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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 02:42:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Zandilar
Heya,
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
To help get the threads back on track, I'll post a question (which may well be answered in print before Ed can get to it):
Can you give us a few names of "current day" Realmsians related to Alustriel or the Seven? Given that Alustriel had more than twelve sons, there's a high degree of probability that she's the ancestor for many a leader or leading-figure in "today's" North. So any hints you might drop on the progeny of the Tall Ones and/or any others related to her sisters would be appreciated.
See, this is the problem of only saying "Alustriel had 12 sons" and naming some of them, and never mentioning the fact that she also had daughters in the published Realms. No one seems to know (or remember or even extrapolate that it must be probable) that she's had daughters too.
For the sake of my sanity, Ed, could you also include female offspring in this question too (as in her daughters, and those (male and female) descended from them)? And did Storm ever get the child she craved before she died (or whatever, we still don't have a definitive answer on her fate)? Or is that still covered by a big fat shiny NDA?
quote:
who would share more about Khelben's and Laeral's twins but for a pesky NDA
Steven, I don't suppose the NDA can danced around enough to give us an idea of the twin's gender? Or if they're fraternal or identical twins?  (So far the weight's been on the male side, it's about time we got daughters rather than sons in the 4e Realms.  )
Speaking of NDAs, I'm really hoping that some day soon 3rd Ed and earlier NDAs will get lifted, just so we non-moving-with-the-edition folk can finally have some loose ends tied up.
As they're really Ed's characters, Zandilar, `twasn't my place to either imply she'd had no daughters nor add any that weren't in Ed's notes. All I knew of were the children Ed had mentioned in print (and I'd expanded in notes and in lore in various and sundry places). Some of her sons were present at the rising of Rhymanthiin (at least in my notes), so I'd expect a few of them to be down in the City of Hope. Probably a few daughters as well, but I know little of them (which was part of my nefarious query herein).
That said, I'll say this much--the twins of K&L I'd mentioned were fraternal, a boy and girl, born healthy and beautiful. I can't and won't speculate on their status in the 15th century Realms, though I do have notes and ideas of mine own.
Khelben, in his past, has had at least three sets of twin progeny, two of which were both girls and one with a boy and girl, under different aliases (and the latter among these have their ties in Waterdeep history and in the soon-to-be-released novel of mine). Bear in mind, too, that this is in my conception and understanding of the character; if it's not in print, it's unofficial and noncanonical, so if you can find the hints in Blackstaff, feel free to speculate and work with these hints.
Okay, I've said too much already, and this being Ed's thread....I'll leave it to The Hooded One to tease you with said threads. She's much better looking in them than this old hairy designer.
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 23:23:36
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Hello again, all!
Well, I'm back from a few brief visits to GenCon, and Ed is back from an exhausting but fun time with many Keep scribes and co-authors, but rendered silent for another day or so by the latest layoffs from Wizards (don't worry: the Books folks who creatively handle the Realms are untouched), and by the need to get his car fixed before one of the front wheels falls off. (An hour ago, he was helping to hammer a control arm back into its housing, with the aging chariot up on a hoist at his local dealership.)
In the meantime, let me just add a few notes: Ed's snatch of soprano singing at the Spin A Yarn was from two lines Buttercup's song (Gilbert & Sullivan): ". . . I'm called Buttercup/Sailors should never be shy" and Zandilar, rest assured that Ed has the daughters you mentioned firmly in mind but they are even more firmly NDA'd.
Ed also has lots of future fiction plans for the Realms in mind, and intends to add game coverage of the countryside as plentifully and as swiftly as his schedule and the planned WotC channels (Realmslore columns on the website, probably) allow.
He truly cherishes the love and fierce devotion to the Realms expressed here at the Keep and at GenCon, and intends to go on try to make the Realms as detailed, positive, and exciting a place to read and game in as possible, come what may.
