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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 14:02:03
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Cool ideas, guys.
Tentative Plan
My present ideas is that two of the Princes of Shade are dead at the start of things. The first of the Princes was killed by Larloch when he did something stupid by attempting to recruit him to the Netherese. It's just a reminder to the Shades they're not the biggest boys in town.
The second was assassinated by forces unknown which Telamont is actually very very very anxious to learn about. In this case, I'm going to reveal slowly to the PCs (who are being helped by forces unknown) it's actually a swordsman I'm calling the Professor after the Bourne movie character. I'll never confirm it but it'll be hinted as being Artemis Entreri, who is now an epic swordsmen.
He may or may not be working with Manshoon to bring down the Shades.
Meanwhile, I'm amused at the idea that the Thayans and the Netherese will go to war. Ssass Tam conjuring portals while the Netherese do the same, the two invading each others realms with endless hordes of troops and the undead in a way that starts exhausting each other.
Eventually, the PCs will be recruited by Manshoon (impersonating Elminster) to find an object which will destroy the Heart of Karsus. They'll head up to Selunarr, which has been on one of the moons for centuries and find a weapon to do so. The Selunites there are utterly uninterested in Shade, instead devoted to worshiping Selune and living their ridiculously paradisical lives.
They do, however, give the PCs the Rod of Selune which will drain away the power of Karsus' heart and peacefully lower Shade to the ground or just flat out destroy it. The PCs have the choice. Once they sneak in, they find out Telamont has gone insane and is in a civil war with his own sons while also at war with Thay.
Why? He's experimenting with magics even he can't control since he intends to use the Shadow Weave (or whatever equivalent exists since Mystra died - though she's back in my games) to destroy Selune and replace her with Karsus' Avatar. The magics are frying his brain like they did Karsus and the reason Ssass Tam is invading is to try and prevent this.
In the end, the PCs by destroying Karsus' Heart cripple Telamont and they can finish him off before Manshoon appears and steals Telamont's spellbook, teleporting away. Either that or Artemis appears, working for Manshoon, and attempts to escape with it. It might give the PC Epic Swordsmen a duel worthy of him too.
The PCs, if they escape, end up wanted by the surviving Prince's of Shade who now war to be the one true rule of the Netherese Empire. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Edited by - Charles Phipps on 01 Feb 2012 14:04:41 |
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Kilvan
Senior Scribe
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 16:03:11
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Got it.
I'm not sure about the Heart of Karsus though, for 2 reasons. First, IIRC, it is the Mythallar inside Thultantar that is keeping the city afloat, and not the Heart of Karsus. Second, the Heart of Karsus was used to bring back the city from the Shadow plane, and wasn't used since. It was brought back to Shade, stolen by Cyric's Seraph, then recovered by Shar herself. What she has done with it since is NDA.
The Heart of Karsus allows to bypass Mystra's ban on 10th level spells, again, IIRC. It is a major artifact that should have been destroyed IMO.
Good stuff overall, good luck! |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 22:43:28
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Agreed: I always felt that Shar used that artifact to bring down Mystra.
Couple of things -
Malaugrym. I always wondered why the 3e design team thought they needed a 'magically adept family of archmages who came from Toril but now dwell in the Shadow Plane, who wish to return', when they already had a much cooler version of that, which they ignored.
Then we also got Shadar-Kai.  Talk about your unnecessary redundancy.
1) Internal intrigues: I would say several of Telemont's top men (sons, whatever) had been replaced by Malaugrym, some even before the return. That should be a good 'monkey wrench' to screw things up. You could even have them replace 'the swordsmen' as you mysterious killer, or have one of them even impersonate Larloch (talk about balls!), so that Telemont blames the lich (and Larloch would also be very curious about whoever is impersonating him - it could even be Malaug himself!)
2) Telamont's insanity & magic beyond-his-control: One word: Chaos. Not your garden-variety 'random' chaos. Oh no... I'm talking tentacles. What could be so terrible that someone who has conquered shadows can be driven insane? The Far Realms - give him a level or two from the Alienist PrC from CA. Have him find some ancient Imaskari device (or Jhaamdath, whatever) that functions similar to the Palantir in LotR - he pears into it, and something whispers back to him....
