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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Mar 2021 : 10:56:52
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The reason Godsbane could affect and slay the gods was because it was a god itself - specifically Mask in a secret, unique avatar form.
— George Krashos |
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
Edited by - George Krashos on 18 Mar 2021 10:57:29 |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2021 : 13:52:19
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Not finished the book yet but I have a real problem with the depiction of the gods in this novel (big surprise I know).
So at various times the gods claim to be omnipotent within their particular sphere of influence while at the same time showing themselves to be complete weaklings.
During the meeting of the circle Mystra cuts Cyric off from the Weave. A seeming horrific punishment but given that the weave is only present on Toril it should not affect Cyric at all, especially in Hades. Mystra does not rule Hades so cannot prevent Cyric from working magic in Hades.
During another meeting it is threatened that if Mystra commits a crime then she will be cut off by all the other gods, which means dawn will never strike her temples, her worshippers will never be able to grow crops. Presumably this also means they will all become hideously ugly (Sune), will not be able to feel pain (loviatar), will be unable to wage war (tempus, or suffer any good luck (tymora) or suffer any bad luck (beshaba), or tell a lie.
Now these claims are complete nonsense, the gods do not have that level of control over the world, they simply are not that powerful.
And then we have events such as Mystra fighting a clockwork inquisition, where she is weak and powerless against the creature despite the fact that she should have strength to rival a storm giant and constitution to regenerate wolverine style.
So how can anyone rationalise this inconsistency.
I think the explanation comes from the novel itself. The gods are completely and totally insane. They absolutely believe they have total power over their portfolios, because their priests absolutely believe it, and they have persuaded the common people to believe it as well.
So all this stuff about a god knowing about whenever someone does something involving that gods portfolio is actually just a fictional delusion of a being with a singularly focused interpretation of the universe (with themself and their portfolio at the centre and everything else revolving around it).
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2021 : 15:45:23
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Prince of Lies (1368 DR)
Gwydion Lore
Gwydion “the Quick”, a Purple Dragon soldier, beat every challenger in a footrace, running along the Promenade in Suzail. [prologue]
Scout during the Tuigan crusade, and messenger. Left the Purple Dragons after the Crusade [prologue]
Now a sellsword and adventurer on foray into the Great Grey Land of Thar with Lady Cardea and Aram Scragglebeard [prologue]
Lady Cardea had a priceless elf crafted bow, slain by Thrym the giant [prologue]
Aram Scragglebeard, had many enchantments (mage) slain by Thrym the giant [prologue]
Follower of Torm the True
Slain by Thrym after delusions made him believe he was blessed by Torm [prologue]
Gwydion, son of Gareth the Blacksmith, born in Suzail 30 years ago [1]
Thar Lore
Thrym the giant, wears a breastplate that used to be one of the front doors of a Vaasan Palace. Blue eyes, battle axe (frost giant????) [prologue]
Marble chute in a fissure that leads to a man made chamber where an avatar of Torm appears to Gwydion. Torm wears ancient, ornate armour hued a dusky purple (like great warriors dedicated to Torm’s cause). Spikes carved from the bones of evil dragons slain in his name jut from elbows and knees. [prologue]
Shrine of Alban Onire, holy to Torm, was the final resting place of Alban Onire, Holy Knight of Duty, known as a foe of all evil giants. Alban Onire, a handsome young man slain centuries ago, his body is magically preserved wearing his dusky purple plate mail. His soul is at rest, his body will remain until someone comes forth to take his place as a bane to giants and dragons [prologue]
Alban Onire’s sword was called Titanslayer, a silver white blade with a gem encrusted scabbard. One touch from the sword will slay any giant and no giant may harm the wielder of Titanslayer [prologue]
Kelemvor and his 8 adventuring companions (including Cyric) fought with Thrym and his frost giants before the Time of Troubles, searching for the Ring of Winter. The frost giants slew everyone but Kelemvor and Cyric both of whom fled [9]
Thrym and the frost giants of Thar worship a frost elemental creature called Zzutam [9]
Someone had been spreading rumours that the Ring of Winter and the lost crown of King Beldoran could be found in their lair. The rumours were false but led a steady stream of adventurers to their deaths and the hands of Thrym and his frost giants [15]
Zzutam had been the deity of Thrym’s forefathers. Thrym is chief of the frost giants [15]
Zzutam ordered the frost giants to lead an army of goblins and gnolls against Zhentil Keep (Zzutam was commanded by Cyric) [15]
Other Lore
Torm the True, God of Duty, Patron of Loyalty, Torm the Brave [prologue]
Astolfo of Highpeak slain [1]
Frode Silverbeard, slain [1]
Magnes son of Eldryn, slain [1]
Hemah, foul knight of Talos, slain [1]
Perdix and Af, divine minions of Cyric [1]
Priests of Torm must learn the words for Duty and Loyalty in as many languages as possible (they spend the first year of their service sequestered in their cell learning the words. [1]
Godsbane (the sword wielded by Cyric – not its original name – named Godsbane after the Time of Troubles) had destroyed many soldiers and kings that had tried to bend it to their will [2]
Church of Cyric sent groundlings to hunt priestesses of Mystra in Sembia [4]
Church of Cyric desecrating Torm’s shrine in Tantras [4]
Church of Cyric disrupting holy rites of Tyr in Suzail [4]
Church of Cyric betraying agents of the Church of Mask in the city watch of Waterdeep [4]
Church of Cyric, for a decade had every available resource trying to divine the location of Kelemvor Lyonsbane’s soul [4]
Cyric’s agents spread lies about Kelemvor murdering Leira to gain sympathy with the Church of Leira hierarchy. Assassins of Cyric killed those Leiran faithful who were vocal in their opposition to allying with Cyric’s clergy. [4]
Mask the Shadowlord, Gond the Gearsmith [4]
Perverse examples of worship. A canvas painted by a Deneiran using the blood of her own children. An axe used to enforce the judgement of a mad king who ruled in the name of Tyr. A single silver nail used by a worshiper of Sune after he saw a vision of her and believed he would never see anything as beautiful ever again. A worshiper of Chauntea who slit his wrists thinking his blood would make crops grow faster. A druid of Eldath who drowned everyone that ventured near his secluded pool because they disturbed the peace. A knight of Torm who tortured anyone that told even the most insignificant lie. A Gondsmith who chopped off his own left hand so he could replace it with a mechanical one he dreamed about the night before. [4]
Jergal has yellow, poisonous blood, yellow eyes, grey skin [6]
Godsbane can destroy any creature including outer planar beings and gods (Jergal is afraid of it) [6]
Jergal suggested unleashing the Chaos Hound. Godsbane seemed afraid of the mention of the Chaos Hound [6]