Truly. He's not a Wizards employee, not their paid spokesman, and not trying to gild over difficulties and awkwardnesses. He just believes that angry words can't be "unsaid," and that the best results will come from everyone working together to make the Realms as great as possible and at the same time, everyone making the Realms "their own" as they see fit, for their own uses.
He also told me this GenCon was superb for him, personally, thanks to the Salvatore family, several WotC staffers, many fans and fellow game writers and designers, and his good friends among the Realms fans and designers who hang out here at the Keep, and took time to chat and hang out with him at the con.
Ed is of the opinion that it might take a couple of years, but that you should see some new WotC-published Realms novelists, designers, and short story writers arising from the ranks of Candlekeep scribes.
love to all,
THO
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Edited by - The Hooded One on 21 Aug 2008 23:25:17 |
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Zandilar
Learned Scribe
Australia
313 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2008 : 00:02:16
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Heya,
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
As they're really Ed's characters, Zandilar, `twasn't my place to either imply she'd had no daughters nor add any that weren't in Ed's notes. All I knew of were the children Ed had mentioned in print (and I'd expanded in notes and in lore in various and sundry places). Some of her sons were present at the rising of Rhymanthiin (at least in my notes), so I'd expect a few of them to be down in the City of Hope. Probably a few daughters as well, but I know little of them (which was part of my nefarious query herein).
I see, a cunning plan.
quote:
That said, I'll say this much--the twins of K&L I'd mentioned were fraternal, a boy and girl, born healthy and beautiful. I can't and won't speculate on their status in the 15th century Realms, though I do have notes and ideas of mine own.
<snip other interesting information that may prove handy in the right... ahem... hands>
Wonderful! Thank you so much for all that fluffy goodness! 
quote:
Okay, I've said too much already, and this being Ed's thread....I'll leave it to The Hooded One to tease you with said threads. She's much better looking in them than this old hairy designer.
Nuff said, right? |
Zandilar
~amor vincit omnia~
~audaces fortuna iuvat~
As the spell ends, you look up into the sky to see the sun blazing overhead like noon in a desert. Then something else in the sky catches your attention. Turning your gaze, you see a tawny furred kitten bounding across the sky towards the new sun. Her eyes glint a mischevious green as she pounces on it as if it were nothing but a colossal ball of golden yarn. With quick strokes of her paws, it is batted across the sky, back and forth. Then with a wink the kitten and the sun disappear, leaving the citizens of Elversult gazing up with amazed expressions that quickly turn into chortles and mirth.
The Sunlord left Elversult the same day in humilitation, and was never heard from again. |
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2008 : 01:24:59
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Ed also has lots of future fiction plans for the Realms in mind, and intends to add game coverage of the countryside as plentifully and as swiftly as his schedule and the planned WotC channels (Realmslore columns on the website, probably) allow.
He truly cherishes the love and fierce devotion to the Realms expressed here at the Keep and at GenCon, and intends to go on try to make the Realms as detailed, positive, and exciting a place to read and game in as possible, come what may.
Truly. He's not a Wizards employee, not their paid spokesman, and not trying to gild over difficulties and awkwardnesses. He just believes that angry words can't be "unsaid," and that the best results will come from everyone working together to make the Realms as great as possible and at the same time, everyone making the Realms "their own" as they see fit, for their own uses.
This is great to read. Thank you!
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My Realms novel, Sandstorm, is now available for ordering. |
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Ladejarl
Seeker
Norway
55 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2008 : 16:56:04
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
He's not a Wizards employee, not their paid spokesman, and not trying to gild over difficulties and awkwardnesses. He just believes that angry words can't be "unsaid," and that the best results will come from everyone working together to make the Realms as great as possible and at the same time, everyone making the Realms "their own" as they see fit, for their own uses.
A wise man, the Bearded One...
It won't stop me from hoping they'll slip up so that the rights revert to Ed, yes I by lottery tickets to.
