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TheHermit
Seeker
USA
60 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 07:00:10
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Just a couple of questions for Ed from the new guy:
1) Who chose what establishments were included in the City of Ravens Bluff guidebook? As one of the contributors to that RPGA project so long ago, I've always wondered why the one I would have never expected was used and the others left out.
2) This is a campaign idea that I've had niggling around the back of my head for some time, and I'd like your opinion. What would be the reaction of the Battledarrans to a private Sembian enterprise to reclaim the Ghost Holds south of Essembra? Meaning - the entrepreneurs locate a likely prospect, send in adventurers (the PCs) to clear the holds/houses of pests both human and monstrous, then move in with their crews to repair the place and offer it up for sale to nobles from Cormyr, rich Sembians, and retired adventurers from wherever. Also, what would be the procedures for claiming said property? Would they just say "This is now ours", or would there be fees and the like to be paid to the War Chancellor?
Oh, and Ed? The inscription Elminster left in my Forgotten Realms Adventures book some fifteen years ago? Tell him I haven't made it there yet, but I'm still working on it, and he'll be the first one I look up once I get there. |
- "Glitz & Klax's Potions & Elixirs"/"The Sandmen", Inside Ravens Bluff, The Living City; 1990; TSR, Inc.
- "The Far Guardians' Traveler's Mission", Port of Ravens Bluff; 1991, TSR, Inc.
- "Signs Painted", Polyhedron #70; April, 1992; TSR, Inc.
- Communications Director, Coliseum of Comics, Orlando, FL - http://coliseumofcomics.com/ |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 07:19:01
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Bruce wrote:
quote:
I have a question for Ed in regards to the calander example:
Chess 23 (The Claws of the Sunsets) Third Tenday Fleetswake 3
Ok now Chess if I am not mistaken is the month, so what does 23 in this instance stand for?
Claws of the Sunset refers to the midwinter holiday right?
Third Tenday would that mean the week?
Fleestwake the day in the week?
and finally what does the 3 stand for?
If I was to go a month back when wouldhave been the full moon considering the above is the half-moon.
How would one calculate when the new moon and full moons appear?
Following on from Ed's response, look in the FR Campaign Setting Boxed Set (either 1E or 2E) for a clear listing of the names of the months. As Ed said, Ches is not "the Claws of the Sunsets" but Ches of the Sunsets. Tenday 3 would indicate the third (and last) tenday of the month (although I wouldn't think many Realmsians would refer to it as such) and Fleetswake 3 would refer to the third day of the Fleetwake Festival. This festival is held in Waterdeep and detailed in Steven Schend's "Realms by Night: The Cache Dwellers" piece which should still be archived on the WotC FR website.
The Midwinter Festival is held after the month of Hammer (Deepwinter/January) and has nothing to do with Ches. The Ol' Grey Box notes this about Midwinter: "Midwinter is known officially as the High Festival of Winter. It is a feast where, traditionally, the lords of the land plan the year ahead, make and renew alliances, and send gifts of goodwill. To the commonfolk, this is Deepwinter Day, the midpoint of the worst of the cold."
As for calculating moons etc. I'd suggest picking up an almanac and translating the moon phases of a year in the real world to the FR calendar.
Hope this helps.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 09:37:53
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'Allo again, O Lady of the Hood and Sage Greenwood!
Two questions:
Ed, can you tell us anything about dragons that live in or near Waterdeep, or is that one of those areas you can't go into?
Also, while reading Fritz Leiber's "The Seven Black Priests" earlier tonight, I found myself wondering about seismic activity in the Realms. Other than the eruption of the Ship of the Gods (and that was triggered by Iakhovas), I'm not recalling reading about any earthquakes or volcanic eruptions or anything like that...
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 19:20:15
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’Lo again, all. Your Hooded One again, posting for Ed:
Hi, everyone. Dargoth, asking me 3.5 rules questions is like asking them of your mailman (whom I’m assuming DOESN’T play “crazy satanic D-and-D” :}). I’d tend to give Manshoon the Dragon Cohort feat because he doesn’t use aerial steeds of any sort all that often, and can’t be said to be a truly skilled rider -- but on the other hand, he can cast spells from dragonback all right, so . . . your call. Any opinions, scribes?
