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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Oct 2013 : 03:10:42
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Finished with Invisible Cities.
Now I'm back to catching up on my comic books -- specifically, DC's New 52 Suicide Squad book. I think I'm about a year-and-a-half behind in my reading of that one... |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 22 Oct 2013 03:11:30 |
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Renin
Learned Scribe
USA
290 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2013 : 18:54:40
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| And I just steamrolled through Books 4 & 5 of the Brotherhood of the Griffon. Loved this stuff. Sad that I don't see another book of this published in 2014, though. :( |
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Drustan Dwnhaedan
Learned Scribe
USA
324 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2013 : 23:04:24
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| Finished Shadowbred a couple days ago, now reading Queen of Thorns by Dave Gross (I would've preferred to continue reading The Twilight War trilogy, but one of my friend's lent me a couple of his Pathfinder novels, and expects them back as soon as possible). |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2013 : 03:11:08
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I'm nearly through with my catching-up on DC's New 52 Suicide Squad book.
I think that I'll be heading back to the Realms for my next read. It's been a short little while since I've read anything published by Wizards of the Coast. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2013 : 14:19:47
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| Well I have had enough of David Gemmel for a while so am reading Ravenor by Dan Abneet. |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2013 : 18:54:38
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| I was just at the cinema ans saw that they are about to release a movie version of Ender's Game. I'll be reading the Ender's Saga next I think so I am adequately prepared... |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2013 : 18:55:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Drustan Dwnhaedan
Just finished reading The Sword of Shannara. I've got to figure out what I'm going to read next. (*sigh* So many choices, so little time.)
If you've just finished The Sword, there are two more books to read in that series (and about 12 more in Shannara). All of them are worth the time. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 01:38:25
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quote:
Originally posted by The Masked Mage
quote:
Originally posted by Drustan Dwnhaedan
Just finished reading The Sword of Shannara. I've got to figure out what I'm going to read next. (*sigh* So many choices, so little time.)
If you've just finished The Sword, there are two more books to read in that series (and about 12 more in Shannara). All of them are worth the time.
Shannara has closer to 25 books in the series. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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9thChapter
Learned Scribe
Canada
110 Posts |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 04:21:16
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quote:
Originally posted by 9thChapter
Curse of the Azure Bonds. Wow... loving the feel of it - like an old school tabletop campaign session in novel form!
Plus Alias had a great rack ;) |
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Drustan Dwnhaedan
Learned Scribe
USA
324 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 07:16:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by The Masked Mage
quote:
Originally posted by Drustan Dwnhaedan
Just finished reading The Sword of Shannara. I've got to figure out what I'm going to read next. (*sigh* So many choices, so little time.)
If you've just finished The Sword, there are two more books to read in that series (and about 12 more in Shannara). All of them are worth the time.
Shannara has closer to 25 books in the series.
 Wow. I only knew about three of the novels (The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara) before seeing these posts. Since I've already got all three (on loan from my DM), I guess I know what I'll be reading for the next two or three months (the two Shannara novels, the rest of The Twilight War trilogy, and my friend's Pathfinder books). Thanks! |
Edited by - Drustan Dwnhaedan on 24 Oct 2013 07:20:40 |
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Renin
Learned Scribe
USA
290 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 19:22:58
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Honestly, after you read the 'Scions of Shannara' quartet of books, you'd probably be happiest overall to stop there.
It was good to read 'First King of Shannara' for the explored history, but the more and more Brooks continued to write for Shannara, the less and less magical a concept and place it seemed to me. |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 21:35:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by The Masked Mage
quote:
Originally posted by Drustan Dwnhaedan
Just finished reading The Sword of Shannara. I've got to figure out what I'm going to read next. (*sigh* So many choices, so little time.)
If you've just finished The Sword, there are two more books to read in that series (and about 12 more in Shannara). All of them are worth the time.
True, but a bunch of them take place in the real world... not a fan of those :)
Shannara has closer to 25 books in the series.
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 21:43:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Drustan Dwnhaedan
quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by The Masked Mage
quote:
Originally posted by Drustan Dwnhaedan
Just finished reading The Sword of Shannara. I've got to figure out what I'm going to read next. (*sigh* So many choices, so little time.)
If you've just finished The Sword, there are two more books to read in that series (and about 12 more in Shannara). All of them are worth the time.
