T O P I C R E V I E W |
Alaundo |
Posted - 26 Jan 2005 : 23:12:26 Well met
This being a collective scroll of any questions the Scribes and visitors of Candlekeep wish to put to a renowned game designer of the Realms, namely - Steven Schend. Steven worked at TSR\WotC from 1990-2000 and has a vast array of products to his name. The top few being: Ruins of Undermountain (editor), City of Splendors (editor/developer/designer), Lands of Intrigue (designer), Cormanthyr/Fall of Myth Drannor (designer) and Sea of Fallen Stars (designer)
Present your questions herein and check back to see what news may also come forth from the quill of this Realms master. |
30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
kysus |
Posted - 08 Apr 2023 : 05:33:47 Steven Schend those answers are good enough for me!! If i may ask a follow up question to that, say for example if a dragon lost its rider like say for instance one of those dragons from myth drannor that had a rider and the rider passed away from old age or battle how likely would it be that they take on another rider, or is that something that is more up to the personality of the dragon in question? |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 08 Apr 2023 : 02:24:57 quote: Originally posted by kysus
hi steven schend, merry christmas and a happy new years to you! I also wanted to ask a quick question of you before the new years starts that i thought you might know. when reading your cormanthyr book i was reading the part on the elven dragonriders and how those were among the last riders or at least gave the impression that they were becoming extremely rare. out of curiousity what was the cause of them becoming more and more rare or to put it another way what made it so hard to train new riders? was it something that took centuries to train or some unique form of pairing rider with mount?
Bear in mind this is all my opinion and I've not delved back into any deep hidden lore to answer your queries, so mistakes are all my own.
Answering your questions in reverse order (because whimsy, that's why!):
Dragonriders and their mounts build rapport over decades if not scores of years before it becomes easy for them to ride/fly into battle together.
Part of why I decided those were among the last dragonriders around Myth Drannor was that it'd make it doubly hard for the Army of Darkness to take out elven forces with that kind of firepower at the ready.
The other reason was that having dragonriders around made it look far too much like Dragonlance/Krynn, so we waved them offstage for clarity of intellectual property.
Again, wish I had deeper or better answers for you, but these are all that my tired brain can spew forth today.
Steven |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 08 Apr 2023 : 02:10:03 quote: Originally posted by DoveArrow
Hello Mr. Schend,
First of all, I wanted to thank you for all the work you've done over the years. I have been reading the Second Edition books on the Lands of Intrigue for several adventures I've been writing and am just enamored with the region and the work that you put into those publications. Thank you.
I wanted to ask about the 4e history of Erlkazar. Were you consulted on any of it? Whose idea was it to make Saestra and the Night Barony the primary villains of the region?
No, I wasn't consulted re the 4E changes to Erlkazar at all, nor did I expect to; I was long gone from WotC at that point and my opinion wasn't sought after too often by some even when I was on staff. (shrug)
No idea whose ideas spawned the changes to the Night Barony and the Twisted Rune et al, though it might have been anyone whose name was on the 4E FR book (though not Ed, as he'd have given me a call to talk about such, being a gentleman).
For some reason, I thought Jess Lebow's novel MASTER OF CHAINS took place in Erlkazar or in similar environs, but I doubt that'd have had anything to do with bumping Shyressa out of the way for their sliding in ANOTHER lissome female vampire into Erlkazar…
Wish I had more info to share, and apologies it took me so long to get back to Candlekeep to post this answer…
Steven |
DoveArrow |
Posted - 16 Mar 2023 : 15:55:23 Hello Mr. Schend,
First of all, I wanted to thank you for all the work you've done over the years. I have been reading the Second Edition books on the Lands of Intrigue for several adventures I've been writing and am just enamored with the region and the work that you put into those publications. Thank you.
I wanted to ask about the 4e history of Erlkazar. Were you consulted on any of it? Whose idea was it to make Saestra and the Night Barony the primary villains of the region? |
kysus |
Posted - 24 Dec 2022 : 01:20:45 hi steven schend, merry christmas and a happy new years to you! I also wanted to ask a quick question of you before the new years starts that i thought you might know. when reading your cormanthyr book i was reading the part on the elven dragonriders and how those were among the last riders or at least gave the impression that they were becoming extremely rare. out of curiousity what was the cause of them becoming more and more rare or to put it another way what made it so hard to train new riders? was it something that took centuries to train or some unique form of pairing rider with mount? |
Italian Archmage Karsus |
Posted - 04 Oct 2022 : 02:15:08 Thank you both for this information! |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 02 Oct 2022 : 05:06:28 George has the right of it here, Karsus. All it takes to muddle some lore is to edit out the word "new" and confusion reigns!
