| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| O Love |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 10:45:55
WotC released the cover image and some info about RAS' new novel "Promise of the Witch King":
WotC - Promise of the Witch King
Forgotten Realms: The Library - The Sellswords
Oh, and by the way, Happy Father's Day to all Germans.  |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kuje |
Posted - 17 May 2005 : 17:55:37
quote:
Originally posted by Shadovar
Surely orcus will be drained of his strength for a period of time and will not be able to do anything major during this period of revovery, I assume.
That already pretty much happened, which is why we had the Planescape modules The Great Modron March and Dead Gods. :) |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 17 May 2005 : 11:30:35
Surely orcus will be drained of his strength for a period of time and will not be able to do anything major during this period of revovery, I assume. |
| Thauramarth |
Posted - 16 May 2005 : 14:12:59
quote:
Originally posted by Osieu
quote:
"I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy."
Actually, I think it might be said by Orcus himself!
You know, the Witch-King was a follower of Orcus in life/unlife. Therefore, when he got destoryed by Dragonbane, his soul would most likely return to Orcus and got punished for his failure. Now look at the line "Caught between the ghost of a power-mad lich..." So we can see that the Witch-King returns as a ghost, which just fits the said situation - Zhengy has his soul back (as a ghost), but no life, no body, no nothing. Besides, this line is very Orcus style too - "I give your soul back to haunt in undeath, to wander forever... and you should be thankful that I'm in good mood. "
Come to think of it, in the original Bloodstone Series, Orcus was killed by Gareth Dragonsbane and company, but he managed to attain a new status that's a mixture of undeath and divinity as a result of the Dead Gods Planescape adventure. If old Orcus can pull that one off, reviving Zhengyi, in whom he had invested much, may be a walk in the park... |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 15 May 2005 : 14:24:44
quote:
Originally posted by Osieu
quote:
"I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy."
Actually, I think it might be said by Orcus himself!
You know, the Witch-King was a follower of Orcus in life/unlife. Therefore, when he got destoryed by Dragonbane, his soul would most likely return to Orcus and got punished for his failure. Now look at the line "Caught between the ghost of a power-mad lich..." So we can see that the Witch-King returns as a ghost, which just fits the said situation - Zhengy has his soul back (as a ghost), but no life, no body, no nothing. Besides, this line is very Orcus style too - "I give your soul back to haunt in undeath, to wander forever... and you should be thankful that I'm in good mood."
That's the best explanation I've seen thus far. |
| TymoraChosen |
Posted - 15 May 2005 : 08:53:16
So it seems that the witch king had returned to complete the task it had not successfully accomplished and must finish it before he could find rest? |
| Osieu |
Posted - 15 May 2005 : 08:45:49
quote:
"I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy."
Actually, I think it might be said by Orcus himself!
You know, the Witch-King was a follower of Orcus in life/unlife. Therefore, when he got destoryed by Dragonbane, his soul would most likely return to Orcus and got punished for his failure. Now look at the line "Caught between the ghost of a power-mad lich..." So we can see that the Witch-King returns as a ghost, which just fits the said situation - Zhengy has his soul back (as a ghost), but no life, no body, no nothing. Besides, this line is very Orcus style too - "I give your soul back to haunt in undeath, to wander forever... and you should be thankful that I'm in good mood." |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 14 May 2005 : 03:01:00
Maybe the reappearance of the Witch King(impersonated by Sammaster) was enough to rouse thr orcs of Vaasa to action where 'His' reappearance makes the orcs think that the Witch King is invincible and nothing can prevent him from returning despite being slain by Gareth Dragonsbane. |
| Iliphar1 |
Posted - 13 May 2005 : 19:28:42
didn't Gareth Dragonbane destroy the phylactery of Zhenghy?
if the phylactery is destroyed Zhengy himself is utterly destroyed either. But there might be his old minions, grown to power themselves
... there is still the matter of his old fortress with all the dragons etc. inside...
