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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Aug 2008 : 01:05:01
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
P.S. It is an absolute crime that we have not had a FR novel by you and you alone for 5 years now. I hope some little corner of 4e FR catches your eye and fires your imagination for something new and unexpected!
I wouldn't call it a crime, exactly. More along the lines of "been really busy with other things." 
As for 4e stories, I'm not ruling out that possibility.
We understand you are very busy......but we won't quit hoping! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2008 : 02:04:27
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
P.S. It is an absolute crime that we have not had a FR novel by you and you alone for 5 years now.
Hard to believe it's been so long...time flies. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 15 Aug 2008 02:04:57 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36802 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 06:16:18
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Hello, Elaine!
I'm reading thru your Arilyn and Danilo tales right now, and just finished Thornhold. And I'm noting that you've written about some memorable dwarven characters: Jill ("it was me mother's name!"), Morgalla, and Ebenezer Stoneshaft. I find myself wondering... Have you ever thought of telling any dwarf-centric stories? |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 11:39:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Hello, Elaine!
I'm reading thru your Arilyn and Danilo tales right now, and just finished Thornhold. And I'm noting that you've written about some memorable dwarven characters: Jill ("it was me mother's name!"), Morgalla, and Ebenezer Stoneshaft. I find myself wondering... Have you ever thought of telling any dwarf-centric stories?
I have, yes. Although I may be associated with elves in the Realms, the older I get, the more I relate to dwarves. Elves are graceful, gorgeous, eternally young. Dwarves are stout, grouchy, and always working.
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Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 21 Aug 2008 11:40:17 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36802 Posts |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2008 : 00:18:37
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Hello, Elaine!
I'm reading thru your Arilyn and Danilo tales right now, and just finished Thornhold. And I'm noting that you've written about some memorable dwarven characters: Jill ("it was me mother's name!"), Morgalla, and Ebenezer Stoneshaft. I find myself wondering... Have you ever thought of telling any dwarf-centric stories?
I have, yes. Although I may be associated with elves in the Realms, the older I get, the more I relate to dwarves. Elves are graceful, gorgeous, eternally young. Dwarves are stout, grouchy, and always working.
Grouchy, but reliable. The elf is the Mr. Abs drunk-guy you sleep with when travelling alone in Mayan Riviera resort. The dwarf is the steady boyfriend who will fix your kitchen, redo your roof, upgrade your switchboard from fuses to breakers, do the dishes and change your kids' diapers. |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2008 : 00:34:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Grouchy, but reliable. The elf is the Mr. Abs drunk-guy you sleep with when travelling alone in Mayan Riviera resort. The dwarf is the steady boyfriend who will fix your kitchen, redo your roof, upgrade your switchboard from fuses to breakers, do the dishes and change your kids' diapers.
Is this taken directly from the 4e FR campaign setting, or are you paraphrasing? |
Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 22 Aug 2008 00:35:06 |
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cacoxxx
Acolyte
3 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2008 : 18:40:54
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Hi, i've always wondered 2 things, akhlaurs and kiva's first child was the founder of jordaini? And what became of vishna after taking kiva into the woods? did he shared the fate of the other 2, o did he remained uneased as he was already dead??
Many thx |
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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2008 : 16:26:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Hello, Elaine!
I'm reading thru your Arilyn and Danilo tales right now, and just finished Thornhold. And I'm noting that you've written about some memorable dwarven characters: Jill ("it was me mother's name!"), Morgalla, and Ebenezer Stoneshaft. I find myself wondering... Have you ever thought of telling any dwarf-centric stories?
I agree, the Realms need more stories about the dwarves. |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2008 : 16:46:40
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quote:
Originally posted by cacoxxx
Hi, i've always wondered 2 things, akhlaurs and kiva's first child was the founder of jordaini?
Not really. Andris, a jordain and Mateo's best friend, descended from Akhlaur and Kiva. Mateo descended from Vishna, who was a contemporary of Akhlaur and Zalathorm.
quote:
And what became of vishna after taking kiva into the woods? did he shared the fate of the other 2, o did he remained uneased as he was already dead??
That's a good question. Vishna was a lich, so when the story ended he was still . . . not ALIVE, but in existence. I doubt he could have survived the 4E destruction of Halruaa, so I think you can safely assume that he no longer exists in the current Realms.
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2008 : 16:50:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Ardashir
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Hello, Elaine!
I'm reading thru your Arilyn and Danilo tales right now, and just finished Thornhold. And I'm noting that you've written about some memorable dwarven characters: Jill ("it was me mother's name!"), Morgalla, and Ebenezer Stoneshaft. I find myself wondering... Have you ever thought of telling any dwarf-centric stories?
