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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Sep 2008 : 19:30:07
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"Deep map" refers to an emerging practical method of intensive topographical exploration, popularised by author William Least Heat-Moon with his book PrairyErth: A Deep Map.”
“A deep map goes beyond simple landscape/history-based topographical writing – to include and interweave autobiography, archeology, stories, memories, folklore, traces, reportage, weather, interviews, natural history, science, and intuition. In its best form, the resulting work arrives at a subtle, multi-layered and 'deep' map of a small area of the earth.”
(Wikipedia, accessed 20th September, 2008)
Inspired by the many entries here at Candlekeep that attempt to collect all the pertinent lore about a particular aspect of the Realms—most recently exemplified by Fillow’s work on criminal organizations—I’m opening this scroll in an attempt to build a bibliography of all things Calimshan, that area in the southwest of Faerûn that many now call the Skyfire Emirates. Note that I’ll be using the two names interchangeably in this scroll.
Below, I’m going to list the sources I’ve been able to find (or find reference to), and such information as I have about them. This will be incomplete, as with all such efforts...
I seek the help of my fellow scribes in bringing it ever closer to completion.
I’ve gathered the information below from a wide variety of sources, mostly by searching the archives here at Candlekeep, but also by researching in my own library, at the Forgotten Realms Wiki project, and at the Forgotten Realms: The Library website.
A few notes.
In the section on gaming material, I’ve identified sources that were written under the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ruleset as “v 1.0,” even though I know this neither official nomenclature nor technically accurate.
Many of the listed sources are out of print. However, most of them can be found with a little effort. As most scribes reading this know, .pdf versions of many of the older gaming supplements are available, either for free at this page on the Wizards of the Coast website (look here first!), or for very reasonable prices at the Paizo Publishing website. Print versions of out of print gaming sources and novels alike can usually be found online at the eBay auction website or through the AbeBooks booksellers portal.
In addition to the section on gaming supplements, there are sections on cartography, fiction, periodicals sources, and digital sources. Obviously, some of these are more complete than others, and I may be missing an entire category or two.
Finally, a word about “tidbits.” While I know this looks fairly huge, this is more of a holistic, rather than atomistic, project. By this, I mean that it is not my intention to find and record every reference to Calimshan in every Realms product ever produced. Instead, I’d like to concentrate on “significant” sources. Significance is a slippery word, but as a general rule, if a bit of lore is simply a repetition or restatement of something that appears in a source already listed, then adding that particular resource to the list will be farther down my to-do list.
So, that's the preface. Let's get started!
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Sources of Realmslore Concerning the Skyfire Emirates,
once known as Calimshan,
and its environs
Gaming Resources
“It is in games that many men discover their paradise.”
(Robert Lynd, 1879-1949)
Lore about Calimshan can be found in entries under that name, and in related entries, in the following “top tier” generalist Realms gaming supplements.
Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (v 1.0: by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, and Karen S. Martin, 1987)
1357, The Year of the Prince
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 2nd Edition (v 2.0: by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, and Julia Martin, 1993)
1367, The Year of the Shield
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 3rd Edition (v 3.0: by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, and Rob Heinsoo, 2001)
1372 DR, The Year of Wild Magic
Player’s Guide to Faerun (v 3.5: by Richard Baker, Travis Stout, and James Wyatt, 2004)
1373 DR, The Year of Rogue Dragons
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (v 4.0: by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, and Chris Sims, 2008)
1479 DR, The Year of the Ageless One
Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide (v 4.0: by Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, and Robert J. Schwalb, 2008)
1479 DR, The Year of the Ageless One
The Grand History of the Realms (Not edition specific: by Brian R. James and Ed Greenwood [cover and title page credit], and George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, and Thomas Costa [title page credit], 2007)
-37000 DR to 1385 DR, The Year of Blue Fire
The Skyfire Emirates and environs are covered at even greater depth in the following gaming resources, which are more particularly focused on the area.
FR3 Empires of Sands (v 1.0: by Scott Haring, 1988)
1357, The Year of the Prince
Lands of Intrigue (v 2.0: by Steven E. Schend, 1997)
1370 DR, The Year of the Tankard
Empires of the Shining Sea (v 2.0: by Steven E. Schend and Dale Donovan, 1998)
1370 DR, The Year of the Tankard
Calimport (v 2.0: by Steven E. Schend, 1998)
1370 DR, The Year of the Tankard
Lost Empires of Faerûn (v 3.5: by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, and Travis Stout, 2005)
1374 DR, The Year of Lightning Storms
Cartographical Resources
”Maps are a way of organizing wonder.”
(Peter Steinhart, “Names on a Map,” 1986)
Printed maps of Calimshan and nearby areas, at various levels of detail, are included in many of the gaming supplements listed in the previous section. Where those resources are available as .pdfs, the maps are present, but broken up into multiple pages. Ambitious scribes with a deft hand at digital file manipulation can probably find their own solutions for that problem.
