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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Jul 2010 : 15:46:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
And Sage, didn't THO explicitly invite all of this pondering? Easier to do it all here, than to split it off into another scroll and force her to jump back and forth...
That's true. But I'm looking at this from a compilation point of view. And since I'm ultimately the scribe responsible for compiling Ed's replies, it just makes my job a tad easier if I don't have to filter through a significant degree of side-chatter.
That's it. It's just as easy to take all this discussion to another scroll, where the Lady Hooded One can still chime in also. Plus, ensuring less clutter in this scroll makes it easier, as well, for THO to find questions for Ed.
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Edited by - The Sage on 16 Jul 2010 15:49:39 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2010 : 21:10:49
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Hi again, all.
Kyrene, Ed doesn't know the precise date of the mass market paperback release of ELMINSTER MUST DIE, but it is usually 9 to 12 months after the hardcover (so, early May 2011 at the earliest).
Filfaeril's maiden name is indeed Selzair.
Markustay, you're right that Elminster has watched over and covertly meddled in Cormyrean matters for a long time, that he does personally compare it with Athalantar from time to time, and that Vangey's work allowed Elminster to pay less attention to Cormyr's passing politics than he had to do before Vangey hit his stride.
When it comes to equating Harpers and Highknights, EVERYONE should bear in mind when the author is speaking or thinking, and when characters are speaking or thinking - - and the tendency of many courtiers, lawkeepers, and other authorities in most kingdoms of the Realms to "see Harpers lurking in every shadow." Harpers are a convenient scapegoat, the same way that real-world individuals during the Cold War saw "Communists" everywhere, and some see "left-wing socialists" everywhere today . . . and so, by Wizards of War in Cormyr (Vangey and Laspeera excepted), Harpers have almost always been mentally accorded greater numbers and influence than they truly have.
More later; must run now.
love to all,
THO |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2010 : 21:14:25
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| Interesting. Do the Harpers generally consider this a good thing, or a bad thing? Can individual Harpers play off this misconception to make others think that they have more influence/back-up/whatever than they actually do? |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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gomez
Learned Scribe
Netherlands
254 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2010 : 21:15:12
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Ok, then, I'll make it a question:
Ed, as to Elminster's connection to Cormyr, is the Obarskyr line related to the Aumar line in one way or another?
Oh, and as we are asking, was Elminster related to Midnight? I ask because (a) it seemed Midnight was destined for the place she has now taken (which might imply Mystra was aware of her imminent death), and having any blood relation to a Chosen may work as a good preparation, and (b) it would make the relationship between the two quite different and emotionally charged, giving some additional possibilities from a story view point. (I am aware it is way out there and likely inaccurate, but I have the feeling it is the kind of thing you use...)
See? No speculation... just questions.. :P
Gomez |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2010 : 23:31:33
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Hi again, all.
gomez, I can confirm two things, from my own prior knowledge. Yes, Mystra has had evil (and amoral, self-interested) Chosen...as well as Chosen who have "gone bad."
And no, Elminster was not blood-related at all to Midnight/Ariel Manx, as far as either of them or the gods involved are aware.
Heh. There. Two details nailed down...everything else, Ed's better qualified than moi to make lore reply here.
love,
THO |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2010 : 23:45:36
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...and 'Hi' yet again! This just received from Ed, who is always approaching this blizzard of Cormyr posts cautiously, I suspect because much of what he's undoubtedly aching to state firmly and clearly here is better revealed slowly and in small doses, in future novels...
This comment from Ed is regarding these words (and only these words) from Markustay: "First, I never said Mystra was a 'force for good' - she isn't.
She is a force to promote Arcane magic, and she uses the weave to that end. Technically, I think of Mystra as more of an immensely powerful, sentient artifact. She was created by gods, and is the self-aware consciousness of the weave. At that level of power, the difference between such an artifact and a 'true god' is negligible; merely a matter of semantics. She's like an overly-complex computer program that keeps needing to be rebooted every so often.
Anyhow, the spread of Ubral (shadow) magic is what she is trying to prevent - its natural connections to death would have a devastating effect on the Realms (look at Anauroch). That may make it seem like she is a force for good, but technically 'Good vs Evil' don't enter into it - magic is merely a means to an end, and can be used for either. It is the type of magic she is most concerned with.
