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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Nov 2021 : 20:57:10
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I was once working on correcting some mistakes in the Roll of Years, and it was pointed out then that there were some year names that were canon but were not on the list. As you say, the suggestion of local year names was suggested as a workaround.
Maybe I'll dig up my notes and ping Ed about that... |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
|
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2021 : 22:13:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
Good plan, it'd be nice to know.
Thinking about it we already have a canon explanation from the Tearing of the Weave trilogy of adventures. If i remember correctly Auguthra the Mad penned an alternate roll of years inspired by Shar so it could be from that alternate list.
It was never clear if there were more years on that list or just the ones in the book... But some of the local year names very much predate that book. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2021 : 19:39:32
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Elminster the Making of a Mage (212 DR – 241 DR)
Elminster’s House
Ground floor, kitchen, lhaeo’s study [prelude]
First floor, cozy room, crammed with shelves a worn carpet and a comfortable chair, Elminster’s pipe floats above the side table [prelude]
Second floor, spell chamber, small circular chamber, empty except for a glowing white circle [prelude]
Third floor, Elminster’s bed chamber, dark domed ceiling, circular bed covered in dust. [prelude]
Other Lore
The Casting of the Cloak – dusk – when Shar hurls her vast garment of purple darkness and glittering stars across the sky. [prologue]
Dragons? Splendid things, lad—so long as ye look upon them only in tapestries, or in the masks worn at revels, or from about three realms off. . .. Astragarl Hornwood, Mage of Elembar said to an apprentice Year of the Tusk (112 DR) [prologue]
“Dragon at the gate” – an oath of impending danger
Seek the ogre – a childs game (hide and seek????) [1]
Know that the purpose of families, in the eyes of the Morninglord at least, is to make each generation a little better than the one before: stronger, perhaps, or wiser; richer, or more capable. Some folk manage one of these aims; the best and the most fortunate manage more than one. That is the task of parents. The task of a ruler is to make, or keep, a realm that allows most of its subjects to see better in their striving, down the generations, than a single improvement.. . . Thorndar Erlin, High Priest of Lathander, Teachings of the Morning's Glory, Year of the Fallen Fury (20 DR) [2]
Lustlorn – a term for people seeking sex [2]
Cutter – the name for a sledge in Athalantar [2]
If in winter ye walk
When snow is deep
Beware when ye talk—
For afar echoes creep.
Old Sword Coast Snow-Rune [3]
North of Calimshan is a lawless land of forests and rivers called the Calishar. Ilhundyl the Mad Mage claims it now and most of the inhabitants have moved on (he magically experiments on them) [3]
Wildswords – term for outlaw or freedom fighter [3]
Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word . . . think of them instead as kings-in-training. Ye seem upset, ev-endisputatious. Well, then, look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant.
The character Oglar the Thieflord in the anonymous play Shards and Swords, Year of the Screech-ing Vole (163 DR) [4]
Slug and snatcher – a mugger [4]
Meat – a name for victims of the magelords, usually bumpkins, slaves or other unfortunates that get kidnapped and sold for experimentation [4]
To chain a mage? Why, the promise of power and knowing secrets ('magic,' if you will), greed, and love—the things that chain all men . . . and some of the more foolish women, too.
Athaeal of Evermeet Musings Of A Witch-Queen In Exile Year of the Black Flame (229 DR) [5]
Dirge-walk – slang name for an official funeral procession (like the Mage Royal of Athalantar) [5]
There is one sort of a city that's worse than one where thieves rule the night streets: the sort where thieves form the government, and rule night and day.
Urkitbaeran of Calimport The Book of Black Tiding Year of the Shattered Skulls (225 DR) [6]
Moonbubble wine [6]
In ancient days, sorcerers sought to learn the One True Spell that would give them power over all the world and understanding of all magic. Some said they'd found it, but such men were usually dis-missed as crazed. I saw one of these "crazed" mages myself. He could ignore spells cast at him as if they did not exist,or work any magic himself by silent thought alone. I did not think he was mad—but at peace, driven by urges and vices no longer. He told me the One True Spell was a woman, that her name was Mystra—and that her kisses were wonderful.
Halivon Tharnstar, Avowed of Mystra Tales Told To A Blind Wizard Year of the Wyvern (1363 DR) [7]
Mystra, also known as “The One True Spell”, “The Lady of Might”, “The Mistress of Magic” [7]
Did I ever tell thee how I first came to serve Mystra? No? Ye won't believe a word of it naetheless. The way of the Lady seems strange to most men—but then, most men are sane. Well, more or less.
Sundral Morthyn The Way of a Wizard Year of Singing Shards (1044 DR)
Magic is the life energy of Faerun gathered in its raw form. Females can feel the link between life and magic better than males 
The way of a mage is a dark and lonely one. This is why so many wizards fall early into the dark-ness of the grave—or later into the endless twilight of undeath. Such bright prospects are why the road to mastery of magecraft is always such a crowded one.
Jhalivar Thrunn Trail Tales of the North Year of the Sundered Shields (1197 DR) [9]
Great adventure? Hah! Frantic fear and scrabbling about in tombs or worse, spilling blood or trying to strike down things that can no longer bleed. If ye're a mage, it lasts only until some other wizard hurls a spell faster than thee. Speak to me not of "great adventure."
Theldaun "Firehurler" Ieirson Teachings of an Angry Old Mage Year of the Griffon (1312 DR) [10]
Sorcerer Supreme of all Calimshan (official title or name northerners use for calishite wizard????) [10]
Dwaeodem, numerous spells linked in a shield, it creation requires the sacrifice of an enchanted item, and it drains the life of the caster slowly but more the longer it is working [10]
The most awesome thing a wizard can hope to see in a lifetime of hurling down towers, calling up fiends, and turning rivers into new beds? Why, the blue flame, lad. If ever ye see the blue flame, ye will have looked on the most awesome sight a mage can behold— and the most beautiful.
Aumshar Urtrar, Master Mage said to an apprentice at Midsummer Year of the Weeping Moon (1339 DR) [11]
Battleshatter, a priest spell to open magically locked and trapped doors [11]
Ruby red dwarven wine that burns all the way down. Served in the lands west of Athalantar [11]
Choosing what road to walk in life is a luxury given to few in Faerun. Perhaps lack of practice is why so many who do have that choice make such a gods-cursed mess of it.
Galgarr Thormspur, Marshal of Maligh A Warrior's Views Year of the Blue Shield (400 DR) [12]
Think on this, arrogant mageling: even the mightiest archmage has no spells strong enough to let him cheat death. Some take the road of lichdom ... a living death. The rest of us find graves, and our dust is no grander than that of the next man. So when next you lord it over some farmer with your fireballs, remember: we all master spells enough to die.
Ithil Sprandorn, Lord Mage of Saskar said to the prisoner wizard Thorstel Year of the Watching Wood (1065 DR) [13]
Bloodstanch Litany, a prayer of Mystra to request healing not for themselves but for others [13]
Mytra’s priests know many spells of barriers and blasting, but few spells of healing and mending. [13]
Know this, mageling, and know it well: there is no greater fool than a wizard. The greater the mage, the greater the fool, because we who work magic live in a world of dreams, and chase dreams . . . and in the end, dreams undo us.
Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun Words To Would-Be Apprentices Year of the Sword and Stars (1332 DR) [14]
An elven city once existed deep beneath Nimbral. Used as a safe haven by Myrjala [14]
In mighty towers they quake with fright for the man who kills mages is out tonight.
Bendoglaer Syndrath, Bard of Barrowhill, from the ballad Death to All Mages Year of the Bent Coin (975 DR) [15]
Forest cats known as panthers in Murghom [15]
Luthkunt, settlement in or near Calimshan, traders seldom visit Athalantar from here [15]
Al hond ebrath, uol tath shantar en tath lalala ol hond ebrath – means "A true friend, as the trees and the water are true friends" in elvish [15]
A star rushes past, to crash upon the shore But the first of many many more Stoke the fire and stout bar the door For this is the night mages go to war.
Angarn Dunharp from the ballad When Mages Go to War Year of the Sword and Stars (1332 DR) [16]
Fleshcreep spell, used to make flesh golems [16]
In the name of a kingdom many fell things are done. In the name of a love fairer things are won.
Halindar Droun, Bard of Beregost from the ballad Tears Never Cease Year of the Marching Moon (1330 DR) [17]
Farjump spells, always have a risk with using them [17]
How much does a throne cost? Sometimes but one life, when sickness, old age, or a lucky blade takes the life of a king in a strong kingdom. Sometimes a throne costs the life of everyone in a king-dom. Most often, it takes the life of a few ambitious, grasping men, and the more of those the Realms is rid of, the better.
Thaldeth Faerossdar The Way of the Gods Year of Moonfall (1344 DR) [18]
There are no endings save death, only pauses for breath, and new beginnings. Always, new begin-nings... it's why the world grows ever more crowded, ye see. So remember, now—there are no end-ings,
only beginnings. There; simple enough, isn't it? Elegant, too.