Cyric owns an ornate silver cup ever full of the tears of disillusioned dreamers and brokenhearted lovers [6]
Harsh winter in 1368 DR in Cormyr lasting several months and blanketing everything with snow [7]
The Church of Cyric has sent many assassins to kill High Priest Adon of the Church of Mystra [7]
Adon possesses a magic ring (supposedly created by Mystra) that warns him of Cyricist assassins [7]
The Golden Quill Society in Waterdeep, bards run an asylum to care for those driven mad by magics gone awry (a branch of the Church of Mystra). King Trebor is a patient he keeps saying “the angels have fangs”. [7]
After killing his father and elder brother, Kelemvor wandered the cities of the Heartlands, not staying in any longer than a tenday (Lyonsbane Keep must have been near or in the Heartlands????) [9]
Lord Chess slain while helping Mask try to bind Kezef the Chaos Hound atop Blackstaff Tower in Waterdeep [9]
Kelemvor once spent a month in a Sembian jail cell (what for????) [10]
Godsbane can channel the energy of soul to its wielder, can store it for later, or can use it for herself [10]
The 398 (including Bevis) failed scribes of the Cyrinishad where transformed into Burning Men in Cyric’s Castle of Bone [7]
The soul of Gwydion the Quick and 8 other insurrectionists are transformed into the clockwork inquisitors and unleashed upon Zhentil Keep to destroy all that speak out against the Church of Cyric within Zhentil Keep’s walls [11]
Gargauth’s Journal (currently resides in Oghma’s keeping), details primordial battles between greater powers and weird things even mightier than Ao. Contains a magic to breach all divine barriers and see through all godly deceptions [14]
Mask describe’s Godsbane as a god slaying blade. Mask has been helping the sword hide Kelemvor’s soul from Cyric. Godsbane will release Kelemvor’s soul in return for vengeance against Cyric [14]
Gwydion and the clockwork inquisitors are released from their servitude to Cyric by Mystra and Gond and sent back to the Cyric’s realm to stir up a rebellion. Gwydion is given the sword Titanslayer by Torm [17]
60,000 priests and worshippers of Cyric in Toril [18]
The True Life of Cyric the Mad protected by enchantments, any weapon striking the tome is broken [18]
Lord Harcourt, led a cavalry unit of the Army of the Alliance during the Crusade [19]
Zhentil Keep Lore
Bevis, illuminator (illustrator of books and manuscripts) for hire. Hired by the Church of Cyric to add minor illustrations to the Cyrinishad, a work detailing the events of the Time of Troubles (from Cyric’s point of view). His daughter used to be an illuminator [2]
Illuminator’s Guild in Zhentil Keep [2]
Xeno Mirrormane, high priest of Cyric. Silver white curly hair. Murdered his brother Maskul Mirrormane (former high priest of Cyric) [2]
Lord Chess, fat nobleman of Zhentil Keep, bulbous nose, used to worship Leira but hasnt been a practising cleric in years [2,5]
The crypts of Zhentil Keep once held the honoured dead of Bane, warriors, priests and statesmen. After the Time of Troubles the faithful of Cyric plundered the crypts and dumped the remains of Bane’s faithful in the River Tesh [2]
A group of assassins operate out of the now empty crypts. Wizards perform magical experiments in the empty crypts. The crypts are slowly filling with Cyric’s faithful and monasteries to Cyric [2]
Hundreds of scribes and illuminators in Zhentil Keep (397) have been tortured and executed after working on the various versions of the Cyrinishad [2]
Fzoul, red hair braided with bands of silver from the forest of Lethyr, hates Cyric [2]
Cyrinishad pages and binding are made from the skin of scribes of failed versions [2]
Rinda, green eyes, brown hair, slender, medium height, daughter of Bevis, lives in a one story hovel in the poorest part of Zhentil Keep working as a scribe for the poor and unfortunate people (which the Scribes Guild don’t do), and helping people learn to read and write. Helps women escape from Madame Februa who runs the local brothel [5]
Hodur, dwarf, beard and hair a tangled mop of black and silver. Grey eyes, a brown eyepatch circled with silver studs covers one eye. Is a Zhentarim agent sent to spy on Rinda (she was good at smuggling people out of Zhentil Keep, used a cover as a drunkard until Rinda saved him to get close to her [5,6]
The Serpent’s Eye, a tavern or inn in Zhentil Keep [5]
Var and Worvo, thugs in Zhentil Keep in the employ of the Church of Cyric, identifiable by red armbands with a leering white skull surrounded by a black sun [5]
The slums are a deathtrap for those walking at night, press gangs, assassins, creatures hungry for human flesh, the naug-adar [5]
Naug-adar “devil dogs”, Zhentarim wizards searching for victims to subject to sadistic experiments. The Naug-adar even prey on members of the Church of Cyric [5]
The Black Network has no respect for the Church of Cyric [4]
Common practice for the Church of Cyric to hire messengers and then have them killed after the message is delivered [5]
Cyric was born in a house that today is a parchment makers shop in the slums of Zhentil Keep (making parchment from animal skins). Cyric’s father, possibly a leader of the Zhentilar and an agent of the Black Network. Cyric’s mother was murdered by his father and other assassins of the Black Network (why was she so important). Cyric escaped into the sewers as a child. Cyric was found by Astolpho a vintner from Sembia who took him away (to a town in Sembia). Cyric lived with them for a dozen years but left (when he was 16 ish????). Astolpho was found murdered, spiked to the town gates, Astolpho’s wife was never found (did Cyric murder them or was it assassins sent by his father????) - From the Cyrinishad [5]
A bottle of gin, ten coppers, cheaper than clothes [6]
Ivlisar, elf, knows Rinda and Hodur, works as a body snatcher / grave robber selling corpses to merchants and mages [6]
General Vrakk, an orc Zhentilar, decorated with a commendation from Azoun IV for his service during the Crusade [6]
Church of Cyric has persuaded the Zhentilar to limit the opportunities for orcs within their ranks (no promotions only minor tasks [6]
An underground movement against the Church of Cyric has arisen among the inhabitants of Zhentil Keep. It includes Fzoul, former priests of Bane, Myrkul, and Leira, illuminators, some merchants, and Zhentilar orcs. Hodur and Ivlisar are also part of the underground [6]
Cyric was born to a destitute bard who sold herself to Zhentilar to survive. Cyric’s father was a low ranking Zhentilar. She tried to beg money out of him to pay for the child, he killed her and sold Cyric into slavery. Cyric was bought by Astolpho the vintner of Sembia, they eventually grew to regret buying Cyric. Cyric found out he was from Zhentil Keep when he was 10 and ran away but was caught and returned to Astolpho. At 12 years old Astolpho’s business failed and they told Cyric they wish they’d never bought him. Cyric left and Astolpho and his wife were found murdered the next day. Cyric wandered north where he was found by Zhentilar and enslaved once more in Zhentil Keep – from the True Life of Cyric the Mad [6]
Cyric was enslaved in Zhentil Keep from the age of 12. He was bought by the thieves guild of Zhentil Keep and put to work. Eventually he was helped to escape by kind hearted strangers (people like Rinda). There he went searching for the Ring of Winter in Thar but was captured by frost giants and rescued by Kelemvor – from the True Life of Cyric the Mad[11]
Priests of Cyric in Zhentil Keep wear deep purple robes and silver bracelets (the bracelets are symbols of their enslavement to Cyric) [12]