In addition to those “official” maps, Candlekeep houses two wonderful maps of the Skyfire Emirates, created by Yack Tundra and Master of Realmslore, Markustay, in the Map Room of Alaundo’s Library.
Digital Resources
“It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet.”
(George W. Bush, 44th President of the United States)
The three most useful online resources I’ve found for information about Calimport are these.
- The search function at the Candlekeep Forum.
- The “Ask Ed” scrolls at same.
- The “Ask Stephen E. Schend” scroll at same.
I’ve not provided direct links because (a) well, y’know, you’re already here, and (b) the links wouldn’t survive the upcoming changeover in forum software.
Periodical Resources
“We do not talk--we bludgeon one another with facts and theories gleaned from cursory readings of newspapers, magazines and digests.”
(Henry Miller, 1891-1980)
Placeholder for the many articles from Dragon and Dungeon that my fellow scribes will soon be listing.
Resources in Fiction
“Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.”
(J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892-1973)
“The Third Level” by R.A. Salvatore, in Realms of Infamy, 1994
Realmsdate unknown The Halfling’s Gem, the Third Book of Icewind Dale by R.A. Salvatore, 1990
1356-57 DR, The Years of the Worm and the Prince
The Night Parade, the Fourth Book of the Harpers by Scott Ciencin, 1992
1359 DR, The Year of the Serpent
The Silent Blade, the First Book of the Paths of Darkness by R. A. Salvatore, 1998
1364 DR, The Year of the Wave
The Star of Cursrah, the Third Book of Lost Empires by Clayton Emery, 1999
-6048 DR and 1369 DR, The Year of the Gauntlet
Servant of the Shard, the Third Book of the Paths of Darkness and the First Book of the Sellswords by R.A. Salvatore, 2000
1369 DR, The Year of the Gauntlet
Sands of the Soul, the Sixth Book of Sembia by Voronica Whitney Robinson, 2002
1372 DR, The Year of Wild Magic
Bloodwalk, the Second Book of the Wizards by James P. Davis, 2006
1374 DR, The Year of Lightning Storms
Sandstorm by Christopher Rowe, 2011
1481 DR, The Year of the Thoughtless Suitor
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Edited by - Christopher_Rowe on 21 Mar 2011 18:36:29
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2008 : 23:00:33
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Okay, related to the above post, and drawing on the information in it, here's an interpolated Reader's Guide to Calimshan, presented in order of internal continuity, for the material I've been able to identify so far.
Titles listed in blue are "top level" gaming supplements. Scribes seeking Calimshan information are advised to read these books' entries for that nation, to check indices, and to generally search the text for pertinent information.
Titles listed in green are gaming supplements that explore the Skyfire Emirates at much greater depth, and with a great deal more specificity, than the other gaming supplements listed.
Finally, those titles listed in black are works of fiction, and readers are advised to be mindful of what the great writer Karen Joy Fowler learned from the great writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke, which is that "art cannot be enjoyed unless it is approached with love."
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“The Third Level” by R.A. Salvatore, in Realms of Infamy, 1994
Realmsdate unknown
Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (v 1.0: by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, and Karen S. Martin, 1987)
1357, The Year of the Prince
FR3 Empires of Sands (v 1.0: by Scott Haring, 1988)
1357, The Year of the Prince
The Halfling’s Gem, the Third Book of Icewind Dale by R.A. Salvatore, 1990
1356-57 DR, The Years of the Worm and the Prince
The Night Parade, the Fourth Book of the Harpers by Scott Ciencin, 1992
1359 DR, The Year of the Serpent
The Silent Blade, the First Book of the Paths of Darkness by R. A. Salvatore, 1998
1364 DR, The Year of the Wave
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 2nd Edition (v 2.0: by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, and Julia Martin, 1993)
1367, The Year of the Shield
The Star of Cursrah, the Third Book of Lost Empires by Clayton Emery, 1999
-6048 DR and 1369 DR, The Year of the Gauntlet
Servant of the Shard, the Third Book of the Paths of Darkness and the First Book of the Sellswords by R.A. Salvatore, 2000
1369 DR, The Year of the Gauntlet
Lands of Intrigue (v 2.0: by Steven E. Schend, 1997)
1370 DR, The Year of the Tankard
Empires of the Shining Sea (v 2.0: by Steven E. Schend and Dale Donovan, 1998)
1370 DR, The Year of the Tankard
Calimport (v 2.0: by Steven E. Schend, 1998)
1370 DR, The Year of the Tankard
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 3rd Edition (v 3.0: by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, and Rob Heinsoo, 2001)
1372 DR, The Year of Wild Magic
Sands of the Soul, the Sixth Book of Sembia by Voronica Whitney Robinson, 2002
1372 DR, The Year of Wild Magic
Player’s Guide to Faerun (v 3.5: by Richard Baker, Travis Stout, and James Wyatt, 2004)
1373 DR, The Year of Rogue Dragons
Lost Empires of Faerûn (v 3.5: by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, and Travis Stout, 2005)
1374 DR, The Year of Lightning Storms
Bloodwalk, the Second Book of the Wizards by James P. Davis, 2006
1374 DR, The Year of Lightning Storms
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (v 4.0: by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, and Chris Sims, 2008)
1479 DR, The Year of the Ageless One
Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide (v 4.0: by Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, and Robert J. Schwalb, 2008)
1479 DR, The Year of the Ageless One
Sandstorm by Christopher Rowe, 2011
1481 DR, The Year of the Thoughtless Suitor
The Grand History of the Realms (Not edition specific: by Brian R. James and Ed Greenwood [cover and title page credit], and George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, and Thomas Costa [title page credit], 2007)
-37000 DR to 1385 DR, The Year of Blue Fire
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Edited by - Christopher_Rowe on 21 Mar 2011 18:33:16 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2008 : 03:17:03
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Chris, you forgot one of the most important sources of all:- Lost Empires of Faerûn for all things historical when it comes to Calimshan.
