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 The Legacy of the Magelords of Athalantar...
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aaron0f0akland
Acolyte

USA
3 Posts

Posted - 19 Nov 2014 :  02:16:32  Show Profile Send aaron0f0akland a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
I'm beginning to create a story for my players that will start at first level and hopefully lead them into much higher levels. (AD&D 2e) It is going to start with the characters being from Daggerford in 1367, as the year reaches it's close and winter sets in.
I'm hoping to create a series of events that start small but tie together toward some person or entity or group assembling powerful somethings that are remnants of the magelords of Athalantar.
I'm assuming at this time that Secomber is still a small, somewhat fortified outpost, just seeing the first of it's Waterdhavian investments form something resembling civilization. (does this sound right?) Little do most know that this is the former site of Hastarl, etc.
So obviously these star-gazing upstarts in Daggerford get drawn in by some small but dangerous event that, under further investigation, leads them one step further toward their first piece of the puzzle. I'm picturing some kind of "find the 12 keys of mystery before Lord Evilguy and his minions" sort of thing. Obviously that's an oversimplification, but hopefully you get the idea.
Any helpful pieces of lore about the surrounding areas or items of intrigue would be quite helpful, as well as general tips about the realms that I may be overlooking.
THANKS! :D

George Krashos
Master of Realmslore

Australia
6638 Posts

Posted - 19 Nov 2014 :  04:05:09  Show Profile Send George Krashos a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Involve the malaugrym. The magelord Undarl was actually Malaug himself, the "father" of the malaugrym.

-- George Krashos

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

USA
403 Posts

Posted - 19 Nov 2014 :  09:46:35  Show Profile Send SaMoCon a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Interesting. In my game I have the PCs hot on the heels of a tomb looter (looter/archeologist, it's such a fine line between). I have a compilation of notes they seized when they nearly caught him unaware in his own camp. Let's see what I have specifically relating to the magelords. (Items in bold are notes created by my NPC and as such are original content not to be trusted as game lore)
quote:
Belaur: The physically powerful eldest son, this bellowing bully seized power after Uthgraels death by doing the bidding of mages he befriended; they became known as the Magelords and ruled Athalantar until defeated by Myrjala and Elminster, who slew Belaur (in 240 DR) and crowned Helm Stoneblade king of Athalantar. Belaur was the most warlike and best trained of the princes, and his father’s favorite. Unlike Uthgrael, he had a hot temper, a cruel streak, a lack of wisdom, and others easily manipulated him. Born in 189 DR, he proclaimed himself king in 218 DR and reigned until 240 DR.

Elthaun: Born in 190 DR, Elthaun was a soft-spoken, two-faced master manipulator who had to flee the realm for his life in 219 DR. Belaur’s mages found and slew him in a city in Calimshan later that year.

Cauln: A sour, suspicious, and secretive man, Cauln turned to magecraft when very young. Born in 191 DR, he proved to be a natural at wielding magic and grew rapidly in power but he was baited into spell-battle and slain in 217 DR by a Calishite wizard, Rhanghaun of Almraiven, who had been hired by his brother Elthaun. Cauln was reputed to have black clouds.

Elthryn: This prince was a calm, peaceful, just man, one who was happier among farmers than courtiers. Born in 192 DR, he was always a sensitive, caring person who showed no taste for the intrigues and ambition of his brothers. When Elthryn retired to the outlying village of Heldon, Uthgrael gave him the Lion Sword, a long sword with magical powers that had never left the kings hand until then. Some saw this act as the kings appointing Elthryn true heir to the Stag Throne. In Heldon, Elthryn married a forester’s daughter, Amrythale Goldsheaf, in 210 DR. Both were slain in the destruction of Heldon under the breath of the draco-steed ridden by the archmage Undarl when he first appeared in Athalantar in 224 DR to make a name for himself. The Lion Swords powers were broken (as was the blade itself) by the dragonfire, but most sages agree that it could absorb lightning-spells (and probably some other magics) directed at its wielder.