Ygway Mirrormane appointed new lord of Zhentil Keep (after Lord Chess disappeared – his death is unknown) by the Church of Cyric. Simpleton, stammers, plays with toy soldiers. Nephew of Xeno Mirrormane [12]
Worshipping any god other than Cyric, and possessing a holy symbol of any god other than Cyric is made illegal [12]
Bane’s symbol had been scourged from Zhentil Keep after the Time of Troubles [12]
Insanity runs in the Mirrormane family (according to rumours) [12]
Mirrormane family are noble in Zhentil Keep [12]
Travel in and out of Zhentil Keep forbidden unless approved by the Church of Cyric [12]
Most orcs and half orc Zhentilar have been given the punishing duty of repairing the twin bridges crossing the river Tesh [12]
Knucklers, pickpockets that work the crowd at shows and gatherings. If a pickpocket is not a member of the thieves guild then they chop his hands off if they catch him thieving [12]
Otto Marvelius, puppeteer, returns to Zhentil Keep every year, has a permit to put on shows [12]
Clockwork inquisitors sent to Teshwave, Yulash, Mulmaster, Darkhold, Citadel of the Raven [13]
Force Bridge, a long stone bridge that spans the River Tesh [13]
Elusina the Grey, old woman, fortune teller, known to the Zhentilar for her soothsaying (sought by Sergeant Renaldo and his commander before him to tell their future). Guarded by Brok as tall and as wide as an ogre, his nose been broken 3 or 4 times. Former actress that toured with a lesser and disreputable troupe around the Cormyrean countryside. Practiced her pickpocketing on the side. Has no fortune telling ability but puts on a good show. [15]
Sergeant Renaldo of the Zhentilar [15]
Young white dragon abducted by the Church of Cyric, paraded through the streets, branded with Cyric’s symbol and then beaten to death for sport. It reanimated as a zombie dragon and returned to its clan to let them know who killed it. [12,15]
Shanalar, a wizard of Zhentil Keep, purchased white dragon eyes from the Church of Cyric for his dark experiments [15]
Bryn, female Zhentilar soldier. Ulgrym is her Zhentilar commander [15]
Everyone in Zhentil Keep commanded to perform 6 rituals (from the Journal of Gargauth) to locate Kelemvor’s soul, or Zhentil Keep would be destroyed by an army of giants and dragons and goblinoids sent by Cyric.
The Day of Dark Oracles when hundreds of mystics foresaw the destruction of Zhentil Keep. Xeno Mirrormane commanded the Six Services (rituals of Gargauth) be performed to save the city from Cyric’s wrath. The True Life of Cyric the Mad was finished by in secret by Rinda. [15,16]
A flight of white dragons surrounded Zhentil Keep, destroying all caravans and travellers and soldiers they encountered. A force of 300 zhentilar from the Citadel of the Raven were destroyed [16]
The Fourth Service (ritual of Gargauth), maim the voices of two score and ten and send them to sing the praises of Cyric along every alley and path in the city [16]
The Second Service (ritual of Gargauth) involves collecting the body parts of young women [16]
The First Service (ritual of Gargauth) involves a continual supply of corpses for a pyre [16]
Johul the Fletcher, owned a fletchers shop in the slums. His son hated him. Slain as a heretic [16]
Rinda made the guardian of the Cyrinishad by Oghma, given a small scroll made of a single pure diamond which will make her invisible and undetectable to all divine powers, and also identify her to all Oghmanites as the guardian of the Cyrinishad and give her any aid she requires [16]
Xeno Mirrormane slain by Fzoul summoning pillar of fire atop him in the temple of Cyric at the black altar. Fire from the column consumed the temple of Cyric and more than half of Cyric’s faithful perished in the inferno [17]
The Western Gate is enchanted to petrify the first three to strike the gates (it petrified 3 frost giants). 50 Frost giants attacked the western walls and made a breach in the black walls. Magical fire consumed the temple of Cyric. The white dragons blockaded the roads cutting Zhentil Keep off from the thousands of Zhentilar stationed on the Long Road and the Citadel of the Raven. An army of goblins and gnolls approached from the north and west waiting for the giants to breach the walls [18]
Tesh Bridge to the east, Force Bridge (twin towers mark either end of the bridge) to the west [18]
Zadoc and Garm, orc soldiers in the Zhentilar [18]
Wealthy Zhentish families live on the southern end of Force Bridge. Orcish Zhentilar (led by General Vrakk) looted the noble houses (the nobles having fled to the better protected northern end of Zhentil Keep) [18]
Orcish Zhentilar troops sided with the giants and dragons attacking Zhentil Keep. They barricaded Force Bridge and Tesh Bridge to stop people fleeing south. Then they rigged the bridges to explode as the mob tried to escape. Force Bridge and Tesh Bridge destroyed. [18]
Giants and dragons and goblinoids likely to maraud into the Dales after the siege. Vrakk warned Rinda not to stay there [18]
General Vrakk gave Rinda his medal, the Special Order of the Golden Way, given by King Azoun IV to his generals during the Crusade. [18]
Lieutenant (field promotion) Renaldo survived the initial assault but was killed by gnolls searching the ruins [20]
Goblins took up residence in the sewers along with existing residents (giant rats, carrion crawlers, and beholders [20]
Dendar
"In Shar's domain of night I rest,
So dreams may show me how I'm blessed.
If screams of terror break my sleep,
Then Dendar's sunk her fangs too deep." [4]
Orc Language
Dglinkarz – orcish curse used to refer to dwarves [6]
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2021 : 15:59:51
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Not my favourite novel.
When it was located in Toril it had lots of lore, Alban Onire and Titanslayer was a nice feature as was the lost crown of King Beldoran of Thar. I'm going to assume given the location that Alban Onire was around the time of the human kingdom of Thar.
Pretty much 50% of the novel was spent on the outer planes, and while it was very atmospheric i feel those events added nothing to the realms itself. Furthermore, the portrayal of the gods and their capabilities was incorrect in many instances and inconsistent even with itself. That being said, the claim that all the gods are insane because they only see the universe from the point of view of their very narrow portfolios is interesting and something i will be seizing upon. They only notice the other gods at all when they get in the way of their aims and goals, it explains a lot.
However, the claims that Lathander can deny the dawn's light to people, or Chauntea can stop people growing crops is laughable, and Mystra being able to deny Cyric the ability to use the weave in Hades is similarly laughable.
Some good lore found throughout, lots of new people for Zhentil Keep and a few new locations (at least new for me). Gargauth's Journal was an interesting find, with a powerful ritual that allows the locator to find something anywhere no matter the protection or distance (what could he possibly have needed that for), and it appears he used it.
The perverse examples of extremes of worship could also be useful (their bones made Cyric's throne). A deneiran who painted a canvas using the blood of her own children, an axe used to enforce the judgement of a mad king in the name of Tyr, a druid of Eldath who drowned those that disturbed his peaceful pool, a knight of torm that tortured people for the most insignificant lie.
