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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Mar 2019 : 18:46:48
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I'm looking for NPCs in the Realms that are mentally ill. I don't mean just evil overlords with delusions of grandeur; I mean characters that might have any number of mental impairments.
I want to avoid comparisons to real world psychological things here; I'm only looking for characters that either in a product or novel the individual is mentioned to have some sort of problem.
My reason behind this is that I'm wondering if the reason they have this is because Cure Disease doesn't work and a full on Heal would be needed...which most can't get.
So again, looking for individuals that have mental impairments in the Forgotten Realms to see if I can get a good gauge on why they exist at all in a world full of magic.
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The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2019 : 02:12:02
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I'm not sure that mental illness in NPCs has really been touched on in existing Realmslore. There's the odd reference here and there, but I don't recall any NPC that was more than single throwaway reference that had a mental illness, aside from Halater's generic madness.
(I know Ed has asserted, more than once, that Mystra's Chosen tend to run lower on the sanity quotient, because of the cumulative effects of watching the world age while you don't, but I don't think published Realmslore has ever come anywhere near touching that) |
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2019 : 03:38:53
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| Aren't all beholder paranoids? |
Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
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LordofBones
Master of Realmslore
1536 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2019 : 04:53:27
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Sammaster.
As for why they exist, I'm betting it's because greater restoration is expensive. |
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2019 : 05:12:29
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And now that I remember it thanks to Lord of Bones, Mordenkainen (don't ask why I associated Sammaster with Mordy. Even I don't know why).
He went mad because of all the traumatic experiences he lived while in Barovia (Curse of Strahd), and Elminster rescued him and he began to care for Mordy in Waterdeep (Death Masks, novel). Seems magic cannot cure madness, as not even Mystra could completely cure him as well. It seems that using magic may cause madness, as Wooly said, because Laeral was forbidden by Mystra to use magic because of her mental health. And Elminster himself is beginning to suffer from episodes of madness, and is searching for a heir so he can retire at last. |
Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
Edited by - Zeromaru X on 16 Mar 2019 05:15:17 |
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Seethyr
Master of Realmslore
USA
1151 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2019 : 15:54:36
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| Pretty sure Halaster had some major issues just prior to the Spellplague, but if I remember correctly it was in part due to the impending Spellplague |
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Rymac
Learned Scribe
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2019 : 03:55:41
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Azimer the lich in the adventure Lashan's Fall (from the OGB and Dragon Magazine #95) is definitely described as insane. It's either insanity or an undead form of dementia.  |
- Ryan |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2019 : 06:43:44
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Well, Elvar the Grainlord who ruled Triel ere his demise as recounted in Ed's novel "Hand of Fire" was clearly suffering from mental illness in the form of obsessive/compulsive disorder. See "Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast".
-- George Krashos |
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Delnyn
Senior Scribe
USA
958 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2019 : 17:09:42
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| Would the Netherese archwizard Tabra qualify? She sounded quite off kilter in the novel Spellstorm. I guess torture at the hands of the Shadovar would do that someone. |
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Delnyn
Senior Scribe
USA
958 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2019 : 17:14:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'm not sure that mental illness in NPCs has really been touched on in existing Realmslore. There's the odd reference here and there, but I don't recall any NPC that was more than single throwaway reference that had a mental illness, aside from Halater's generic madness.
(I know Ed has asserted, more than once, that Mystra's Chosen tend to run lower on the sanity quotient, because of the cumulative effects of watching the world age while you don't, but I don't think published Realmslore has ever come anywhere near touching that)
Wooly, if I remember correctly, Queen Embrae Aloevan of Ardeep went bonkers after she became a Chosen of Mystra. The Seven Sisters sourcebook also implied it was because she could not handle the silver fire sufficiently well. |
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2019 : 20:17:08
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There is also the case of War Wizard Ilstan Nyaril, who went mad when he became Chosen of Azuth. Dunno if Chosenhood make you mad regardless of god, or if is only a thing of the gods of magic.
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Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
Edited by - Zeromaru X on 17 Mar 2019 20:19:19 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 02:02:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Delnyn
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'm not sure that mental illness in NPCs has really been touched on in existing Realmslore. There's the odd reference here and there, but I don't recall any NPC that was more than single throwaway reference that had a mental illness, aside from Halater's generic madness.
(I know Ed has asserted, more than once, that Mystra's Chosen tend to run lower on the sanity quotient, because of the cumulative effects of watching the world age while you don't, but I don't think published Realmslore has ever come anywhere near touching that)
Wooly, if I remember correctly, Queen Embrae Aloevan of Ardeep went bonkers after she became a Chosen of Mystra. The Seven Sisters sourcebook also implied it was because she could not handle the silver fire sufficiently well.
Good call. I had obviously forgotten a lot of NPCs!  |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 02:08:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X
There is also the case of War Wizard Ilstan Nyaril, who went mad when he became Chosen of Azuth. Dunno if Chosenhood make you mad regardless of god, or if is only a thing of the gods of magic.
With Elminster and the Seven, it's not as much the Chosenhood that does it as it is the long years of watching individuals, families, and entire nations crumble away and be forgotten.