Of course, it could have easily been a rushed deadline and a lack of editing double-check too; while I respect and love the folks who did the Castle Spulzeer adventure, I didn't have much of a direct hand in that one other than to provide them the lore and prayed they held to it. ;)
Steven who's always grateful that George is more worried about my timelines being correct than I have been |
George Krashos |
Posted - 02 Oct 2022 : 01:17:54 quote: Originally posted by Italian Archmage Karsus
Hey, Mr. Schend, if I may be curious... I was looking at the timeline for Trailstone, and I couldn't quite fit it. I've got that...
Empires of the Sands-p13: Completely different timeline, suggesting the inn was built on Chardath Spulzeer's command in 1349-ish. Lands of Intrigue-Amn-p52: the Spellseer first built the inn in 1316. Lands of Intrigue-Amn-p10: the Vinson family retreated to Trailstone at some point after 1342. Castle Spulzeer-p7: Spellseer Inn built in 1316. Castle Spulzeer-p36: Trailstone was established in 1348 by Rafe Spulzeer, who did not add a tavern so that another would be built close by. He's at the New Spulzeer Inn, the OG Spulzeer Inn is now the Dragon Turtle Inn. The New Spulzeer Inn is also there for almost 20 years in 1367. Secrets of the Magister-p74: Maldiglas Turntower built a Refuge close to Trailstone, before 1328 (year he dies).
I've a hard time figuring out why someone would build a Refuge close to a city that wasn't built until at least 20 years later, but followers of Mystra have done stranger things. The Vinson family's holdings also suggest the earlier date, but the latter date is the one in the latest source: I'm not super certain of which date is correct for the founding of the town or the inn.
I have some suppositions as to what got mixed up in translation: my assumption would be the date of the New Spulzeer Inn's construction got mixed up with that of the OG inn, so OG inn was built in 1316 and New Spulzeer in 1348. But FR3's info, I can't seem to square with that; I suspect it was superseded by later, more specific lore; would you happen to recall anything on the subject? I remember you wrote the Lands of Intrigue book, figured you'd be the one to ask.
Thanks for decades of dreams!
And having had a look at this, it appears that there a slight problems with the "Castle Spulzeer" adventure timeline, simply because they have omitted the word "new".
I see the timeline as this:
1316 DR - The Spulzeer family suffers its split and the Spulzeer Inn is built along the tradeway, leading to the establishment of the settlement of Trailstone (as per Lands of Intrigue - Amn).
1326 DR - Spulzeer Inn is badly damaged in a fire and abandoned by the Spulzeers who build a new inn nearby (unnamed, but likely the Trail's End Inn).
1348 DR - Kartak takes over Chardath. At the same time, to boost trade, the other branch of the family in Rafe Spulzeer builds the New Spulzeer Inn in Trailstone. [There appear to be two family branches happening, one in the Castle and one twelve miles away in Trailstone.]
Sometime after 1348 DR (let's go with 1350), the old Spulzeer Inn is rebuilt as the Dragon Turtle Inn.
The problem in the "Castle Spulzeer" adventure is that the reference to Rafe Spulzeer and him building an inn, should have had a "New" in front of it. Lands of Intrigue makes it clear that Trailstone exists before 1348 DR, as does FR3 and even Castle Spulzeer itself, to an extent.
Anyway, that's my take on it.
-- George Krashos |
George Krashos |
Posted - 02 Oct 2022 : 00:29:04 quote: Originally posted by Italian Archmage Karsus
Hey, Mr. Schend, if I may be curious... I was looking at the timeline for Trailstone, and I couldn't quite fit it. I've got that...