Worth a read, but to my mind it seems to be the start of a slippery slope. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2021 : 23:29:37
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He is the Seraph of Lies ... but didn't he need to speak the truth or some such? The novels throw up issues like this time and time again. Whoever was editor of these things back in the day had only a cursory knowledge of Realmslore.
-- George Krashos |
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2021 : 11:34:23
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Crucible again makes the mistake of attributing all actions within a portfolio to the manipulation of a god.
Chapter 3 appears to all be about how Cyric is not fomenting strife, lies, and intrigue among the people of Faerun and so it is not occurring. Peace is becoming the norm, nobody is lying, nobody is cheating on their wives, etc.
This of course cannot be how the world works.
I'm sure that Cyric can send dreams and visions and whisperings to people to try and tempt them to lie, cheat, and plot, but he cannot force them to do so, and nor do they stop happening due to the lack of presence of a god of lies or intrigue.
Cyric can try and tempt a man to murder his wife by sending dreams about her cheating or lying, thus making him more paranoid about it. But the man may decide to ignore these vision or dreams because he loves his wife. At no point should someone be forced to act upon a deity's desires. Mortals have a choice, that was always the major source of power about a mortal's soul and why the baatezu desire it so much. |
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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2021 : 15:57:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
Good to know, hopefully this is a lot more realms based than the prince of lies. Lots of crusading orders and affiliated military groups of various allied churches in the first chapter so it's a good sign.
Would the invisible axes of iriaebor be more likely allied with shar or talos I wonder.
Other lore has Shar setting up a secret temple in Iriaebor so I would say the invisible axes of Iriaebor would be allied with Shar. |
"Iriaebor is a fine city. So what if you can have violence between merchant groups break out at any moment. Not every city can offer dinner AND a show."
My FR writeups - http://www.mediafire.com/folder/um3liz6tqsf5n/Documents
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2021 : 17:12:19
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| Per the 2e Faiths and Avatars, the Church of Shar has no general affiliated orders but there are ones that affiliated with particular cells/temples. The Sharran crusaders for the Iriaebor cell could be called The Invisible Axes. |
"Iriaebor is a fine city. So what if you can have violence between merchant groups break out at any moment. Not every city can offer dinner AND a show."
My FR writeups - http://www.mediafire.com/folder/um3liz6tqsf5n/Documents
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2021 : 15:59:45
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Take a look at page 44 of So Sayeth Ed, Part 4. Ed gives his take on these novels and the gods. In part he says:
"While it's true that Mystra's inherited portfolio has an INT of this and a WIS of that, the D&D game posits deities who aren't all-knowing and mentally infallible (or there'd be no strife among deities at all, because all of them could foresee how everything would turn out, so again every being would be following a script or remaining static, with no free will and no room for adventure). Time and again we've seen D&D gods who are very like the Greek and Roman gods: supersized humans, who have exaggerated flaws as well as exaggerated powers. The Realms, as a D&D setting, must necessarily be no different. The Avatar trilogy, my Shadows of the Avatar trilogy, Prince of Lies, Crucible, and my Elminster In Hell and Elminster's Daughter have all shown us divine fallibility. (As have many other Realms novels, with Finder and Lolth and so on and on and on.)" |
"Iriaebor is a fine city. So what if you can have violence between merchant groups break out at any moment. Not every city can offer dinner AND a show."
My FR writeups - http://www.mediafire.com/folder/um3liz6tqsf5n/Documents
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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ElfBane
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2021 : 16:43:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
Anyone know what the Worm of Gloom beneath mt Talath could be.
I'm guessing that it's an Oriental wingless dragon... the Wyrm of Gloom. |
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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2021 : 17:00:07
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| I view the gods as influencers on Twitter: the more followers they have, the more influence, real or imagined, they have. So, they will claim whatever they can to show how powerful/influential they are. They have propagandists (their church) that will spread that as far and wide as they can. The church may or may not know what the god said is true but the god knows the truth. The god also has an image to keep up and they do that to maintain consistency with what their followers expect. Talos may very well, when he is completely alone, drink some Fresca and knit while he watches the latest episode of Sigil's Keeping up with the Kirrigans. |
"Iriaebor is a fine city. So what if you can have violence between merchant groups break out at any moment. Not every city can offer dinner AND a show."
My FR writeups - http://www.mediafire.com/folder/um3liz6tqsf5n/Documents
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2021 : 12:50:56
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Crucible the Trial of Cyric the Mad (1369 DR)
Malik Lore
Malik el Sami yn Nasser, famed merchant of Calimshan from Najron the City of Brilliance (Dragon 245 places that near the mouth of the River of Ice) and a welcome attendant to the Royal House of Najron (possibly lies, he hadnt paid his taxes so he was indentured to the caliph and the Royal House of Najron) [prologue]
Malik had forgotten to pay a tariff of some kind, the first prince (eldest son of the Caliph) visited Malik’s house while Malik was out to deliver the demand of payment. He visited many such times all while Malik was away (sleeping with Malik’s wife, which Malik had to endure because his business was failing ????). [prologue]
The Caliph received a letter from Zhentil Keep about the events of the Cyrinishad, Malik was at court that day. The Caliph slew his chamberlain who read the letter supposedly because the Caliph was a Cyric worshipper and was angered at Mystra and Kelemvor (lies????). Malik was sent to Candlekeep to recover the Cyrinishad (more lies, chamberlain may have been a Cyric worshipper, its likely the Caliph or Malik had some trade venture in Zhentil Keep that now was failed and so Malik was exiled ????) [prologue]
The eldest prince of the Caliph looked after Malik’s wife while he was in Candlekeep (more likely he stole Malik’s wife while Malik was exiled????) [prologue]
Malik went to Candlekeep, lived as a beggar, claimed he made no appeals to Cyric in case the Oghmanites sensed him (more likely he abandoned his worship of Cyric or he was not a worshipper of Cyric at the time ????) [prologue]
