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Mkhaiwati
Learned Scribe
USA
252 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 09:30:19
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The long awaited part on Cormyr is up here.
Brian did a good job with the article, and has a few good treats, including an -ahast.
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"Behold the work of the old... let your heritage not be lost but bequeath it as a memory, treasure and blessing... Gather the lost and the hidden and preserve it for thy children."
"not nale. not-nale. thog help nail not-nale, not nale. and thog knot not-nale while nale nail not-nale. nale, not not-nale, now nail not-nale by leaving not-nale, not nale, in jail." OotS #367 |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 12:55:59
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By the Knowledge of Oghma - the featured map by all means challanges the supremacy of markusthays map creations!
It is 'very' detailed, I might say! |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 14:13:11
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| I eagerly await your comments fellow scribes. I may even have a few additional bits of lore to share here that didn't make it into the final cut. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 14:21:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
I eagerly await your comments fellow scribes. I may even have a few additional bits of lore to share here that didn't make it into the final cut.
Is this a prelude to a Cormyrnomicon? I glanced at it and it looks good, but gotta work and will read it in full when able! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 14:24:07
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Nice article Brian 
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 14:45:01
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Now this is the kind of article that should have been used as a preview for the FRCG!
I do wonder about a couple of things... Twice in the article, it was called the Forest Country, instead of the Forest Kingdom (which was used once). And now that there's a new -ahast, I'd like to know more about him.
Why did the Freesails disband?
Out of game, I wonder about the move away from mind-reaming.
And a comment about whoever prepared the article for the pdf: who in the heck hyphenates "highknight" by putting the hypen between the k and the n? |
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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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 14:53:54
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| Informative article... |
'Everyone dies...I only choose the time and place for a few.' --Eric Destler |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:04:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Twice in the article, it was called the Forest Country, instead of the Forest Kingdom (which was used once).
Cormyr has also been referred to as "the Forest Country" in previous Realmslore -- in [9410] Cormyr for example.
No doubt Brian scoured many of the older sources while working on this article... including some of the rare few tidbits here and there. It's something I've come to appreciate in Brian's work. |
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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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:06:17
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| That map of Cormyr is pretty freakin' big, too. I just extracted it, and the image size is 1650 x 1124. |
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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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:07:49
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Twice in the article, it was called the Forest Country, instead of the Forest Kingdom (which was used once).
Cormyr has also been referred to as "the Forest Country" in previous Realmslore -- in [9410] Cormyr for example.
No doubt Brian scoured many of the older sources while working on this article... including some of the rare few tidbits here and there. It's something I've come to appreciate in Brian's work.
My bad. I'm just used to the far more commonly used Forest Kingdom. |
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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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:23:27
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quote:
Originally posted by capnvan
I confess that I was reading along, not super happy, but at least appreciating the article, until - "Erzoured... is secretly a black-hearted schemer who wants the throne so bad he can taste it."
Beyond being grammatically incorrect, I have to ask: Really? We've got an illegitimate scion of a dead crown prince, and he's evil and wants to take the throne? Really? We had to dive right into one of the oldest and worst clichés in the fantasy canon?
I mean, isn't that on Peter's Evil Overlord List? It's just such an awful, overused cliché, it's painful. Particularly given that we know the War Wizards have always been incredibly paranoid - no one gave thought to keeping an eye on the mental state of a potential usurper? I haven't read the 4E PHB, but is no one capable of using detect evil anymore?
I'm sorry. I just find that inexcusable. I can understand the need for intrigue and court plots, but that is just lame.
Also, found what appears to be a typo: in the second to last paragraph on p. 44, there is mention of "Queen Jemra" dying in the same month as Crown Prince Emvar. Unless Azoun V also died in the same month, between the two, Jemra couldn't have been queen. Or it wasn't Jemra, it was Nalara Marliir.
It may be a cliché, but it's also something that has happened and will continue to happen, both in the real world and in any world that can be dreamed up: someone very close to -- and perhaps formerly in line for -- a position of power doesn't get it and decides they want it anyway. A cliché, perhaps, but also simple human nature.
Also, the article mentions that mind-reaming has been outlawed. So they can't keep an eye on his mental state.
