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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 02:38:16
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Precisely. Mirt wouldn't have fled. 
Damian, if that pic is the one I think it is (Ed in the red dragon black T-shirt), the lady snuggling up against him stage left is Shelly Mazzanoble (author of CONFESSIONS OF A PART-TIME SORCERESS and enthusiastic Wizards marketing employee, her exact current title escapes me), and the lady stage right is Sara Girard, former Wizards marketing employee, who as an avocation helms a ladies' roller derby team in the Seattle area. The pic was taken some years ago at an Indy GenCon, one evening during the feasting festivities. It's not that Ed is a chick magnet, you understand, it's that he's a gallant escort that, ahem, ladies love to escort.
love,
THO |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 08:49:00
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Precisely. Mirt wouldn't have fled.
Damian, if that pic is the one I think it is (Ed in the red dragon black T-shirt), the lady snuggling up against him stage left is
Aye that's the one good lady, I guessed it was an older pic.
Ed running the mouseholee game here
http://arrg.net/OSRcon2011/content/IMG_0215_large.html
is it me, or is the bearded one, getting beardier?
http://arrg.net/OSRcon2011/content/IMG_0204_large.html
Been reading a few blogs about it, seems like a fun friendly couple of days enjoyed by all 
Cheers
Damian
ps to keep my post on topic! talking about escorts, is there a school in Cormyr that trains escorts to err... escort? |
So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
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Lady Shadowflame
Learned Scribe
115 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 09:14:15
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Greetings to Ed - I have a series of pre-Spellplague questions regarding drow, particularly upon the surface. Some are tangentially connected to questions answered in the past on here, but I don't believe any are quite the same...
1. Do you suppose you might be able to give more information regarding Eldritch Ebony, the group Volo mentions at one point as trading in drow? Their modus operandi, any key figures at any point before and during the 3.5 era? Maybe even some history? These guys intrigue me (not least because enslaving drow is somewhat akin to suicide unless one is very careful, being as you're holding captive a calculating intelligent being with highly probable knife skills and a long memory for grudges  ).
2. Following on from question 1, I can understand how their customers might get away with it in Calimshan, but what about places like Waterdeep? Surely that vaunted anti-slavery thing applies... Which leads me to ask: what would the reaction of the authorities in cities like Waterdeep, Baldur's Gate and so on (or even Cormyr) be to discovering such a thing? Say, they find Mister Corrupt the wealthy merchant has a drow slave kept behind a false wall in his bedroom, what action do they take? Is the drow in question treated as a victimised party despite surface anti-drow sentiments, or just arrested for being there at all, or worse 'put down' as though they were an illegal monster pet of a less intelligent kind?
3. Similarly, the authorities discover potential that there are drow working against a city figure... but it's to take back drow slaves in the city. What happens, most likely?
4. And tangentially from these things, I know the usual reaction to drow in Waterdeep, as it was part of an answer to a question on the Crawling Spider tavern... But how would it turn out if a drow were to contact someone influential in the city (messenger to Mirt or suchlike, friends with a wizard who can go talk to Khelben, Eilistraeean drow popping in to the Promenade to ask Qilue to pretty please contact Laeral, or any variant/mixture of the above) and essentially request entry, giving details of the exact guise they intend to use to prevent hysteria in the streets from folks who might panic to see a drow, and inviting that personage to place them under whatever surveillance they feel necessary, up to and including some worn token to say where they are at all times so that it's clear they're not sneaking about weakening defenses or trying anything particularly dire? Basically "hi, if I'm discreet and I let you set up whatever precautions will make it clear I'm not doing evil stuff here, may I have some (unofficial) permission to be in the city? Please?"
Because I've at least one drow character, and there are probably more out there, who have worked out that on the surface just asking for what you want is so much quicker and less convoluted than coming up with new schemes.
Is it workable, or would they be better off just doing the subterfuge thing?
5. Regarding questions two and three, does the answer change depending upon the age of the drow in question? Drow child found or drow taking back a child sort of thing, vs an adult drow in the same situation.
I think that's all I can think of just now along those lines. But all in all the things with Eldritch Ebony etc suggest all kinds of fun to me in terms of involving drow PCs on the surface, or even just bringing up a quandary for non-drow PCs. And for the rest of it... I suppose some drow had to eventually work out this whole "catch more flies with honey than you do with a great honking spiderweb vinegar" thing...
Cheers! |
Save a lizard... Ride a drow.
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 17:04:18
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Great questions, Lady Shadowflame. Off they go to Ed, but in the meantime, here are a few tentative beginnings of an answer, from me...
2. "Is the drow in question treated as a victimised party despite surface anti-drow sentiments, or just arrested for being there at all, or worse 'put down' as though they were an illegal monster pet of a less intelligent kind?"