Malik made secret deals with each of the Dark Lords (Haroun and Jabbar) separately, promising to help them recover the Cyrinishad first (is that how he won their aid????) [1]
Claimed to have been the only one to have seen the Cyrinishad and its bearers [1]
Skilled in the way of cheating the scale or claiming another’s cargo (did he cheat the Caliph or his eldest son????). Never stolen from another man’s home or killed anyone [4]
Known as Mukhtar the Mad in Candlekeep [6]
Desired to once again glimpse its dreadful truths [9]
Amil – some kind of servant to a Caliph [15]
Married to Halah [15]
Cyric imbued a horse with his blood creating an unholy monstrosity. Malik named the hell horse Halah [15]
Cyric said he had “eliminated” Halah (Malik’s wife) and the Prince [28]
Cyric made Malik the Seraph of Lies [epilogue]
Malik was tasked with writing a book about the trial – called the Crucible: The Trial of Cyric The Mad [Epilogue]
Candlekeep Lore
The Low Gate, Candlekeep’s only access, a portculis of iron bars, and a wooden gate gilded with tin with a drawbar as thick as a giant’s wasit, beyond the gate it opens onto a narrow path up the tor upon which Candlekeep sits. The path is carved into the tor itself so its impossible to avoid or go around it, the path winds around the tor several times [prologue,4,6]
Temple of Oghma [prologue]
Rinda and Gwydion arrived at Candlekeep seeking aid. Malik tried to steal their horses but was caught. Claims he could feel the Cyrinishad’s presence (more likely he rifled through their bags and caught a glimpse of the Cyrinishad and thus became a devoted servant of Cyric????) [prologue]
Malik fled to Beregost to get word to the Caliph (more likely to find fellow devotees of Cyric????) [prologue]
The High Gate at the top of the tor and allows direct access to the keep, a narrow path climbs to this gate from the Low Gate [1,4]
Malik led a force of mercenaries and allied churchs and Cyric’s faithful against Candlekeep (more likely he was kept in case he was lying in which case he would be killed????). Fire giants from the Scarlet Fellowhood a mercenary company hired at great expense. Company of the Ebon Spur. The Caliph’s Sabers a company led by the Caliph’s second prince (his first prince remained behind to look after Malik’s wife). The Sable Daggers of Soubar (Shar????), the Tunland’s Ravagers - wizards (Talos????), the Invisible Axes from Iriaebor (Shar or Talos????), and a dozen other companies of Talos and Shar. A tribe of Cloak Wood orcs. The greatest Army of Belief ever gathered (lied about the numbers????) [1]
The Monks of the White Rod joined the Army of Belief. Monastic order dedicated to Loviatar [1]
Jabbar and Haroun had a disagreement and killed each other. The Army of Belief began to fight each other. Malik seized Jabbar and Haroun’s golden sceptres. The Army of Belief collapsed, attacked by Hippogriff riders (from Waterdeep led by Ruha) come from the Sea of Swords, and fled in 10 directions [1]
The Way of the Lion heads towards Beregost [4]
Agenor and Pelias, monks in chainmail at Candlekeep, guarding the Low Gate, wearing violet robes (are they Watchers????) [6]
Brother Risto, Keeper of the Gate levies punishment on the monks that fail in their guard duty. Strict. Bearded monk, brown robe, carries a black rod. [6]
Deneir, Milil, and Gond have shrines in Candlekeep [6]
Ulraunt Keeper of Tomes, likes people who defer to his advice, hates it if people mistake his identity. Jealous mind, careful inquisitor [6]
The Flaming Fists, Hellriders of Elturel, and the Silent Rain are among those companies that came to the aid of Candlekeep [6]
First Reader Tethtoril, wears robes of palest blue, compassionate and kind [6]
Ruha was in Candlekeep, had seen a vision of Malik. Born 30 years ago. Joined the Harper’s after the Zhentarim attack on the Bedine. Ruha convinced Prince Tang to renege on his bargain with the Cult of the Dragon which caused half of Elversult to burn. Kidnapped the daughter of Duke Wycliff from hill giants, preventing a marriage to unite two races in blood and kinship. Ruha was in Waterdeep rescuing children from the Trollclaw Forest when she had a vision of a Malik the beggar reading a book before a great host (Ruha never understands her visions but meddles anyway), she heard news of the trouble in Candlekeep and travelled there immediately [7]
Special token required to enter the Keeper’s Tower, a small disc of bronze [7]
Insects not allowed in Candlekeep, they damage the books. Magic wards drive insects away 
Candlekeep itself is surrounded by the Great Ward, along the wards outer edge were buildings, stables, temples, workshops. In the centre of the Great Ward is an outcropping of basalt terraced into many levels, mottled with thickets of trees and laced by winding paths and cascades of steaming water. Atop the basalt outcropping rise the towers of Candlekeep, scattered at random across the hill. At the highest point of the mount is the Keeper’s Tower surrounded by a curtain of steam from a steaming moat (smells of brimstone and iron) and looming taller than all other spires [7]
Gwydion the Quick, returned to life to guard Rinda and the Cyrinishad. Does not need to sleep. Malik cut his throat but he continued to live. [7]
Malik cut Rinda’s throat, but accidentally stole Rinda’s Journal. The Cyrinishad was moved [7,9]
Lodar, Balas, Zale, hippogriff riders from Waterdeep [9]
Dungeon Tower, where prisoners are held, interrogated, and tortured [13]
A narrow, steep trail leads from outside the High Gate down to the rocky shore around the outside of the tor. There is no rope or chain so the trail is more treacherous [13]
The shore below Candlekeep is a snarl of old lava flows, tidal pools, and deep jagged chasms [13]
Caves created by the tides on Candlekeep shore, large enough to take shelter in, they are covered during high tide but some of them are still dry inside [13]
Church of Cyric Lore
Temples in Athkatla and Escalaunt [prologue]
Most High Haroun leads the Black Helms, a group of Faithful Warriors of Cyric [1]
His Deadliness Jabbar leads the Purple Lancers [1]
The Black Helms and the Purple Lancers join together to form the Company of the Ebon Spur, elite cavalry and shock troops from Amn, dedicated to Cyric. Mounted on war bulls. Led by Haroun and Jabbar known as the Dark Lords. The Company of the Ebon Spur numbers several hundred strong [1]
Jabbar and Haroun each possess a golden sceptre crowned by an iron starburst, each containing half of Cyric’s symbol. [1]
Cyric has no claimed the mantle “God of Madness” no faithful may view lunacy as anything but a divine gift [1]
A Childhood in the Shadows, the story of the ascension of Cyric which every initiate learns by heart
Mystra has been despoiling Cyric’s temples (her church has been attacking his church????) [22]
Cyrinishad
Whispers constantly passages from the book. [4]
Smells foul (etched on human skin) [4]
The book is a living sentient thing, calls out to people [7]
Zhentil Keep Lore
After fleeing Zhentil Keep, Rinda escaped a band of marauding frost giants [11]
After Zhentil Keep Fzoul Chembryl fled to Teshwave then later returned to Zhentil Keep to worship Iyachtu Xvim [15]
The True Life of Cyric the Mad is not mentioned in Rinda’s Journal after leaving Zhentil Keep [15]
After Zhentil Keep Rinda and Gwydion spent a month in Tegea at the temple of Mystra [15]
Gwydion does not need to eat or sleep or anything else mortals require [15]