Othglas: This brother, born in 193 DR, was fat, jolly, and food loving from his earliest days. A glutton and poisoner, he used deadly wine and food additives to thin the ranks of the Athalantan court, advancing his own supporters. When Belaur’s mages made it clear they knew what he was up to, and threatened to have him arrested and put to death for it, Othglas turned to worship of Malar for protection, moving to outlying Dalniir (in 219 DR) and joining the Huntsmen there. The Magelords turned him into a boar during a hunt, and he was slain by his own men in 220 DR.

Felodar: From his birth in 194 DR, this brother was restless in Athalantar, and had no love for the realm or his family. He saw wealth as a way of acquiring power that had nothing to do with the Aumar name, and he became obsessed with amassing wealth. Leaving the realm in 214 DR, he established a base in Calimshan. Once there, he fostered trade between Calimshan and Athalantar, and between the Realm of the Stag and everywhere else, pleasing his father very much. Uthgrael would have been less enthusiastic had he known that Felodar was enriching himself by trading in slaves, contraband, and dark magic. Ultimately, Felodar achieved much power in Calimshan through intrigues and the efforts of his hired gang of thieves, agents, killers, and mages, and sent mages to Athalantar to take control of the realm for him. Dubbed the night mages because they hid by day and worked in the hours of darkness, they struggled against Belaur’s Magelords but were ultimately unsuccessful. Although Felodar remained a threat to Belaur’s rule for most of the time the eldest prince sat on the Stag Throne, he died of poison administered by a local Calishite rival late in the year 239 DR, though his death did not become known in Athalantar until 241 DR.

Nrymm: The youngest prince of Athalantar was timid and frail. Born in 195 DR, he was raised by women of the court after the queens death, and he disappeared in 220 DR. Magelord records indicate that he was turned into an otyugh by the Magelords, then kept in the middens of Athalgard, the royal castle in Hastarl, so they had another blood heir of Uthgrael in their power, should anything happen to Belaur. Nrymm was slain in otyugh form in 238 DR by one of Felodars mages, in a successful attempt to draw one of the Magelords into a trap under the castle, so he could be slain alone.

There is one other prince of Athalantar mentioned in histories and ballads who was not of Aumar blood. The only war-leader Belaur could trust once the Magelords were firmly in control was the mercenary Gartos, and Belaur made him a prince of the realm so he outranked minor Magelords and could carry out Belaur’s will without hindrance or petty harassments. He was slain in Narthil in 234 DR.

Art Wielders of Athalantar
Shandrath: Widely known across Faerun as the Wyrmhumbler for the many dragons he slew or magically tamed in his youth, Shandrath was the most powerful wizard to dwell in the Realm of the Stag. He came to Athalantar only in the twilight of his days, and folk there usually referred to him as Old Shandrath. Over 70 years of age when Uthgrael died, Shandrath was a short, stooped, and crippled man whose twisted body was supported by a knobby stick. He stumped around in constant pain, preferring the solitude of Wyrm Tower to the company of others. He cared about the stability of Athalantar and regarded Elthryn as the best of a bad lot. Unbeknownst to the fourth prince, Shandrath watched over him in Heldon. The Wyrmhumbler used his scrying glass and spells to learn what he could of the plans of the other princes, then sent forth spells to thwart them. Belaur’s mages regarded him as their most formidable foe, and tried to keep their deeds and true power largely hidden until they could strike at him in a massed spell-attack on Wyrm Tower in 222 DR. The attack shattered the Tower and destroyed Shandrath, leaving the unwitting Elthryn vulnerable. Darkness and stars are Shandrath’s traits. Must check on Heldon’s location.

Theskyn: The court mage of Athalantar was an old friend and trusted servant of the Stag King. He tutored Cauln and many magelings sent to Hastarl by the outlying knights of the realm. He died soon after Uthgrael in 217 DR, poisoned by Belaur’s agents. Theskyn was stout, short-tempered, and gray-bearded, with a long, hooked nose covered with warts (a likeness remembered in sayings like, By Theskyns warts!). He disliked magical items and is said to have hidden away scores of them, all over the realm, to hew down cowardly reliance on the stored magical might of others. Theskyn’s weave was of raptors on the wing. Matched description at Torstultok.