While the 'free use of magic' is best-promoted by a free, democratic society, it is not necessary. She obviously had no problem with Aryvandaar and the Vyshann Empire (although it is questionable how much control she can exert over elves). Tyranny tends to lend itself to those in power being the only ones allowed to hold power, and that is the only reason why Mystra opposes those types of cultures."
Ed saith:
Markustay, every word of this is correct, and is superbly expressed. Right on, in every detail.
Which is not to say Knight of the Gate is wrong in his recent post: Mystra is indeed an Overgod in waiting - - and could have become THE supreme Realms god had it been in her nature. However, as Hoondatha pointed out, she has voluntarily limited her power.
Gods should NOT be seen as all-hungry entities obsessed with (or unable to stop themselves from) gathering ever more power. Their natures, portfolios and all, determine whether or not they are interested in power-gathering, or indifferent, or able to "turn away from it" from time to time, or likely to sacrifice themselves or their gains for what they see as a greater good or achievement or necessity.
I'm proceeding very cautiously in what I say about Cormyr, but Markustay: you're quite right to say that the particular group of Highknights being referred to as Harpers was misleading. I mislead often - - in fiction. In game lore, I leave much unsaid, and sometimes unintentionally mislead, but very very seldom intentionally mislead. Which isn't to say that scribes don't often jump to incorrect conclusions, often as a result of their views of the definition of a word or term differing from mine. We all see the world in the light of our own experiences...or by following sources of information we trust (if we trust any).
Yet more often than misleading or misunderstanding, confusion arises because readers don't pay attention to what THO was pointing out: that a CHARACTER thinking or saying something doesn't mean the AUTHOR thinks or says those same things. SOMEtimes authors use characters as mouthpieces, but far less than psychologists or academics think they do. (Forcing both pyschologists and academics to all too often fall back on the piffle "Ah, but the author didn't realize he/she was revealing his/her true self, but I, as a professional, can assert correctly that they were, whatever they may say to the contrary."
I've noticed that most academics are astute enough to wait until authors are dead before they try such nonsense. Wise of them.)
So saith Ed. Who is busy busy busy right now on more secret projects for the entertainment of all scribes, Realms followers and otherwise.
love to all,
THO |
Edited by - The Hooded One on 16 Jul 2010 23:46:26 |
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Brace Cormaeril
Learned Scribe
294 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 01:03:22
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A question for Ed:
Mystra is very different than the other gods of Faerun, it seems to me.
How is Mystryl affected by the integration of mortals into the goddess, and how are mortals effected by their integration into Mystryl?
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 01:55:44
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Interesting train of thought, Brace.
Now you have me picturing my above metaphor again, with Mystryl needing 'periodic updates' every so often. I believe the last one she uploaded was called Midnight 1.0 
Anyhow, sorry for the 'side-chatter' Sage; whereas I used to find Cormyr boring (forgive me!), I now realize just how complex the place really is, and how many different beings are responsible for maintaining 'the balance' therein.
Also, sorry about mistaking 3rd person for 'omniscient third person', Ed - we only recently got a good definition of the two, I often get them confused.
In another thread we are discussing the early FR gods/primordials, and their roles, and the two primeval wars that now define the Realms - the primordial wars and the War of Light and Darkness. I know Ed is a proponent of a multi-versal view in D&D, so I was wondering just how much of this early, pre-history actually predates the Realms themselves? How much pertains to the much broader D&D universe?
I say this, because I note some similarities between certain themes in certain settings. For instance, I would hazard to guess that the Anauroch is a prime example of what happened on Athas, where there were no gods to stop its spread. what happens on a world with no Weave? Do the casters draw from the planet's life-force itself?
I'm just asking these questions from more of an Ed-postulating kind of way, since I know he can't canonically answer D&D questions that go 'outside' of the Realms, but I also know that he is has contemplated such matters, mostly from his own pre-TSR cosmology (Woods between the worlds, certain deities, etc..)
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 03:42:24
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Hi again, all.
Here's a bit more from Ed on the "Elminster and Cormyr Thing." I'd see this as "what Ed's willing to reveal now," scribes - - and as you can see, it isn't all that groundbreaking/shocking, for anyone familiar with Elminster, Mystra, the Harpers, and Cormyr.