Tharghin "Threeboots" Ammatar Speeches of a Most Worthy Sage Year of the Lost Helm (1329 DR) [epilogue]
Blue lethe, a drink from certain tombs in Netheril [epilogue]
Thus it was that Elminster was guided to Cormanthor, the Towers of Song, where Eltargrim was Coronal. There he dwelt for twelve summers and more, studying with many mighty mages, learning to feel magic, and know how it could be bent and directed to his will. His true powers he revealed to few—but it is recorded that when the Mythal was laid, and Cormanthor became Myth Drannor, Elminster was one of those who devised and spun that mighty magic. So the long tale of the doings of Elminster 'Farwalker' began.
Antarn the Sage from The High History of Faerunian Archmages Mighty published circa Year of the Staff (1366 DR) [epilogue]
Myrjala
Liquid black eyes framed by arched eyebrows, curled honey brown tresses, pert white face [prologue]
At least one queen of the time definitely lusted after her beauty [prologue]
Bears a silvern sigil on her cloak proclaiming her identity. Sigil looks like linked circles on the shoulders [prologue, 3]
Feared for her magic and wild ways. Loved by farmers and townsfolk. Feared by lords. She has cast down cruel barons and plundering knights. She was most unwelcome in some places [prologue]
Transforms into a “lord herald” from Tavaray (one of the Heralds, or is Lord Herald the title of someone from Tavaray????), a man with a beard [prologue]
Myrjala “Dark Eyes” Talithyn, of Elvedarr in Ardeep [13]
Myrjala can use spellfire [14]
Myrjala was Mystra [18]
Athalantar
Wildfires raged across the land burning away the forest of Halangorn [prologue]
Hardened knights ride the road (from Tavaray leading to Morlin Castle and then east to Athalantar) only in large groups (it must be dangerous????) [prologue]
In Morlin Castle just west of Athalantar, evil wizards plot to seize the Stag Throne [prologue]
Myrjala slew the “wizards” in Morlin Castle (they might not have been human, were they malaugrym????) [prologue]
Hastarl – home to the castle of Athalgard [1]
Belaur, eldest prince of Athalantar, cruel. [1]
Magelords in Hastarl hiring brigands have caused much turmoil and fighting in Athalantar [1]
Uthgrael the Stag King, Elminster’s grandfather founded Athalantar. Greatest swordsman Helm had ever seen. Died in 216 DR (Year of Frosts, Year of the Battle Horns) fighting near Jander, it was a wolf winter that year and many warriors of Athalantar died. Married to Queen Syndrel. Was ready to die when Syndrel passed, waited for a chance to fall in battle. Killed by an orc chieftain [1]
Athalantar was left to his seven sons (he had no daughters) after Uthgrael died. Five of the princes were cruel and greedy. Felodar was a greedy prince, obsessed with gold, travelled to Calimshan and beyond, and still lives there for all anyone knows. Elthryn was calm and just and preferred the life of a farmer and retired to Heldon and married a commoner [1]
The remaining four princes of Athalantar, known as the Warring Princes of Athalantar in Elembar, fight each other for control. The winner so far is the eldest Belaur [1]
Belaur bought the services of mages to defeat his brothers, now the magelords rule Athalantar while Belaur’s mind is clouded by alcohol [1]
Shandrath, oldest and most trusted advisor of Uthgrael, and most powerful mage in the land. Lived in the Wyrm Tower. Was slain by the magelords, though it took them all to do it, and they had to destroy the Wyrm Tower. Happened 2 summers ago (222 DR????) [1]
Belaur Aumar, big bully of a man, 29 years old. Best trained with weapons. Cruel, short temper, not as clever as he thinks he is. Used to be Uthgrael’s favourite until he started being cruel. Proclaimed himself king 6 summers ago (218 DR) but most on the Delimbiyr don’t recognise his title because of how he won it [1]
Elthaun Aumar, soft tongued womaniser, liar. Master of intrigue. Fled Hastarl before Belaur and his hired “armsmen” came to get him (presumably 218 DR????). Word is he was found by magelords in a cellar in Calimshan the same year and slain by magic. [1]
Cauln Aumar, slain before Belaur took the throne. Sneaky, suspicious, fancied himself a wizard. Tricked into a duel with a wizard that many believe was hired by Elthaun, turned Cauln into a snake and burst him apart. Belaur and his magelords had the wizard arrested and sentenced to death for treason [1]
Elthryn Aumar, quiet, insisted upon fairness between nobles and commoners. Loved by the people but disliked at court. Left for Heldon early on. Few knew that Uthgrael liked Elthryn the most. [1]
Othglas Aumar, fat jolly man full of jests, stuffed himself full of food every night, bigger than a barrel, could barely walk two steps. Fond of poisoning any who displeased him, advanced himself and his supporters at court by poisoning opponents. When Belaur took the throne Othglas fled to Dalniir and joined the Huntsmen who worship Malar becoming a priest of Malar. The magelords turned him into a boar during a hunt and he was slain by his own underpriests. The magelords made sure everyone in Athalantar heard about it. [1]
Felodar Aumar, obsessed with gold and gems, left for Calimshan before Uthgrael died. Fostered trade between Athalantar and Calimshan, pleasing Uthgrael much and bringing in what little name and wealth Athalantar has outside the Delimbiyr. Also secretly dealt in slaves, drugs, and dark magic. He is deep in Calimshan’s intrigue and underworld, supposedly still lives and hired mages to work against the magelords
Nrymm Aumar, youngest son of Uthgrael, frail sullen brat, brought up by women of the court after Queen Syndrel’s death. Never stepped outside Athalgard. Vanished 4 summers ago (220 DR????). Might be dead or hidden away imprisoned in case Belaur dies. [1]
Neldryn Hawklyn, probably the most powerful of the magelords [1]
Seldinor Stormcloak, Kadeln Olothstar - magelords [1]
Queen Syndrel Hornweather, Queen of the Hunt. Beautiful. Mistress of all Uthgrael’s stag hunts. [1]
Knights of the Stag Throne are beholden to serve any prince of the realm with their sword [1]
Heldreth’s Horn, outermost fortress (in the west) of Athalantar. Near the Horn Hills [2]
Daera, runs a pleasure house catering to armsmen from Heldreth’s Horn, her girls work as “night comfort girls” (prostitutes) for visitors. Setup about 12 years ago (216 DR????) [2]
Wildflower wine [2]
Sarn Torel, castle near Heldreth’s Horn [2]
Tempus, Tyche, Selune, Auril, Talos, Mask (Lord of All Thieves), Sune, Lathander, Helm, Tyr, Chauntea, Malar (Mother of Farms and Fields) known in Athalantar [2,3,4,13,15]
Crossbow technology exists [2]
The armsmen of Athalantar are not very good warriors. They never dare go far into the High Forest.
Upshyn, settlement, travellers and caravans cross the Unicorn Run at Upshyn (bridge here????). [3]
Woodsedge Inn, between the Horn Hills and Heldon next to the Wyrm Wood. Run by Broarn, friend of Helm Stoneblade [3]
Mages supposedly slew the last dragon of the Wyrm Wood 20 years ago (208 DR????) but few commoners believe it. Most folk of Athalantar will not go into the Wyrm Wood or the High Forest. [3]
For the honour of Athalantar – saying to demonstrate loyalty to Athalantar [4]
Normal citizens regard the Magister as a myth or legend [5]
Calishite silks and ornamented purple and emerald Tashtan weaves rarely travel north in great enough numbers to reach provincial Hastarl via pole-barge up the Delimbiyr. Most such wars are all bought by Elembar, Uthtower, and Yarlith before getting to Athalantar [6]
Glarmeir and Trumpettower, noble families of Athalantar [6]
Roaruld Trumpettower, Scourge of Stirges. Depicted in paintings holding a glass of blood and a limp stirge [6]
Regals, gold coins of Athalantar [7]
Desecrating a temple is punishable by death in Athalantar [7]
The Hastarl Road, has marker cairns [9].