I agree, the Realms need more stories about the dwarves.
Agreed, but I don't think I'm the person to write them.
If I was going to explore dwarf characters, my inclination would be to step back from Tolkien-inspired, D&D-style dwarves, go back to the folklore and mythology, and take a different approach. If for no other reason than I really don't want to write about bearded females. Call it a quirk.
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2008 : 19:53:31
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| Dwarves Deep and other subsequent Realms canon did a big effort to do away with the "bearded dwarf female" concept, btw. According to Dwarves Deep, the dwarven female community, long ago, invented a Nair-type salve/concoction to do away with facial hair (only theirs work permanently). Let's just say that dwarven females, like real-world females who have facial hair issues, prefer to do away with it. It's just that the percentage of dwarven females who end up with facial hair is higher than human females, perhaps due to diet and a lack of sunlight? or a higher level of testosterone? (which coincidentally augment a female's sexual drive... so maybe there's something to the tales of male dwarves liking bearded females? ) |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2008 : 20:03:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Dwarves Deep and other subsequent Realms canon did a big effort to do away with the "bearded dwarf female" concept, btw. According to Dwarves Deep, the dwarven female community, long ago, invented a Nair-type salve/concoction to do away with facial hair (only theirs work permanently). Let's just say that dwarven females, like real-world females who have facial hair issues, prefer to do away with it. It's just that the percentage of dwarven females who end up with facial hair is higher than human females, perhaps due to diet and a lack of sunlight? or a higher level of testosterone? (which coincidentally augment a female's sexual drive... so maybe there's something to the tales of male dwarves liking bearded females? )
::shrugs:: If so, wouldn't that logic also apply to human males?
I don't know what impact, if any, 4e had on dwarves. Hopefully it's something interesting, and WotC will find the right author to develop this race through fiction. |
Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 13 Sep 2008 20:08:00 |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 08:17:19
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LOL!
10/4! |
Edited by - Purple Dragon Knight on 14 Sep 2008 08:17:52 |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 08:20:51
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Sigh... don't want to put you on the spot Elaine, buuuuuut...
Do you feel generally bummed out about the destruction of the Realms as we know it, or are you somewhat past that point right now (like myself) and approaching severely low GAF* factor levels?
*For those requiring a definition of the GAF acronym, please PM me... |
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Vangelor
Learned Scribe
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 08:33:36
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"Give a Fig" is an acceptable euphemism here, PDK. ;)
Elaine, not a question but just a wish for you - that you are free to write whatever sustains you, creatively and financially.
A wish for me is that this might someday include an Elaine Cunningham / Elaith Craulnober novel. Just revisiting Elfshadow again, and enjoying it still. Thank you. |
Edited by - Vangelor on 14 Sep 2008 08:34:21 |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 13:04:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Sigh... don't want to put you on the spot Elaine, buuuuuut...
Do you feel generally bummed out about the destruction of the Realms as we know it, or are you somewhat past that point right now (like myself) and approaching severely low GAF* factor levels?
*For those requiring a definition of the GAF acronym, please PM me...
I've been taking a "wait and see" attitude toward 4e Realms. But as time goes on, I've been getting increasingly involved in other projects and really haven't had the time to get to know 4e.
The more time passes, the less likely it becomes that I'll return. It has been years since I've published a new book in the Realms. New products replace older ones on the shelves, readers come and go. I'm getting very close to Grubb-and-Novak status.
That really doesn't answer your question, but it's as close as I can get, with the info I have. |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 13:07:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Vangelor
"Give a Fig" is an acceptable euphemism here, PDK. ;)
Elaine, not a question but just a wish for you - that you are free to write whatever sustains you, creatively and financially.
A wish for me is that this might someday include an Elaine Cunningham / Elaith Craulnober novel. Just revisiting Elfshadow again, and enjoying it still. Thank you.
Thanks for the good wishes--both of them. I don't know what become of Elaith during the spellplague and the time shift. I'd like to think he survived, even though he really is nearing the end of the life span 3.5 allots to elves. |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 16:57:44
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
quote:
Originally posted by Vangelor
"Give a Fig" is an acceptable euphemism here, PDK. ;)
Elaine, not a question but just a wish for you - that you are free to write whatever sustains you, creatively and financially.
A wish for me is that this might someday include an Elaine Cunningham / Elaith Craulnober novel. Just revisiting Elfshadow again, and enjoying it still. Thank you.
