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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 11:49:00
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That's what I'm looking for. I was planning to write a story set in Westgate, and I may still, but it seems to be getting a lot of attention from the real authors. Instead I'd like to find a corner of the Realms I can use without the concern that what I write will be thoroughly contradicted.
What I'm looking for is a thriving slave trade, arena combat, and generally dangerous streets.
Now, in 3E there was Reth, which sounded rather Roman in its description, but would probably have served just fine. It doesn't appear to exist anymore, however. Same thing with Innarlith.
So, any suggestions?
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_Jarlaxle_
Senior Scribe
Germany
584 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 12:09:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Ozzalum
What I'm looking for is a thriving slave trade, arena combat, and generally dangerous streets.
There are countless examples which fit to that description.
Probabbly any city in Thay would, a lot of places in the underdark, or Skullport, maybe Atkathla or Calimport or or or...  |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 12:15:53
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I suppose I should narrow it down a little. I'm definitely not looking for the Underdark but rather a human city. Someplace where a worshiper of a "good" god could openly walk the streets and not need to particularly fear the attention of authorities.
Isn't Thay inhospitable to life in 4E?
I think Skullport would have the same problem as Westgate in terms of other authors' attention.
I will do some research on Atkathla and Calimport though.
Thanks for the suggestions. And since I got the impression that was just the tip of the iceberg, feel free to give me more. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 12:54:40
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| I'd suggest looking at Hillsfar and Mulmaster (FRA is a good source). Or cities like Melvaunt which haven't received much official attention yet (as far as I know). I'm not sure if any of them are still "hospitable" in 4E. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 01 Dec 2010 13:16:01 |
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_Jarlaxle_
Senior Scribe
Germany
584 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 13:13:50
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| Maybe Luskan or Sembia, although I'm not sure about slave trade in Sembia. Maybe its allowed after the shades took control, if not there could be some illegal underground slave trading... |
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Elfinblade
Senior Scribe
Norway
377 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 15:51:50
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My gaming group had a similar experience when trying to find a city where we could basically do whatever we wanted, without some the most avid readers in our group going ballistic over some canon lore not being implemented and so on.
We chose the city of Two Stars between Thay and Rashemen. Our DM basically made the town his own, and created his own map of it, establishments, arenas etc. We now had a city of our own making which suited our needs very well.
So that's my advice really. Find a city with little or no mention in canon lore, and go bananas on it :) |
Edited by - Elfinblade on 01 Dec 2010 15:52:45 |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 16:29:01
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With your advice in mind, Elfinblade, does Teziir make sense? It is near Westgate, still appears to exist in 4E, and was trying to rival Westgate back in 3E. Since I have already gotten pretty far into my novella, keeping the setting close to my original concept is attractive. All of my general regional references still apply, and Westgate would continue to loom in the background.
I haven't seen much of anything out there on Teziir, but perhaps my research skills are weak. Am I right in assuming it is largely undocumented?
Any of you WotC authors gonna set a story there? I'm looking at you Erik... |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 16:42:30
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| If you choose to build a city from scratch then why not actually invent it entirely? Pick a blank spot on the map, make up a name, throw in a few roads, just add water - et voilą! Instant city; zero risk of violating existing/future canon. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Elfinblade
Senior Scribe
Norway
377 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 16:43:43
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I cant say i have heard or read anything about Teziir in any novels. It is however, briefly mentioned in the FRCS page 143, where it says it is a relatively new frontier town, being built on the ruins of the previous Teziir ( no mention of this old ruins, so that could be some interesting story hooks right there) and that it was in direct competition with Westgate over the trade routes from the Sword Coast to the Inner Seas.
Sounds to me that town could fit your needs indeed. |
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Elfinblade
Senior Scribe
Norway
377 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 16:44:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Arik
If you choose to build a city from scratch then why not actually invent it entirely? Pick a blank spot on the map, make up a name, throw in a few roads, just add water - et voilą! Instant city; zero risk of violating existing/future canon.
Or what Arik so eloquently put it. If you have the patience for it, invent your own town for your tailored needs  |
Edited by - Elfinblade on 01 Dec 2010 16:45:00 |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 16:59:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Ozzalum
Any of you WotC authors gonna set a story there? I'm looking at you Erik...
No plans currently. Westgate sure, but Teziir's fair game as far as I'm concerned.
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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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 17:01:06
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I think that Teziir was to be detailed in some 3e Dragon article, not sure what will happen now
what about Escalant, I'm sure it's still around, or any other of the Coastal cities
violating canon, lol, Starmantle would be your place |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 17:03:25
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My only concern with going with a completely made up town is one of scale. There are various small towns, villages, and communities throughout the realms that have never been put on a map or mentioned in lore. However, I would expect any sizable town, certainly any place with features similar to Westgate, would be mentioned. If I were setting the book in a place like Deadsnows, I would be much more inclined to make up my own town. I feel as though adding my own decent sized city/town would actually be not just noncanon but actually tend to contradict canon.
Of course, I never mentioned the size of the place I was interested in, but having done so now, does my reasoning make sense? |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 17:16:55
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There are MANY large settlements that don't appear on official maps - Ed himself gave me the details of a city near the Giant's Run (not at home, so I can't give you a name or precise location ATM).
What the continental map shows are the settlements of importance to persons of the Heartlands - a map produced in the south or elsewhere would probably display other cities. A settlement's size does have some bearing on importance, but isn't the only factor (Shadowdale, for example).
That being said, if your story is pre-plague I would suggest Zhentil Keep or Skuld. Calimport or any of the lesser cities of Calimshan would work as well. You want a good citystate with few ties to any nation and lots of intrigue? Sultin, which lies between Thay and Mulhorand.
Post-plague you can really drop anything in anywhere you want - the new setting is designed to be 'malleable'. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 17:22:41
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| Well, it all boils down to a simple choice: Accept everything that the canon is and will be. Or don't. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 17:53:30
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| Ravens Bluff... |
"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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Ranak
Learned Scribe
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 18:54:22
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| New Phlan right on the Moonsea, or maybe go exotic somewhere down in Dambrath. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 19:21:17
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| Phlan is workable, but is central to the Pool of Radiance and subsequent adventures. It'd be hard to "suddenly" use this Phlan (ruins, monstrous hordes, and Tyranthraxus) if you've already established it as something else. The modules could of course be relocated elsewhere, but would require some reworking of peripheral events (example: Zhentarim plots in Phlan). The Moonsea would be the best place to drop Phlan "as-is", but of course there can't be two Phlans. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Rhewtani
Senior Scribe
USA
508 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 19:44:41
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| I'll ditto Melvaunt. Moonsea and Mysteries of the Moonsea are about it for references, I think. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 20:25:13
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Teziir was completely detailed and mapped by Ed (to follow Crimmor in his cities series in DRAGON, that died when Wizards ended Paizo's licence), circa JUST prior to the Spellplague. Wizards still has that lore; I'll nudge Ed to put his head together with Steve Winter, to see if it can't be released on DDI.
love,
THO |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 12:15:51
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Thank you THO... and everybody else.
Since Melvaunt got two votes, a clearly plurality, I will give it a look. |
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Like Westgate, but not Westgate