The Great Fires, set 10 years ago (221 DR) to drive the elves out of the wooded lands around Athalantar. Humans huddle in settlements along the Delimbiyr so the forest returns slowly [9]
The Unicorn’s Horn, a roadside inn amid a cluster of sheep farms well west of Athalantar, west of Narthil. Elmara visits in 234 DR and helps slay 7 magelord apprentices (all apprentices to the magelord Seldinor) [11,12]
The Ballad of the Stag, a song of praise to Uthgrael Aumar [11]
Magelords do not allow Uthgrael Aumar’s name to be uttered in Athalantar by 234 DR. The magelords rule openly issuing decrees as if they were king. King Belaur is still alive but is rarely seen [11]
Wizards no longer visit Athalantar anymore because of the magelords [11]
Until 234 DR, the borders of Athalantar were free, but now every road was blocked and guarded so travellers could be inspected and interrogated and pay the toll [12]
Prince Gartos, battle worn warrior, not Belaur’s son, King Belaur made Gartos a Prince of the realm because he trusted him and needed to give him the right to command armsmen without the magelords slaying Gartos. Has a magical rune carved blade, Gartos can commant the sword with the command word “Thaerin” (must be its name????). The words “Osta! Indruu hathan halarl!” caused the blade to attack whoever’s blood it has last spilled. The word “agios” causes the blade to return to Gartos’ hand. Has a magical amulet that allows him to communicate with magelords if he can picture who. Slain by Elmara at Narthil. [12]
Gartos’ sword rises after Gartos is slain, and flies off to find Elmara. (was the sword made by the magelords????) [12]
Ambletree Arms, an inn on the north side of the River Shining (in the settlement of Ambletrees????). Elmara arrives in Flamerule 234 DR. Run by Phaernos Bauldyn. Phaernos knows Braer and was told to keep watch for and help Elmara [13]
Far Torel, north of Ambletree (some kind of muster field, gathering place, field, etc????). Road leads from Ambletrees to Far Torel, many armsmen marching up the road in Flamerule 234 DR. It is a vale and 4000 armsmen are gathered here ready to attack the elves of the High Forest. Elmara foiled that attack by rusting all their weapons and armour. [13]
Othglar, armsmen, guard, part of 4000 troops sent to Far Torel. Slain by Elmara [13]
The Haunted Vale, west of Far Torel, leads into the High Forest [13]
Battlelord, title for a commander of armsmen troops [13]
Darthtil, near the Haunted Vale. All the land between the Haunted Vale and Darthtil was consumed in a long-ago fire (the Great Fires????). Elmara is told by Myrjala to restore the land and Myrjala would return in a year to see the results. [14]
Launtok, settlement in or near Athalantar [15]
Dalniir, settlement on the edge of Athalantar, near the High Forest. Home to the magelord Taraj and other magelords that worship Malar the Beastlord [15]
Eastern fortresses of Athalantar, supplied by wagon trains out of the palisade fort at Heldon [16]
Sarthryn, settlement in Athalantar [16]
Hornkeep, the abode of magelord Undarl [17]
First sword, title for an armsman [17]
Elminster slew Belaur, cut his throat with the Lion Sword [18]
Sword of the Stag, the blade of King Belaur (magical????) [18]
Mithtyn, herald of Athalantar during the time of King Uthgrael. Met Myrjala once long ago and danced with her, and knew she was Mystra [18]
Elminster named Helm Stoneblade King of Athalantar [18]
In a grave knoll west of the city, a stone plinth within a low wall overgrown with shrubs and trees. An old shrine of Mystra guarded by the guardian ghosts of dead mages. Undarl hid a cache of spellbooks, potions, and items in case he was ever driven out of the city [18]
Bethgarl Nreams, cheese merchant, married to Ammuthe. Eats snails that make him hallucinate. Witnessed Elminster and Myrjala making love [18]
Heldon
In Athalantar [1]
Village of Heldon, many folk here do not like elves [1]
Mist mages of the Fair Folk (from Halangorn Forest????), whose magic works good and ill. Once owned the woods of Athalantar [1]
Tesla, runs a seamstress shop. [1]
Heldon is completely destroyed by Undarl and his dragon [1]
Elthryn Aumar called the uncrowned lord of Heldon [1]
Cave above Heldon. Helm Stoneblade wants to hide spellbooks (formerly belonging to magelords) he finds in the cave [3]
Shrine to Chauntea south of Heldon [13]
In 234 DR the ruins of Heldon had been replaced with a wooden palisade, and buildings filled with armsmen [13]
Elminster
Bony, beak nosed youth, jet black hair, piercing blue-grey eyes. [1]
Shepherd lad in the Year of the Flaming Forests (224 DR) [1]
Elthryn Aumar, Elminsters father. Lord of the village of Heldon. Tall, slim, brown hair with grey sides, beard, grey eyes. One of the most respected princes of Athalantar. Elthryn was his father’s favourite, his father (Uthgrael) secretly gave him the Lion Sword. Everyone believes the Lion Sword lies in Uthgrael’s tomb [1]
Elminster can see magic auras, a rare gift. See’s them as a soft blue glow. [1]
Sometimes Elminster can make things move with his mind. [1]
Amrythale Goldsheaf, Elminster’s mother, daughter of a common forester. Married Elthryn Aumar [1]
The magelords know of Elminster’s birth and so tried to murder him in Heldon [1]
Elminster spent 4 winters in the Horn Hills with the outlaws (228 DR Year of the Loremasters), called himself Eladar. About 16 years old at this time [2,3]
Can heal himself with his mind [2]
229 DR, working as a thief in Hastarl by the name of Eladar the Dark [4]
Went to plunder or desecrate the disused temple of Mystra in Athalantar, or ask for her aid in defeating the magelords. A magelord and 20 armsmen ambushed him there but Mystra saved him, and teleported him away. [7]
Elminster appeared in a forest and found himself transformed into a woman, Elmara
After being imbued with Mystra’s power, Elminster can now control fire with his mind
Elmara studied with Braer for two years [231 DR ????)
Elminster knows a tale about a king whose 9 royal wizards who floated in a circle into the air above the tallest tower, lightning danced beneath their hands, summoned a dragon to them and chained it while it spat fire at them. The ending goes unfinished. (was this Athalantar or some other land????) [9]
Elmara travelled from the High Forest to the Mlembryn lands in winter (231 DR ????), then journeyed to Ilhundyl (232 DR????) [9]
Elmara journeyed to the Floating Tower in 233 DR with an adventuring band known as The Brave Blades [10]
Is able to expend memorised spells to heal himself [12]
Knows a spell that requires running blood, and the sacrifice of a magic dagger pointing in a direction. The dagger crumbles to dust and strength is drawn from the caster. Within hours, every piece of metal along the direction the dagger was pointing will be useless from rust. One of the most powerful spells Elmara knew at the time [13]
237 DR, Myrjala and Elmara part ways so Elmara can continue to learn without relying upon Myrjala. Elminster travels to fight Ilhundyl but Myrjala slays him using spellfire [14]
239 DR Elminster and Myrjala are exploring a castle of the sorcerer kings (Thaeravel, Netheril, Imaskar????), Elminster and his magic toppled the castle and slew the evil wizards within [14]
240 DR Elminster and Myrjala are lovers, Elminster decides to return to Athalantar to topple the magelords [14]
Elminster travels to Laukton and slays all the magelord envoys there. Decides he needs allies and to lure magelords into traps to slay them one at a time. He calls the elves to his aid, asks that they spellshield him, Myrjala and others when they fight the magelords. The elves ask that he kill magelord Taraj first. [15]
Mystra made Elminster her Chosen and bid him go to Cormanthor and apprentice himself to any archmage he can find [epilogue]
Undarl
Riding a great wyrm red dragon with scales the colour of dried blood in 224 DR when he attacked Heldon. [1]
Almond eyes, dusky skin around the eyes, coppery curls, a winking pendant on his hairless breast. Darkest green robes, rings of gold and shining blue metal, soft fine boots, tattoos on his chest. Pendant, robes, rings, and tattoos are all magical. [1]
Wields two wands (kept in his boots) [1]
When he first arrived in Athalantar he turned up riding a dragon to impress the magelords. Hawklyn commanded him to go to Heldon and slay Elthryn and his wife [4]
Has a fire red ring [12]
By 234 DR he is the Mage Royal [12]
Attempting to mate griffons in a vat of enspelled giant crab fluids to create armour plated killer offspring that are subjects to his will. His family have all tried creating magical creatures, but his will be the greatest [17]
Has a stone pedestal that can extend the duration and area of any spell and make it not effect the caster. The pedestal consumes precious gemstones to power the augmentation, a handful of gemstones can extend the duration of a Sleep of Ages spell for 1000 years. The caster can still dismiss the spell whenever he wishes [17]
Knows Phezult’s Sleep of Ages [17]
Anglathammaroth, a great wyrm black dragon that Undarl rides. Slain by Braer, crashes into a tower in Athalgard and destroys it [17]
Known as Undarl “Dragonrider” [17]
His blood is black [18]
Has a whip of flames [18]
Undarl attack Elminster and Myrjala at the grave knoll west of Athalantar. Myrjala’s magic couldn’t stop him because he walks the shadows of many worlds. Undarl changed into a shadowy dragon thing with golden eyes and burned Myrjala to a crisp. Elminster stabbed Undarl in the eye with the Lion Sword and used lightning bolt on the Lion Sword to fry his brain, then cast every spell he knew to turn Undarl’s body into charred fleshy lumps. [18]
Lion Sword
The oldest treasure in Athalantar, shines with flame. Imbued with strong magics. Hungers for blood. [1]
Owned by Elthryn Aumar. [1]
Can send whispered messages to people far away. [1]
Can absorb magic spells but not dragon fire. [1]
Can dispel or counter magic with a curse [1]
The Lion Sword was destroyed by dragon fire. The blade was melted with only a few fingers of metal remaining, the hilt was partially melted. Elminster found the remnants in the ruins of Heldon [1]