The Night Mages
Here are the mightiest of Felodars Sendings, the wizards sent into Athalantar by Prince Felodar; they either perished at the hands of Belaur’s Magelords or joined their ranks.

Maulygh: This cruel man was driven by ambition. A master wizard of Unther, he joined the Magelords (perhaps intending to betray them), but perished at the hands of the Magister at a dinner in Hastarl in 229 DR. Black and White chasers mark his magic. Pernicious?

Nathgarl: A close-mouthed, careful wizard of Unther, apprentice to Maulygh. Always looking over his shoulder for treachery. He was slain by senior Magelords soon after Maulyghs death, who suspected him of somehow causing his masters fall perhaps only the first step in eliminating them all. Unknown. Unclear, smell of burning wood… sweet & pungent? Hickory! Why a crystal key?

Orthalar: This mage from distant Calimport was known as Orthalar of the Winds because of his mastery of magic that hurled wind as a weapon. Even more paranoid than Nathgarl, Orthalar always cloaked himself in contingency magics and multiple teleport escape spells. Such precautions helped him survive at least three concerted Magelord attempts to slay him. In the end, he lured five Magelords to their doom, trapping them in the cellars of his house in Hastarl, but very likely perished with them. Nothing was heard of him after 240 DR. The weave is golden rays and whippoorwill calls. Imristar, not Hastarl.

The Magelords of Athalantar were hated and feared tyrants invited into Athalantar by Belaur, to help him seize the throne. All the best histories more or less echo the writings of Urdan of Launtok on the eldest prince of Athalantar: He ruled by means of his Magelords, cruel outlanders who in the end came to rule him. Although there were 30 to 40 minor magelings or apprentices in the lesser ranks of the Magelords at all times between about 219 DR to 240 DR, the individuals named hereafter were all wizards that separated themselves from the rest. Those who survived to 240 DR were without exception powerful arcanists. They are listed in rough order of descending historical importance.

Undarl: Known as the Dragonrider for his preferred mode of battle, Undarl rose to become the self-styled Mage Royal and the real ruler of the kingdom. No one knew where he was born. He was a late addition to the Magelords, arriving on dragonback and destroying Heldon (and Prince Elthryn) to prove himself. Some histories tell of Undarl being a Scaly One while others say he was a pawn of an unrevealed power. What is known is that he died in battle with Elminster. Undarl’s art appears as roaring dragons. The tower SW of Secomber is not, nor was it ever, Undarl's Tower. Book attributed are certainly not his. Across the river?

Ubriien Orlyn: The first Mage Royal of Athalantar, this cruel and quick-witted man dominated Neldryn and all of the other mages Belaur recruited. He took to scouting the lands around Athalantar in disguise, to learn their strengths and weaknesses and what magic could be stolen from them. He disappeared and was presumed dead; the other Magelords never learned his fate. Failure to divine. Unknown.

Neldryn Hawklyn: A haughty, thin man who hailed from the lands that became Chessenta, he was the leader of Belaur’s original recruits, and after the mysterious disappearance of Ubriien, became the most powerful Magelord, the mage royal of Athalantar. He died at the hands of the Magister when he dared to summon Mystras Servant to a dinner in Hastarl, in 229 DR. He overconfidently intended to use a Netherese magical item, the Crystal Chain of Binding (a transparent metal or glass chain that flies under the mental direction of a controlling being and prevents all use of magic by any being imprisoned in its coils), to defeat the Magister and take his place. Undarl moved swiftly to seize day-to-day command of the Magelords after Hawklyn’s death, also taking his title of Mage Royal. Said to animate the item?

Ithboltar: The Old One was an early tutor of Neldryn Hawklyn and followed his pupil to Athalantar at Neldryn’s request. By far the most magically capable of the Magelords, Ithboltar tutored almost all of the ambitious wizards who joined their ranks. He preferred to keep behind the scenes and was careful to gain magical holds over all the mages he trained, and to make himself their refuge, counselor, and rescuer. WIthboltar forcibly summoned all surviving nearby mage-lords of power to battle Elminster. In the clash that followed (in 240 DR), Athalgard was shattered and all of the Magelords except Undarl perished. Master of black manipulations. Hands of black is his flavor of weave magic.