::Walks of while mumbling: Realms by Paizo, Realms by Paizo.:: |
"There should be much less violence, and more nudity and kinkiness in the world." |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 02:56:49
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Hello again, all. Ed has returned, his chariot restored, and has responded to many recent questions in this thread with a blizzard of short replies, as follows:
Sir Urza, to respond to your Aug 13th query, back on page 56 of this thread: I wrote about the elves of Golarion (more than would fit in the product Mike McArtor was assembling at the time, of course, so some of it’ll show up elsewhere, too).
Wooly Rupert, Susan Morris edits my Spin A Yarn pieces and then Miranda Horner (the lovely Lady Gumdrop) gets them onto the website. This year, when she was doing so (literally in the hours before I departed for GenCon, and then when I snuck onto a Net-connected computer partway through my journey down), I begged her to find the “long lost on the Wizards site” first Spin A Yarn tale and restore the links - - and she eagerly sleuthed and found and came through for us all! Hurray and much thanks, Lady Miranda!
althen artren, the mountains west of the Dalelands hold just about everything in the way of mineral wealth, from easily-mined surface veins of iron and copper to “tubes” where lodes of gemstones can be found. Unfortunately for delvers of today, most of the easily-found and -accessed veins have been found and worked out in the past, so one must go into the monster-haunted deeps under the earth, braving drow and worse, to gain much (“mining” the ruins of Myth Drannor for gems and metal treasures was far more profitable than mining mountain rock, circa the 1370s, if one managed to survive the demons and devils infesting the place).
sfdragon, Menelvagor, and Kuje: the fates of the Seven are revealed in the FRCS or in Realms novels, or will be revealed in the fullness of time. One of the two ladies sfdragon mentioned is definitely NOT dead in the Year of the Ageless One.
Menelvagor, Elminster is still alive for other reasons, some of which will be revealed in the novel I write after THE SWORD NEVER SLEEPS, if not sooner. I’ll just hint this much: Elminster’s mind is a very crowded place, these days (“these days” meaning days in the Year of the Ageless One). [[So, yes, unless I get run over by a truck soon, there probably will be more Elminster books in 4e.]] As for your speculations regarding The Simbul: heh, you’re going to be surprised . . .
Ashe Ravenheart: Elminster definitely hasn’t been put in a retirement home, though I’m sure there are many times he wishes he has. The possible perils of bland food, boring routine, dementia, and smells are a lot less daunting than the perils he DOES have to face, trust me. Your guesses re. his “voices” are very good ones, and I’ll just have to correct you by saying [NDA] [NDA] [NDA] and of course [NDA], except when [NDA].
Zandilar, I’m glad you liked The Weaver of Dreams. I wrote it in half a day, once I finally got around to sitting down to do it, and had a lot of fun. I have safely received the file from this year’s Spin A Yarn, but probably won’t get to it until very early 2009.
As for your daughters questions, I’m sorry, but big fat shiny NDAs are indeed still in place. Which, when you think about, should hearten you (hint hint ahem hint).
KnightErrantJR, I believe I did meet your charming daughter on Sunday, but then again: there ARE other kind gentlemen at GenCon (and for that matter, I spend a lot of time at the con being, er, less than gentlemanly).
The Red Walker, glad I could brighten your day. Although we “industry professionals” often use the con as a time to sit and talk business (and meet old friends, too, just as everyone else does) GenCon is for the fans. When I meet you, it may be my two-thousand-and-thirteenth encounter with a gamer that day, but it’s probably your first meeting with me, and the gamer behind you may be awaiting his first meeting with me ever, and so on. Nothing in the world is more important than making you happy, hearing what you have to say (crit as well as kudos), and finding out what you’d like to see. I just wish more gaming company folks never forgot that.
At my first GenCon (Number 8, in Lake Geneva) all the “old pro gamers” were very nice to me, a skinny bespectacled and shy kid from Canada, and I will be d**mned if I’ll do less for gamers I meet now, than they did back then.