Heeeeere's Ed:
Elminster is NOT the “father of Cormyr.” The truth is this: both Mystra and several of her Chosen observed Cormyr down the passing centuries and came to see that, as part of fostering magic use, a realm in which wizards were tolerated, accepted, and to some extent controlled and made part of the lawkeepers SO AS TO BECOME MORE TOLERATED AND ACCEPTED (if not loved) was A Good Thing (as far as furthering Mystra’s aims was concerned).
Cormyr could be such a place . . . and perhaps SHOULD become such a place.
So (fairly recently, as centuries are counted) Elminster, Storm, Dove, and to some extent Khelben (with Laeral) and Alustriel became “involved” in watching over Cormyr to make sure the Wizards of War didn’t go “off the rails” into oppressing other users of the Art too much, or to become feared and hated not as an arm of the Dragon Throne but a rival to it, and so ruin Cormyr as a cradle of more magic use.
Through the Harpers, without ever making any Cormyrean conscious of it (though Vangerdahast and Laspeera came to see it well enough, and Caladnei strongly suspect it, and they weren’t prevented from doing so), the Crown of Cormyr and its mages were covertly aided and supported by Elminster and others. VERY lightly, trying not to interfere one whit more in the politics of Cormyr than was necessary - - and mainly acting to prevent or inhibit Zhent, Thayan, Sembian, or other “wizard infiltrators” from gaining any real power inside the government of Cormyr.
Filfaeril and others came to know Elminster as a friend and confidant, but more as a “wise and powerful old archwizard who has an interest in Cormyr AS A HARPER” rather than a Chosen of Mystra steering or trying to manipulate the Forest Kingdom. Fee and others mainly used him as someone they could get a true, insightful answer to something from, in secret (and one of the things I can confirm that Fee AND Azoun IV asked Elminster, separately, was if he would counter Vangerdahast if it ever became necessary, in “preserving Cormyr;” El said yes to both of them, but please note that “preserving Cormyr” is NOT the same as guarding or promoting the aims of a particular Obarskyr, ruling or not - - and that, despite all the aid he’s given Azoun IV over the years, Vangey has also always been dedicated to “preserving Cormyr” without necessarily guarding or promoting the aims of any particular Obarskyr.
So saith Ed. See? Nothing very surprising, so far. I'm guessing that Mystra and/or her Chosen might well have planted the idea of having "house wizards" being de rigeur among the nobility of Cormyr, in the first place, to spread the wizards around so the realm would never think "all wizards work for the king."
I'll toss that thought Ed's way, and see if he confirms it and report back either way...
love to all,
THO
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
729 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 12:27:21
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Ed and/or THO and/or others,
Do the Realms have something like a “Playboy Magazine” that jacks of all ages regularly buy (for the articles of course  )? If so who started it, or still owns, or publishes it? Where (both realms/cities/towns, and shops in those places) may jacks be ‘lucky’ enough to purchase copies from?
Thanks in advance for your replies. 
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 15:21:23
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| Bah, only people without dirty minds need to buy skin-mags. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 18:28:04
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Hi again, all.
Ed has confirmed that Mystra (through her Chosen) was behind the notion (and gained popularity) of "house wizards" for the noble families of Cormyr.
Also, Kyrene: from the beginning of the published Realms there have been surreptitious mentions of "Playelf" magazine...
love,
THO |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 21:54:30
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Hi again, all. I bring a lore response from Ed of the Greenwood, this time regarding this, from Markustay: "What happens on a world with no Weave? Do the casters draw from the planet's life-force itself?"
Ed replies:
Although "magic" may work very differently from setting to setting, and understanding of it may vary widely (and diverge markedly from the truth) from place to place and wielder to wielder, the truth USUALLY is, underneath all the trappings, that casters ALWAYS draw on the planet's life-force.
One way or another, that is (it may be by drawing on stored energy in magic items, or "charging" receptacles with lightning or lifeblood, or calling on the energies of a living being, or any number of other variations).
The Weave isn't a power source, it's a way of understanding and harnessing the natural forces of the world (heat, wind, water flows and tides, gravity, sunlight, magnetic fields, etc. etc.). Even when the Weave "dies"/collapses/is lost, those forces remain, and can be called upon in other ways, within the same setting (the Shadow Weave, table magic, and all of the other competing means of working magic, large/important/well-known and small/little-known).
