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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Aug 2008 : 11:14:58
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Before I bought Spellbound (the FR boxed set, not the suspense movie), I had compiled a list of several zulkirs, but the Spellbound: Campaign Guide threw my list into a tizzy.
What's the effective date of the zulkir list in the Spellbound: Campaign Guide, please? Judging by the entries in The Grand History of the Realms, I suspect that Runes of Chaos is set in the Year of the Shield (DR 1367).
When did Maligor become zulkir of Transmutation (Alteration)? Does the end of Red Magic (SPOILER FOLLOWS!) record his actual death in the Year of the Helm (DR 1362), or just a temporary setback? (To avoid spoiling the end of the book for other readers, let's call those Options 1 and 2 respectively, shall we?)
My campaign is currently in Eleasis of the Year of the Turret (DR 1360). Is the list in the Spellbound: Campaign Guide fully applicable in that year (except that Maligor may be zulkir of Trannutation/Alteration)? Tell us, please, in what years were those zulkirs elevated to their zulkirates? Inquiring DMs want to know!
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
732 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2008 : 13:42:06
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Official information about the identities of all Zulkirs and the date of their ascension is scarce. I established a list of Zulkirs as of 1350 DR, based on a mix of official information and make-up, as a function of the needs of my then-campaign. (I wanted the PCs to get involved with Lauzoril, who would be acting as a patron of sorts (in disguise, of course), using them to eliminate rival Red Wizards and provide him with magical resources that he would use to kill the Zulkir of Enchantment).
As of 1350 DR, the roster of the zulkirs in my campaign ran as follows:
Zulkir of Abjuration: Ectar Odesseiron (LE ? Level abjurer; death arranged by Szass Tam; succeeded by Lallara Mediocros). Unofficial. I picked an Odesseiron because it's a long-standing family.
Zulkir of Alteration: Maligor (CE 22nd-level transmuter) (? – 1362 DR), dead at the hand of Harpers (see novel "Red Magic", succeeded by Druxus Rhym). Maligor's death seems to be officially set in 1362 DR. I assumed that Druxus Rhym succeeded him. I made decision that Maligor would already be Zulkir of Alteration in 1350 DR, since in my view, the council of Zulkirs would be relatively stable.
Zulkir of Conjuration / Summoning: ? Ezmarken (? level conjurer, until 1358 DR – dies in the Time of Troubles); Sabass (23rd-level conjurer) (1358 DR – 1366 DR, became zulkir without wanting it assassinated by Szass Tam's agents); succeeded by Nevron. In FR6 - Dreams of the Red Wizards Sabass is given an NPC write-up, and it does not state that he is Zulkir at the time. Nevron's NPC write up in Spellbound confirms that Sabass was his predecessor. I made a determination that Sabass became Zulkir following the ToT, wherein his predecessor would have perished. I picked the name Ezmarken because it was a long-established family (note: I am not sure if the Ezmarken are a "canon" family; if they are not, I got the name from our fellow scribe Sleyvas's work).
Zulkir of Enchantment / Charm: ? Tavai (? Level enchanter, ? – 1353 DR or 1354 DR; defeated by Lauzoril). Most of this is based on information from The Simbul's Gift, which states that as of the date of the novel (1368 DR), Lauzoril had been Zulkir for around 15 years. I also seem to remember that he took the name "Lord Tavai" because that was his predecessor's (incidentally, also his father-in-law) name.
Zulkir of Divination: Nyressa Flass, the "Vampire Zulkir" (24th-level Diviner, as of 1350 DR, she has been a vampire for 255 years, but looks like a human woman in her mid-twenties; succeeded by Yaphyll). Nyressa Flass is listed in Spellbound as having been a Zulkir, and having lived for more than 300 years. I liked the idea that, as part of his path to power, Lauzoril could have had a hand in the demise of Nyressa (to get his hands on part of her arsenal, probably), perhaps with the help of the PCs, manipulated by Szass Tam. Out of all the unassigned schools, I picked divination, for a number of reasons. If judged by experience level alone, Yaphyll is the least powerful of the Zulkirs as of 1368 DR. I then reasoned that she was probably of relatively recent ascension, and that Szass Tam may have seen some use in letting a relative newbie become Zulkir (I'll admit that 19th level, as she was in Spellbound, is nothing to scoff at, but I was simply comparing with the other Zulkirs.) Also, I thought it was a nice twist to make a vampire a diviner rather than a necromancer (been there, done that, got the burial shroud).
Zulkir of Illusion: Mythrell'aa (? – Current) (From The Simbul's Gift, p. 78: "[She]'d been a Zulkir before [Aznar Thrul] was born." 'nuff said.
Zulkir of Invocation / Evocation: ? (? Level evoker, ? – 1357 DR, defeated by Aznar Thrull in the aftermath of the Salamander War). Aznar was not a Zulkir during the salamander war - Spellbound, p. 6, mentions him as an "up-and-coming Red Wizard", and speaks of the Zulkir of Invocation as a different (though unnamed) person. I think it's safe to assume that Aznar was not Zulkir at the time of the Salamander War. For the sake of dramatic effect, I'd have him challenge the Zulkir to a formal duel and blast him to pieces.
Zulkir of Necromancy: Szass Tam (NE lich Nec 26) (? – Current) Szass has been around forever and, judging from Ed's reply to the "Why do Red Wizards wear red?" question, he was already around even before the secession from Mulhorand.
That's my take on things, and it's probably not as precise as you would like. Buttttt... this is the kind of question that Ed probably has reams and reams of notes on. Perhaps you can try there?
Edit: Out of curiosity, what did your list look like? |
Edited by - Thauramarth on 31 Aug 2008 13:53:09 |
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Fillow
Master of Realmslore
France
1608 Posts |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2008 : 17:34:26
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Thank you.
Apropos of the spoiler, what did you think of the book? I've read mixed reviews of the series.
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2008 : 17:37:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
What's the effective date of the zulkir list in the Spellbound: Campaign Guide, please? Judging by the entries in The Grand History of the Realms, I suspect that Runes of Chaos is set in the Year of the Shield (DR 1367).
See p. 127: '1368 The Present.' |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2008 : 18:47:46
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D'OH!
Okay, it seems that I was misled by the boxed set's failure to mention Maligor's Folly. I suspect that Anthony Pryor and those working on the boxed set may have had an NDA on Maligor.
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Gabeth
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2008 : 08:38:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
Thank you.
Apropos of the spoiler, what did you think of the book? I've read mixed reviews of the series.
Certainly handy if you want some help with a story-driven campaign involving undead, particularly if you enjoy Szass Tam written the best thus far (so far as I'm concerned).
Undead is rather decent too, though the impact of certain events were underwhelming. Tam wasn't as well done, particularly his reaction to those events. |
"The best thing an archmage can do with his spells? Use them to destroy another archmage, of course-and himself in the doing. We'll plant something useful in the ashes.
Radishes, maybe."
-Albryngundar of the Singing Sword (p. 205 of The Temptation of Elminster) |
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The Simbul
Learned Scribe
173 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2008 : 05:29:44
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| Nyressa Flass "the Vampire Zulkir" preceded Szass Tam as head of the school of Necomancy, and ruled that position for a fairly long time until she was slain by group of rivals--led by the still human Szass Tam. |
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Who was Zulkir of What When?