Shannara has closer to 25 books in the series.
Wow. I only knew about three of the novels (The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara) before seeing these posts. Since I've already got all three (on loan from my DM), I guess I know what I'll be reading for the next two or three months (the two Shannara novels, the rest of The Twilight War trilogy, and my friend's Pathfinder books). Thanks!
IDK if anyone will be interested in this, but some time ago I adapted Terry Brooks' elfstones for the FR:
The Elfstones Of Aryvaandar: Among The Masked Mages most prized possession, the elfstones are a magic from the old world, created by Faerûn’s first high magi and the fledgling priesthoods of the Seldarine, who bound into them a magic that existed before the elves first walked the woodlands of the multiverse. There are ten elfstones, three sets of three (blue, green, and red) and a lone solitary black elfstone.
The power of these elfstones is measured by the strength of he who wields them. The stones are grouped in sets of three; there was a reason for this. Each stone represented a part of the holder: one stone for the user’s heart (Constitution), one stone for the user’s body (Strength), one stone for the user’s mind (Intelligence & Wisdom). For the magic to be given life, all three must unite as one, that is they have to act in concert – three individual strengths joining as one. The success of the holder in employing the elfstones was a measure of his ability to unite those strengths. When done properly, the power released can be very great, as follows:
Driving inward he smashed aside the barrier that stood between himself and the power of the stones, smashed it aside through strength of will born of desperation and need. Reaching down within the heart of the elfstones, he brought them to life at last. Brilliant blue light flared up from his clenched hand, gathered itself, then burst forward to strike the demon. He took himself further into the stones, feeling their power intensely. Everything around him grew hazy with their glow, and again the elfstones lashed out at the demon. This time the creature could not withstand the elven magic. Its massive form erupted in flames and became a pillar of blinding light. For an instant it burned deep blue in the night, then exploded into ash and was gone.
Ancient elven magic is nothing to be toyed with, however; it can prove to be more dangerous than the evil it was created to protect against. Our histories have left us with that warning, if little else. The magic may act against not only the body, but the spirit as well. Wounds of the body may be treated, but what of wounds that go deeper?
Each of the three sets of elfstones serve a different purpose. The blue elfstones, are the seeking stones. Possession of the blue elfstones enables the holder to find that which was hidden from him merely by willing it to be so, as though under the effects of the spell find the path. The red elfstones are the life stones, or the soul stones, which give the power to peer into a person’s soul, and detect the presence of good and evil (as the wizard spells). They can also restore life in death, as the spells raise dead, resurrection, or even the Suyoll high magic ritual (‘the revival’) which can purge the evil from a beings heart or restore the undead to life. The last set of elfstones, the green elfstones are the summoning stones and they allow their wielder to summon all manner of creatures to his aid, both magical and mundane. This functions identically to the priest spells call aerial beings and call woodland beings, the magic-user monster summoning spells (I-VIII), or even the Saloh’Cint’Nias high magic ritual (‘the gift of alliance’).
In addition to their special purpose, all the elfstones possess the common characteristic of offering the holder protection against other magics and things created of magic and sorcery. But the extent of that protection – indeed, the extent of the power of the stones – was dependent entirely on the strength of character of the holder. This protection comes in the form of ravening fire which the wielder can release from the stones. An elfstone wielder can ordinarily release a maximum amount of elfstone fire in a round equal in spell levels to his Constitution divided by 55 minus the sum of his Strength, Intelligence and Wisdom scores. (Note that if the sum of these ability scores exceeds 54, the result could be 0 or -1 through -20. 1 is used in their staid for all such results). If used as a fiery weapon, this fire does a base 2d8 points of damage per spell level to targets. The range of elfstone fire is limited by the wielder’s line of sight, not by distance. The wielder must make a successful attack roll (using the normal attack score for his or her character class) whenever a destructive bolt of fire is released at any mobile target more than 10 feet distant. Bolts of fire from an elfstone that miss harm something else (including surrounding terrain), but the intended target is unscathed.