3) Selunarra: Not precisely on-topic, but it was brought up. In another thread we were discussing the illusion on the moon, and even the possibility it was actually the opposite - that the moon was uninhabitable, but the illusion hid that. Now, what if - after the Leirans all deid (when the illusion faltered) - Selunarra appeared over their old city (maintaining its own air, SJ-style). How cool would that be? Selunarra returns... but not quite. And it floats over a city of lies,shadows, and death. |
"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 01 Feb 2012 22:50:58 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 00:32:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
1) Internal intrigues: I would say several of Telemont's top men (sons, whatever) had been replaced by Malaugrym, some even before the return. That should be a good 'monkey wrench' to screw things up. You could even have them replace 'the swordsmen' as you mysterious killer, or have one of them even impersonate Larloch (talk about balls!), so that Telemont blames the lich (and Larloch would also be very curious about whoever is impersonating him - it could even be Malaug himself!)
This is an idea I really, really like! If I ever get to DM in the Realms, I am so running with this!   |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 01:02:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Cool ideas, guys.
Tentative Plan
My present ideas is that two of the Princes of Shade are dead at the start of things. The first of the Princes was killed by Larloch when he did something stupid by attempting to recruit him to the Netherese. It's just a reminder to the Shades they're not the biggest boys in town.
The second was assassinated by forces unknown which Telamont is actually very very very anxious to learn about. In this case, I'm going to reveal slowly to the PCs (who are being helped by forces unknown) it's actually a swordsman I'm calling the Professor after the Bourne movie character. I'll never confirm it but it'll be hinted as being Artemis Entreri, who is now an epic swordsmen.
He may or may not be working with Manshoon to bring down the Shades.
Meanwhile, I'm amused at the idea that the Thayans and the Netherese will go to war. Ssass Tam conjuring portals while the Netherese do the same, the two invading each others realms with endless hordes of troops and the undead in a way that starts exhausting each other.
Eventually, the PCs will be recruited by Manshoon (impersonating Elminster) to find an object which will destroy the Heart of Karsus. They'll head up to Selunarr, which has been on one of the moons for centuries and find a weapon to do so. The Selunites there are utterly uninterested in Shade, instead devoted to worshiping Selune and living their ridiculously paradisical lives.
They do, however, give the PCs the Rod of Selune which will drain away the power of Karsus' heart and peacefully lower Shade to the ground or just flat out destroy it. The PCs have the choice. Once they sneak in, they find out Telamont has gone insane and is in a civil war with his own sons while also at war with Thay.
Why? He's experimenting with magics even he can't control since he intends to use the Shadow Weave (or whatever equivalent exists since Mystra died - though she's back in my games) to destroy Selune and replace her with Karsus' Avatar. The magics are frying his brain like they did Karsus and the reason Ssass Tam is invading is to try and prevent this.
In the end, the PCs by destroying Karsus' Heart cripple Telamont and they can finish him off before Manshoon appears and steals Telamont's spellbook, teleporting away. Either that or Artemis appears, working for Manshoon, and attempts to escape with it. It might give the PC Epic Swordsmen a duel worthy of him too.
The PCs, if they escape, end up wanted by the surviving Prince's of Shade who now war to be the one true rule of the Netherese Empire.
I like it.
You've given sound grounding for most other Realms heavy-hitter NPCs, like Larloch and Szass Tam. And Manshoon's added intrigued is a bonus, in my opinion.
I would like to see this developed further.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 01:13:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
3) Selunarra: Not precisely on-topic, but it was brought up. In another thread we were discussing the illusion on the moon, and even the possibility it was actually the opposite - that the moon was uninhabitable, but the illusion hid that. Now, what if - after the Leirans all deid (when the illusion faltered) - Selunarra appeared over their old city (maintaining its own air, SJ-style). How cool would that be? Selunarra returns... but not quite. And it floats over a city of lies,shadows, and death.
Kinda similar to my own theories about Selūnarra's travels through Realmspace.
See, I'm thinking of having it orbit Toril for the time, watching and waiting, after it returns to Realmspace. And then I'll have it relocate to the moon and take up residence beneath the illusion of the Leiran enclave there. [Which scouts from Opus previously made contact with. I'm playing on a trading/Arcane angle Wooly and I worked up years ago for the Leirans and dwarves on the moon. Basically, the Arcane act as third-party negotiators between the Leirans and the inhabitants of Opus. {That's really another whole theory for another time}]
It all really just comes down to the possibility of having Selūnarra keep it's return from the Gates of the Moon a secret for as long as possible. If they fully intend to eventually move against the Shade, then secrecy is paramount. And what better way to ensure that secrecy than by borrowing protection from a divinely crafted illusion on another planet!