Empires of the Sands-p13: Completely different timeline, suggesting the inn was built on Chardath Spulzeer's command in 1349-ish. Lands of Intrigue-Amn-p52: the Spellseer first built the inn in 1316. Lands of Intrigue-Amn-p10: the Vinson family retreated to Trailstone at some point after 1342. Castle Spulzeer-p7: Spellseer Inn built in 1316. Castle Spulzeer-p36: Trailstone was established in 1348 by Rafe Spulzeer, who did not add a tavern so that another would be built close by. He's at the New Spulzeer Inn, the OG Spulzeer Inn is now the Dragon Turtle Inn. The New Spulzeer Inn is also there for almost 20 years in 1367. Secrets of the Magister-p74: Maldiglas Turntower built a Refuge close to Trailstone, before 1328 (year he dies).
I've a hard time figuring out why someone would build a Refuge close to a city that wasn't built until at least 20 years later, but followers of Mystra have done stranger things. The Vinson family's holdings also suggest the earlier date, but the latter date is the one in the latest source: I'm not super certain of which date is correct for the founding of the town or the inn.
I have some suppositions as to what got mixed up in translation: my assumption would be the date of the New Spulzeer Inn's construction got mixed up with that of the OG inn, so OG inn was built in 1316 and New Spulzeer in 1348. But FR3's info, I can't seem to square with that; I suspect it was superseded by later, more specific lore; would you happen to recall anything on the subject? I remember you wrote the Lands of Intrigue book, figured you'd be the one to ask.
Thanks for decades of dreams!
The reference to Maldiglas is descriptive, not historic. It describes where the refuge is, not that Trailstone existed when the refuge was created.
-- George Krashos |
Italian Archmage Karsus |
Posted - 01 Oct 2022 : 00:14:35 Hey, Mr. Schend, if I may be curious... I was looking at the timeline for Trailstone, and I couldn't quite fit it. I've got that...
Empires of the Sands-p13: Completely different timeline, suggesting the inn was built on Chardath Spulzeer's command in 1349-ish. Lands of Intrigue-Amn-p52: the Spellseer first built the inn in 1316. Lands of Intrigue-Amn-p10: the Vinson family retreated to Trailstone at some point after 1342. Castle Spulzeer-p7: Spellseer Inn built in 1316. Castle Spulzeer-p36: Trailstone was established in 1348 by Rafe Spulzeer, who did not add a tavern so that another would be built close by. He's at the New Spulzeer Inn, the OG Spulzeer Inn is now the Dragon Turtle Inn. The New Spulzeer Inn is also there for almost 20 years in 1367. Secrets of the Magister-p74: Maldiglas Turntower built a Refuge close to Trailstone, before 1328 (year he dies).
I've a hard time figuring out why someone would build a Refuge close to a city that wasn't built until at least 20 years later, but followers of Mystra have done stranger things. The Vinson family's holdings also suggest the earlier date, but the latter date is the one in the latest source: I'm not super certain of which date is correct for the founding of the town or the inn.
I have some suppositions as to what got mixed up in translation: my assumption would be the date of the New Spulzeer Inn's construction got mixed up with that of the OG inn, so OG inn was built in 1316 and New Spulzeer in 1348. But FR3's info, I can't seem to square with that; I suspect it was superseded by later, more specific lore; would you happen to recall anything on the subject? I remember you wrote the Lands of Intrigue book, figured you'd be the one to ask.
Thanks for decades of dreams! |
Falldim |
Posted - 05 Sep 2022 : 06:23:29 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend the battlefield could remain on the table with those legions and the first action to take a battlefield could attempt to conquer that one rather than one from one's hand. Still, lemme do more research and check the guides before we settle on a solid answer.
That would seem like a disadvantage then, if my conquered battlefield would have been safe otherwise but by adding Ocuupying Forces I made it available for being in play still? The Card:
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/cardguide/images/e/e1/Occupyingforces.jpg
It clearly says that you add these to your Victory Pool.
We did get our hands on the expanded guide and that explains that unconquered battlefiled do go to discard, but that one card still does not fit into it.
I am waiting eagerly for your further response!
quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend Glad to hear/see that folks are still discovering and enjoying a card game thrown together very quickly nearly 30 years ago; anyone wanting more history on the development of it can hear more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwgXJer46cg
I did an interview earlier this year with CCGHistory's Booster Pack podcast on Blood Wars and its development.
Yes! I watched all of that and hence knew to find you here :D
Thank you so much for the response |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 05 Sep 2022 : 03:38:49 quote: Originally posted by Falldim
Good day, mr Schend I hope you're having a great day.