Zhentilar wear black tabards with a white gauntleted fist surmounted by a jewel, the emblem of Zhentil Keep [34]
High Tyrannar Fzoul is due to be executed on the orders of Lord Orgauth [34]
A half constructed bridge across the River Tesh [34]
Cyricists speak of the destruction of Zhentil Keep as “The Razing” and refer to Fzoul Chembryl as the Great Annihilator [34,37]
Lord Orgauth protects the temple of Cyric. The people of Zhentil Keep hate Cyric and his followers [34]
Friar Fornault Blacksun gaunt man of 50+, wears an iron starburst and skull ring. Sister Svanhild of the temple of Cyric in Zhentil Keep. Sister Thir, a raven haired beauty, sleeping with Friar Fornault. Sister Oda. Brother Durin. Brother Armod, gaunt. Sister Kelda [34,37]
Friar Fornault and 16 acolytes in the temple of Cyric in Zhentil Keep. Very poor, can’t even afford a spoon, sleep on bare stone floors. The acolytes slew Friar Fornault for trying to poison Malik [37]
South Force Gate leading across the half built Force Bridge from the Foreign Quarter (saved by General Vrakk) into the Ruins [40]
Oda slain by Malik [40]
A Believer’s Shower - Zhent’s throwing excrement and rotten food at Cyricists. Lord Orgauth’s laws forbid the slaying of Cyricists (he does not want to anger Cyric but would be happy for them all to be gone and is looking for any excuse to exile them from the city) [40]
Labourers spend all day clearing the rubble of the Ruins and making repairs before returning to the Foreign Quarter at night [40]
Fzoul is hiding in his old tower in the Ruins [40]
The old Harbour Ward Gate in the Ruins [42]
Thir is secretly a priest of Iyachtu Xvim posing as an acolyte of Cyric. The handmaiden of Fzoul Chembryl [42,44]
Visitors have to prove they can afford to be in Zhentil Keep before the guards will admit them [45]
Fzoul’s old tower is now a temple to Xvim [46]
Adon Lore
Born to a wealthy Sembia family over 30 years ago. Became so obsessed with beautiful women that he entered the Church of Sune [17]
The most terrible curse to befall a priest of Sune is to suffer a facial scar or deformity. Seen as a sign of disfavour from Sune [17]
Adon is often visited by Mystra so that he is a much valued guest in the homes of the powerful and the rich [17]
The Rites of Joy, part of the death rites for those devoted to Mystra. If the departed was a virtuous soul and a cleric of Mystra was present at the instant of death then anyone present at the Rites of Joy would have a wish fulfilled (providing it was a worthy wish and it benefited another) [17]
Currently in Elversult overseeing the building of a new temple of Mystra [17]
Cyric showed Adon a glimpse of Mystra as Cyric saw her, it drove Adon mad and Adon smashed in the dying Lord Nadisu Bhaskar’s head with his mace, his ring finger was burned off, all magic causes great damage, pain, and suffering to Adon now, and he is terrified of Mystra’s image [19,21]
Adon committed suicide, throwing himself from the 5th floor of the temple of Mystra (he was mad and trying to escape Cyric disguised as Mystra) [28]
Elversult Lore
Lord Nadisu Bhaskar, Lady Lord Yanseldara (her word is law in Elversult) and her good friend Vaerana Hawklyn, Prince Tang, Thunsroon Frostbryn all contributed generously to the building of the temple of Mystra in Elversult [17]
Lord Nadisu Bhaskar is dying, he did much for the poor during his life. His wife, Pandara Bhaskar (half crazy, spends most of her time in the Towers of the Moon) is more concerned with showing off Adon’s attendance at the Rites of Joy than her husband’s condition [17]
Wears a star ring, a simple gold band set with an unpolished diamond. The ring sparkles like a star and grows hot whenever an assassin is nearby. A gift from Mystra [17]
Usreena Juepara, an acolyte of Mystra, not yet a member of the Church of Mystra [17]
Hillshadow Lake, purple waters, visible from the new temple of Mystra [19]
New temple to Mystra is 6 months from completion. Has copper gilded doors, coffered oak ceilings and alabaster walls decorated with bas reliefs of Mystra [19]
The Maces, Elversult’s city guardsmen, armoured in scale mail [19]
Prince Tang, eldest son of the Third Virtuous Concubine and Emperor Kao Tsao Shou Tang of Shou Lung. He only bows to members of the Celestial Bureaucracy. Wears a maitung (a wide sleeved silk robe) [19]
Lasal leaves, used to numb the mind, can be used to make a sleeping potion. Also causes confusion and trembling muscles. When used to often it destroys the mind rather than numbs it [19]
Chandra, red haired acolyte at the temple of Mystra [19]
Nadisu Bhaskar, born to a whore in a brothel. A cutpurse from a young age. Killed a man at 10 years old. Recruited into the Cult of the Dragon by Indith Shalla, Nadisu was Indrith’s top assassin and a fervent worshipper of Bhaal [21]
Nadisu sent to work for House Lal the caravan company, Ganesh caravans were too effective at repelling cult of the dragon bandits. He met Pandara Lal, daughter of Ganesh, got her pregnant and then became a sleeper agent within House Lal, he murdered Pandara’s father (Ganesh) to become head of the house. [21]
Nadisu converted to Cyric after the Time of Troubles and continued to murder on the orders of Indrith Shalla. When Yanseldara overthrew the Raunshivear Cartel and made Elversult an honest city. Indrith ordered Nadisu and Pandara to stop murdering and begin donating to charity. Soon Nadisu was feeding half the city’s beggars and Yanseldara took Nadisu and Pandara into her inner circle as friends [21]
The Morning Fountain, outside the temple of Mystra on a stone terrace where the faithful like to make their morning devotions [30]
Thieves of the Purple Mask guild had been stealing alabaster and marble from her temple since construction began [30]
Prince Tang lives in the Ginger Palace which lies a half days ride south of Elversult [32]
Cormyr Lore
In Cormyr, those that abuse their office are punished by being covered from head to toe in tar [21]
Village on the High Road through the Storm Horns. A small keep stands in the centre of the village, atop the gatehouse is arch is a symbol of starburst and skull identifying the keep as a temple (or shrine) to Cyric, a green fly the size of an elephant hovers above the temple. The village was visited by pestilence during the Time of Troubles and it still pervades the area. The priest in the keep is undead but able to talk. The villagers shun the keep [22]
Other Lore
Ruha and Zale pursued Malik from Candlekeep. [19-23]
Ruha cast a spell outside Iriaebor and spawned a rainstorm that flattened half the farmhouses outside Iriaebor [23]
The Worm of Gloom beneath Mount Talath [24]
A Gigantes in Elventree [24]
A Kraken in Hillshadow Lake, Mystra’s avatar fought and defeated it [24,28]
Avner of Hartsvale became the Seraph of Death for Kelemvor. Later became the Seraph of Thieves for Mask after he rescued Mystra from Helm’s imprisonment [24,43]
A thousand footmen of Hlondeth besieging a citadel in the Alphrunn Mountains. They lost [26]
Maharani – general or ruler of Hlondeth [26]
Chien, a shou lung square bladed sword [32]
In the Swamp of Nether, a black dragon arose and slew Goodwin of Haywood [35]
Gusta, a woman and farmer who has borne 15 children and planted a field every year of her life. Died this year [36]
Mandra the Mighty who changed the Sea of Petark to wine. Dead. Mystra worshipper [36]
Darshan the Dread who filled the Chasm of Narfell with diamonds. Dead. Mystra worshipper [36]
Baldemar the Brilliant. Dead. Mystra worshipper [36]
