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portose_sharpe
Seeker
Ireland
74 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 11:02:13
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just a quick question for other Dm's or people in the know :)
how much power if any do the nobles hold in cormyr over lands, each other and the purple dragons
is it like the king sets the nobles of a land and they purple dragons answer to him in that town/city/land?
or they they just rich people who answer to the purple dragons like everyone else?
thanks
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1885 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 14:45:39
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| They answer to the king's purple dragons but have rights above those of commoners. They do hold a fair amount of power but said power has been stamped down many times in the history of the country thanks, in no small part, to the war wizards and their leaders...the most prominent of which was/is Vangerdahast. |
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 - 02 Jan 2014 : 14:54:56
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| Let me also note that in one of the most recent Elminster series novels, the current king stated his intention of giving the commoners more rights/power. The nobles managed to block his initial efforts but I think it's a safe bet that changes are coming to the canon version of the Forest Kingdom. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 15:17:25
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quote:
Originally posted by portose_sharpe
just a quick question for other Dm's or people in the know :)
how much power if any do the nobles hold in cormyr over lands, each other and the purple dragons
is it like the king sets the nobles of a land and they purple dragons answer to him in that town/city/land?
or they they just rich people who answer to the purple dragons like everyone else?
thanks
There is lots of info on the Cormyr Thread that will answer your questions
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9685
Cheers
Damian
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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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Artemel
Learned Scribe
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 15:40:52
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Gah. I read about how the King between 3.5 and 4e was going to give away some of his power and it struck me as very stupid. The kid had grown up with his grandfather, mother and father being killed, his aunt as his regent, and his nobles continuously plotting against the throne. So why give up any power? In the real world, the Magna Carta was forced down the King of England's throat at swordpoint. I would have thought the King of Cormyr would be wise enough not to give away what was so dearly won.
-grumble grumble-
Anyways... could you point me to the book you are speaking of? I may need to start reading some of the newer novels and see if the author made more sense than the last blurb I read on it. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6445 Posts |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1885 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2014 : 04:22:26
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I believe it was in Elminster Must Die but I could be wrong (pretty sure it was that one though). There is a scene where El admits to "amending" some of King Feldrin's writing on the subject while the king slumbered (yes, El was manipulating him without his knowing it by adding to his 'thoughts' on the subject so as to make Feldrin think he thought of it himself). I'm not sure I agree with it myself but it's Ed's idea (I think) so it will likely turn out alright. I'm thinking he's planning on creating a House of Commons and House of Lords situation.
Also, I will amend my thoughts from my post above. It may not be so much giving up power but curtailing the influence of the nobles while providing a layer of protection for the commoners. The king could still retain (perhaps even gain) power. I'm sure the changes will lead the commoners to care for their monarchy even more than they do/have. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
Edited by - The Arcanamach on 03 Jan 2014 04:25:04 |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2014 : 05:59:15
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quote:
Originally posted by portose_sharpe
how much power if any do the nobles hold in cormyr over lands, each other and the purple dragons
is it like the king sets the nobles of a land and they purple dragons answer to him in that town/city/land?
or they they just rich people who answer to the purple dragons like everyone else?
Let me see what I can do to help here, regarding nobles and Purple Dragons.
OK, the most current, relevant sources for information would be "Backdrop: Cormyr" by Brian R. James in the July 2008 issue of Dragon magazine (#365) and is available as a free download, and Brian Cortijo's "Crowns and Mantles: The Ranks and Titles of Cormyr", featured in the January 2012 issue of Dragon magazine (#407), which requires a subscription to download.
The granting of a noble title means the holder of that title has some authority over Purple Dragons, but only in times of war or crisis. The equivalent rank would be as a Swordcaptain.
True Purple Dragons outrank nobles with the an equivalent rank, so a Purple Dragon Swordcaptain would outrank a typical noble.
Most noble titles are associated with a set part of Cormyr. This is the noble's "realm," though the noble has no authority over that region. This is because Crown law has been carefully written down the years to make it as clear as can be that nobles hold their lands and titles at the favor of the Crown, with the unspoken addendum that such can be taken away at any time.
For all that, nobles are pledged to guard and keep Cormyr secure. To this end they have the right to keep a retinue of armed guards (the size and scope of which is spelled out in the proclamation of their title), to hire mercenaries and to live in fortified residences.
One thing they can no longer do, that they used to be able to do, is maintain their own large, private army.
In addition to being expected to serve the Crown at a moment's notice, nobles have to be ready to turn over their armed retinue for conscription into the Purple Dragons, and must be ready to fund additional forces out of their own pockets.
Like Purple Dragons, nobles can arrest and even detain people (i.e. commoners) who break the law in their presence, but they can't punish such individuals or put them on trial.
Purple Dragons in a town or city where a King's Lord is present ultimately answer to that individual (known also as a "local lord"), because that local lord is responsible for defending that town and the outlying farms within his or her area of responsibility, in the King's name.
Note any number of Purple Dragons may be active in the town or city on orders from their own outside-the-area commanders. Also there may be any number of nobles living in the area the local lord is responsible for. Relationships between such landed lords and the local lord vary.
Hopefully this helps.  |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
Edited by - Jeremy Grenemyer on 03 Jan 2014 06:54:08 |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2014 : 06:07:55
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Just remembered something:
In Ed Greenwood's short story "The Grinning Ghost of Taverton Hall" (from the novel Realms of Mystery, page 307), there is mention of the Horse Marshall to the Crown of Cormyr, who is responsible for, amongst other things, assigning garrisons of Purple Dragons to nobles, which the nobles must of course pay for the food and lodging of.
I'm guessing those Purple Dragons take orders from their own Purple Dragon commander(s) who are garrisoned with them, but will cooperate with and work at the direction of the noble they are garrisoned with, within limits.
Note some nobles outrank other nobles, and so have a higher rank within the Purple Dragons during times of war. Also, certain noble families are regarded highly by the Purple Dragons, while others are frowned upon. Those in good regard are respected and those looked down on are selectively ignored by the Purple Dragons under their wartime command. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Cormyr Nobles