Ildryn Thallin: A sly, oily Magelord, adept at manipulation, avoiding foes, and verbal diplomacy. It was said in Hastarl that Ildryn listens at every door in Athalantar and knows whenever coins change hands and for what. He perished in the spell-battle in Athalgard. Contingencies he had set to follow his death wreaked much havoc around Sarn Torel, where his tower stood. This is the rookery of the East!

Hulzimmer Atharn: This studious, quiet mage dwelt in the backlands of northern Athalantar. He specialized in magic that transformed men into monsters, or at least gained for mages a semblance of beast-powers. Many folk who had committed crimes or merely displeased a Magelord were given into his hands for use in his magical experiments; the lucky ones survived for years in stable beast-shapes. Hulzimmer tried to befriend the elves of the High Forest to learn their secrets of taking dragonshape. He was rebuffed and turned to futile attempts to worm information on dragon-mastery from Shandrath. Hulzimmer perished in the destruction of Wyrm Tower, in 222 DR. Failure to divine. Unk.

Seldinor Stormcloak: A tall, charismatic Magelord with an eye for the ladies, Seldinor took himself across the realm on consort-gathering vacations whenever he grew restless, but he spent the rest of his days working on golems and the handling of other enchanted creatures created or augmented by magic. Elminster and Myrjala caused his death in 240 DR.

Kadeln Olothstar: Fancying himself the war-leader of Athalantar, he spent his time driving the troops into the lands around including repeated forays into the High Forest to eliminate all the outlaws, rebels, and strong neighbors he could, ostensibly for the good of the realm. Many soldiers were whipped, tortured, or slain on his orders. Kadeln set himself up as their judge and trainer. His fellow Magelords let him have his way. In 240 DR he was slain in battle against Elminster and Myrjala. Simple signature of yellow glow. A Floshin relic has this mark.

Taraj Hurlymm: An expert in the ways of beasts, Taraj hailed from far Murghom and was an avid hunter. To indulge his love of taking beast-shape and stalking men and women as if they were prey, he took over governance of outlying Dalniir for the Magelords and was eventually slain on a hunt in 240 DR. Effervescent flashing. Halangorn Uplands has had significant artifacts.

Malanthor Drymm: A proud and cruel mage of Calimshan, Malanthor was much given to the use of perfumes (and sneers), and his forked black beard and long waxed moustaches were much in evidence at the best parties in Hastarl, where he fascinated the ladies as the epitome of culture and sophistication. History shows Malanthor to be involved in all courtly affairs public and private. Summoned to battle by Ithboltar in 240 DR, he died in the collapse of the Old Ones’ tower in Athalgard. Red clouds and minty taste. Very few artifacts. Complete set of books at Candlekeep is paltry. Maybe lazy?

Alarashan Tlor: Tlor the Faceless, Seldinor dubbed him. His surviving library showed Alarashan liked to keep track of the names, skills, and activities of mercenaries and adventurers operating in or near Athalantar. To what end is unknown. Forcibly summoned by Ithboltar, he perished in the spell-battle in Athalgard, in 240 DR. The smell of rain and running water. The known books written by Tlor show no research, speculation, or magical content. Then, where?

Janath Rendaer: One of the original mages hired by Belaur, the pranksome, sarcastic Janath was the only Magelord to befriend any of the Athalantan knights or armsmen, who saw in him a gruff fellow cynic just trying to stay alive in the midst of a nest of spell-hurling vipers. He perished in the assault on Wyrm Tower in 222 DR. Traditional fire and brimstone.