Or to put it another way: in a dead-magic zone fires still burn and you can feel their heat, gravity and waterflows/tides and winds all still function, the sun still shines, etc. You may no longer be able to INFLUENCE those forces, using your Weave-based spells, but that's a different matter.
So saith Ed, creator of the Realms and a seminal contributor to D&D, too!
love to all,
THO |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 22:15:22
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Thank you, Ed and THO.
So the term 'Dead magic Zone' is really a misnomer - it is actually a 'Weave-free zone'. Hishna and Rune magic would be two others magical variants, and probably Incarnum as well.
'Magical traditions' are nothing more then a set of rituals, via symbols, materials, sound, gestures, etc...
I'm guessing that everyone can 'do magic', but not everyone has the mind for it, and therefor these actions/rituals/trappings are all required to achieve the proper 'level' of mental ability, in order to force changes upon the natural world.
Psionics, on the other hand, can force such changes directly - they do not need the 'trappings' of magic. They are able to achieve the level of mental concentration and focus without these 'traditions'. Why use Weave 3.0, when you can script in Assembler (machine language)?
Was there more to the destruction of Jhaamdath? Others did far more to the elves and never received such a harsh punishment. Were the Elves fearful of Jhaamdath's psionic mastery?
I picture Elminster being very much like the character of Neo, at the end of the first matrix movie, except instead of seeing the world in '1' and '0's, he can see everything in its TRUE, primal-energy state, and that is why he can manipulate magic in ways no one else can. He literally can reach-out and re-arrange the basic building blocks of the universe, on the fly. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2010 : 22:52:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
snipped
Was there more to the destruction of Jhaamdath? Others did far more to the elves and never received such a harsh punishment. Were the Elves fearful of Jhaamdath's psionic mastery?
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I'd like to echoeand add to Markustay's question, I'd like to know if Jhaamdaath slew elves during them cutting down their forests, or what did they do... or what did the elves foresee |
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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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 07:55:14
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I have another Cormyr question:
We hear a lot in the Realms about Azoun IV's habits and his many bastards. However, what we mostly hear about is men. This is to be expected - boys are seen as heirs to somehting more than women (or so it seems to be in Cormyr). It would be much harder to try to crown a bastard daughter of Azoun, and (I think) a noble family wouldn't care that much if they discover that one of their daughters (who they were going to marry off anyway) is Azoun's daughter (in fact, they'd probably get better offers for her hand).
However, seeing as logically half of Azoun's get should be female, I'd like to hear more about his daughters. We know of one (Tavantra Indimber - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rl/20061101a), but I'd like to hear of other daughters. What is Azoun's relationsip with his daughters (and sons, actually)? Does he have a special relationship with soem of them? If so, who and why? And what about Filfaeril, Alusair and Tanalasta? We see a bit of Alusair interacting with half-brothers (Brace Skatterhawk, notably), but what relationships (if any) do the female Obarskyrs half with Azoun's bastards, specifically the females among them? |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
Edited by - Menelvagor on 18 Jul 2010 07:59:28 |
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Marco Volo
Learned Scribe
France
201 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 09:13:46
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Hello THO, Ed and everyone,
I'd like to know a thing about The Haunted Halls that is maybe not NDA. It's mentionned in the FRQ1 page 5 that Hlauntar the lich was killed in the Halls.
I'd love to learn more about it if it is possible. I know Ed must talk carefully, but it's all in the past now, and maybe we can have a little story about it
Thanks in advance for the reply, whatever she is |
Edited by - Marco Volo on 18 Jul 2010 09:16:34 |
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Baleful Avatar
Learned Scribe
Canada
161 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 16:44:33
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Re. this, from Menelvagor: "However, seeing as logically half of Azoun's get should be female"
Well, no. Maybe according to the law of averages, but certainly not according to the laws of genetics. The gender of offspring would depend on dominant chromosomes for Azoun and for his partners. Maybe he almost always sires males.
Just sayin.'
BA |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 16:48:49
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And regarding this: "What is Azoun's relationsip with his daughters (and sons, actually)? Does he have a special relationship with soem of them? If so, who and why?"
I think Ed has already answered this, here in these threads at the Keep (as well as in Realmslore columns on the Wizards website). Sage?
