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T O P I C    R E V I E W
Markustay Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 00:49:19
I compiled this about two weeks ago and posted it over at WotC, but I figure I should post it here as well. It is a reference to every 100% fact we have been told about the new Realms, and I tried to keep conjecture to a bare minimum. Mind you, the following DOES contain spoilers to some novels, so be forewarned!

Also, this is NOT a discussion thread, so please keep comments to a minimum. If you need to ask where a certain piece of information is from, that is fine, but please DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!

Disclaimer: This information is based on the last known condition of each entry, and could change as of 1479 DR: 4th Edition.

Regions
Faerûn Proper:

Aglarond - Something happens to the Simbul (missing), Portal to Feywild in the Yuirwood, otherwise unknown
Akanûl - New nation of Genasi in Chondath, Airspur is capital
Altumbel - Unknown
Amn - Almost no changes, except for loss of Maztican colonies
Anauroch - Shade Empire asserts more control, desert begins to recede
Baldur's Gate - City has grown exponentially, a major interacial metropolis
Border Kingdoms - Unknown
Calimshan - Unknown
Chessenta - Western portion same as Chondath, replaced with Abeiran land of Shyr, a kingdom of Genasi
Chondath - Becomes the 'Changing Lands', with Earthmotes and morphing terrain. Chondath's free-floating earthmotes have been claimed by Air gensai and call their nation Akanûl. The capital is called Airspur. According to the LFR writing director they are having trouble along the border with Tymanther.
.. Chondalwood - a confusion of ravines and floating junglemotes, some sailing free, others webbed to lower jungle regions by thick vines and vegetation.
Chult - broken off from continent, most likely an island chain
Cormanthor - Kingdom of Elves
Cormyr - grows into an empire, and extends control east and south
.. Helmlands - Still Wild Magic, but it has grown and is filled with "towering Redwoods"*
.. Farsea Swamp - Swamps have become one, and are filled with Batrachi ruins
.. Hullack Forest - Claimed by the Eldreth Veluuthra (?!)
.. Realm of Wailing Fog - A mist-shrouded region between the Thunderpeaks and Hullack Forest
.. Thunderpeaks - It appears Mountains of Glass now connect the northern part of the range with the southern
Dalelands - Still exist, but somehow seperate within the confines of Cormanthor
Damara - Unknown (possible tie to Bahamut)
Dambrath - Unknown; disruption of the Underdark Drow
Dragon Coast - Unknown
Elturgard - A new political entity to the west of Cormyr
Erlkazar - Unknown, attacked by 'flying fortress' sometime between 3e-4e
Evermeet - Unknown, but something is definately happening here (NDAs mentioned)
Great Dale - Unknown
Great Rift - Still there, but has suffered somewhat
Halruaa - Gone, massive magical backlash destroys the region, but some survive and become mercenaries
Hartsvale - Unknown, but changes in giants means changes here, most likely
High Forest - Unknown
High Moor - Unknown as of 1479 DR, but most likely a 'city' will be there
Hordelands - Unknown, still no word on the fairly new Kingdom of Yaïmmunahar
Impiltur - Unknown
Lake of Mists (Raumathari) - Unknown
Lake of Steam - Unknown
Lantan - Unknown
Lapaliiya - Unknown, but MAJOR changes to the south and east mean big changes here
Luiren - Nothing yet, but expect 'something' to allow the Hin to become more 4e-ish
Luskan - Obliterated... AGAIN (may be back by 1479, though)
Many Arrows - Orcs still around, and still suffering 'growing pains' a century later
Moonsea - Unknown, but Zhents still active
Moonshaes - Broken into smaller Human Kingdoms, Fey return
Mulhorand - Nothing specific, but something major
Murghôm - Nothing specific, but it is getting a lot more attention in 4e (two pages!)
Narfell - Unknown
Narjara - it's still around in 1479, and it's a significant problem for some of the nearby lands
Nelanther - Unknown
Nimbral - Unknown
Pelvuria - Unknown
Rashemen - Unknown, but WILL be effected by Thay's condition
Raurin - Although Darkvision alludes to a return of the Imaskari to the surface, still an unknown in 4e
Samarach - seperated from mainland, possibly destroyed
Savage Frontier - Relatively Untouched, like Swordcoast
Sea of Fallen Stars - Water Level has gone down, large portions drained into the Glimmer Sea below
Sembia - Controlled by the Empire of Netheril (Shades)
Semphar - Unknown
Sespech - becomes the Plaguewrought Lands, where folks can gain 'Spellscars'
Shaar, The - Split by a HUGE rift leading into the Underdark
Shaareach - Missing; last seen 2nd edition
Shining Lands - Unknown
Silver Marches - Still exists (called Luruar again), otherwise unknown (Drizzt mentions it)
Songfarla - Unknown, may not be detailed until Gnomes become PC race
Sossal - Unknown
Swordcoast - Relatively untouched
Sothillisian Empire - Capital Murannheim (former Murann) - last report had them allying with Amnish forces against the Tlincallis of Oaxatupa
Tashalar - If survived, an island
Tethyr - Almost no changes
Tharsult - Unknown
Thay - Becomes a spectacularly high mountain, making it an even more distant (epic?) 'adventure area'
Thesk - Unknown
Thindol - Seperated From Mainland, possibly destroyed
Threskel - Unknown, but Tchazzar had designs on it
Tunlands - Swamps have become one, and are filled with Batrachi ruins
Turmish - Becomes xenophobic, lots of 'pilgrims' travelling through to the Plaguelands
Ulgarth - Unknown
Underchasm - a continent-sized pit stretching from the Shaar to the Inner Sea
Underdark - More accessable
Unther - GONE, has become the Dragonborn Kingdom Tymanther
Utter East - Unknown
Vassa - Ruled by warlocks tied to a mysterious primordial entity - "Warlock Knights of Vassa"
Vast, The - Unknown
Veldorn - Nothing, as usual
Vilhon Reach - becomes the 'Vilhon Wilds', Jaamdath Cities exposed
Waterdeep - Statues do some damage, otherwise unknown (but appears to be Okay)

