Author |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2012 : 18:19:07
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quote: Originally posted by The Sage
quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote: Originally posted by Markustay
There was also a short story set in Rashemen, which I rather liked - it was about a Kelpie - a monster-horse from Celtic folklore (it probably had a more Slavic name, since 'Kelpie' is already taken in D&D).
I think the story was Thieves Honor (IIRC), and it was in Realms of Infamy. There was also a Hathran - fun stuff.
I was trying to remember that too whenever I was writing up some of my earlier stuff. I liked it a lot because the witch in the story was NOT a goody goody. Someone would probably come back today and say she was a durthan. I don't remember a whole lot about the plot though, but it did stick in my head about the aughisky.
Aughisky, or something like that.
Wooly has the right of it -- Aughisky, or water horse. And it was indeed from the short story "Thieves' Honor" in Realms of Infamy. I remember directly, because it's one of my favourites from that anthology.
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2012 : 18:27:09
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What happened with the hags of Rashemen? What about the hagspawn? What about the Bheur hags (spelling)?
What happened with the spirit folk of Rashemen? I can't recall offhand, but were they fey? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2012 : 21:51:08
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I'm going to begin writing the article in earnest in about a week. Just wanted to let you folks know that I appreciate the suggestions and am still reading this thread. :-) |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 05:34:47
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I've been thinking of some sort of dungeon, myself... I'm thinking of a place that dates back centuries, perhaps to sometime before the Great Conflagration. Perhaps it's the remaining underground levels of a magical academy that's long-since vanished. The place is fill with all sorts of unique constructs, and some type of ooze/slime critter that eats ores and such and spits out nearly-refined metal. Of course, it's hard to explore the place, because it's never in the same location twice, and even if you can find it, the fact that some force animates weapons and causes them to "patrol" the dungeon makes exploration really tricky... It also doesn't help that this place sometimes disappears for years at a time, before popping back up at some random locale. It's almost like some unknowable intelligence is controlling this place; perhaps the entire dungeon is some sort of intelligence... |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 06:07:38
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quote: Originally posted by Markustay
The character Ususi in Darkvision purchased a wagon in Rashemen, IIRC. It was a gypsy-like affair (or one of those carts used by gnomes and/or halflings).
I had pondered upon this - I believe there is a gypsy-like offshoot of the Raumvari that travel about the lands settled by their more sedentary brethren (northern Steppes, and the Unapproachable East). The carts in the Darkvision story fit into this perfectly - if anyone is going to know how to make those old-world trailers (could there be such a thing as "Wagon-Trash? }, it would be a people who are descended from wanderers (nomads).
Are these not the Gur? Besides the write up in Races of Faerun I have not come across many references of these folk in other products. It would be nice to have more detail on these gypsy-like nomads. (somehow I always see them as the gypsy in the movie Chocolat with J.Depp) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 07:09:43
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quote: Originally posted by Mumadar Ibn Huzal
quote: Originally posted by Markustay
The character Ususi in Darkvision purchased a wagon in Rashemen, IIRC. It was a gypsy-like affair (or one of those carts used by gnomes and/or halflings).
I had pondered upon this - I believe there is a gypsy-like offshoot of the Raumvari that travel about the lands settled by their more sedentary brethren (northern Steppes, and the Unapproachable East). The carts in the Darkvision story fit into this perfectly - if anyone is going to know how to make those old-world trailers (could there be such a thing as "Wagon-Trash? }, it would be a people who are descended from wanderers (nomads).
Are these not the Gur?
Pretty much. They're the Roma/gypsies of the Realms, as I recall Tom Costa once suggesting. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 10:39:58
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Brian, I've just some preliminary tidbits that might later form actual ideas for your article.
For the time being...
- History shapes a people's language. So, perhaps, some brief focus on the dead language Halardrim, and it's importance on the foundation [along with Raumvira] of the Rashemi language.
