Darklord is a title used to refer to the mystically imprisoned and cursed ruler of a domain in Ravenloft, a campaign setting in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.
A Darklord was originally an individual who had committed a truly horrific crime, which drew the attention of the enigmatic Dark Powers.
[3] Kevin Kulp, game designer, highlighted that "a notable aspect of this book is that most of the darklords aren't particularly powerful, even by 2nd edition AD&D standards.
[4] The 5th Edition sourcebook Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, according to The Gamer website, highlights that the "Darklords work in a different way than the standard D&D boss [...].
[...] The Darklords of Ravenloft do battle by turning allies into enemies, depriving heroes of sleep with nightly haunts, and dangling hope just to yank it away at the last moment.