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Malcolm
Learned Scribe
242 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Jun 2008 : 23:08:16
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Well, it's famous in English folklore history. 
Just not in modern times. Ed's mind is a vast and deep place. |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2008 : 23:23:56
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Speaking of which...Ed, I know you can't hand out information on upcoming novels or game products due to the ever-threatening NDAs, but:
Can you tell us if you've been thinking about stories to tell in the post-Spellplague Realms?
(Hoping that's weasel-worded enough.  )
BB |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2008 : 06:17:25
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Greetings, oh Magnificent Creator! I was rereading some of your early responses and I was struck by how popular secretly buying property in major cities seemed to be for anyone with large amounts of hidden wealth. Which got me thinking about how many people must be vying for these lucurative money-hiders.
So, my question is, for the cities of Waterdeep, Suzail, and a third of your choice, who (in let's say 1370 DR, though if another year is easier, use that) are believed to be the top five property-owning non-government individuals (so costers or individuals are ok, the Crown isn't)? And, of course, the follow-up is who are *actually* the top five landlords? I think an accountant will shortly be joining one of my games, so you can be sure I'll be putting any other info you could share on such financial shenannegans to good use. Thanks! |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2008 : 13:30:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
My question for Ed is, in what month (and maybe even, what day) did the fall of Netheril occur in -339 DR?? If this information is available (and I cannot find it in How the Mighty are Fallen or the Netheril boxed set or any other source so far). Thanks!
Would it be safe to assume it occured in Kythorn perhaps?? |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jun 2008 : 04:34:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
Speaking of which...Ed, I know you can't hand out information on upcoming novels or game products due to the ever-threatening NDAs, but:
Can you tell us if you've been thinking about stories to tell in the post-Spellplague Realms?
(Hoping that's weasel-worded enough. )
BB
I honestly, sincerely, pray-to-Thoth hope that henceforth Ed will only write "historical" novels.
<insert emoticon for pregnant pause followed by casting down of the eyes>
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jun 2008 : 08:08:48
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hello again, all. This time I bring a brief, delightful smidgen of Realmslore from Ed, in response to this early-February (08) query from Penknight: “If I may, I was wondering how people (elves specifically) of the Realms would say the phrase 'artistic license' when speaking about how bards like to change certain aspects of songs. Thanks so very much!”
Ed replies:
The elven equivalent of ‘artistic license’ is ‘moonbreeze’ (as in: “Moonbreezed through it, I noticed” or “A fair amount of moonbreezing, there”). This term arose from the crescent moon of Corellon Larethian, and from the elven notion that breezes herald (bring the scent of) change. More formal or pedantic elves may instead say “touched by Corellon” or refer to “the touch or Corellon” or even “Erevan riding Corellon” (referring to the elven deity of change trumping the elven deity of music and bards).
So saith Ed. Who was pleased by the question, BTW.
love to all,
THO
Sorry for taking so long to respond in saying a hearty thank you for the response... I had some very serious computer problems and couldn't do any internet searching or perusing. Please send Mr. Greenwood my thanks!  |
Telethian Phoenix
Pathfinder Reference Document |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jun 2008 : 19:23:32
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Hello again, all. This time, I bring Ed's response to Blueblade's recent query, above:
Certainly I've been THINKING of lots of Realms tales to tell, pre- , during, and post-Spellplague. However, I'm so behind on projects for other publishers that I've only been WRITING those other things. Whilst my agent negotiates with Wizards about my future writing for them. I'd love to charge ahead with some lovely ideas that have been rampaging around my forebrain for months, now (spurred by re-reading my early Elminster books, collected in THE ANNOTATED ELMINSTER, and while finishing THE SWORD NEVER SLEEPS, the third Knights of Myth Drannor book), but there's only one of me . . .
Sigh.
So saith Ed. Who has been chained to the keyboard for what seems like years now, folks. Sorry. that should read: What IS years now. 
love to all,
THO |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2008 : 05:19:39
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| will mielikki still be around post plague |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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dravenloft
Acolyte
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2008 : 16:34:01
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Ed, Lady THO, I've two somewhat related questions about the way ordinary people perceive certain character types.
