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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 03:19:06
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Postscript: I can, of course, make no promises.
Not being Ed, and all.
And I see, re-reading what he said in his e-mail, that he actually said "questions not yet answered or not done justice to" (which would include ANSWERED questions...hmm...).
love,
THO |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 03:34:04
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Postscript: I can, of course, make no promises.
Not being Ed, and all.
And I see, re-reading what he said in his e-mail, that he actually said "questions not yet answered or not done justice to" (which would include ANSWERED questions...hmm...).
love,
THO
Yeah, I was kinda curious about that. Because I've got one of my own [from 2008, I think] that I'd love an answer to. But I didn't say anything prior, because I didn't want to start a trend for a multitude of scribes to start wildly posting which of their own questions they'd like Ed to answer. 
I think it best just to simply leave it to either Ed or the Lady Hooded One to decide.
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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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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 03:47:21
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Hi again, fellow scribes. Hey, Sage, it's not up to ME. (Though I'm curious to learn which 2008 query from you that you're most aching to have answered; I can try nudging Ed in my, ah, own special way . . .)
In the meantime, as promised, here’s the first of Ed’s attempts at “answering the unanswered” (and/or tackling questions whose initial replies didn’t quite “do justice to” the query).
This time Ed takes on a trio of Zhentarim questions from Dargoth, asked back near the end of 2004: “Who runs a generic unit of troops? The stereotypical in the novels used to be 10 "Fighters/warriors" 1 Cleric of Xvim/Cyric/Bane and a wizard.
Which class rules in 1373/74? (when Manshoon was running the show it used to be the Wizard)
Now that the Zhentarim are a division of Banite Consolidated Holding does the cleric automatically have command if there’s one present in a unit?”
Ed replies:
Aye, I come from the depths of your past, Dargoth (six years ago to be precise), to tell thee, as of 1374 DR: A “march” of Zhentilar are ten warriors, a Zhentarim wizard, and a priest of Bane. The commander of this standard infantry unit is whoever’s been named as commander.
In very rare cases, this will be one of the warriors (such rare cases include a warrior of senior command rank, or a battlefield observer sent out by Fzoul or a senior priest, Manshoon or other senior Zhentarim mage, or the Zhentilar battlefield command for the army or the area).
In uncommon cases, it will be the wizard (either when the wizard has 4 levels or more greater than the priest AND the highest-ranking warrior, or when the wizard is a battlefield observer or “battlespell specialist” [i.e. on a specific mission to take out a specific foe or cast a “hanging” spell in a specific spot or set a trap or place/recover a particular item] sent out by higher command).
Usually, the commander is the cleric. This is the norm under Fzoul; previously, under Manshoon (early 1373 and before that) the wizard always commanded unless the priest was very senior or on a special mission.
So, the class that “rules” in 1373/74 is whatever class Fzoul SAYS rules, in a specific unit (which is almost always going to be the priest). So the “default” commander of a given unit is the highest-ranking (in Church hierarchy, not necessarily in class levels) cleric, “default” meaning whenever another sort of commander isn’t specified.
So saith Ed. Who will tackle another “unanswered query of the past” soon.
love to all,
THO
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 05:38:56
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Which question, O most alluring and desirable of hamsters? 
love,
THO
Ah, my Lady, you do know how to flatter a hamster! We'll talk later about what else you know...
It turns out I had at least a couple unanswered from 2007 (in truth, I've forgotten how many questions I have outstanding, or on what topics  ). But I remain quite interested in knowing more about Rilantaver, the "elusive trickster" inventor of Rilantaver's staff (Dragon 173, the "Bazaar of the Bizarre" article on staves).
No worries if that question isn't one he gets to; I just thought I'd toss that out there again and hope.
In the meantime, let's carry on that discussion, my Lady... |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 29 Dec 2010 05:39:25 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 10:49:13
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I asked some questions concerning locales, a few of which are at least a year old. Can't remember the exact ones, but I know they were from PftM and PftF (there were only a couple that Ed did not 'place' geographically - just mentioned them in name only).
An easier one might be that Dwarven hold (in the North) you mentioned THO, a couple pages back, when I asked about Dwarven language. I still haven't finished my Nentir/FR conversion.
And while I am at it, a related question: Why don't Dwarves EVER make maps? I find it very hard to believe that that Citadel Adbar does not have old Delzoun maps showing where everything was. Did they simply never invent cartography? How does such a long-lived race forget where they came from? They seem to be great at finding their way beneath the ground, but once on the surface they can't even find their way home.
quote:
Originally posted by crazedventurers
I thought Ylraphon was their port town when Cormanthyr spread across the whole of the Dragonreach into the Vast?
If that is so, then I blame my own vast ignorance of all things Elven for that - sorry if I wasted space here.