I have recently fell in love with one beatiful 27 year-old - Blood Wars CCG. I even managed to get one friend excited and willing to play it with me. We both adore Planescape and somehow this has gotten under our radar for years and it is fantastic.
We studied our rulebook meticulously and managed to catch the drift of the game quite easily, but there is one major thing that keeps us up at night. We scoured the Internet for various guides to perhaps resolve it and it really did not help. I believe that you might be the ultimate answer. So here it is.
When the challenger fails to conquer the Battlefield during an Intrigue challenge, it is discarded - it clearly says it in the rules. The Combat challenge however does not specify in the slightest what to do with the Battlefield. Additionally, we stumbled into this one card that sends Legions to the conquered Battlefield that they won, which seems to serve no purpose?
So far, we stumbled into various theories how this all fits together (post-Combat Battlefield is discarded too/hangs out on the table waiting for another challenge/you can challenge for Battlefields in the Victory Pools and that's when the attached Legions make a difference), but they all slightly contradict one another, especially that the rulebook only says that during the Challenge, the acting players plays the Battlefield from their hand...
So please, Master Schend, tell us how it is
Sorry I can't answer this question without some research and longthink, but I'll try and get back to you soon with the answer. My immediate off-the-cuff answer is that the battlefield could remain on the table with those legions and the first action to take a battlefield could attempt to conquer that one rather than one from one's hand. Still, lemme do more research and check the guides before we settle on a solid answer.
Glad to hear/see that folks are still discovering and enjoying a card game thrown together very quickly nearly 30 years ago; anyone wanting more history on the development of it can hear more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwgXJer46cg
I did an interview earlier this year with CCGHistory's Booster Pack podcast on Blood Wars and its development. |
Falldim |
Posted - 11 Aug 2022 : 18:57:48 Good day, mr Schend I hope you're having a great day.
I have recently fell in love with one beatiful 27 year-old - Blood Wars CCG. I even managed to get one friend excited and willing to play it with me. We both adore Planescape and somehow this has gotten under our radar for years and it is fantastic.
We studied our rulebook meticulously and managed to catch the drift of the game quite easily, but there is one major thing that keeps us up at night. We scoured the Internet for various guides to perhaps resolve it and it really did not help. I believe that you might be the ultimate answer. So here it is.
When the challenger fails to conquer the Battlefield during an Intrigue challenge, it is discarded - it clearly says it in the rules. The Combat challenge however does not specify in the slightest what to do with the Battlefield. Additionally, we stumbled into this one card that sends Legions to the conquered Battlefield that they won, which seems to serve no purpose?
So far, we stumbled into various theories how this all fits together (post-Combat Battlefield is discarded too/hangs out on the table waiting for another challenge/you can challenge for Battlefields in the Victory Pools and that's when the attached Legions make a difference), but they all slightly contradict one another, especially that the rulebook only says that during the Challenge, the acting players plays the Battlefield from their hand...
So please, Master Schend, tell us how it is |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 11 Jun 2022 : 13:43:44 quote: Originally posted by kysus
hey steven i hope you are doing well, i seem to have alot of time on my hands right now while quarantining and i was hoping to ask a few question of you. In the fall of myth drannor during the battle of Oacenth's second blooding its stated that irhaal Argentaamn and alea dehast both fell, would you be able to give anymore infomation on how this all went down that finally saw their downfall as im really curious as to how two highmages perished without anything spectacular happening? and were their bodies recovered after that battle to be buried later?
I'll have a better answer later, as I'm on a deadline today, but without rereading what I'd written, my first gut reaction was "Well, did I leave identifiable bodies or was it just reported that they'd died?"
I'd also say that death, even in fiction, isn't always planned, heroic, or spectacular. It's just finite and mortal, if not always final.
More later, gentles!
Steven |
kysus |
Posted - 04 Jun 2022 : 19:25:15 hey steven i hope you are doing well, i seem to have alot of time on my hands right now while quarantining and i was hoping to ask a few question of you. In the fall of myth drannor during the battle of Oacenth's second blooding its stated that irhaal Argentaamn and alea dehast both fell, would you be able to give anymore infomation on how this all went down that finally saw their downfall as im really curious as to how two highmages perished without anything spectacular happening? and were their bodies recovered after that battle to be buried later? |
TomCosta |
Posted - 19 May 2022 : 20:00:49 quote: Originally posted by orbedal
oh shoot, was not aware! thanks Tom. i would be more than happy with anything from Steven's wonderful brain, but in the future, is there a more appropriate place for such questions?