George! HI! Well met again, and all that! Stuff on the Triad coming up . . . doled out slowly, when I can snatch the time around this novel. And thanks for the catch, finishing the calendar reply for me (I had to go, as my ISP kept crashing and it was getting VERY late, and I’d promised myself I’d have certain scenes done to send to Elaine).
digitalelf, you’re very welcome. I’m always happy to help, and have discussed doing these oaths with WotC: owing to the subject matter (and the inclusion of real-world naughty words, albeit with asterisks), it’s something they’d never publish, so they’re okay with it appearing here. To everyone: PLEASE take it easy with the flood of “do MY god next!” requests, because I do still seem to require a few hours of sleep every night, and my deadlines are racing up to meet me as it is.
To TheHermit, I’m glad you can READ the inscription I wrote, all those years ago. :} Keep at it!
John Rateliff was my editor on City of Ravens Bluff, which came out a year after I wrote it and had to updated (by him, presumably) to match the unfolding events of the RPGA Living City campaign during that time. What I was given for the project was a huge pile of cryptic, disorganized lore (over a thousand pages of photocopies from POLY and sometimes handwritten notes) and that splendid computer-generated map of the city with key numbers on certain buildings . . . and NOTHING to go with them (no key at all). :}
I compiled a list of “need answers to these questions” and received back from the RPGA: no answers beyond “dunno; just make it up.”
There were endless shops to include from POLY (and no idea which one was located where, in most cases), some but not all of the orders of knighthood were done, and there were some big gaps -- such as: how did the nobility work, how did guilds work and details of all the “missing” ones, how the city fed itself and who owned the surrounding lands, which had been auctioned off to players in a process I had utterly no notes for (!), how did the harbor function, yadda yadda yadda boo yadda.
I had some pet things I wanted to include (like the “walkthrough” chapter and the longterm-campaign-intrigue-producing nobles) to make the city come alive for RPGA members and non-RPGA buyers of the guidebook alike, and secrets about the RPGA campaign that I was duty-bound not to give away.
So I sat down and started typing furiously, adapting and truncating and creating at a furious pace to meet my deadline -- and ending up furious that I had to do it all in such a breakneck whirl when it turned out editing wouldn’t even begin for another 6 months! I could have USED those months to write and refine. I also had no involvement after handing it in, so rather than give-and-take in the editing, it was: open the published book and discover what got changed. Not good. So I’m surprised that what you touch on (“I've always wondered why the one I would have never expected was used and the others left out”) didn’t happen more than it did. It was my understanding, when the project began, that the guidebook would be a free handout for all (paying, at that time) RPGA members -- but what I was trying for, by the end of the project, was a city guidebook that anyone could use in any campaign for a rather wacky fantasy city (filing off the silliest names and concepts if not to one’s liking).
Regarding your campaign idea: a great one. It’s happening in the ‘home’ Realms campaign, as it happens. :} The reaction of the folk of Essembra (so long as no Sembian tried to muscle any of them out of THEIR farmland, or stop them woodcutting) would be shrugs from some, “ooh, let’s watch the fun” from others, and enthusiasm from the rest. They WANT the Ghost Holds scoured of bandits and undead, and look forward to the coins folk living there might spend locally (although like most Dalefolk, they expect “those haughty, do-anything-to-swindle-you-out-of-a-copper-bit” Sembians to have as little to do with locals as possible). There’d be no fees for taking the properties: “this is ours now” would more or less be what happened. Essembra doesn’t tax landholders, either, only transaction licenses and fees on sales of livestock, so the Sembians wouldn’t encounter any local “harassment” beyond the occasional armed patrol to “see what they’re up to” during construction (if they try to slay or run off the patrols, yes, there would then be a problem, because word would spread, and local adventurers would be quietly told it was okay to regard the newcomers as “brigands to be put down or run off”).
If any newcomers (the Sembians or persons they sold various of the holds to) try to set up their own laws, rules, taxes, or armed patrols (beyond their own boundaries -- and note that determining those boundaries is apt to involve some friction), and defy the word out of Essembra, yes, then there WOULD be trouble, and you’d see envoys from all over the Dales arriving with armed escorts (hired adventurers and/or local armsmen) to “explain” local governance to the newcomers.
