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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1072 Posts |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3286 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Sep 2022 : 18:52:12
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| No idea. I think it's a mystery. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2022 : 20:47:21
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This is from a Forging the Realms article by Ed in 2014 named Masks of the Dragons:
"The infamous Maaril "the Dragonmage of Waterdeep" was a mage deeply interested in dragonkind. An evil and eccentric recluse of the City of Splendors, Maaril long wielded the Dragonstaff of Ahghairon (retaining it in part because the Lord Mage of Waterdeep, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, wanted him to do so, for reasons as yet undisclosed). He was known to be ruthless in dealings with other wizards, slaying many who challenged him or had disagreements with him—but he went mad in the Spellplague, disappeared, and is widely presumed to have perished.
Recent mutterings state that it appears he went mad and died—insofar as he lost his body—but his deranged, malicious sentience lives on, lurking amid a dozen dragonface masks he crafted and enspelled, to be worn by his servants. Legend ascribes a series of beautiful, self-effacing female apprentices to the Wizard of the Dragon Tower, but he always had at least two apprentices at a time: a female companion and a male novice of fledgling powers. The males Maaril sent out into the city, often by night, to run his errands, picking up and paying for purchases they had arranged for on earlier forays, delivering messages (often ultimatums) from their master to various guildmasters and shopkeepers, spying, and sometimes doing dirtier work. While outside Maaril's tower, these agents were under orders to wear and never remove their dragon masks, which are "hardshell" (paste-hardened painted and sculpted leather over a metal layer) representations of a green dragon's barbed or spined head, but are slate gray in hue, with translucent ruby-red eye lenses, securely held on by an adjustable head harness with chin strap and collar the mask can dangle from—if removal is necessary.
The enchantments on these masks enabled Maaril to see through the wearer's eyes and speak his will as words heard only inside a wearer's head. He could also hear all a wearer said or heard. Reputedly, the masks gave him no greater influence than that over a wearer. Reports differ over whether Maaril could cast spells from a distance through his masks, but Elminster says records he's seen (observations written down by Khelben's apprentices) state that the Dragonmage could not cast spells through one of his masks, but could "preload" a mask with a lone spell that a wearer could unleash with a spoken command word or when preset conditions became fulfilled.
It is now rumored that Maaril survives as a deranged, powerful intellect that can dominate the minds of some wearers of his masks, forcing them to do his will, casting magic through them, and speaking through their mouths. What's left of Maaril is cruel, capricious, and apt to arrive and vanish abruptly, not caring a whit for the safety of mask-wearers.
The Dragon Tower has been looted more than once since Maaril's disappearance. His dragon masks were all taken, and they are now scattered across the Heartlands; at least two remain in or near Waterdeep, and one is at least as far away as Sembia."
You can find the full aticle here: https://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/forgingtherealms/Masks%20of%20the%20Dragons.pdf |
"Iriaebor is a fine city. So what if you can have violence between merchant groups break out at any moment. Not every city can offer dinner AND a show."
My FR writeups - http://www.mediafire.com/folder/um3liz6tqsf5n/Documents
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3286 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2022 : 00:35:21
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| Ooh, that's good stuff. Thanks for sharing. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2066 Posts |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1707 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2022 : 18:40:57
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quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Make sure to also read "Blackstaff" by Steven Schend.
Maaril does have a tertiary character moment or two in the novel, true, but Ed's material (above) was written 6-7 years after I wrote the novel.
If you like what Ed did with the masks et al (which I do, as it's wickedly nifty), that's the reality for your Realms.
If you don't and want another fate for the Dragon Mage, BLACKSTAFF will leave some alternate fates or locations from which to use ol' Maaril.
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1072 Posts |
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What happened to Maaril, Dragon Mage of Waterdeep
