Strahd Loves, Man Kills Issue 6

I'm behind on my reviews of Strahd Loves, Man Kills by Dolorous Exhumation Press.  

Lurid Locations presents five new locations. The Iscarion Academy is prestigious academy in Dementlieu that takes some inspiration from aspects of Dune and Gotham Academy. The Trilobite is an amphibious vehicle inspired by Captain Nemo and the Nautilus. There is a new version of I'Cath was inspired by Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, which married addiction with Gothic novels. A new version of Rokushima Taiyoo was inspired by a variety of dark samurai flicks and the video game Sekiro. Finally Grauwald is a town that takes inspiration from The Witcher III, Dishonored, and Silent Hill.

Baleful Backgrounds gives us two new backgrounds. Rat-catcher definitely makes me think of Warhammer fantasy. On the flipside, stage magician only seems truly fitting for renaissance realms, though I guess they have their place in carnivals.

Wicked Wanderings expands on the idea of creating Vistani characters and present the various families from previous editions as backgrounds.

Seeds of Evil presents four adventure hooks. The Inheritance was inspired by the video game Darkest Dungeon. The Brass Messiah is inspired by S.M. Peter's Whitechapel Gods. The Exhumed Bride is inspired by real life events tied to artist Dante Gabriel Rosetti. Finally Voddo Drums was inspired by King Diamond's Voodoo album.

Portraits of the Damned presents three new npc's. The Black Iron Widow is a mechanical assassin inspired by Lady Mechanika. The wereboar Ivahn Katavarg and his clan were inspired by Sawney Bean. The Blood Soaked Diva banshee inspired by Kendare Blake's novel, Anna Dressed In Blood.

Cryptic Alliances explores the Corvidians, a rustic religion tied to worship of the Raven Queen.

Tragic Heroes focuses on character from metropolitan places.  The Dreadnaught Vigilante is goblin artificer who uses his technology to do what the forces of law will not or cannot do. The Firebrand is a human circle of wildfire druid that purges the streets with nature's flame.  The Ghostly Gorehound is a kenku wizard of the illusion school who performs during the day and adventures to experience the horrors of the mists. The Incarnate Saint is a human divine soul sorcerer that's the reincarnation of a saint. The Lunar Knight is an assimar oath of devotion paladin inspired by Sailor Moon's theme... and I love it. The Wormwood Devotee is a hexblood circle of dreams druid that is inspired by absinthe and the Green Fairy archfey tied to it.

Random Ruin gives tables tied to the Zherisian city of Paridon. We have charts for sewer infestations, the Jack the Ripper inspired Bloody Jack and who they may be, social upheavals that can affect the city and new religious movements that seek to take over the city.

Forbidden Tomes gives a list of the author's favorite gothic horror tales.

As always, this is a great issue and if you like horror and/or Ravenloft, you need to pick it up.