This sort of discovery has happened in Realmsplay, so I can tell you that the answer is "it depends" (on who finds them, and the reaction of the drow slave). Many Waterdhavians would scream and run to find the Watch; Watch officers might draw weapons and use them overhastily if the drow actively offered violence to anyone nearby, but Lords and senior courtiers and Guard officers will almost always try to maintain Waterdeep's "open trading" reputation by feeding and arming the drow and escorting them down to Skullport to "freedom in the Underdark."
3. This'll be an "it depends," too, depending on who the "city figure" is, but covert aid to the drow (on the understanding that violence and destruction must be minimal) will often be given (because this, too, has happened in Realmsplay).
4. "Is it workable, or would they be better off just doing the subterfuge thing?"
Yes, it's definitely workable, because this has happened many, many times (and still does), and yes, Mirt is often involved (often through Asper, Sammereza Sulphontis, and others).
Ed will of course give a better response when he can (he's in another "awfully busy" period right now).
love,
THO |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 23:34:04
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| I have a related question or two. How would one go about freeing drow captives of other houses, rescuing orphaned children of fallen Houses, and/or recruiting young and/or disgruntled ones from under the noses of Matrons in a place like Menzo? I have this campaign with a small band disguised as traveling entertainers and merchants (like an Underdark gypsy band doing some covert mission to spirit away those drow children or adults (especially slaves and homeless) to a new home. The band is led by some Eilistraeeans, BTW. How would one go about this without getting caught(and presumably sacrificed to Lolth!)? |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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althen artren
Senior Scribe
USA
780 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2011 : 01:40:17
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How are the abilities of dieties from other world settings altered
when they travel on Faerun, at least before the spellplague? |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2011 : 10:02:57
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Tantam all
A question about Moonshaevian heraldry if I may.
A discussion from another scroll about the Heraldry of Callidyr
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15559
The heraldry is described as black banner emblazoned with a silver bear. Yet the Kendrick family heraldy is a wolfs head (as per Halls of the High King).
I was wondering why the capital did not use the heraldry of those who rule it?
And Ed can you share any more lore of Heraldry of the Moonshaes with the scribes in this hallowed hall?
Kind regards
Damian
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So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
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Thieran
Learned Scribe
Germany
293 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2011 : 11:03:38
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| Measured by RW heraldry, it would be unusual if a city had the same coats of arms as its rulers, and vice versa. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2011 : 15:26:19
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Hi again, all.
Damian, the silver bear on black banner is a "battle banner" or simplified badge used in battle (has to be simple, easily recognized from a distance, etc.). The blazon of Callidyr is, if I recall long-ago Realmsplay correctly, a castle keep [single tower]. The ruling family and other city-resident nobles, including the royal family, will all have their own blazons (AND simplified badges).
I'll see if
I can prod Ed into revealing more, but he's just shared some lore with Matt James (probably for an article Matt is writing).
love,
THO |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 10:20:54
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what's the symbol and banner of Lantan?
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z455t |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 12:01:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
what's the symbol and banner of Lantan?
A field of orange with a gold cross, in the top-left and bottom right quarters a smaller symbol of Gond, and in the top-right and lower-left quarters an exploding steam engine. 
(And apparently my schoolboy French is not up for writing that up in proper heraldese after I've been up for about 24 hours. ) |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2011 : 16:03:20
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Hi again, all.
I bring a reply from Ed to Dennis, re. this: "Hi Ed and THO! I was reviewing some posts in a certain thread when something occurred to me...
The phaerimm absorb magic, the Weave-based magic at least. But in the novel Sword Play, the magic storms, which were fueled by the Netherese's careless and relentless use of magic, caused deaths of several of the thornbacks. They should have been able to absorb the storm, right? In the first place, it's just a mass of magic. Or was there some material or essence in the storm that made it inedible and destructive to the phaerimm?"
Ed replies:
Hi, Dennis. The Phaerimm absorb magic consciously, not involuntarily (i.e. it's not automatic, and won't occur if they're "not ready" for it). Moreover, all Phaerimm have a maximum capacity, beyond which excess magic harms them, just as Shandril is/was harmed by excess spellfire. That's what happened in SWORD PLAY; individual goit overloaded so badly that the spillover magic was enough to slay them.
So saith Ed. Who is hard at work on more Realms delights for us all, he tells me...
love,
THO |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 01:52:41
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Thanks Ed and THO! That clears the confusion... |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 13:30:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
what's the symbol and banner of Lantan?
A field of orange with a gold cross, in the top-left and bottom right quarters a smaller symbol of Gond, and in the top-right and lower-left quarters an exploding steam engine.