Helm Stoneblade
Knight of the Stag Throne [1]
Bellard, rides with Helm Stoneblade [1]
Heavy stubbly beard [1]
Has a flask of firewine [1]
Onthrar, rides with Helm Stoneblade [3]
By 228 DR, Helm Stoneblade is openly aiding outlaws against the armsmen of Belaur and the magelords [3]
Has slain magelords before [3]
Halidar, one of Helm’s men, a traitor that communicates with magelords using a scrying crystal, been spying on Helm and his knights maybe for years. Slain by Anauviir [16]
Anauviir, one of Helm’s men. Quickest with a blade, restless [16]
Helm and his knights had been hiding beneath the boughs of the High Forest cloaked by the magic of the elves for years. Striking quickly against the magelords and their armsmen [16]
Rindol, Thanask, old comrades of Helm Stoneblade, slain by the forces of the magelords in past years [16]
Helm and his band are dubbed the Knights of the Stag, the lost knights of Athalantar [16]
Sir Tharl Bloodbar rides with the Knights of the Stag. Old man, wild beard [17]
Horn Hills
Outlaws hiding in the Horn Hills west of Heldon and Athalantar. Not all are bad, most are just people fleeing the evil magelords in the cities of Athalantar. Helm knows the outlaws and they trust him [1]
Barren highlands, blinding snows and blowing winds in winter [2]
Sargeth, outlaw, keen eyes, lookout. Knows the hills very well [2]
Engarl, outlaw, carries a long lance (killed the Athalantarn armsman owner with a sling stone). Knows the hills very well [2]
Arghel, Eladar, Engarl, Sargeth, Nind, and Baerold, outlaws that ride with Elminster. Sargeth and Baerold definitely slain in an armsmen attack on Lawless Castle.[2,3]
Some outlaws raid neighbouring farmlands. Those outlaws who revere Helm Stoneblade avoid the farmers. Armsmen of Athalantar pay 50 gold per head to folk who guide them to outlaws. Elminster runs with a gang of outlaws that revere Helm Stoneblade. The outlaws of Lawless Castle send out bands to strike at the armsmen (and gather food) so regularly that the magelords stopped sending wizards with the armsmen because they kept getting killed [2]
Wind Cavern, where icy breezes moan endlessly into a lightless cleft. Leads into a series of caverns and tunnels underground which lead to the Lawless Castle [2]
Lawless Castle, the dwarves revealed its location to Helm Stoneblade long ago. Helm showed it to good outlaws and they live here now. The dwarves till live nearby and like the outlaws living here as it weakens the magelords and provides a buffer between them and the dwarves [2]
Mauri, wrinkled old outlaw woman, lives in Lawless Castle. Acts as quartermaster and leader of the Lawless Castle [2]
Javal, red bearded rogue, outlaw in Lawless Castle [2]
Aghelyn (slain by magelord attack on Wind Cavern), Brerest, outlaw in Lawless Castle [2]
Magelords find the Lawless Castle in 228 DR (winter) and the outlaws flee with the help of Helm Stoneblade [3]
Magelords
Magelord Kadeln Olothstar, visiting Sarn Torel in 228 DR to deal with the outlaws in Horn Hills. Has a pact to aid magelord Taraj in his time of need. Slain by Elminster [2,15]
Magelord Landorl Valadarm, subservient to Kadeln Olothstar [2]
Magelord Caladar Thearyn, owns a magic pendant. Slain by Broarn at the Woodsedge Inn after he tried to slay Elminster. [3]
Harskur, fat, old apprentice magelord, slain by Myrjala when they were about to ambush Elminster at the Woodsedge Inn [3]
Saphardin Olen, apprentice magelord, slain by Myrjala when they were about to ambush Elminster at the Woodsedge Inn [3]
Neldryn Hawklyn, Mage Royal of Athalantar, most powerful magelord. Found the Crystal Chain of Binding, made in Netheril – dwarves, elves, and men all looked for it and failed, can imprison any mage and prevent his use of magic. Neldryn tried to summon the Magister using the Crystal Chain of Binding and destroy him. The Magister ignored the chain, slew all the magelords (and most of the merchants at Havilyn’s house) including Neldryn Hawklyn, and destroyed the Crystal Chain of Binding (blasting apart its links to blast apart the magelords) [5]
Maulygh, magelord, slain by the Magister and Havilyn’s house. Long service as a magelord, ambitious but disguises it. Slain by the Magister [5]
Lord Ildru, magelord [7]
Seldinor Stormcloak, magelord. All his apprentices are slain in 234 DR by Elmara at the Unicorn’s Horn inn west of Narthil. Knows a spell that can place the intellect of his familiar inside a flesh golem. Slain by his own flesh golem familiar creation [12,16]
Briost, magelord, student of Ithboltar [12.15]
Eth “Stoneclaw”, magelord, slew an umberhulk when he was young [12]
Magelord Ithboltar “the Old One”, old, wise. Seldinor Stormcloak was his hated foe. Teacher of Undarl, Ildryn, Malanthor, Alarashan, Briost, Chantlarn. Has a crown (a skullcap of cloth set with many tiny gems) that can compel people to do his bidding. Has at one time or another been the tutor of most of the magelords of today (240 DR). Dwells in Athalgard. Ithboltar’s crown is damaged and explodes slaying him and a number of other magelords [12,16,17]
Galath, magelord apprenticed to Undarl [12]
Nasarn the Hooded, magelord [12]
Alarashan, magelord, student of Ithboltar [12,16]
Have an ornate scrying bowl held up by winged maiden of gloss polished gold [12]
Taraj Hurlymm, magelord, takes beastshape and goes hunting humans in the High Forest. Has some protection against the spells and arrows of the elves. Originally came from Murghom to be a magelord. Worships the Beastlord (Malar????). Has a pact that magelord Kadeln will aid him in his time of need. Slain by Elminster [16]
Ildryn, magelord, student of Ithboltar [16]
Malanthor, magelord, student of Ithboltar, has a pact-link with Chantlarn. Slain by Elminster [16]
Chantlarn, magelord, student of Ithboltar. Has a pact link with Malanthor. Has a moustache. Slain by Elminster [16]
Pact-Link, some kind of agreement to aid another if called upon, can demand whatever price they want for the aid [16]
Nanatha, female apprentice and lover of Malanthor [16]
Hathan, magelord, dwells in Horn Keep [17]
Nanatha, Malanthor, Briost, and Alarashan all dwell in Athalgard [17]
Ortran, male apprentice to Alarashan, hopeless at magic [17]
Hastarl
Farl, thief, friends with Elminster, taught Elminster to be a thief. Illegitimate son of Lord Hawklyn Mage Royal of Athalantar. Hawklyn got with a lady from court and had her killed when he heard of Farl’s birth. By 240 DR, Farl is coupled with Tassabra living a life of luxury [4,16]
Black Boots, tavern in Hastarl, place to hire dockhands and errand runners [4]
Black tongue fever killed a cobbler in the spring of 229 DR. Plague houses left abandoned for 6 months, then smoked and finally torn down [4]
Rich houses with ornamental roof spires along the north wall [4]
The Kissing Wench, tavern, frequented by Farl and Elminster. [4]
Ashanda, evening lass (escort) that works the crowd at the Kissing Wench, acquaintance of Farl and Elminster. Has a dagger tipped boot (once used to disembowel an unruly sailor) [4]
Budaera, evening lass (escort) that works the crowd at the Kissing Wench, acquaintance of Farl and Elminster. [4]
Escorts hide a scented safe pouch in their armpits for securing money [4]
Shandathe Llaerin “the Shadow” known for her silent entrances and exits, possibly a former thief, now an escort, big dark eyes, the most beautiful woman in Hastarl [4]
Jansibal Otharr, short pouty looking man in flame orange silks. Reddish hair in well oiled ringlets. Hairless chest. Gold chain necklace with a snarling lions head on the end. Many rings on each finger. Dandy, travels with 2 well armed bodyguards. Uses sleep venom on his blade. Son of a magelord. Has an invisible shield of magic that stops swords from striking him. Thelorn Selemban is his most hated rival. Only scion of the noble house of Otharr [4,17]
Thelorn Selemban. Local dandy, travels with 6 bodyguards. Laryssa and Dlaedra are lovers of Thelorn. Son of a magelord. Carries a magic sword that cuts through magical defences. [4]
Swordmaster Adarbron, short trimmed greying beard. Commander of a sort of the armsmen serving Belaur and the magelords. [4]
Hannibur’s, north of the Kissing Wench tavern. A bakery run by old Hannibur, grizzled old baker, lives alone, wooden foot, acerbic tongue, miser, but feeds leftover or burned loafs to the urchins playing at the back of his bakery [4]
Old walled burial ground at the opposite end of the city to Athalgard. Overgrown and disused where vaults of wealthy families crumble. Home to Ansildabar’s Last Rest. Ansildabar was once a famous explorer [4]
Ring of Blades, a tavern [4]
Shildo, leader of a gang of thugs and snatchers, works for Undarl [4]
Antaerl, works with Farl sometimes [4]
Havilyn, rich merchant, knows the magelords, friends with Neldryn Hawklyn. Works with the magelords to monopolise trade in Athalantar. Survived the Magister’s slaying of merchants and magelords at his house. [4]
Nallith, rich merchant, knows Havilyn and the magelords. Works with the magelords to monopolise trade in Athalantar [5]
Neldryn Hawklyn, at dinner with magelords, Havilyn and Nallith, summoned the Magister and bound him using the Crystal Chain of Binding. The Magister ignored the chain and passed through it [5]
Othyl Naerimmin, rich merchant, knows Havilyn and the magelords. Works with the magelords to monopolise trade in Athalantar. Panderer, smuggler, dealer in scents and beer. Arranges poisonings. Slain by the Magister [5]
Fentarn, commander of armsmen in Athalantar [5]
Berdeece Hettir, old woman [5]
New gangs of criminals starting to arise in Hastarl due to the wealth and shady dealings of the magelords. The Moonclaws are one such gang [5]
The magelords do not agree with guilds, so there aren’t many in Hastarl (legitimate or otherwise) [5]
Dancing Dryad feasthouse. Often visited by magelords doing business with rich merchants and master craftsmen to come to mutually beneficial arrangements. [5]
Klaern Blaenbar, red mane of hair, associate of Farl, thief, bully, been on the streets of Hastarl for 3 years. Brothers Korlar and Othkyn Blaenbar [6]