Other lands and Realmspace:

Abeir - Another 'world', that at one time was 'closer' to Toril
Anchorome - Will be getting some much-needed coverage by Ed Greenwood
Kara-Tur - Still there, but mostly ignored
Katashaka - Unknown
Malatra - Unknown
Maztica - Completely gone and replaced with something else
Myrmidune - Unknown
Osse - Unknown
Selûne - The illusion hiding the moon's habitability has failed
Zakhara - Still there, but completely ignored
The Sphere - Condition of other worlds and 'The March' unknown

The Divine
The Gods:

Amaunator - Replaces Lathander in 4e
Azuth - Last seen "reeling into the Astral Plane"
Bane - Goes (Hard)core
Bahamut - Will have a greater rellevancy in 4e FR
Cyric - Imprisoned
Deep Duerra - Slain by Clangeddin
Eilistaree - absorbs Vhaeraun, killed by Lolth
Ghaunadaur - Lloth attempted to kill, but it turned out to be an elder deity of unknown origin
Gorm Gulthyn - Dead
Gruumsh - merging with Talos (I think)
Haela Brightaxe - Dead
Helm - Dead, killed by Tyr over Tymora
Ilmater - Becomes Jack Tripper, and moves into Brightwater (:P)
Laduguer - Killed by Moradin
Lathander - gone, most likey becomes Aumanator
Lolth - Becomes Greater Power
Mystra - Dead, murdered by Cyric
Nobanion - Exarch Druid, but subject to change
Savras - Dead
Selûne - re-absorbs her portion of Mystra, considered the same power as Sehanine Moonbow in 4e
Selvetarm - absorbed by Lloth (GHotR)
Shar - Still around and causing trouble
Siamorph - Move to Brightwaters
Sune - Definately still around, and given the 1384 events in GHotR, quite possibly rising in influence
Set - Rise in power, possibly god of Mulhorand or Thay
Tiamet - Becomes more 'Center Stage' then in the past
Torm - rising in power and influence in 4e
Tyr - role greatly diminished in 4e
Velsharoon - Last seen "reeling into the Astral Plane"
Vhaeraun - absorbed by Eilistraee