Anyway the "soul - live" statement can only be from a creature which has power over soul and body - deity, lich, demon, something like that, but rather unlikly a paladin or lawful good warrior. Anyway why would a paladin leave a corrupted soul untouched, but take a live instead? Doesn'T sound very good-ish to mee
about the timeline, in the Year of the Rogue Dragons Sammaster posed as Zhengy to find orcish followers to attack Damara. If this book is set bevore these events Sammaster would have a to explain a lot to the orcs, wouldn't he?
On the other hand, maybe the "appearance" of Zhengy (in reality Sammaster) might have roused something |
| The Blue Sorceress |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 15:46:57
quote:
We don't know what god this paladin worships. Maybe a paladin of Ilmater would show mercy, but after Thornhold, I can easily see a paladin of Tyr displaying such intransigeance.
I've never read Thornhold but if you want my opinion, true goodness (and a paladin is supposed to be truly good) means mercy and certainly doesn't mean interfering with a person's soul. The quote could also be from the Witch King himself, and to me that sounds pretty in character for a guy like that.
quote:
quote:
She won't dancing for joy to find herself hanging out with Jarlaxle and Entreri, but that doesn't mean she'll be hostile toward the idea.
Maybe not. But apparently Entreri and Jarlaxle registered as evil when Cadderly cast a spell in the last pages of Servant of the Shard. We know paladins can detect evil. I can't see a paladin traveling with companions she knows to be evil being happy about it.
It would depend on whether or not their interests coincide and whether or not she believes that she can keep them from committing any evil acts while travelling with her, I would think. Also, it may not be her choice. She may be forced to travel with them, either because they kidnapped her because they need her for something or for who knows how many other reasons. Whatever the case, it looks like they're going to end up in one another's company. Like I said before -which is sort of what got this whole thing started- Jarlaxle probably wouldn't mind the feminine company. It's be a nice break from being forced to look at Entreri all the time, I would think. 
quote:
quote:
I'm betting she's got either one or both of them swinging toward neutral alignment before the book's over. (An outcome I'd favor less is that they swing her toward neutral or evil, but I won't pretend that it's not a possibility.)
You mean more toward neutrality than their current neutral evil alignments? That's a possibility.
Indeed, that's what I mean. Jarlaxle, I think is the most likely, simply because I always pegged him for CN anyway. I was actually surprised to find that he was evil. Entreri's not the sort to open up and let others change his mind, or even the sort, I think, to try new things -Jarlaxle likes trying new things, I'd wager- so it might be harder to get under his skin and encourage him to think about other people as something more than possible targets, employers or simply set decoration.
-Blue |
| Krafus |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 14:21:11
quote:
Originally posted by The Blue Sorceress
Unless she's got magic soul-sucking powers I doubt that's the paladin/knight in question, since without those powers she power to grant or deny a person their soul. The quote doesn't have a name associated with it but to me this sounds like either Jarlaxle or Entreri. Think about it: a paladin (or champion of good) wouldn't "find" a "measure of mercy," she'd have it in spades. Jarlaxle and Entreri need to go looking for their mercy -heck, for Entreri it would practically be an epic quest. Unless Salvatore doesn't have a good conception of the relationship between goodness and mercy (and I think he does) this would be a really off quote from the lady in question.
We don't know what god this paladin worships. Maybe a paladin of Ilmater would show mercy, but after Thornhold, I can easily see a paladin of Tyr displaying such intransigeance.
quote:
She won't dancing for joy to find herself hanging out with Jarlaxle and Entreri, but that doesn't mean she'll be hostile toward the idea.
Maybe not. But apparently Entreri and Jarlaxle registered as evil when Cadderly cast a spell in the last pages of Servant of the Shard. We know paladins can detect evil. I can't see a paladin traveling with companions she knows to be evil being happy about it.
quote:
I'm betting she's got either one or both of them swinging toward neutral alignment before the book's over. (An outcome I'd favor less is that they swing her toward neutral or evil, but I won't pretend that it's not a possibility.)