Thanks for the good wishes--both of them. I don't know what become of Elaith during the spellplague and the time shift. I'd like to think he survived, even though he really is nearing the end of the life span 3.5 allots to elves.
There's a 3-level Prestige Class in the 3.5 book "Races of the Wild" called The Ruathar (i.e. the 3.5 book on halflings and elves) that increases one's lifespan by 50%... the class ability is received at the third level, and it's a ceremony called "Arvandor's Grace". According to the PrC fluff info, Ruathar means "Elf-friend" in elven, so these powers are often granted on non-elves that have proven themselves to be allies to the elves, but the text says that "Even elf ruathars can receive Arvandor's Grace: such characters are astonishingly long-lived."
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Edited by - Purple Dragon Knight on 14 Sep 2008 16:58:29 |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 17:02:45
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Sigh... don't want to put you on the spot Elaine, buuuuuut...
Do you feel generally bummed out about the destruction of the Realms as we know it, or are you somewhat past that point right now (like myself) and approaching severely low GAF* factor levels?
*For those requiring a definition of the GAF acronym, please PM me...
I've been taking a "wait and see" attitude toward 4e Realms. But as time goes on, I've been getting increasingly involved in other projects and really haven't had the time to get to know 4e.
The more time passes, the less likely it becomes that I'll return. It has been years since I've published a new book in the Realms. New products replace older ones on the shelves, readers come and go. I'm getting very close to Grubb-and-Novak status.
That really doesn't answer your question, but it's as close as I can get, with the info I have.
No, no, no, no, no! that answers my question perfectly actually, and I completely understand your situation. I'm actually astonished and humbled by your grace Elaine: you're still visiting these boards and talking to us after all these years, and this speaks of your love for the (old) Realms. A lot of authors/designers don't even talk to us if there is no FR book deal in the wings... |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 17:14:41
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Without going way off-topic and also without trying to sound overly harsh, there certainly does seem to be a huge difference between the 'Old Gaurd' and the 'new team', in terms of fan-interaction.
Whereas the 'old-timers' shared our wonder of the incredibly vast world that is FR, the new kids on the block appear to be 'put-off' by the amount of research required to work-on FR products.
<sigh>
PDK makes a very insightful comment about the commitment certain designer/authors have to the Realms, by noting their participation here. Like late-night-television talk-shows, some appear only when they are 'hawking' something. 
Thank You for remainiig a class act, Elaine. |
"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 14 Sep 2008 17:15:21 |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2008 : 18:27:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Without going way off-topic and also without trying to sound overly harsh, there certainly does seem to be a huge difference between the 'Old Gaurd' and the 'new team', in terms of fan-interaction.
Whereas the 'old-timers' shared our wonder of the incredibly vast world that is FR, the new kids on the block appear to be 'put-off' by the amount of research required to work-on FR products.
<sigh>
PDK makes a very insightful comment about the commitment certain designer/authors have to the Realms, by noting their participation here. Like late-night-television talk-shows, some appear only when they are 'hawking' something.
Thank You for remainiig a class act, Elaine.
Thanks for the kind words, Markustay.
In all fairness, however, I should point out that divisions between old/new writers and designers are not easily drawn. People have different reasons for frequenting Candlekeep or staying away.
I've taken long leaves of absence myself from time to time, sometimes when I felt the board was shifting toward a collectively negative tone, or when I was fielding too many questions that I couldn't answer, either because of NDA or because they required me to speculate, and thus publish non-canon lore. Sometimes I take time away from the internet and focus intensely on writing.
So judging from my experience, it may not be accurate to assume that those who do not participate here are not interested in the Realms.
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Vangelor
Learned Scribe
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 00:26:27
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A good attitude to keep in mind, Elaine. Thank you.
A question about your novel, Elfsong (my current bedside book - not because it makes me nod off, simply because I prefer to read in bed):
Was the name of Wyn Ashgrove, the elven minstrel, inspired by the Welsh folk melody, "The Ash Grove"? I know you are fond of traditional music, so it seems possible. (Also, that particular melody sticks in my head to a degree that I wind up writing most of my bard's lyrics to its meter!) |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 02:54:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Vangelor
A good attitude to keep in mind, Elaine. Thank you.
A question about your novel, Elfsong (my current bedside book - not because it makes me nod off, simply because I prefer to read in bed):
Was the name of Wyn Ashgrove, the elven minstrel, inspired by the Welsh folk melody, "The Ash Grove"? I know you are fond of traditional music, so it seems possible. (Also, that particular melody sticks in my head to a degree that I wind up writing most of my bard's lyrics to its meter!)