- Several vremyonni were caught during the Spellplague whilst crafting items of great magical power. Instead of imbuing the artifacts with arcane enchantments... strange effects somewhat reminiscent of spellscars [though not directly allowing the equivalency of Spellfire use] actually bind the spirits of these Old Ones into the artifacts themselves. Becoming sentient spellscarred-like magic items, they eventually gain much power [by tapping deeply into the vast well of elemental energy running through the very heart of the land] and great reverence [from the Rashemi and select wychlaran chosen to watch over them and tend to the needs of the spirits within]. It is said that these special vremyonni, while remaining the secret of Rashemen, are coveted by the few arcanists who have learned of them and seek to secure these items in a desperate hope of finding a new source for magic and recover from the ravages of the Spellplague. |
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Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 28 Jan 2012 10:43:31 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 16:04:03
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quote: Originally posted by The Sage
Brian, I've just some preliminary tidbits that might later form actual ideas for your article.
For the time being...
- History shapes a people's language. So, perhaps, some brief focus on the dead language Halardrim, and it's importance on the foundation [along with Raumvira] of the Rashemi language.
- Several vremyonni were caught during the Spellplague whilst crafting items of great magical power. Instead of imbuing the artifacts with arcane enchantments... strange effects somewhat reminiscent of spellscars [though not directly allowing the equivalency of Spellfire use] actually bind the spirits of these Old Ones into the artifacts themselves. Becoming sentient spellscarred-like magic items, they eventually gain much power [by tapping deeply into the vast well of elemental energy running through the very heart of the land] and great reverence [from the Rashemi and select wychlaran chosen to watch over them and tend to the needs of the spirits within]. It is said that these special vremyonni, while remaining the secret of Rashemen, are coveted by the few arcanists who have learned of them and seek to secure these items in a desperate hope of finding a new source for magic and recover from the ravages of the Spellplague.
Ooh, I like this one! |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 16:36:11
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quote: Originally posted by The Sage
Brian, I've just some preliminary tidbits that might later form actual ideas for your article.
For the time being...
- History shapes a people's language. So, perhaps, some brief focus on the dead language Halardrim, and it's importance on the foundation [along with Raumvira] of the Rashemi language.
- Several vremyonni were caught during the Spellplague whilst crafting items of great magical power. Instead of imbuing the artifacts with arcane enchantments... strange effects somewhat reminiscent of spellscars [though not directly allowing the equivalency of Spellfire use] actually bind the spirits of these Old Ones into the artifacts themselves. Becoming sentient spellscarred-like magic items, they eventually gain much power [by tapping deeply into the vast well of elemental energy running through the very heart of the land] and great reverence [from the Rashemi and select wychlaran chosen to watch over them and tend to the needs of the spirits within]. It is said that these special vremyonni, while remaining the secret of Rashemen, are coveted by the few arcanists who have learned of them and seek to secure these items in a desperate hope of finding a new source for magic and recover from the ravages of the Spellplague.
This is a pretty good idea. Might be able to take it a little differently though to give a little more history of the region. Perhaps the vremyonni were imbuing items with the help of some telthor. Maybe they would bind telthor into items to give them sentience. I've always like the idea of magic weapons with a personality... I mean a real personality. Maybe it likes to sing. Maybe it likes to tell stories of ages past. Maybe it likes to reprimand its wielder about how stiff he's holding his sword and shield. In these cases, the items themselves don't necessarily have to be powerful. Just the fact that they're sentient and with a will of their own could be fun (almost like they're NPC's). Perhaps during the spellplague, instead of the telthor being combined, it was instead the vremyonni. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2012 : 00:39:09
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Spellscarred Werebears.
Thats all I'm sayin'. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2012 : 01:02:51
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First, thanks for inviting suggestions Brian. Very cool.
Also, no bitterness about 4e is intended in this particular post. And my thought is weakened by pondering the potential coolness of Markustay's spellscarred werebear idea. That could be kickbutt.
My thought was just that it would be neat if Rashemen remained an archetypal wilderness... a place where you hardly even realize that you're within the borders of a nation, once you get out of sight of the Huhrong's citadel. It's not about undoing the spellplague; I think DMs who like it can bring it into Rashemen to the extent that they wish to. But in the interest of bringing gamers both past and present together, it seems like "the land the Spellplague forgot" could be a spiffy thing. Plus, Rashemen is the place of raw natural power... it should (imho) remain so.
The 4e Campaign Guide entry for Rashemen doesn't seem to say anything about the spellplague. I'm not up to speed on other 4e Realmslore, so my bad if this isn't really possible. And I know I'm really late.