(Not meaning this as any crit of the questioner, but Ed has so many questions on his platter here at the Keep still to answer, that I don't think he should have to re-answer queries over again. Not when we have the annual "Ask Ed" compilations to word-search.) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
729 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 17:27:30
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
I think Ed has already answered this, here in these threads at the Keep (as well as in Realmslore columns on the Wizards website). Sage?
It does sound familiar. I'll delve into the archives later tonight.
In the meantime, we've this previous "Realmslore" [and pertaining to this particular query] from Ed:- http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rl/20061101a
Heh  That's actually the same link Menelvagor mentioned in his query. So it' not like he didn't search first before asking. |
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Edited by - Kyrene on 18 Jul 2010 17:28:30 |
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Malcolm
Learned Scribe
242 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 18:17:04
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Yes, but Blueblade's point was that Ed has already answered it HERE (though in an earlier year's version of this thread, if I recall correctly), not just on the WotC website.
Now, I'm not advocating every scribe read through all the years of this thread before asking a question, but I don't think we should try Ed's patience by asking the same things over again. Particularly when it's been used by some scribes in the past as a way of trying to cajole more details out of Ed, or because they didn't like the initial answer he gave. He is, after all, doing all of this for us here out of the goodness of his heart, and cutting into his paying writing time to do it...
Ahem. And in the spirit of wasting MORE of Ed's writing time , I have another question of my own:
Ed, do rulers/courts of rulers in the Realms have a "formal" way of requesting (and presumably) paying for copies of maps and documents from Candlekeep? Or do they just send an envoy with a new book to contribute, and cash, like everyone else, and dicker with the monks when they arrive at the gates?
Thanks in advance! |
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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 19:05:57
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| Yes, I did looks through the archives as much as I was able to, and din't find answers to my questions. Not saying that Ed hasn't answered, only that I didn't find anything. And as Kyrene noted, I already linked to what Lore of Ed's I had found. And BA - you're right, of course, but I was referring to the Law of Averages, not genetics. My knowledge in that area does not reach half of what I know in mathematics. |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
Edited by - Menelvagor on 18 Jul 2010 19:09:09 |
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Brace Cormaeril
Learned Scribe
294 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 19:35:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Menelvagor
Yes, I did looks through the archives as much as I was able to, and din't find answers to my questions. Not saying that Ed hasn't answered, only that I didn't find anything. And as Kyrene noted, I already linked to what Lore of Ed's I had found. And BA - you're right, of course, but I was referring to the Law of Averages, not genetics. My knowledge in that area does not reach half of what I know in mathematics.
As an aside; there are no scientific laws of genetics and statistically 1/2 of all human offspring are male and 1/2 female. Inferential statisticians will note deviations, but notice they are not statistically significant.
Science works differently in the 'Realms, of course. Genetics may be one such science so affected. |
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Longtime Lurker
Seeker
51 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 20:11:39
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Gee. As a geneticist, I've spent years and years learning that there ARE scientific laws of genetics - - and that this statement: "statistically 1/2 of all human offspring are male and 1/2 female" and other variants of it are false, and usually based on societal or religious world-views rather than science.
Wherever did you come up with these notions, Brace?
Within families, at the level of individuals (as opposed to larger populations, such as everyone living in a town or country), there are observable, sometimes predictable variations in "human sex ratio."
You need not ask a scientist to verify this; just consider families you know who have "all boys" or "all girls" or "mostly boys" or "mostly girls" (leaving out adoptions and the like, of course). We're talking about if THIS PARTICULAR father (in this case, Azoun IV) and THIS PARTICULAR mother (many mothers, but all of the subset "those who have copulated with Azoun IV") are more likely to have male offspring or female offspring (or none at all, because one partner is sterile or has damaged genes).
In this case, we know Azoun has had relations with many partners, and that, to put it in medieval terms, "his seed is strong." That is, unions with him create lots of offspring. Thus far, all that we've heard about, except one, are male.
The question is: is that a failure of communication (we haven't heard about enough of them) or does it reflect a real sex ratio imbalance associated with Azoun (he produces more boys than girls)?
But spare us all the genetics pseudo-science.
Google "human sex ratio" if you don't believe me, and see the thousands of scholarly articles exploring various human sex ratios (the ratio of male to female offspring in a given situation). If it were as Brace asserts (half and half) there'd be no such term, and no such research.