I would ping the General page, that seems to get the most traffic, if you will, in general. |
orbedal |
Posted - 18 May 2022 : 21:27:28 oh shoot, was not aware! thanks Tom. i would be more than happy with anything from Steven's wonderful brain, but in the future, is there a more appropriate place for such questions? |
TomCosta |
Posted - 18 May 2022 : 21:23:07 I'm 99% such lore has not been published for 5E, and since Steven no longer works for WotC, I'm guessing he's not in a position to give you the names. That said, Steven is amazingly creative and might be able to fill in unofficial lore for you. |
orbedal |
Posted - 18 May 2022 : 19:41:30 hi Steven!
a bard in my post-Waterdeep: Dragon Heist campaign (1492DR) has been made a Harper by Mirt in Waterdeep, and the party is currently making their way towards Westgate at his request to investigate some suspicious goings-on.
i'd like to have the party meet the current Master of Twilight Hall when they arrive in Berdusk, as well as any other notable current Harpers in that general Dragon Coast area - but i can't seem to find any of them!
the only currently alive/active Harpers as of 1492 i seem to be able to identify are Mirt, Storm, Tam Zawad, Remalia Haventree and other NPC types from Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 05 May 2022 : 04:01:10 quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Friend Steven, I found this one floating in the ethers:
quote: Originally posted by hawakhuri
Good morning Mr Schend, I would like to ask you a few questions: 1. Do you have any artwork on how Trobriand the metal mage looks like? 2. Is his metal magic so powerful and rare or how would you describe him because according to ruins of undermountain Box 1 it says he rivals the elves of Myth Drannor. 3. Can he be considered a high artificer because of his constant creations and inventions?
Believe I answered some of this on Twitter the week before last.
Block copying responses and such:
[Quoting Ed here] I believe Trobriand, as we saw him in the published Realms, was the creation of Steven Schend (@StevenESchend here on Twitter); you'll have to ask him for his inspiration.
Steven E Schend @StevenESchend
Apr 27 Believe he came into mind as something that’d help scare off drow from the Underhalls by aping their drider forms but making it more deadly. The metal critters were a gimmick to separate him from other apprentices. Beyond that, memory fails until I can find old notes
Whoops. Brain swapped in Muiral the Misshapen there instead of Trobriand. Rereading some wiki articles reminded me that T comes from numerous inspirations—Dr Doom for robot minions, High Evolutionary for seeing what critters become after start, plus wizardry
Hawakhuri @sebastiansanti1 · Apr 27 @StevenESchend It's a pleasure to meet you sir, I'm very surprised and happy for the references you took to create trorbiand.
I would like to ask you if you have any artwork of how trobriand would look like, I am very curious to know how his creator portrays him.
Steven E Schend @StevenESchend · Apr 28 No art I ever did; cartoonish stick figures are my level of art skill.
As for visual ideas of T, take Christopher Lee’s Saruman, add a little dirt and engine grease, change his staff to metal & tech bits, and give him a mechanical homonculus or pseudodragon on shoulder.
Granted, there may be official WotC art on Trobriand in the newer Undermountain books they did but I don’t have them for reference unfortunately.
As for questions 2 & 3, I'd say yes to all 3 embedded questions without detailing any further, as I don't know the mechanics of the game nearly as well as I did in 2E and 3E…
Steven |
Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 28 Apr 2022 : 18:41:35 Friend Steven, I found this one floating in the ethers:
quote: Originally posted by hawakhuri
Good morning Mr Schend, I would like to ask you a few questions: 1. Do you have any artwork on how Trobriand the metal mage looks like? 2. Is his metal magic so powerful and rare or how would you describe him because according to ruins of undermountain Box 1 it says he rivals the elves of Myth Drannor. 3. Can he be considered a high artificer because of his constant creations and inventions?
|
Naeryndam |
Posted - 06 Mar 2022 : 23:25:38 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote: Originally posted by Naeryndam
Hi Steven,
I am currently running a campaign wherein there are 2 dark elf npcs, a brother (Asaran, a rogue) and sister (Asara, a cleric... not sure of which god/goddess yet). As I am drawing up their stat blocks, I am struggling with how to handle them, since they are dark elves from Rhymanthiin, not drow. It then occurred to me that there is probably nobody better to ask than you. I realize this is a loaded question, but I was wondering if you could provide any guidance. Even something such as what ability score bonuses/penalties you would give them would be helpful. Or perhaps I am thinking too much and should simply treat them as typical elves?