-Blue
You mean more toward neutrality than their current neutral evil alignments? That's a possibility. |
| Paec_djinn |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 13:41:49
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
Well, the Witch King is a lich. So appearing as one would make sense, even if, admittedly, a lich of his power probably knows how to appear pretty much any way he chooses.
And I wonder if anyone has told Salvatore about the events in the Rite yet...
I doubt it'll matter. Salvatore's story always seems to be a few years earlier than present-day FR
EDIT: Or if Salvatore decides to make a big impact on Vaasa then maybe it might matter. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 12:47:03
Well, the Witch King is a lich. So appearing as one would make sense, even if, admittedly, a lich of his power probably knows how to appear pretty much any way he chooses.
And I wonder if anyone has told Salvatore about the events in the Rite yet... |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 11:55:57
I think yes, it must be him, the witch king watching the battle between the heroes and his minions. But it seems to me that the witch king appear like a lich or near skeleton, but I wonder is there more colorful versions of the witch king. |
| Tanyn Midrain |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 11:23:12
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Anyone else notice on the POWK cover that the smoke in the background looks like an incorperal undead ie a Spectre or a ghost
Yeah, might it be the Witch King himself mayhap? |
| The Blue Sorceress |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 09:28:07
quote:
"I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy."
This comes from the first link. I'm not saying she'll be Lawful Stupid - just that, from this quote, I think she won't be very happy that circumstances will force her to team up with a drow and an assassin.
Unless she's got magic soul-sucking powers I doubt that's the paladin/knight in question, since without those powers she power to grant or deny a person their soul. The quote doesn't have a name associated with it but to me this sounds like either Jarlaxle or Entreri. Think about it: a paladin (or champion of good) wouldn't "find" a "measure of mercy," she'd have it in spades. Jarlaxle and Entreri need to go looking for their mercy -heck, for Entreri it would practically be an epic quest. Unless Salvatore doesn't have a good conception of the relationship between goodness and mercy (and I think he does) this would be a really off quote from the lady in question.
She won't dancing for joy to find herself hanging out with Jarlaxle and Entreri, but that doesn't mean she'll be hostile toward the idea.
I'm betting she's got either one or both of them swinging toward neutral alignment before the book's over. (An outcome I'd favor less is that they swing her toward neutral or evil, but I won't pretend that it's not a possibility.)
-Blue |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 08:26:16
Anyone else notice on the POWK cover that the smoke in the background looks like an incorperal undead ie a Spectre or a ghost |
| OmniBobb |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 07:16:31
So... Promise of the Witch-King is the sequel to a book i got years ago that they are rereleasing in a few months NOT in a hardcover? So between the new series they are working on/recently released and the Legend of Drizzt series, there is going to be one book thats not hardcover? That's just damned ridiculous..
::shakes fist angrily at WotC::
Hey! Long time lurker, first time poster! |
| Krafus |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 20:18:54
quote:
Originally posted by The Blue Sorceress
"A champion of good with secrets as dark as any assassin's, she is the unlikeliest ally a dark elf has ever had."
I have trouble seeing how that means 'intolerant'. It sounds more like Salvatore's writing a proper paladin instead of supporting the Lawful Stupid stereotype. If she's got her own dark secrets she's be more likely to forgive Jarlaxle and Entreri their faults, at least temporarily, and try to show them by example a better path. She certainly wouldn't look down on either of them.
-Blue
"I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy."
This comes from the first link. I'm not saying she'll be Lawful Stupid - just that, from this quote, I think she won't be very happy that circumstances will force her to team up with a drow and an assassin. |
| The Blue Sorceress |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 19:03:21
quote:
From the blurb, it sounds like that woman is a paladin, or at least the intolerant sort of lawful good. I can't imagine her approving of Entreri and Jarlaxle's ways. I wouldn't be surprised if the two of them came up with a plan to kill her if she becomes too difficult to deal with.
"A champion of good with secrets as dark as any assassin's, she is the unlikeliest ally a dark elf has ever had."
I have trouble seeing how that means 'intolerant'. It sounds more like Salvatore's writing a proper paladin instead of supporting the Lawful Stupid stereotype. If she's got her own dark secrets she's be more likely to forgive Jarlaxle and Entreri their faults, at least temporarily, and try to show them by example a better path. She certainly wouldn't look down on either of them.
