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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 17:20:31
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In the Monsters of Faerun book under the entry, Groundling, page 58 are these interesting little beasties. "Groundlings are magically altered by evil wizards. Originally of dwarven stock, they have been hideously transformed to incorporate the features of giant badgers. Groundlings are short and stocky, sharing the build of dwarves-in fact, they can easily be mistaken for dwarves from a distance. Their stunted ears are buried in wild fur and their eyes appear as narrow slits. A long, bristled snout replaces the dwarven nose, and large fangs protrude from the extended mouth. A groundling's hands end in powerful talons. These creatures generally stink of spoiled meat. Most groundlings know at least a few words of Common and can snarl out a basic conversation...Wizards of the Zhentarim breed groundlings in the dungeons of Darkhold. Groundlings serve the Zhentarim by tracking down and destroying the enemies of their masters. They form a structured guild with strict rules imposed by the Black Network. These rules forbid them to kill creatures other than their assigned targets (unless they are interfered with)..."
Is there anything else published about these creatures? Have any escaped and are there any communities of groundlings outside the Zhentarim's influence? Are there any notable examples of them?
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Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Edited by - Fellfire on 19 Mar 2011 17:49:21
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 17:25:16
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There is a short story featuring King Azoun where he is attacked by groundling assassins. IIRC, he was hard-pressed to overcome them.
I'm sure someone else will come along with the name of the story and which book it was in.
EDIT: I could have sworn there was an earlier source mention of them then the 3eMM, but I can't seem to find it. Oddly, I see no mention of them in the Moonsea or Zhentil Keep products (mind you, I was only looking through the monstrous entries, and not the full body of the text). Nor are they in the 2eFRMM. |
"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 19 Mar 2011 21:15:49 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31777 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 04:52:10
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That's mostly what my searches were turning up. Bloody Spacers.
Thanks for looking, Markus. I wasn't even sure where to begin and I don't remember them from 2e at all. |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Edited by - Fellfire on 20 Mar 2011 05:15:00 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31777 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 05:40:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And here I was expecting a Spelljammer discussion...  
That was initially my thought as well. I even missed the Netheril references to groundlings [within a SJ-context]... |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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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 - 20 Mar 2011 : 13:46:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
Thanks for looking, Markus. I wasn't even sure where to begin and I don't remember them from 2e at all.
I'm thinking they may have had another name, which is making searching for them difficult. Not sure, though.
I can't even seem to find the short story about them - I checked all my anthologies... just weird. The story actually centered around the son of a thief; he and his father were planning on robbing the next passerby on a deserted road, who turned out to be King Azoun (in his younger days) fleeing the assassins (who were following by tunneling underground). That was the set-up, and the story preceded from there.
Can't seem to find it anywhere, though.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 13:50:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
Thanks for looking, Markus. I wasn't even sure where to begin and I don't remember them from 2e at all.
I'm thinking they may have had another name, which is making searching for them difficult. Not sure, though.
I can't even seem to find the short story about them - I checked all my anthologies... just weird. The story actually centered around the son of a thief; he and his father were planning on robbing the next passerby on a deserted road, who turned out to be King Azoun (in his younger days) fleeing the assassins (who were following by tunneling underground). That was the set-up, and the story preceded from there.
Can't seem to find it anywhere, though.
Wasn't that a story about Artus Cimber? I'm thinking it was one of the first Realms of books. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31777 Posts |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2020 : 06:22:29
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I know this is an old post, but I just stumbled across it and thought I should answer anyhow for the next person who searches up groundlings here...
The groundling was introduced in the story remembered by Markustay and Wooly and named by Sage... "The Family Business" Written by James Lowder and included in Realms of Valor.
The first MC entry for groundlings was done based on this, published in Polyhedron Newsine #93 back in 1994, one of three MC pages written by Eric L. Boyd and grouped under the name "Novel Creations". |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2020 : 05:37:20
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Great Reader Masked Mage,
That is a hideous creation story on Groundlings: wow!
You would think the Harper's and other anti-Zhentarim organizations would capture some, polymorph them back, and try to use them to infiltrate the organization with their knowledge and seek vengeance since they are already trained. ;)
Best regards,
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2020 : 22:24:38
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| I plan on presenting them in my next DM's Guild product Forgotten Characters of the Realms 2 as both a player option and a monster. |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2020 : 22:43:01
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Good afternoon Tom,
quote:
I plan on presenting them in my next DM's Guild product Forgotten Characters of the Realms 2 as both a player option and a monster.
Is it a good amount of lore? I don't play 4e/5e, so the mechanics are irrelevant to me, but the lore is not. :)
Best regards,
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2020 : 15:57:44
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So regarding the groundlings specifically, I plan a bit of updated background and more recent lore. They honestly don't need much more given their origin, though I do date it (which was actually a bit sticky given dwarven lifespans and when the Zhents took over the Darkhold).
That said, I'm overall adding a fair bit of overall lore to dwarves (as I'm also covering arctic, derro, desert, dwelf, korobukuru, urdunnir, wild, azerblood, and maeluth as player races and Deepspawned as a background) starting with the migration out of the Yehimal Mtts. I'm at around 150 pages of character options and trying to add a fair bit more lore this time around than I did on Forgotten Characters of the Realms I. |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2020 : 22:40:21
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Tom,
Wow, that is an amazing amount of character options. Assuming 5e?
That is awesome that you are having lore development involving the Yehimal Mountains. I love seeing under written areas of the Realms getting some love!
Best regards,
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Groundlings in Faerun
