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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 16:26:51
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| Why do the Dutch have Orange? Why do the Irish have green? Simple answers to both these questions based on history and environment. I think the Kossuth suggestion was pretty good, but I would have to say that it would probably be based on intimidation and a strong display of power. Heck, red dye might be hard to obtain in Thay. :) Seeing as Ed has no real answer then I guess it is up to the DMs of the Realms. Have fun with it. ;) |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 16:51:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Wandering_mage
Seeing as Ed has no real answer then I guess it is up to the DMs of the Realms.
Uh... You did see THO's quote on the prior page, correct? We have an answer for why the Red Wizards have that color. And knowing Ed, it's likely he's got names and partial histories for the first band of Thayan wizards to don red and can give interesting tidbits on at least a dozen or so prominent Red Wizards, past and present, that have never before been mentioned in print. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3563 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 17:34:19
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Blood is Red.
Blood is scary/intimidating.
Red Wizards. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 18:13:01
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Then again red is often seen as a feminine colour given the menstrual cycle. Perhaps the Red Wizards were originally a feminine order. There'd be a good story there if that was the case.[1] It might also provide another insight to the antagonism between Thay and Rashemen.
1. Ask me nicely and I'd love to write it. Actually you can order me to write in a mean way, I would still like to write it.  |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
Edited by - Kiaransalyn on 24 Aug 2008 18:15:04 |
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Marek
Seeker
Italy
52 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 18:14:58
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I figured there was no official answer to that question so me an the other players were making speculations.
A cabal of wizards led by Thayd claimed their independency from Mulhorand that was ruled by god-kings and clerics.
I assumed that maybe there was a predominant color(maybe white?) for the ruling class in Mulhorand and the new Thayans picked a very different color to distinguish themselves from their former rulers.
That doesn't really explain the choice of red over another color such as black(true opposite of white), but I think that it might be an interesting line to follow. |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 19:22:03
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I agree with Wooly. We DO have an official answer, from Ed via THO. If someone here wants it more formally, post the "Why do Red Wizards wear red?" question over in Ed's questions thread, and I'm sure Ed will give us the answer directly. Probably pretty quickly, too, because if THO can answer from her play memories and notes, Ed probably has this particular thing in HIS notes, right?
Can't say I'm eager to see any habit forming of lore input from Ed, even secondhand, being brushed aside as unofficial. As THO has said many times, if Ed says it, it's official, as surely as McCaffrey writing or speaking about Pern or Tolkien about Middle-Earth. Even WotC/Hasbro can't weasel out of that part of the agreement (unless they want to buy Ed out, I suppose).
BB |
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Marek
Seeker
Italy
52 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 20:09:23
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| Oops I thought that the official answer was that there's not a particular reason for that specific color but I'll definitely post it in Ed's thread, which I assume is the one in the other sub-forum of Realmslore. Thanks:) |
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monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 20:53:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
1. Ask me nicely and I'd love to write it. Actually you can order me to write in a mean way, I would still like to write it.
Wow! Thanks for my first laugh of the day...again.  I'd love to read it, Kiaransalyn!
It's much more plausible than my theory that their undergarments kept showing through the fabric when they wore lighter color robes.  |
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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 21:36:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Wandering_mage
Seeing as Ed has no real answer then I guess it is up to the DMs of the Realms.
Uh... You did see THO's quote on the prior page, correct? We have an answer for why the Red Wizards have that color. And knowing Ed, it's likely he's got names and partial histories for the first band of Thayan wizards to don red and can give interesting tidbits on at least a dozen or so prominent Red Wizards, past and present, that have never before been mentioned in print.
My apologies Wooly. I seemed to have scanned thru THO's reply with too much haste. |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 23:15:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
I agree with Wooly. We DO have an official answer, from Ed via THO. If someone here wants it more formally, post the "Why do Red Wizards wear red?" question over in Ed's questions thread, and I'm sure Ed will give us the answer directly. Probably pretty quickly, too, because if THO can answer from her play memories and notes, Ed probably has this particular thing in HIS notes, right?
Can't say I'm eager to see any habit forming of lore input from Ed, even secondhand, being brushed aside as unofficial. As THO has said many times, if Ed says it, it's official, as surely as McCaffrey writing or speaking about Pern or Tolkien about Middle-Earth. Even WotC/Hasbro can't weasel out of that part of the agreement (unless they want to buy Ed out, I suppose).
BB
Far from anyone to discount answers coming through THO as unofficial, but, erh... THO just said that a junior cabal wanted to distinguish themselves amongst others. Doesn't say why they distinguished themselves by picking red over, say, fuchsia-turqoise striped with emerald green polka-dots. We have an official answers, it's just not an answer to the original question. So - back to the speculation board: why red? |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2008 : 10:15:09
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In response to those who say we have an answer for why the Red Wizards wear red I'd like to post the following quote.