The Realms:

City of Brass - More focus on it, located in the Elemental Maelstrom now
Demonweb Pits - Its own plane now
Dweomer Heart - Gone
Elemental Maelstrom - Combination of the Elemental Planes and the Abyss
Faerie - New information indicates that this is a seperate plane within FR's Cosmology (no longer sure about it's connections to the Feywild)
Far Realms - tied more closely to the Cosmology, may be major story-line
Feywild - Realm of Faerie (the Fey) in Core, unsure in FR (but present)
Great Tree - Not entirely gone, but new (core) Cosmology taking root
Great Wheel - No longer the 'center of the Universe', but still accessable
Nine Hells - Relatively unchanged
Palace of the Four Suns - New Godly Domain for Amaunator
Shadowfell - The Plane of Shadows combined with the Negeative Energy Plane
Sigil - Still exists, but changes Unknown
Bloodwar - No longer paramount to Demons & Devils, 'Loths become Demons

Dramatis Personae
People:

Blackstaff Arunson - Sacrificed himself to save others, most definately permanently dead
Bruenor Battlehammer - Dead
Drizzt - Alive and more 'angsty' then ever
Elminster - Still alive but nearly insane
Fzoul - Unknown (I think)
Halaster - 'Dead', soul shattered
Khelben Arunson - the real one is still living in GH, AFAIK
Manshoon - At least one of him is still alive
Qilué Veladorn - Dead
Seven Sisters - Syluné definately gone, others most likely
Simbul - "Missing"
Srinshee - Nothing for certain, but NDAs mentioned seem to imply she will be receiving some sort of 'update' come 4e
Szass Tam - In charge of Thay now (very Sauron-like)
Vangerdahast - Alive, but very different
Zalaznar Crinios - Becomes a very mean tree (Darktree Treant) and follower of Malar

Organizations/Groups:

Bregan D'aerthe - Unknown
Casin Cu Calas - new, anti-Orc terrorist group for 4e
Cult of the Dragon - Sammaster Dead, although cult may continue operation
Eldreth Veluuthra - Operating out of the Hullack Forest now
Emerald Enclave - pretty much gone
Harpers - still around
Heralds - Unknown
Iron Throne - Power shattered, at least four leaders assasinated, existance in 1479 doubtful
Moonstars - re-absorbed back into the Harpers
Obould's Horde - Becomes the Kingdom Of Dark Arrows
Order of Blue Fire - A group of 'experimenters' located in the Spellscarred Lands
Pirates - Unknown, although the 'Fallen Stars' variety may be hard-pressed for sailable waters
Red Wizards - still around but changed (and also many split-off with the Enclaves)
Rundeen - Unknown
Sorority of the Silver Fire - Unknown if Sammaster's death affected this organization's goals
Thayan Enclaves - No longer Thaymart, they have become a seperate mercantile group, and are considered expatriates
Twisted Rune - Unknown
Uthgardt - Still around, but wandering further west
Zhents - Still around

Magic

Spell Schools - Gone
Dead Magic Zones - Still around
Mage Sigils - Mage Sigils did not make it into the new FRCG, but they still exist, and are powered by whatever deity you like (official answer)
Shadow Weave - absorbed back into the Shadowfell (only 90% sure about that one)
Weave - Gone, replaced by the 'Arcane Power Source'
Wild Magic Zones - even more prevalent then before
Power Sources - take the place of spell schools, Spheres, divine patrons, etc
Cerulean - is the new 'Blue'