-Blue
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| Krafus |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 14:46:03
quote:
Originally posted by The Blue Sorceress
Boobs.
Seriously, Artemis might not care, but Jarlaxle has always struck me as the sort of guy who, though he might not let a nice pair of breasts blind him, will gladly let them tag along so long as the woman they grow on doesn't prove to be too much of an annoyance.
-Blue
From the blurb, it sounds like that woman is a paladin, or at least the intolerant sort of lawful good. I can't imagine her approving of Entreri and Jarlaxle's ways. I wouldn't be surprised if the two of them came up with a plan to kill her if she becomes too difficult to deal with. |
| The Blue Sorceress |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 06:11:19
quote:
The Witch-King was the ruler of Vaasa, and he and his army invaded Damara. So IMHO it will be one of those countries. I really wonder who is this woman knight - and how she'll convince Jarlaxle and Entreri to go with her (or maybe it will be the other way around).
Boobs.
Seriously, Artemis might not care, but Jarlaxle has always struck me as the sort of guy who, though he might not let a nice pair of breasts blind him, will gladly let them tag along so long as the woman they grow on doesn't prove to be too much of an annoyance.
-Blue |
| Krafus |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 14:19:54
quote:
Originally posted by SirUrza
A third book wouldn't be happening for another 3-4 years. After Promise RAS goes to work on the new Drizzt trilogy.
He does? I was rather hoping he'd complete the Sellswords trilogy before going back to Drizzt and friends... After Hunter's Blades, I've had enough of Drizzt for more than just one year. |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 01:52:08
A new Drizzt Trilogy? Well, I am sure looking forward to that. |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 06 May 2005 : 08:18:50
A third book wouldn't be happening for another 3-4 years. After Promise RAS goes to work on the new Drizzt trilogy. |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 06 May 2005 : 08:07:01
quote:
Originally posted by Shadovar
Uh, a possible book 3? What will that book be about on?
Well i'd guess and hope for more stories featuring Artemis and Jarlaxle.
That aside, being as the series is called The Sellswords, it could be about any new characters which fall into that description. However, I doubt that WotC would instruct RAS to start on new characters and would rather he continue the popularity of his existing characters. |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 06 May 2005 : 02:11:27
Uh, a possible book 3? What will that book be about on? |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 20:37:11
I know it's very early days but has there been any mention of further novels for this series or are we likely to have just two - an old and a new?
Obviously, the book will sell well so I wouldn't imagine that WotC are waiting for sales figures before giving RAS the go ahead for a possible book 3. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 17:47:38
quote:
Originally posted by Shadovar
Thanks for the new recommendations, so I wonder where the story of the Witch King is taking place...on Damara of Faerun or is it somewhere else?
Anyway, the novels look promising and full of action but a pity that its release date is that late.
One of the links contains another link to a description.
quote:
I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy.
The Witch-King
A lich of unspeakable power that people say has been destroyed, but whose hand still somehow holds the realm in its grip.
The Knight
A champion of good with secrets as dark as any assassin's, she is the unlikeliest ally a dark elf has ever had.
Entreri and Jarlaxle might be strangers in the rugged, unforgiving mountains of the Bloodstone Lands, but they’ve been in difficult places before. Caught between the ghost of a power-mad lich, and the righteous fury of an oath-bound knight, they've never felt more at home.
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| Lord Rad |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 17:08:19
Very nice. It certainly looks like the quality and style of Lockwood and he has worked on RAS's stuff prior to this too with Hunter's Blades Trilogy.
I already own Servant of the Shard (both as stand alone and in the Collectors edition), but i'll get it as part of this new Sellswords series too. However, i'm not happy about it being in paperback whilst Promise of the Witch-king is in hardcover  . It may force me to wait until next year for the paperback version of Promise. |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 16:06:32
The cover art is spectacular.I really dig it.After reading the little blurb.I must say that I am a little itrigued |
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