I remember meeting some kids from Kenosha at GenCon 23 (I think) in Milwaukee who were just awed by all the games or sale. So they’d spent all their food and “bus home” money by early Saturday, and were facing starvation and a long walk out of the city, so I gave them a hundred bucks for food and drove them home Sunday - - and was more than a little stunned to be introduced, at a much later GenCon, to two young gamers who’d been named after me by their forever-grateful fathers, because of that little, little helping hand.
Anyone who designs games for money is crazy (well, yes, anyone who designs games is crazy, but . . . ). I do this for the friendships and the fun.
And the few lines of cracked soprano I managed to croak out at GenCon (the front of that room was COLD, and since my throat surgery I really need to warm up my voice, to have any upper register or falsetto at all) was from “I’m Called Little Buttercup” from H.M. S. Pinafore (the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta).
Which brings me to wanting to express deep thanks on my part to many, many folks of the Keep who made my GenCon a delight this year, including Garen Thal, Steven Schend, Brian Gute, Jeff Thetford, Brian James (and thanks for putting up with my teasing you re. Toni with such grace and good humour, too!), Jaleigh Johnson, Paul Kemp, Erik Scott de Bie, and Kuje and Wandering_mage and so many, many more. I HOPE I got to meet the Lady K (I did, didn’t I?). I’m forgetting dozens more right now, but please believe me: I don’t WANT to forget or slight you, I’m just getting old and overloaded. (The Lady THO can overload me all by herself when she wants to, believe me. Umm, didn’t think you’d have all that hard a time believing that . . .)
To all scribes: I don’t care if you’ve sworn off the 4e Realms or not, you’re missing out on some GREAT novels if you pass over any of the four books in the “Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep” series that I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing thus far. Three of them have been publicly announced, and two were signed and given away as fast as gamers could snap them up at the con. In order of appearance, the three announced tomes are Steven’s BLACKSTAFF TOWER, Jaleigh’s MISTSHORE, and Erik’s DOWNSHADOW. Three very different books, yet all capture the essence of the great city of Waterdeep, and all of them are darned good yarns that I have re-read several times with much pleasure. That preceding sentence also applies to the still-secret fourth book.
And if you’re looking for something a little offbeat, WORLDS OF THEIR OWN debuted at GenCon, too. Jim Lowder ably herded catsXXXX er, thought up and edited this collection of stories by Elaine Cunningham, Paul Kemp, me, James Lowder himself, and such familiar names as J. Robert King, Bob Salvatore, Michael Stackpole, and Gary Gygax: stories we all wrote that are NOT set in shared worlds. Mine is a “sky pirates” sort of story from decades ago, and the other tales are similarly “different from what you’re used to.” A trade paperback in the Planet Stories line from Paizo. End of shameless plugs, I promise.
Edit: Ackkh, I'm getting old! I forgot to mention Monte Cook, Lisa Smedman, Greg Stafford, Will McDermott, etc as contributors to WORLDS OF THEIR OWN. Thank goodness Jim Lowder is nowhere near as forgetful as me, and got stories from them and still others!
I have some urgent matters to clear up after the con, and will plunge right back into lore replies as soon as I can. Which means soon, I promise.
So saith Ed. Who keeps his promises, believe me. (I once had the bruises to prove it, but that’s another story.)
love to all,
THO
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Edited by - The Hooded One on 23 Aug 2008 03:09:38 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 03:32:44
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That story about the two gamers made me cry -
Don't do that again.
Thanks for all of that Ed (and THO), typical ED as the consumate gentleman and entertainer. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 03:34:23
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
And the few lines of cracked soprano I managed to croak out at GenCon (the front of that room was COLD, and since my throat surgery I really need to warm up my voice, to have any upper register or falsetto at all) was from “I’m Called Little Buttercup” from H.M. S. Pinafore (the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta).
Oh, I would've loved to have heard it.
*The Sage wanders off to find his own well-used copy of that same operatta*
quote:
I HOPE I got to meet the Lady K (I did, didn’t I?).
I think it would be best to just let the Lady K herself tell the story of what actually happened there.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 04:47:20
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thanks THO and send my thanks to Mr. Greenwood.