Races

Aboleth - Have some sort of Kingdom (Abolethic Sovereignty) and shake things up
Dragons - Color has little to do with alignment in 4e
Drow - Seperate Race Now, playable with no LA
Dwarves - reunited with their Dark brethren
Elves - become divided into the Eladrin and Wood Elves
Fey'ri - Not a playable race from the outset
Genasi - Playable race from their own Abeiran region of Shyr (eastern Chessenta), create nation (Akanûl) in Chondath
Giants - become more 'Elemental'
Giant Space Hamsters - (thankfully) Unknown
Gnomes - considered 'monsters' ATM, not a PCR at the outset
Halflings - Unknown, but become 'Swamplings' in core
Illithid - have awar with the Dwarves, otherwise unknown
LéShay - Fey Creator Race, or at least a part of it
Orcs - Have their own Kingdom, become more 'civilized'
Phaerimm - Nearly completely wiped out
Shadar-Kai - Fey race living in the Shadowfell
Sharn - Many become 'something else', but as of now there are still plenty left
Tieflings - Playable race with their own Kingdom (not sure where yet)

Classes

Basics: All classes now derive abilities from a 'Power Source', even the Fighter (Martial Power Source). All classes will be able to choose a 'weapon of choice' - for magical types this will be some sort of 'Spell Foci' that gives bonuses. You will have three levels of abilities - At Will, per encounter, and per day. Also, classes will have three tiers - Heroic (1-10), paragon (11-20), and Exarch (21-30), and encounters will be built around the tier level. The following is just a VERY brief list of what we know - for the full disclosure on the classs, please refer to all the Infomation gathered over at Enworld on this subject (and many others concerning the 4e mechanics). I've tried to keep this FR-only, and Enworld has really been doing a bang-up job keeping track of the other stuff.

Mostly Confirmed for the PHB

Cleric - No longer confined to just a 'healer' role, can be different alignment from their god
Fighter - Book of Nine Swords is good indication where they're going with this
Paladin - Any Alignment now
Ranger - A 'Striker' type, ranged attacks
Rogue - Another Striker, relying on 'sneaky' abilites to strike
Warlock - Must make pacts to get powers, abilites depend on what the pacts were made to (Demonic, fey, etc)
Warlord - A leader type
Wizard - Makes things go 'boom', mental spells down-played (for psionicists)

Future possibilities

Bard - PHB2
Druid - Good possibility PHB2
Monk - Unknown, may be leaving this open for a 4e OA book
Sorceror - Unknown, but NOT being folded into wizard
Swordmage - confirmed for FRPG
Swordsage - Another possibility for PHB2, maybe the Psionics book
Psionicist - Will be in the 4e Psionics book, release timed to coincide with Eberron 4e

*According to the FR Errata here at CK, Redwoods are NOT native to the Realms! The Forest of Wyrms list them for that wood, but they were brought in from elsewhere originally. Ergo, Redwoods ARE probably native to Abeir, and have been 'sneaking in' for years. ;)

Anyone wishing to help out is MOST welcome - I will be updating this each time something new is released.

--- Mark
30   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 12 Dec 2009 : 19:42:44
That's about all there is in the Cormyr book, just that letter detailing their relationship with the Sharrans. The 3E Fiend Folio describes how they are tied to the Shadow Plane:

quote:
From Fiend Folio, page 150

The shadar-kai, or shadow fey, are a race of bitter, determined folk whose souls are poisoned by shadow. Grayskinned and dark-eyed, the slender shadar-kai stand slightly taller than average humans, and their soft movements exude grace and uncanny stealth. Shadow follows the shadar-kai wherever they go. Shadows cast by the folds of their clothing seem deeper than those on humanoids, and a shadar-kai can seemingly fade out of sight by simply stepping into any common shadow.

The shadar-kai prefer light weapons suited for grace and agility, especially spiked chains. Many shadar-kai favor a variety of piercings and tattoos.