Naneetha, associate of Farl, thief, wears velvet gloves [6]
Chaslarla, fat old woman, associate of Farl, thief [6]
The Moonclaws and other new gangs in Hastarl have the backing of the magelords or rich merchants. Armsmen of Hastarl ignore the activities of the Moonclaws [6]
Rhegaer, young, dirty, associate of Farl, thief [6]
Jhardin, strong, associate of Farl, thief [6]
Tassabra, lithe, associate of Farl, thief. Occasionally slept with Klaern Blaenbar. By 240 DR, Tassabra is coupled with Farl living a life of luxury [6,16]
Larrin, associate of Farl, thief [6]
“One Eyed” Tarth, associate of Farl, thief [6]
Farl, Elminster, Jhardin, Larrin, Tassabra, Naneetha, and Chaslarla form a thieves gang called the Velvet Hands. Farl is in charge of the Velvet Hands. The Blaenbar brothers refuse to join [6]
Peeryst Trumpettower, wearing high plumed hat, cloth of gold doublet, bell trimmed hose, curl tip shoes, and his fathers lightest sword, married Nanue Glarmier wearing a sky blue gown crafted by the elves of Shantel Othreier (cost 1000 pieces of gold) [6]
Nanue Glarmier’s father commissioned a statue of the rearing Stag of Athalantar (the beast not the king) made from a single gigantic diamond, made for the wedding. Said to cost more than most castles. [6]
Darrigo Trumpettower elder of Trumpettower family (uncle of Peeryst Trumpettower). Got married the first time in the Year of the Gorgon Moon. His second wife liked rough play (slapping, hitting, etc). Strong, warrior, able to pick up a man and throw him out a window. By 234 DR, Darrigo Trumpettower is an old man farming land in the Haunted Vale (was he enslaved or lost his fortune to the magelords etc????). Darrigo knows Helm Stoneblade from before the magelords [6,13,17]
Isparla (woman), Minter (man), Waera, Annathe, Obaerig, Irtil, thieves in the Moonclaws gang, attempt to rob Nanue and Peeryst on their wedding night in the wedding bedroom. The Velvet Hands foil the robbery and kill all the Moonclaws thieves. The diamond stag gets smashed into smaller pieces [6]
Janatha Glarmier, young woman, less than 25 years old, single [6]
Trumpettower House has a secret passage behind a painting of Roaruld Trumpettower in one of the bedrooms. [6]
A chest of ioun stones has been found in Athalgard, hidden away years before (probably on the orders of King Uthgrael). The magelords are fighting over who gets what. [6]
Disused temple of Mystra, the magelords don’t want anyone worshipping Mystra but them, they haven’t desecrated the temple [7]
By 240 DR the Moonclaws are destroyed by Farl and the Velvet Hands. The Moonclaws were tools of the magelords [16]
Jannath, thief in the Velvet Hands [16]
Sewers beneath Hastarl, extend under the walls of Athalgard (they lead straight to the jakes in the castle) [17]
There are secret passages into and out of Athalgard (they don’t all lead into the sewers) [17]
Farl knows about the secret passages and the sewers. People that use the secret passages vanish and end up as twisted experiments of the magelords (thus the magelords know about the secret passages as well) [17]
Helm Stoneblade knows about the secret passages [17]
Riol, armsman stationed in Athalgard [17]
First Sword Sauvar, armsmen stationed in Athalgard [17]
Isparla Serpenthips, former leader of the Moonclaws, now concubine of King Belaur [17]
High Forest
Elmara was transported to the High Forest by Mystra (229 DR????), found near a pool sacred to Mystra by the elves Baerithryn and Delsaran who seem to work for Mystra and were guided by her to Elmara
Delsaran, humans slew his parents and chopped down the trees he grew up with
Baerithryn, becomes Elmara’s tutor in magic. His last student died 300 years ago, she knew Baerithryn by the name Braer. Priest of Mystra. Secretly an elf that has learned how to take on dragon shape (song dragon ????). Baerithryn / Braer is the last of his kind, they are the reason the magelords did so much dragon hunting in Athalantar. Braer can become a silver dragon [8,17]
Letting blood fall in the forest is a component of a ritual that can heal
Elmara saw no other elves during his time in the High Forest
Elmara is the first human to be tolerated in the depths of the High Forest (in 229 – 231 DR) in a very long time (I’m guessing at least 3 centuries since Braer’s last apprentice ????)
The High Forest is dying. The elves and their power are tied to the land and the seasons. The magelords force the elves to fight at times and places that are disadvantageous to them. More than a few elves have been slain because they refuse to admit the magelord’s power rivals their own. The elves are aiding some who would fight the magelords, providing they swear not to harm the life or land of the High Forest.
Not many of the elves in the High Forest worship Mystra, most keep to the old ways, but there are some who do worship Mystra [9]
Priestess of Mystra in Ladyhouse Falls, greater than Baerithryn, the next tutor of Mystra [9]
The place of Mystra, the pool where she first met Braer lies well west of Far Torel [13]
Duskwood, shadowtop, and blueleaf trees [15]
Ruvaen, elf in the High Forest, friends with Braer. Warrior, wears a grey cloak [15]
Ladyhouse Falls
Located on a path off the Hastarl Road outside the borders of Athalantar. In a field broken by a fire scarred sheet of rock with a river rushing hard by, and a high peaked hall on top. Ladyhouse Falls is tended by a gigantic bronze dragon with flaming emerald green eyes that takes the form of an old woman tending her gardens. She advised Elminster to go experience everything, listen to mages, watch, and learn [9]
Mlembryn Lands
Lord Mage Dunsteen, haughty and proud, but not a magelord (maybe a court wizard of a local lord in the Mlembryn Lands????). He tried to kill Elmara but failed and Elmara compelled him to tell her where she might find a mage to learn magic from. Dunsteen told her to seek Ilhundyl in the Calishar. [9]
Calishar
The Castle of Sorcery, home of Ilhundyl (who values his privacy). A maze surrounds the Castle of Sorcery and the Great Gate blocks entrance to the castle (guarded by golems and statues that can spit lightning from their hands). A hidden door (guarded only by a pit trap) avoids the Great Gate. [9]
Garadic, young man servant to Ilhundyl, secret an illusion cloaked scaled and fanged horror [9]
Ilhundyl told Elmara to apprentice himself to a mage, then become an adventurer. When he can match a lich spell for spell he must seek Ondil’s Book of Spells and take it to the altar of Mystra on the island called Mystra’s Dance, but do not look inside Ondil’s Book for that is the sacrifice he must make. [9]
Ilhundyl intends to make Elmara retrieve Ondil’s Book and return it to himself. He is sending Garadic to kill Elmara once she has the book [9]
The Wind Cavern (not in the Horn Hills) is a cavern in the Castle of Sorcery where shapes of glass stand pierced by holes that make mournful sounds whenever the wind blows [14]
Has two armoured golems (iron golems????) hidden inside the walls by the Great Gate. [14]
Winged Hands (flying crawling claws????) Ilhundyl can make more [14]
Has archers (human????), 3 undead beholders, and 6 winged green serpents defending his castle [14]
Ilhundyl wears a ring that shoots rays of life leeching energy [14]
Myrjala slays Ilhundyl and destroys parts of the Castle of Sorcery using spellfire [14]
Floating Tower
The former hold of the long dead Ondil, in a bramble choked ravine in the wilderlands, somewhere west of the Horn Hills [10]
A lone crumbling stone tower, its base a ruin of tumbled stones, a gap 12 men high stretches from the ground to the remains of the tower (floating in the air held together by powerful magic) which start at the 6th level. [10]
The location of the Floating Tower was written in spider haunted sorcerer’s tomb of lost Thaeravel (said to be the land of mages from which Netheril sprang) that spoke of the mighty archwizard Ondil and his retreat in his later days to his spell guarded tower. [10]
One room with red carpets and hanging curtains crafted of gems on fine wire [10]
Another room filled with life size white statues spouting thousand year old poetry [10]
Another room, dark, lit only by a sparkling rainbow of glittering lights that dart about the room like a school of fish [10]
The next room contains a curving balcony on the edge of a vast darkness, this chamber is many times larger than the entirety of Ondil’s Floating Tower (extradimensional space????). 4 globes inside the huge chamber floating in mid-air. One globe contains a great wyrm red dragon, another globe contains a mindflayer, another contained a beholder, the last contained Ondil’s Spell Book held by bony hands (that cast spells). All globes held in stasis. Releasing one (the book) releases them all [10]
After defeating the dragon, beholder, and mindflayer, the Brave Blades find Ondil’s tomb all doors now lead to the tomb [10,11]
Elmara slew Ondil by crashing the ceiling down atop him repeatedly. Then Undarl appeared to steal all the treasure [11]
The Brave Blades
Adventuring band, plundered a sorcerer’s tomb in Thaeravel, they found mention of Ondil’s Floating Tower [10]
Old Lhangaern, former member and mage before Elmara, slain by a backfiring elixir of youth which he crafted (possibly from instructions found in Thaeravel????) [10]
Elmara is a member, the only female member, recruited in 232 DR after Lhangaern’s death, she was given Old Lhangaern’s spellbooks [10]
In the summer of 232 DR the Brave Blades attacked a group of bandits in a crumbling old keep they used as their stronghold. Elmara found wands and more spellbooks [10]
In 233 DR the Brave Blades encountered another adventuring band known as the Bright Shields (who were widely known as being arrogant and lawless). The fought on the streets of Baerlith. Several members of the Bright Blades were slain but they acquired more money and gear. Elmara obtained magical boots, belt, rings, rods, and more. [10]
Tarthe Maermir, leader of the Brave Blades, strong warrior, with broad shoulders and curling reddish hair and beard. Slain by Undarl in Ondil’s tomb [10,11]
