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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 17:41:48
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Here's a link to a tale I posted today on my Patreon account. It's a public post, so everyone can read it. I'm sharing it here because you might notice a slight similarity between Lord Thaine and another elf we know and love. :).
I post montly writing articles and the occasional free story, so you don't need to be a Patron to read stuff on my account (unless, of course, you WANT to be..." If you're interested in getting notices of new posts, stories, and articles, you can "follow" my account without subscribing.
Hope you'll read the tale.
Best,
ec
https://www.patreon.com/posts/wolves-and-21768989
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Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 01 Oct 2018 17:44:56
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Demzer
Senior Scribe
873 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 19:48:06
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| Beautiful and a pleasure to read, as always. Many thanks for sharing! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 20:31:17
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Interesting. This kind of implies that our Lord Thaile is wolfkin, not a regular elf. That would be an interesting reason for his rejection by a magical blade that only regular elves could inherit.
One would assume, though, given his parentage, that your Lord Thaile had both types of blood, though more "wolfkin" than regular elf.
Having something of the wolf in him does make sense, though, for a similar elf we all know and love, because his "serpent"-like nature could just as readily be described as lupine. He's certainly got many of the features oft associated with wolves. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3736 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 22:51:21
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| -I honestly don't remember and all of my books are packed up. Elaith was rejected by the moonblade...why? Basically, it sensed in him the latent evil that would manifest in in him after being rejected by it and judged him unworthy as a result? |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2018 : 03:53:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-I honestly don't remember and all of my books are packed up. Elaith was rejected by the moonblade...why? Basically, it sensed in him the latent evil that would manifest in in him after being rejected by it and judged him unworthy as a result?
I felt it was because Elaith was not, for a long time, his own person -- he was basically who he thought he was expected to be. Elaith looked for the role he was expected to fulfill, concentrated on fulfilling it, and never thought about moving beyond that role. He seemed incapable of realizing that he could be more than just that role. In short, he lacked the mental flexibility to chart a course beyond the expectations of others, and to grow as a person. It's only when he is actively striving to be more and thinking beyond the expected role that he's able to reawaken his moonblade. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2018 : 13:29:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I felt it was because Elaith was not, for a long time, his own person -- he was basically who he thought he was expected to be. Elaith looked for the role he was expected to fulfill, concentrated on fulfilling it, and never thought about moving beyond that role. He seemed incapable of realizing that he could be more than just that role. In short, he lacked the mental flexibility to chart a course beyond the expectations of others, and to grow as a person. It's only when he is actively striving to be more and thinking beyond the expected role that he's able to reawaken his moonblade.
Good observations. Also, sometimes the magic of the sword simply wasn't compatible with the abilities of the wielder. It's not necessarily a case of "unworthyy." A scholarly elf without much in the way of weapons training is not going to inherit a warrior's sword. In most cases, the history of a sword is well known by the potential heirs, and they can make an informed choice about whether to claim it or hold it in trust for another elf whose skills better suit the powers in the sword.
Elaith was a baby when Craulnober Keep was destroyed. He didn't have the preparation most moonblade heirs enjoyed. Histories and legends give a general idea of what any given blade can do, and Elaith trained as a warrior and a mage in preparation. No one had any reason to suspect that there might be some other factor in play--except, perhaps, a certain fey woman and the old northerner who, for undisclosed reasons, was unable to speak out. So when Elaith attempted to claim the blade and failed, he assumed that his failure spoke to some deep and fundamental flaw, a sign that he was "unworthy."
That was a paradigm shift for him, a moment that changed the course of his life. For several decades, Elaith's driving force was a bitter self-loathing that, all too often, expressed itself in ruthlessness, even cruelty. People tend to make decisions based on their self-concept. If he was a "bad elf," by the gods, he was going to be GOOD at being bad...
He comes full circle, in a way, in the short story "Redemption" in the anthology Realms of War when he realized that he can provide a unique and important service to the elven people by doing things no "good elf" should have to do. It was a bittersweet revelation, at best, but he is at peace with it.
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Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 02 Oct 2018 13:30:04 |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2382 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2018 : 20:44:00
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Great!
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-I honestly don't remember and all of my books are packed up. Elaith was rejected by the moonblade...why?
See also the previous answer, in the proper thread for questions. |
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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Fineva
Seeker
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2018 : 23:37:26
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| Wonderful story! |
I" am Sathia of Orogoth |
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Renin
Learned Scribe
USA
290 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2018 : 20:57:56
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| Thank you for spending the time on a story like this to share! |
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Misereor
Learned Scribe
164 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2018 : 10:19:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I felt it was because Elaith was not, for a long time, his own person -- he was basically who he thought he was expected to be. Elaith looked for the role he was expected to fulfill, concentrated on fulfilling it, and never thought about moving beyond that role. He seemed incapable of realizing that he could be more than just that role. In short, he lacked the mental flexibility to chart a course beyond the expectations of others, and to grow as a person. It's only when he is actively striving to be more and thinking beyond the expected role that he's able to reawaken his moonblade.
There was a line, I think it was in the first book, that went something like:
"It is not enough to know the rules. You must also know when to break them."
It explained Elaith's failure and has besides been one of my favorite quotes ever since. :)
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What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder, stronger, in a later edition. |
Edited by - Misereor on 15 Oct 2018 10:20:33 |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2018 : 12:27:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Misereor
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I felt it was because Elaith was not, for a long time, his own person -- he was basically who he thought he was expected to be. Elaith looked for the role he was expected to fulfill, concentrated on fulfilling it, and never thought about moving beyond that role. He seemed incapable of realizing that he could be more than just that role. In short, he lacked the mental flexibility to chart a course beyond the expectations of others, and to grow as a person. It's only when he is actively striving to be more and thinking beyond the expected role that he's able to reawaken his moonblade.
There was a line, I think it was in the first book, that went something like:
"It is not enough to know the rules. You must also know when to break them."
It explained Elaith's failure and has besides been one of my favorite quotes ever since. :)
Thank you! This comes from "The More Things Change," a story in the anthology Realms of Infamy. It was reprinted in the collection Best of the Realms Book III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham., aka the only Realms book with a neon lime green cover.  |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2018 : 12:29:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Having something of the wolf in him does make sense, though, for a similar elf we all know and love, because his "serpent"-like nature could just as readily be described as lupine. He's certainly got many of the features oft associated with wolves.
I've noticed that. |
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