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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jan 2007 : 02:52:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Wandering_mage
This info is interesting. I am running a campaign in Tethyr (Mosstone region) and should the PCs go North it would be neat to put some lore they find in a context that favors the wealthy outlook more than the commoner, etc. It could confuse the PCs just enough to make them second guess the location of a battlefield (due to the wealthy outlook saying that those nasty wizards were run down in one charge at this field instead of acknowledging that the battle lasted a few days and covered lots of ground). And the key is that there is a special item at on of the true battlefield locations.    What do you think? 
Think of it like this: Instead of having the full history or info on a battle, how many died, and the result of it having been fought, you find out which nobles/rich folk commanded the battles, what if any profit came of it, and little more. It'd be like only knowing Shakespeare's play Henry V to understand the Battle of Agincourt, or more properly, you only get the St. Crispin's Day speech and the fictionalized version of events.
More specifically, it's like accepting what Volo tells you at face value (and not having Elminster's footnotes to set you to rights). 
Steven
who does what he can to obfuscate and entertain at the same time |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2007 : 03:01:17
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quote:
Originally posted by MaxKaladin
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Just off hand, have there been questions dropped in here that I've forgotten to address? (And no, I can't change any answers that were stated as NDAs, I'm afraid.) Just wanting to make sure that I'm not leaving folk in the lurch, waiting with bated breath for answers to queries.
Back on 1 May 2005 (on Page 3) someone asked:
quote:
Originally posted by Gray Richardson
I have a question for you Steven. Rich Baker over on the ask the Realms Authors thread politely demurred when asked what could be found on the various other continents of Toril seen on the "scholar's view of Abeir-Toril" map. He said it was basically space for DM's to imagine and fill in the blanks. He also mentioned that you might have some notes about what might go where.
I was wondering if you might have some "unofficial musings" that you would care to share about what could be found on those Terra Incognitas located around the globe beyond Faerun and Kara-Tur.
and you replied:
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
I have some old, old notes that were a pitch for a subline like Al-Qadim for those areas, but they're all apocryphal, they're all old, and they're all buried somewhere. Gimme a week or so to dig the notes up and I'll see what's worth posting herein, unofficially, of course.
I don't think you ever said anything about if you'd found those notes or not or if there was anything worth posting there. I may have missed it if I did though.
Anyway, I'm curious myself so I thought I'd bring it up....
Sorry if that's too old.
No, it's not too old. It's just problematic.
I once made a pitch to David Wise when he was running the Realms group and I was his 2nd-in-command to do a subline that would explore or at least hint at what was out there in the western continents. The idea never made it to official schedules and office politics shifted David and me both out of the Realms group.
Thus, any ideas I had are unofficial, undeveloped and rough, and they have the potential to step on the toes of current staffers and designers. Thus, I'd best abstain from saying too much about my plans. Sorry that this is a beg-off rather than a lore-dump, but it's really not my place to determine what's over there any more.
Steven
who's playing in his first FR campaign, but it's in Gary Gygax's NECROPOLIS which is set hundreds of miles to the south of Maztica...and it's a blast...
PS: One hint/hook that did survive of that old pitch is in Blackstaff--an elven wizard and mapmaker whose ships help make magical maps. That was the hook for the campaign impetus--you lease a ship and it helps map out the rest of the world. All you had to do was risk your neck and provide enough collateral to get the lease.
PPS: Okay--one hint. I'd postulated with Karen Boomgarden when Dave Sutherland first did the map sketches of the whole world that one of the continents would have great "Grand Caynon"-esque canyons all over its desert area...and if you could get up high enough, you'd see they were scrawled runes...
PPSS: There's also another hint of what to do with those western lands in the UNDERMOUNTAIN: THE LOST LEVEL Dungeon Crawl module. And that's all I'm telling you. |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2007 : 03:04:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemernis
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
The last true historians worked for Amn's royalty, and no one knows what happened to the annals written for the king's library. They may have been destroyed; they may have been smuggled to safety elsewhere; they may yet be deep beneath the castle in Esmeltaran...
Steven
who asserts the only true histories in Amn over the past few years might be diaries, journals, or travelers' accounts of what happened there, rather than any official documentation by the Council or the families that hold most of the power...
Love this! It's fun to salt this sort of stuff. I'm already thinking of some quests that are based on history, and where such writings may be found.
Also, a follow-up thought occured to me about the possible low hill giant population explanation I suggested. If hill giants were having troubles reproducing, that in itself could easily account for the proliferation of ogres in the region. Hill giants have voracious appetities, they use up a lot of the food sources wherever they live. As their numbers dwindled it would have created new territory and more game for the ogres to exploit.