EDIT: Sorry, didn't realize this had gone on to the next page - it hadn't refreshed yet on my browser (although the site has been behaving MUCH better in the regard, of late). My apologies - I did precisely what Sage didn't want to happen. |
"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 29 Dec 2010 23:44:56 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 13:48:51
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In Alaundo's spellfire phophecy, he metions spellfire shall arise , but also mentions a Sword of Power that will cleave shadow and evil and master Art.
Are we NDA'd again or can anything on this sword be shared? |
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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Edited by - The Red Walker on 29 Dec 2010 14:37:08 |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 15:08:24
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
In Alaundo's spellfire phophecy, he metions spellfire shall arise , but also mentions a Sword of Power that will cleave shadow and evil and master Art.
Are we NDA'd again or can anything on this sword be shared?
That sounds an awful lot like Weaveshear, the sword wielded by Erevis Cale in the Twilight War trilogy. |
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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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 17:54:33
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It does, doesn't it? (Hint, hint...)
Markustay, Ed says that:
Dwarves DO make maps, by scorch-marking leather usually, but they are used only as memorization aids: a dwarf makes one from memory to teach other dwarfs (usually children or younger kin, or younger dwarves of his/her clan that he/she is training), and once all of them have repeatedly shown that they can correctly draw the same map from memory, the original is destroyed.
This custom arose out of dwarven paranoia that foes (orcs, in particular) could find and/or effectively assault dwarven strongholds if they captured or found a map. So at any one time, "dwarven map libraries" are the brains of elder dwarves - - and any actual physical maps will show small detailed areas, with symbols for keys rather than written legends, as opposed to showing the layout of an entire fortress or city or series of defenses.
Note that dwarves are taught from childhood to envisage in three dimensions, knowing the depth and tilt (if any) of subterranean spaces and constructions.
So saith Ed, stepping into the breach once more, with another swift Realmslore reply.
love,
THO |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 18:12:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
In Alaundo's spellfire phophecy, he metions spellfire shall arise , but also mentions a Sword of Power that will cleave shadow and evil and master Art.
Are we NDA'd again or can anything on this sword be shared?
That sounds an awful lot like Weaveshear, the sword wielded by Erevis Cale in the Twilight War trilogy.
I thought so as well, but wasn't sure how it "mastered art" |
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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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 18:19:12
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[quote]Originally posted by The Hooded One
It does, doesn't it? (Hint,hint)[quote]
ahh...thanks for the" hint".... I considered it, but was thinking it was too obvious for an answer tonAlaundo usually crypticness. |
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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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 18:55:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
I have a question relating to Eilistraee as well. I have a Pc who is wanting to get married, and was wondering what kind of ceremonies they use, how long do they last, what sort of vows, celebrations, etc, could one expect? Where would it be held, and when? Okay, that's actually several questions, but thanks in advance for any assistance!
I'm hoping my questions did not get "lost" in all the responses to teh marvelous lore on Lisen Sands and the Dales from earlier. I'd hate to end up with a very important (well, to my PC, anyway) question going unanswered. He'd desperately like to get on with the ceremony- provided he can find out how it should be done!! |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 19:20:39
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Not lost! Promise! Ed hath confirmed, and it's on his "small real soon heap."
As for "mastered art" and a certain blade, that obviously means controlling or overriding or destroying powerful magic . . . but as to what magic, in which circumstances, and how, that is NDA right now, because it hasn't happened yet, but very well might, before the reading eyes of Realms fans/scribes.
Which is more or less all I can say, thus far.
love,
THO |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 23:56:02
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Thank you for that swift reply concerning Dwarven maps (or lack there-of).
I would suppose that a certain group within every hold wold be entrusted to memorize maps of the north, and ancient holds - a kind of 'living catalogue' (sort of like how Scalds preserved the history of the Northmen).
But because the immense amount of attrition amongst the Dwarves, this knowledge (like so much else), has been lost... Forgotten...
Which of course ties right into the Realms theme.
I should have known Ed would have considered this point long ago.
And now I have to contemplate an ancient dwarven map, found on the inside of a leather jerkin carried inconspicuously by a dwarven messenger that never made it to his destination. 
How is it nearly everything Ed says makes a hundred plot-hooks spring to mind? He still manages to amaze me. |
"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 30 Dec 2010 09:10:55 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 01:49:23
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You and me both, Markustay. You and me both!
And hello again, all.
Ed continues to tackle a thus-far-neglected question from each year of this thread.
To whit . . .
Back in December of 2005, createvmind posted: “I was curious if a "Spark" from Magic of Faerun can be moved from one location to another, or is it connected to the place it's discovered?
Second question is can a "Doompit" from same sourcebook be purposely created by a mage or combination of casters?”