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why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 04:57:57
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Wooly Rupert, Susan Morris edits my Spin A Yarn pieces and then Miranda Horner (the lovely Lady Gumdrop) gets them onto the website. This year, when she was doing so (literally in the hours before I departed for GenCon, and then when I snuck onto a Net-connected computer partway through my journey down), I begged her to find the “long lost on the Wizards site” first Spin A Yarn tale and restore the links - - and she eagerly sleuthed and found and came through for us all! Hurray and much thanks, Lady Miranda!
I'd like to echo those thanks to the Lady Gumdrop. I had a copy of that story from when it first appeared, but I am very glad to have a current link to it, to share with everyone else. I have a lot of handy links, preformatted for posting here, that are scattered across various HTML pages of my own design. As soon as I found that updated link, I added it to the page with all the links to the Spin A Yarn tales, and I made sure the link was shared out for all.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 05:01:57
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[hero worshipping]
I'll tell you, I will never forget the first time I met Ed. It was in `94 when Making of the Mage first came out. He made a guest appearance at our local con in Easton, PA and I not only got my copy of the book signed, but also my Elminster Spellfire card (and being Ed, he changed the card text to read that El was immune to all magic except 'Turtle Soup').
I can truly say that the meeting was a turning point in my life, because I had been very late to the con since I had to work earlier that day. So I was standing there with undying admiration in my eyes, apologizing for my Toll-booth Collector's uniform and made an off-hand comment about how work sucked. He looked me up and down and told me (paraphrased, for my memory is not THAT good) to remember that this was a game to have fun with and Life always takes precedence.
Thank you Ed, for everything and I am eagerly awaiting the third part of the Knights and all future work!
[/hero worshipping] |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 13:36:24
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Ed, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you. I have dreamed of attending GENCON since 1995 when I first heard about it. Meeting you and so many other FR authors was the thrill of a lifetime. You have no idea how your imagination helps people like me spur my own imagination to new heights. You are never a disappointment sirrah, the high pedestal you stand on is created by your fans for you, for you are far too humble to talk yourself up.  |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 15:49:49
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
To all scribes: I don’t care if you’ve sworn off the 4e Realms or not, you’re missing out on some GREAT novels if you pass over any of the four books in the “Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep” series that I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing thus far. Three of them have been publicly announced, and two were signed and given away as fast as gamers could snap them up at the con. In order of appearance, the three announced tomes are Steven’s BLACKSTAFF TOWER, Jaleigh’s MISTSHORE, and Erik’s DOWNSHADOW. Three very different books, yet all capture the essence of the great city of Waterdeep, and all of them are darned good yarns that I have re-read several times with much pleasure. That preceding sentence also applies to the still-secret fourth book.
It's all well and good that novels are coming out for the Realms. After all, it's a novel setting now, but is there going to be any love for us gamers? Lore articles that can be used in the Realms (I.e, the pre Spellplague one) would be most appreciated Ed! |
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AlorinDawn
Learned Scribe
USA
313 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 16:15:35
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I guess I will add my thanks here as well. I met Ed last year at Gencon '07 and have been lucky enough to spend a decent amount of time with him when I have met him. Ed sat at my group's table at Pentacon '07 and yacked at length with us. When I had the opportunity to met Ed here in my home town of Columbus, Ohio at Origins I got the treat of shopping in the dealers room and BSing with him for quite some time and getting to know him a bit. As we walked along Ed was open and kind to every fan that approached him. He truly is great to his fans, and it is VERY easy to see he feeds off of our excitement and adoration. It's nice to see he gets something back. It was also nice to meet Red Walker and Kuje at Gencon whilst we were all chatting it up with Ed. I hope I'm able to meet more of you over the years and see a bit more of Ed himself too.
Thanks again for the time you give us Ed and for the kind words you paid my home brewed lore. Thanks to you too THO for your work here at the keep. Hopefully I'll get the purrrrleasure of meeting you one of these days. Two cons gone by and near misses on both.