Anyway, thanks for being so open to player input. |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2012 : 12:14:16
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Adding a little more to the thread: if you go to play a little with rules, I think that Themes to the Berserkers and the Witches will be a great plus! |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2012 : 20:52:57
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Alright folks, I’m going to need you help with this one.
2nd-Edition - Spellbound: Urlingwood forest is shown to the east of the Ashenwood separated by the Running Rocks (hills). The village of Urling is shown to be southeast of the city along the road between Mulptan and Thasunta
3rd-Edition - Unapproachable East: Urlingwood has moved to a new, smaller forest northeast of the Ashenwood. The woodland previously known as Urlingwood is now unnamed. Also, the village of Urling has also moved far to the north roughly between Immilmar and Mulptan.
Has anyone come across any lore that explains the dramatic movement of Urlingwood/Urling between 2nd and 3rd edition? |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
Edited by - Brian R. James on 25 Feb 2012 20:54:32 |
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Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 00:09:11
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quote: Originally posted by Brian R. James
Has anyone come across any lore that explains the dramatic movement of Urlingwood/Urling between 2nd and 3rd edition?
Nothing official, but I'm a big fan of the "Macbeth" scenario... it would have been far easier to use in a 3e/4e discrepancy (the Spellplague animated the forest and it relocated for whatever reason you might desire), but that doesn't explain the relocation of the town... I think we're looking at an effect of the "shrinking" geography, which is the biggest reason I've been in favour of a reboot for 5e FR... shrinking the map was (imho) the biggest mistake made in 3e FR.
Sorry I don't have anything more constructive for you on this one; I'll keep working on it. |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 02:08:19
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quote: Originally posted by Brian R. James
Alright folks, I’m going to need you help with this one.
2nd-Edition - Spellbound: Urlingwood forest is shown to the east of the Ashenwood separated by the Running Rocks (hills). The village of Urling is shown to be southeast of the city along the road between Mulptan and Thasunta
3rd-Edition - Unapproachable East: Urlingwood has moved to a new, smaller forest northeast of the Ashenwood. The woodland previously known as Urlingwood is now unnamed. Also, the village of Urling has also moved far to the north roughly between Immilmar and Mulptan.
Has anyone come across any lore that explains the dramatic movement of Urlingwood/Urling between 2nd and 3rd edition?
Hmmm. This sounds suspiciously like something I tried to reconcile with both George and Eric on the Wizards boards about four years ago.
I'll see if I can dig out the old thread I saved from that discussion to find any relevant and/or useful info. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 02:42:37
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quote: Originally posted by Brian R. James
Alright folks, I’m going to need you help with this one.
2nd-Edition - Spellbound: Urlingwood forest is shown to the east of the Ashenwood separated by the Running Rocks (hills). The village of Urling is shown to be southeast of the city along the road between Mulptan and Thasunta
3rd-Edition - Unapproachable East: Urlingwood has moved to a new, smaller forest northeast of the Ashenwood. The woodland previously known as Urlingwood is now unnamed. Also, the village of Urling has also moved far to the north roughly between Immilmar and Mulptan.
Has anyone come across any lore that explains the dramatic movement of Urlingwood/Urling between 2nd and 3rd edition?
I'm not familiar with any, but an easy explanation could be that something happened in the general vicinity (maybe the reappearance of my wandering dungeon, hint hint ) that cause the folks to relocate. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 03:40:43
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quote: Originally posted by The Sage
quote: Originally posted by Brian R. James
Alright folks, I’m going to need you help with this one.
2nd-Edition - Spellbound: Urlingwood forest is shown to the east of the Ashenwood separated by the Running Rocks (hills). The village of Urling is shown to be southeast of the city along the road between Mulptan and Thasunta
3rd-Edition - Unapproachable East: Urlingwood has moved to a new, smaller forest northeast of the Ashenwood. The woodland previously known as Urlingwood is now unnamed. Also, the village of Urling has also moved far to the north roughly between Immilmar and Mulptan.
Has anyone come across any lore that explains the dramatic movement of Urlingwood/Urling between 2nd and 3rd edition?
Hmmm. This sounds suspiciously like something I tried to reconcile with both George and Eric on the Wizards boards about four years ago.