Ed now belatedly replies:
Most sparks are stationary; they will fade if overused and can be destroyed if meddled with magically in the wrong way. A rare few sparks move about, but if any wizard knows how to move a spark, or influence or control the movements of a moving spark, they’re not admitting to knowing how. Elminster says a minimum of three Chosen working together with the Weave, who surround the spark, can move a spark short distances by using the Weave like a net, but this is tiring, dangerous, usually results in destroying the spark in a soundless flashing explosion of wild magic that’s hurled away in all directions (that is, small, fast-moving “tattered” areas of wild magic), and very much NOT recommended. It’s most often done to move a spark into a rift (they destroy each other), recharge a gate/portal by moving the spark into it (the spark will be absorbed), or to destroy/burn a hole through a magical barrier or warding-spell or other effect, by overloading it.
A VERY few sorcerers in the past have had the “wild talent” to move sparks by touch and will, but all of these, so far as Elminster knows, are long dead now.
As for doom pits, in theory they can be created by wizards of sufficient power, who have the right components (these include a magic item retaining its enchantment/still functioning, that is absorbed in creating the pit, and certain rare sorts of enchanted gems, also absorbed to make the pit; it becomes the center of the pit, to serve as the focus for the pit-creation spell). As with moving a spark, a minimum of three mages, to surround the desired pit site, are necessary.
Elminster says “in theory” because so far as he knows, no one still alive knows how to create a doom pit, though at least one Netherese cabal of archwizards and at least one long-extinct Halruaan family (the Spiryerards) did (Orndoumar Spiyrerard even knew how to destroy or move doom pits, both his own and those he found). Mystra is not pleased with those who do create (or try to enlarge or use, as traps for foes) doom pits. Azuth taught some of his favored worshippers how to destroy doom pits, and this lore may well have been handed down.
It should be noted that doom pits are VERY rare; most are found in remote areas or ruins where great spell-battles or other magical cataclysms occurred (in at least two instances, the sites of “crashed” Netherese sky-cities that were destroyed upon falling, when many magics went wild).
So saith Ed, delving into some very alluring (to this gal, anyway) magical lore. He’ll answer a 2006 question next.
love to all,
THO
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 01:50:50
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And POW, into my inbox, he just did!
So hi again, fellow scribes! I bring you once more the lore-writings of Ed of the Greenwood, this time a reply to a question asked back in 2006 in this thread, by Uzzy: “Does Alusair Obarskyr have a name for her own, personal sword?”
Ed replies:
As aforementioned, the Princess Alusair has favored quite an array of personal blades throughout her life, from the short, curved Blue Dragon naval cutlass she adopted in an early flash of rebellious independence, at age eleven, through a succession of rapiers and long swords, to the two swords she usually wears on a daily basis today (1370s DR): a superbly-made but complete non-magical shortsword she calls “My Kiss” and a +2 lucky longsword of illusion theft, impedance, and vanishing named “Brightedge.” (This dragonhoard weapon was a gift to her, in the summer of 1369 DR, from a certain veteran Harper after she saved his life; a story kept secret from everyone except her parents, though Vangerdahast has tried all manner of underhanded means to learn it, and pieced together much of it.)
That first cutlass and most of her other swords, including the two pieces of the bastard sword she broke over the head of the rebel noble Raldrand Hargryphon in a nasty little brawl in the King’s Forest in the fall of 1362 DR, when he tried to ambush and slay her, hang on the long, windowless inner wall of the outer “receiving room” of her Royal Palace bedchamber suite, in Suzail.
They include:
• “Viper” (the non-magical, plain, rather battered secondhand cutlass)
• “Daunt-Don’t” (a non-magical “light little toy” [Alusair’s words] of a splendid-looking rapier that was made for her by Urnstul Hallowlar, a smith from Arabel who hoped to win favor and many orders from Court and nobility; Alusair found it gorgeous to look at but too short, light and “whippy” for real battle use—even before Hallowlar was murdered by certain merchants of Arabel who didn’t want the smith to have any royal favor or connections)
• “Bloodfee” (a workaday +1 longsword of superb make that was a gift from her mother, Queen Filfaeril; it bears an everbright enchantment, can feather fall [affecting any creatures grasping it or impaled on it, to a weight limit of 700 lbs.] upon command, glows with blue faerie fire upon command, and vibrates gently and silently when within 40 feet of undeath)
• “Defendress” (a massive, rather crude long sword that’s badly balanced and much too heavy for Alusair, but that she’s very proud of, because she had a hand in forging it, contributing some of her blood [yes, literally], and her sweat from a lot of hammer-work and more than one turn at the forge-bellows)
• “Royal Fury” (the “monsterslaying” bastard sword she broke over Raldrand Hargryphon’s head, rendering him mindless, as she singlehandedly defeated him and the four slayers he’d hired; its hilt retains one of its enchantments: when grasped and willed, it glows with blue faerie fire, and can be instantly turned on or off, without limit)
• “Challenge” (a non-magical, splendidly-made, and very battered two-handed sword that’s far too large and heavy for Alusair to want to use in battle, but that her father gave her, insisting she practice with it, fighting him as he wielded a leather-shod metal quarterstaff against her, to give her strength of arm, shoulders, and back; she grew to love those sessions, and still “shadow-feints” alone with the sword from time to time, before retiring to a bath and then bed)
These are by no means the only swords Alusair has wielded, or even hidden away in various caches all over the realm for her own use. She customarily carries at least four daggers (a visible one on her belt, spares sheathed down the insides of both boots, and one sheathed down her back that’s drawn from a nape-of-the-neck sheath, under her hair; the sheath rides the throat-strap of her gorget).