Wizards and warriors seem to be pretty well covered, as well as certain clergy -- namely Tymora, Tempus, Helm, and the other more traditional adventuring lot, or the evil ones they tend to wind up fighting. I'm curious how Joe Farmer, Willena Tavernmistress, Billy Butcher, etc... see the likes of the clerics of Lliira, Sharess, Mielikki, Selûne, and Azuth. What do they tend to expect of them, how are the likely to feel about being anywhere near them, and so fourth? Particularly in the Heartlands areas and Sword Coast regions in 1368.
Same question but this time regarding a dwarven bard inspired by the notion of swashbuckling with an axe. 'Bard' in the sense of being a travelling/adventuring minstrel and storyteller -- his magical ability is absolutely nil and unlikely to ever improve. He's as flamboyant and fashionable as a classic Errol Flynn character.
Thanks in advance. |
Space Opera, Planetary Romance, Speculative Fiction and similar by me.
check it out at http://universal-nexus.com |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2008 : 19:38:07
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Hello again, all! I bring some brief words of Realmslore from a still-frantically-busy Ed, to whit:
sfdragon just asked: “will mielikki still be around post plague?”
and Ed replies:
Although this would definitely come under the heading of things I can’t talk about until the FRCS is officially out and about, let me hint thus far: I haven’t heard any specific news of her demise or destruction. Hope that helps.
. . . And scribe dravenloft inquired: “Ed, Lady THO, I've two somewhat related questions about the way ordinary people perceive certain character types.
Wizards and warriors seem to be pretty well covered, as well as certain clergy -- namely Tymora, Tempus, Helm, and the other more traditional adventuring lot, or the evil ones they tend to wind up fighting. I'm curious how Joe Farmer, Willena Tavernmistress, Billy Butcher, etc... see the likes of the clerics of Lliira, Sharess, Mielikki, Selûne, and Azuth. What do they tend to expect of them, how are the likely to feel about being anywhere near them, and so fourth? Particularly in the Heartlands areas and Sword Coast regions in 1368.
Same question but this time regarding a dwarven bard inspired by the notion of swashbuckling with an axe. 'Bard' in the sense of being a travelling/adventuring minstrel and storyteller -- his magical ability is absolutely nil and unlikely to ever improve. He's as flamboyant and fashionable as a classic Errol Flynn character. Thanks in advance.”
Ed replies:
Given the time and place you specify, I’d say these “average folk” you list regard such clergy as follows:
To be respected if met (remember: everyone “believes in” all the gods) but generally avoided or “not sought out” unless you need the services of their deity, or advice or aid in matters pertaining to the portfolio of their deity.
Said common folk all know the general attitudes and interests of the deities and therefore how such clergy are LIKELY to behave, and will be wary of specific clerics if they have “heard things” that dismay them about a specific church, or priest, and to a lesser extent if the holy person is a stranger from afar (not so much if the holy person is a stranger but from the same land, and less wary still if the priest is a person they know, or knew before the person “went away and joined the church”).
In general, one “watches oneself” around clergy, avoids blundering into holy rituals or “private church matters” (if you are an average commoner not alert for war or with a “bee in your bonnet,” and you see two priests talking in the woods, you draw back out of earshot rather than creeping closer to eavesdrop, whereas an adventurer - - such as your dwarven bard - - might instinctively try to overhear), but doesn’t hate or act in a hostile manner towards clergy.
Realms fiction has often featured corrupt or aggressive or just plain evil clergy, even of non-evil gods, but that isn’t necessary the general perception. Commoners in the Realms can be just as cynical as modern-day real world North American citizens, but that doesn’t mean that all priests are automatically assumed to be lying crooks.
Your dwarven bard is likely going to welcome contact with clergy of Lliira and Sharess (“Hey, now! When does the party begin, holyhips? I’m HERE for it, mind!”), be cordial with those of Selûne (Don’t want to get lost, have bad things happen by night, so may the moon shine bright on us all, hey?”) and want to avoid servants of Mielikki or Azuth, or at least be anxious to let them know he means no trouble (“Heh-heh! I use this axe for war, not on trees!” and “Magic, eh? Useful, useful, no good at it meself, but got no quarrel with those as do!”). However, I speak in likely generalizations, here, not certainties for every individual.
So saith Ed. Who is still in the saddle, riding hard along the Realmslore trail, scribes!
love to all,
THO
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2008 : 18:12:27
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Hello again, everybody!