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Seriously, Ed (who created Thay and, yes, the Red Wizards) told me the name and color of robes arose long ago, when the Red Wizards were just a junior "order" (clique) of wizards in Thay, trying to distinguish themselves from more powerful, long-established, and better-known "circles" and cabals of mages.
But don't stop the more fanciful suggestions, please. I've been shuttling them along to Ed, and he's been enjoying them.
love to all,
THO
Reading this quote, we discover that the name and colour "arose long ago." This tells us who the original author is (which shouldn't surprise us) and gives us an indication when the idea of the Red Wizards was conceived. We are also told that as a "junior order" they chose a colour to distinguish themselves.
However, we aren't specifically told why they chose red and, furthermore, we've been told to not "stop the more fanciful suggestions, please" since THO has "been shuttling them along to Ed, and he's been enjoying them."
So I would say we're free to continue speculating about why the Red Wizards chose to wear red as opposed to say white, purple or even multi-coloured robes.
Is it worth asking the question 'Are there particular colour associations with the schools of magic?" Perhaps the earliest members were more specialised in one school in particular?
Anyway, I would say that we are free to continue speculating about why, back in the mists of time, a junior order of wizards chose to use red as the colour of their robes.
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Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
Edited by - Kiaransalyn on 25 Aug 2008 10:17:20 |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2008 : 10:33:07
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quote:
Originally posted by monknwildcat
quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
1. Ask me nicely and I'd love to write it. Actually you can order me to write in a mean way, I would still like to write it.
Wow! Thanks for my first laugh of the day...again. I'd love to read it
I think we can mark my comment about writing something for FR down to sheer desperation. I would say that I can continue to dream but then I start hearing 'Porcelain' by Moby and it gets rather depressing. |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3563 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2008 : 13:36:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
1. Ask me nicely and I'd love to write it. Actually you can order me to write in a mean way, I would still like to write it.
That would be low on my list of things that I would like to "order you to do in a mean way"
:::rest his head on his fist and keeps thinking thoughts:::
Oh yes...there was a topic somewhere....
I think the begining of "the Crimson Gold", there is a female Red "Wizard who has "visions" of the battle that Established Thay, seems there were a few tidbits, but cannot recall any on why red.
edit: casted find topic!! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 25 Aug 2008 13:39:29 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 03:57:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
I do recall that Murex purple was used by the upper echelons of Roman society. I don't doubt that given my earlier comments about cochineal that red became a colour associated with royalty also.
It's true--I'm interested in cacti, and since the little bugs that create the dye are a menance to cacti growers, I've learned a little bit about the dye and its history.
Prickly pear cacti were heavily grown as a food source for the bugs. |
"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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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 20:47:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Because they didn't seem fearsome enough during their short stint as the Pink Wizards.
Ah yes, I can picutre in the BG2 CRPG when Edwin turns into a female he could have fitted well as a Pink Wizard.
Excellent one Wooly |
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 Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3563 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 16:16:09
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Looks like it is because one of the founders liked to bathe in the blood of virgins.
Nice guys. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 16:56:54
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Looks like it is because one of the founders liked to bathe in the blood of virgins.
Nice guys.
Indeed. It's so rude to deprive the world of virgins. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Marek
Seeker
Italy
52 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 17:17:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Looks like it is because one of the founders liked to bathe in the blood of virgins.
Nice guys.
Indeed. It's so rude to deprive the world of virgins.
Why? Are there any left? I feel better now that the mistery is solved |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 18:04:58
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Looks like it is because one of the founders liked to bathe in the blood of virgins.
Really? Whilst still wearing his robes? How very passé. 
I would have thought the secret to bathing with virgins was to make sure no virgins left the bath when you all were finished but I digress. |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
Edited by - Kiaransalyn on 27 Aug 2008 18:05:21 |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 20:50:00
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| Well, I was right about Red being a good cover for stains, though |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 21:23:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Looks like it is because one of the founders liked to bathe in the blood of virgins.
Really? Whilst still wearing his robes? How very passé.
I would have thought the secret to bathing with virgins was to make sure no virgins left the bath when you all were finished but I digress.
I like the way you think. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2008 : 16:42:18
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| I think it is because of the ever wide spread love for the Care Bears. All of them were in "warm" collors, and had a special field of opperation... Like different shcools of magic... Ond funny names, just like the "reds" have today! Szazz Tam... Cuttle One... same sour dough! |
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Topic |
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Why red wizards wear red?
