| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 30 Jan 2006 : 14:00:06
Well met
This is a Book Club thread for the short story entitled "The Staff of Valmaxian", by Philip Athans, from the Realms of the Elves anthology.
Please discuss herein. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 08 Jan 2007 : 22:28:13
True, true...but Athans does do better (mostly) in the Watercourse trilogy. |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 08 Jan 2007 : 16:57:38
quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch in the thread 'Realms of the Elves - which story belongs where?' in the novels section
quote:
Originally posted by Maruluthu Mistrivvin
I'd that the Staff of Power is more close to actual stats
You mean that the stats given in NWN do not reflect the powers and possibilities the Staff provides in the novel?! I have not read the story yet, so I can't judge on that. I will do so at once! 
I just finished the story and to be honest - I don't see any resemblance to the stats of the Staff of Valmaxian from NWN1 CRPG except the name, of course! In the story the only two abilities shown are magic missile and retributive strike. the first power is not listed in the stats and the second power would not make sence in a computer game anyway.
As a matter of fact - regarding the story with the staff being broken at the end, the staff from the game cannot possibly be exactly that staff. Either Valmaxian created a 'second' staff in his later years or over time the staff from the game known as 'Staff of Valmaxian' was somehow just associated with Valmaxian the mage or mistaken for being formarly his staff. A few musings from my site....
A nice story none the less even though the critics mention above are certainly true to the most extent (no build up of realationship, missing character development, ect.). However it is a short story after all!
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| ode904 |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 20:52:32
Pretty nice story! Especially after playing several hundred hours of NWN! Quite well written too. And yes, it was in ''NWN Anthology'', a project that, to my disappointment, was canceled:(. |
| GothicDan |
Posted - 08 Aug 2006 : 03:09:50
Hehe, only 1200 years old. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 08 Aug 2006 : 02:23:41
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I believe that that story was supposed to actually be in the NwN anthology that never saw the light of day. :)
Yes, it was. I just think it's...funny...to write a story based around an item that you can find in NWN, then have the story destroy the item. :-/ |
| Kuje |
Posted - 08 Aug 2006 : 02:22:05
I believe that that story was supposed to actually be in the NwN anthology that never saw the light of day. :) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 08 Aug 2006 : 02:09:33
Finished this story. I'm a little...confused. Valmaxian used a retributive strike from the staff to defeat the demon, so how come he wasn't destroyed or whisked to another plane? Isn't that what usually happens when you use a staff's RS? I know much of his wizardly might gets sapped, but I didn't realize that would protect someone from the normal effects of a RS.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fight scenes, but then again, I never cared much for Phil's fight scenes in the Baldur's Gate novels or in Whisper of Waves. Some authors write action scenes I can get into, some don't. *shrug* Overall, I can't say this story grabbed me, although it wasn't bad, and it had some nice touches, like "The demon was wrong" at the end. Still...it's hard for me to feel happy for a character (Valmaxian) winning over the demon that he willingly bargained with and stupidly believed he wouldn't have to pay. And this elf acted like an ass for pretty much the whole story--tell me why I should care?
Also, I find it rather amusing that this book was written around an item that can be found in the Neverwinter Nights CRPG (the Staff of Valmaxian, which for a "masterpiece" isn't all that hard to obtain in that game), yet the story destroys the staff. I guess Valmaxian eventually made another one. After all, he still had plenty of time left.
He was only 1200 years old.
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| GothicDan |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 04:28:40
I know, Kuje. I was kidding. :) |
| Kuje |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 04:04:54
quote:
Originally posted by GothicDan
Does that mean we could theoretically be mean? *Snickers, hides from mods.*
Kidding!
No.
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| GothicDan |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 03:32:51
Does that mean we could theoretically be mean? *Snickers, hides from mods.*
Kidding! |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 03:06:20
quote:
Originally posted by GothicDan
I wonder what the author has to say on this stuff..? *Curious*
We won't hear it, since Phil Athans doesn't post on message boards. |
| GothicDan |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 03:04:59
I wonder what the author has to say on this stuff..? *Curious* |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 03:02:27
quote:
Originally posted by GothicDan
Funky elven lore seems to be the norm in novels nowdays. It makes one forget what the norm is; or for those fans who never read the older lore, it makes them not even know what normal means.
