A Setting for Renaissance

Based on late 16th century/early 17th century Central European legends and lore; still sketchy at the moment: Lamentations of the Blood Countess

Oooh - looks like fun. I'll keep my eye on this and see how it develops

This is a wonderfully evocative title! Reminds me of the tales of Elizabeth Báthory...

I will be watching this blog as well - thank you for the link!

This is a wonderfully evocative title! Reminds me of the tales of Elizabeth Báthory...

That's the idea

Of course she's remembered as a horrid, sadistic serial killer. But let us not forget that King Matthias II owed her an awful amount of money, and that she was rumoured to be a lesbian, so the whole "serial killer" affair could have been put up to get rid of one of the most powerful and independent-minded nobles in the Kingdom of Hungary.

I think a campaign game where the PCs are in her employ and do not know themselves whether she's guilty or innocent would be terrific.

... so the whole "serial killer" affair could have been put up ...

Indeed. You only have to take a look at the records of 17th century witch trials to see

how easy it was to find "witnesses" and other "proof" of the most spectacular crimes of

the accused.

Indeed. You only have to take a look at the records of 17th century witch trials to see

how easy it was to find "witnesses" and other "proof" of the most spectacular crimes of

the accused.

Interestingly enough, there was at least one werewolf trial where the accused freely admitted to being a werewolf. He was, in fact, a serial killer in the modern sense. Realizing that he was sick, the authorities sentenced him to life imprisonment rather than executing him. Visitors said his eyes, indeed, shone in the dark like a wolf's. True story from the Durants' History of Philosophy aka History of Civilization.