Masque of the Red Death

• Set in 1890s Gothic Earth.
• Evil energy manipulates the world.
• Literary characters included: Van Helsing, Jack the Ripper, Dorian Gray...

Masque of the Red Death is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, named after the Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name. The setting was published after the release of the Ravenloft campaign setting in 1994 as Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales, and is regarded as an add-on for that line. Masque of the Red Death has many of the same qualities as Ravenloft, such as "power checks" and restricted magic, including limited planar travel.

The setting is located on Gothic Earth, an 1890s version of Earth where fantasy creatures exist only in the shadows of civilization. Many notable real-life figures and 19th century literary characters are included for the players to interact with, including Van Helsing, Jack the Ripper and Dorian Gray. The Red Death is a mysterious evil energy that can manipulate the world. Its very origins are unknown to anyone, but many theories abound. Some say it is very much like a physical red mist, while others claim it to be a universal force like gravity. What is known is the effects that the Red Death has. It is capable of raising undead, transforming people into monsters, driving people insane, moving whole areas and locations, and affecting the very fabric of reality.