Finest Mulmaster port (the drink) [37]
Three years ago Talos had begun a quiet campaign to subvert her worshippers [38]
Cyric wears a hauberk sewn from the flayed skin of Tethyr’s last king [49]
Voonlar Lore
Town, just north of the Dales, where the Shind Road forks off to Zhentil Keep and the Northride continues on to Teshwave [33]
Swordsmeet Tavern, a meeting place for many Zhentilar soldiers [33]
The Voonlar Debacle (as the Harpers know it). Ruha was fresh out of the desert and supposed to meet with a Harper agent among the Zhentilar to stop a smuggler selling slaves. Ruha caused a fight when a Zhentilar soldier tried to buy her body and the Harper Agent was forced to rescue her and blow his cover (Ruha and the agent fled Voonlar). As a result the smuggler was able to sell hundreds of slaves at Zhentil Keep [33]
Sign of the Shield, Voonlar’s only remaining inn [33]
Buorstag Hlammythyl, Bron of Voonlar, wears red leather trimmed with silver. Elected ruler of Voonlar, notorious hatred of Harpers. Loyal devotee of Cyric [33]
Temple of the Dark God Reborn, temple to Cyric [33]
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2021 : 19:16:48
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Starless Night (1357 DR)
Drizzt Lore
Venturing into the Underdark, leaving Guenhwyvar behind. Regis gave him his magic ruby pendant [prologue]
Mithril Hall Lore
The Hall of Dumathoin houses the most prized treasures of Clan Battlehammer including the anvil of a legendary dwarven smith [prologue]
Berkthgar the Bold, emissary from Settlestone
Buster Bracer, highly regarded armourer of Mithril Hall. Blue beard
Cattie Brie took Artemis Entreri’s dagger, it drains the life force of those it damages and transfers it to the wielder [12]
Menzoberranzan Lore
Tier Breche, on the northern side of the cavern of Menzoberranzan, a wide stairway anchored by a pillar. Home to the three academy buildings. Arach-Tinilith is the largest and most ornate of the academies [1]
Triel Baenre, matron mistress of Arach-Tinilith, eldest daughter of Matron Baenre. Short for a drow, too stocky, not pretty by drow standards. Angry, impatient [1,15]
Arach-Tinilith, higher levels home to the private quarters of the school mistresses [1]
Matron Baenre desires a legacy, to conquer Mithril Hall and Blingdenstone. She is considering allying with illithids to accomplish the goal [1]
Matron Baenre keeps an illithid consort [1]
Over 100 illithids in the region around Menzoberranzan [1]
Blingdenstone had been allowed to survive to keep the houses of Menzoberranzan working together against a common enemy so close [1]
Qu’ellarz’orl, a high plateau on Menzoberranzan’s eastern wall housing the compound of House Baenre and the proudest noble houses of Menzoberranzan [1,22]
Baenre compound, huge, half a mile long and half that wide. A 20 ft high spiderweb fence anchoring 20 hollowed stalagmites and encompassing 30 adorned stalactites. Purple and blue faerie fire for effect. Magical enchantments added by Gromph Baenre. Spiderweb fence so old only Matron Baenre might have been around to witness its creation (said to be a gift from Lolth). Spiderweb fence immune to drow weapons, strong enough to stick a dragon fast. At the gates a guard can speak a command word to have the web strands spiral outward and open a hole. The spideweb barrier blocks all levitation, teleportation, magical travel, and climbing magics [3]
Gromph Baenre, eldest son of Matron Baenre [3]
House Baenre can muster 2500 soldiers and 16 high priestess, more than any 5 other houses of Menzoberranzan [3]
The changing of the guard at Baenre compound occurs twice a day every day (a visual spectacle involving glowing Baenre insignia in various colours and subterranean lizards that walk the guards up and down the walls [3]
The Spider Mask, a mask of black velvet cloth with 8 joint wired legs protruding from the sides. Provided by Gromph Baenre to Jarlaxle. Rare, treasured. Allows the wearer to scale any surface including the webs of Baenre Compound (which are otherwise unscaleable to any magic) [3]
Berg’inyon Baenre, handsome young drow, Matron Baenre’s youngest son, leader of the lizard riders, rides a large lizard, holds a Death Lance (a ten ft long lance, razor sharp, enchanted with deadly cold magic). Was Drizzt’s classmate at Melee Magthere and sparring partner. [3]
Baenre Great Mound, a huge and ornate stalagmite where the Baenre nobles lived. Level 3 is usually where Matron Baenre holds audiences. Level 4 is home to Matron Baenre’s private throne room [3]
Matron Baenre’s favourite guards are huge minotaur slaves [3]
Baenre uniforms are silver and black [3]
Dantrag Baenre, Weapons Master of House Baenre, nearly 6 ft tall. Amber eyes (unusual), glow red when excited. White hair in a ponytail. Wears a coat of shimmering black mail. Carries two swords, only one is of drow make (as fine a weapon as any in Menzoberranzan), the other sword is taken from the surface and possesses a hunger (and can cut granite without dulling the edge, called Khazid’hea). Has magical bracers, straps of black material lined with mithril rings, magically defensive and makes Dantrag strike before his opponents (quickness???). Principal rival of Zaknafein (now dead), now rivalry with Uthegental of House Barrison Del’Armgo. Slain by Drizzt [3,7,26]
Uthegental, Weapon Master of House Barrison Del’Armgo, second house of Menzoberranzan. Huge and strong. Rival of Dantrag Baenre [3]
Matron Baenre’s throne (on level 4 of the Great Mound) is carved of the purest black sapphire. Said to contain the souls of all those unfaithful to Lolth, transformed into driders and trapped in the throne. Each of the arms of the throne is topped by a 30 carat diamond [3]
Bladen’Kerst, 3rd oldest child of Matron Baenre (behind Triel and Gromph), sadistic in the extreme, uncontrollable (even for Matron Baenre). [3]
Methil El-Viddenvelp, illithid, crimson robe with long sleeves (to cover his 3 clawed hands), advisor to Matron Baenre [3]
K’yorl Odran, scrawny, small (shorter than Triel), wears unremarkable black robes and no other equipment (not the attire befitting a matron mother). One of the most despised leader in Menzoberranzan. Matron Baenre openly expresses her hatred of Odran [3]
Females of House Oblodra possess psionics (the only thing that keeps them alive, otherwise Matron Baenre would have arranged their destruction) [3]
Matron Baenre wears a huge gold ring with a huge black sapphire that contains a living queen velsharess orb spider [3]
Clawrift beneath House Oblodra is filled kobold slaves (over 30,000 in number) [3]
Sos’Umptu Baenre, daughter of Matron Baenre, tends to the chapel in Baenre Compound [3]
Matron Mez’Barris Armgo of House Barrison Del’Armgo (2nd house of Menzoberranzan) [3]
Jerlys Horlbar drow female priestess, Matron Mother of House Horlbar (there are two Matron Mothers of House Horlbar - 12th House of Menzoberranzan), wields a tentacle rod. Slain by Artemis Entreri when she attacked him. [4,7,11]
Khazid’hea – cutter. A sword from the surface used by Dantrag Baenre. A thin red line of light travels along its impossibly sharp edge, leading all the way down to its demon sculpted pommel. Intelligent, able to communicate telepathically with its wielder. Smart enough to manipulate its wielders. Considers Dantrag its partner not its master. Desires to be wielded by the greatest, constantly pushes its wielder to slay all rivals. Can change the shape of itself (swapped its demon hilt to a unicorn hilt so Drizzt would take it, but Cattie-Brie picked it from Dantrag’s corpse) [7,27]
