| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 19 Feb 2004 : 08:37:03
A couple of new and interesting series just popped up over at WotC!
Magic Books of Faerun (A Harper's Companion, Volume III - A Collection of Bard Songs, with a Touch of Magic for Ease in Use)
Realmslore: Alustriel's Latest Consort (I: The High Lady's Mystery)
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| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 17:19:12
I hope they do create new oneslady.It doesn't have to be called Wyrms of the North either. |
| Lady Kazandra |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 09:57:41
While I am saddened by this news, I guess I shouldn't be surprised since I had previously read Sage's collection of the original 2e Dragon articles, and therefore should have released that the end would soon be approaching.
Maybe they will start creating new ones, to keep the column going...
Does anyone know whether WotC will release a PDF collection of the Wyrms of the North articles like they did with Elminster Speaks?.
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| The Sage |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 09:14:19
I feel I should point out that the Wyrms of the North articles are just conversions of the older 2e material articles from Dragon Magazine, and therefore limited in number.
From the WotC FR website -
quote:
Ed Greenwood's 'Wyrms of the North' column ran from Dragon 230 through Dragon 259, detailing over two dozen unique dragons of Faerūn. The original articles were written for AD&D 2nd Edition. These articles reprise the originals with the addition of game statistics for the new D&D and updated spells and magic items.
The latest update is from issue #257, so I don't think this column has much longer to go...
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| VEDSICA |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 03:26:55
I think some are better than others.I didn't like the Broadcryers at all.I really liked Mintiper's Chapbook.I also really like The Wyrm's monthly thread.I hope they keep those coming. |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 21:16:12
quote:
Originally posted by VEDSICA
It Was Mintiper's Chapbooks,and they haven't come out with anything along that thread in long time.I was wondering is the Dawntree thread over and done with????Is Ed Greenwood coming out with anymore info about that???I kind of liked that one....
I think thats the end of Dawntree  The Realmslore Columns appear to be short articles to feed campaigns rather than anything too major. Its certainly all good though |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 20:14:43
It Was Mintiper's Chapbooks,and they haven't come out with anything along that thread in long time.I was wondering is the Dawntree thread over and done with????Is Ed Greenwood coming out with anymore info about that???I kind of liked that one.... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 06:53:14
Whoops! 
Thanks for that Arivia. That sentence should read 'encroaching Shade Enclaves'.
I'd use the 'EDIT' function, but with the OS upgrade that I working on at the moment, its preventing me from logging in here at Candlekeep.
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| Arivia |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 06:49:12
I'm liking this series. A nice bit of lore, and something I might use one day.
Oh, and Sage? 'encouraging Shade Enclaves' doesn't exactly sound right... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 06:44:33
Actually, I found the write-up quite interesting. I like the fact that he is regarded as 'a tall, slender, lithe, and quiet-spoken man', a perfect compliment to the Lady Alustriel. The real benefit of this article though, at least for me is, that it has provided an interesting little hook that I can use in my Silver Marches campaign.
I think Morngard Delbrar Larlake (I'm not sure about his name though) will definitely have a part to play against the encouraging Shade Enclaves...
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 04:49:22
Alustriel's Latest Consort II: The Soft Sword is now up at
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rl/20040303a
What do you fine folks think? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 25 Feb 2004 : 02:01:52
What do you mean by a 'catalog'...Is it like a itemised ballad/song list with descriptions...?
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| Garen Thal |
Posted - 24 Feb 2004 : 11:40:55
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Oh, I know that. What I meant to say was - Where do Bards copy their ballads, songs, poems and the like...A Chapbook perhaps...?
Perhaps a "catalog," for those higher level chaps with quite a few songs to share?
Re: Mintiper Moonsilver, he and his female companion- one Asilther Graelor- appear in Dragon #187, in the article "The Lonely Harpist and the Lady Rogue." In 2nd Edition AD&D terms, Mintiper was a 12th-level half-elven bard, and Asilther, a 6th-level thief (also half-elven). |
| Lady Kazandra |
Posted - 24 Feb 2004 : 09:26:36
Does anyone here know of the specific issue number of the Dragon Magazine which features Mintiper, and this female companion?.
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| Lord Rad |
Posted - 24 Feb 2004 : 08:50:36
quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
I'd say so. Wasn't there a famous travelling minstrel of the Realms - Montiper or something?. Her articles used to be posted on the Forgotten Realms site.
Quite right, Lady Kazandra. Being Mintiper Moonsilver IIRC from the Mintipers "Chapbook" articles.
I believe Mintiper and his female companion (whos name I cant quite remember) were featured in an old issue of Dragon Magazine. |
| Lady Kazandra |
Posted - 24 Feb 2004 : 08:30:19
I'd say so. Wasn't there a famous travelling minstrel of the Realms - Montiper or something?. Her articles used to be posted on the Forgotten Realms site. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 24 Feb 2004 : 02:49:51
quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
Well, bards don't normally have spellbooks, not unless you're using 2e. It's all spontaneous magic, remember?
Other than that, I'm sure they'd call them songbooks. Sure, it's too ordinary for OOC references, but what else can you call them while in character?
Oh, I know that. What I meant to say was - Where do Bards copy their ballads, songs, poems and the like...A Chapbook perhaps...?
