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Judd
Acolyte
USA
24 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Jul 2010 : 02:35:08
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Lots questions, thanks for reading and even more for answering:
1) In the original Realms, gray AD&D boxed set (which upon rediscovering the setting is quickly becoming my favorite iteration of the Realms), what year is it, Dale Reckoning? Reckoned from what?
2) What is Dale Reckoning and is that the standard date used for all of Faerun?
3) How old is Elminster, Khelben as of the opening of that boxed set? How do they live so long?
Thanks again!
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Githyanki Diaspora: gaming blog |
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Sylrae
Learned Scribe
Canada
313 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2010 : 03:58:46
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1) Not sure about the date for the old grey box.
Dalereckoning is the number of years since the erecting of the standing stone. A monument symbolizing an alliance between the Elven empire of Cormanthyr and the surrounding human Dales.
It's pretty much the standard date across Faerun. There are some other yearly standards used, but they aren't used much in modern Forgotten Realms.
I'm not going to look up the dates, but Elminster pre-dates the rise of Cormanthyr, and Khelben was born in Cormanthyr before it fell in 714 DR.
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Sylrae's Forgotten Realms Fan-Lore Index, with public commenting access to make for easier improvement (WIP) |
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The Simbul
Learned Scribe
173 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2010 : 06:54:40
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Elminster was born in the Year of Awakening Magic (212 DR). He became a Chosen of Mystra in the Year of the Chosen (240 DR).
Khelben was born the nameless son of Arun in the Year of Omen Stars (414 DR). He became a Chosen of Mystra in the Year of True Names (464 DR) when Mystra resurrected him after he sacrificed himself to save a trio of Evereskans fleeing Phaerimm.
In both instances their longevity was secured upon their ascension as Mystra's Chosen. |
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Sylrae
Learned Scribe
Canada
313 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2010 : 08:04:19
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1 and 2 -- 1357 DR [it's referenced at the bottom of pg. 4 in the Cyclopedia of the Realms]. And yes, it's Dalereckoning. Dalereckoning marks the raising of the Standing Stone, and the first time humans were allowed -- by the Elven Court -- to settle parts of the forest. Dalereckoning is influential [and, thus, used primarily by most humans] because it's the symbolic beginning of human culture in the northern Inner Sea lands. Other human-derived dating systems exist, however, and are usually only region/realm-specific.
Cormyr had [and still uses] a dating system of its own [Cormyr Reckoning... which marks the foundation of House Obarskyr].
The North, specifically Waterdeep, has a younger system -- North Reckoning -- marking the time of Ahghairon become the first Lord of Waterdeep. Waterdeep Years, another method of marking time in the region, records the time the region that would become the City of Splendors was first used as a trading post.
The Mulhorandi system is another old dating tradition -- marking the foundation of Skuld.
All three FRCS cover the details about the dating systems of the Realms. Additionally, Ed has also talked a little about dating methods in the Realms in his replies here at Candlekeep.
3 -- Elminster was born in 212 DR. Khelben in 414 DR. Re: how they live so long... 'tis mostly a combination of their unique life-preserving abilities granted to them as Chosen of Mystra, and, additionally, probably due to their use of potions of longevity from time to time. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2010 : 17:49:36
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Dalereckoning is less widely used in Faerūn, and other regional systems more so, than in the sources, which make things more uniform for ease of DMs.
Also bear in mind that the Chosen of Mystra, while not a secret, aren't by any means common knowledge (or belief) either. |
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Questions about wizards & years & Dale Reckoning