[Markus, you may recognise certain elements from this that compare with Marvel's Inhuman royal family, and their "travelling" city of Attilan. That is purely deliberate.] |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 01:43:41
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Yup - and there are two groups of 'Netherese' (similar to the two branches of Inhumans). The Selunnarans would be like the Titans (Marvel's, not D&Ds or Greek).
They should have some secret gates (probably formerly belonging to Liera's followrers) that can instantly transport them from the Moon to Toril's surface.
In fact, come to think of it... what if the Netherese placed those Gates there, centuries ago? What if that enclave on the Moon was Netherese? Leira may have seized control (through subterfuge) after Mystryl fell (or she may have just offered to maintain their illusion, after the Weave's fall, in exchange for worship).
What if, beneath the 'pleasure city' was a vast network of laboratories and vivisectionist's chamber of horrors? There was a reason why the Netherese were 'chased' out of space, and the illusion might be a hold-over from when they needed to hide their activities.
@Wooly, I was actually picturing a 'grand finale', novel-style, with one chapter depicting a final brawl between Telemont and Szass Tam, and then another chapter showing the battle between Larloch and Malaug. 'Battle of the Titans' (Evil Titans).
And then an epilogue, with Manshoon slinking away, realizing that all these years, Elminster had gone easy on him. |
"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 02 Feb 2012 01:45:00 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 01:49:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Kilvan
Got it.
I'm not sure about the Heart of Karsus though, for 2 reasons. First, IIRC, it is the Mythallar inside Thultantar that is keeping the city afloat, and not the Heart of Karsus. Second, the Heart of Karsus was used to bring back the city from the Shadow plane, and wasn't used since. It was brought back to Shade, stolen by Cyric's Seraph, then recovered by Shar herself. What she has done with it since is NDA.
The Heart of Karsus allows to bypass Mystra's ban on 10th level spells, again, IIRC. It is a major artifact that should have been destroyed IMO.
Good stuff overall, good luck!
Agreed on all accounts.
I think Denning purposely left Karsus's Heart in Shar's "care" to somehow de-power the Shadovar. The equivalence of such artifact is lik a dozen big mythallars. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 01:51:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
1) Internal intrigues: I would say several of Telemont's top men (sons, whatever) had been replaced by Malaugrym, some even before the return. That should be a good 'monkey wrench' to screw things up. You could even have them replace 'the swordsmen' as you mysterious killer, or have one of them even impersonate Larloch (talk about balls!), so that Telemont blames the lich (and Larloch would also be very curious about whoever is impersonating him - it could even be Malaug himself!)
This is an idea I really, really like! If I ever get to DM in the Realms, I am so running with this!
Telamont must be really mad if he's fooled by a fake Larloch. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 01:57:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Cool ideas, guys.
Tentative Plan
My present ideas is that two of the Princes of Shade are dead at the start of things. The first of the Princes was killed by Larloch when he did something stupid by attempting to recruit him to the Netherese. It's just a reminder to the Shades they're not the biggest boys in town.
The second was assassinated by forces unknown which Telamont is actually very very very anxious to learn about. In this case, I'm going to reveal slowly to the PCs (who are being helped by forces unknown) it's actually a swordsman I'm calling the Professor after the Bourne movie character. I'll never confirm it but it'll be hinted as being Artemis Entreri, who is now an epic swordsmen.
He may or may not be working with Manshoon to bring down the Shades.
Meanwhile, I'm amused at the idea that the Thayans and the Netherese will go to war. Ssass Tam conjuring portals while the Netherese do the same, the two invading each others realms with endless hordes of troops and the undead in a way that starts exhausting each other.
Eventually, the PCs will be recruited by Manshoon (impersonating Elminster) to find an object which will destroy the Heart of Karsus. They'll head up to Selunarr, which has been on one of the moons for centuries and find a weapon to do so. The Selunites there are utterly uninterested in Shade, instead devoted to worshiping Selune and living their ridiculously paradisical lives.
They do, however, give the PCs the Rod of Selune which will drain away the power of Karsus' heart and peacefully lower Shade to the ground or just flat out destroy it. The PCs have the choice. Once they sneak in, they find out Telamont has gone insane and is in a civil war with his own sons while also at war with Thay.