So saith Ed, who has searched a long time for the 1969 notes he needed to find to fully answer this one.
Let’s see what lies ahead, in his 2007 question. Will Wooly get lucky? (Ahem, I could have phrased that better, but let it stand . . .)
love to all,
THO
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 04:15:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
And now I have to consider an ancient dwarven map, found on the inside of a leather jerkin carried inconspicuously be a dwarven message that never made it to his destination.
Or it could be evidence of Clan betrayal - young Helmaer "Blackaxe" of Clan Sstar always had a suspicious look about him.
Or that Baegar Runeaxe, elder of the Clan, is secretly suffering from the disease known to dwarves as "dragonsleep" (the equivalent of our Alzheimer's) and in his deperation contravening Clan law and putting material to paper to assist his failing memory.
Or the Arcane Brotherhood is doctoring up and putting out fake "dwarven maps" to lure adventurers to their dooms or to have them unwittingly take on foes of the Brotherhood.
Or ... well, there are a bunch of possibilities open to you.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 09:03:14
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To Ed:
What would happen if Rowan Cormaeril returned to Cormyr circa 1384 DR (when his son Azoun V becomes King and before Filfaeril dies and Alusair disappears)? |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 14:22:23
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
As aforementioned, the Princess Alusair has favored quite an array of personal blades throughout her life, from the short, curved Blue Dragon naval cutlass she adopted in an early flash of rebellious independence, at age eleven, through a succession of rapiers and long swords, to the two swords she usually wears on a daily basis today (1370s DR): a superbly-made but complete non-magical shortsword she calls “My Kiss” and a +2 lucky longsword of illusion theft, impedance, and vanishing named “Brightedge.” (This dragonhoard weapon was a gift to her, in the summer of 1369 DR, from a certain veteran Harper after she saved his life; a story kept secret from everyone except her parents, though Vangerdahast has tried all manner of underhanded means to learn it, and pieced together much of it.)
That first cutlass and most of her other swords, including the two pieces of the bastard sword she broke over the head of the rebel noble Raldrand Hargryphon in a nasty little brawl in the King’s Forest in the fall of 1362 DR, when he tried to ambush and slay her, hang on the long, windowless inner wall of the outer “receiving room” of her Royal Palace bedchamber suite, in Suzail.
They include:
Let us not forget "Old Tusk" and "Royal Kiss," as delivered by Ed back in 2007 (the 13th post on this page).
Alessa had quite the collection of blades, didn't she? And those are just the ones we've been told about...   |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 20:16:45
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Hello again, fellow scribes.
Thanks for the reminder about Alusair’s longtime favourite blades, Garen Thal. Uzzy’s sword query was obviously one of the “answered but not well enough” questions Ed alluded to, and I suspect “Old Tusk” and “Royal Kiss” are still among the Steely One’s favourites, just not displayed up on her bedchamber wall. Probably scabbarded and ready under the bed or in a handy closet.
Our indefatigable Ed continues his march through long-unanswered questions, this time looking at 2007 and hearing Wooly Rupert’s plea (and believing that long-suffering moderators should get some rewards for their too-often-unappreciated service to us all [yes, Sage, we love you too, and when Ed can snatch the time to tackle matters musical . . .]).
Accordingly, the Creator of the Realms has heeded Wooly’s “But I remain quite interested in knowing more about Rilantaver, the "elusive trickster" inventor of Rilantaver's staff (Dragon 173, the "Bazaar of the Bizarre" article on staves).”
Ed replies:
As longtime DRAGON readers will recall, Rilantaver had gone missing “long ago” by the time I penned that article. It was popularly believed in the Realms, among folk who knew of him at all, that the widely-traveled wizard was dead, fallen in some unknown “misadventure.” (Many would have added the dark sentiments, “And not before he deserved it, either!”)
It was at that time Elminster’s suspicion that Rilantaver hadn’t died, but instead had relocated to another plane of existence where he’d not worn out his welcome so thoroughly. That suspicion has proved correct, because Rilantaver has been seen again in the Realms since, on several fleeting occasions, leading raids to snatch specific magic items (that is, fast-moving bands of all sorts of “monsters” who are sentient and capable warriors and wizards, who pounce and take this magic item but not that one). Thus far, the victims of these raids have included zulkirs of Thay, Zhentarim in various mansions and fortresses in Zhentil Keep, and—on at least three occasions, all of them successful—Shade Enclave.