Targets struck by fire from the elfstones take the same damage whether the contact is slight or square-on, but damage is modified as follows: Nonmagical targets are allowed a saving throw vs. spell for half damage. Undead beings that drain life energy (experience levels) make this save at a +2 bonus but are not allowed a saving throw at all if their life forces are sustained by magic and not by the life forces they drain (in other words, a vampire is allowed a saving throw, but a lich is not.) No creature that is created or sustained by magic (such as most undead beings) is allowed this saving throw – and neither are enchanted creatures, such as nonmagic-using warriors who have had protective spells cast on them, or beings who are bearing active magical items. Armor, shields and the like are for this purpose always considered “on,” even if any special powers are not currently being used; wands and the like are considered active if they have been fired within a previous turn.
The Black Elfstone: Unlike the other elfstones, the black elfstone is a single stone, not part of a set. It is absolutely black, so black in fact that it seems to drink in light nearby. It was the creation of the mad Coronal Ivósaar Vyshann and Malkizid, “The Branded King.” The unbridled power of this stone is almost unimaginable. Its power is that of absorption. However, unlike most magics designed to absorb magic, the black elfstone is almost boundless – limited in its extent only by the wielder’s line of sight. When unleashed, all life and magic within its range is greedily absorbed, as described below:
He could feel the dark pulse of the elfstone against his palm. Summoning every last ounce of strength and determination that remained to him, he reached forth into the heart of the dark magic and called forth its power. The black elfstone had been awaiting his summons, anticipating it, linked to him from the moment of its taking, master to slave with the roles not yet determined. Pulsing with expectation, its magic surged from between his fingers in a swath of non-light, a black void that swallowed up everything in its path. It smashed everything. It devoured men and monsters to ash, then stole away their lives and fed them back into the holder of the stone.
He shuddered and cried out as the elfstone’s magic returned to him, imbued with the lives of its victims. Deep into his body went the evil of his enemies and the killing force of their fire. All of their dark intent and wicked need surged through him, filling him, ravaging him. He recognized in that instant the secret of the black elfstone’s power – to negate the power of other magics, to steal them away, to make them his own. But the price was hideous, for the power stolen became the power of the elfstone’s holder and changed him forever.
It was over in seconds. The hole of the enemy force that had confronted him was destroyed. On the sweep of the crater slope there were only bit of clothing and weapons and small piles of ash. In the air, there was the smell of burning flesh. Across the surface of the still crater waters, there were ripples from the passing of the black elfstone’s heat. He dropped to his knees, the expended magic roiling through him. He could feel it eating away at his body and spirit, reducing them to dust. There was nothing he could do to stop it. He was being destroyed and made over. The black elfstone tumbled from his nerveless fingers onto the rocks and lay still. Its non-light had gone out. Its pulsing had ceased.
While anyone can unleash the magic of the black elfstone, few can hope to control it and fewer still can hope to survive its effects. In order to control it and direct the absorption at specific targets, one must have a cumulative Strength, Constitution, Intelligence, and Wisdom of at least 75 and the character must be free of internal conflict and resolved of will to exert his control over the elfstone’s power. The wielder suffers 1d20 points of damage for every spell level, XP level, or HD absorbed, minus his intelligence score. Those with an Intelligence of greater than 20 still suffer 1 point of damage for each level of spells absorbed exceeding his normal spell limit. If the wielder survives the absorption process, he learns and is able to cast or record all of the spells drained.
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Edited by - The Masked Mage on 24 Oct 2013 21:46:32 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36998 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2013 : 23:40:31
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| That's a pretty good write-up, though I personally would note that someone had to be an elf (or half-elf, obviously) to be able to use the power of the stones, and that their use by anyone other than a full-blooded elf could have consequences (as we again saw with Wil Ohmsford). |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2013 : 12:36:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Renin
Honestly, after you read the 'Scions of Shannara' quartet of books, you'd probably be happiest overall to stop there.
It was good to read 'First King of Shannara' for the explored history, but the more and more Brooks continued to write for Shannara, the less and less magical a concept and place it seemed to me.
I couldn't agree more. Brooks has gotten extremely repetitive and boring over the years. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2013 : 12:37:37
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| Starting The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch! |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2013 : 17:39:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
Starting The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch!
Question, are the books in this series more like stand-alone books tied together by characters and events or are they more like a traditional series.
I have the first 2 books and am wondering if I should start or wait until more (all) books are released. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2013 : 03:33:04
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quote:
Originally posted by DragonReader
quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
Starting The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch!