For some reason I want to see the ogres remaining stangely respectful of their larger cousins throughout this. I like that dynamic, anyway, whatever the reason behind it.
Another option you've not noted (and this would be highly unorthodox but fine for a home campaign) is this: The hill giants are dying, but they're making efforts to stay alive by interbreeding with the largest and strongest ogres and creating half-giants or monstrous ogres. They're not quite giants, but they're bigger than the average ogre...
Or maybe the giants are just busy going to the west....  
SES |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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MaxKaladin
Seeker
71 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2007 : 18:12:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Thus, any ideas I had are unofficial, undeveloped and rough, and they have the potential to step on the toes of current staffers and designers. Thus, I'd best abstain from saying too much about my plans. Sorry that this is a beg-off rather than a lore-dump, but it's really not my place to determine what's over there any more.
Fair enough. The question just looked abandoned and I was curious so I thought I'd bring it back up. Thanks.
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2007 : 20:28:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Another option you've not noted (and this would be highly unorthodox but fine for a home campaign) is this: The hill giants are dying, but they're making efforts to stay alive by interbreeding with the largest and strongest ogres and creating half-giants or monstrous ogres. They're not quite giants, but they're bigger than the average ogre...
Or maybe the giants are just busy going to the west....
SES
Hmm! A giant-ogre breed, sounds nasty, yoiks!
I noticed in the Slayer's Guide to Ogres that it's at the DM's discretion to decide (actually what isn't? but anyway) that ogre females can be quite beautiful from a human perspective. Do you envision them that way in your Realms?
Or does anyone recall if Ed has spoken on that? |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2007 : 03:30:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemernis
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Another option you've not noted (and this would be highly unorthodox but fine for a home campaign) is this: The hill giants are dying, but they're making efforts to stay alive by interbreeding with the largest and strongest ogres and creating half-giants or monstrous ogres. They're not quite giants, but they're bigger than the average ogre...
Or maybe the giants are just busy going to the west....
SES
Hmm! A giant-ogre breed, sounds nasty, yoiks!
I noticed in the Slayer's Guide to Ogres that it's at the DM's discretion to decide (actually what isn't? but anyway) that ogre females can be quite beautiful from a human perspective. Do you envision them that way in your Realms?
Or does anyone recall if Ed has spoken on that?
Urgh. Not a happy thought, that....they look like female versions of what the ogres look like in the MM...at least they do in my head...
Perhaps that was meant to be an excuse to explain the half-ogre or something....
SES |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5352 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2007 : 03:38:18
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The old 2nd Edition Against the Giants, The Liberation of Geoff (which was an update of the old Against the Giants series from 1st edition), mentions that giant females are usually extreemly attractive in most giant species, at least from a human perspective, except for Hill Giants, whose women look pretty much like what you would expect them to. My personal thought is to extend this to ogres as well. Plus, there is a D&D mini depicting a female ogre, and she looks pretty much like, well, a female ogre.
Sorry to invade your thread Steven . . . |
"Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder."--Saint Thomas Aquinas
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2905 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2007 : 07:23:03
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I agree when it comes to the female ogres looking like males, but it would open for some interesting options if the beauty theory had a basis in truth. What would the general human reactions be to a female that looked less like a monster. Are there slavers specialising in ogres? etc. If the females were more intelligent as well, it might become a society somewhat like Opar in the old Tarzan books.
An alternative would be that it is the Ogre Mage female that has a beauty unlike most other mortals. Thanks, you have given me some nice ideas here.
As KnightErrantJR said, sorry for invading your thread Steven. |
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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2007 : 20:58:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote:
Originally posted by Wandering_mage
This info is interesting. I am running a campaign in Tethyr (Mosstone region) and should the PCs go North it would be neat to put some lore they find in a context that favors the wealthy outlook more than the commoner, etc. It could confuse the PCs just enough to make them second guess the location of a battlefield (due to the wealthy outlook saying that those nasty wizards were run down in one charge at this field instead of acknowledging that the battle lasted a few days and covered lots of ground). And the key is that there is a special item at on of the true battlefield locations. What do you think?
Think of it like this: Instead of having the full history or info on a battle, how many died, and the result of it having been fought, you find out which nobles/rich folk commanded the battles, what if any profit came of it, and little more. It'd be like only knowing Shakespeare's play Henry V to understand the Battle of Agincourt, or more properly, you only get the St. Crispin's Day speech and the fictionalized version of events.
More specifically, it's like accepting what Volo tells you at face value (and not having Elminster's footnotes to set you to rights).