I'll see if I can dig out the old thread I saved from that discussion to find any relevant and/or useful info.
Not much luck, I'm afraid.
I like Wooly's suggestion above, though.
My own idea would be to simply suggest this as another instance of errors made by "Sembian cartographers and mapmakers or something," which should provide you with enough creative room to provide your own reasoning for the shifting wood. |
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"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 05:35:01
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quote: Originally posted by The Sage
Not much luck, I'm afraid.
I like Wooly's suggestion above, though.
My own idea would be to simply suggest this as another instance of errors made by "Sembian cartographers and mapmakers or something," which should provide you with enough creative room to provide your own reasoning for the shifting wood.
I like this... but the question then becomes: Which mapmakers made the error? |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 16:57:25
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quote: Originally posted by Brian R. James
Alright folks, I’m going to need you help with this one.
2nd-Edition - Spellbound: Urlingwood forest is shown to the east of the Ashenwood separated by the Running Rocks (hills). The village of Urling is shown to be southeast of the city along the road between Mulptan and Thasunta
3rd-Edition - Unapproachable East: Urlingwood has moved to a new, smaller forest northeast of the Ashenwood. The woodland previously known as Urlingwood is now unnamed. Also, the village of Urling has also moved far to the north roughly between Immilmar and Mulptan.
Has anyone come across any lore that explains the dramatic movement of Urlingwood/Urling between 2nd and 3rd edition?
Now, that's an interesting thing to note. I'll have to look at my maps when I get home to see if what I'm about to say even makes remote sense...... Perhaps unknown to the people outside Rashemen there is a fey gate that connects both forests, and as a result both are considered the urling wood.
As to the village of Urling... perhaps the witches don't just have "witch boats". Perhaps the witches also have "witch houses". Maybe these "witch houses" can grow legs and walk (no, not chicken legs)... maybe the village of Urling moves where its needed? The Raumathari after all were skilled in making constructs... so a construct house animated with the fey spirit of a telthor? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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doctorbadwolf
Acolyte
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 19:17:38
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That's brilliant. Maybe instead of a portal it could be a handful of places that act like fey crossings, but connect the two woods, rather than lead to the feywild? |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 21:49:25
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This article should have been published long before Richard's The Masked Witches. Regarding Urlingwood, I think Richard used the 3E reference. Though I have to reread that part in the novel to be sure.
And Sage, I like your thoughts on the male wizards of Rashemen.
If it's not yet too late, I'll return and share my own idea on this fabled land. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2012 : 22:31:35
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quote: Originally posted by sleyvas Perhaps the witches also have "witch houses". Maybe these "witch houses" can grow legs and walk (no, not chicken legs)... maybe the village of Urling moves where its needed?
This has to be made canon and in the article - just brilliant.
Am definitely stealing this for my game
Cheers
Damian |
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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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 00:54:13
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Wasn't that house with chicken legs featured in Daughter of the Drow from Rashemen? |
Every beginning has an end. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 01:19:54
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quote: Originally posted by Dennis
Wasn't that house with chicken legs featured in Daughter of the Drow from Rashemen?
That was Baba Yaga's hut.
And I always loved Elaine's use of it in the books. I've a strange fascination with Slavic folklore, so I was intially both surprised and overjoyed by the reference. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 01:26:47
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And where did it come from? I was amused when I read that part in the book. Such rarity is a breath of fresh air. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 01:43:48
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Elaine's read quite a lot about Slavic mythology, folklore and paganism. And she's often said that such aspects sometimes find their ways into stories she's writing. |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 02:57:49
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Alright folks, I'm adding villages to the map of Rashemen and thought that this might make a good community project. So if you want to have a town/village name immortalized on a map, here's your chance. No lore necessary. I'm simply looking for names. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 03:06:24
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It's fairly generic, but I've always had a Wood's Edge just outside the Cloak Wood in my Realms.
I know it's a far off locale from Rashemen, but I can see Wood's Edge being appropriate enough for a small named village somewhere around the Ashenwood, for example. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2012 : 04:48:49
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Rupertville!
How about Whiteflame? Candles have flames, and white would be a prominent color in that part of the world... This is my way of suggesting a nod towards all of Candlekeep, without being too overt about it. |
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