The Brave Blades found a merchants account of a vale where griffons flew out of a lone keep and drove the merchants away. The griffons wore collars and breast shields bearing the mark of Ondil. The vale was located across high hills north of the Ong Wood [10]
Gralkyn, thief, member of the Brave Blades. Slain in Ondil’s tomb [10,11]
Ithym, thief, member of the Brave Blades. Slain in Ondil’s tomb [10,11]
Dlartaman, warrior, member of the Brave Blades. Slain in Ondil’s tomb [10,11]
Tharp, warrior, member of the Brave Blades, deep voice seldom heard. Slain in Ondil’s tomb. Was secretly a spy for the magelords who knew they were going to plunder Ondil’s tower and were ready to steal the treasure once Ondil was slain. [10,11]
Othbar Hand of Tyche, priest, member of the Brave Blades. Sacrificed himself in Ondil’s tomb to cast a spell that would seal Ondil in his sarcophagus [10,11]
Asglyn, the Sword of Tempus, priest, member of the Brave Blades. Wields a heavy hammer that can be thrown. Slain in Ondil’s tomb [10,11]
Belanchor, member of the Brave Blades. Slain in Ondil’s tomb [11]
Last and youngest member of the Brave Blades, usually minds the horses, slain by the magelord Briost [11]
Mystra’s Dance
The altar lays on one of the hills. A false alter (a trap laid by Ilhundyl) is on the second hill. The original altar of Mystra (now shattered) lies on the third hill [11]
The island of Mystra’s Dance is reached by pole boat [11]
Garadic (in the guise of an old man) poled Elmara to the island [11]
Ilhundyl tricked Elmara into leaving Ondil’s spellbook at the fake altar of Mystra and dropped him into the cold waters. Ilhundyl wanted to become the most powerful magic user in Faerun, the Magister [11]
Ilhundyl has the spirit of a dead woman bound to him, he used this spirit to trick Elmara into believing it was Mystra. (who is this spirit, someone Ilhundyl killed????) [11]
Ondil’s Spell Book is blank [11]
Narthil
Settlement near, has a road leading to Hastarl, was seized by Athalantar and it s forces. [12]
Myrkiel’s Rest, the only inn in Narthil, run by a stout woman named Asmartha [12]
Raztan, armsman of Athalantar posted in Narthil [12]
Narthil Keep, just north of Narthil along the road [12]
Aunsiber,old man, Lord Steward of Narthil, wears a tabard of purple adorned with silver moonflowers [12]
Grazing hills northeast of Narthil [12]
Ander
Archwizard of Netheril, learned the ways of magic in Thyndlamdrivvar [14]
Has passed beyond death (not a lich), can make himself solid when he wishes, even make pieces of himself solid. Looks like a wraith with emerald green eyes [14]
Ander feeds on life force and can read minds at close range [14]
Ander has imprisoned a deepspawn in his tomb, it spawns stirges constantly and Ander drains them of life force to sustain himself. He finds the thought of feeding on intelligent beings abhorrent [14]
Ander asked that Elmara return in 10 years with fresh memories. He likes to learn things about people and gets lonely [14]
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2021 : 20:06:45
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I like Ed Greenwood novels. I know some people complain about the language, but it works fine for me, i've heard some complain that Myrjala kept rescuing Elminster over and again which is true but again it works fine for me, others say his novels ramble but i love the little extra details that are not necessary to the plot but provide wonderful extra detail, the one shot npcs that turn up only to get killed (life is like that and bystanders get killed unexpectedly).
There are half a hundred name drops in this novel, a hundred place names, 50 odd magic items, and thats probably an underestimate.
I do wonder about several things.
1 - What happened to the Lion Sword, was it ever restored in some way.
2 - What exactly was Myrjala. The novel reveals it is Mystra buuuutttt. I'm not buying the whole god in person thing, because if that was true when Myrjala died so would Mystra (time of troubles or not, dead is dead). If Myrjala was an avatar then why was she around for so long and so often, Avatars are expensive, you cant just keep one running for several years, Avatars are lethal, look at the faiths and avatars book, just being near an Avatar causes mortals to spontaneously combust, Avatars are also immune to just about everything so Myrjala wouldnt be killed by Ilhundyl or Undarl.
3 - What was Undarl doing in Athalantar, what was his motivation. I know the Malaugrym later are obsessed with vengeance against Elminster, but before that time what motivates a malaugrym. Does he want more magic, he seemed powerful enough to slay all the magelords so why serve as one of them for so long, why not just take the magic. Was he looking for something in and around Athalantar that he just couldnt find, i would suggest the Lion Sword (perhaps it was a bane against malaugrym).
4 - What was Braer, it says he was an elf that could become a dragon but i suspect it goes much further than a shapechange, it seems that he is half and half, a dragon and an elf, not unlike a song dragon.
5 - I wonder how much of Athalantar survives. I know Hastarl was ruined and stuff built atop it, but there were a lot of castles in Athalantar and a lot of magic. Undarl had a weird pedestal that could extend a spells duration by consuming gems. The Stag Throne was probably magical. The Sword of the Stag. These things must all have ended up somewhere.
6 - Anders learned the ways of magic in Thyndlamdrivvar, is that a netherese enclave or was he from elsewhere (perhaps Thaeravel).
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2021 : 22:51:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
3 - What was Undarl doing in Athalantar, what was his motivation. I know the Malaugrym later are obsessed with vengeance against Elminster, but before that time what motivates a malaugrym. Does he want more magic, he seemed powerful enough to slay all the magelords so why serve as one of them for so long, why not just take the magic. Was he looking for something in and around Athalantar that he just couldnt find, i would suggest the Lion Sword (perhaps it was a bane against malaugrym).
4 - What was Braer, it says he was an elf that could become a dragon but i suspect it goes much further than a shapechange, it seems that he is half and half, a dragon and an elf, not unlike a song dragon.
I think I have decent answers for both of these, to be revealed in the fullness of time.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2021 : 04:01:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
2 - What exactly was Myrjala. The novel reveals it is Mystra buuuutttt. I'm not buying the whole god in person thing, because if that was true when Myrjala died so would Mystra (time of troubles or not, dead is dead). If Myrjala was an avatar then why was she around for so long and so often, Avatars are expensive, you cant just keep one running for several years, Avatars are lethal, look at the faiths and avatars book, just being near an Avatar causes mortals to spontaneously combust, Avatars are also immune to just about everything so Myrjala wouldnt be killed by Ilhundyl or Undarl.
Avatars can hang around for long periods of time, and I've no idea where this "just being near an Avatar causes mortals to spontaneously combust" thing comes from -- gonna need a source on that one, especially since it contradicts a lot of canon lore.
Selûne hung out in Waterdeep, pretending to be an innkeeper, for a while.
Honestly, I think that the avatars in the deity books are "battle avatars" and that they are just one type of avatar. I think that deities can spin off "lesser" avatars at need, and that some of these avatars could be pretty much mortal. Hence Myrjala was not Mystra's "battle avatar", instead, Myrjala was prolly a little more than mortal but nowhere near the power of what's described in Faiths & Avatars.
It just makes sense. A deity wants to guide a mortal without being obvious about it, or they have some other reason to maintain a low profile whilst on the Prime, so they invest less power and make a lesser avatar. |
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Gary Dallison
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
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Posted - 27 Nov 2021 : 16:11:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
I look forward to reading more about Undarl and Athalantar in your upcoming adventures.
Still not convinced about the Mystra thing and lesser avatars. I dont believe that has ever been detailed in a sourcebook, and we cant really take novels as the baseline for divine activity because they are so inconsistent in approach and quality.
The more I read, the more I come to think mystra is not a god. If she is the weave itself, she can grant spells, perform miracles of magic, do absolutely anything she wants really, whisper in the minds of people, communicate with worshippers, do everything that a God can do.
So if she were not a true deity how would anyone know?
Bowel movements have never been detailed in sourcebooks, either. That's no reason to assume they don't exist in-setting, though, especially when there is evidence otherwise.
But it is canon, in-a-sourcebook information that the statted avatars are not the only avatars a deity can create. From page 17 of Faiths & Avatars, emphasis mine:
"The statistics for a deity’s avatar given in Faiths & Avatars are for the most common avatar form or forms the power uses. Dungeon Masters are free to have the deities they use manifest in avatars of appropriate might and form for the flavor of campaign they run and for the instance in which the avatar is encountered."
If there is a most common form, then there is an option for other forms -- including lesser, near-mortal ones.
Moving on... I don't understand why you'd think Mystra isn't a deity. Every available bit of information, including the words of Ed himself, indicates that she is a deity. Aside from this one thing for which you've already rejected a logical explanation that fits available canon, why would you think she's something else?
