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Pazuzu
Seeker

Germany
61 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  15:08:54  Show Profile Send Pazuzu a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Another question bothers me, and until now I couldn't get a clear answer.

The Weave ist destroyed more or less, since Mystra is dead. Portals doesn't work anymore and most arcane magic is unreliable, but arcane powers like Fireball or Magic Missle still function. Why?

What about the Shadow Weave? It's said the in 3.5 rule books, that the Shadow Weave is independent from the Weave, so I think every 3.5 spell should work, when cast with the Shadow Weave feat.

Many thanks for your help!

May your dice obey your will. - Gary Gygax (*1938 - †2008)

skychrome
Senior Scribe

713 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  18:21:18  Show Profile  Visit skychrome's Homepage Send skychrome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Pazuzu, arcane magic was only unreliable shortly after the spellplague. The actual 4e setting has stable magic without the weave.

The shadow weave also ceased to exist if I remember correctly. I am sure fellow scribes can elaborate on this issue.

"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625
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Jakk
Great Reader

Canada
2165 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  18:57:07  Show Profile Send Jakk a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Briefly, the idea that the Shadow Weave was independent of the Weave and would continue to exist without it was Sharran propaganda, likely put forth by Shar's more fanatical, extremist, and nihilistic followers in order to get the moderates on side. At least, that's how I explain it within the setting. From a rules and lore consistency standpoint, it makes no sense to me either, except to say that when the rules of magic go out the window, anything is possible. Why, then, with the rules change, we end up with wizards who are just as straitjacketed as any other class, I don't know... just one of many reasons I don't play 4E... despite liking the core opposed-roll game mechanics. Rant over.

I promised Sage and Wooly (and myself) that I was done ranting about this... Oops.

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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Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3290 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  22:34:43  Show Profile Send Brimstone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
When the Weave died, the Shadow Weave died with it, or did it?

The Shades in Sembia are trying to recreate the Shadow Weave, where the Shadowstorm started.

"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
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skychrome
Senior Scribe

713 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  22:56:09  Show Profile  Visit skychrome's Homepage Send skychrome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
The Shades in Sembia are trying to recreate the Shadow Weave, where the Shadowstorm started.


Oh really? Interesting. Is this in the FRCG?

"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625
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Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3290 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  23:00:02  Show Profile Send Brimstone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Its in the Sembia write up. The Book does have its gems...

EDIT: POST # 1400!

"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 12 May 2010 23:00:53
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skychrome
Senior Scribe

713 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  23:13:37  Show Profile  Visit skychrome's Homepage Send skychrome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone

Its in the Sembia write up. The Book does have its gems...



Oh yeah, found it! Page 177. Why would they be interested in resurrecting the Shadow Weave, if their magic is working? Only logical reason seems to be a gift to Shar...

"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625

Edited by - skychrome on 12 May 2010 23:14:12
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Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3290 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  23:17:20  Show Profile Send Brimstone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That leads to the question, if you could restore the Shadow Weave, then one could possibly restore the Weave.

Maybe with the Shadow Weave being 'down' Shar could still be in her Weakened state. Now that would be a Secret...

"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 12 May 2010 23:18:09
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Cleric Generic
Senior Scribe

United Kingdom
565 Posts

Posted - 12 May 2010 :  23:24:08  Show Profile  Visit Cleric Generic's Homepage Send Cleric Generic a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I suppose it depends how the Weave would be reimplemented, really. If it would be the same magic but with a different interface then it probably wouldn't be worth the effort, but if it could be reimplemented in such a way as to greatly empower its users and allow them to control its use, then there'd probably be a lot of interest... >:)

Now THAT would be a worthy gift to the goddess...

Cedric! The Cleric Generic and Master of Disguise!

ALL HAIL LORD KARSUS!!!

Vast Realmslore Archive: Get in here and download everything! http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr/rl

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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36968 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  00:23:11  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk

Briefly, the idea that the Shadow Weave was independent of the Weave and would continue to exist without it was Sharran propaganda, likely put forth by Shar's more fanatical, extremist, and nihilistic followers in order to get the moderates on side. At least, that's how I explain it within the setting. From a rules and lore consistency standpoint, it makes no sense to me either, except to say that when the rules of magic go out the window, anything is possible. Why, then, with the rules change, we end up with wizards who are just as straitjacketed as any other class, I don't know... just one of many reasons I don't play 4E... despite liking the core opposed-roll game mechanics. Rant over.

I promised Sage and Wooly (and myself) that I was done ranting about this... Oops.



