
2 - @Gargoyle
2 - @Wereraven
3 - @Green Hag
3 -@Werewolf, Hybrid Form/@Werewolf, Human Form/@Werewolf, Wolf Form
4 - @Succubus/Incubus
8 - @Nosferatu
11 - @Efreeti
13 - @Loup Garou
13 - @Vampire, Vampire Form/@Vampire, Bat Form/@Vampire, Mist Form
Villains in gothic horror tales are subtle or unassuming until they reveal their true nature. Any intriguing figure with a dark secret can serve as a gothic horror villain, and gothic villains are most effective when they are slowly revealed as shockingly cruel, immoral, or the antithesis of goodness. The following table only applies to custom villains, rather than pre-existing ones, and provides examples, but the DM should come up with original ideas as well.
Gothic Horror Villains
d10 - Villain
1 - A reclusive noble who isn't a @Vampire, Vampire Form, but uses his reputation as one to terrorize his vassals
2 - An indulgent socialite who made a terrible bargain with a fell power to retain her youth
3 - A scientist obsessed with creating the perfect poison, machine, or lifeform
4 - A beloved magnate who abducts commoners to steal their blood for his beauty rituals
5 - A celebrity who openly murders innocents but uses their charm to avoid repercussions
6 - Someone who loves a monstrous creature and does anything to keep it fed and safe
7 - A wealthy heir who manipulates the ambitious into committing terrible deeds
8 - A poisoner who seeks to manipulate history through targeted killings
9 - An artist who manufactures terrible accidents to provide inspiration and reference for her art
10 - A monster hunter who accuses those they consider sinful of being monsters
Self-debasement and self-loathing lurk at the heart of gothic villains' evil, whether they indulge in vices or are consumed with misanthropy. This results in villains who torment themselves viciously. The following table only applies to custom Darklords, rather than pre-existing ones, and provides examples, but the DM should come up with original ideas as well.
Gothic Horror Torments
d8 - Torment
1 - The Darklord's soul is so consumed by shadows that it extinguishes all light that shines on them.
2 - The Darklord inherited unlimited wealth, but finery she wears turns to rags and food tastes like ash.
3 - The Darklord is incomparably beautiful, but locals perceive him as a terrible beast.
4 - Tattoos detailing the Darklord's sins cover their body.
5 - Every night, the Darklord is the focus of a lavish ball, but during the day he turns into a lead statue.
6 - A choir of spirits follows the Darklord, endlessly singing her sins.
7 - The Darklord endlessly cries tears of blood, ink, poison, or molten iron.
8 - The Darklord knows how he's going to die and sees evidence of impending doom everywhere.
Ominous history, supernatural forces, and an underlying sinister air are staples of gothic horror settings. The following table only applies to custom Domains of Dread, rather than pre-existing ones, and provides examples, but the DM should come up with original ideas as well.
Gothic Horror Settings
d8 - Setting
1 - A city-state where the rulers are secretly warring lycanthropes, hags, and @Vampire, Vampire Forms
2 - A countryside littered with gigantic pieces of armor
3 - A nation where fog hides packs of deadly @Beasts
4 - An island where the inhabitants make sacrifices to avoid eerie transformations
5 - A mountain-sized cathedral devoted to transforming a prophesied being into a deity
6 - A forest of eternal night where bloodthirsty creatures live in monstrous peace
7 - A city where all who die are cast in plaster and used to adorn tableau-covered avenues
8 - An artist's paradise where cruelties are elevated to terrible and beautiful art forms
Gothic horror stories often center on a forlorn structure in which depravity finds a welcome home. The following table only applies to custom Domains of Dread, rather than pre-existing ones, and provides examples, but the DM should come up with original ideas as well.
Gothic Horror Adventure Sites
d8 - Adventure Site
1 - A mansion's forbidden east wing, where terrible noises sound from every night
2 - A castle where all visitors are transformed into @Rats, @Bats, @Spiders, and other @Beasts
3 - A science lab where preserved body parts carry the consciousnesses of their former owners
4 - A hidden fighting arena where rivals and lovers battle to prove the strength of their emotions
5 - A beautiful garden where the past keepers find immortality as statues and in ancient trees
6 - A tower where honorable heroes are sworn to protect a monstrous ruler
7 - A lavish inn where a random guest chokes on their own blood each night
8 - A rectory where the stained glass windows hold the trapped souls of the pious
Poetic tragedy, the dichotomy between goodness and wickedness, and reckonings for wicked deeds are strong fodder for gothic horror plots. The following table only applies to custom plots, rather than pre-existing ones, and provides examples, but the DM should come up with original ideas as well.
Gothic Horror Plots
d8 - Plot
1 - Discover why anyone who utters the prince's true name immediately turns to dust.
2 - Investigate the disappearance of a scientist known only through their correspondence.
3 - Help a repentant immortal lose centuries of painful memories.
4 - Track down a serial killer who impales her victims on the same monument.
5 - End an affliction that turns a noble into a living doll every night.
6 - Settle a dispute between mortals and devils who both claim the same child is their next ruler.
7 - Put to rest a pair of spirits that bring tragedy to any couple who tries to get married.
8 - Find a way to end a land's generational curse that doesn't involve a group of innocents willingly sacrificing themselves.