I bring another snippet of Realmslore from Ed, this time in response to this early 2008 (Page 1 of this year’s thread) question from Asgetrion: “What about the "First Folk" ("nobility") in Berdusk -- do they have family Coats-of-Arms and would they prefer more "eloquent" heraldry or badges to more practical ones?”
This was echoed by Kuje, desiring to know the specific heraldry of the Caunter family, a request which was in turn echoed by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin.
Ed now replies:
The First Folk are constantly trying to set themselves apart from, and “above,” other Berduskans (despite the general sneer from those citizens that these strivings or “silly airs” provoke). Heraldry and the associated use of ‘colours’ are one such way the First Folk do this (catchphrases, everchanging fashions and etiquette, and an everchanging array of specific accessories, such as decorated metallic glove-cases, or sculpted metal boot slip-on toe-caps, and scepter-like “personal batons” are some of the other ways).
‘Colours’ are uniform hues worn among a family and its servants and hirelings for “outergarments.” Meaning: the ankle-length weathercloaks favoured by all Berduskans for winter warmth and to keep off the rain (most people have a light summer cloak and a heavy woolen winter one), except for hirelings, who wear a pull-on “greatsleeve” (a shoulder-to-wrist armband of the same family “colour” that’s simply pulled on over the hireling’s usual garments). A hireling is anyone temporarily hired, or an apprentice, as opposed to someone who’s considered lifelong household staff.
Typically, to distinguish them from the garments of other Beruskans who may happen to own and wear clothing of a similar shade, First Folk ‘colours’ have “edge trim” along all edges of a garment (bottom, collar, and along every opening; most greatcloaks button up with an overlap, down the left front side or the right front side) of a straight, single line of contrasting stitched-on cloth (until recently, only of gold, silver, green, or amethyst purple); its only deviation from the straight edge shape and position is that it loops (over itself, once, in a elliptical loop like the “bow” of a modern real-world “tying your shoes” knot, said loop thrusting “into” the rest of the garment, away from the edge) whenever it turns a corner (i.e. at a collar).
Yes, First Folk families do have and use both elaborate blazons (“coats-of-arms”) and simple badges. A few have mottoes, but these aren’t universally used or recognized, and some of the families who do use them change them as whims dictate, or “splinter” so that one generation or faction within a family uses one, whilst another cleaves to another. The First Folk aren’t “officially” nobles, and tend to ignore all Heralds and laws of heraldry.
Badges are worn on the breast (as a pin) and as a belt buckle for servants and hirelings; First Folk family members wear them as belt buckles, pendants, earrings, and on wristlets. When wearing cloaks, they may have small shoulder or throat badge-pins, but NEVER large breast-pins [so they won’t be mistaken for a servant or hireling].
ATHALANKEIR
Colour: sky blue with scarlet trim
Badge: the knot (intricate knot - - which knot varies, without denoting anything - -of white rope)
Blazon: the three-toothed turret (single, squat golden castle tower topped with three merlons, surrounded by a pentagon-shaped loop of rope that “encoils” [loops around] sheafs of wheat, sacks of coins, swords, warhorns, chalices, and glowing wands [the number and arrangement of these adornments varies almost every time this blazon is painted, drawn, graven or stitched)
BELLANBRAN
Colour: orange with amethyst purple trim
Badge: A curving boar’s tusk, crossed diagonally over a dagger (tusk is oriented upper right/lower left)
Blazon: a symmetrically-curved-bottom-point, flat-top shield of copper with the boar’s tusk crossed over the dagger charge large and central, plus a small green frog, facing to the left, centered underneath the crossed tusk and dagger, and a smoothed round, glowing ruby centered above it
CAUNTER
Colour: white with leaf green trim
Badge: a white silhouette of a horse’s head, facing to the left, on a leaf green oval
Blazon: a crimson archway, standing on a leaf green bar, so as to enclose a white field in which are centered a leaf green horse’s head, facing left, above a steel gray war gauntlet (left hand, balled into a fist, horizontal and with fingers towards the viewer and to the right)
CHARTHOON
Colour: emerald green with white trim
Badge: white warhorn, diagonal on an upper right/lower left orientation, mouthpiece low and trumpet opening high, on an emerald green oval field
Blazon: same as badge, but surrounded by an oval of alternating silver stars, many-rayed and with the longest rays being the up-and-down vertical ones, and silver swords [though recently, many family members have begun to use blazons with all sorts of weapons rather than just swords, though these weapons, no matter what their nature, are always depicted as all of silver]
. . . So saith Ed, and he’s not done.