All in all, this could be a great campaign focus. Buyers of the holds would of course include agents of Hillsfar, the Zhents, the Cult of the Dragon, various Sembian cabals and ‘shady business’ individuals wanting to dwell outside the easy reach of Sembian authorities, outlaws (including adventuring bands) bringing ill-gotten gains well away from Cormyr, Westgate, or wherever, and so on.
I’m chuckling just at the possibilities. Have fun!
Wooly Rupert, a glance at the DRAGON ANNUAL map of the domains claimed by my various Wyrms of the North will show you that quite a few of them “claim” Waterdeep, and one of my favourite wyrms watches over a particular Waterdhavian noble family ‘through’ mirrors, but owing to various plans for the Year of Rogue Dragons (what might happen to various dragons has been discussed, in confidence), I can say no more at this time.
About seismic activity in the Realms: SHHHH! Holy Mystra, man, don’t you realize WotC editors read this forum?
By Her Sacred Silver Tears, don’t give them any MORE ideas for RSEs! I’ve spent years building this world, and am getting more than tired of seeing bits of it torn down! :} Couldn’t you bring up the pronounced lack of scenes of characters reading books, or playing games, instead? Tiddleywinks, even? :}
So saith Ed. And Bruce, your VERY handsome apology is lovingly accepted. (dimples, blows kiss, strikes languid pose) :}
THO
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 21:53:41
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Hi Ed,
Can you give us any info on Nimbral, Nelanther, and Lantan?
Customs, NPC's, ships, inns, taverns, temples, tales and history, etc. :)
I realize that might be a lot of info but those nations have been sparse in coverage. I know there is some info about Nelanther in Lands of Intrigue but more text on them would be wonderful. :)
I'm most interested in more info about Nelanther, since I have a PC from there and he's found a spelljamming ship and he's thinking of getting into the pirate business. Both on sea, air, and in space.... |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 28 Mar 2004 21:57:01 |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 22:11:48
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I think at this point everyone will get longer and better answers if they wait a few weeks.
About the game-stories The Hooded One is telling:
I agree with Ron Edwards that too many people see roleplaying as something of a dirty fetish that you do in private and don't tell other people about. Stories of roleplaying sessions obviously partake both of static fiction and of *social* situations that include the emotions of several people. The one doesn't exist without the other, and the kind of 'Then my character beat up more guys' stories that bore everyone are the result of not understanding or being able to express those aspects that make the story interesting for the one player, OR the play in question NOT really being interesting because the players don't have high enough standards for this activity that takes real hours of their finite time.
So the kinds of social situations that happen in Ed's campaigns seem to me to have entered the Realms and become inseparable from it as a world, or entered the way Ed writes as the same thing is in the Aglirta books. Though having read only one of Ed's pre-D&D Realms works, I can't be sure.
Similarly, the wealth of published and unpublished detail on the Realms can mislead as to the setting and its style of play. The famous opening of the DM's Sourcebook of the Realms ('On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true.') and the use of unreliable narrators can't be overemphasized. The lore exists to help people have fun, but in order to create and use that lore it's necessary to believe in its inherent value for its own sake -- you're in dark psychological areas when you think of anything being merely [by/with/for/through/etc.] the sake of something else. And as important is the PRAXIS of how you have fun roleplaying which I think Ed understands amazingly well and which he should probably write at much greater length. |
Edited by - Faraer on 28 Mar 2004 22:14:31 |
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Alathayn
Acolyte
Germany
14 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2004 : 22:24:14
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Well met,
and my apreciation (sp?) to Ed.
I've got a Player with a Cleric of Tempus that loves to include customs and other oddities and details in his character and would cry out in joy, if he would learn about some Tempuran oaths and curse words. I'm shure he would even beg on his knees to get only one or two,if he was here. Since he isn't, I will take on the responsibility of every good DM and do so instead of him. (Yepp, I just fell down on my knees in front of the monitor!)
Also, I've got a whole bunch of Cyricists and Cultists of the Dragon in my Campaign. Are there any special curse words etc. among them? (though I understand that Cyric, at least as far as I know, wasn't your creation) |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 02:58:17
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Your Hooded One, weighing in with a reply that probably won’t please kuje31 all that much.
