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mastermustard
Seeker
USA
78 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Apr 2018 : 02:20:25
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In our world, children have often had to become adults long before they turned 18, due to circumstances like local/regional culture, the loss of their parents, or simply having parents who were too busy trying to survive to coddle them.
I would imagine in a dangerous and unforgiving world like the Realms, this would realistically be even more common, but I don't remember reading any material where it has actually happened.
Is it just assumed that children couldn't learn to fight for their survival or accept the harsh realities of living alone the Realms?
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2018 : 11:00:31
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I suspect yes, but in the published materials "no, due to Code of Ettins".  |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1265 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2018 : 13:30:21
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| I think Farideh and her sister were 17 when they first starting adventuring in earnest; and Havilar was shown to already be a strong fighter. |
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Storyteller Hero
Learned Scribe
USA
329 Posts |
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moonbeast
Senior Scribe
USA
522 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2018 : 10:29:32
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Is the Forgotten Realms similar to the the culture of Medieval Europe/Asia in the way that a 16 or 17 year old boy is essentially a "man" when he can already pick up a sword and kill an Orc? Or are we sticking to the manhood officially starts at 18 years old viewpoint?
Alexander the Great was already conquering city-states when he was a teenager. Genghis Khan was already seen by his kinsmen as a "man-warrior" when he murdered (strangled) his own half-brother (who was attempting to take control of Genghis's father's tribe).
I'd personally go with the old fashioned "medieval" interpretation of manhood. If a teenager can pick up a sword and kill an Orc, or disembowel a Gnoll that is raiding his village, then that child is officially a man, no longer a boy.
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1600 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2018 : 13:44:22
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| In the AD&D 2e Player's Handbook the human starting age is 15 + 1d4 (16-19) years. The book also says that "Human characters can start at any age that is agreeable to both the player and the DM. However, all beginning adventurers are assumed to be at least 16 years old, since they must grow physically, emotionally, and in practical experience before they are ready to undertake the rigors of an adventuring life." There is a table for the demihuman races, and I assume that the ages presented in that source would be equivalent. |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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mastermustard
Seeker
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2018 : 14:56:52
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quote:
Originally posted by moonbeast
Is the Forgotten Realms similar to the the culture of Medieval Europe/Asia in the way that a 16 or 17 year old boy is essentially a "man" when he can already pick up a sword and kill an Orc? Or are we sticking to the manhood officially starts at 18 years old viewpoint?
Alexander the Great was already conquering city-states when he was a teenager. Genghis Khan was already seen by his kinsmen as a "man-warrior" when he murdered (strangled) his own half-brother (who was attempting to take control of Genghis's father's tribe).
I'd personally go with the old fashioned "medieval" interpretation of manhood. If a teenager can pick up a sword and kill an Orc, or disembowel a Gnoll that is raiding his village, then that child is officially a man, no longer a boy.
The majority of shounen manga protagonists are in their early teens, and have been since shounen manga has existed (it's why they call it Boy Manga). Most genin in Naruto, for instance, were basically child soldiers and the manga wasn't shy about showing them murdering others or being murdered themselves to move the plot forward.
I think the "you have to be 18 before you're trusted with a blade" mindset is a relic of 20th century American culture influencing fiction more than anything, since modern American fantasy doesn't coddle nearly to the same extent(Game of Thrones, Elder Scrolls, etc).
In a setting that gets as dark as the Realms does, it just isn't realistic that everyone has a happy comfy childhood, then suddenly they're ready to kill orcs when they hit 18.
So yeah, I'd assume it would be more along the lines of medieval Europe behind the scenes, but like TBeholder said, putting people under a certain age in danger, in the published material anyway, is an ethical issue that Wizards doesn't want to mess with. |
Edited by - mastermustard on 02 May 2018 14:58:26 |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1600 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2018 : 20:33:55
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| It seems the problem extends not only to warriors, but to adventures in general. As for a prodigy boy in Waterdeep. |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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Any notable 'child warriors' in the Realms?
