Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Realmslore
 Sages of Realmslore
 Pyramids and Ziggurats
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

ShadowKing
Acolyte

17 Posts

Posted - 30 Sep 2013 :  21:53:55  Show Profile Send ShadowKing a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Lost Empires of Faerun tells there were pyramids in Mulhorand and ziggurats in Mulhorand, Unther and Chessenta, prior the Spellplague.
In the same age, were there pyramids and ziggurats even in Thay, Murghôm and Semphar?
Were they buildings developed by the Untheric and the Mulhorandi Empires or inherited from the Imaskari Empire?

Edited by - ShadowKing on 30 Sep 2013 23:45:22

Derulbaskul
Senior Scribe

Singapore
408 Posts

Posted - 01 Oct 2013 :  11:11:27  Show Profile Send Derulbaskul a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Why can't the answer be both?

Cheers
D

NB: Please remember: A cannon is a big gun. Canon is what we discuss here.
Go to Top of Page

xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore

USA
1853 Posts

Posted - 01 Oct 2013 :  18:05:39  Show Profile  Visit xaeyruudh's Homepage Send xaeyruudh a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Mulhorand is loose-ishly based on Egypt, and Unther on a broader swath of the "fertile crescent"/middle-east. This explains pyramids in Mulhorand and ziggurats in Unther.

I don't know of any specific canon answers to your questions. Thay, Murghom, and Semphar have all been under Mulhorand's control at various points, and it certainly wouldn't be "wrong" to have pyramids there and ziggurats in Chessenta. Unther also founded the "north coast cities" (Delthuntle to Thasselen) and expanded into the Eastern Shaar, so ziggurats are easily possible in those places as well.

The short answer is that the truth can be whatever you want it to be, in your game, without going against the spirit of the region.
Go to Top of Page

Quale
Master of Realmslore

1757 Posts

Posted - 03 Oct 2013 :  18:59:09  Show Profile Send Quale a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ShadowKing

[i]
In the same age, were there pyramids and ziggurats even in Thay, Murghôm and Semphar?


Thay and Murghom should have pyramids, but not as many as in Mulhorand

quote:

Were they buildings developed by the Untheric and the Mulhorandi Empires or inherited from the Imaskari Empire?



Unther and Mulhorand brought their own style (from Earth, probably a fantastic version of Earth that had real gods and magic)
Go to Top of Page

The Masked Mage
Great Reader

USA
2420 Posts

Posted - 23 Oct 2013 :  02:13:03  Show Profile Send The Masked Mage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Perhaps Thaymount is the mother of all pyramids :P - Did I take that too far?
Go to Top of Page

Seravin
Master of Realmslore

Canada
1288 Posts

Posted - 23 Oct 2013 :  03:08:43  Show Profile Send Seravin a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I believe there are 3 pyramids in the Moonsea area, one of which is on Sorcerer's Isle near Phlan and is possibly Mulhorandi in origin. The second one is near Thentia/Ironkeep I think? And the 3rd was never found if I remember correctly.
Go to Top of Page

Hoondatha
Great Reader

USA
2449 Posts

Posted - 23 Oct 2013 :  15:03:22  Show Profile  Visit Hoondatha's Homepage Send Hoondatha a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Also remember that the pyramid is the most stable shape that can be constructed using relatively crude methods. Just like in the RW cultures across the globe built massive pyramids/ziggurats without knowing of each other, it's entirely possible for there to be pyramids scattered throughout the Realms, or even the lands around the old Mulhorandi/Untheric empires that don't have anything to do with Unther or Mulhorand.

Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well.
Go to Top of Page

sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist

USA
11829 Posts

Posted - 23 Oct 2013 :  16:59:33  Show Profile Send sleyvas a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Canonical answer: Yes, Thay had at least ziggurats. The Flaming Brazier temple in Bezantur was a step pyramid/ziggurat made of red marble.

Alavairthae, may your skill prevail

Phillip aka Sleyvas
Go to Top of Page

Ayrik
Great Reader

Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 23 Oct 2013 :  22:51:08  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yarash‘s Pyramid at Sorcerer‘s Isle, North of Phlan on the Moonsea, was the site of some rather exotic breeding experiments. Yarash spent much time attempting to create a race of superior-stock lizardmen servitors. I can‘t help but wonder if this is tangentially related to the REF5 Tomb of the Lizard King adventure which included an undead lizard king who possessed two Nether Scrolls, each revealing a powerful unique “creator“ spells which were well-suited for this very purpose.

As stated, pyramids are geometrically basic and very lasting structures, built by many diverse civilizations. Large pyramid are monuments requiring serious effort, time, and resources to construct, so they invariably serve some special ceremonial/religious/political purpose.

Pyramids have also long been associated with the occult, so it seems likely that (in the Realms, at least) they are useful or necessary constructs for powerful magical workings.

[/Ayrik]
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000