Yet I get ahead of myself. DRAGON readers already knew that Rilantaver devised (and made and sold dozens of copies of) the sort of magical staff that bears his name [and that was detailed in that DRAGON #173 article]. A glance at the powers of the staff suggest some of the magical effects that Rilantaver liked to use, and we also know from what Elminster told me then that Rilantaver created some low-level but visually spectacular spells (battle-spells, as it happens, most of the “whooshing-fast moving flamebolt explosions” sorts, augmented by shrapnel flung outward by the blasts; Rilantaver liked horrifying effects like glowing spheres of emerald green flame that APPEARED to have frantically-clawing humans trapped within them, that then became skeletons, and subsequently burst into bone shards when the spheres exploded (in truth, the bone shards were real and a spell component, but the frantic people and their skeletons were an illusory part of his explosive spell).
These spells remain popular because of their ability to impress or terrify, and their availability (Rilantaver sold many scrolls bearing them, and they have since been recopied, improved upon, and widely distributed, throughout the Vilhon, Chessenta, and Sembia.)
We also know from what Elminster shared with me then that Rilantaver had trade connections in Amn, and ran “a business of sorts” in Starmantle to fund his wanderings, spur-of-the-moment investments, and shady activities.
So saith Ed. I’ll send the second part (of three) of his lore reply to Wooly right away after this one, the gods willing and Net connection don’t rise . . .
love,
THO
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 20:17:29
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Hi again. As promised, the second part of Ed’s “life of Rilantaver” reply to Wooly Rupert’s 2007 question.
Ed continues:
I’ve prevailed upon the Old Mage to reveal more about Rilantaver then he told me back then, and here are the results of those proddings:
Rilantaver (pronounced “Ril-lawn-TAE-vurr,” though his parents pronounce the family name “Ril-LAWN-tah-vurr,” as do many other distantly-related Rilantavers in Tethyr, and “Rilantaver the Notorious” answers to both pronunciations) was born Ansrel Rilantaver to a minor “manygoods” trader and importer of Selgaunt, one Hambrel Rilantaver, and his shrewd wife Draeva, a former coinlass and laundress who after her marriage (and retirement from those professions) became one of the smartest, wealthiest investors in Selgaunt.
Always a rebel against parental discipline and any sort of authority, young Ansrel grew up a thief specializing in cavorting over the rooftops by night, with a band of friends and a lot of grapnels and cords (very like a certain Elminster Aumar in Athalantar, more than a thousand years earlier). Ansrel grew very adroit at establishing very good alibis, fleeing the moment anything started to go wrong, and choosing targets wisely (almost exclusively visiting merchants of little power and fewer connections). From one such he stole some spell-scrolls, was astonished to discover he had a natural talent for the Art; without tutelage, he could read spells of any level and cast them faultlessly! (Note that Rilantaver is a wizard, NOT a sorcerer; he has to study and learn spells, use components, and so on—he’s just naturally gifted at easily and instantly grasping “new to him” written magics.)
From that point on, Ansrel stopped using his first name and went his own way, stealing only magic (and, very occasionally, coin he needed to fund his lifestyle, usually using magic on lone targets to do so).
Rilantaver is glib, handsome, of medium build with jet-black hair and emerald eyes, liked maroon-hued clothing, and has always been a keen observer of people and a fairly good mimic and actor, so over the years he’s gotten away with a lot. He could create magic, and if he’d ever dared take training in the Art, might well have become a mighty mage. Yet he never did, and so had huge gaps in his knowledge for many years (and possibly still has).
When Selgaunt became too “hot” for Rilantaver as a result of his ongoing thefts, he took ship and began a life of traveling around the Inner Sea, from port to port—and vanishing for a season or more into backland villages whenever it seemed prudent to do so.
So saith Ed. I’ll post the third and final part of his Rilantaver reply right away, the Net willing . . .
love to all,
THO
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 20:18:39
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Hi again, everyone. As promised, the third and last part of Ed’s Rilantaver the Notorious lore reply to Wooly Rupert:
Rilantaver spent his early winters of wandering doing menial jobs in large kitchens of inns, fine city eateries, or even palaces, where he could readily eat and keep warm. Later, after he’d devised the staff that bears his name, he holed up in remote caves for entire winters of making copy after copy of those staves, for sale in “The Oskrum,” the shop he set up in Starmantle (in Dragon Coast slang, an “oskrum” is an oddity, an item of unknown origins and use or an unexplained enigma that “only the gods know” the truth about).
The Oskrum was shuttered for entire seasons at a time, but was never successfully robbed—because it was home to a beholder, the ghost of a dragon, and a menagerie of small, slinking creatures, from flying snakes to darkmantles and miniature cloakers. Although Rilantaver posed as the founder and proprietor of the shop, in truth he broke into it one night while being pursued by a merchant he’d robbed (who had several thugs to aid him in hunting down fleeing thieves), and in return for sheltering him, the monsters there demanded he serve betimes as their errand-runner and eyes and ears out in the wider world. Rilantaver gladly did so, gaining a refuge and a treasure vault and a formidable backup fighting force all at once, not to mention advice that kept him alive many times in the years that followed.