You also mention detect evil... Well, we know from Realmslore that people just don't go around trying to detect each other's alignment. And even if they did, haivng an evil alignment is by no means proof of evil intent toward any particular entity, group, or nation. Someone who is evil can -- and has, in Realmslore -- still serve goodly causes, and/or be utterly devoted to another person or a group. |
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! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 18 Jul 2008 16:24:32 |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:43:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I do wonder about a couple of things... Twice in the article, it was called the Forest Country, instead of the Forest Kingdom (which was used once). And now that there's a new -ahast, I'd like to know more about him.
Maybe later.quote:
Why did the Freesails disband?
The Freesails were a formal alliance of sailors from Cormyr, Impiltur, and Sembia. Impiltur is way across the (lowered) Sea of Fallen Stars, and Sembia is now Netherese. Once Sembia and Cormyr started their gear-up to war, the alliance could no londer hold.quote]Out of game, I wonder about the move away from mind-reaming. [/quote]Out of game, it has to do with the twisting of reliable magics following the Spellplague. Similiar spells still exist, but War Wizards can't depend on them to be as effective, the true masters of the Old Ways (Vangerdahast and Laspeera) are no longer around, and no one really wants to become a drooling idiot, especially because of a spell that didn't actually work. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:50:21
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Sadly I'm having troubling accessing the pdf. I'll check it out again later on my home computer. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 16:58:25
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quote:
Originally posted by capnvan
Also, found what appears to be a typo: in the second to last paragraph on p. 44, there is mention of "Queen Jemra" dying in the same month as Crown Prince Emvar. Unless Azoun V also died in the same month, between the two, Jemra couldn't have been queen. Or it wasn't Jemra, it was Nalara Marliir.
You're correct, Jemra was not a queen when she died.
However, as Foril has never remarried (and expresses no interest in doing so), Jemra is listed in the Court rolls and any official proclamations as a Queen Consort of Cormyr. I know that it may seem strange, but the Crown can do pretty much whatever it wants in terms of recognizing who is considered to have held which title in life. A similar thing happened on the Day of Three Kings, in the Year of Walking Dreams (289DR); when King Torst and Prince Gordroun (both childless) were both slain by lizardfolk, their younger brother Kordroun declared that Gordroun would be recognized as a King of Cormyr, even though he died within minutes of becoming the immediate heir.
-B |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 17:14:28
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I like it, especially now I know where Alusair went after her 'falling out' with her Nephew when he became King.
Elturgard? I take it Elturel has expanded and become a new kingdom/city state? Does this mean that the Zhents in Darkhold are finished off?
Nice to see Marsember (finally) getting a good kicking - am sure that the Crown did not do this deliberately...... 
Goldfeathers are back? interesting, can you shed any more light on how this happened please?
A good piece very well done Brian, like others I wont be buying the 4E game and certain events wont happen IMC, but I am really pleased that you are on board trying to 'steer the ship' out of the mess that others have inflicted on our beloved Realms 
Thanks
Damian
ps thank Mystra, errrr Azuth, errrrrr Oghma( does this deity survive?) that the HAST IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!
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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 |
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Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 17:30:35
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| Good show Brian. There is hope yet. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 17:38:46
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| Guys, am I the only one who's not getting the pdf? I don't think it's this computer--I saw the Chult stuff just fine! |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 17:45:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Guys, am I the only one who's not getting the pdf? I don't think it's this computer--I saw the Chult stuff just fine!
They* are picking on you Good Lady , everyone else can access it fine
Damian
*whoever 'they' are....... |
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 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 17:53:13
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quote:
Originally posted by crazedventurers
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Guys, am I the only one who's not getting the pdf? I don't think it's this computer--I saw the Chult stuff just fine!
They* are picking on you Good Lady , everyone else can access it fine
Damian
*whoever 'they' are.......
Well, thanks for sending me the pdf, I appreciate it. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 18:22:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Guys, am I the only one who's not getting the pdf? I don't think it's this computer--I saw the Chult stuff just fine!
You're not alone. Of course, I haven't been able to access anything on the wizards site for a week until today. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 18:36:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
You're not alone.