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Edited by - AlorinDawn on 23 Aug 2008 17:00:45 |
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Menelvagor
Senior Scribe
Israel
352 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 18:53:47
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| Hooray! I want it now! More of The Simbul! More of Elminster! Up with the new Mystra and Azuth (The Simbul&Elminster?)! |
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly.
How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation in the dust, are crushed before the moth?" - Eliphaz the Temanite, Job IV, 17-19.
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" - Ecclesiastes VI, 6.
"There are no stupid questions – just a bunch of inquisitive idiots."
"Let's not call it 'hijacking'. Let's call it 'Thread Drift'." |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 19:42:53
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Hello again, all.
Ed speaks:
Awww, you guys, you'll give me a swelled head with all this praise. I'm just as nice guy as I can manage to be, who likes to write fantasy stories, created a world to do set them in, and was in the right place at the right time.
Uzzy, I'll do what I can. If not on the Wizards website (where I should have Realmslore pieces in DRAGON, eventually), or in some other WotC offering, then here at the Keep. I don't know ywt, and I'm struggling to fulfill my contractual obligations first. In life, if I don't keep my promises, I am nothing.
So saith Ed. Who is buried in post-GenCon communiques, legal matters, plans, and unfinished novels. To say nothing of my teasings.
love to all,
THO |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 19:58:25
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Heh, Ed just get larger hats, because I'm going to share one of my "Ed is great" GenCon stories.
Ed at a Milwaukee GenCon (forget which one) dining in Mader's with some TSR friends. I saw him wander off to the restrooms to recycle his beer (I was not far behind him, bound to do the same thing). On the way back he detoured through the restaurant to look at the really long boar sword they had tacked up on the wall, and passed a table where there was a scared-looking little girl and her mother, who had started to cry but was using her table napkin to try to hide it.
Turned out the mother's con bag had been stolen from their table. She'd left her purse in the hotel room so as not to lose anything important, but brought a carry bag and some money into the show. She'd spent most of the money shopping, but now had lost the new D&D stuff that had debuted at the show (and was sold out), which was for her husband who had to work and couldn't make GenCon that year . . . AND her money for paying for the meal at Mader's.
Ed had his usual "monster suitcase" with him, and happily pulled out his new D&D books and modules for her, plus a neat little kid's game he'd bought, that he gave to the little girl. Then he asked them to come meet the TSR designers and artists. On the way, he found her waiter, and paid for her meal (with a big tip, too).
That's when I decided Ed was a great guy.
He once told me something his father had told him, after a funeral at which someone too young had been buried, and Ed had commented that it didn't seem fair. His dad told him: "Son, son, life isn't fair. MAKING it fair is our job. You, me, all of us."
Ed told me he tries to live by that.
Me, I think angels come to Earth as fat bearded guys who like to flirt and be outrageous.
BB |
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A Publishing Lackey
Seeker
74 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 20:01:35
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Ed is similarly revered in certain publishing circles, as "nice and fair."
I once heard him reply to a movie exec who was asking him why he didn't sue TSR to get control of the Realms back, long ago, by replying calmly, "Because life is too short and too precious for me to waste a single moment of mine being an asshole."
Which I think is the single best Hollywood putdown I've ever heard.  |
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Malcolm
Learned Scribe
242 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 20:16:54
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I can add some "Ed being nice to people at GenCon" stories, too, but I'll mention just one. A gamer wanting to get "someone from TSR" to draw a sketch of Elminster in the front of her Players Handbook so she could show what the Old Mage looked like when DMing. She stood in front of the vacant artists' table for about five minutes on Sunday, before Ed, who was talking to gamers at the TSR booth, noticed her and came over to find out out what she needed.
He promptly sat down at the table and drew her a VERY nice, detailed sketch of Elminster (a head-and-shoulders pic), signed it, and imitated Elminster speaking a few of his favorite phrases for her roleplaying ease. She thanked him, peered at her book trying to decipher his signature for a few moments, and finally asked, "Uh, which artist are you?"