Long ago, the shadar-kai thought to preserve the world from the rising humanoid races. Skilled in shadow magic, the shadar-kai made a pact with a dark power of the Plane of Shadow to cast the world into an endless twilight in which the shadow fey would rule supreme. But the experiment went awry, and the shadar-kai were left bound to the Plane of Shadow, cursed to lose their souls in its dark depths. This shadow curse affects shadar-kai to this day, and every member of the race is engaged in a lifelong struggle to stave off inevitable doom.

The continuous pull of the Plane of Shadow has left the shadar-kai grim and embattled. Few races understand the plight of the shadow fey. Even the temporary solutions the shadar-kai have found leave them struggling with constant pain, making them vicious. Their willingness to commit acts of cruelty and violence has increased with each generation.



The CSA Adventure Trilogy is Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave, Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land, and Anauroch: The Empire of Shade.
Duneth Despana Posted - 12 Dec 2009 : 19:02:27
@ Ashe: Thank you for all your efforts on the topic. As I neither have the C:TotW adventure or an OCR-pdf of it I'm having a little trouble scrolling through the pdf version and finding the passages talking about Shadar-Kai, but I found the letter referring to the deal with Shar the Shadar-Kai made. What I find really interesting is the mention of elven ruins as extensive as Myth Drannor in the Vast Swamp(p.151), and I like to think that is where the Shadar-Kai lived when they where once an elven population (why else would they have Elven as an "innate language"), before they fled to the Shadowplane.
What is the CSA adventure trilogy?

@Moderators: As I have let this conversation drift off this scroll's topic, I would not take any offence if you felt it necessary to move the Shadar-Kai paranthesis to a new scroll even if the Shadar-Kai's 4e status is not quite done being accounted for in this scroll.
Duneth Despana Posted - 10 Dec 2009 : 18:56:30
@Matt James: Thank you a whole lot. I do admire the fact that you take these scrolls into consideration. I admit I'd rather just tell all you authors and game designers how awesome you and your work are but as it is not always the case it is good to have some of you listen to us when we get frustrated. Thank you.
:waiting impatiently to see where this leads, about the Shadar-Kai:
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 21:42:58
Interesting. More retcon.

The people of Shade were still humans when they returned from the Shadow Plane in 1372. They had 'relations' with shadow demons over their time in the demiplane, which resulted in the Krinth, but the Shadar-Kai were a separate race altogether.

From my memory of the CSA adventure trilogy, the Shadar-Kai were a race that found their souls tied to the Shadow Plane, forcing them to strike a deal Shar to serve her since they cannot survive indefinitely in a world of light. An interesting magic item from Cormyr is that they wear gal-ralan, an upper arm bracer that they affix to their arm by piercing a long needle through their arm and the bracer. This gives them resistance bonuses to saves like a cloak of resistance, but causes 1 point of Wisdom damage as long as it is worn. The gal-ralan are said to keep their souls from escaping their bodies while they are away from the plane of Shadow.
Matt James Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 19:57:55
Edit: double-post
Matt James Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 19:57:23
Good catch. I will see what I can find out.
Duneth Despana Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 16:25:54
@ Matt James:
I thought so... as I said further up this scroll I believe the "lore" you are referring to is a typing mistake. In the passage:
"Most of the Shadovar are still human. However, all have been touched by generations of living in the Shadowfell, and SHADAR-KAI began to appear spontaneously in the generation following Shade’s return (eg. 1372 DR)to Faerûn." p. 164

I'm sure that SHADAR-KAI should actually have been "Shades" as this is what previous lore says.
Furthermore on page 261 it states specifically about the Shadar-Kai:

"The Spellplague (e.g 1385, as in: from that year on, they start to give birth and transform into Shadar-Kai) and its reshaping of the cosmos had a strange effect on some Netherese. Their acclimation to centuries in Shadow caused them to transform into or give birth to shadelike beings. Prince Rivalen declared this to be a miracle sent by Shar. He dubbed the changed people shadar-kai, which has become the common term for the race. " P.261