That's comforting to know. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 18 Jul 2008 18:38:13 |
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 19:04:08
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Better then the previous articles. Though that's not saying anything at all.
1. Why is Tyr dead, and what happened to Tymora?
2. What's with the Ironclad? If they've got Steam Engines, that's kinda changing things in the Realms quite a bit. |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 19:19:10
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One general note, to all *puts on his Ed hat*:
If you have questions about things in the piece, this is a good thing. Send them off in an email or a letter to Wizards' Customer Service (not the message boards, which they tend not to consider an accurate measure of fan interest). Let them know you want to know more about the Forest Kingdom, and the inhabitants of 1479DR and onward.
I know that 4E hasn't been as appealing to everyone as WotC has hoped it would be, the 4E Realms in particular. But this is meant not as an end-all, but a teaser, to let fans of FR know that there is much adventure and flavor to be found in these latter years.
We (BRJ, Ed and I) all took great pains to give you characters and events and historyin this article. Brian did the heavy lifting with the prose, and deserves full credit for his excellent work. But the characters and names and events are carefully crafted and woven into the existing lore of Cormyr. Just because we've all been away for a hundred years does not mean that the show has stopped. This is still Cormyr, and the curtain is back up.
Of course, wanting this lore to continue means someone has to pay for it, and soon enough the DDI is going to kick in and this show is no longer going to be free. If enough avid fans of the Realms don't speak up and say "this is the FR lore we've been wanting all along; keep it up, and we'll try and stick around!" then WotC won't know that this is what folks want, and eventually it will dry up completely. Believe me when I say that those of us who work on these things want to write it as much as you all want to read it. But we can't write it unless we're contracted to do so, and we won't be contracted unless WotC has money to pay us with, and that money needs to come from customers hungry for more. [Full disclosure: I've never been paid by WotC for anything, ever. Not one dime. So I'm not shilling for the company. I'm being honest about where I think the company that controls the Realms stands.]
I want nothing more than than to tell you all about Ganrahast's history, about the romance of Foril and Jemra, about Alusair's departure and Caladnei's fate and Laspeera's daughters and all the other little gems I gave over to Brian to squirrel away in this article. But this is a show, folks, and WotC's selling the tickets. They control the curtain, and it won't go up if people keep saying that they would like to watch from outside the door.
BC |
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 19:39:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
Let them know you want to know more about the Forest Kingdom, and the inhabitants of 1479DR and onward.
I want nothing more than than to tell you all about Ganrahast's history, about the romance of Foril and Jemra, about Alusair's departure and Caladnei's fate and Laspeera's daughters and all the other little gems I gave over to Brian to squirrel away in this article. But this is a show, folks, and WotC's selling the tickets. They control the curtain, and it won't go up if people keep saying that they would like to watch from outside the door.
BC
You know, I've been plenty active on the FR forums, asking for new lore, new information about Caladnei, Alusair etc. I WANT more information about Cormyr.
Just not in 1479 DR. Which is all that's being offered. I'm pretty sure we've all made our opinions clear on what we want as fans for the past 10 odd months and even before that. To take your analogy, we've been outside the door with loudspeakers for the past couple of years, shouting at the top of our lungs what we want.
Can't change WoTC. I'd love it if we could. I'd love it if they came to their senses and kept the Realms as the Realms, rather then this abomination. However, I'm over it. I know a company that does like giving it's customers what they want! |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 20:00:05
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| Rather than hijack this thread, I've created a new topic here for anyone that wants to discuss my comments. |
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Malcolm
Learned Scribe
242 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 20:17:45
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Okay, help, please. I know it's a spoiler of sorts, but my computer CAN'T sign on to DDI, or display quite a few of WotC's internal pages properly. I don't know why, after months of checking (it's the only site that I have problems with).
So someone please tell me: where did Alusair go after her "departure"?
And why? Did she fight with Foril?
Garen mentioned wanting to tell us all more about a lot of things, so if we're not told why, let me change this to: what did people in Cormyr think was the reason she was gone, when word spread right after it happened, even if it wasn't the truth?
Brian James? Garen Thal? THO? Anyone?
Thanks! |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 20:31:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm
So someone please tell me: where did Alusair go after her "departure"?
