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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 16:53:43
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| In modern fantasy settings I absolutely ADORE Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely world. Her Faeries and Courts are top notch as well as Holly. Black's Faeries and Courts. |
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Ranak
Learned Scribe
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 18:12:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Arik
I read Thieves' World books many years ago, the entire handful which existed at the time. Some great characters, ideas, and even stories ... but overall the setting just seemed too shallow for my tastes. As if the many authors were overly careful and timid about stepping on each other's work.
The d20 Thieves' World accessories were generally quite good (better than most OGL), though I've never really made much use of them.
Good to know, I do not like overly dark settings like DragonAge so Thieves' World is probably not for me. I only like the Moorecock books because they are also very trippy, which I love. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 19:00:49
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| I wouldn't say Thieves' World is a dark setting; it's roughly comparable in tone to FR and most other fantasy settings, plus it's acceptable for most young readers ... though it's composed of numerous individual short stories and a few of these (IMO the better ones) are indeed slightly dark. It's not really what the title suggests. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 19:19:33
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| I love Dragon Age. I really love their Elves. |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 19:57:00
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They do make good house servants.
Nah, I kid. Dragon Age elves come close to getting me to like them. Not quite there, but close. Zevran and Merrill are fun, though.
One thing I like most about Dragon Age though is the Qun. It fascinates me; I'd love to learn more about it to better incorporate it into my homebrew. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 20:32:53
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CoA please don't go on another of your Elf hate rampages please XC
I want to incorporate Wicked Lovely's Faeries somehow into FR |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 20:47:37
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| Well, I don't hate the Dragon Age elves. Don't "like" them as a whole, though I do like individual elves within the setting. Still, the qunari are the most interesting thing about the setting, in my opinion. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Ranak
Learned Scribe
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2011 : 21:44:58
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DragonAge Elves have nothing on the Elves of Barsaive. Earthdawn I think had the definitive take on the race. The Blight is just boring in comparison.
Artesia is another beautifully rendered and detailed world. The sourcebook is breathtaking and the history is rich and complex.
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 03:18:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Asmodeus
They do make good house servants.
That's the best use I have for them. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 03:30:48
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| I can think of a few better uses. Ah, sweet Iona. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 03:35:15
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Gardeners might be the very best use for them. One can be certain the plants will never wilt. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 05:45:53
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Nah, I still would prefer the Masters to outlive their servants, or that they reach the end of their lives together. Doby [Rowling] and the Valheru's elves [Feist]. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 08:37:15
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| Dragon Age elves only live as long as humans. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 08:48:53
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My personal bias aside, I always think of elves as servants. And I usually appreciate novels which use them as such. I rarely associate greatness with really small and frail-looking beings. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 10:55:28
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| For all my elf hate, and I do hate them, elves in my home brew actually have one of the three strongest empires in the world, alongside humans and orcs. That being said, they rely extremely heavily on magical constructs as their front line fighters. Elven fighting styles in my HB are almost entirely for show; they're flowery, flashy, inefficent and impractical. They're practiced as forms of art and meditation, not meant for use in battle. They're also rigid in practice, if not in movement, allowing for minimal adaptation. A master of an elven style would still trounce a novice of most other styles, but would be destroyed by more experienced fighters. They remain, however, excellent archers. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 18:09:16
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| FR elves are neither small nor especially frail. I don't see how that idea applies here. They're nearly as tall as most humans, and weight ranges are simply at the lower end of the human norm. If I were living in the Fr, I'd probably qualifiy as a short elf OR human nd people might actually speculate that I had blood of both! (I'm 5' even and about 95 lbs, in case anyone's wondering- the lower end of FR elf-height, and slightly below average weight for one, by scale.) My hubby jokes that if my ears were pointed, I'd actually BE one.... I've always admired their outlook, their ability to intuitively use magic, and elegant yet deadly fighting styles. The nature-related lore and pantheon doesn't hurt, either, IMHO. |
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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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 19:36:40
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| People who struggle have always been more interesting to me than people who pick up things intuitively. And I don't care for elegance in fighting styles, regardless of deadliness. I like brutal efficiency. Not only does it not need to look pretty, I prefer it when it doesn't. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 21:56:56
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My own Elves (which I've been discussing in Quale's Fey Thread) are comprised of two groups. One VERY xenophobic and separatist (the live in a vast, 'Mirkwood-like' forest, a fair distance from the main campaign area), and they suffer NO intrusion into their lands. Not that they are evil, per se... they just think everyone else is.