Ed can help with details of one of those three (which one must remain mysterious for now), but the other two are already being dealt with, in not-yet-revealed projects. Yet the bright side of this is, of course, that you now know TWO of those areas are going to get coverage soon. :}
Faraer, Ed says: “Right on! Superb post.”
THO, signing off for now.
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 03:08:21
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Your Hooded One, weighing in with a reply that probably won’t please kuje31 all that much.
Ed can help with details of one of those three (which one must remain mysterious for now), but the other two are already being dealt with, in not-yet-revealed projects. Yet the bright side of this is, of course, that you now know TWO of those areas are going to get coverage soon. :}
Faraer, Ed says: “Right on! Superb post.”
THO, signing off for now.
Ah phooey! Oh well. I guess i'll just have to stick with the older material for now. :( |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 29 Mar 2004 03:11:19 |
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Bruce Donohue
Learned Scribe
Canada
131 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 05:01:36
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don't feel so bad kuje31, patience is a virtue I am still trying hard to develop as well.  Well said on the roleplaying aspect, many agree with you, ok I don't know about many but I do. |
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Proc
Acolyte
Canada
32 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 05:32:18
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A question for Ed:
This question was spurred by a recent movie I caught on TV... I was curious as to whether there were any large tournaments in the realms, like sporting events? ie big open air competitions that draw large crowds to watch jousting, archery and swordplay. More specifically, are there any such annual events in Waterdeep? I imagine that a lot strife could come from young noble men trying to best their neighbours and win the bragging rights. I remember years ago reading a story about a "magefair" where wizards would gather to see who could toss the largest fireball.
And any other little tidbits you want to pass along about the City of Splendors would be greatly appreciated. I know there's a novel comming out (or maybe several) that deal with Waterdeep, so I'll understand if you wish to remain quiet.
Thanks in advance for any reply! |
"May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house."
- George Carlin |
Edited by - Proc on 29 Mar 2004 05:35:15 |
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Sarta
Senior Scribe
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 06:15:07
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heh, in my campaign, druids of Silvanus will occasionally get together to play a game like lacrosse using staves of slinging. Of course these aren't big spectator events and they haven't formed leagues or anything.
Sarta |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 07:27:33
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Your Hooded One, weighing in with a reply that probably won’t please kuje31 all that much.
Ed can help with details of one of those three (which one must remain mysterious for now), but the other two are already being dealt with, in not-yet-revealed projects. Yet the bright side of this is, of course, that you now know TWO of those areas are going to get coverage soon. :}
Faraer, Ed says: “Right on! Superb post.”
THO, signing off for now.
*wonders if there bundling some of the Sword coast islands into the Waterdeep Source book* |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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fourthmensch
Acolyte
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 08:31:20
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Well met, Ed!
I am interested in coinage in the Unapproachable East. I'm planning a new campaign set there, and this time around I want to catch all the little details that make a fantasy world believable. For example, in the FRCS it states that Thayan coins are not often traded in foreign lands because people believe that they are cursed; are they fearsome-looking? With kind of images or writing are they stamped with? What size and shape are they? What are they called? Are there further denominations beyond pp/gp/sp/cp? Do each of the Tharchs mint their own, or is there a central system? Will travelers find it hard to use Thayan coins in other nations?
I use Thay only as a "for instance," I am equally interested in the coinage of neigboring countries: Aglarond in particular, Thesk, Rashemen, the Great Dale, and maybe even Impiltur or the Old Empires. Any little tidbits you could give would go a long way. :)
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, Ed! (this goes for The Hooded One as well.) |
I want you to go home and ponder the meaning of the word subversive.
Gully Foyle is my name
And Terra is my nation
Deep space is my dwelling place
The stars my destination. |
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Alexander Heppe
Seeker
Germany
62 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 10:22:24
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Ed wrote: quote:
Well, I have some good news, and some not-so-good news. Alexander, re. Silverymoon: I’m afraid that thanks to some future WotC plans, my Silverymoon replies are going to be shockingly brief and terse.
Well, just wanted to drop by and say thanks for your "brief and terse" replies. They were even more than I anticipated, and will help me to flesh out my Friday Game next week. I appreciate your dropping a hint about an upcoming WotC product, be it novel or sourcebook. Now I am really looking forward to revisisting my favourite region in an official product once more...