True, on all counts (hey, the proof's in the pudding, and I've seen it for myself). |
| GothicDan |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 03:01:27
Funky elven lore seems to be the norm in novels nowdays. It makes one forget what the norm is; or for those fans who never read the older lore, it makes them not even know what normal means. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 02:56:42
quote:
Originally posted by GothicDan
Yeah... I have to say that's a bit funky, too.
Especially considering even if one uses 3E lore, the max normal lifespan is about 650 I believe for Sun Elves, and age-prolonging magic in the current edition is very rare (for some reason).
Oh yeah--also, Chasianna is described as having "chesnut" hair, even though the only elves that really have that color are wood elves, and she is not described as such. In fact, all evidence in this story suggests she's a gold elf--she's the granddaughter of Val's wizard mentor in Siluvenade, which is described as a city of gold elves, and apparently the important mages are all gold elves. I guess brown hair on a gold elf isn't as strange as blue-green hair on one, though.
Really, the story itself isn't that bad, even if it's not very subtle, either (Val and Chasianna become inseparable after zero buildup), but the funky elven lore is making me like it less. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 02:50:01
quote:
Originally posted by Beirnadri Magranth
i did think the end was abrupt though, and Valmaxian changes character very quickly after meeting Cha- whats her name
I agree. Well, he doesn't change his overall character, really, but he is suddenly described as being deeply in love with her with no buildup. |
| GothicDan |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 02:49:38
Yeah... I have to say that's a bit funky, too.
Especially considering even if one uses 3E lore, the max normal lifespan is about 650 I believe for Sun Elves, and age-prolonging magic in the current edition is very rare (for some reason). |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 07 Aug 2006 : 02:45:08
Update: The story has moved forward 700 years and our gold elven bottle blue is now about 1200 years old. That's...pretty wacky. And no, he's not described as being "falling apart old" either. What's even stranger is that Val's mentor only just died, and since HE considered 500 years old to be "young" 700 years ago, he was obviously even older.
What does the author think the typical elven lifespan is, 5000 years? Rarely does an elf live to be even 1000.
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| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 05 Aug 2006 : 01:37:00
OK, the elven lore in this story definitely is a little bit wacky. Not only do we have Valmaxian described by the unbiased narrative as a "young elf", even though 500 isn't young at all even by elf standards, but Val is a gold elf...with blue-green hair.
I guess maybe he's one of those so-called "bottle blues". |
| GothicDan |
Posted - 04 Aug 2006 : 05:18:14
I think the Runemaster and Eltargrim were each about a millenium old.. Both of which were Epic characters.
I'd love to here more about an elder elf that powerful. :) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 04 Aug 2006 : 04:55:35
quote:
Originally posted by GothicDan
It's older than middle aged. Your 'typical' elf in 3E doesn't live much longer than that; you had to be at least around 350 to be an Elven High Mage, even.
The "oldest" Elves we know about (barring the Srinshee) have only been around a millennium, even in previous editions, when they were theoretically immortal.
And yet, here we have a 500 year old elf being called "young" and "impatient". How old is the guy who is talking to him?
These aren't exactly spring chickens! |
| GothicDan |
Posted - 04 Aug 2006 : 04:08:46
It's older than middle aged. Your 'typical' elf in 3E doesn't live much longer than that; you had to be at least around 350 to be an Elven High Mage, even.
The "oldest" Elves we know about (barring the Srinshee) have only been around a millennium, even in previous editions, when they were theoretically immortal. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 04 Aug 2006 : 03:23:40
I just started this story and I like it so far...but I found it a bit strange that the mentor says to V something to the effect of: "You are still young and impatient--only 500 years old."