The daring magical thefts of Rilantaver the Notorious brought him to the attention of authorities, the Harpers—and Elminster.
The Old Mage was amused by Rilantaver’s style (it reminded El of his own), and kept a watch over the roving wizard (to keep him alive, at times, and to prevent his doing TOO much damage when especially daring or reckless). Elminster’s covert help aided Rilantaver in escaping many traps that should have snared or slain him, and gained him his “elusive” reputation; the “trickster” part, however, Rilantaver earned all on his own, with honey-tongued swindles, and impostures—not to mention manipulations that pitted one angry creditor against another.
Eventually Rilantaver discovered several “ways between worlds” (gates/portals), and (on Mystra’s orders) Elminster abruptly stopped protecting him—and started manipulating him. That is, keeping Rilantaver an entirely independent force, but steering him (El described it as “nudging an arrow in flight”) into doing this or that, meddling in W and X but not Y, and so avoiding Z.
Rilantaver started to spend less and less time in Faerûn, and more and more time in various “elsewheres” (which Elminster won’t identify), until folk realized, around 1347 to 1349 DR, that he’d seemingly . . . disappeared. (Elminster judges that by 1349 DR, Rilantaver was a CN hm W9 or perhaps 10. If he’s “worked at it,” as the Old Mage put it, he might be a W16, but if not, could well still be a W10 or perhaps a W11.)
Rilantaver was not seen at all in the Realms between then and the night of the 8th of Uktar in 1368 DR, when he was sighted leaping for his life from the balcony of a burning mansion in Saerloon—the home of the wealthy wizard and merchant Gnessur Thauldyn. Rilantaver vanished “in an eerie glow” before he struck the ground (obviously snatched away by magic), but was observed to be clutching a large and well-filled sack. What did land on the ground where he would have was a magical rod that was “winking and glowing” before the authorities seized it and bore it away.
Thauldynposts (the mansion) burned to the ground that night, the flames erupting in dozens of small, spectacular magical explosions, and Gnessur has not been seen since, though his bones were not found in the ashes that nigh-filled the now-exposed cellars of his house. (Though Gnessur has no known kin [his dozen attractive young female apprentices/servants who dwelt in Thauldynposts also vanished, leaving no bones behind in the ruins], no one has dared build on the site, despite its attractive central wealthy-streets location, though the city elders have several times publicly offered it for sale.)
Rilantaver has been seen leading raids, as aforementioned, on several occasions since. Usually he’s seen no more than once a year, but on the other hand, most thefts and attempted thefts in Faerûn either go unreported or don’t rise to general public notice; Rilantaver may well have struck more often, but at more remote targets, or at victims who are by nature secretive about their personal affairs and holdings.
What part Mystra sees Rilantaver playing in the future of the Realms remains unknown to mortals (neither she nor Azuth have shared it with their Chosen), but he remains—even to garrulous old men emptying tankards in their local tavern of evenings—undeniably interesting.
As Elminster remarked dryly, “Rilantaver the Notorious is like a tottering, about-to-topple castle tower . . . ye know a disaster is about to happen, but ye find the watching irresistible.”
So saith Ed. Master of Realmslore old and new, plain and cryptic. Who will hopefully have time to tackle queries from 2008, 2009, and 2010 before the year runs out on us . . .
(No promises, mind. Yet this “window of lore opportunity” has certainly been fun to watch.)
love to all,
THO
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Edited by - The Hooded One on 30 Dec 2010 20:27:07 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 20:28:01
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Great question, Zireael! That was NDA, but I'll hurl it Ed's way to see if anything can be said yet...
love,
THO |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 22:15:58
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| Wowsers, that was a lot more reply than I expected! My thanks, Ed, and to your lovely herald, as well! |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 22:32:45
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
(and believing that long-suffering moderators should get some rewards for their too-often-unappreciated service to us all [yes, Sage, we love you too, and when Ed can snatch the time to tackle matters musical . . .]).
Offering you service, my Lady, is already quite the reward! |
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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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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 23:51:29
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
... (and believing that long-suffering moderators should get some rewards for their too-often-unappreciated service to us all [yes, Sage, we love you too, and when Ed can snatch the time to tackle matters musical . . .]).
Thank you, milday. I'll certainly take that to heart. And I'll look forward to those musical matters, with anticipatory glee.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 30 Dec 2010 23:53:20 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 23:53:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
(and believing that long-suffering moderators should get some rewards for their too-often-unappreciated service to us all [yes, Sage, we love you too, and when Ed can snatch the time to tackle matters musical . . .]).
Offering you service, my Lady, is already quite the reward!
Agreed.
Of course, it should also go without saying that we're more than capable of providing *other* services as well. You need only name the time and the chamber, my lovely Lady.  |
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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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 04:03:02
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Hi again, all.