Question, are the books in this series more like stand-alone books tied together by characters and events or are they more like a traditional series.
I have the first 2 books and am wondering if I should start or wait until more (all) books are released.
Traditional series all the way with flashback chapters sprinkled in. If you wait for them all to be released you might be waiting awhile. I think there are 4 more slated at this time. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Entromancer
Senior Scribe
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2013 : 04:35:13
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Corum: The Prince with the Silver Hand:
Corum Jhaelen Irsei is summoned from a mound by the last remnants of humanity, on an Earth locked in an eternal winter, to aid in their war against the Fhoi Myore--seven giants reminiscent of the Thing from John Carpenter's horror film The Thing--and their armies of tree-zombies. Corum's armed with an eye that can see into the netherworld and a mechanical hand that can summon the warriors from the edge of Time to aid him in his battles.
The Fhoi Myore seek to turn the Earth into a facsimile of their home plane of Limbo. Corum must stand up to them, as they may well be the remnants of the Lords of Entropy that Corum battled in the first omnibus, Corum: The Coming of Chaos. |
"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul
"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul |
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Drustan Dwnhaedan
Learned Scribe
USA
324 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2013 : 07:05:51
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| Just finished Queen of Thorns. Started reading Pirate's Honor by Chris A. Jackson. |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2013 : 01:05:43
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Finished "The Godborn" by Paul S. Kemp. Execellent book!
Not sure what to read next. I am thinking maybe Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2013 : 10:27:08
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
More comics for me.
I'm finally reading the totality of Dark Horse's "Star Wars: Legacy" book.
Ahh the Cade Skywalker stuff. I loved that series, it was quite bold and fresh. I wish that they would do a novelization of it. |
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Renin
Learned Scribe
USA
290 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2013 : 14:16:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Thauranil
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
More comics for me.
I'm finally reading the totality of Dark Horse's "Star Wars: Legacy" book.
Ahh the Cade Skywalker stuff. I loved that series, it was quite bold and fresh. I wish that they would do a novelization of it.
Agreed. Very daring and frightening (no Luke? How could you?!) but so very well done by Ostrander and Duursema. Loved that stuff.
I am reading Daniel Abraham's "The Shadow in Summer". Written very well, but does not engage me beyond what I read on the page. I don't think about it, I don't dwell on it; I enjoy reading it at the time, but I never think "ooO! can't wait to sit down and read again!"
Probably won't finish this series (it's his first), but I would like to check out another of his, though.
OH, also finished Hearne's first book of his 'Iron Druid Chronicles.' Hard to get into at first, as I just saw a Dresden Files type shadow, but eventually the characters, writing, and events won me over. Rather good, too! |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2013 : 18:18:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
Starting The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch!
How is it so far, Entreri? I'm waiting for my local library to acquire it. Should I just buy it instead? |
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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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2013 : 23:32:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
Starting The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch!
How is it so far, Entreri? I'm waiting for my local library to acquire it. Should I just buy it instead?
Pretty good so far but I'm only 100 pages in. Sort of reading slow to savor it. :) |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2013 : 15:19:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by DragonReader
quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478
Starting The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch!
Question, are the books in this series more like stand-alone books tied together by characters and events or are they more like a traditional series.
I have the first 2 books and am wondering if I should start or wait until more (all) books are released.
Traditional series all the way with flashback chapters sprinkled in. If you wait for them all to be released you might be waiting awhile. I think there are 4 more slated at this time.
Thanks for the info. I guess I'll start reading these at some point. But I have so many series I am reading now and I am getting old so its hard to keep things straight. |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2013 : 10:37:13
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| Reading Ravenor Rogue by Dan Abneet. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2013 : 15:45:37
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Finished my reading of the Star Wars: Legacy comic book yesterday.
I really like the conception of the One Sith. Though, Darth Krayt was a bit of a hit-and-miss character in terms of development. Interestingly, Darth Wyrlokk was a particularly fascinating example of the Sith-Scholarly type. A Loremaster of the Sith is definitely something I'd like to see developed further in future SW material.
Cade's an overall likeable fellow. And definitely a step away [in an entirely good way] from the traditional conception of a Skywalker. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 30 Oct 2013 15:47:18 |
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What are you reading? (2013)
Topic Locked