Why? He's experimenting with magics even he can't control since he intends to use the Shadow Weave (or whatever equivalent exists since Mystra died - though she's back in my games) to destroy Selune and replace her with Karsus' Avatar. The magics are frying his brain like they did Karsus and the reason Ssass Tam is invading is to try and prevent this.
In the end, the PCs by destroying Karsus' Heart cripple Telamont and they can finish him off before Manshoon appears and steals Telamont's spellbook, teleporting away. Either that or Artemis appears, working for Manshoon, and attempts to escape with it. It might give the PC Epic Swordsmen a duel worthy of him too.
The PCs, if they escape, end up wanted by the surviving Prince's of Shade who now war to be the one true rule of the Netherese Empire.
Do you have Sakkors in your game? The players can seize it and have it war against its mother-city, Shade. You can employ a bunch very talented psionicists/mindmages to control its sentient mythallar.
I like the Thay vs Shade part. Hope to see that developed further.
As Kilvan noted, what keeps Shade afloat is not Karsus's Heart, but its own mythallar. Although your variation sounds interesting. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 02 Feb 2012 01:59:26 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 02:18:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
They should have some secret gates (probably formerly belonging to Liera's followrers) that can instantly transport them from the Moon to Toril's surface.
In fact, come to think of it... what if the Netherese placed those Gates there, centuries ago? What if that enclave on the Moon was Netherese? Leira may have seized control (through subterfuge) after Mystryl fell (or she may have just offered to maintain their illusion, after the Weave's fall, in exchange for worship).
Now you're getting into my long dust-collected theory that the Leirans and their city on the moon, was in fact a long-lost Netherese Enclave that tried to escape the Folly of Karsus by Selūne's hand. Regrettably, it didn't quite reach it's intended destination, because the Rise of Karsus and the Fall of Netheril shattered the divinely-wrought bindings Selūne was using to carry the Enclave away from Toril.
I had it that Leira's illusion was the result of a much later bargain made between Selūne and Leira, because while the Moonmaiden was feeling guilty about her failure, she still believed in the protection of the former enclave's inhabitants from any who would seek revenge on anything still connected with the ancient days of Netheril and/or Karsus.
Leira assumed the responsibility of the former enclave, raising the illusion, and eventually rising in power as the population slowly switched to venerating Leira in the place of "failed" Selūne.
It's a tenative theory that still requires work. And the cleaning away of much dust. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 05:48:43
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The 'ebil DM' in me prefers my more insidious theory that that city is actually a 'cover' for 'medical experiments' lab on the Moon, which was hidden by the illusion. Once Mystryl died, the colony was not only forgotten about (because Netheril fell), but the illusion vanished leaving them exposed. Leira was the only power during those precious few minutes who had the power to maintain the illusion without the weave (because deception if part of her nature).
I just re-read the fluff, and there is indeed a cavern-system below the city, presumably 'in case of an attack from Toril', but I like to think their smiling, laid-back demeanor (and welcoming tourist-trap) is really a front for what goes on below - the Selunites (they call themselves Lierans) are still experimenting on other sentients, and have a secret slave-trade going with the Neogi (who we know from Corsair have a base nearby).
The entire place is one big trap... or was, until the Selunarrans returned - something Selune herself had been planning all along.
@Dennis - Who said he fooled Telemont? I was talking about Telemont's son (who Charles has going to meet with Larloch). Besides, the Malaugrym are like Shades on steroids (I believe the Malaugrym have secretly been pulling their strings for years, but thats just my personal take on them). |
"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 02 Feb 2012 18:48:00 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 06:10:42
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I recall the dwarves on Selūne had petitions to set up mines on the moon, but that they have met with little success.
Given that dwarves are inherently a stubborn people, though, I'd expect a small community of them likely exists on the moon for the express purpose of "reminding the authorities" why they are there. They may even attempt what little prospecting they can get away with from time to time... though, I'd imagine the Selunite government does all it can to dissuade such dwarven actions -- for fears about outsiders discovering the "invasion shelters."
Of course, with my theory about the moon base being a lost Netherese Enclave, I'm more inclined to say that the Selunite government simply doesn't want dwarves digging around in the bedrock for fears that they'll discover the true origin of the city. And that brings with it all kinds of threats to the Leiran faithful. |
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 10:16:43
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I would just call Melccar my mage, make him create a spell and presto... No more Shades 
But on a lighter note, I would try to put an agent in there, perhaps just try to befriend them, and use the old saying keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 14:02:43
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I have a lot of fun with the other planets in my Faerun game.