The second group is unashamedly based on Moorcock's Melniboéans, with a mixture of Shades, Drow, and Necromungers (and when I think 'Shade', I think 'Necromunger' anyway). They are all about enslaving the rest of the world and treating most like animals (which they did, in the not-so-distant past). For over a thousand years they experimented on their servants, creating hundreds of task-specific crossbreeds.
As you can see, neither race is good, but I have embraced the true Elven ideal of Hubris - both groups don't feel they are doing anything wrong. It is their right to treat others as 'lesser things'.
About a century ago, one group (the Vogalts) challenged the 'Masters of the World', and amazingly won. This immediately caused a firestorm of other rebellions throughout the provinces, which snow-balled into a full-fledged 'global revolution'. The Maeladrin were eventually defeated and driven back to their own homeland, and a tentative 'truce' was created between the various races that worked together (although they all still can't stand each other, for the most part).
So, although I don't really like Elves too much myself, I haven't turned them into 'little wimps', either. They are a definite threat to humanity and others.
My Dwarves aren't all that pleasant either...  |
"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 28 Mar 2011 21:57:49 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 22:29:23
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| Interesting, MT. In my own, I've got three seperate groups- the Wood elves who are generally shy, elusive, and non-involved in outside affairs(two different cultures of these, actually- one more "woodsy", the other based on oriental culture), the "high" elves who are much like Faerun's gold evles in tehir somewhat arrogant, insular outlook, who dislike anyone else in their lands, but still (grudgingly) trade with nearby humans, and the "silver" elves who are more militaristic, but still open with other races so long as those folk respect their lands, and have a highly evolved civilization with heavy magic-use. All three groups are initially distrustful of humans or others, but it's their intolerance for abberant behavior among their own kind that sets them apart. I've mentioned elsewhere that my drow are actually cursed members of the other three groups, exiled and "marked" by their appearance- and the elves they came from are HIGHLY intolerant of marked "traiors" being anywhere near their land. In fact, they see a drow, it's shoot first, ask no questions. Any elf who is found guilty of crimes that warrant that punishment is never spoken of again, never allowed back into their former homeland, and is basically struck from their records as well. They'll tolerate a dwarf or orc before they'll allow a "traitor elf" back into thrir midst, even if he's later repentant and wishes to be "redeemed". |
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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Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2011 : 22:52:42
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In my own campaign world, I have a generous amount of Elves:
High Elves-fair skinned, fair haired, and most magicaly gifted (they were created by pure arcane gic by their patron gods) and beautiful of tje fey, next to Eladrin (which, in my world, are the rulers ofthe Seelie Court and are Faeries). They are extremely arrogant, prideful, and xenophobic. They live on a huge island in the north eastern part of Faerie. They believe themselves to be superior to all other races, especially non-fey.
Wood Elves-pretty much the same as FR Wood Elves. They are made of pure primal magic and live on and in trees. They mostly inhabit the Prime because the main tree their capital was centered in, on, and around was transported there, the tree of life, from Faerie during the sundering.
Dark Elves-dark grey skinned, red eyed and white or silver haired Elves that are made of pure dark magic. They dwell in the Faedark caverns of Faerie in breath taking cities. They are not evil, Dark Elves that followed Lolth afterthe war of the fae and gods were turned into the Drow by fell magic.
Avary-virtually the same as Avariel. They live in cities high in the mountains, but still close to nature and water below. They are fair haired.
Wild Elves-Tribal Elves that live in the western moors of Faerie. They have a medium tan skn colourand dark hair.
Aquatic Elves/Mer Folk-Once High Elves but were changed permanantly by the aquatic fey gods during a great war.
Ice Elves-more burly than other Elves, but still beautiful. They have light blue skin and ice white hair. They are made of pure frost magic. They live mostlu in the Prime because they were fleeing a great enemy but are now at odds with the Viking-like Northpeople. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 01:14:29
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When my editor asked me if I have plans of including elves in my series, I said, "You're joking, right?!" And that ended the discussion.