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| Shadowlord |
Posted - 23 Feb 2004 : 01:36:04
"Tome of Ballads" perhaps? Just a thought..... |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 23 Feb 2004 : 01:17:21
Well, bards don't normally have spellbooks, not unless you're using 2e. It's all spontaneous magic, remember?
Other than that, I'm sure they'd call them songbooks. Sure, it's too ordinary for OOC references, but what else can you call them while in character? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Feb 2004 : 12:09:33
quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
Well, I rather like that "bardic spellbook." (Technically, I suppose that would be "songbook," but that sound too ordinary.) Making up volumes for the other bardic spell levels (0, 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) shouldn't be too hard. (Note that this is my assumption for why it's volume III, since it's all second-magnitude spells.)
Hmmm...that raises an interesting point. What do Bards call their 'spellbook'...?
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| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Feb 2004 : 12:07:44
Actually, I'm about to wrap up this portion of the adventure series in a fortnight, so I'll fill you in on the particulars then.
I'd like to discuss it via ethereal mail though, so if you have an specific questions just let me know...
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| Shadowlord |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 22:11:08
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Granted, it's not canon for the Shade enclaves to act so openly nor is it their style to be so direct with their motivations, at least given the current political and social environment of the Realms post-RotAW, but then this is my campaign. The fact that the Enclaves are now being open about their intentions is only a small part of a much larger plot than I am only now starting to slowly expose my players to... 
Sage, perhaps you'd like to shed some light on this campaign of yours? It sounds very interesting.... |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 19:22:18
Well, I rather like that "bardic spellbook." (Technically, I suppose that would be "songbook," but that sound too ordinary.) Making up volumes for the other bardic spell levels (0, 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) shouldn't be too hard. (Note that this is my assumption for why it's volume III, since it's all second-magnitude spells.) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 15:23:26
Granted, it's not canon for the Shade enclaves to act so openly nor is it their style to be so direct with their motivations, at least given the current political and social environment of the Realms post-RotAW, but then this is my campaign. The fact that the Enclaves are now being open about their intentions is only a small part of a much larger plot than I am only now starting to slowly expose my players to...
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 15:03:14
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Hmm...maybe he's been sent to undermine the Marches government from within, trying to subvert Alustriel... ...no, I don't like that idea, nor is it very likely .
Ditto on the unlikely belief of such an event happening. I can see the Shade trying to cause some trouble within the Silver Marches' government. But, to aim so high and so out in the open...granted it's been awhile since I read the trilogy, but is that their style? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 06:48:13
I suppose, although given the current state of affairs that are occuring within the nation of the Silver Marches in my campaign, more information on Alustriel's consort would be nice, and would also work well with the current and future storyline.
Although, your suggestion about him possibly being a 'Shade' is intriguing, and does tie-in well with the increased 'Shade' presence throughout the North that is apparent now in my campaign.
Hmm...maybe he's been sent to undermine the Marches government from within, trying to subvert Alustriel......no, I don't like that idea, nor is it very likely .
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| Shadowlord |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 05:49:56
Indeed.... It ruins the aura of mystery, don't you agree, Sage? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 21 Feb 2004 : 05:07:17
The mystery surrounding Alustriel's consort is deliberate, at least when you consider much of the language Mr Greenwood uses to describe him in thr article.
From what we can ascertain from the article, there's definitely nothing normal about his appearance, history or bearing within the societal structure of Silverymoon. The fact that much of his 'his early history seems almost absent from all record' may also suggest that his history is too 'sensitive' for public consideration, or maybe he has ties to an organisation/powergroup that wishes his exposure to be minimal at best.
Further speculation is irrelevant anyway, since the next article will most likely detail more about him...
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| Shadowlord |
Posted - 20 Feb 2004 : 16:23:10
Well, not to break this topic off track and onto the "My god is better than yours" kind of topic (that has so often happened before), I would just like to say that Vhaeraun could have left and is even now conserving his energy........
Back on Topic: The first thing that sprung into my mind with the "dusky skin" was that either he had some southern blood, or he was a shade. I don't know why, but that's what I thought of. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 20 Feb 2004 : 15:46:22
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowlord
His son? Vhaeraun's son is Selvetarm, and that will never happen!
Well, from what I read in the last WOTSQ novel, Selvetarm was still before Grandma's face, albeit wounded, while dad was no where to be found. <Sigh> Sad when the young ends up taking the old to the wood shed.
And to keep this on topic, after sending the Alustriel's consort page to a fellow Realms fanatic, she commented to me last night about his skin color, "Someone from Dambrath?" Now that would be veddy interesting. Although, I just can't see it happening, but hey, let my fellow fanatic dare to dream. |
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 20 Feb 2004 : 12:57:01
The "Magic Books of Faerūn" series is going to be based primarily on the idea that the books presented are rare (if not unique copies), interesting, and missing/stolen/'at large.' Volumes I and II of A Harper's Companion won't be presented because, simply put, they wouldn't especially be any of the above. There's also the minor item of avoiding providing statistics for a 'last known owner' that's actually a monk of Candlekeep.
Of course, the fact that they're both available for viewing in Candlekeep means that DMs are, as always, free to generate their own volumes, particularly if their party will be using Volume III as an entry fee... |