In my game, for example, past Selune's tears are planets named after the gods.
Tempus is unabashedly John Carter's Mars. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Foxhelm
Senior Scribe
Canada
592 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 15:20:26
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Thought of another method to break Shade's strength. Let Telamont die or be killed.
The sons would likely battle over who claims the empire, creating a Shade Civil War.
Still, in this case the cure might be worse then the disease. It does bring in a great war campaign. |
Ed Greenwood! The Solution... and Cause of all the Realms Problems! |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 18:54:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
I have a lot of fun with the other planets in my Faerun game.
In my game, for example, past Selune's tears are planets named after the gods.
Tempus is unabashedly John Carter's Mars.
I love you Charles.
Now thats old-school (although I am looking forward to the new movie, after all these years!)
I have also toyed with the idea of using Mongo (back when I ran Greyhawk), but never did. The basic premise is that Mongo is a 'rogue planet' that moves through the universe - it would be the perfect base for an evil-empire (Ming) that enters crystal spheres and invades the worlds therein.
Its physics are quite impossible (now that we know more then we did when Flash Gordon was written), but it works just fine with D&D/SJ physics (the planet carries its own atmosphere... and apparently heat and light).
Man have we gone far from the topic - Sorry CP.  |
"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 02 Feb 2012 18:55:59 |
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Wolfhound75
Learned Scribe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 20:23:52
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Not to cross fantasy realms from Dungeons & Dragons to The Bards Tale but the description someone gave earlier of dropping a small sun onto the enclave brought back memories of this series of games that was such a staple of my younger years.
In The Bards Tale III: Thief of Fate there was a spell that was described in the game manual as "The FINEST in offensive obliteration, this spell annhilates your opponents for 2,000 damage points!" I thought it was particularly funny that the 'spell code' - a four letter code designed to call for the spell since this was before the common use of a mouse interface - was NUKE. What was the name of this finest of obliteration[evocation?] spells?
Gotterdammerung!
Such a fun word to say and since I'm certain I'm not the only one with a penchant for looking unfamiliar things up, I'll save you the trouble. Roughly translated from German it means "Twilight of the Gods". Given the earlier suggestion and the relative power of the Shade Enclave, I found it to be a particularly amusing cross-over and one that you could make a plausible argument for as being named quite perfectly.
Good Hunting! |
"Firepower - if it's not working, you're not using enough." ~ Military Proverb
"If at first you do succeed, you must've rolled a natural 20!" |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 00:45:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
@Dennis - Who said he fooled Telemont? I was talking about Telemont's son (who Charles has going to meet with Larloch). Besides, the Malaugrym are like Shades on steroids (I believe the Malaugrym have secretly been pulling their strings for years, but thats just my personal take on them).
The Malaugrym tried to obliterate the Shadovar during their two-millenia stay in the Demiplane of Shadow, but the Shadovar defeated them, partly because of their magical might and affinity to shadow, and mainly because of Shar's "divine protection." |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 01:25:11
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I'm inclined to make the Malaugrym a group that would involve themselves in the aftermath of all of this. With the Far Realms and the Cthulhu-esque horrors, you make an interesting case they're what happens when wizards probe too deeply into Lovecraftian horrors. You could also make Ghaundaur the Astaroth of the setting with plenty of horrific abominations being his children from the good old days.
Maybe the Netherese have been quietly undermined by the Abolethic Sovereignty (who is working with them due to shared tentacled Lovecrafty-ness) all this time as well.
My choice to use the Heart of Karsus for his ritual is because I needed a reason that Telemont could justify casting Karsus' avatar. I presume Shar could have just given it back to him for her second "Kill Mystra and/or Selune" plan. Of course, I wonder if Shar is going to get a beatdown from either goddess after this. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 01:36:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
In my game, for example, past Selune's tears are planets named after the gods.
Interesting.
Do the relationships between the actual gods affect the pathways/orbits of the Tears?
I only ask, because that's something I've been considering with my own theories on connecting Realms gods with planets in Realmspace. I like the idea that there is some connection between both entities that reflect the relationships between deities. Falling out between gods results in planets shifting orbits slightly, or even away from each other, for example.