I’ve split Ed’s reply up so as not to run into any post length limits and stop the Candlekeep server from accepting this post (like many scribes, my ability to even connect with the site has been rather rocky, lately), and will send the next part tomorrow, hopefully with another swift, simple reply or two from Ed stitched onto it.
love to all,
THO
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2008 : 23:33:00
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New Realmslore! Great! More, more!
I'm sick of all the 4e speculation. I know why we're all doing it - - I don't think we could avoid doing it and still be human - - but I need this sort of breath of fresh air. New Realms goodness from Ed, just as if the last few pages of Grand History and all we've heard and argued and ranted about since had never happened.
Give me back my cozy, familiar Realms.
Thanks, Ed and THO.
(Pretty lady, lean on him to visit more often again, willya?) |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2008 : 23:38:47
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Heh. It's not a matter of needing to persuade him, it's his ever-more-pressing time constraints and busy-ness.
Rest assured that not counting what's appeared already, Ed will be published this year in the form of three new novels, at least four new short stories in as many mass market paperback anthologies, at least two game products and probably more, some web articles and fiction . . . AND hold down a day job and attend conventions and lead his daily life. The Father of the Realms isn't exactly sitting around with his feet up, enjoying retirement.
However, since you ask (and I love doing it, she murmured naughtily) I will have a go (or two) at "better persuading" him.
love,
THO |
Edited by - The Hooded One on 09 Jun 2008 18:57:08 |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2008 : 23:41:30
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Dodging the NDA bullet (I hope): Master of the Green Wood, has there been discussion of 86ing the Overpowers in D&D cosmology, Ao, specifically?
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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dravenloft
Acolyte
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2008 : 00:02:41
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Realms fiction has often featured corrupt or aggressive or just plain evil clergy, even of non-evil gods, but that isn�t necessary the general perception. Commoners in the Realms can be just as cynical as modern-day real world North American citizens, but that doesn�t mean that all priests are automatically assumed to be lying crooks
First off thank you for the answer... and so fast too.
I'd assumed much of what you'd said, though you pointed out a few things that hadn't occurred to me.
This bit about corrupt, or plain evil clergy of non-evil deities... How would this work? The aggressive I can easily enough follow with any but the gentlest of gods, but corruption and evilness, I would think would lose the cleric their position in the church and their power. |
Space Opera, Planetary Romance, Speculative Fiction and similar by me.
check it out at http://universal-nexus.com |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2008 : 06:59:42
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| Cool Ed about the two recent posts, can't wait for the other half of those posts. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2008 : 14:44:13
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Vendui, Malla Hooded One!
Reading Swords of Dragonfire right now, I double checked on the "game info" of the Knights of Myth Drannor and so far only found some notes in the Heroes' Lorebook. The latter though refers to a later generation of the Knights it seems, as half or more of the companions in there do not feature in said novel. Will there be more "game info" released on say Pennae, Islif and Semoor? The Heroes' Lorebook also spoke about fatalities amongst them ... can I humbly ask Elminster to watch over Pennae every now now and then? She - alongside with the other females - makes it such an enjoyable read!
Aluve, Zanan! |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerûn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2008 : 17:11:17
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Hello again, all! I’m presenting more of Ed’s heraldry of Berdusk answer this time, plus this:
Alisttair asked: “My question for Ed is, in what month (and maybe even, what day) did the fall of Netheril occur in -339 DR?? If this information is available (and I cannot find it in How the Mighty are Fallen or the Netheril boxed set or any other source so far). Thanks!” and later added: “Would it be safe to assume it occured in Kythorn perhaps??”
To these, Ed replies:
The ‘proper’ answer is, of course, that the fall of Netheril happened not just on one day, but over much of that year, with the immediately resulting diaspora and the rising and falling of realms spreading out over several years after that. However, I believe we can date the Folly of Karsus (the “trigger event”) to the first three days of Kythorn or the last two days of Mirtul. (Today’s Faerûnian sages disagree over just when.) George? Eric? Help!