Isn't 500 years old actually rather middle-aged for an elf? I guess one can fall back on the old "things are different with elves!" rationale, but a character who is technically middle-aged doesn't really suit the role (IMO) of the typical brash, young, thinks-he-knows-it-all apprentice. |
| Beirnadri Magranth |
Posted - 23 Apr 2006 : 07:11:52
quote:
Originally posted by Swordsage
I liked this story also. Valmaxian was a pretty complex character, I enjoyed his moral redemption and the triumph of his love. The only thing I didn't 'get' about the story was just what boon the demon gave him? Was it the power to create magic items with lasting power without sacrificing personal vitality? It seemed to be something along those lines, but of course this is a very 1E and 2E concept. Not too bad an effort.
The Swordsage
i dont see whats so specifically older edition about it... i think the demon granted a wish to Valmaxian that allowed him to create magic items with out an XP cost.
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| Swordsage |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 11:00:26
I liked this story also. Valmaxian was a pretty complex character, I enjoyed his moral redemption and the triumph of his love. The only thing I didn't 'get' about the story was just what boon the demon gave him? Was it the power to create magic items with lasting power without sacrificing personal vitality? It seemed to be something along those lines, but of course this is a very 1E and 2E concept. Not too bad an effort.
The Swordsage
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| Xysma |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 03:49:54
quote:
Originally posted by Beirnadri Magranth
Valmaxian changes character very quickly after meeting Cha- whats her name
A perfect example of the power women have over us feeble men.
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| Beirnadri Magranth |
Posted - 24 Feb 2006 : 17:51:04
An excellent portrayal of elven highmages etc. and ancient elven magical might!
i did think the end was abrupt though, and Valmaxian changes character very quickly after meeting Cha- whats her name |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 24 Feb 2006 : 12:03:16
I really enjoyed this story. The relationship between Valmaxian and Kelaerede was really well done. Typical of the apprentice to know best and go behind his back and steal the scroll. The demon summoning was fantastic, probably the best scene of this type i've read. The whole spinning ball..oval...ring...portal transformation was great. Loved the demon too (sorry, don't recall his name at the moment).
One of my favorite scenes here was when Valmaxian went to see Kelaerede on his deathbed and then was forced to go back and make amends. It was quite a touching moment with all that he said and then when his master died smiling, only then for it to reveal that Valmaxian had lied on every point but fooled them all.
Ya know, why do mages always summon and bind demons to do their bidding, agree to a deal and then ALWAYS betray them and back out of their side of the bargain? I feel sorry for these demons, all they want is what was promised to them 
Nice eerie scene when Valmaxian went looking for Chasianna and heard no response and then saw the room ripped open and within the abyss. The dretch fights were nice and the fight with the demon was great. Very nasty how he ended up ripped apart with just a head and arm remaining attached..but still able to speak.
I quite like how they escaped in the end, with the demon calling after them and trying to drill into Valmaxian that ultimately he had failed as a mage.
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| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 23 Feb 2006 : 19:08:10
Thanks Winterfox. I could have looked through the Toolkit, I suppose, but everytime I open up that darn thing I end up spending a few hours tweaking items to see how close I can get them to ones that are either in ruleboks or from various novels, then I look at the clock and realize that I have lost more hours than I used to when I played KOTOR or Starcraft.
Speaking of matching descriptions . . . funny that magic missles seem to absent from the item's list of powers. (Yes, I know, I'm just being a pain now) |
| Winterfox |
Posted - 23 Feb 2006 : 18:35:20
Yep, the staff appears in the game:
quote:
Identified description: In ancient times, the proud and quarrelsome wizard Valmaxian was a man of great power and prominence. He crafted this staff with the aid of a demon, all to win the heart of Chasianna, the daughter of his long-dead master. When the debt came due, the demon demanded Chasianna as his price. In a rage, Valmaxian descended into the Abyss and used the staff to battle the demon and rescue the woman he loved.
Properties:
AC Bonus [+2]
Cast spell: Chain Lightning (11) [5 charges/use]
Cast spell: Ethereal Visage (9) [5 charges/use]
Cast spell: Fireball (5) [3 charges/use]
Enhancement bonus [+3]
Use limitation class: Wizard
Use limitation class: Sorcerer
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