Actually, there was much inconsistency about the Shadow Weave for much of its published existence. Just about every mention of it contradicted the previous mention of it... And as I recall, something that was written about it in the Anauroch module was declared wrong, by Rich Baker, mere months after the release of the module.

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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  01:17:38  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by Jakk

Briefly, the idea that the Shadow Weave was independent of the Weave and would continue to exist without it was Sharran propaganda, likely put forth by Shar's more fanatical, extremist, and nihilistic followers in order to get the moderates on side. At least, that's how I explain it within the setting. From a rules and lore consistency standpoint, it makes no sense to me either, except to say that when the rules of magic go out the window, anything is possible. Why, then, with the rules change, we end up with wizards who are just as straitjacketed as any other class, I don't know... just one of many reasons I don't play 4E... despite liking the core opposed-roll game mechanics. Rant over.

I promised Sage and Wooly (and myself) that I was done ranting about this... Oops.



Actually, there was much inconsistency about the Shadow Weave for much of its published existence. Just about every mention of it contradicted the previous mention of it... And as I recall, something that was written about it in the Anauroch module was declared wrong, by Rich Baker, mere months after the release of the module.

Actually, it was about the 'Rite of Unwinding' ritual in the Shadowdale module. As stated, the Rite "is a Sharran ritual intended to suppress the Weave in an ever-expanding region, slowly creating a dead magical zone to suppress the Weave without actually destroying it (which would cause the Shadow Weave in the area to collapse.)"

Rich Baker later stated:-
quote:
Hmmm. In all honesty I can't explain why the Shadowdale sidebar says that. The parenthetical is a clear contradiction of the information on Magic of Faerun page 10. I'm inclined to regard the Shadowdale sidebar as being in error in this regard. My apologies for the confusion.

While I did work on part of Shadowdale, that wasn't my material.

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Pazuzu
Seeker

Germany
61 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  04:15:12  Show Profile Send Pazuzu a Private Message  Reply with Quote
OK, I am going to play Shadowdale and Anauchroch... any tipps how to change it to be correct then?

May your dice obey your will. - Gary Gygax (*1938 - †2008)
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Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe

USA
624 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  04:17:49  Show Profile Send Knight of the Gate a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It's funny, b/c I (who hate all things Shadow, as they presage the BS that was perpetuated as Realsmlore) use the SW as a lynchpin in my home game. In my game, however, the SW is an unknown, unknowable, 'man was not meant to know' type thing. All the SW casters my PCs have encountered have made liberal use of the 'corrupt spell' feats from BoVD, and it is the source of many otherwise 'inexplicable' magic items and effects. I love having it around, and I do use the 'hard to detect' rules from the 3E FRCG to make it an easily recognizable 'ebil' form of magic.

How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco
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Dracons
Learned Scribe

USA
299 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  11:43:08  Show Profile  Visit Dracons's Homepage Send Dracons a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I love Shadow Weave and Weave in my game. The players know of it OOC, but only one player knows about it IC. He worships Velsharoon, and belives that his god will one day be the master mage of Shadow weave for Shar, much like Azuth is for Mystra. (He jokes that Velsharoon will always be around Shar, since that's his name don'tcha know).

However, while he knows it, he is weary of using it or attempting to since it's still in Shar's domain, and one of his rivals was a priest of Shar that stole his thieves guild he had set up.

Really, I think they only fought two users of the shadow weave out of the hundreds of different users of magic. A vampire cleric of Shar, and his master, a lich shadow magic user.

From what I heard and read, the shadow weave died with the weave of magic for fourth edition.

However, what are these inconsistency of Shadow Weave? I don't recall any. They always said same thing, Shar rules it and chooses who can use it, that it's sepearte from weave, and lots of users like to be in dead magic zones to ambush and surprise people with the advantage of magic.

I love PMs! Please send me a message. Even if its Hi.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36968 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  12:01:26  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by dracons


However, what are these inconsistency of Shadow Weave? I don't recall any. They always said same thing, Shar rules it and chooses who can use it, that it's sepearte from weave, and lots of users like to be in dead magic zones to ambush and surprise people with the advantage of magic.



Whether or not it was independent of the Weave and when it was created -- those details kept changing.

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Dracons
Learned Scribe

USA
299 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  12:05:07  Show Profile  Visit Dracons's Homepage Send Dracons a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by dracons


However, what are these inconsistency of Shadow Weave? I don't recall any. They always said same thing, Shar rules it and chooses who can use it, that it's sepearte from weave, and lots of users like to be in dead magic zones to ambush and surprise people with the advantage of magic.



Whether or not it was independent of the Weave and when it was created -- those details kept changing.



