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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Sep 2010 : 22:27:59
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| Yes, it's left to whatever the DM wants to play it. The Athar also disagree on the ''Great Unkown''. When I played the Imaskari, one of the opinions was, there is God, but it's not here and the multiverse is a near-infinitely pale reflection of it. So they searched. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2010 : 02:24:34
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If this was pointed out before, then ignore it; if not, then let me know what you think, fellow scribes.
Imaskar won this poll. But a lot, I noticed (after randomly reading some previous posts), pointed out that they voted for Imaskar because only the Imaskari had raised such powerful barrier that blocked the very gods. Now, had the Netherese been atheists or agnostic, I believe they too could have raised similar or even far stronger barrier. Only they had used ample magic to levitate gigantic mountains and turned them into cities. The spells and artifacts they fashioned, both those which were lost and those that reached the present Toril, are often alluded in several novels for their potency and intricacy. We've seen glimpses of the what the archwizards could do, and still do: Karsus, with his Avatar Spell, Lady Polaris strolling in Hell, Telamont with his near-perfect grasp and control of shadow magic, Larloch with his countless portals that rival those of Imaskar, and so on...Erecting a gods-barrier would have been more than possible if the archwizards, with their lackeys, both Netherese and hired or apprenticed non-Neth wizards, worked together.
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Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 11 Sep 2010 02:32:23 |
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althen artren
Senior Scribe
USA
780 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2010 : 04:16:51
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Frankly, I would just like to see some write ups of
Imaskeri spells just to see how to homebrew others. |
Edited by - althen artren on 12 Sep 2010 04:17:30 |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2010 : 14:22:36
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Dennis:
Well, first off, the Netherese were atheist/agnostic (leaving aside the debate on exactly which, which as a real-world atheist I find rather fascinating). The archwizards believed that the "gods" were simply other archwizards who had discovered more powerful magic, and many made it their goal to find that secret magic and become gods themselves. That's why Chronomancer died young, he refused clerical healing magic that would have saved his life, becaus he thought accepting divine magic would mean he could never ascend himself.
That said, I don't think it's possible to argue that the Netherese were stronger in magic than the Imaskari. They were also much more fragmented, with each archwizard doing his or her own thing and not working well others. We don't know much about Imaskari culture so far removed from the empire's fall, but it's clear that its wizards could work together when needed. The amount of coordination that slave raid required boggles the mind.
The closest the Netherese could come to a Godswall was the Scepter of Sorcerer Kings, which isn't very close at all. The Imaskari not only built the wall, they built it quickly, throwing it up to prevent pursuit like some god-sized caltrops. And all of that was after their population, and presumably their magical might, had been decimated by the plague.
Don't get me wrong, Netheril was a powerful empire that did a lot of incredible things. But it wasn't near Imaskar's class. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2010 : 16:33:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
Dennis:
Well, first off, the Netherese were atheist/agnostic (leaving aside the debate on exactly which, which as a real-world atheist I find rather fascinating). The archwizards believed that the "gods" were simply other archwizards who had discovered more powerful magic, and many made it their goal to find that secret magic and become gods themselves.
While this maybe true to MOST of the archwizards, I say not to all. Remember there's Selunarra whose patron deity is Selune and Shade Enclave that worships Shar, and I bet there are some others.
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
They were also much more fragmented, with each archwizard doing his or her own thing and not working well others.
That's why I think that if they were ALL agnostic – no exception – they could have worked together to raise something like a gods-barrier.
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
The closest the Netherese could come to a Godswall was the Scepter of Sorcerer Kings, which isn't very close at all.
You seem to have forgotten Karsus Avatar – the most powerful spell (in history) ever cast by a mere mortal. Had Karsus's problem not been the phaerimm but the annoying meddling of the gods, perhaps it would have taken just ONE ARCHWIZARD – KARSUS – to raise a godswall. The heavy magic that he discovered sounds like the right ingredient for it  |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 07 Oct 2010 16:38:19 |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2010 : 16:46:13
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We don't know that Karsus's Avatar was the most powerful spell in history, it's just the most powerful spell we have referenced. Since we've never had any specifics on the Imaskari, it's entirely possible (in fact probable) that they had magics just as powerful. If we look at existing 11th level spells, it's clear they aren't powerful enough to enact a godswall. That spell was likely 12th level, and likely a ritual spell requiring multiple casters (like elven high magic, or Red Wizard circle magic), based on the plural used in the references to creating it.
I don't understand your point on if they were all agnostic they would work together. That's like saying if everyone wears red hats the sun will rise in the west. The two have nothing to do with each other. The Neth archwizards didn't work together because they were a bunch of arrogant, powerful, suspicious people whose national philosophy was extreme indvidualism, at least amongst its most powerful. Their religious beliefs don't factor into it. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2010 : 17:10:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
We don't know that Karsus's Avatar was the most powerful spell in history, it's just the most powerful spell we have referenced.
I see no difference at all.
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
I don't understand your point on if they were all agnostic they would work together. That's like saying if everyone wears red hats the sun will rise in the west. The two have nothing to do with each other. The Neth archwizards didn't work together because they were a bunch of arrogant, powerful, suspicious people whose national philosophy was extreme indvidualism, at least amongst its most powerful. Their religious beliefs don't factor into it.