Steven
who does what he can to obfuscate and entertain at the same time
Good stuff. This appeals to the history lover in me. Now to start looting Lands of Intrigue for a beginning event, nobles names, and location. Steve your works live on in so many campaigns! You must feel proud of that. |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4372 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2007 : 22:50:10
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A question for Steven
Is Aurora Gost (Gost family consort in the 2ed CoS)the owner of the Aurora stores? |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2007 : 10:52:38
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Sorry to invade your thread Steven . . .
Tish-tosh....everybody's welcome here. No invasions either perceived or needed to be excused. Feel free to drop by anytime and add your two coppers, Knight.
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2007 : 10:56:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
I agree when it comes to the female ogres looking like males, but it would open for some interesting options if the beauty theory had a basis in truth. What would the general human reactions be to a female that looked less like a monster. Are there slavers specialising in ogres? etc. If the females were more intelligent as well, it might become a society somewhat like Opar in the old Tarzan books.
An alternative would be that it is the Ogre Mage female that has a beauty unlike most other mortals. Thanks, you have given me some nice ideas here.
As KnightErrantJR said, sorry for invading your thread Steven.
Oooh....I LIKE that....the idea of Opar, I mean. (Yes, I'm a huge ERB fan from way back, and I just yesterday finished cataloguing my 24 Tarzan novels and must get to finishing the Barsoom novels today.)
Well, we've not seen any images of Syrvissnia (or however I spelled Sythillis' wife's name) yet, so it's up to y'all to imagine her as you will.
And again, no worries or needs for apologies. The thread is open to all who care to join us. Just chip in for beer next time.
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2007 : 10:58:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
A question for Steven
Is Aurora Gost (Gost family consort in the 2ed CoS)the owner of the Aurora stores?
No, I don't believe she is. The two women just share a common name, that's all.
I don't have my Aurora's Guide on hand, but I believe there's info in that book detailing the mysterious woman in charge. But alas, while there is an Aurora's outlet in Waterdeep, the Gost family has no direct connection to it of which I'm aware.
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2905 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2007 : 10:13:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Oooh....I LIKE that....the idea of Opar, I mean. (Yes, I'm a huge ERB fan from way back, and I just yesterday finished cataloguing my 24 Tarzan novels and must get to finishing the Barsoom novels today.)
Well, we've not seen any images of Syrvissnia (or however I spelled Sythillis' wife's name) yet, so it's up to y'all to imagine her as you will.
It would not be to much of a stretch to put a city like Opar in the southern Faerun, deep inside the mountains or jungles. Some ancient people, an of-shot of either the human or ogre race cursed by the gods so that the males are brutish ogres and the females beautiful women. The males know they are intellectually and culturally inferior to their earlier forefathers and the females are doomed to both share their lives with the brutish males and be born with a cruel streak. Maybe the romantic in me could put in a way to dissolve the curse; like it being lifted the day two outsiders enters the valley and fall in love with both one of the males and the females, thereby making them equal again.
Sounds pulp enough at least, I think I will keep this idea until I can get some players into the southern lands. |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2007 : 03:53:19
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| Steven, could you tell us about the trade guilds of Amn? I'm wondering how they may differ from a European medieval guild. It seems guilds are (or can be) surprisingly powerful in Amn, and I'm wondering what some of the stongest ones might be--even if they may be ultimately controled by other interests, eg, merchant families, the Council, etc. |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2007 : 22:16:08
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The trade guilds, known in Amn as merchantile houses or companies, are briefly described on p. 12 of LoI book 2, with an even briefer listing of the five most major companies given on p. 14. While there's little info given on the individual houes, what few details are given (trade interests/assets and owners for each company) do suggest some interesting plot hooks.
For example, the most powerful mercantile house deals in land-ownership and colonies, and is known as Lathander's Estates. With a name like that, you would naturally assume them to be a fairly charitable company, most likely with ties to the church of Lathander. However, take a look at the ownership of the company: 40% Vymmals, 25% Bladesmiles. Both of these are families with evil lords. Given this fact, perhaps the name is an attempt to cover one of the company's primary sources of income: slave plantations. While a few of these plantations might be hidden away in remote locations in Amn, the majority would be in and around Amnian territory in Maztica. The Bladesmiles also specialize in mercenaries, so they have ready access to guards for such places.