Seeing as it was made by Shar, she likely wouldn't want anyone to really know when it was made, even the people of the real world. She is a secretive person. Why oh why won't she let people in!

I love PMs! Please send me a message. Even if its Hi.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 13 May 2010 :  13:46:34  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by dracons


However, what are these inconsistency of Shadow Weave? I don't recall any. They always said same thing, Shar rules it and chooses who can use it, that it's sepearte from weave, and lots of users like to be in dead magic zones to ambush and surprise people with the advantage of magic.



Whether or not it was independent of the Weave and when it was created -- those details kept changing.

And I further noted that first bit in my post above, with the quote from Rich Baker.

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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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  19:04:46  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
***Casts Resurrect Scroll***

I was going to start my own, but this one seems to have the same idea, so I'll just borrow it.

Are there elves on Abeir?

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone

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Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe

545 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  19:47:16  Show Profile Send Mr_Miscellany a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Did you resurrect the right scroll, Markus?

As to your question: I have no idea if there are elves on Abeir.

quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Whether or not it was independent of the Weave and when it was created -- those details kept changing.
The only issue with the Shadow Weave I ever experienced was purely mechanics based, as the Feats initially presented in the 3.0 FRCG were overlapping and far too detailed (this was in order to match the flavor of what the Shadow Weave did), whereas the 3.5 Player's Guide to Faerun (not sure on the shorthand for that) dramatically simplified the Feat requirements, but took some of the flavor of the Shadow Weave away as a result.

Whatever the seeming inconsistencies to those hypersensitive to setting lore, such supposed contradictions had zero effect at my gaming table.

quote:
Originally posted by Pazuzu

The Weave ist destroyed more or less, since Mystra is dead. Portals doesn't work anymore and most arcane magic is unreliable, but arcane powers like Fireball or Magic Missle still function. Why?

This is a question I've been trying to get a handle on. Even started a scroll on it, but got only one response.

Edited by - Mr_Miscellany on 09 Nov 2010 19:51:14
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Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  20:27:45  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by dracons


However, what are these inconsistency of Shadow Weave? I don't recall any. They always said same thing, Shar rules it and chooses who can use it, that it's sepearte from weave, and lots of users like to be in dead magic zones to ambush and surprise people with the advantage of magic.



Whether or not it was independent of the Weave and when it was created -- those details kept changing.



Indeed. It was said before that the SW was independent of the Weave. But in the events in Undead, right after the SP, Szass clearly saw through a 'magical window' that the SW was as utterly destroyed as the W. And it precipitated another issue: that Shar miscalculated.

Every beginning has an end.
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author

USA
4598 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  22:19:41  Show Profile  Visit Erik Scott de Bie's Homepage Send Erik Scott de Bie a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr_Miscellany

quote:
Originally posted by Pazuzu

The Weave ist destroyed more or less, since Mystra is dead. Portals doesn't work anymore and most arcane magic is unreliable, but arcane powers like Fireball or Magic Missle still function. Why?

This is a question I've been trying to get a handle on. Even started a scroll on it, but got only one response.
This is the canon:

The Weave was completely destroyed during the Spellplague. Magic became unstable, at least for the vast majority of spellcasters (many of whom actually died in the Spellplague). Over the intervening 100 years, people learned to access the sources of magic power directly, without the Weave as the interface. It's not unstable for them anymore.

This is where my own interpretation (which I think is reasonable) takes over:

Wizards have spells that are similar but different from the spells that were used before the Spellplague. Some of these are similar enough that they're called the same thing, but they function differently or are at least cast differently.

The magic missile your 4e wizard casts isn't the same spell as the 3.5 magic missile, but it's similar enough wizards have named it the same. For instance, wizards these days only cast a single magic missile at a time, as opposed to back in the day when they could cast multiple missiles with one casting. However, it doesn't require as much of their personal energies as before, and thus they can cast it a lot more frequently (than before). It's like the difference between magic shotgun (3.5 version) and a magic semi-automatic rifle with unlimited ammunition (4e magic missile). They're similar enough they could be called the same spell, but different enough that a 3.5 wizard and a 4e wizard wouldn't necessarily be familiar with that specific spell that the other was casting.

The baseline 4e magic missile and Essentials magic missile both exist in my games as well--wizards can choose either one, weighing the pros and cons. The original 4e MM has the potential to do more damage, but it is noticeably more "wild" and doesn't always hit. The Essentials MM is more like the original magic missile and always hits, but it does less damage (or at least a set amount). Neither of those is quite the same as the 3.5 magic missile.

So I hope that was helpful!

