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Skeptic
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1273 Posts

Posted - 10 Mar 2005 :  14:22:42  Show Profile Send Skeptic a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic

In the North box set, it is said : "In fact, anyone
who doesn't appear to be pure human can expect to be slain on
sight
"

But.. In a "recent" article on WOTC website about a Moonstar portal in Luskan, they talk of a LG dwarven semi-retired avendurer that run a shop there and take a look to the activities of the Arcane Brotherhood for the Moonstars.

I read the article first, and tough about having my player's to get rid of the dwarf, probably by giving some info about him to the Arcane Brotherhood, but... it's seems there is something strange here.

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 10 Mar 2005 :  15:54:52  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I vaguely remember the article in question, and without having re-read it, I would assume that this is likely an inconsistency between editions of FR fluff.

At the very least, I would say that you're free to choose which ever interpretation of Luskan law suits your current campaign.

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"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1272 Posts

Posted - 10 Mar 2005 :  23:58:27  Show Profile  Visit DDH_101's Homepage Send DDH_101 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Skeptic, well we know this is incorrect, as the Drizzt and his friends have visited Luskan on many occasions. In fact, in Streams of Silver, when they were relatively unknown, the Luskan guards didn't even shoot them down with crossbows. If a drow can enter the city, I don't think a dwarf should have much problem at all.

"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask
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Skeptic
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1273 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  00:33:55  Show Profile Send Skeptic a Private Message  Reply with Quote

Yeah.. I tough about Drizzt so I have take a look into all my 2E stuff, (and cleaned a bit of dirt) and many source book (volo's guide to the north, savage frontier, etc..) say like The north box set. Luskan is a HUMAN ONLY!!! city killing all non-humans on sight.

Maybe Salvatore just ignored this extreme fact.. ?
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader

USA
7106 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  02:45:12  Show Profile  Visit Rinonalyrna Fathomlin's Homepage Send Rinonalyrna Fathomlin a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Even if Drizzt disguised himself in Luskan (I don't remember for a fact if he did), I don't recall Bruenor hiding the fact he was a dwarf while in that city, and no one accosted him or tried to kill him specifically because of his race.

Perhaps this is a mere inconsistancy.

"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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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1272 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  03:09:23  Show Profile  Visit DDH_101's Homepage Send DDH_101 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Still, it seems kinda hard for Luskan to be a human-only city, especially in that region of Faerun. I suspect that the influence of the Lord's Alliance and other powerful characters made the government of Luskan change their views.

"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  04:48:22  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Why is it so hard?

Remember, Luskan had its roots in Illusk, and the original founders of that center of civilisation in the North were always afraid of predatory attacks and raids from both sentient and non-sentient creatures that resided around them. Orcs, ogres, drow... They're all there. It's likely that such a mindset never completely disappeared even after Luskan rose to prominence.

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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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-- 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
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1272 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  05:09:29  Show Profile  Visit DDH_101's Homepage Send DDH_101 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sage; orcs, ogres, and drow I can understand because of their reputation. However, elves and dwarves have always had cordial relationship with human settlements in that area. The humans have always respected elven magic and dwarven crafted weapons and traded regularly for them. I can accept the City of Sails giving harsher treatments to non-humans or not letting them into the city, but it doesn't seem very likely to have ALL non-humans killed on sight without reason.

"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  05:32:38  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Killing non-humans on sight is an extreme example, I agree. But the humans of Luskan have an inbred degree of superiority when it comes to dealing or relating with ALL non-human races... a trait most likely inherited from the Netherse refugees who resided in Illusk (and later early Luskan) early in the region's past.

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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 11 Mar 2005 05:33:22
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1272 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  05:51:42  Show Profile  Visit DDH_101's Homepage Send DDH_101 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
But even the Netherese did not kill non-humans on sight. While they did not exactly become the best of friends with them, they would not attack an elf just because he wasn't human.