I bring you now Ed of the Greenwood’s reply to a neglected 2008 question, this one from Lord Hobie and asked back on the eleventh of February of that year (Page 12 of the 2008 thread, here at the Keep): “Regarding the topic of 'childhood bugaboos:' given that the Realms is chock full of 'real' monsters who would scare the wits if not the life out of many adults, what 'night-time monsters' do parents of the Realms cajole or threaten with? I seem to recall that the Night Serpent was known to be invoked for such purposes, but wondered if there were others...”
At the time, I gave Lord Hobie this swift reply: “lordhobie, there are LOTS of local "bugaboos," plus faith-related ones. Ed will furnish you with a proper lore reply in the fullness of time, but I can recall The Haunted Helm (empty, floating/flying helm) in Cormyr, and the ghost of a dead local ruler, the Baron of Blacksaddle, in the Border Kingdoms (see p 134 and 135 of POWER OF FAERUN).”
Ed tells me he dare not delve into the faith-related bugaboos, or he’ll still be typing a year from now, but would like to add to The Haunted Helm, the ghost of the dead baron, and some others hinted at since, these:
• In Waterdeep, “Drowned Jack” rises, dripping, from the harbor, to slither like an eel along the alleys, sewers, and streets (up walls if he must), to reach the sleeping-places of bad boys and girls and strangle them, or sometimes just warn them by sticking his long, slimy, rotting fingers up their noses or in their ears or down their throats, until they rouse from sleep in pain and alarm. He’s the faceless, slimy, black-rotting-flesh-over agile, strong, and FLEXIBLE bones undead remains of a sailor who drowned in the harbor long ago, with his bad deeds unatoned for; he’s determined to scare others into not sharing his fate.
• In Amn (and, in recent years, in Sembia, though there he’s sometimes called the Thief-Wraith), the Coin Shadow drifts through walls, a cowled and hooded wraith of incorporeal blackness, to steal a coin from a bad child—and “taint” that child with its chill (by passing through the child’s sleeping body, typically causing instant, painful wakefulness) and so confer bad luck that will keep that child far poorer than good children, this taint building up with its every visit . . . for every bad deed.
• In Tethyr, the flesh-less (but drenched with sticky red-black blood that drips endlessly) skeletons of knights and guards slain in long-ago regicides will come, rusting swords and daggers in hand, to “mark” every bad child, for every deed. Minor deeds will bring one skeleton (that can pass through walls and doors), but major ones will bring three or more to surround the child and glare silently at him or her as they thrust their bone-chilling blades forward to touch and “mark” the bad child. And with every mark, a year of your life fades away, and you feel a little colder . . .
• In Cormyr, Guthtarl will come for you! A fat, white-fleshed bastard son of an oldblood noble family who became a War Wizard but betrayed his country and was blinded and exiled for it (this is all true, except for the blinding, which is an embellishment; the real Guthtarl temporarily went blind after his exile, when a spell he was experimenting with “blew up” in his face), Guthtarl appears as a white, slime-glistening worm, a bulbously fat man from the waist up, and a giant dew-worm (in shape) from the waist down, though all of him can stretch out of shape to get through (sometimes very) thin places, like the opening under a door. He crawls along, blindly groping his way, somehow SMELLING bad children. He can cling to ceilings if need be, and cast silent spells that create deep shadow, to avoid detection by grownups, and WILL find bad children, and will grope for them with his cold, slimy, soft and deformed fingers . . . His touch brings on illnesses (usually nasty colds), and he can smell bad thoughts in the mind of someone he’s already visited, and will come back if they say or do anything bad, to grope again, every visit bringing something worse (usually warts or rashes, then witherings and reeking breath and explosively-voiding bowels . . .)
So saith Ed. I’m splitting this reply, as with the others, to avoid choking the posting function with an overlong post, and as usual, I’ll try to post the second half of Ed’s bugaboos lore right away . . .
love to all,
THO
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 04:03:50
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Hi again, all! Herewith, the second half of Ed’s bugaboos 2008 lore reply:
• In the Dales, Old Reth, with his axe, comes for the false, the bad, and the unworthy. Tall and gaunt, his footfalls always silent because his boots actually float about a fingerwidth above the ground, this long-dead woodcutter has burning eyes and wears rotten homespun, with a large, shapeless hat shading his face—all but his two enraged, burning eyes. He says nothing, but merely points reprovingly at bad ones—then reaches forward and lets fall his axe. Which passes right through you, reaching you no matter how distant he may seem to be, making no visible wound and spilling no blood, but actually slices a little life out of you, every time . . . usually a year of your life for a very bad deed, ten years if you cause the death of someone else who was not attacking you, but only a tenday or a month for more minor misdeeds (like minor thefts or lies that only do a little harm). Some elder folk of the Dales can see “the Mark of Reth” on those he’s visited, and know at a glance exactly how bad you have been, by how much he’s marked you. They’ll know whether or not to trust your word, do business with you, let you marry into their family, or tell you a secret . . .