Jarlaxle rescued / revived Artemis Entreri. Artemis working for Bregan Daerthe, herding goblin slaves in the moss and mushroom groves near the lake of Donigarten [11]
Magical lights and flickering torches are more common in Menzoberranzan recently, preparing the drow for a huge surface raid [11,15]
Slaver band, the least organised of any drow band of Menzoberranzan. Operate outside the city driving bands of slaves to move or recover rothe. Usually led by drow from different houses plus students from each of the three schools of the Academy in charge of goblins or other slaves [14]
Spies from rival dark elf cities not unknown in Menzoberranzan [14]
Drow value physical beauty [15]
Gromph and Triel Baenre rarely speak [15]
Gromph Baenre rarely visits his office in Sorcere (despite being headmaster), especially when House Baenre is up to something important [15]
Triel speaks the common tongue of the surface [15]
Khareesa H’kar, drow female, priest, led a slaver band. Noble of one of the lesser houses. Slain by drow warriors not wearing house emblems (they were from Bregan Daerthe and tried to kill Drizzt). Youngest daughter of House H’kar [15,17,20]
The Isle of Rothe, where the slaver bands operate from. Hundred yards long and less in width. Thick with moss and fungi. Landscape filled with valleys and steep sloping hillocks. Orc guards chase stray rothe, take rothe to the mainland, and make sure herds don’t fall into ravines on the island. A single building built atop the highest point on the island, a small two chambered house made of gigantic mushroom stalks [15,17]
Underdark rothe only 3 feet high at the shoulder, solidly built [17]
Monsters supposedly lair in Lake Donigarten [17]
Vendes Baenre, daughter of Matron Baenre, often turns prisoners into ebony statues on display in the Academy, nicknamed Duk-Tak. Slain by Drizzt [19,23]
Quenthel Baenre, daughter of Matron Baenre [19]
Matron Baenre is near death but will not allow herself to die until she has conquered Mithril Hall. She should have died centuries ago (how is she prolonging her life) [20]
Jarlaxle tends to leave alive House spies among his Bregan Daerthe, manipulating them to provide misinformation to their house [20]
Captured nobles of interhouse wars had been kept alive for centuries as prisoners, tortured slaves (and healed each day) of the victorious houses [20]
Matron Ker Horlbar of House Horlbar [20]
The Matron Mothers of the 8 ruling houses of Menzoberranzan had not met together to perform a high ritual to Lolth in centuries [23]
Jarlaxle arranged Drizzt, Entreri and Cattie Brie’s escape to help Triel and some Matron Mothers (not Matron Baenre) [27]
Regis’s ruby necklace does not work on drow nobles according to Jarlaxle [27]
Jarlaxle
Has sources about the inside of Arach-Tinilith [1]
Attended Melee-Magthere and graduated [1]
Dealt with Triel Baenre many times [1]
Has magical boots that muffle all sound of his footsteps (if he wants) [1]
Bregan Daerthe have many bases hidden throughout the cavern of Menzoberranzan [1]
Bald, unusual for drow [3]
Speaks fluid svirfneblin [13]
Met with Councillor Firble twice in the last two months discussing the increased drow activity [13]
Underdark Lore
Gee’antu spider – the underdark version of a tarantula [1]
Velsharess Orb spider – the underdark version of a black widow but far more deadly [3]
Entrance to the Underdark in the Mountains around Dead Orc Pass (in a cave east of the pass) on a straight line from Moonwood. Where Drizzt first emerged from the Underdark on his first surface raid. Its location is known to Dove Falconhand and Alustriel who tracked Drizzt’s path back to the cave after Dove chased him. [6]
Displacer Beast [7]
Blingdenstone, 40-50 miles west of Menzoberranzen [10]
Heldaeyn’s Pool, a watering hole within a few hundred yards of Menzoberranzan [14]
Svirfneblin can communicate through the stone (part telepathy, part psychokinesis, sending thought waves through the stone) [15]
Drow Language
Z’ress – means Strength [3]
Quarth – means command [4]
Iblith – means excrement [4]
Abban – means ally [4]
Darthiir – means fairy or elf [4]
Jiwin – means play [4]
Ibiith – means offal [11]
Colnbluth – means non-drow [11]
jrmrin quui'elghinn – torture until death [11]
Abbil – trusted friend [11]
Kolsen'shea orbb – means “pull the legs off a spider” [15]
Asanque – means “as you wish” or “likewise” [15]
Duk-Tak – means unholy executioner [19]
Dobluth – means outcast [21]
Nau – means no [23]
Svirfneblin Language
Magga cammara – means “by the stones” [13]
Moonwood Lore
Moon elves in the Moonwood (including a 30 year old elf maiden that recognised Drizzt’s eyes – was she the child he rescued years ago????) [5]
Tarathiel, member of the elf clan in the Moonwood, ranger / wilderness warrior [6]
Ellifain, elf maiden member of the elf clan in the Moonwood. Rescued by Drizzt as a child on his first raid [6]
Silverymoon Lore
The east gate is known as the Sundabar Gate
Fredegar Rockcrusher (Fret to friends) was part of the group with Dove Falconhand that tracked Drizzt years ago when he first emerged from the Underdark. Know works as Alustriels most trusted scribe [6]
Alustriel gave to Cattie-brie the Cat’s Eye, a fine silver chain circlet headdress with a gemstone set into it (a cat’s eye gem pale green with a line of black running through its centre). Allows the wearer to see in the dark [9]
Other Lore
A unicorn now living in Montolio’s Grove in Dead Orc Pass [6]
Blingdenstone Lore
Councillor Firble, almost bald [13]
Menzoberranzan 45 miles east of Blingdenstone [13]
svirfneblin language sentence structure is inverted compared to drow language [13]
Seldig, and Pumkato, svirfneblin that once played with Guenhwyvar as children when Drizzt stayed in Blingdenstone [15]
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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ElfBane
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2021 : 23:53:42
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| I think "Berg'inyon" is a play on the steak dinner name. Just thinkin'. |
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PattPlays
Senior Scribe
469 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2021 : 03:11:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
The worst of all in this novel is Berg'inyon.
I can't put my finger on it but I'm pretty sure (adding a first name) there is a food pun to be made there. |
:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:
https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3741 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2021 : 06:00:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
A few interesting bits of lore about Menzoberranzan. First is that Matron Baenre is dying (not surprising given her age), but also that she refuses to die until she has conquered Mithril Hall, implying that she has some means of prolonging her life, and that this means of prolonging her life is failing. I'm going to take a guess that it has to do with the souls she has imprisoned (like the first King of Mithril Hall) and that she drains them for life.
-Keeping souls trapped to feast on for later in a ritual that empowers the caster does sound particularly spider-y and Lolthian. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerûn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerûn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Novel Lore