Wouldn't such a policy be bad for political and economic relationship with nearby cities? I mean, Luskan would most likely trade with Mirabar for fine weapons as they are quite nearby each other but then like half the city is populated by dwarves. Then there's cities like Waterdeep and Silverymoon, where a percentage of its population are non-humans. I'm sure they would complain about such a policy.

"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore

Australia
6648 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  06:26:00  Show Profile Send George Krashos a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I think the description in The North boxed set has to be read in the light of the Luskanite mindset. The place is corrupt, filled with power players and greed/avarice for wealth, power overrule everything. Hence, if you are a non-human but are a person of interest to the High Captains, the Arcane Brotherhood, a rich merchant of the city, etc. then your presence will be tolerated.

If you are a non-human 'nobody' then you might be fair game for anyone who decides that the ancient Shoon sport of elf hunting should be brought back.

-- George Krashos

"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus
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EvilKnight
Learned Scribe

USA
162 Posts

Posted - 11 Mar 2005 :  15:28:54  Show Profile  Visit EvilKnight's Homepage Send EvilKnight a Private Message  Reply with Quote
This actually came up 11 March 2005 (today) - This should clear it up:

http://www.candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3684&whichpage=20

EvilKnight
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cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 16 Feb 2020 :  23:28:30  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Learned Scribe EvilKnight,

Do you, or anyone else in this scroll, have an active URL for that? I'd love to read it!

Best regards,




quote:
Originally posted by EvilKnight

This actually came up 11 March 2005 (today) - This should clear it up:

http://www.candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3684&whichpage=20

EvilKnight


Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
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cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 16 Feb 2020 :  23:38:33  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Master Skeptic,

I think the brass tacks of this boils down to a few things:

  • Might equals right: no one in their right mind is going to go toe to toe with Drizzt, et alia, and even if they didn't know who they are, you have to have some balls to roll in to town with a Drow, a Dwarf, and a Hin when the sign says do not enter. That would give most pause I feel, or, they die. lol
  • The other thing to consider is how politics have shaped things at WotC over the years from 1996 to 2005.


The "reality" of things is that of course intolerance, abuse, and all sorts of nasty stuff makes a world what it is: realistic, sadly. They've been moving that out of their products for a while now which I can understand why they are doing so, but you would never see them put something in a product now days that shows any semblance of intolerance in even the smallest amount. Hell, I think they probably have Manshoon and Elminster as friends to not have conflict anymore. ;)

Best regards,




quote:
Originally posted by Skeptic


In the North box set, it is said : "In fact, anyone
who doesn't appear to be pure human can expect to be slain on
sight
"

But.. In a "recent" article on WOTC website about a Moonstar portal in Luskan, they talk of a LG dwarven semi-retired avendurer that run a shop there and take a look to the activities of the Arcane Brotherhood for the Moonstars.

I read the article first, and tough about having my player's to get rid of the dwarf, probably by giving some info about him to the Arcane Brotherhood, but... it's seems there is something strange here.


Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
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lookatroopa
Acolyte

Netherlands
38 Posts

Posted - 17 Feb 2020 :  00:43:25  Show Profile Send lookatroopa a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2

Learned Scribe EvilKnight,

Do you, or anyone else in this scroll, have an active URL for that? I'd love to read it!

Best regards,

EvilKnight


Here you go: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3684&whichpage=20

Appears that the URL format changed from "candlekeep.com/forum" to "forum.candlekeep.com" at some point.
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cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 17 Feb 2020 :  01:50:50  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Acolyte lookatroopa,

Fantastic! Thank you greatly! I love those answers from the Old Mage himself.

Best regards,




quote:
Originally posted by lookatroopa

quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2

Learned Scribe EvilKnight,

Do you, or anyone else in this scroll, have an active URL for that? I'd love to read it!

Best regards,

EvilKnight


Here you go: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3684&whichpage=20

Appears that the URL format changed from "candlekeep.com/forum" to "forum.candlekeep.com" at some point.


Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
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