(Goes off muttering, back to current lab work . . .)
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Edited by - Longtime Lurker on 18 Jul 2010 20:12:30 |
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Brace Cormaeril
Learned Scribe
294 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 21:16:56
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Uhm... no. The "law of independant assortment" and "law of segregation" are not a scientific laws. Newton's laws are laws, but besides that, we have well-defined theories... not laws.
Yes, there are, within small populations, variations in sex-ratio. Are these variations present in the species at large? No.
Is there much research to be done regarding the mechanisms of variance in sex-ratio? Certainly. It is a fascinating topic, though not one I have given much time, in my work post-grad in molecular biology.
Is the central dogma of molecular biology valid? By your definition, no, because we have research that lends evidence to the theory of epigenetics... and prion biology...
Certainly, you are aware of the importance of avoiding pseudo-scientific language when communicating with laymen?
I will concede your point that we *are* talking about a small population (Azoun's scrotum), but I was not referring to the "crown jewels" in my post above.
Edit:Sorry about the side-chatter.
(Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sex_ratio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_law ) |
The Silver Fire's Blade: A Novella in Nine Parts, Available Soon, in the Adventuring Forum!
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Edited by - Brace Cormaeril on 18 Jul 2010 22:25:15 |
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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 21:41:43
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| Not to usurp Sage's position or anything, but could we get back on track? That is, get back to my questions? |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
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Longtime Lurker
Seeker
51 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 22:40:12
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Certainly. I just didn't want the grossly incorrect post made about genetics to steer subsequent discussion in the wrong direction, because scribes who don't happen to be geneticists believe that post.
Brace, scientists don't turn to wikipedia to support their arguments. Neither do most laymen. Give it up, admit you don't know everything about everything, and let's see what Ed has to say. |
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
729 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 22:52:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Longtime Lurker
Brace, scientists don't turn to wikipedia to support their arguments. Neither do most laymen.
But someone with a degree in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology (with a nod to molecular biology along the way) might. |
Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2010 : 22:55:04
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A grand idea, Menelvagor!
Longtime Lurker, you're quite correct (of course you are; this is pretty basic genetics, as you implied) that for particular partners, and within families, genetics can and does cause sex ratio (heh: showing my age here; when I did my degrees, it was called "gender imbalance," based on the belief Brace posted, that it would or should all average out to fifty-fifty). I queried Ed, who also went to university a time or two (sometimes to learn, sometimes to lecture), and he said:
Well, now we're getting down to the REAL secrets. The way I crafted matters when creating these particular characters: when Azoun and Filfaeril have children, they're usually (I'm thinking a little better than three out of four) going to be female, but Azoun's genes are going to make about the same percentage of his offspring when dallying with other women male.
Leaving out stillbirths, contraception, and all of the other complicating factors, that means that yes, there are quite a few female "bastards" of Azoun you haven't yet heard about, in published Realmslore. Which, after all, tends to avoid sex and associated topics, in part because of the intended audience for the D&D game down the years.
Inheritance in SOME Cormyrean families is matrilineal, so it does "matter" in some cases. One complicating factor that can't be ignored here is that during most of Azoun's lifetime, being "of the blood of the King" was a badge of honour, not shame, in Cormyr. However, not all women, especially if they're noble or adventurers or coinlasses (i.e. tend to promiscuity, in the non-judgemental definition of that word to mean "have multiple sexual partners") may be aware, or certain, that Azoun sired this child and not someone else (husband, boyfriend, etc.)
The consequences of Azoun's pleasuretaking (and -making) is is something I will probably revisit in future Realms fiction, being as it can make usurpers and pretenders possible. However, the "short answer" to this is that Azoun has fathered a lot of so-called "bastards," that it isn't a big deal unless the Obarskyr line is threatened with extinction, that about 77 percent or so of his "gets" will be male, and therefore there are other female offspring of Azoun (at least thirty) you haven't heard/read about yet.
Now, I'm not going to start listing them, because (with a few exceptions, involving inheritance and adventures/stories that can be built around that) I'm more interested in what people do and become, as opposed to who produced them.
So saith Ed. Who will have more to say re. Menelvagor's other queries, in the fullness of time.
love to all,
THO |
Edited by - The Hooded One on 18 Jul 2010 22:59:04 |
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2010)
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