It's a curious theory, I know, and I'm still tinkering with it. [Especially since the resultant planetary shifts would undoubtedly have an impact on the world's inhabitants.] But it's a fun concept to explore nonetheless. |
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Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 01:38:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Maybe the Netherese have been quietly undermined by the Abolethic Sovereignty (who is working with them due to shared tentacled Lovecrafty-ness) all this time as well.
I like that. Though I wonder how would you resolve the issue of distance. Portals aren't exactly the aboleth's thing. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 02:54:36
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I imagine that might well be the case. The planets also suffer from weather patterns and so on variances depending on whether or not their deity is in ascendance.
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Maybe the Netherese have been quietly undermined by the Abolethic Sovereignty (who is working with them due to shared tentacled Lovecrafty-ness) all this time as well.
I like that. Though I wonder how would you resolve the issue of distance. Portals aren't exactly the aboleth's thing.
Probably slaves and psychic communication. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 03:39:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
I imagine that might well be the case. The planets also suffer from weather patterns and so on variances depending on whether or not their deity is in ascendance.
Ooo! I like that. Earth-shattering or violent weather on one world could also mark two deities coming into conflict, for example... especially if two worlds/deities move closer together. Their relative sizes with respect to one another could determine more intense gravitational effects, which worshippers construe as one deity/world overcoming the other for a time. |
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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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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 04:32:15
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Astrology actually works in my realms, at least to a degree, as blessings done with the deities ascent or position work better and are weaker. Also, it's possible to do certain actions better with the favorable position of one's deity like going to war and so on. The bonuses +1 or -1 etc are pretty miniscule overall, however, which is why most people attribute it to bad luck or good fortune.
Bad day for business, though, when Beshaba is meeting Mask while Waukeen is in descent. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 05:24:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
@Dennis - Who said he fooled Telemont? I was talking about Telemont's son (who Charles has going to meet with Larloch). Besides, the Malaugrym are like Shades on steroids (I believe the Malaugrym have secretly been pulling their strings for years, but thats just my personal take on them).
The Malaugrym tried to obliterate the Shadovar during their two-millenia stay in the Demiplane of Shadow, but the Shadovar defeated them, partly because of their magical might and affinity to shadow, and mainly because of Shar's "divine protection."
Where is that from? |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 10:46:08
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The short version is, basically, it's important to keep everyone who WOULD be involved in something so huge as the downfall of the Netherese in mind. However, it's also important not to make it TOO complicated.
You don't want the players losing track of who is in charge over what.
In any case, I'm sure Thay will benefit strongly from it. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 00:31:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
The short version is, basically, it's important to keep everyone who WOULD be involved in something so huge as the downfall of the Netherese in mind. However, it's also important not to make it TOO complicated.
You don't want the players losing track of who is in charge over what.
In any case, I'm sure Thay will benefit strongly from it.
And that appears like aligning with canon, as Wizards seems to be 'empowering' Szass Tam in the novels where he's shown lately. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 01:05:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
@Dennis - Who said he fooled Telemont? I was talking about Telemont's son (who Charles has going to meet with Larloch). Besides, the Malaugrym are like Shades on steroids (I believe the Malaugrym have secretly been pulling their strings for years, but thats just my personal take on them).
The Malaugrym tried to obliterate the Shadovar during their two-millenia stay in the Demiplane of Shadow, but the Shadovar defeated them, partly because of their magical might and affinity to shadow, and mainly because of Shar's "divine protection."
Where is that from?
From Return of the Archwizards and Twilight War trilogies, which I suspect you haven't read. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 04:38:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
@Dennis - Who said he fooled Telemont? I was talking about Telemont's son (who Charles has going to meet with Larloch). Besides, the Malaugrym are like Shades on steroids (I believe the Malaugrym have secretly been pulling their strings for years, but thats just my personal take on them).
The Malaugrym tried to obliterate the Shadovar during their two-millenia stay in the Demiplane of Shadow, but the Shadovar defeated them, partly because of their magical might and affinity to shadow, and mainly because of Shar's "divine protection."
Where is that from?
From Return of the Archwizards and Twilight War trilogies, which I suspect you haven't read.
I like the idea, myself, and I don't think that it conflicts with canon. Sure, the Malaugrym, as a group, were defeated -- but unless it says somewhere that they were utterly wiped out, then it's not unplausible that one or two may have infiltrated the ranks of the Shades. Heck, it may even be a very long term game played by the Malaugrym -- get someone on the inside, and then let them do bad things from within while the main group is "defeated" and has to withdraw. |
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Bringing down the Princes of Shade