So, now, to the second part of Ed’s heraldry details (he hopes this isn’t screwing up your email campaign too much, Kuje):
DANALLBUR
Colour: orange with silver trim
Badge: the flagon (copper flaring chalice, oriented diagonally upper right/lower left)
Blazon: the flagon, on an oval white field that has a border of alternating gold coins (featureless, circular golden discs) and logs (short, horizontal pieces of bark-on treetrunk roughly hewn at both ends)
FELANNLILT
Colour: emerald green with copper trim
Badge: stooping hawk (diagonal gray teardrop, oriented upper right/lower left, with open beak and golden eye at bottom left, no other body details)
Blazon: stooping hawk on an oval field of copper, surrounded by an emerald green border adorned with random clusters of copper coins [featureless circular discs] and drops of blood [crimson vertical teardrops]
GORT
Colour: deep purple with gold trim
Badge: the gage of war (vertical left-hand wargauntlet, clenched thumb-in fist uppermost and fingers towards viewer)
Blazon: the gage of war, upon a diamond-shaped, dagged-edges field of orange “leaping flame” [every family member devises their own personal symbol or rune, and displays it upon a random number and arrangement of these tongues]
HALABART
Colour: slate gray with gold trim
Badge: the “sentinel eyes,” a portcullis of thick gray iron bars, surrounded by a garter (belt-like oval, with a buckle and a curving-downwards “tongue” at the bottom) of black leather upon which float a random number of single, staring human eyes [forming a “ring of eyes” around the portcullis, with at least one eye on the tongue]
Blazon: the sentinel eyes on a symmetrically-curved-bottom-point, flat-top shield of gold that has its own border of scarlet blood: a thick red line along the top of the shield, but dripping not-yet-fallen-away teardrops of blood along the two curving lower edges [it’s the custom of Halabart family members to write various “slights” or conflicts or perceived dangers along the bars of the portcullis, but all of them tend to so record different things, some of them naming rivals within the family and within-the-family conflicts, and others exclusively naming external foes]
JALARGHAR
Colour: light purple with silver trim
Badge: the silver spear (a diagonal silver-hued spear, oriented upper right/lower left, on a light purple oval field bordered in an unbroken string of tiny, overlapping white diamonds)
Blazon: the silver spear badge, used as the central charge on a large, metallic-golden diamond-shaped field that also displays various smaller charges, always in metallic purple [every family member uses - - and changes - - their own, at personal whim; most blazons have at least three but some have had as many as nine], including kegs, wagon wheels, miners’ pickaxes, swords, fingers-spread human right hands with stars floating just off the tip of each finger and the thumb, six-strand whips, and pairs of flying arrows [always depicted as flying side-by-side in the same direction, with the upper arrow just the length of its own head ahead of the lower arrow]
. . . So saith Ed, and there’ll be another part to follow, too; he WILL cover all of the First Folk families. Our Realms-Father is, as usual, very busy (the unfinished Falconfar trilogy for Solaris books looms largest on his desk at the moment).
However, he doesn’t want “the Big Change” in the Realms or the technical difficulties of the Candlekeep site or anything else to stop scribes posting lore-queries here. Ed has every intention of just going right on rolling out Realmslore for as long as it’s wanted. (So keep those cards and letters coming in, scribes!)
Speaking of which: great post, Zanan! Off to Ed it goes!
love to all,
THO
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2008 : 21:55:14
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hello again, everybody!
I bring another snippet of Realmslore from Ed, this time in response to this early 2008 (Page 1 of this year�s thread) question from Asgetrion:
First of all, thanks to Ed once again for the great lore he has provided! My (and Kuje's) campaign benefits from this a lot! :)
Secondly, I was *very* excited to hear that Ed is writing for Paizo, too, along with Steven and Elaine! Could Ed tell anything about what he's writing about for Pathfinder/Golarion? Personally, I think the Paizo folk share Ed's passion for the hobby and worldbuilding, and respect their fans (and undoubtedly Ed, too!) more than WoTC these days (that may sound unjustly harsh, but that's just my personal opinion). So, congratulations, Ed, and I'll just say that I'm easgerly waiting for your contributions to Paizo (I just hope Erik Mona gets Eric to work on PF, too!).
I also have two questions to Ed:
1) Can you tell anything (without violating NDAs, of course) about the town of Thunderstone, nestled in the Thunder Peaks? Any "notable" NPCs (e.g. potential Harper and War Wizard members), and possibly some "current clack"/news? And are there possibly small, lost dwarven or gnome holds in the Thunder Peaks? Also, I was thinking of using the Fallcrest map (published on the WoTC webpages) as a basis for Thunderstone -- is it "close enough" to your own map/idea of the layout of this town? Are there any rapids/falls along the Thunderflow near or at where Thunderstone lies?