And Sammy, I think, was already unstable, it just hadn't shown up before. Sometimes something that looks/seems solid truly is, and other times, it'll crumble away, given sufficient pressure. This is why, I think, Mystra took the step of giving birth to the Seven herself: she figured a divine birthright would improve the odds of bearing the silver fire without being overwhelmed.
...And given that she's done that before, what's to say she hasn't tried it again, since? It just occurred to me that she might have quietly birthed other potential Chosen over the years, and we've simply not found out about them, yet.
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Jaz660
Acolyte
Australia
5 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 02:54:22
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Little idioms and quirks of personality could still could to a minor degree. Being a slave captured by Thay, drow, beholders, Zhents would most likely lead to heavy depressive states. Humans often died as humanoid slaves, which wouldn't be all rosy for npcs or characters.
A noble with a touch of OCD may not even raise eyebrows. I do recall a town mayor in Volos Guide to The Sword Coast having a religious compulsion that changed with a stiff breeze. Perhaps this is what you meant? |
Edited by - Jaz660 on 18 Mar 2019 02:55:15 |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1600 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 11:20:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Jaz660
I do recall a town mayor in Volos Guide to The Sword Coast having a religious compulsion that changed with a stiff breeze. Perhaps this is what you meant?
This is Lord Elvar the Grainlord, the same mentioned above by Mr. Krashos. |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 12:25:09
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Don't forget the infamous seer, Augathra the Mad.
Methinks being a seer or a Chosen is a recipe for madness.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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LordofBones
Master of Realmslore
1536 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 12:29:52
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To be fair, Augathra's visions were the apocalyptic kind. There's a diviner in one of the Realms anthologies, and aside from the visions, he's quite sane.
And the Chosen can't really be blamed either. Mystra's deaths are a revolving door, and the Chosen are so intrinsically tied with her I'm surprised they didn't all go the way of the Simbul after the second time she bit it. |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2019 : 14:09:06
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| Morasha, Granddaughter of Aumvor the Undying, is described as mad in REF5 - Lords of Darkness (1e). |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Zarrin
Acolyte
Poland
2 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 06:27:00
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| Im surprised no one mentioned Minsc yet. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 15:49:08
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| It seems that the majority seem "touched" by magic or godly influences. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 15:49:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Zarrin
Im surprised no one mentioned Minsc yet.
Wooly should have got that one! |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 18:38:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Zarrin
Im surprised no one mentioned Minsc yet.
Wooly should have got that one!
Honestly, I've never played those games. I've heard more than one reference to them, but I've never played them myself. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 18:41:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Zarrin
Im surprised no one mentioned Minsc yet.
Wooly should have got that one!
Honestly, I've never played those games. I've heard more than one reference to them, but I've never played them myself.
Minsc was the fighter with the Hamster(?)...that apparently he thought of as a demi-god or something. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11830 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 21:39:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Zarrin
Im surprised no one mentioned Minsc yet.
Wooly should have got that one!
Honestly, I've never played those games. I've heard more than one reference to them, but I've never played them myself.
Minsc was the fighter with the Hamster(?)...that apparently he thought of as a demi-god or something.
No, he firmly believed Boo was a "miniature giant space hamster". I don't know why everyone thought he was insane. If you look at Boo, he is OBVIOUSLY a miniature giant space hamster. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11830 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 21:39:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Zarrin
Im surprised no one mentioned Minsc yet.
Wooly should have got that one!
Honestly, I've never played those games. I've heard more than one reference to them, but I've never played them myself.
Minsc was the fighter with the Hamster(?)...that apparently he thought of as a demi-god or something.
No, he firmly believed Boo was a "miniature giant space hamster". I don't know why everyone thought he was insane. If you look at Boo, he is OBVIOUSLY a miniature giant space hamster. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 22:00:15
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
No, he firmly believed Boo was a "miniature giant space hamster". I don't know why everyone thought he was insane. If you look at Boo, he is OBVIOUSLY a miniature giant space hamster.
That's what he was...a miniature giant space hamster.
Nope, no crazy there.
I didn't read Philip Athans' novel...did it have Boo as well? |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 22:34:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
No, he firmly believed Boo was a "miniature giant space hamster". I don't know why everyone thought he was insane. If you look at Boo, he is OBVIOUSLY a miniature giant space hamster.
That's what he was...a miniature giant space hamster.
Nope, no crazy there.
I didn't read Philip Athans' novel...did it have Boo as well?
Miniature Giant Space Hamsters are a thing. They have a sub-entry on the write-up for Giant Space Hamsters in MC7, the first Spelljammer appendix for the Monstrous Compendium. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2019 : 22:51:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
No, he firmly believed Boo was a "miniature giant space hamster". I don't know why everyone thought he was insane. If you look at Boo, he is OBVIOUSLY a miniature giant space hamster.
That's what he was...a miniature giant space hamster.
Nope, no crazy there.
I didn't read Philip Athans' novel...did it have Boo as well?
Miniature Giant Space Hamsters are a thing. They have a sub-entry on the write-up for Giant Space Hamsters in MC7, the first Spelljammer appendix for the Monstrous Compendium.
I missed this after so many years of playing... |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Mentally Ill NPCs