Thanks, Ed!
Alex |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 10:42:04
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I've done a bit of home-brew work on Impiltur and have come up with the following coinage for that realm. Note that this information is all pretty much "unofficial". Keep in mind also that Impiltur is actually older than the Impiltur of today, which was (re)founded in 1097 DR. See the Damaran race write-up in races of faerun for some Impiltur pre-history. There are 5 main periods of Impilturian rule from -72DR to the present. They are:
1. Mirandor Dynasty (-72DR to 512DR)
2. Durlarven Dynasty (512DR to 726DR)
3. Elethlim Dynasty (732DR to 924DR)
4. Kingless Years (924DR to 1097DR)
5. Heltharn Dynasty (1097DR to Present)
NOTE: from 726DR to 732DR, Impiltur was overrun by the Scaled Horde, an army of fiends, teiflings and other demonic nasties before the Triad Crusade led by Sarshel Elethlim saw the overthrow of these beasts during the Fiend Wars.
Before discussing coinage, note that the current Royal Mint of Impiltur is located in Hlammach.
COINAGE OF IMPILTUR
The Mirandor Dynasty minted gold, silver and copper coins. All had the symbol of the realm (at that time two blue crossed swords on a white field) on the 'head' side, with the 'tail' side images being as follows:
Gold: Dragon
Silver: Pegasus
Copper: Eagle
During the time of the Durlarven Dynasty, three monarchs [Harandil I, Bellodar III and Forvar II] minted coin, again only gold, silver and copper. Forvar II was the last monarch of the Durlarven dynasty, slain during the attack of the Scaled Horde. His minting is considered unlucky, rare and valuable to collectors. All coins had a 'head' side with the visage of the appropriate monarch [Harandil noted for his "Van Dyk" beard, Bellodar III for his nose and Forvar II for his long hair, covering the ears] and a 'tail' side with the new symbol of the realm, a lion rampant [on banners, etc. it was a green lion on a black field - the symbol of the Durlarvens].
Only King Halanter II struck coin during the Elethlim dynasty, relying mostly on the coinage of the previous Durlarven dynasty. All these coins were triangular in shape, with the 'head' side being a blazing sun symbol (again, for a time, the symbol of the realm - yellow sun on red background - personal arms of the Elethlims) and the 'tail' sides as follows:
Gold: Symbol of Tyr (known as Justices)
Silver: Symbol of Torm (known as Old Faithfuls)
Copper: Symbol of Ilmater (known as Poorpence)
Very few of these coins were minted, and again they are prized by collectors.
During the Kingless Years, when Old Impiltur fragmented into city-states, these individual settlements all minted their own coins. They did have a uniform 'tail' side consisting of small, shallow round depressions with the name of the city engraved in them. Copper coins had a single depression, silver two, gold three and platinum four. This was the first appearance of platinum coins in Impiltur, and only Lyrabar and Hlammach minted them. The 'head' side consisted of the individual symbols for the various cities, as follows:
Lyrabar: Tower
Hlammach: Sailed Ship
Dilpur: Mace
Sarshel: Cresting Wave
The current Heltharn dynasty established by Imphras the Great in 1097DR initially relied on the currency of the Kingless Years, but during the reign of King Lashilmbrar, coinage was standardised with the 'tail' side bearing the the crossed sword and wand symbol of the realm and the 'head' sides with the visages of previous monarchs as follows:
Platinum: Imphras the Great (known as Founders)
Gold: Imbrar (known as Lost Luckies)
Silver: Ilmara (known as Shining Ladies)
Copper: Imphras II (known as King's Thumbs or just Thumbs)
Hope this is helpful/useful. All feedback appreciated.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 16:45:07
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Hail, everyone. The Hooded One returneth, with yet more from Ed:
Hi, Proc. Most communities in the Realms hold ‘trade fairs’ (annual events tied to local commerce, such as farmers driving their herds into town on one or two weekends every fall for ‘bulk buyers’ to see and bid on -- around which slowly ‘grows’ gatherings of food vendors, camp followers, and finally wagon-peddlers of all sorts, until the local authorities decide to make a few silver coins off everyone and stake out proper ‘rental areas’ for the erection of stalls.