2) I don't remember if this has already been asked, but I'd like to know if you've ever considered running the Realms under any other ruleset besides AD&D? Or have you ever considered designing (for private amusement, at least ;) your own rules that would fit/simulate a vivid and complex setting like FR better than D&D? |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2008 : 22:26:26
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| Indeed, that hasn't screwed up my campaign at all and it'll help with some ideas. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2008 : 00:19:33
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
CAUNTER
Colour: white with leaf green trim
Badge: a white silhouette of a horse’s head, facing to the left, on a leaf green oval
Blazon: a crimson archway, standing on a leaf green bar, so as to enclose a white field in which are centered a leaf green horse’s head, facing left, above a steel gray war gauntlet (left hand, balled into a fist, horizontal and with fingers towards the viewer and to the right)
Thanks so much! All this information will be helpful to a current character of mine. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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createvmind
Senior Scribe
490 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2008 : 03:33:32
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Hello All,
I was just wondering if dragons are ever born lacking pigment (albinism), was watching documentary on "Snowflake" the only known albino gorilla. If the answer is yes how would you say good dragons rear such offspring as compared to evil dragons, I'm assuming that it's dependent upon the albino offspring itself and how it asserts itself amongst it's nestmates.
Thanks as always |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2008 : 08:29:29
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
(snip)
The ‘proper’ answer is, of course, that the fall of Netheril happened not just on one day, but over much of that year, with the immediately resulting diaspora and the rising and falling of realms spreading out over several years after that. However, I believe we can date the Folly of Karsus (the “trigger event”) to the first three days of Kythorn or the last two days of Mirtul. (Today’s Faerûnian sages disagree over just when.) George? Eric? Help!
(snip)
However, he doesn’t want “the Big Change” in the Realms or the technical difficulties of the Candlekeep site or anything else to stop scribes posting lore-queries here. Ed has every intention of just going right on rolling out Realmslore for as long as it’s wanted. (So keep those cards and letters coming in, scribes!)
Speaking of which: great post, Zanan! Off to Ed it goes!
love to all,
THO
Being far more interested in the "big changes" published by TSR than in "the late unpleasantness"* which Hasbro is fobbing off (or soon will be), I naturally turned to slade's How the Mighty are Fallen, which did not, I soon discovered, pin down the date of Karsus's Great Achievement. It did, however, get me thinking about Larloch and the Lichlord.
How the Mighty are Fallen, shows that the Lichlord had several 10th, but no 11th level spells. Did Larloch ever have any 11th level spells, Ed, and what were they and his 10th level spells (which I dare to assume that he had)? What were their primary, secondary, and barred specialties? It appears that the Lichlord was a Variator minoring in Inventives; is -- or was -- this so? Judging by his research interests, I suspect that Larloch is also a Variator; or is his scrying an indication that he is primarily a Mentalist?
Please forgive me if you've answered this before, but I'm missing two parts of "So Saith Ed," and the archive stops in mid-2007: are 10th level spells still available to human spellcasters (or at least to those who have the Netherese Arcanist prestige class)? I'm asking because it has occured to me that if PCs use the time conduit spell to play How the Mighty are Fallen, they might learn of
Valdick's Spheresail in Yeoman's Loft, or possibly even from the Lichlord. Might a PC bring a recollection of that spell's existence into the present, and be able to research it as a 10th level spell? (When answering, Ed, do please bear in mind that the PCs are expected to vivisect the tarrasque in the adventure -- if they can accomplish that, I think they deserve something to take back to their own time besides experience points!)
Also, I know that you've said (in late 2007, perhaps?) that PCs who go to Netheril forget that they are spellcasters -- despite presumably having spellbooks and/or spellscrolls with them when they enter the past -- but in Mystryl's time do they retain a memory of cantrips which the locals themselves would know as cantras, if the cantra/cantrip existed when they popped back into the past? Do PCs who use time conduit to go into the post-Fall past (with Mystra, Mark I presiding when they arrive) also get a brain scrub, or is that reserved for those darn meddling kids who insist upon going back to Netheril?
* A phrase acerbically dripping with connotations of "the late unpleasantness between the States."
