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Saegis
Acolyte
Canada
23 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Aug 2009 : 07:18:09
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I've always enjoyed the grittier side of DnD, instead of plunging players into high fantasy tales I wanted to show them the seedier side of Faerun.
With that in mind I fell upon the topic of war in the realms. From what I've read, it seems like the realms doesn't plunge into war in the 1370-1380 time period. When it does it's usually against monstrous foes, orc hordes and the like. But, I can't seem to find any mention of any Human, Dwarven or Elven wars where the "civilized" races fight each other. To me, it seems that Faerun has been in a cold war for quite some time, with the exception of Haunted Lands trilogy (still monstrous hordes, sort of).
Would there be a particularly good source describing previous wars where either side weren't of the slimy variety? Any thoughts on political tensions between city states or kingdoms that could spark into something dire?
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2009 : 13:09:04
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Add to that sporadic naval wars against the pirates of the Fallen Stars every generation or two. Going back in time a little there's Sembia/Chondath vs the elves of Cormanthor and the Rotting War that ripped Chondath apart. For more naval battles, Luskan and Ruathym have gone to war at least twice in recent memory. Dwarves have had long-standing conflicts with their human neighbors (Iron-whatsits vs Turmish back in the 1200's, High Shanatar vs Coramshan way back in the day). Halruaa has fought with Dambrath (half-elves, so they count) on more than one occasion.
How's that? Again, that's just off the top of my head. I'd check Grand History of the Realms, that'd be a good place to start for wars and then find more specific sourcebooks.
Oh, and Cormyr's civil war, that should count as well. And the war between Zhentil Keep and Hillsfar over Yulash. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Saegis
Acolyte
Canada
23 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2009 : 21:30:24
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Wow that's all very impressive. I always seem to learn of my own ignorance when I open my mouth .
I will have to look around for a copy of the Grand History of the Realms then. Also the possibility of war with the Zhents in a campaign would be very interesting.
Thanks once again. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2009 : 22:04:32
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If you're looking specifically for info on the Zhents at war, the most recent stuff would be the Last Mythal trilogy and the most recent Shadowdale adventure (the one where the dale is actually conquered).
Another, really good, place to look would be the Shadows of the Avatar trilogy. Besides being perhaps the best novels Ed's written, war features heavily in them. The first book has a dale uprising against the Zhents, and in the third, Shadowdale is the subject of a four-prong Zhent invasion led by Bane that's probably right up your alley. Tactics, move and countermove, battlefield and strategic use of magic, desperate hand-to-hand, it's got it all. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Saegis
Acolyte
Canada
23 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2009 : 22:34:55
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That sounds fascinating. I may have to go look for that then. I've always liked the Zhents focus on espionage as well. Maybe I could tie in a pre-emptive strike by Zhentil spies before an all out war occurs.
Thanks for the info! |
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 05 Aug 2009 : 08:27:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Saegis
Wow that's all very impressive. I always seem to learn of my own ignorance when I open my mouth.
I will have to look around for a copy of the Grand History of the Realms then. Also the possibility of war with the Zhents in a campaign would be very interesting.
Thanks once again.
I highly recommend The Grand History of the Realms! |
"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2009 : 07:47:03
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quote:
Originally posted by bitter thorn
I highly recommend The Grand History of the Realms!
I second the recommendation... even if I wasn't happy with what grew out of the last few entries.
Re: the scroll topic: There's a pretty brutal war going down in Sembia in the time frame Saegis mentions. I'm still looking for the novel trilogy, but I already know what's going to happen politically in the area post-war in my Realms; Sembia falls apart economically after draining its coffers to hire mercenaries to fight its war, and Cormyr annexes the entire realm rather than see it fall into chaos and anarchy, a move welcomed by the people of Saerloon, Selgaunt, Yhaunn, and the other cities of the region.  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
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rjfras
Learned Scribe
261 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2009 : 19:33:42
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You have the ogre magi led Sythillisian Empire which has one faction of human Cyricist and the pirates on their side against Amn and their own faction of Cyricist along with the Selunites.
You have the hostilities that still exist along the Amn/Tethyr border between those two countries due to the Riatvin and the other town defecting from Amn to Tethyr.
You have the Banite army in Mintar on the Lake of Steam that took over the Tethyrian town of Kzelter and are building up forces to push farther into Tethyr opposed by the Tethyrian forces building up in Ithal Pass to prevent them from going any further or even trying to take back Kzelter and/or Mintar. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2009 : 02:49:33
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| The Thayan Civil War started in 1375DR. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
Edited by - Brimstone on 19 Aug 2009 03:31:53 |
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coach
Senior Scribe
USA
479 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2009 : 03:12:05
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| although not recent, the tuigan invasion was between two (mostly) human armies |
Bloodstone Lands Sage |
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goatunit
Acolyte
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2009 : 15:13:20
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| That Shadowdale adventure was a big hit with my players. I worked it into a larger campaign with our own villain, and it worked very well. The rules for getting the Dalesmen to rise up in revolt were really nice and could easily be transplanted to any similar adventure. |
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War in the Realms