Purely sporting events (except for religious ones, such as “champion frays” put on by large temples of Tempus, which are very close to the knightly jousting tournaments of yore) are much rarer. Most folk in Faerun just don’t have that sort of leisure.
Some places (such as Hillsfar) have arenas where battles are staged (gladiatorial contests), and in regions like the Dales there are many small archery shoots (a la the sort of thing modern Robin Hood tales have the Sheriff of Nottingham sponsoring, in an effort to trap Robin). Such small, one-day events with modest prizes (sack of flour, sack of potatoes, twelve coppers and a good dagger, two new wagon-wheels) will be the norm.
Festivals (especially religious ones) and annual celebrations are far more common across Faerun, and many of these involve an element of misrule (apprentices clashing in the streets, demonstrations of weapon-skill, glorified and wide-ranging games of tag, and so on, like the Stag Maiden event covered in one of my early New Adventures of Volo DRAGON columns). In larger cities, it can be hard to find days in which someone isn’t celebrating something, but these are rarely city-wide, and rarely involve sporting events beyond some sort of race (chariot races from Ben-Hur, anyone?).
Waterdeep has its own arena (not used all that often for public events these days, being given over more to City Guard and City Watch training sessions), but very few ‘big annual events.’ Everyone’s too busy, the city is too crowded, and so on. There are horse races east of the city (that folk can watch from atop the cliff) in spring, and there are many, many small competitions (from oratory and minstrelry contests to oiled-body wrestling matches and “cat fights” involving two actresses dressed as high-class nobles, who tear off each other’s clothing and hair in mock rages involving as many hilariously snooty insults as they can think of) held in the various clubs and private-rental ‘upper tavern rooms’ of the city.
A lot of work is forthcoming about Waterdeep, and I shouldn’t say more for fears of ‘getting in the way’ of those projects. Let’s just say you’ll be seeing more Waterdhavian lore over the next two years, from divers pens.
So saith Ed. Your Hooded One passes on Ed’s promise to get to all of your questions, even if not in order or with some delay (Dargoth’s holy books request, for instance, has not been forgotten). Until next, happy swordswinging and spellhurling to all!
THO
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 16:46:54
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Well met again, all. Your Hooded Lady, passing on more from Ed:
Alexander, you’re quite welcome. As I said, more to come...in the fullness of time.
Dargoth, I have utterly no comment on your speculations as to the content of the Waterdeep book. :} No comment whatsoever. No, indeedy. :}
fourthmensch, I have a soft spot for coinage too. I’ll start rounding up all my notes. In the meantime, if I were you, I’d adopt the post by George Krashos (thanks, Krash!) as gospel, official or not (see why he’s one of my most valued conspirators in this dreamweaving of ‘coloring in’ the Realms?).
And I recall Faraer is interested in old coinage (something that a future WotC product will have to delay any posting of lore on here for some time, I’m afraid). So I’m adding coins to “holy oaths” in my “Deal With Soonest” file (it’s a file in my mind, folks, right next to “Get Some Sanity To See What It’s All About”).
Right now, the novel must coime first, I’m afraid, but . . . Slow Eddie is On The Job. :}
So saith Ed. Ummm, ‘Slow Eddie,’ eh? Lucky Jenny . . . ;}
THO
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 17:09:52
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
(it’s a file in my mind, folks, right next to “Get Some Sanity To See What It’s All About”).
Right now, the novel must coime first, I’m afraid, but . . . Slow Eddie is On The Job. :}
So saith Ed. Ummm, ‘Slow Eddie,’ eh? Lucky Jenny . . . ;}
THO
Ed, know you not that sanity is vastly over-rated?
Lady Hooded One, I don't *think* that's what he meant...  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 17:57:18
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Looks great George.
Getting sanity is tricky if you don't have some to start with. As Deleuze and Guattari wrote, always keep a piece of fresh land with you at all times. |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 18:19:14
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
So saith Ed. This Hooded Lady recalls that Fleetswake is a later addition; could any of the scholars perusing this (George Krashos? AJA?) step in and answer Bruce? And a hearty hello back to you, Mr. Krashos! Ed regards you, Eric, Steven, Grant, Tom, and Bryon as his Merrie Masters of Realmslore, and says you’re always welcome!
THO
This may have been answered already (as I've not finished scanning the replies), but I wanted to respond since it's my fault.