Also, why would you think she's not a deity when you say "it's not in a sourcebook!" is a reason to dismiss something and we don't have anything in sourcebooks that is identical to but not deities? |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 27 Nov 2021 16:47:47 |
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Gary Dallison
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United Kingdom
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2021 : 17:05:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
It's because Ed has also repeatedly stated Mystra is the Weave. That makes Mystra unique in that she is the only true divine being that is also bound to the material plane. It doesnt work in my mind, and Ed is a renowned wordsmith, using subtle language to misdirect or not reveal his true secrets.
He's also point-blank said she's a deity.
And she is not bound to the material plane. She has control over something in the material plane, the same as all other deities.
quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
Also most of the problems with the gods that people have (myself included) is when they turn up and battle Krakens in Elturel, or assassinate high priests of rival faiths, and most of this seems to come from Mystra and her actions, but if Mystra is not entirely what she appears then the problem is solved.
Really? Let's see some sources of gods showing up to battle random monsters, or directly assassinating anyone.
quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
And then there is the fact that things have changed so much and are so inconsistent with the gods that it is hard not to question everything about them. Bahamut and Tiamat are first mentioned as quasi deities, then they are described as gods in later additions but in fact they are archetypes with aspects on each world. There is so much not made clear that to accept what little information we have as the only truth seems unwise.
Bahamut and Tiamat were not created by Ed. They are not Realms-only powers. They are not relevant to this discussion.
And there is orders of magnitude more info available about Mystra than there is for Bahamut and Tiamat combined. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 28 Nov 2021 05:59:16 |
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2021 : 17:17:28
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| I guess you're reading too much into it. Faiths and Avatars was released two years after Making of a Mage, and perhaps the authors didn't take Myrjala into account when writing the book (maybe they weren't even aware of her). And you can't expect Ed to abide by rules that wasn't yet written when he wrote this book. |
Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
Edited by - Zeromaru X on 27 Nov 2021 17:17:49 |
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AJA
Senior Scribe
USA
769 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2021 : 05:00:21
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Zeromaru, I enjoy your detailed novel deconstructions greatly, and I don't mean to dog-pile, but to suggest that both Julia ("The actual product lead, not that anyone bothers to give her credit") Martin and Eric ("Oh! Oh! I have Notes! Realms-notes! Lore! Lemme Use them!") Boyd weren't aware of Elminster: The Making of a Mage seems a bit much? As does the theory that Ed, conscientious as he always has been in keeping Realmslore "according to TSR/WotC canon," was unaware of both the prior ADnD comics, and the fact that avatars somehow innately cause mortals to spontaneously burst into flame around them. Not even in the Avatar series, where the gods were forced into avatar-form, and yet mortals were able to interact with them quite freely.
I mean, I understand deity interactions with Faerûn are a personal bugaboo for you (and heck, I don't prefer a bunch of them, too), but this one seems a leap too far?
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AJA
YAFRP
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2021 : 15:54:33
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| I guess you're mistaking me with Gary, lol |
Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
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AJA
Senior Scribe
USA
769 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2021 : 21:27:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X
I guess you're mistaking me with Gary, lol
Absolutely, yikes! Apologies for that  
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AJA
YAFRP
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
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Posted - 27 Dec 2021 : 14:37:50
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The Giant Among Us (1366 DR)
Troy Denning
High Meadow
Croseley, toothless old man, liver spotted hands, left in charge of 5 youths (Thorley, Dena, Birk, and 2 other younger children) [prologue]
Thorley, 10 years old, freckled, red hair, green hairs [prologue]
Dena, blonde girl, younger than 10, has a good imagination [prologue]
Birk, young boy [prologue]
Village, recently attacked by hill giants and their dire wolves [1]
One of the entry points into the Kingdom of Hartwick [1]
Cuthbert Fief
Lake Cuthbert, in the centre of Cuthbert Fief near Cuthbert Castle. A hundred hills and many villages (including High Meadow) surround the lake [2,3]
At least three tribes of giants attacking the hamlets and villages around Castle Cuthbert [2]
Mountains form the southern border of Cuthbert’s lands – impassable except for a narrow pass, craggy hills to the north of these lands [2]
Cuthbert Castle, lies on a craggy island near one bank of Lake Cuthbert, a long bridge (can be collapsed in an emergency) connects the island to the shore – has a library in its lowest sub-basement [3]
Cuthbert Fief surrounded by mountain ranges. [3]
A snakelike road connects Cuthbert Fief to the rest of Hartsvale in the south. Cuthbert Pass is where the road crosses the mountain range, a long and winding pass with high cliffs on both sides and a narrow bottleneck in the centre [3]
Three rugged paths cross the northern mountain range and lead to the Icy Plains [3]
A single trail runs southeast through the mountains known as Shepherd’s Nightmare. Disappears into streams in several places and at the top its nothing more than a broken ledge clinging to the side of Wyvern’s Eyrie. The mouth of Shepherd’s Nightmare is a gorge, narrow and wet, with a single goat trail leading up the valley [3,5]
Wyvern’s Eyrie, a mountain peak in the southeast of Cuthbert Fief [3]
Known as the High Country [3]
Earl Wendel’s lands are south of Cuthbert Fief [3]
Secret tunnel runs from the library of Cuthbert Castle towards Shepherd’s Nightmare. This tunnel has been a secret for many years [3]
Cuthbert Fief was taken from the stone giants by Earl Cuthbert’s ancestors. A number of biotite folios were seized and detailed the history of the giant race (Ostoria????), but no mention of the Twilight Spirit [3]
Large silver mask given to Earl Cuthbert as a wedding gift by Lady Cuthbert’s father, Basil etches a number of magical runes into it so Tavis can use it to magically disguise himself as any human or giant [3]
After attacking the outlying villages, more than a hundred hill giants lay siege to Castle Cuthbert with Brianna inside [4]
Juniper bushes in Cuthbert Fief [4]
A large farm at the mouth of Shepherd’s Nightmare, run by a family: father, mother, sons and daughters. Farm is attacked by Gavorial and his stone giants. Only Eamon Drake (a son) and his mother and sisters survive [6]
Blane, sergeant of engines at Cuthbert Castle [9]
Something foul in Cuthbert Castle, a scion of an evil as ancient as Toril itself, come to claim a treasure long lost before the first human kingdoms arose in Hartsvale [9]
Olchak, one of the elder traell on the edge of Cuthbert Fief [12]
There are rumours of a lake monster in Lake Cuthbert, and that its voice brings death [15]
Earl Cuthbert slain by Arlien, his wife and daughters survive [18]
Other Lore
Peppers, black, from Anauroch, the hottest peppers (may only be the hottest in the North) [prologue]
The Twilight Spirit is the guardian spirit of giants. [prologue]
Sparrows in Hartwick, trout in the Clearwhirl River [1]
The Icy Plains, north of Cuthbert Castle, endless miles of frozen plains filled with dragons and giants and worse [2]
The Cold Hours – time between midnight and dawn [3]
Umber pines, have thick downswept boughs nearly to the ground, perfect for humans and small animals to hide in from giants
Mammoths are scared of bears and dragons. Can only really carry young giants, adult giants are too heavy and the mammoths perish from the exertion after a few miles [12]
Remorhaz, have a blind-spot behind the head [12]
Goblet pines [13]
Wyverns and Wyrms, a game about guessing the opponent’s plans and planting false clues. Known by Basil (is it a giant game or human????) [16]
Tavis Burden
Firbolg, mother died in childbirth, a trapper brought him to an orphanage in Hartwick Village. Not enough food to feed a firbolg so he is only 8 ft tall. When he was old enough, he joined the Border Patrol and became the best scout. Then the lady that ran the orphanage died and he returned to run it, that was when he met Brianna and fell in love with her. [prologue]
After saving Brianna, Tavis was made her bodyguard and his quiver carries a golden arrow (Tavis is a commoner and cannot marry the Queen). The golden arrow is enchanted to slay Brianna immediately [prologue,2]
Has rune arrows that explode when the command is used (“Basil is wise”) [1]
Had slain plenty of giants (many larger than hill giants) with Bear Driller [4]
Bear Driller is a composite bow reinforced with dragon bone, Tavis was shown how to create this by his mentor [4]
Julien destroys Bear Driller by exploding one of Tavis’ runearrows as Tavis fires it [13]
Kingdom of Hartwick
Captain Selwyn, leader of the Company of the White Wolf. Iridescent chain mail, silver axe, war fever in battle. Uncomfortable with court politics. Slain by Arlien [1,9,17]
Company of the White Wolf, renowned. Created or hired by Queen Brianna, commanded directly by the queen [1,9]