They'll be nothing but house servants, should for some yet unknown reason I have the slightest inclination of including them in my novels, which is to say, none. If I need beings who will flaunt vexing haughtiness, I'd gladly use humans instead, or create A NEW RACE.  |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 01:26:29
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| Why do you hate Elves? |
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Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 01:31:24
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| @CoA- The only eason Elves live as long as humans in Dragon Age is because of their living with humans. The Dailish Elves are starting to regain their long life spans. The humans are awful things in Dragon Age. Especially the Chantry. In the beginning of the Dailish background, me and my Dailish Elf and his other Dailish Elf friend killed the shems-I mean 'humans' to be politically correct. I would kill any humans almost in thtgame. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 01:34:47
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quote:
Originally posted by tradwitch1313
Why do you hate Elves?
I just don't have better uses for them other than house servants. The race I always favor is humans, all the others I created so far are but secondary, no matter how different I made the characters think. Looking back, I once wrote a short story [though it's somewhat long that one can call it a novella] in an erotic fantasy anthology that involved a male elf as a minor character. Towards the end, I decided he was useless and so dropped him. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 01:36:35
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In the Dune series, there were things called 'chair dogs' - basically, living furniture.
So now I want me a nice Elven Footrest.
Anyhow, Allysra - I like how you've reigned-in all the subraces (funny how that word never bothered me so much as after I became a rabid FR fan). To me, most of FR's elves groups are too similar, except in personality (Gold & Silver immediately jump to mind), so I try to make mine be very physically different as well.
The Mæladrin are taller then humans on average, with females being around 6' and males a few inches taller, but they are gaunt. That's the 'evil island elves'. The Olvaci are far more Tolkienesque, similar (as I have already noted) to the Mirkwood Elves, but the are somewhat shorter then humans on average (like OD&D Elves - they are around a foot shorter), and also can take animal form (one form only, but for game-mechanics I would assume another form can be added with a Feat). In that regard they are similar to the Elfquest Elves.
You're mention of Drow reminded me - there is 3rd group I had almost forgotten about. My island-elves are most like drow in behavior (they even shun daylight), but I do have a subterranean group as well. Nothing like D&D Drow though; if anything, they are like a cross between grimlocks and Gibberlings (and YES, they will EAT YOU!). I don't have a real 'Underdark', so they do come up to the surface to raid (or break into mining tunnels... or the subway system... yeah... I got me one of those...)
The closest thing I have to an 'Underdark' is an ancient city, that has been built on the ruins of an ancient city, that was built on the ruins of an ancient city, etc, etc... similar to Sharn in Eberron, except most of my 100+ story city is below ground, and exposed on one side, where the cliff-face was sheared-off during 'The great War' (by the Magi, who dropped half the city into the sea to rid the land of the last of the Mæladrin Overlords). |
"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 Mar 2011 01:37:52 |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 02:23:10
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| Thrad; the reason Dragon Age elves think they live only as long as humans is because they live with humans. The dailish [i[believe[/i] they were once immortal and that they can regain this by living away from humanity. There's nothing to suggest this is actually the case or that it isn't. Its only a belief. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 03:55:16
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Cool, MT. I made mine very different in appearance, as well- silver elves (Sylvaeren) being silver, grey, or black-heaired with blue, gray, or violet eyes with pale skin, the high elves with blonde, coppery, or light brown hair, and green, copper, or hazel eyes and a light tan skin-tone, and the wood elves are all black, red, or dark brown-haired, and very dark-eyed. The "Oriental" group of wood elves are also slightly yellow-skinned with more slanted eyes (they've been inter-breeding with a neighboring human Oriental culture for so long that the two have developed a similar appearance), while the other group has a sort of bronzed tone. The drow are, of course, all very black, with some lighter charcoal shades among half-drow. (And unlike in FR, my elves DO have a tendency to mix slightly when interbreeding between different sub-races!)
I also have a cloud-city of Avariels (similar in appearance to the Sylvaeren, and with black, gray, or white wings), but most surface-dwellers know nothing of their existence, as they very rarely involve themselves in the affairs of land-bound folk at all, preferring to live exclusively in their sky-city. Likewise with the one sea-elven culture, which has large crystal and coral cities deep beneath the far western sea, amid the ruins of a sunken kingdom that was destroyed in a godly battle many millennia earlier. The sea elves are pretty standard in appearance. All the elves in my world are nearly as tall as humans, save the drow. However, a first-gen drow (one who was cursed, not born drow) is still as tall as other elves, while a second or later-gen drow is much shorter. (Their magical abilities come at a price of reduced size and strength. The stats are changed accordingly, as well, since a first-gen "cursed" drow does not have the full magical abilities!) |
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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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2011 : 11:08:14
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| Warhammer... Their dark elves are really interesting. |
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Favorite Fantasy Settings