If the problem is extremely alarming - say, some gods worked in mysterious ways to annihilate the empire (but a couple of archwizards learned of it through powerful divination) - I say there is a BIG possibility that they would work together to protect the empire---to raise a godswall or something akin to it. I mentioned they ALL had to be agnostic to do so---otherwise it'd be pointless and ridiculous to protect themselves from the very gods they worship- at least in Selunnara and Shade Enclave's case. Besides, if the haughty and self-serving zulkirs were able to set aside their enmity and unite against a common foe - Szass Tam - I see no reason why the Netherese archwizards can't do the same. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 03 Nov 2010 01:11:09 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 11:43:19
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Something from The Shadow Stone by Richard Baker: [Highlight is mine.]
quote:
"Thousands of years ago, the Imaskari arose, first of all men to walk in this world. Unfettered by the powers and restrictions of gods, they had nothing to defy their understanding, their comprehension. The glories of Netheril and fallen Raumanthar were mere reflections of the first mages, the sorcerer lords who mastered magic in that forgotten age."
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Every beginning has an end. |
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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 13:26:37
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| Miyeritar, Uvaeren, and Eaerlann also... |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2011 : 12:07:06
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I've been perusing some old tomes...and I find Jhaamdath to be as nearly interesting as Netheril. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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stephenslate
Acolyte
24 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2011 : 06:49:42
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| i went with the choice of netheril because anyone that can can steal or magically take a gods power and leave them a mortal has got to be the top of the art, the only thing that might equal that is the binding ritual of the high magic of the elves but it does not strip the power from a god just binds them so i say hail netheril :) |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2011 : 07:14:51
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quote:
Originally posted by stephenslate
i went with the choice of netheril because anyone that can can steal or magically take a gods power and leave them a mortal has got to be the top of the art, the only thing that might equal that is the binding ritual of the high magic of the elves but it does not strip the power from a god just binds them so i say hail netheril :)
Indeed. And I must add, other than the new and expanding Reborn Netheril (of Telamont Tanthul), the Old Netheril still has its lingering effects to the practitioners of the Art in the present time. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2011 : 12:50:22
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| I voted for Aryvander for their sheer magical power and suicidal arrogance in telling every other elven kingdom to get bent at the end of the Crown wars. I wonder if a splinter faction could possibly be resurrected? And no i dont count the fev ri as Aryvandese. |
Edited by - Thauranil on 29 Dec 2011 15:15:08 |
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stephenslate
Acolyte
24 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2012 : 09:04:44
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| I am curious to one point, if a mortal can achieve divinity by having at least 200 followers and look for, and find a way to achieve it, besides being patitioned by a deity to take thus position, then any mere mortal could achieve this over time which in theory the imaskari wizards would be correct in assuming that deities were mere very powerful mortals just like the netheril archwizards believed, i might not have specified everything from the 1st ed. rules and the forgotten realms rules for divine ascension but the point is made. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2012 : 14:47:12
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I'm not sure if that's how they saw it. Some of them were aware that a few deities were not ascended mortals. I suppose their general or most common perception and attitude towards the divine beings are simply too dismissive... something like telling someone, "Your divine powers are just like my arcane abilities. Hence, I can kill you." |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2012 : 14:54:13
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I am between imaskar and Netheril, Imaskar were incredibly powerful, but netherese could steal a god power and make cities fly...... But anyways I have far more info about Netheril than about Imaskar, so perhaps I should go for them  |
"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
Sapientia sola libertas est |
Edited by - Thelonius on 10 Jan 2012 14:55:45 |
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jazirian reborn
Acolyte
Australia
10 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2012 : 07:13:58
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I picked an unusual choice of Aryselmar. The emigrated elves of the earliest Crown Wars and the losses in the south to the dark elves led to an empire in the Inner Sea from -11,000 DR to -255 DR when High magic by other elves wiped out a large cross-section of the empire.
Even with the defection of magical leaders to the Dukars , that outstrips almost all others in timeframe of sheer power.
While it could be rightly argued that the Aryselmar were the losers and refugees from the Crown Wars and the Ilythriiri , the elves left in a similar vogue to the retreat to live a more peaceful life.
Both the Imaskar and Netherese retreated from their own homelands after losing out to an avatar of gods (former) or the phaerimm (later).
The Serosians achieved almost entire ownership of all areas inside the Sharksbane wall and without the high magic used to kill off Jhaamdath , might have been the alternate Evermeet.
Netherese colonization was extermined by high magic , and sea elf magic is similar to the roles that both the Creator races AND the Crown Wars played in history , except unlike most human or gold elf empires , the end wasn't self inflicted.
While Seros is a smaller area to rule than the other picks, not angering Corellon to either banish ( dark elves ) or order executions (Vyshaan gold elves) means for me there was enough balance between arcane and divine magic to endure.
The only other comparable elven magic was obliterated by a "falling sky" , and unlike Aryselmar , Uvaeren did end.
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Owesstaer
Acolyte
Luxembourg
30 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2016 : 16:37:30
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I think the Imasakari are way too overrated! All they did was preventing the prayers to reach otherworldly gods.
Leaves us with Netheril or the elves... not much of a difference in terms of power I'd say, so it would be the way these powers are used that creates the winner. Imo the Wisdom prize goes to the elves, so: Aryvandaar (after all, they nuked the other contestant Miyertar)
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2016 : 18:24:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Owesstaer
I think the Imasakari are way too overrated! All they did was preventing the prayers to reach otherworldly gods.
They didn't stop the prayers, they actually blocked those deities from being able to come to the aid of those praying to them.
The Imaskari didn't just tell the gods where to stick it, they slammed the door in the deities' faces, and the deities in question couldn't do anything about that. |
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Lost Empires of Faerun