You must see that there is a contradiction between the two passages (in the same book!). And it would be a pity to write a series of books and articles about an editing mistake.
Thank you for your consideration in advance.
Matt James Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 01:50:48
Shadar-Kai began to appear spontaneously in the generation following the Shade’s return to Faerûn. They are more connected to Shadow than the Feywild and can trace their lineage to the Netherese. Considering we are authors and game designers for the current edition, it would be safe to assume we will follow the presented canon found in the FRCG.
Brimstone Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 23:07:36
quote:
Originally posted by Matt James

We should probably start a new scroll, but more information relating to the Shadar-Kai in the Realms is forthcoming. Specifically, Jaleigh Johnson has a novel coming out centered around a Shadar-Kai. It's called Unbroken Chain and is due out next summer. I am writing up an article for Dungeon on Ikemmu, a mysterious city that is now controlled by the Shadar-Kai. I hope to add more information on their existance (etc...).


Good to know.
Duneth Despana Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 21:00:26
@ Matt James: Would that be the fey 3e Shadar-Kai you and Jaleigh are writing about or the shadeborn 4e SK? If it is the first of the two I am an assured buyer.

@ Ashe : Thank you. I am off to find it!
Matt James Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 17:04:43
We should probably start a new scroll, but more information relating to the Shadar-Kai in the Realms is forthcoming. Specifically, Jaleigh Johnson has a novel coming out centered around a Shadar-Kai. It's called Unbroken Chain and is due out next summer. I am writing up an article for Dungeon on Ikemmu, a mysterious city that is now controlled by the Shadar-Kai. I hope to add more information on their existance (etc...).
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 04:22:26
The adventure does reveal some information on Shadar-Kai, enough to whet your appetite.
Duneth Despana Posted - 04 Dec 2009 : 16:12:46
Thank you. Is their (the Shadar-Kai's) FR-background further detailed in C:TotW, or are they just encountered without further explanation?
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 03 Dec 2009 : 17:24:38
quote:
Originally posted by Duneth Despana

First of all, Markustay, thank you for your efforts on this thread.

I'd be really interested to know where you got the info about the Shadar-Kai being a fey race in 4e as in FRCG it states that the Shadar-Kai only started to appear as a special Shade subrace after the spellplague (p.262) and thus are to be considered human/planar.

But elsewhere (p.164) it states that the Shadar-Kai started to appear after the return of the city of Shade (DR 1372) wich I personally think is a mistype and should have been Shadovar.

In any case that "lore" clashes with the already existing FR-lore from "City of Wyrmshadows" wich presents us with an already established population of Shadar-Kai in Chaulssin in 1372 DR.

Personally as a 3.x and 2e nostalgic and a 4e facepalmer I liked the idea of the Shadar-Kai being an elf population, kind of like the star elves, seeking to Retreat interplanarly but simply choosing the wrong destination and thus precipitating their horrible fate. I loved the fey Shadar-Kai and think that we haven't had enough FR-lore on them in 3e (If any of you know of any I have missed, do not hesitate to let me know).

Oh, yes and the God-hating Kir-Lanan are now docile Shar :facepalmemote: worshippers.

So as much as I thank you for your efforts I fear that they may be pointless as the 4e inconsistencies are just too numerous.




Shadar-kai were first introduced in the 3E Fiend Folio. I think the first mention of them 'officially' in Faerûn was in Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave* when the party comes across them. Most of the Shadovar/Shade 'shadelings' were Krinth, an enslaved race of humans that had changed after being exposed to large amount of shadow magics.

Of course, this was all before 4th Edition and the Spell Plague.

* which, by the way, showed the Shadar-kai as being beholden to Shar, not the Shades of Shadovar. Of course, since Shadovar is a Shar-state, means that the Princes could boss them around.
Duneth Despana Posted - 03 Dec 2009 : 14:04:44
First of all, Markustay, thank you for your efforts on this thread.