Cheers

Erik Scott de Bie

'Tis easier to destroy than to create.

Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars"
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  22:42:00  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
LOL - the last thing I wanted to happen is for people to continue an old discussion.

quote:
Originally posted by Mr_Miscellany

Did you resurrect the right scroll, Markus?

As to your question: I have no idea if there are elves on Abeir.
Yes - before posting my own thread, I searched for the same topic-name, and this one was damn close.

I have actually answered the OP's query when I answered you in your thread (regarding how the Weave really worked, and why it is no longer necessary. (IMHO, of course)

Supposedly, folks of Toril couldn't 'do magic' without the Weave. That was just Mystra's 'hype' (she has a great PR team of spin-doctors - she calls them 'servants' and 'Chosen').

There were always other ways of doing magic - we have canon examples of such - the Weave was simply 'the most bang for the buck' (or, at least, that's what Mystra's church convinced everyone of).

The short answer is that the conditions have changed and mortals need not near fear accessing arcane energies directly anymore. What was true pre-1385 is no longer the way the universe (or, in this case, the sphere) works. The very 'laws of magic' have changed thanks to the Spellplague.

And now that I have chimed-in on an old topic, can someone please tell me if there are Elves on Abeir? Or, at least, weather the lack of information doesn't imply 'yes' or 'no'?

I was reading through Savage Frontier earlier (best damn $8 I ever spent) and found an entry for "a group of Elves from some other world", and was just wondering if I/we can go back and retro-actively consider them Abeirran. According BRJ, trans-positioning of people and locales has happened on numerous occasions in Faerun's past, and I try to find canon connections in older lore to the 4e events, even if I meta-gaming know that wasn't the case when those entries were written.

For instance, the Abber (Abeir) Nomads in 2e's Nightmare Lands makes a perfect group of displaced Abeirrans (if Ravenloft was able to reach even into Athas, then why not Abeir?)

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone


Edited by - Markustay on 09 Nov 2010 22:44:02
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Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe

545 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  22:57:33  Show Profile Send Mr_Miscellany a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay

I was reading through Savage Frontier earlier (best damn $8 I ever spent) and found an entry for "a group of Elves from some other world", and was just wondering if I/we can go back and retro-actively consider them Abeirran.
Sounds good to me.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense (to me) that Faerûn's and Abeir's split nature is what made Faerûn (if not Abeir too) so open to extra planar intrusions.

Sort of how when you stretch something it begins to rip and tear, so the stuff of planar boundaries was stretched thin when the worlds were torn apart, creating plenty of barely healed, membranous pathways through which other realities (more to the point: planar travelers) could pass through.

EDIT: The existence of Abeir could be a catch all for just about any unexplained "other worlders" in the Realms, given how the two worlds were once linked. It makes sense to me that Abeir may have been the source for many migrations in the past, as well as disappearances from Faerûn as well.

Edited by - Mr_Miscellany on 09 Nov 2010 23:24:50
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2010 :  23:34:01  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Precisely how I picture it.

The sphere's shell was weakened because it was used to create a separate enclosure for Abeir. We need not know how big Abeir's plane/demi-plane/pocket-plane/sphere is for this to work - we just need to know that it does indeed have some size (it holds a world, after all) and that the material used would have been 'borrowed' from Toril's.

I also theorize the 'thinning' was not uniform (there are 'weak spots'), and also further weakening was done by excessive/abusive magic. Gates and portals literally 'punch-through' the veil between the worlds, which creates minute weak spots, which could grow over time with continued misuse in the same general locale.

We also have some canon regarding the Fey (and/or Elves) setting guardians in-place over large thin-spots (which I dubbed Terminus points in the Fey thread), and Mystra keeps a close eye on The Road of Stars and Shadows (Secrets of the Magister, pg.127). Note that Larloch also has a great interest in this web-work of "distortions in the Weave" (direct quote), which is part of the reason I assume Larloch is a servant of Mystra/Mystryl, if not a Chosen (Secrets of the Magister is chock-full of 'hidden lore' just waiting to be discovered).

So the Fey/Elves obviously covet such places, and they may be watching over them for either altruistic or selfish reasons (or perhaps both).

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone

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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 13 Nov 2010 :  18:39:21  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
New Question: What the hell is the Deep Maw?

And don't tell me it's what a hillbilly calls his philosophical mother.

Seriously, I see it on the 4e map in Netheril, and yet see no mention of it in either the CS or the PG. Am I missing something? Was it ever discussed in a DDi article? Did someone just spill something on the map before it went to print and quickly covered their mistake by scribbling a name next to it?