When he told her his name, her face was a picture. |
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A Gavel
Seeker
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 20:32:20
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Much as it pains me to be seen trying to "top" the tales of others, I think it's high time a wider audience knew THIS little anecdote of Ed.
Some years ago at a GenCon in the Milwaukee years, I introduced a friend of mine to Ed. She'd recently been horribly disfigured in a fire, and was literally wearing a mask (a cat mask, with cat costume) to GenCon, figuring that among all the other costumes, she'd not feel quite so self-conscious. Ed talked with her as if she was an old friend, for about ten minutes, and she felt so at ease that she told him what had happened to her, and took off her mask.
People all around recoiled at her ruined face (one of her eyeballs stood out from a real mess), but Ed didn't. He just took her hand, asked if she still felt pain, told her what guts she had for coming to the con, and hugged her when she then started to cry, talking her back to calmess again.
A year later, she came to the next GenCon, post-plastic surgery but wearing the same costume, and he remembered her name and called out to her excitedly the moment he saw her. She was so thrilled that she tore off her mask, ran to him, and then whipped up her top and flashed her reconstructed er, front at him (her chest had been ruined by the fire, too). "Like them?" she asked him, all excited, and Ed replied as calmly as if she'd been showing him a color sample for painting a wall: "Superb. Which is nothing less than what you deserve."
Now, THAT'S a class act. I've seen doctors and trained grief counsellors who didn't handle disfigured people as well.
Now, I DO have another Realms lore question for Ed: can deepspawn only mate with other deepspawn, to produce new deepspawn? Or can shapechangers be mind-controlled into taking deepspawn shape to breed with them? With what result? (Yes, I have STRANGE players.  )
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Sage of Stars
Seeker
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 23:00:48
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Hello, Lady THO and Ed,
I have a lore question: when the royal family of Cormyr sell gems from the Crystal Grot, all across the Realms, HOW do they do so? In other words, who carries them to the various markets and sells them? (Wouldn't such agents eventually become known or suspected, and targeted?)
Thanks! |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 00:19:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Sage of Stars
Hello, HOW do they do so? In other words, who carries them to the various markets and sells them? (Wouldn't such agents eventually become known or suspected, and targeted?)
Thanks!
Just a few thoughts:
Easy answer is wizards teleporting and changing their appearance, so each time its a 'new' seller - therefore no transport issues and no way to know who the person is (they would probably have at least one bodyguard with them. I would think it is likely to be a Highknight if the shipment is reasonably valuable)
I would imagine that they sell to other sellers of gemstones (wholesale to retail if you like) and other interested groups. So because the quality is good and the supply regular the people they sell to have built up a positive working relationship with Cormyr and have no wish to threaten that relationship as it is bad for business. So Cormyr is not at risk of theft, but the seller is who sells-on the Cormyr gems to the open market to anyone who can afford them.
The interested parties I mentioned would be organised mage guilds (WoMP for instance) and large (mainly good aligned??) churches. Both wizards and priests need gemstones for spell and prayers and again over a number of years they would come to rely upon the Cormyr gems and do not want to 'spoil the apple cart' (or whatever the Realms equivelant saying is!) by getting 'clever' and attempting to get them for free.
I may be wrong, but I don't see Cormyr selling directly to the open market (as in, announce to the public "we have gems to sell, anyone interested?"). They may sell to individuals who make it known they are looking for specific gems and if Cormyr hears about it, then intermediaries (probably spell disguised highknights again) will contact the 'requester' and see if business is possible. This obviously does open up the potential for theft, but I would imagine the process from request to sale is fairly protracted and has lots of Wizards of War spying and prying first!
Just my thoughts
Damian
EDIT: meant to add: Cormyr sell the gems in lots of places to 'spread the wealth'. That way they don't flood the market (and lower the price) and unless you are 'in the know' a thief (or three) probably wouldn't even suspect they are coming from Cormyr as the volume will be so small as to not warrant any notice.