Another point of note is that the Crytrappers have a minority ownership (5%) of the Rose's Bounty Food Company, a mercantile house whose controlling owners (45%) are the the Ophals. Since the two merchant families are enemies, it wouldn't be a suprise if the Crytrapper's representative in the company regularly tried to thwart the Ophal's business plans for the house. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 30 Jan 2007 22:18:39 |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2007 : 23:45:24
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| There is also things like the regular, periodic trade wars over Amn's history, the 100 year long Murann Spice War, and the Great Amnian Trade War that preceded the Thayze Selemchant and the Council of Six coming into power. These trade wars were between powerful merchant houses, essentially, which are rather like mafia families. (Then, once established, the Council of Six put the kibosh on merchant families enacting open violence against one another.) But the role of the guilds in Amn's fiercely competetive markets is kind of interesting, as they alone are able to avoid haggling and by setting fixed prices. Guilds in Amn, whether production or service oriented, cannot go on strike but they would obviously be crucial to Amn's enormous economic engine. Competition for control of them must be intense among the merchant families and the various Council offices. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
30295 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2007 : 23:58:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemernis
Steven, could you tell us about the trade guilds of Amn? I'm wondering how they may differ from a European medieval guild. It seems guilds are (or can be) surprisingly powerful in Amn, and I'm wondering what some of the stongest ones might be--even if they may be ultimately controled by other interests, eg, merchant families, the Council, etc.
I'll note also that the subject of trade guilds in Amn receive some coverage in both the Empires of the Sands supplement and the Lands of Intrigue boxed set (which is available as a free PDF download at WotC:- http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads).
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 31 Jan 2007 00:01:21 |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2007 : 22:46:43
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Steven, I've read about a hundred pages of Blackstaff, and what can I say, but, "Great oogly-mooglies!" or words to that effect? (With apologies to Grady, from "Sanford & Son.") I'm sure I'll finish the rest of it by tomorrow night. Bra...vo!
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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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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 01:27:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
Steven, I've read about a hundred pages of Blackstaff, and what can I say, but, "Great oogly-mooglies!" or words to that effect? (With apologies to Grady, from "Sanford & Son.") I'm sure I'll finish the rest of it by tomorrow night. Bra...vo!
Thanks, J. I'm glad you're enjoying the book.
You made me laugh, as these are the first oogly-mooglies I've apparently inspired. I don't recall them from Sanford & Son; I remember the term used once or twice by Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Yes, I'm a geek. Luckily, I'm hardly ever alone these days in that.
Steven
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For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1518 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 01:33:28
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Just to explain why I'll be a bit more infrequent around here the next few months....
A) I've one deadline about which I can't talk but it needs to be finished soon.
B) I'm writing a short story for an anthology that's due by month's end; details to come when I can speak of it.
C) I'm reworking an old novella and adding to it, and with some luck, I'll have it available in published form by GenCon. It'll be a holiday book, so I wanted the possibility of selling it around for a few months before Yule.
D) I'm waiting to hear on two possibilities for more novel work, which would not suck in my opinion.
E) The Lovely Sarah and I are getting married, as she accepted my proposal last week. No dates as yet, but I'll probably be hitched before Gen Con of this year.
So yeah, I've got a few irons in the fire. Thus, if it takes me a while to get back here to respond to questions, you both know why and have my apologies in advance.
Steven
who is quite happy and who's glad he got the chance for Sarah to meet Ed last year at GenCon and U-Con |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
30295 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 01:41:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
A) I've one deadline about which I can't talk but it needs to be finished soon.
B) I'm writing a short story for an anthology that's due by month's end; details to come when I can speak of it.
C) I'm reworking an old novella and adding to it, and with some luck, I'll have it available in published form by GenCon. It'll be a holiday book, so I wanted the possibility of selling it around for a few months before Yule.
D) I'm waiting to hear on two possibilities for more novel work, which would not suck in my opinion.
Which all sounds very good to my ears! 
And it sounds like I better get cracking and work through my novel backlog so I've got plenty of room for all these new bits of fiction from the Sage Schend.
quote:
E) The Lovely Sarah and I are getting married, as she accepted my proposal last week. No dates as yet, but I'll probably be hitched before Gen Con of this year.
Congratulations to both you and the Lady Sarah, friend Steven.  'Tis truly a wonderful time for you both. May the Lady of Luck continue to smile down upon you!
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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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 02 Feb 2007 01:49:20 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
24602 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 02:20:51
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
E) The Lovely Sarah and I are getting married, as she accepted my proposal last week. No dates as yet, but I'll probably be hitched before Gen Con of this year.
Congratulations to both you and the Lady Sarah, friend Steven. 'Tis truly a wonderful time for you both. May the Lady of Luck continue to smile down upon you!
I'm going to echo the Sage, here. I already congratulated you elsewhere, but I'll congratulate you again. Congratulations!
I just did a bachelor party last week, but let me know when yours is, and I'll try to make it. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 02:43:08
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Yes, congratulations Steve. |
"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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5352 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 02:47:18
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| Being happily married for over a year and a half, I must endorse the institution Steven . . . congratulations! |
"Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder."--Saint Thomas Aquinas
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Questions for Steven Schend