• All around the Moonsea, the skulls will rise up. Up out of the grave of someone who died violently, long ago, gray and staring, usually human but for very grave evils, stag-horned. They will silently drift toward evil children, able to fly and pass through solid walls, doors, and window-shutters. Children who see them coming will usually see half a dozen or more, all heading for different miscreants, all with jaws hanging open, empty dark eyesockets somehow unerringly SEEING the one they come for, no matter how that one hides or flees. They pass through you and give you nightmares [bad dreams, not the black horse-like infernal steed] for many nights afterwards, the severity of these terrors tied to the darkness of your misdeed. And they remember you, and come for you again and again, silent in their cold, increasingly contemptuous disapproval. They did not fight and die so insolent children could misbehave . . .
• Around the Shining Sea (Calimshan, Lapaliiya, the Tashalar, Tharsult, etc.), Ogluth comes for those who commit evil acts. Ogluth is the sickly blue-white, translucent ghost of a yawning-jawed, mad-eyed beholder, huge and slow and silent, who drifts with patient ponderousness after evildoers. Adults can’t see him, but can’t avoid him; he passes through them and they collapse unconscious, as he steals from them one important memory (where treasure or something precious is hidden, or the names of distant kin, or the route to somewhere important and familiar [that will now seem unfamiliar as they get lost on the way to it], or something else they would dearly love NOT to forget) and drifts on. Bad children can see him coming, but can’t escape him either, for he can pass through anything, and even drift into your dreams . . .
Always, he steals a memory of something precious. And if ever you lose all your memories to him, you’ll be no smarter than a worm, unable to think or speak, a drooling prisoner of your own silent, witless body . . .
So saith Ed. Who adds that these night terrors are by no means comprehensive; there are literally scores of others, invoked locally by parents, disapproving neighbors, and so on.
And with that little shiver laid before us (geez, Ed, I was urging you to write childrens’ books, but now, I’m not so sure!), let’s move on to 2009, and another neglected lore query . . .
love to all,
THO
P.S. Though if you did a childrens’ book that’s really for adults, something along the lines of “Little Elminster and the Night Terrors”. . .
Say, Nina, are you reading this?
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 04:04:29
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Hi again, all. This time, Ed has come through with a 2009 query “reanswered,” and I’ve split it into two parts to avoid choking the forum while trying to post.
Rhewtani asked: “I understand that the city Tsornyl was destroyed by a Moander-related creature in 75 DR. The House of Tsornyl lost most of its members in that incident.
What was the basic status of the House in the later eras (specifically, 1340s-1350s)?
I know the city was reduced to a village. Did the House regain any footing or does it eventually die out?"
Ed answered in June of 2009 (Page 67 of the 2009 thread, here in the Chamber of Sages): “There is indeed still a House Tsornyl, though these days they are few in number, go by another name, and are powerful in another place in the Realms.”
I mentioned then that “a proper answer from Ed is still forthcoming, but he wanted you to know right away that the family line persists.”
So here, at last (thanks to the recent lifting of NDA due to some changing design plans), is that ‘proper reply,’ for your reading pleasure:
In 75 DR the Cormanthan elves of House Tsornyl became tainted by Moander’s rot whilst destroying the Creeping Evil he sent to afflict them. Most Tsornan elves died swiftly and horribly inside the wards thrown up around Tsornyl to contain the Foul God’s corruption. Sick and starting to decay, a handful of the most magically powerful elders of the family managed to create a gate (portal) to bypass the wards and take themselves elsewhere—far across the Realms, to Luernla (“refuge-place of mine”) an isolated island in the Beacon Rocks that Nueltrara Tsornyl had come across years earlier, and used for illicit trysts with a lover (Iyrindym Oordraekur, who was the married [to Jhaeress “Wyrmgoad” Oordraekur, a fiery-tempered elf sorceress famous as a hunter and tamer of dragons in her reckless youth] head of House Oordraekur) until both tired of the perils of their lusting, and saw each other no more.
Back in her greener days, Nueltrara had cached some personally precious mementoes and some magic items on the tiny wooded isle. Upon reaching Luernla through the gate, the Tsornyl matriarch destroyed the gate in a ritual that involved the murder of her detested wastrel nephew Alavaer Tsornyl. She then sacrificed most of her magic items—and her own life—in a great working of magic that purged her Tsornyl kin of Moander’s corruption but also gave them undeath in the process.
All sixteen of the surviving members of House Tsornyl fled the island via various spellworkings. Fourteen of them survive to this day (1370s DR). They are all now a unique sort of elven undead, retaining the spellcasting abilities they had in life (almost all of the Tsornyl elders were either sorcerers or wizards) and having all the powers and abilities of a vampire lord except the ability to create vampire spawn. They can also gain additional second winds whenever they sacrifice a spell—or permanently drain a magic item, which must be in their grasp—to do so.
So saith Ed, taking us in a VERY interesting direction. I’ll post the second and final part of his reply momentarily, if the Internet gods smile . . .
love to all,
THO
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2010)
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