Can one be Summoned Away from Ravenloft?

Question

Inspired by this question.

The Demiplane of Ravenloft has the "quirk" of preventing any magic that would allow one to "escape" it:

No spell — not even wish — allows one to escape from Strahd’s domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.

So, no spell, Item, artifact, or even Deity Magic can banish a creature from Ravenloft or allow it to escape from within Ravenloft.

However, what isn't clear is whether a creature can be plucked from Ravenloft with a Summoning Spell cast from Outside of Ravenloft.

Let's say that Marcus, a Human Assassin, was transported to Ravenloft somehow. However, Marcus's employers, who are not happy with him, wish to interrogate him about a task he failed, and they use the Gate Spell.

When you cast this spell, you can speak the name of a specific creature (a pseudonym, title, or nickname doesn't work). If that creature is on a plane other than the one you are on, the portal opens in the named creature's immediate vicinity and draws the creature through it to the nearest unoccupied space on your side of the portal. You gain no Special power over the creature, and it is free to act as the DM deems appropriate. It might leave, Attack you, or help you.

It is important to note that:

Deities and other planar rulers can prevent portals created by this spell from opening in their presence or anywhere within their domains.

However, it seems that this rule acts more on a case-by-case, since specific portals can be prevented from opening, or they can be allowed to open. It also does not say that they are prevented by any general realm "rules", only by arbitration by a Deity or "Planar Ruler."

Would it be possible to "Escape" Ravenloft by being summoned from someone outside it?

And would it make any difference if Marcus were a PC or NPC?

Answer 1

I'd say no

The way I read this:

No spell — not even wish — allows one to escape from Strahd’s domain. Astral projection, teleport, plane shift, and similar spells cast for the purpose of leaving Barovia simply fail, as do effects that banish a creature to another plane of existence. These restrictions apply to magic items and artifacts that have properties that transport or banish creatures to other planes.

it isn't like an Anti-Magic field or something where the spells themselves don't get cast, it's their effect that is disallowed, so whether the spell was cast outside of Barovia or not isn't relevant.

I also read "for the purpose of leaving Barovia" to include being summoned out of it, because the person already outside trying to "summon" the person inside still have purpose of someone leaving Barovia, which seems within the scope of what the quoted text is trying to prevent.

That's my reading of it, anyway...

Answer 2

No. You have already pointed out that:

Deities and other planar rulers can prevent portals created by this spell from opening in their presence or anywhere within their domains.

In past Ravenloft products, the Dark Powers have been established as having the power of over-deities within Ravenloft. (For details, please see this D&D lore question: What are the "Dark Powers"?) So no, they will block travel out.

Speaking of lore, the one-way travel into the Demiplane of Dread has been an established feature of the setting for a long time. For example, quoting from the 2e Planescape product A Guide to the Ethereal Plane:

Once the mists claim a body, the poor sod's trapped within the demiplane until Ravenloft's dark powers decide to release her.

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Here is another way to think about this problem: If it were possible for someone else to use the Gate spell to pull you out, then a carefully worded Wish would set you free: You could wish that someone cast Gate asking for you.