(And apparently my schoolboy French is not up for writing that up in proper heraldese after I've been up for about 24 hours.)
I like that colors and symbols, how would you draw the steam engine sign? |
z455t |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 14:31:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
I like that colors and symbols, how would you draw the steam engine sign?
[not helpful]Very, very badly[/not helpful]
But if I were to give it a go, I'd look at how the first steam trains looked like. A large cylinder (even I could draw that), some wheels connected by a bar, and a pipe or two sticking out of the cylinder with smoke coming out of it. All of this done as stylised as possible, since we're talking a symbol and not a painting. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 16:24:03
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From my notes (which came from Ed), these exploding engines are described thus:
Ball (cloud) of steam with leaning smokestack protruding out of it on upper right, pistons and their linkages flying apart and out of it lower left and center left, pinwheel of flames in the center of the cloud.
love,
THO |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 20:38:33
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Ed, will you be at FanExpo this year?
(All interested scribes near Toronto, I'm referring to the massive comics/sf/Trek/Star Wars/TV & movie/LARPing/gaming, online and computer gaming convention held at the Metro Convention Centre downtown by the CN Tower, South Building this year, Thursday Aug 25 through Sunday Aug 28th.)
BB |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 21:00:03
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
From my notes (which came from Ed), these exploding engines are described thus:
Ball (cloud) of steam with leaning smokestack protruding out of it on upper right, pistons and their linkages flying apart and out of it lower left and center left, pinwheel of flames in the center of the cloud.
love,
THO
But... but... I just made that up!! *looks around suspiciously* |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2011 : 21:19:47
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Heh. The exploding steam machines are a long-standing Lantanna motif in the Realms. It has to do with Gond inspiring mortals, but mortal strivings being imperfect.
You're channeling the Realms deep and true, good Kajehase.
. . . and I actually logged on to bring Blueblade a reply re. FanExpo, from Ed:
Yes, I'll be appearing at FanExpo Friday and Saturday this year.
Friday 4 pm, Room 715B: DM Master Class: At The Knees of the Masters: veteran game mastering tips from Robin Laws, me, and (I think) Chatty DM
Friday 5 pm, Autograph Area: autograph session (me)
Saturday 3 pm, Room 715B: Fantastic Worlds & How To Get There: a fantasy writing panel with Robin and me again, Violette Malan, Lesley Livingston, and Robert Paul Weston
. . . plus, possibly, some other panels still in the works right now.
See you there!
So saith Ed. Whose next con appearances after that will be Phantasm in Peterborough (Sept 24-25th) and SFContario in Toronto in November.
love,
THO |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 20 Aug 2011 : 02:10:34
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Hi again, all. Update to the above: Ed (and Robin) are on another FanExpo gaming panel, on board game design, time and place not yet set.
Ed mentioned I might want to consult my old notes about a Realms NPC named Laerikyn, possibly both a rogue and mage (we Knights never learned), but hasn't told me why. Hmmm. . .
love to all,
THO
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 20 Aug 2011 : 12:01:36
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| Thanks very much Kajehase and THO, do you know the symbol of Halruaa? |
z455t |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 20 Aug 2011 : 14:50:45
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Hi, Kno. The airship badge (i.e. simplified blazon painted on airships) I have in my notes is: oval shield, sky blue background, on it three silver stars joined by a silver ribbon in the shape of a horseshoe, curve up; center star, highest (on the "top" of the ribbon's arc), is twice as big as the two flanking stars (at the ends of the ribbon/ebds of the horseshoe).
So this might be Halruaa's "battle badge," or might denote only its aerial navy, or...?
love,
THO |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 20 Aug 2011 : 22:20:24
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The star denoting magic/Mystra?
BB |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2011 : 00:27:43
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hi, Kno. The airship badge (i.e. simplified blazon painted on airships) I have in my notes is: oval shield, sky blue background, on it three silver stars joined by a silver ribbon in the shape of a horseshoe, curve up; center star, highest (on the "top" of the ribbon's arc), is twice as big as the two flanking stars (at the ends of the ribbon/ebds of the horseshoe).
So this might be Halruaa's "battle badge," or might denote only its aerial navy, or...?
love,
THO
Now, why don't I ever have a working scanner when I need one?  |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2011 : 16:10:57
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hi, Kno. The airship badge (i.e. simplified blazon painted on airships) I have in my notes is: oval shield, sky blue background, on it three silver stars joined by a silver ribbon in the shape of a horseshoe, curve up; center star, highest (on the "top" of the ribbon's arc), is twice as big as the two flanking stars (at the ends of the ribbon/ebds of the horseshoe).