I'm not putting it on my map conversion if I don't even know what to draw.

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone

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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore

Netherlands
1280 Posts

Posted - 14 Nov 2010 :  00:23:57  Show Profile Send Bladewind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sounds like some sort of chasm. A deep one at that, resembling some sort of orifice of a monster.

Its probably artificial if it hasn't been seen on earlier maps. This could be the result of some collateral magic damage from a ultra high powered spell battle or experiment! I blame the Shadowvar trying to magically speed up archaeological research for the rumored Cities of Gold in the Anauroch.

If its natural it could have been some sort of massive tunnel tube in the Underdark revealed or laid bare by burrowing creature activity and opened up to the clear skies by a catastrophic landslide.


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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 14 Nov 2010 :  02:55:03  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
There are massive subterranean cavern systems in that region (or were) that connected various Sarrukh locales.

I have to assume those cavern-complexes caved-in, but its odd it is not mentioned in the Netheril section, nor in the Sarrukh/Orome or Thaalud entries.

Yet it appears on two separate maps in that book. And on the Underdark one, it is 'grayed-out' like the surface terrain, which is really bizarre (indicating it does not go as deep as the Underdark).

So far I asked two questions about 4eFR and couldn't get a solid answer.

And they wonder why people are left shaking their heads.

EDIT: Just did a quick web search and I think I have the answer - it is one of those areas that was purposely left 'undetailed' for DM use.

Of course, I would argue that 'undetailed' and 'not even mentioned' are very different things, but whatever. I'm not including something if I can't even figure-out what sort of terrain we are talking about. It could be anything from a massive sink-hole to an Underchasm-type rift to the Underdark (which would be peculiar considering how its shown on the Underdark map).

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone


Edited by - Markustay on 23 Nov 2010 19:33:19
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Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe

545 Posts

Posted - 14 Nov 2010 :  04:04:56  Show Profile Send Mr_Miscellany a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay

New Question: What the hell is the Deep Maw?
This may be one of those moments where you just have to take a deep breath and fill in the Realmslore yourself.

4E is good for that sort of activity. And it's good for the system, or so I hear.
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Bakra
Senior Scribe

628 Posts

Posted - 15 Nov 2010 :  15:45:09  Show Profile Send Bakra a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay



So far I asked two questions about 4eFR and couldn't get a solid answer.

And they wonder why people are left shaking their heads.






geez Markustay I'm sure I can remember two questions for each incarnation of FR which I never received a solid answer from fans or designers. When I received unsatisfactory responses…I made stuff up!
What a shocker!

I hope Candlekeep continues to be the friendly forum of fellow Realms-lovers that it has always been, as we all go through this together. If you don’t want to move to the “new” Realms, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with either you or the “old” Realms. Goodness knows Candlekeep, and the hearts of its scribes, are both big enough to accommodate both. If we want them to be.
(Strikes dramatic pose, raises sword to gleam in the sunset, and hopes breeches won’t fall down.)
Enough for now. The Realms lives! I have spoken! Ale and light wines half price, served by a smiling Storm Silverhand fetchingly clad in thigh-high boots and naught else! Ahem . .
So saith Ed. <snip>
love to all,
THO
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author

USA
4598 Posts

Posted - 16 Nov 2010 :  06:55:25  Show Profile  Visit Erik Scott de Bie's Homepage Send Erik Scott de Bie a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Agreed. In no incarnation of the Realms, or any setting for that matter, have we ever known absolutely everything. Earlier editions of the Realms purposefully had place names scribed on the map without detail as to what might be found there, because DMs were ENCOURAGED to fill them in to fit their games.

If people are "left shaking their heads" because there are two unfilled in areas to 4e FR, then they may not have been paying attention in earlier editions.

Sure, 4e has substantially less detailed than previous editions, but that just means we get to go through the process of filling it in for our games or canonically through novels, supplements, etc.

One shouldn't hate the journey just because we're early on in it.

Cheers

Erik Scott de Bie

'Tis easier to destroy than to create.

Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars"
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 23 Nov 2010 :  01:42:59  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Seriously, are you guys comparing vague lore regarding certain subjects with a BIG BLACK SMUDGE dead-center of the new 4e FR map that apparently NO-ONE knows a thing about?

Name one other setting - game or otherwise - that has a major geographical feature central to the campaign area (with a name and everything) that doesn't get a single mention anywhere.

Not mentioning something so large, and being 'vague' are two completely different things - that's just really bad design. You guys can keep telling the emperor his new clothes are dynamite, but I know he's naked.

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone


Edited by - Markustay on 23 Nov 2010 19:14:56
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