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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 15:52:58
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In GRR Martin's novels, "Winter is Coming" is whispered by people randomly as a kind of "oh gods, we're all going to suffer horribly and die" kind of pre-apocalyptic mantra.
With the Sundering, do commoners know any details about what's coming for them? After all, there have been prophecies and such tied to the Sundering - with visions of war, destruction, hints of the world ending.
Will there be random people wandering through the streets in Cormyrean cities proclaiming doom, with mantras like "The Sundering is Upon Us!" just to stir up fear and terror?
How much do the common people know? How much should they know? Will this be a breeding ground for beholder cults and Cyricists running amok?
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3254 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 15:55:12
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Heh... I was just thinking earlier this morning how much GRR Martin and the Realms have in common (albeit, the Realms are a good deal "lighter" in tone).
I picture Cyricists crawling out of their caves, proclaiming that the Mad God is coming to Sunder the world. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 16:08:52
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Picture a mad Cyricist, too skinny and in bedraggled old robes, clambering on top of some sculpted artwork in Suzail and desperately yelling, "the old gods have lied to us! Lord Cyric will be freed and he will protect his faithful when the Sundering comes!"
As his eyes go wild and he drools uncontrollably, a deeper and louder voice takes over: "The Sundering is Upon You, Mortals! Children, Nations, even the Gods will be swept away when the protections of this world are broken!"
At this point he starts wailing uncontrollably, and the Purple Dragons drag him away...
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Gyor
Master of Realmslore
1632 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 18:55:38
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Wow, that's a visual.
On a serious note most of the realms seems please over all with the Sundering the apellplague is going away, spellscars are healing, no more spell plague monsters, or weird blue fire.
Other parts specifically Akunul and Tymathor will be much less happy about it. If people there realize what's happening before it happens I'd expect many would flee the region flooding surrounding areas with Genasi and Dragonborn refugees. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 19:13:50
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Actually, knowing (through prophesy?) that "The Sundering is Coming!" sounds like a really excellent plot-device. Perhaps not for (most of) us, since we will be getting the 'already Sundered' world in 5e (presumably).
But just like 4e, they may be missing a golden opportunity here... why not let 4e fans play through it? Imagine the whole world going a little nuts, with 'visions & portents' appearing all over the place, Mystra's alters glowing, holy relics that have long lain-dormant suddenly vibrating like crazy... could be pure win. 
Amazing idea, Therise - BRAVO. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 19:17:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Heh... I was just thinking earlier this morning how much GRR Martin and the Realms have in common (albeit, the Realms are a good deal "lighter" in tone).
It entirely depends what you make out of the given material. You can do the realms "light" and you can do the realms "real". "Real" here in my definition meaning every whim and perversity of human nature is replicated in the realms, turning the game into a version aimed for adults or mature enough people. It does not need to be "written down" to be there and if i have to pick between the "light" or "real" version, i without hesitation go with "real". |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3254 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 19:30:43
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| Well, it's more of what I mean by "light". I view GRR Martin's world as pretty dismal and hopeless, one that I would not like to visit, even if it were to hang out with Tyrion. I'm not saying he's not an excellent writer, just that when I look at that world, I can see why the only people "adventuring" are ones looking for political power. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 19:45:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Actually, knowing (through prophesy?) that "The Sundering is Coming!" sounds like a really excellent plot-device. Perhaps not for (most of) us, since we will be getting the 'already Sundered' world in 5e (presumably).
But just like 4e, they may be missing a golden opportunity here... why not let 4e fans play through it? Imagine the whole world going a little nuts, with 'visions & portents' appearing all over the place, Mystra's alters glowing, holy relics that have long lain-dormant suddenly vibrating like crazy... could be pure win.
Amazing idea, Therise - BRAVO.
Thanks, not really my idea, though. I think that's exactly what they have planned with adventures like Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle and the city/guide Murder in Baldur's Gate. I think we will be playing through the Sundering. Which will be very interesting!
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1885 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 20:17:31
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I never really used the Spellplague/Sundering (4e) stuff in my campaign but I do jot down ideas from time to time. Some of them include Cyricists (Cyric being a 'doomsday' type in my campaign) proclaiming calamity in the streets. Many of the gods (including some who are supposed to be dead) could see a resurgence of followers wishing to be 'saved' from the Sundering while yet others, despairing that the gods have abandoned them, turn to cults of Orcus, Asmodeus, Grazzt, etc. in an effort to gain some power to withstand the Sundering. In time, you could see riots in the streets with governments trying to hard to control the populace (if less than 'good') or protect them (if good, such as Cormyr).
Honestly, you really only have to look at the real world to get inspiration on this. And I echo Markustay's sentiments, excellent idea Therise. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1885 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 20:33:18
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Oh, and just because it sorta goes with the topic name...my favorite saying in the series is "The night is dark and full of terrors." Now that is something I can see Cyric and Shar's priesthoods saying!  |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
Edited by - The Arcanamach on 14 Aug 2013 20:34:20 |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 20:54:10
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| It was a Dark and Stormy Night..... and then the Rivers went Red...... |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3823 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 21:28:00
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quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
Oh, and just because it sorta goes with the topic name...my favorite saying in the series is "The night is dark and full of terrors." Now that is something I can see Cyric and Shar's priesthoods saying!
A bit too cliché IMO. Not that I can come up with something better (not atm, at least), tho.
quote:
Will there be random people wandering through the streets in Cormyrean cities proclaiming doom, with mantras like "The Sundering is Upon Us!" just to stir up fear and terror?
How much do the common people know? How much should they know? Will this be a breeding ground for beholder cults and Cyricists running amok?
I don't think that the common folks would be able to realize the entity of the situation until the flashy stuff started happening. So yes, I believe that the first signals of the Sundering and the chaos that this RSE would bring at its peak would favor the proliferation of doomsayers and shady cults, and would help spreading their insanity among people scared and worried about the strange things happening around them. |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
Edited by - Irennan on 14 Aug 2013 21:49:23 |
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Mirtek
Senior Scribe
595 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 21:56:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Therise
Picture a mad Cyricist, too skinny and in bedraggled old robes, clambering on top of some sculpted artwork in Suzail and desperately yelling, "the old gods have lied to us! Lord Cyric will be freed and he will protect his faithful when the Sundering comes!"
The thing is that the people just go "Ah, ol' mad Pete is rambling again, must be Tuesday"  |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3823 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2013 : 22:13:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Mirtek
The thing is that the people just go "Ah, ol' mad Pete is rambling again, must be Tuesday"
LOL! |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
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Winter is Coming... the Sundering is Upon Us