Fleetswake is a tenday long mariners' festival that always occupies the final tenday of Ches; thus, Fleetswake 3 is the 3rd day of Fleetswake and the 23rd day of Ches.
I added this and a few other holidays to Waterdeep, simply because I thought the city ought to have more reasons to party than those dictated by fashion and the nobles. 
Steven
Who works hard at being "merrie" every day  |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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thom
Seeker
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 18:27:35
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Hello again, Lady Hooded One! Back with more for questions for Ed!
Well met again Ed! I was looking over some of your previous replies, and the following tidbit got me thinking:
[YOUR QUOTE]
"I’ve detailed all or part of all the northern dungeons you list, but most of them are “mini-dungeons” (8-12 chambers linked by passages)...and the published references to many of them no longer match my faint, 1st-Edition pencil originals."
So my questions are:
1] Do you have any overall concept or framework in mind when you're building these mini-dungeons? i.e. Do you have anything specific in mind when you start designing them?
2] Do you have in your mind's eye a set of basic "these are always in my mini-dungeons", such as types of rooms, traps, encounters, etc?
3] Can you offer any general or specific advice as to how WE can go about developing our own "realms-appropriate" mini-dungeons? I've always had a hard time getting the right "feel" for building dungeons, and I've always appreciated how the one you've worked up just seem to make sense .
Thanks for any advice you can give, as always!
And Hooded One, can you remember any of the "mini-dungeons" the Knights explored, and perhaps regale us with their experiences?
thom |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 18:50:34
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THe one I would be interested in hearing is about the Tomb of the Archmage, that proved 'even too difficult for the Knights' (or something like that) - weren't the Zhents involved as well? did they turn up and you lot legged it? (writing fom memory here!  )
cheers
Damian
quote:
Originally posted by thom
And Hooded One, can you remember any of the "mini-dungeons" the Knights explored, and perhaps regale us with their experiences?
thom
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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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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2004 : 19:06:14
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And will any of this kind of material turn up in the Castlemorn Ruins Sourcebook? [yes/no] In fact, how much of your content is in the follow-up Castlemorn books? [none/some/lots]
Damian, you said you guessed the dungeon in CM8 was the Climbing Stair; when I asked Ed about the module he said the locations were made up for it, though with features from existing Realms stonedelves, and might be placed in the Sword Coast North in the wilderness near the Dessarin valley. |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 00:55:21
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A rather odd Question for Ed
Wheres Alaundo's severed head in 1373? there was mention of it in Drizzts guide to the Underdark (one of the Mindflayer cities was looking fo it)
PS I bet this question provokes a response from our host |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 01:22:11
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Why, Dargoth, you bet right. :}
The Hooded One here, fresh from passing on your e-query to Ed and getting a response RIGHT back:
It's in a box, carefully in someone's possession, and I'm NOT going to say whose, or where, or anything else, because it would screw up something VERY delightful that lies ahead in our futures. :}
So saith Ed. Interesting...VERY interesting...
THO |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 01:25:37
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Hail, all. Your Hooded Lady once more, with a few swift answers (Ed will send proper ones via me later). Faraer, Ed confirms everything you said about the Endless Stair module, and adds that nothing of his is in the Castlemorn Ruins book yet, because (as far as he knows) it hasn't been written yet. :}
THO |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 01:55:31
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Why, Dargoth, you bet right. :}
The Hooded One here, fresh from passing on your e-query to Ed and getting a response RIGHT back:
It's in a box, carefully in someone's possession, and I'm NOT going to say whose, or where, or anything else, because it would screw up something VERY delightful that lies ahead in our futures. :}
So saith Ed. Interesting...VERY interesting...
THO
So Eds going to Introduce Shakespear to the FR?
"Alas poor Alaundo....." |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 08:50:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Wheres Alaundo's severed head in 1373? there was mention of it in Drizzts guide to the Underdark (one of the Mindflayer cities was looking fo it)
 But, but, I feel fine 
::quickly feels around his neck to ensure all is intact::
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Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Sarta
Senior Scribe
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 10:24:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
But, but, I feel fine
::quickly feels around his neck to ensure all is intact::
"I'm getting better."
"No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment."
Sarta |
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2004)
Topic Locked