I'd be really interested to know where you got the info about the Shadar-Kai being a fey race in 4e as in FRCG it states that the Shadar-Kai only started to appear as a special Shade subrace after the spellplague (p.262) and thus are to be considered human/planar.

But elsewhere (p.164) it states that the Shadar-Kai started to appear after the return of the city of Shade (DR 1372) wich I personally think is a mistype and should have been Shadovar.

In any case that "lore" clashes with the already existing FR-lore from "City of Wyrmshadows" wich presents us with an already established population of Shadar-Kai in Chaulssin in 1372 DR.

Personally as a 3.x and 2e nostalgic and a 4e facepalmer I liked the idea of the Shadar-Kai being an elf population, kind of like the star elves, seeking to Retreat interplanarly but simply choosing the wrong destination and thus precipitating their horrible fate. I loved the fey Shadar-Kai and think that we haven't had enough FR-lore on them in 3e (If any of you know of any I have missed, do not hesitate to let me know).

Oh, yes and the God-hating Kir-Lanan are now docile Shar :facepalmemote: worshippers.

So as much as I thank you for your efforts I fear that they may be pointless as the 4e inconsistencies are just too numerous.
Brian R. James Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 19:47:43
That LFR quote isn't entirely accurate Mark. It's not entirely false either. You'll know what I mean when you see the FRCG.
Markustay Posted - 24 Jul 2008 : 18:15:06
Okay, I haven't updated this in a REALLY long time, but I'm going to work on it today - there has been a least three new articles, and I found some old bits I overlooked since my last update.

Just a heads up - I was talking about my suspicions about Calim & Memnon escaping in 4e, given some little bit about Memnon's cult at the end of the GHotR, put together with what appears to be a forest in the (former?) desert of Calimshan on that new Chult map.

My suspicions were confirmed by someone in the LFR, who said most of Calimshan is now under Memnon's rule.

I guess we know where the Fire Genasi live now.
Wooly Rupert Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 21:23:15
quote:
Originally posted by Lirdolin

Ok. Than I'll try to just give the facts next time, without quoting him. Just thought that it would be easier to locate this way. Sorry.



No worries. I'm just trying to make sure his request is honored.

I think his request was only about quoting, so linking back to the original post should be fine, or providing a time, date, and page of the thread.
Lirdolin Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 20:45:05
Ok. Than I'll try to just give the facts next time, without quoting him. Just thought that it would be easier to locate this way. Sorry.
Wooly Rupert Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 20:27:30
Lirdolin, you may wish to paraphrase further replies from Rich. He's asked that he not be quoted on other message boards.
Lirdolin Posted - 08 Jul 2008 : 18:52:48
Richbaker wrote in the "Ask the Realms..." thread, post #4692:
Dambrath fares better than most of the other countries in southern Faerun. More than that I can't really say; can't give out too many spoilers before their time!
Lirdolin Posted - 07 Jul 2008 : 21:08:21
Rich Baker wrote in post #4475 of the "Ask the Realms..." Thread on WotC:

Evermeet still exists; our new take on the cosmology finally allows us to complete the Sundering. I can't say more than that now.

Lantan suffered grievously in the Spellplague. If you care to place warforged in the Realms (*IF*, and only because they're in the Monster Manual, not because we're Eberron-ifying the Realms, so don't even start on that!), I'd speculate that Lantan's one of the places they might be from. If.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 21:52:35
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay

Rich Baker has made a comment, which I would like to quote, but can't for two reasons - I can't get onto the WotC boards ATM, AND he has asked (very politely) NOT to be quoted on other sites, and I respect that request. The bottom line was that he said that there was a definate pattern planned out for the Countdown articles, but that plan "didn't work out". That indicates to me a change made mid-stream, most likely because of the negative feedback.

But I could be mistaken.



Well, look at it this way--negative feedback hasn't always stopped WotC before. It certainly hasn't made WotC rethink the Spellplague.
Markustay Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 21:30:46
Not to rub salt into any wounds (despite my usually doing that), but you just reminded me of something. Someone awhile back on the WotC boards recommended the Scarredlands setting to me, and I was able to borrow the main book off of someone a few days ago.