Can't say.
quote:
And why? Did she fight with Foril?
The discussion Alusair and Azoun V had together (her grand-nephew, Foril, was not yet born) was not witnessed by anyone--not even Caladnei--so rumors abound as to the real reason for her departure.
quote:
Garen mentioned wanting to tell us all more about a lot of things, so if we're not told why, let me change this to: what did people in Cormyr think was the reason she was gone, when word spread right after it happened, even if it wasn't the truth?
Some people believed she was raised to the heavens as a servant to Tempus for her battle prowess (not likely, since she held Torm as a patron). Some believed she married a foreigner, assumed a new identity, and left the country. Some nobles believed for a time that she adopted a darker mein and began killing those with traitorous plans in their sleep. Rumors flew around of her riding the Stonelands or stalking the King's Forest (or leaping from peak to peak in the Storm Horns), rooting out monsters and enemies of the Crown.
None of these is quite accurate, of course, but what rumors are?
quote:
Brian James? Garen Thal? THO? Anyone?
The only person I've discussed the full details of where Alusair went and what happened to her after she left Court is Ed. I kept it (mostly) secret even from BRJ, selflishly hoping for the chance to one day tell the story myself. I'm afraid I'll still be doing so, for the moment. |
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sparhawk42
Learned Scribe
104 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 20:51:07
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| Good job, I enjoyed this article very much. One of the best (if not the best) done 4E article so far. |
You never fail until you stop trying. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 20:51:18
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Read the article. I'll copy what I posted on WotC:
OK, I read the article. Yes, I liked the content and the map--very informative. I'm still not moved to play in the 4E Realms, but oh well. Taken on its own, this article was a good read.
I agree that some of the names weren't FRish enough for my taste, like "Edwin" and "Eleanor". I also thought it was a bit strange that one of the PPs featured was for PCs who don't like Cormyr. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 21:30:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm
So someone please tell me: where did Alusair go after her "departure"?
And why? Did she fight with Foril?
Purely speculative on my part.
one
Alusair is the best Battlemaster Cormyr has (at the time), however King Azoun V does not accede to her (or more probably Court Warriors/leading Dragon Officers) request to be made Lord High Marshal of the Realm and leader of the army. So she leaves, goes back 'adventuring' with her blades and finally builds herself a castle in northeast Cormyr protecting Gnoll Pass and Tilvers Gap from the goblinoids of the Stonelands and the Shade armies of the Anauroch.
two
Alusair is the best Battlemaster Cormyr has (at the time), and King Azoun V requests (tells her!) that she become Lord High Marshal of the Realm and leader of the army. However Alusair is sick to the back teeth of leading armies and 'doing' politics and refuses. So she leaves, goes back 'adventuring' with her blades and finally builds herself a castle in northeast Cormyr protecting Gnoll Pass and Tilvers Gap from the goblinoids of the Stonelands and the Shade armies of the Anauroch.
Her castle would probably be called Castle Nacacia and would act as a rallying point for bored young nobles and adventuring types to flock to, to fight the good fight against the enemies of the North whilst the professional army (led by King Azoun V) engages in the war with Sembia and its mercenaries to the East and across the Dragonmere to the South.
Just a few random thoughts.
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 18 Jul 2008 23:49:47 |
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Mkhaiwati
Learned Scribe
USA
252 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2008 : 23:27:53
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| Since the article states that members of the Court and Azoun V himself lobby to have him crowned, I would assume all was not well with Alusair's "Regency". She tells everyone to stuff it where the sun doesn't shine, grabs some of her dueling partners, and rides of somewhere else. Probably somewhere she can still keep an eye on things, waiting to come back when the new king makes a mess of everything and starts crying for Auntie to come back. |
"Behold the work of the old... let your heritage not be lost but bequeath it as a memory, treasure and blessing... Gather the lost and the hidden and preserve it for thy children."
"not nale. not-nale. thog help nail not-nale, not nale. and thog knot not-nale while nale nail not-nale. nale, not not-nale, now nail not-nale by leaving not-nale, not nale, in jail." OotS #367 |
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Dragon issue 365: New Cormyr