Thank you!
My opinions and thoughts on Rhymanthiin's restored dark elves are my own and can be superceded by any lore published by Ed Greenwood or WotC.
That said, I as a DM would treat them exactly the same as regular elves with one technical adjustment—These elves do NOT get either the +2 Dex of elves or a +2 Cha of half-elves. Rhymanthiin elves, due to being fused among the Sharn Continuum for millennia with other races, came out slightly changed (as did all those restored to life by the ritual noted in BLACKSTAFF).
From my point of view, any stat bonuses for any former Sharn (or those born from them) spread out to +1 bonuses to any two of the following by priority/commonality: Charisma, Constitution, Wisdom, Dexterity.
Thus, your dark elves from the City of Hope; regardless of whether they're restored or first generation born on Faerun or not, will have those bonuses plue all the standard elf benefits.
I'd recommend, just for variety, that Asaran's bonuses go to Con & Dex, while Asara (as a cleric) will do best with bonuses to Cha & Wis.
And if you're still thinking on gods, I'd recommend going OLD and having her be a cleric resurrecting the long-ignored triune cult of Angharradh.
Hope that helps. I'd suggest she be a cleric of the Pentad (from my novel) but I still need to finish scribbling that up (as Eric Boyd reminds me every year or so).
Steven
Steven-
I don't know what to say... it is just incredibly awesome of you to detail it all out like this. I like what you have here and will be implementing it in my campaign, once I present the two dark elf NPCs to my players. Thank you so much! |
ericlboyd |
Posted - 06 Mar 2022 : 02:05:50 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend ... but I still need to finish scribbling that up (as Eric Boyd reminds me every year or so).
Steven
Finish up! |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 05 Mar 2022 : 22:12:35 quote: Originally posted by Naeryndam
Hi Steven,
I am currently running a campaign wherein there are 2 dark elf npcs, a brother (Asaran, a rogue) and sister (Asara, a cleric... not sure of which god/goddess yet). As I am drawing up their stat blocks, I am struggling with how to handle them, since they are dark elves from Rhymanthiin, not drow. It then occurred to me that there is probably nobody better to ask than you. I realize this is a loaded question, but I was wondering if you could provide any guidance. Even something such as what ability score bonuses/penalties you would give them would be helpful. Or perhaps I am thinking too much and should simply treat them as typical elves?
Thank you!
My opinions and thoughts on Rhymanthiin's restored dark elves are my own and can be superceded by any lore published by Ed Greenwood or WotC.
That said, I as a DM would treat them exactly the same as regular elves with one technical adjustment—These elves do NOT get either the +2 Dex of elves or a +2 Cha of half-elves. Rhymanthiin elves, due to being fused among the Sharn Continuum for millennia with other races, came out slightly changed (as did all those restored to life by the ritual noted in BLACKSTAFF).
From my point of view, any stat bonuses for any former Sharn (or those born from them) spread out to +1 bonuses to any two of the following by priority/commonality: Charisma, Constitution, Wisdom, Dexterity.
Thus, your dark elves from the City of Hope; regardless of whether they're restored or first generation born on Faerun or not, will have those bonuses plue all the standard elf benefits.
I'd recommend, just for variety, that Asaran's bonuses go to Con & Dex, while Asara (as a cleric) will do best with bonuses to Cha & Wis.
And if you're still thinking on gods, I'd recommend going OLD and having her be a cleric resurrecting the long-ignored triune cult of Angharradh.
Hope that helps. I'd suggest she be a cleric of the Pentad (from my novel) but I still need to finish scribbling that up (as Eric Boyd reminds me every year or so).