Reading it was like reading the 4e core cosmology - it basically says the SAME EXACT things, but using different text.

Not sure if that is pure coincidence (it happens sometimes in game design), or if someone liked that take on the gods.

The reason why Ayunken's post reminded me of this is because toward the end of that section (the cosmology/gods stuff, which is a major portion of the book) is because they go out of their way to mention that even though some gods are known as 'Draconic' or 'Fey' or Dwarven', etc... all of the gods are really cosmic (sexless) beings that can take any form they want, and therefore it is just the personal preferences of certain races to represent their 'chosen god' so. Deities DON'T have a race - their followers do... and everything 'physical' about them is 'made-up' by those followers.

Interestingly, I think this is the way 4e handles the Gods as well (like Gond being rolled into Moradin), and we will see a lot of this 'Pantheonic blending' taking place to help the 'downsizing' of Faerûn's divine.

And for a 3e (and earlier) canon reasoning for that - the Adama has always treated EVERY deity as part of a single pantheon - and that different gods have been using aliases since the very beginning.
Ayunken-vanzan Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 21:06:12
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay

However, 4e is going to be rolling a few deities into others, and just because Luthic's church has survived into the 4th edition doesn't neccessarily mean the goddess herself will make it intact.



This is right. The Lord of the Northwind, for example, seems to become a god of paladins for all races, so that it is not even clear if his being a dragon is only a picture and not a statement about his true being. That would be a major change in regard to this deity.
Markustay Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 20:08:40
Actually, RB DID indeed confirm it, in 'not so many words'.

quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Perhaps not. But many will see it as oddly coincidental that preview articles stopped being posted after all the uproar, but other articles continue to come out on a regular basis.

My point exactly - the latest bit of Realmslore is couched in a 'preview' article about Amn, and is not one of the 'Coutdown' articles.

Rich Baker has made a comment, which I would like to quote, but can't for two reasons - I can't get onto the WotC boards ATM, AND he has asked (very politely) NOT to be quoted on other sites, and I respect that request. The bottom line was that he said that there was a definate pattern planned out for the Countdown articles, but that plan "didn't work out". That indicates to me a change made mid-stream, most likely because of the negative feedback.

But I could be mistaken.

Anyhow, the Amn article had some juicy tidbits in it, and I found a couple more useble entries from Brian's articles as well. Add to that the 4e books have come out, which provides a little more info (FR IS getting the core cosmology, if not the deities), and I should have another update for this thread soon.

quote:
Originally posted by Fillow

I also saw in Swordmage that there still were Luthic priests in 1479 DR. So, I think we might add Luthic, the Cave Mother, to the surviving deities.
Don't you ?
However, 4e is going to be rolling a few deities into others, and just because Luthic's church has survived into the 4th edition doesn't neccessarily mean the goddess herself will make it intact.

I will make a note of the surviving worship of her, though - Thanks.
Wooly Rupert Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 03:26:29
quote:
Originally posted by Ladejarl

quote:
Originally posted by Lirdolin

The Cowled Wizards - legal, mercenary wizards of Amn


I wonder what the explanation for this will be? This whole plague
thingy would not have made me any more positive to magic, or it's users.





That's actually a continuation of previous lore.
Ladejarl Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 23:42:44
quote:
Originally posted by Lirdolin

The Cowled Wizards - legal, mercenary wizards of Amn


I wonder what the explanation for this will be? This whole plague
thingy would not have made me any more positive to magic, or it's users.

Wooly Rupert Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 20:37:12
quote:
Originally posted by Dagnirion

quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin

Was this confirmed?



-No.



Perhaps not. But many will see it as oddly coincidental that preview articles stopped being posted after all the uproar, but other articles continue to come out on a regular basis.
Lord Karsus Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 19:10:36
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin

Was this confirmed?



-No.

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