So this might be Halruaa's "battle badge," or might denote only its aerial navy, or...?
love,
THO
That's even better THO because the campaign is about the spelljammer invasion >-) |
z455t |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 02:57:14
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Good!
Yes, Blueblade, the stars denote Mystra/Mystryl.
love,
THO |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 13:43:47
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Hello Ed
A question (or two) about Elminster's business (calling) card if I may?
In the middle of the card are the letters J & C with a horizontal crosspiece that makes the J into a 'fancy' T or F. All are combined into one symbol, so is this a wizard mark of El's?
Did El name the lane on which he lives himself, or did the good folk of Shadowdale name it for him?
Inquiring minds etc
Cheers
Damian
p.s. Was very interesting to see how El sees himself: Sage Wizard Harper Meddler
p.p.s. for those who think I am babbling on stupidly the card is here http://grognardia.blogspot.com |
So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
Edited by - crazedventurers on 22 Aug 2011 13:46:53 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 15:48:16
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Hi, Damian!
Ed will have to interpret the symbol/rune on the card for you, but I can answer your second question: the folk of Shadowdale named the little flagstone footpath that leads from the caravan road (the Northride) to Elminster's Tower. It was originally a jesting name bestowed incredulously by locals who'd wandered out of the Old Skull with tankards in hand to gawk at the sight of six heralds (not High Heralds, but court envoys from Cormyr, Hillsfar, various Sembian cities, and elsewhere) lined up to get to speak to Elminster (as a sage; they wanted his "definitive" opinion on disentangling inheritance disputes regarding the lands held by a probably extinct noble family, the Halnsors, in all of their various territories) . . . but later the folk of Shadowdale became quite proud of it. The path is a "lane" only in the most generous use of the term.
love,
THO |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 16:13:37
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. . . And here's a swift reply from Ed, who was sitting at his keyboard this fair morn, when my e-mail landed in his lap (er, no, I guess it flashed before his eyeballs; it's ME who seeks to land in his lap):
Hi Damian! That is indeed one of El's wizard marks, little used these days in favor of later, more powerful ones (it's not, and has never been, his sigil). It actually combines several letters: "e" for Elminster, "j" for Jannathra (a word of incantation that could be translated "X [in this case Elminster] does this" or "X has spoken" or "X makes it so"), "t" for Tannaeth (a word of incantation meaning "sealing" or "bound to" or "marked as belonging to" or "the work of" [so this latter meaning has meant that you'll sometimes see pots and other handcrafted items of the Realms marked on the base with "Tannaeth" and then a name or personal symbol, the item and the maker having nothing to do with magic at all), and "c" for Cahlethra (a non-Art word meaning "done with good intentions" or "done to true purpose" or "done as the god wills" or "this represents a noble cause" or the like). Obviously, all of the letters are overlapped into the symbol you see, and in the past (DR 1200s and earlier) Elminster did do so with incantations to make this a wizard mark that anchored many wards, alarm- and identification-spells, and similar magics. By the 1300s, it served him as a recognition-rune that gave others no power over him at all. By the way: the Weave enables all Chosen, plus Mystra and Azuth, to be instantly aware when someone who is not Elminster draws this sign while in any location the Weave reaches (they learn the locale, the someone, and a glimpse of the intent and the nature of any magic involved). Hope this helps.
So saith Ed. Creator of El and the whole shebang. BTW, Ed has been giving out those cards (often to people who come to one of his autographing sessions with nothing to sign) at conventions for more than a decade, now.
love,
THO |
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Lady Shadowflame
Learned Scribe
115 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2011 : 16:41:58
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Extra questions for Ed - not drow this time, wonder of wonders.
Thaerefoil. I've only seen it in the one Knights of Myth Drannor novel.
Its effects are pretty clearly stated (the Anti-Viagra of the Realms!); what I'm curious about are things like how it smells and tastes, and whether or not it can be introduced to someone's food or drink without them realising.
Does it only grow in that forest, or in other places in the Realms as well? What does it look like?
Also, does it work on women too as far as dulling the libido? If not, is there one that does? (And any details of that one, perhaps...)
I'm making a guess at its usual uses, but I'd appreciate being enlightened on whether I'm right or if there are other common ones:
- Feeding to one's animals, to prevent impromptu breeding (and to avoid an undignified death when one's mighty stallion scents a mare and breaks formation to chase her).
- Religiously inclined folks using a little bit of a 'helper' to maintain a vow of chastity.
- Unhappily married wives slipping it to their husbands to avoid marital demands.
And finally... Florin says he hadn't gathered the leaves with the whole 'prolonged exposure to noblewoman' thing in mind. What, then, did he want them for? |
Save a lizard... Ride a drow.
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Edited by - Lady Shadowflame on 22 Aug 2011 16:43:50 |
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2011)
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