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Edited by - Jamallo Kreen on 10 Jun 2008 09:16:05 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2008 : 16:24:05
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Hello again, all! As promised, here’s the last instalment of Ed’s Berduskan heraldry of the First Folk lore.
First, though, Ed responds to this, from Zanan: “Vendui, Malla Hooded One! Reading Swords of Dragonfire right now, I double checked on the "game info" of the Knights of Myth Drannor and so far only found some notes in the Heroes' Lorebook. The latter though refers to a later generation of the Knights it seems, as half or more of the companions in there do not feature in said novel. Will there be more "game info" released on say Pennae, Islif and Semoor? The Heroes' Lorebook also spoke about fatalities amongst them ... can I humbly ask Elminster to watch over Pennae every now now and then? She - alongside with the other females - makes it such an enjoyable read!
Aluve, Zanan!”
Ed replies:
Hi, Zanan! When writing the Knights trilogy, I am in effect writing a condensed version of “Realms history.” It wouldn’t be right to change things that “happened” in the Realms just for the sake of a better story (or to keep characters alive).
I can tell you that the most extensive game information released about the Knights (though said lore contains some dating errors) is in FR7 HALL OF HEROES, the predecessor of the HEROES’ LOREBOOK, and that there probably won’t be any more “game info” released about the Knights (except perhaps informally, here at the Keep).
The Knights books all follow directly after each other without much passage of time “skipped over,” and they all take place in the past of the Realms, even from the point of view of “where we got to before the Spellplague hit.”
I can go so far as to reassure you that Pennae seemed healthy enough while I was writing the last book of the trilogy, THE SWORD NEVER SLEEPS, which should be released in late November or early December of this year (it’s written, edited, and “done”).
It looks like (aside from short stories, and my secret devious plan is to pound out enough of those to fill another book and then get Wizards to release that collection in a decade or so) we may have to leave the Knights behind when their trilogy wraps up.
For me, the Realms is a treasure chest crammed with several million untold stories, that I’ll never have time to even properly sort through (let alone tell), so (regretfully) I will turn to some others. For one thing, despite the nasty comments many Net-active gamers seem to make about Elminster, the silent majority of gamers who buy books can’t seem to get enough of him . . .
I quite agree with you that Pennae and the other female characters seem to provide much of the “bite” and “spark” in Knightly life and interactions - - just as they do in the actual play sessions, and I don’t ever want to lose a single one of them. On the other hand, there are far safer lives to pursue than those of adventurers . . .
So saith Ed. Who sent along the last instalment of the Berduskan First Folk heraldry; enjoy! Heeeeeere’s Ed!
LOTHKARR
Colour: crimson with white trim
Badge: a white key (round handle, long barrel with two side-by-side, identical flanges at the unlocking end), displayed in a diagonal [upper left/lower right orientation) on a crimson triangle [equilateral, positioned point-down and flat-top]
Blazon: entire badge surrounded by a corona of leaping orange flames (drawn differently every time the blazon is painted or stitched, but always having various weapons, mainly swords and daggers, depicted as floating in these flame-tongues, one to a tongue and looking brandished and active [various diagonal positionings] rather than stationary or peaceful [vertical or horizontal]
MREEN
Colour: blood red with gold trim
Badge: “our honour,” two crossed, curve-bladed daggers [miniature, shortened scimitars] of gold, on a blood-red diamond-shaped field, the long axis of the diamond horizontal, and the daggers crossed in a shallow or flattened diagonal, the right-most-hilt dagger crossing over [in front of] the left-most-hilt dagger
Blazon: the crossed daggers of the badge surrounded by an oval of eight smaller pairs of crossed daggers, on a slightly larger oval of blood red surrounded by a band [outer border] of gold
[this is one of the most numerous and wealthy of the First Folk families, and down the years has been riven by many internal feuds and disagreements with other First Folk and “common” Berduskans, acquiring a reputation for deceit, cruelty, and decadence in the process]
OYINDLE
Colour: brown with silver trim
Badge: silver unicorn’s horn (spiral-twisted straight but tapering horn, smooth-cut base at lower left, point at upper right) on a pentagon [oriented so “bottom” is horizontal] of brown
Blazon: triangle (horizontal top, point to center of bottom) of bright scarlet bordered with silver, upon which is displayed the silver unicorn’s horn, as in the badge, only with an “aura” or surrounding outline of brown, not on a pentagon-shaped brown field
[in the past, this has been one of the most artistic, sophisticated, and “affected” of the First Folk families, largely withdrawn (or pretending to be) from “common” activities and strivings; many Oyindles have been patrons of artists, sculptors, and dancers (and taken lovers from among them)]