Steven |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 02 Mar 2022 : 21:45:09 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend
For anyone who'd been wondering about my long-delayed Rhymanthiin work, here's a nugget or two that rattled loose in a conversation on Twitter yesterday…
https://twitter.com/garethgarfoot/status/1484929528992571397?s=20
Previous link may not have held the whole thread. Here's a better link.
https://twitter.com/garethgarfoot/status/1484930072477941761 |
Naeryndam |
Posted - 28 Feb 2022 : 21:58:41 Hi Steven,
I am currently running a campaign wherein there are 2 dark elf npcs, a brother (Asaran, a rogue) and sister (Asara, a cleric... not sure of which god/goddess yet). As I am drawing up their stat blocks, I am struggling with how to handle them, since they are dark elves from Rhymanthiin, not drow. It then occurred to me that there is probably nobody better to ask than you. I realize this is a loaded question, but I was wondering if you could provide any guidance. Even something such as what ability score bonuses/penalties you would give them would be helpful. Or perhaps I am thinking too much and should simply treat them as typical elves?
Thank you! |
TheIriaeban |
Posted - 18 Feb 2022 : 22:11:03 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote: Originally posted by sleyvas
quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.
How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?
Steven
I heard that him and all of his family back five generations all enjoyed growing beards.... such a vile trait.
Worse still, while Schend had a sparse but full beard (a rarity among half-elves save within his own family), some of his cousins and siblings adopted the Cormyrean affectation of a razor-slim moustache, which angered some even more for reasons yet undelved…
Undelved? My understanding it was a natural reaction due to the heinous actions of the Stiletto 'Stache Society. |
Steven Schend |
Posted - 18 Feb 2022 : 19:31:11 quote: Originally posted by sleyvas
quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.
How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?
Steven
I heard that him and all of his family back five generations all enjoyed growing beards.... such a vile trait.
Worse still, while Schend had a sparse but full beard (a rarity among half-elves save within his own family), some of his cousins and siblings adopted the Cormyrean affectation of a razor-slim moustache, which angered some even more for reasons yet undelved… |
sleyvas |
Posted - 18 Feb 2022 : 19:05:20 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote: Originally posted by TheIriaeban
I have a Netherese archlich who would very likely have a copy of that book. For important books in a collection, I typically have a sentence or three about the author(s) and the effect (if any) of studying the contents. With your kind permission, I would like to use this:
"Mythal Theory by Schend and Melka: Schend was an Arcanist Inventive cotemporary of Lefeber (who created Lefeber's Weave Mythal) who thought Lefeber's research methods were sloppy and didn't follow through to get the full understanding of the subject. Schend was later counted as an elf-friend and teamed up with an elvish Wielder-of-Art named Melka to produce the book. Studying the book will give the reader enough of an understanding to be able to create stable Mythals utilizing only half the required materials and personnel as long as the core group of spellcasters have all studied this work. Time required is not affected."
Nifty, though be warned that one reason the book is rare is concerted efforts by certain elf families and associations that deem what it reveals about mythal weaving to be exposing secrets that ONLY ELVES should read.
Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.
How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?
Steven
I heard that him and all of his family back five generations all enjoyed growing beards.... such a vile trait. |
TheIriaeban |
Posted - 18 Feb 2022 : 16:12:08 quote: Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote: Originally posted by TheIriaeban
I have a Netherese archlich who would very likely have a copy of that book. For important books in a collection, I typically have a sentence or three about the author(s) and the effect (if any) of studying the contents. With your kind permission, I would like to use this:
"Mythal Theory by Schend and Melka: Schend was an Arcanist Inventive cotemporary of Lefeber (who created Lefeber's Weave Mythal) who thought Lefeber's research methods were sloppy and didn't follow through to get the full understanding of the subject. Schend was later counted as an elf-friend and teamed up with an elvish Wielder-of-Art named Melka to produce the book. Studying the book will give the reader enough of an understanding to be able to create stable Mythals utilizing only half the required materials and personnel as long as the core group of spellcasters have all studied this work. Time required is not affected."
Nifty, though be warned that one reason the book is rare is concerted efforts by certain elf families and associations that deem what it reveals about mythal weaving to be exposing secrets that ONLY ELVES should read.
Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.
How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?
Steven
That is pure perfection. You see, that particular archlich is from Mhaelos, Hlondath and left because he saw The Crown against The Scepter Wars as a complete folly and idiocy on a grand scale. Elves and humans have plenty to learn from each other, according to him. Of course, don't ask to borrow any of his books. That will get you a "you must be feebleminded" look and either a change of subject or a quick ejection from his presence. |
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