Belargh Thulin: This minor Magelord was an unambitious, lazy, cruel sensualist who devoted his time to romancing all women who came within range of his eye (and his magical compulsions) in rural Ambletrees. Belargh was notable for his collection of gems and other valuables taken from ladies and the cache of Netherese magical items he brought with him to Athalantar from an earlier adventuring career (a cache never found after his death, and rumored yet to lie beyond an invisible door that floated in midair somewhere in Ambletrees). He was slain by a courtier in 234 DR. Divination blocked, try the crone later.

Briost Elthauryn: One of the most dangerous Magelords, known for his quick-witted cunning and clever traps. He liked to travel Athalantar and the lands around as an envoy for the Magelords, and he was a favorite of Ithboltar. He perished in the spell-battle in Athalgard in 240 DR. Black? That’s it? Black?!?

Nasarn the Hooded: The oldest and most experienced of the Magelords after Ithboltar, Nasarn was a rival to the Mage Royal. On several occasions, overconfident Magelords tried to take advantage of the secluded locales where he liked to teach to destroy him and seize his magic. He slew all of them, transforming their bodies into stone statues and putting them in a walled garden in his country house near Jander. His fate is not recorded but he was not seen in the kingdom of Athalantar after 240 DR. Unknown. Follow on this at Rookery.

Eth Junster: Known as Stoneclaw because he slew an umber hulk when young and the histories show he afterward had the same stone-rending claws it had boasted. Eth devised many spells in his brief life and showed a gift for the art. He was slain by Elmara at Narthil in 234 DR. Green balefire bow and arrows. Arcanulum and grimoires are in Candlekeep but his journal disappeared with his servant after his death.

Chantlarn Iyrmerr: This capable Magelord kept to himself and amassed magical items. He was forcibly summoned to the spell-battle (in 240 DR) in Ithboltars tower in Athalgard, he was slain there. For an arcanist so interested in weave items he did not make many. Flowering and wilting of roses.

Make the best use of the system that's there, then modify the mechanics that don't allow you to have the fun you are looking for.

Edited by - SaMoCon on 19 Nov 2014 09:47:39
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 19 Nov 2014 :  13:53:31  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
A campaign centered around Athalantar you say?

Why... how very interesting. How very interesting indeed.

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone

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TBeholder
Great Reader

2376 Posts

Posted - 19 Nov 2014 :  17:39:48  Show Profile Send TBeholder a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Mostly, it's going to be an exercise at resisting the "lame fanfic" trend of blowing stuff out of proportion.

People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch
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aaron0f0akland
Acolyte

USA
3 Posts

Posted - 20 Nov 2014 :  00:23:43  Show Profile Send aaron0f0akland a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Thanks SaMoCon. That's a lot of really helpful info to pull from. :D
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore

1842 Posts

Posted - 20 Nov 2014 :  09:14:54  Show Profile Send The Arcanamach a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Good stuff SaMoCon.

And TBeholder, I just read that article. The guy may be right, but the various ST series are still awesome and he can take a hike.

I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one.
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SaMoCon
Senior Scribe

USA
403 Posts

Posted - 20 Nov 2014 :  12:15:24  Show Profile Send SaMoCon a Private Message  Reply with Quote
If I am not mistaken, the original article from which I pulled those notes was up somewhere on the Candlekeep website. It was part of a much larger piece about Athalantar as a nation with its history and cultural references. I invite the original sage who compiled that information forward to take the bow and praise due.

Make the best use of the system that's there, then modify the mechanics that don't allow you to have the fun you are looking for.
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Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3285 Posts

Posted - 21 Nov 2014 :  03:35:23  Show Profile Send Brimstone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Dragon Magazine #228 has info on Athalantar.

"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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aaron0f0akland
Acolyte

USA
3 Posts

Posted - 27 Nov 2014 :  06:49:27  Show Profile Send aaron0f0akland a Private Message  Reply with Quote
So here is what I have so far. I definitely took a lot of liberties with details of the magelord's ranks, but it works for me. This is just a write up to inspire me along the long road of encounters and adventures, and to help me keep my eyes on the overall goal when the story starts to get disjointed or overly complicated.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kPEMgzs3nNB10U5ZWNBtlXpGaI6g1wdwPER9lnbQE7U/pub
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