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Originally posted by Ayrik

Speculating on the origins (and age) of the Shadow Weave ...

It seems to me that although Shar is credited for control of the SW, it was far more likely originally possessed by her sometimes-underling Mask Shadowlord. Constructng and maintaining a hidden Weave for his own nefarious uses seems like a fine thing for Mask to occupy himself wiith.

Methinks the SW predates the Avatar Crisis, since the Return of the Archwizards trilogy (which introduced the Shadovar to the Realms) briefly outlines a bit of backstory wherein SW-using Shadovar agents visited places like Vaasa many generations or perhaps centuries prior to Shades arrival.

I believe the SW is described within some of the Arcane Ages material (set back when Mystryl still presided over the Weave), along with various mentions of shadow magic and shadowmages, although they werent referred to by name.

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Originally posted by Ayrik

I have minor issue accepting Shar behind the inception of the Shadow Weave.

First, it's the Shadow Weave. Not, say, the Dark Weave, Black Fabric, Oblivion Tapestry, nor any other such thing. Mask isn't really the best/first choice among Faerūnian deities who might conceive of an alternate Weave construct, his obsessions with intrigue and deception and manipulation do make him a passable candidate. And thieves across Faerūn would delight in shadow magics (although, admittedly, prior to the 3E-official Shadow Weave, they did not, lol). And, of course, Mask = dominion over Shadow, duh.

Secondly, perhaps more significantly, Shar's portfolios and powers really just do not suggest to me a deity who should really possess any capability or interest in creating such a subtle, complex, and lasting thing. Post-Shadovar lore depicted Shar making use of the Shadow Weave, and Post-Spellplague lore elevated Shar's menacing stature enough for her to make a solid claim on the matter. But I still recall ye good olde AD&D days when, to be honest, Shar was just another local (small-time) evil goddess without any grand multicosmic world-shattering consequence. Although this is just unashamed first-impression bias on my part, it's not something I can easily ignore. Shar has (opportunistically?) employed "her" Shadow Weave to moderate effect - but again, why? It just doesn't seem to fit the character concept.

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Originally posted by dazzlerdal

Just put the fey'ri as another major threat to Netheril.

I can see why they were missed from the original supplement since they didnt exist when it was written, but i did a bit of checking and.

The Dlardrageths go to the High Forest around -5000 DR and create their five armouries (one of which is beneath the grandfather tree)

Siluvanede goes to war with Eaerlann and loses around -4500 DR.

Siluvanede still exists as a vassal state of Eaerlann and the fey'ri tieflings of Siluvanede retreat into hiding in the High Forest (using the four armouries of the Dlardrageths as bases - the fifth armoury known as the nameless dungeon was sealed by Eaerlann with some fey'ri in it).

The fey'ri cause a monster explosion in -2770 DR that destroys Sharrven, and they have a hand in the fall of Ascalhorn in 882 DR.

But in between that in -3533 DR the Netherese discover the Nether scrolls in one of the ruins of Aryvandaar. However the Nether Scrolls were kept originally in the Hall of Mists beneath the Grandfather Tree which Aryvandaar summoned atop the hall to stop others gaining access to it.

Now the elves (even the Vyshaan) regarded the Nether Scrolls as something so evil and powerful that none of them would touch it, so even the fey'ri who were hiding in the Hall of Mists probably wouldnt touch the scrolls.

I have the Netherese turn up, blast the fey'ri and run off with their weapons and the nether scrolls. The fey'ri now have a life long enmity against the Netherese, and elves live a long time, especially demon tainted elves.

Of course its all a bit more complicated than that, but thats the gist of the latest enemy of Netheril.

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Originally posted by The Masked Mage

I had that impression as well... probably from Savage Frontier or some similarly old source... on the region. Can't say for sure though.

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Originally posted by dazzlerdal

Unfortunately I wouldn't have been much help to you there since I only copy out the text into a big compiled document on different regions and never bother with the sources.

I had to assume that the Netheril boxed set was slightly incorrect since it mentioned a ruined building where the walls and ceilings were in use. But the Netheril boxed set seems to be always slightly incorrect which is why im rewriting it. I just need some names because i'll be damned if im going to write the word Conch into it.

I think I have everything else sorted out. I'm changing the role of some of the settlements entirely, for instance Unity is a dwarven and elven military camp set up in case of Netherese attack.

Sunrest isn't even a city enclave anymore, its a floating temple (first to Shar, then to Amaunator).

I came up with an idea for what the Seven Sigils refer to that has absolutely nothing to do with binding symbols on outer planar creatures.

I'm debating on having a giant invasion from the north in retaliation for melting the High Ice which destroys their territory.

But without names for the settlements I can't really start writing history down that involves them.

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Originally posted by ericlboyd

The Netheril boxed set is correct in placement ... "beyond the Far Forests" works.

The Netheril description is incorrect ... it should be a subterranean catacomb, methinks.


My reading of the sources, and reconciling alternate accounts:

The Nether Scrolls were found below what is now the Citadel of the Mists, which was built atop the only unplundered Dlardrageth Armory, which in turn was built amidst ancient ruins of Aryvandaar. (So an "Aryvandaaran ruin" is also correct.)

The discoverer of the Nether Scrolls was "Finder" (which I don't like) a distant descendant of Therion of Gers (not horrible) while he was an apprentice at Glaurachyndaar (which I do like) led by the nose by Arthindol (the Terraseer in the guise of a human Netherese archwizard). The scrolls were placed there by the Terraseer after he liberated them from the Hall of Mists, where they had lain for millennia.

--Eric

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Originally posted by dazzlerdal

Unfortunately I wouldn't have been much help to you there since I only copy out the text into a big compiled document on different regions and never bother with the sources.

I had to assume that the Netheril boxed set was slightly incorrect since it mentioned a ruined building where the walls and ceilings were in use. But the Netheril boxed set seems to be always slightly incorrect which is why im rewriting it. I just need some names because i'll be damned if im going to write the word Conch into it.

I think I have everything else sorted out. I'm changing the role of some of the settlements entirely, for instance Unity is a dwarven and elven military camp set up in case of Netherese attack.

Sunrest isn't even a city enclave anymore, its a floating temple (first to Shar, then to Amaunator).

I came up with an idea for what the Seven Sigils refer to that has absolutely nothing to do with binding symbols on outer planar creatures.

I'm debating on having a giant invasion from the north in retaliation for melting the High Ice which destroys their territory.

But without names for the settlements I can't really start writing history down that involves them.

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