Yep! And the connection was further underscored by the use of the name "Wyn"--a common Welsh given name.
"The Ash Grove" is one of my favorite melodies. There are a number of real-world musical references in Elfsong. Over the years a few musicologists have been amused by the inclusion of the melody "The Armed Man" as part of the spellsong, because "L'homme arme" was an exceedingly popular medieval melody, one that found its way into a great deal of polyphonic music, sacred as well as secular. |
Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 17 Sep 2008 02:56:44 |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 07:43:42
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| Hey my father-in-law is Welsh, and he sometimes emails me completely in Welsh (sp? Welshish? :P) to my utter dismay... and my bosses... as I spend the next hour extricating every bit of info I can out of the message via online translators... :P |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 12:00:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Hey my father-in-law is Welsh, and he sometimes emails me completely in Welsh (sp? Welshish? :P) to my utter dismay... and my bosses... as I spend the next hour extricating every bit of info I can out of the message via online translators... :P
Yikes! I can only imagine what Babelfish does to Cymric. :) |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 09:37:06
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
quote:
Originally posted by Vangelor
"Give a Fig" is an acceptable euphemism here, PDK. ;)
Elaine, not a question but just a wish for you - that you are free to write whatever sustains you, creatively and financially.
A wish for me is that this might someday include an Elaine Cunningham / Elaith Craulnober novel. Just revisiting Elfshadow again, and enjoying it still. Thank you.
Thanks for the good wishes--both of them. I don't know what become of Elaith during the spellplague and the time shift. I'd like to think he survived, even though he really is nearing the end of the life span 3.5 allots to elves.
umm just how old was he?
the fr elves were able to live for 1000 or 2000 years.
im with you though, id like to think he survived as well |
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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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 12:34:12
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quote:
Originally posted by sfdragon
quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
quote:
Originally posted by Vangelor
"Give a Fig" is an acceptable euphemism here, PDK. ;)
Elaine, not a question but just a wish for you - that you are free to write whatever sustains you, creatively and financially.
A wish for me is that this might someday include an Elaine Cunningham / Elaith Craulnober novel. Just revisiting Elfshadow again, and enjoying it still. Thank you.
Thanks for the good wishes--both of them. I don't know what become of Elaith during the spellplague and the time shift. I'd like to think he survived, even though he really is nearing the end of the life span 3.5 allots to elves.
umm just how old was he?
the fr elves were able to live for 1000 or 2000 years.
im with you though, id like to think he survived as well
The FR elves WERE able to life for hundreds of years, but I believe their life span was considerably shortened in 3.5. I do not know what their expected life span is in 4th edition. Anyone? Anyone?
(Bueller?) |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 13:36:48
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The "average" max age for elves in 3.5 is 350+4d% (or between 354-750 years old).
Age has no factor in fourth edition and is not even given for many of the races. |
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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Christopher_Rowe
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
879 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 14:14:59
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
The FR elves WERE able to life for hundreds of years, but I believe their life span was considerably shortened in 3.5. I do not know what their expected life span is in 4th edition. Anyone? Anyone?
(Bueller?)
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Age has no factor in fourth edition and is not even given for many of the races.
Ooh me, me! I know! Pick me!
Average lifespans are provided for all the races in the Player's Handbook (except, oddly, for tieflings, unless I'm just overlooking it), and for drow and genasi in the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide.
It seems safe to assume that, as with racial powers and other material not explicitly repeated from the PH, that Realms elves have lifespans similar to those given in the core source (and the wording in the drow entry seems to support that assumption).
Thus:
Moon/Silver and Sun/Gold Elves (eladrin) "enjoy youth and health for most of their lives and don't begin to feel the effects of age until the middle of their third century. Most live for over 300 years, and even at the end they suffer few of the infirmities of old age." (PH, p. 39)
Wood and Wild Elves (elves) "mature at about the same rate as humans, but show few effects of age past adulthood. The first sign of an elf's advancing age is typically a change in hair color--sometimes graying but usually darkening or taking on more autumnal hues. Most elves live to be well over 200 years old and remain vigorous almost to the end." (PH, p. 41)
and
Dark Elves (drow) "general[ly]...have lives spans somewhat longer than those of their surface-dwelling cousins. Drow who manage to avoid dying a violent death can live for well over 200 years, and exceptional members of the race measure their age in centuries." (FRPG, p. 9)
I wonder how my hair would look with "more autumnal hues" instead of with this Reed Richards thing I've got going on. 
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My Realms novel, Sandstorm, is now available for ordering. |
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Questions for Elaine Cunningham
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