I didn't just "forget" it! I didn't know it! And that's what this scroll is for--thanks, Sage!
Cheers,
Christopher (the full three syllables, if ya' don't mind) |
My Realms novel, Sandstorm, is now available for ordering. |
Edited by - Christopher_Rowe on 21 Sep 2008 03:50:03 |
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2008 : 03:29:26
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| Okay, I've added Lost Empires of Faerûn to the first two entries (and ordered it through AbeBooks). Does anybody know what Roll of Years date I should use for the book? |
My Realms novel, Sandstorm, is now available for ordering. |
Edited by - Christopher_Rowe on 21 Sep 2008 03:49:16 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2008 : 04:02:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Christopher_Rowe
Christopher (the full three syllables, if ya' don't mind)
Aye.
quote:
Originally posted by Christopher_Rowe
Okay, I've added Lost Empires of Faerûn to the first two entries (and ordered it through AbeBooks). Does anybody know what Roll of Years date I should use for the book?
I think we had a discussion about this before. As I recall, 1374 DR was the 'current' year, as the timeline in the "Realms of the High Forest" chapter references events of that year.
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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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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2008 : 13:43:17
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
As I recall, 1374 DR was the 'current' year [for Lost Empires of Faerûn], as the timeline in the "Realms of the High Forest" chapter references events of that year.
Thank you, Sage. I've incorporated that into the resource list and reading guide above.
Now the only undated source included is the Artemis Entreri short story from Realms of Infamy. Scribe Xysma never dated it in his ongoing anthology overview project down in the Novels forum, so I suspect that the information isn't included in the book itself.
Whoever wrote the suggested reading order for the The Legend of Drizzt and The Sellswords over at the Forgotten Realms: The Library website placed it between the end of Sojourn and the beginning of The Crystal Shard, which would date it between 1347 and 1351 DR--a nicely narrow target.
I imagine that the listmaker was either working off internal information in the story itself or had turned up something in their research that I haven't as yet. Does any scribes have suggestions about the dating of this story?
And, of course, I'm still looking for any more "significant" sources of Skyfire Emirates lore that need to be added to the list, particularly fiction.
Cheers,
Christopher
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My Realms novel, Sandstorm, is now available for ordering. |
Edited by - Christopher_Rowe on 21 Sep 2008 13:47:02 |
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2008 : 15:07:57
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| I'm going to go ahead and shift that short story's position in the lists so that it lands in the 1347-1351 range (putting it at the top, coincidentally), unless and until other information comes to light. I ordered the anthology, but don't have much hope that I'll be better able to pin down the date better than others who've already had a go at it. |
My Realms novel, Sandstorm, is now available for ordering. |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 11:20:47
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| BUMP! I am looking now for information on Calimshan as I'm making a Khalid mod for Baldur's Gate II. Any new sources since 2008? |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 11:28:41
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| I was not at all aware of this fantastic scroll ... you've been a busy boy, CR, and you've certainly done your research. I'm actually very impressed. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 17:06:13
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I'd more or less forgotten about it myself! It is more or less reflective of what I used in doing background research for Sandstorm.
And Zireael, except for my novel I can't think of anything that needs to be added of the top of my head.
Cheers,
Christopher
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Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe
545 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2011 : 17:57:06
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| Holy cow! Didn't know this scroll existed either! Very happy it got bumped up as I’m toying with moving my current Realms campaign to Calimshan from Thesk. Thanks to Chris and all who put in the work on it |
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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2011 : 18:00:40
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I guess I should add Sandstorm to those first two entries, and I see that I should definitely add the Lands of Intrigue boxed set, as it contains so much stuff on Calimshan. I'll work those in tonight or tomorrow.
Edit: Done! |
Edited by - Christopher_Rowe on 21 Mar 2011 18:37:03 |
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The Skyfire Emirates: A Deep Map