I would say the timings of selling will also be erratic, so as to not fall into a discernable pattern that opens up opportunities for the ‘light fingered’ to take advantage of.....
Hope this helps |
So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
Edited by - crazedventurers on 24 Aug 2008 00:28:01 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 00:31:36
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Now A_Gavel made me cry... 
Stop gettin' to my 'girly side'
- Markustay, who's had that stupid "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm okay..." song stuck in his head since yesterday (because of another thread here).
I need to drink beer and headbutt sumthin', before I go over the edge and start watching The View.
Not Quite a Question:
I'm still hoping Ed can answer my geography questions from a couple pages back, but in the meantime, I know of a little bit of Realmslore that may help A_Gavel (even though he was a bad man and made me cry).
There was a Beholder that learned to reproduce the ability of a Deepspawn named the Beholder King (PftF, pg.22). It somehow managed to do this by magical means, and I don't even want to dwell on the 'logistics' involved, but obviously there is at least one canon example of another creature being able to duplicate the Deepspawn's extraodinary ability.
Hope that helps in some way. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 24 Aug 2008 00:32:42 |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 00:59:03
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Well Met Ed and Tho
I have been re-reading the Cyclopedia of the Realms (for the community project) and even after 21 years of constantly reading the book I still spot something new!
Under the Harpers section, Bridorn quotes to Florin 4 members of the Harpers, Mintiper and Storm (whom we have lore about) and two rangers Thulraven and Estulphore whose names are unknown to me (I have done a quick scan of Code of the Harpers and I can't see them in there)
Ed/THO can you shed any light on these two rangers please? (as at the campaign time of the OGBS setting).
Many thanks
Damian |
So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
Edited by - crazedventurers on 25 Aug 2008 10:42:56 |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 03:32:21
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| I honestly had a question for Ed, but can't remember it with all the blurry vision and stuff. Must be allergies. *sniff* |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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createvmind
Senior Scribe
490 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 05:21:48
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Indeed we florish!
Thank you Ed and all. |
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Seainna Mistwalker
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 07:57:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Now A_Gavel made me cry...
Stop gettin' to my 'girly side'
And what pray-tell is wrong with ones "girly side" ?
Some of us are all "girly side" you know...
On a side note that pertains to you Markus, I loved the little blurb about your sister trying to lift your spirits by purchasing that much wanted FRCS 4e tome. It made me smile, thank you for sharing.. |
Edited by - Seainna Mistwalker on 24 Aug 2008 07:59:32 |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 19:06:39
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MMMM, yes, I LIKE investigating girly sides. And backs, and . . . geez, I sound like THO!
Oops!
Ahem.
Sorry!
Dearest and most beautiful Lady THO, I have a Realmslore question for our Ed, or rather a whole raft of them. Mostly about this Returned Abeir place he wrote about. "Once over lightly," as it were. Any chance of getting more usual Ed juicy goodness coverage of some of the places of Abeir, in the usual Ed fashion, here or on the Wizards website?
And to echo Uzzy and others, what about those of us who have campaigns happily running along circa the 1370s, and don't want to timejump yet? Will you still answer "old Realms" lore questions here, for us?
Thanks!
BB |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 20:09:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Seainna Mistwalker
Some of us are all "girly side" you know...
I, as well, highly appreciate those that are all 'girly side'. Much more fun to snuggle and stuff. Besides, Markus's girly side is kinda scratchy...
*ahem*
Yes, I've remembered my Lore question. I don't recall seeing mention of the Knights of Myth Drannor in the FRCG. Even if some of the members are no longer with us in body (although they will remain in spirit forever), has the group still survived? Possibly with Azalar Falconhand heading the group for a time? |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Marek
Seeker
Italy
52 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 20:18:36
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Hello,
I have a very simple question for Ed:
Why do Red Wizards wear red?
Any info related will be much appreciated...I am a Thay-addict |
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2008)
Topic Locked