PARSTIN
Colour: yellow with green trim
Badge: “the trinity of splendor,” a row of three spindle-shaped cut emeralds (long axis vertical); two identical gems flanking a larger central gem, on an oval, long-axis-horizontal straw-yellow field
Blazon: badge, centered on a shield [a symmetrically-curved-bottom-point, flat-top shield, but elongated vertically so that it’s very “thin and tall”] of emerald green
UTHGOLABAR
Colour: yellow with amethyst purple trim
Badge: “the glory,” a many-sided (20-sided or more) cut gem of yellow-white, on a smaller circular field of amethyst purple
Blazon: no fixed blazon (every family member seems to make up their own, the only common element being a golden bird, beak uppermost and wings spread wide)
[one of the “newest” or “youngest” of the First Folk, sometimes derided behind their backs by certain other First Folkers as “not really one of us” and “upstarts, desperately trying to pretend they’re as exalted as we are”]
So saith Ed. Who is well aware that he still has some questions about gates and Roseportal House and suchlike to very soon deal with, but wonders if there is more Berduskan lore that would help in Kuje’s campaign? Or would new lore at this time hinder?
love to all,
THO
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2008 : 17:53:22
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I can't think of anything else at the moment that I need unless Ed wants to supply some fare/drinks that are typical to some of the ale houses?
Beyond that.... I haven't had any pressing need for any more lore. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2008 : 18:17:04
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
The ‘proper’ answer is, of course, that the fall of Netheril happened not just on one day, but over much of that year, with the immediately resulting diaspora and the rising and falling of realms spreading out over several years after that. However, I believe we can date the Folly of Karsus (the “trigger event”) to the first three days of Kythorn or the last two days of Mirtul. (Today’s Faerûnian sages disagree over just when.) George? Eric? Help!
Thanks THO, the "trigger event" is precisely what I am looking for. I looked in all the Netheril related books and can't find it (except the 2nd novel in the trilogy, which might have it, I don't know). Hopefully someone maybe has that answer, if not I will go with the above, being a sage's dispute over the first three days of Kythorn or the last two days of Mirtul (which works for me)  |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2008 : 01:10:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I can't think of anything else at the moment that I need unless Ed wants to supply some fare/drinks that are typical to some of the ale houses?
Ed, in addition to Kuje's bit above, I wouldn't mind hearing about other types of games/actitives that are typical forms of entertainment hosted by some of the ale houses? |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2008 : 01:35:43
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
For one thing, despite the nasty comments many Net-active gamers seem to make about Elminster, the silent majority of gamers who buy books can’t seem to get enough of him . . .
You tell 'em, Ed!
Thanks for the Berduskan lore, too! |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 11 Jun 2008 01:36:44 |
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2008 : 14:02:19
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I should not be so curious, no no no should not! Never should have looked into Halls of Heroes ... no no no ... (Ed will know why)
Vendui Malla Hooded One!
Thanks for conveying my message to Ed and thanks to the Grand Mage himself for taking the time to reply! Halls of Heroes is indeed a great sourcebook. Always loved the Old Grey Box style of the FR lorebooks, so much info given in such an enthralling way!
Aluve, Zanan! |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerûn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
Edited by - Zanan on 11 Jun 2008 14:04:01 |
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the1eyedking
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2008 : 02:26:54
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Hello Ed
Before I get to my question I wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and to provide us with a living breathing view into the realms.
Ed is the reason I started playing D&D, the PHB taught me the rules, but Ed's stories taught me how to have an adventure.
Anyway enough rambling, my questions is: How are the contracts to supply (with weapons/armor and general supplies) the Purple Dragons and other armed forces/local militas handled ?
In my campaign Cormyr and the city of Shade are at war, with the war going poorly for Cormyr. The characters (who are Epic Level) are willing to aid Cormyr in exchange for becoming part of the landed nobility and securing their wealth through Government contracts.
Thanks in advance. |
Question Everything. |
Edited by - the1eyedking on 12 Jun 2008 03:47:30 |
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2008)
Topic Locked