Earl Cuthbert, Lord of High Meadow and surrounding lands, barrel-chested, round-faced man of fifty with a balding head and squinting eyes. His symbol is a pair of crossed shepherd staves. Married to Lady Cuthbert. Has daughters. Can read stone giant writing. Earl Cuthbert was one of the first earls to side with Brianna against King Camden [2,3]
Serfs [2]
Cuthbert Castle was last assaulted 300 years ago [2]
Castle Hartwick’s Royal Archives, houses 2000+ volumes [3]
Humans worship Stronmaus and Hiatea [3]
Traell, normally live on the frozen plains north of the Ice Spires. Olive skinned, moon faced, soft features. Occasionally cross the Ice Spires to make their homes on the edge of Hartsvale. They lure giants into traps and slay them with ballista that fire 15ft spears
Hagamil attacked a traell village on the edge of Cuthbert Fief in the Ice Spire mountains. The traell retreated into their mines and have been luring and killing giants since (slain 3 warriors so far)
Sergeant of engines, man in charge of siege engines (defensive and offensive) [9]
Place a burning spear on the altar as a sacrificial offering to Hiatea [9]
Hiatea, giant goddess of nature and family. Watches over firbolgs and giant-kin as well [9]
Giant Lore
Fog giants, the sneakiest of all true giants, puffy pads on their feet enable them to move in near silence, are camouflaged in fog because of skin and hair colour. [1]
Fog giants live in the cold mists beneath (south of???) the Endless Ice Sea [1]
Giant tribes almost never cooperate to attack, the chiefs are too imperious [2]
If firbolgs try to lie their voices fail them, they break out in a cold sweat, and are plagued by a guilty conscience and sleeplessness for a weak [2]
Biotite Folios, the name for stone giant books, as big as serving trays, bound in copper wire, covered with thin slabs of granite. Pages of black mica, glowing symbols the size of human hands appear on the mica pages when they are touched, the symbols change colour from ruby red to emerald green to sapphire blue [3]
Meta-morpherie, the name for the stone giant written language [3]
Karontor, giant god [4]
Gragg, Meorf, Bhurn, hill giants [4]
Dekz, bigger giant in harge of Gragg, Meorg, and Bhurn during attack on Cuthbert Fief [4]
The giants know about the secret tunnel in Cuthbert Fief running from Cuthbert Castle (how, spy????) [4]
Odion, stone giant that attacks a farm at the mouth of Shepherd’s Nightmare. Follower (described as a son) of Gavorial who led the attack on the farm [6]
The Chronicles of Stone, a history of sorts, Tavis is recorded in the chronicles as a runt firbolg that serves the Queen of Hartsvale. The Chronicle holds him in great esteem [6]
The giants of the Ice Spires had long ago embraced common, but some still used their own tongues as a matter of pride [6]
Stone giants, infinitely patient, prone to careful deliberation and long pondering. Blood ties are not as important to stone giants as philosophy and spiritual heritage, stone giants describe followers and masters as sons and fathers, preferring like minded individuals to family. [6]
The giants know about the secret pass of Shepherd’s Nightmare [6]
Stone giants regard a pledge or oath as sacred and will never break it [6,8]
Stonehome, the home of the stone giants and Gavorial [6]
Gavorial slain by Tavis Burden, known as “Sharpnose” to other giants for his arrow shaped nose. Known as the best of his tribe [6,7.8]
Frost giants, notorious for boldness and bluster [7]
Verbeeg nobles pride themselves on their ability in treachery [7]
Julian and Arno ordered Gavorial to wait in the pass of Shepherd’s Nightmare for Tavis, and ordered the frost giants to ambush Tavis. Julian and Arno had also forbidden challenge fighting among the giants (who is the best warrior, etc) [7,8]
Hagamil, leader of the frost giants. Piercing blue eyes, long yellow braids. Stout and robust. Huge, bigger than most frost giants [7,10]
Egarl and Bodvar, frost giant warriors. Slagfid, leader of the frost giant band in Shepherd’s Nightmare [7,8]
Traell – means human in giant, strictly it is only applied to the semi civilised humans that wander the plains north of the Ice Spires, but most giants don’t bother with the distinction [7]
Thrym, Surtr [7]
Frost giants respect strength and prowess above all things. Diplomacy earns contempt and animosity. Frost giants see no honour in killing by surprise
Traelir – means human child in giant
Roskilde, frost giant capable of healing (shaman????)
Frost giants use Ice Diamonds. They never melt and are easily enchanted. Shoot out a bolt of searing frost if touched to any skin. Ice Diamonds are only made in the heart of the Endless Ice Sea (not Gilthwit – even frost giants think Gilthwit is a legend)
Khan of the fire giants, Paramount of the storm giants [9]
Nunatak – a craggy stone peak (mountain) that pokes up out of a glacier. The mountain warms during the day from the sun and melts the ice around it, forming large rifts and valleys around it in a circle. [10]
Frost giants ride woolly mammoths [10]
Frith, young frost giant riding a woolly mammoth, catches remorhaz. Of Hagamil’s tribe [10]
Halflook, frost giant shaman. Bald, one eye, yellow patterns tattooed on his head, dressed in the fur of a white mammoth. Carries a brilliantly glowing sceptre. Hagamil and Halfhook occupy the same body. When called Hagamil takes control and his body transforms. When knocked unconscious he reverts back to Halflook. The agreement between the two is that each has control for half the day [10]
Sjorf and Snorri, frost giants of Hagamil’s tribe [10]
Split Mountain, at least a day’s march for a giant from the Ice Spires around Cuthbert Fief [12]
Frost giants don’t mind if people cheat during games [12]
Dragon Rock, a rock lying in a stream in a valley on the way to Split Mountain [13]
No giant would take orders from an ettin [13]
Basil killed Halflook (leaving Hagamil in control permanently). Then Brianna killed Hagamil with a lightning bolt to the head [17]
Arlien
Prince Arlien of Gilthwit [1]
Handsome, swarthy man, curly dark hair, cleft chin. Brown eyes, broad mouth. Horned helmet, Warhammer, can be thrown and returns. Has enchanted plated armour. [1]
His enchanted armour can heal all wounds to body and spirit in a few days, but this enchantment vanishes if other magical healing is used [1]
Travelled with a large caravan to Hartwick with a hundred others. They were all slain by a tribe of 200+ frost giants. Arlien survived and tracked the frost giants [1]
Arlien was sent by his father (with a large entourage) to court Queen Brianna and marry her to secure a trade treaty with Gilthwit [1,2]
Brought a gift for Brianna, a necklace of thumb sized teardrop gems scintillating with a pale blue light. The gems are called ice diamonds, they are warm and cold to the touch at the same time, they are mined from the heart of the Endless Ice Sea itself. It is said that as long as you wear ice diamonds you will never cry. Enchanted to freeze any that try to steal it, also to charm the wearer (Brianna). The necklace doesn’t actually charm Brianna, it deadens her emotions, the potion Arlien gives Brianna charms her [2,5,16]
Actually Arno and Julien in magical disguise [11]
Tavis killed Julien [18]
Queen Brianna
Sturdy frame, just under 7ft tall, striking face, clear skin, dimpled chin, sparkling violet eyes. Long tresses as yellow as gold, lithe figure, long graceful limbs, gentle curves. [1]
Brianna is strong enough to beat a firbolg in a test of strength. Tavis has seen Brianna’s father beat hill giants. The first Hartwick King could supposedly best frost giants in strength [1]
Blessed by Hiatea at age 5. Only her father, Brianna, and High Priest Simon know of this. Simon has told Prince Arlien, Simon is the spy [9]
Silver necklace from which hung a flaming spear, the symbol of Hiatea [15]
Gilthwit
Gilthwit lies between the northern border of the Kingdom of Hartwick and the Endless Ice Sea. Supposedly a frozen waste of a land, so overrun by giants that the humans are reduced to savagery [1]
The Icy Plains lie between Gilthwit and Hartwick, or GIlthwit is on the Icy Plains [2]
Gilthwit has always endured the enmity of the giant [2]
Gilthwit is a rich land in jewels and rare metals [2]
Gilthwit is regarded as a legend in Hartwick [2]
Gilthwit has not sent an envoy to Hartwick before because Hartwick was always at peace with the giants (and Gilthwit was not) [2]
Gilthwit has a spy in Brianna’s court (who????), the King of Gilthwit knows all about King Camden’s betrayal and the Twilight Spirit, and Tavis’ golden arrow [2]
Gilthwit is an anagram of Twilight [9]
Basil
Larger than Tavis, gangling arms and bowed legs as thick as aspen boles. Distended belly, hairy stooped shoulders. Gaunt, half-starved look. Glutton when invited to a meal. Grey coarse eyebrows and scrawny beard. Thick lips, affable sly smile [2]
Enchanted the golden arrow to slay Brianna. Created a rune mirror to scry on places nearby [2]
Basil and his family were living in an abandoned dwarf mine. Fire giants owned the mine, caught Basil’s family and fed them to the flames. Basil was a young boy and was enslaved ever since [9].
Basil hates fire giants [9]
Hartkiller
Fire giants made Hartkiller a crown of cinders (potential magic item????) [9]
Humans made Hartkiller a crown of steel (royal regalia????) [9]
Hartkiller has a great axe used to slay the storm giant paramount (royal regalia????) [9]
Hartkiller as a newborn hunted and killed a hart (stag), eating it from hooves to antlers. (what happened to the antlers and the hooves????) [9]
Storm giants had a windy eyrie, Hartkiller fought the Paramount of Storm Giants at the eyrie above the Clearwhirl - it ran red with their blood (what happened to the eyrie????). [9]
Fire giants had a grotto (where????) [9]
Brun, son of Hartkiller [9]
The giants went to fight the humans but a great wailing wind rose and the clouds shattered and fell from the sky (fog and storm giant castles perhaps????) [9]
Arno and Julien
The ettin [13]
Intelligent, masqueraded as Prince Arlien [13]
Commands other giants, including Hagamil [13]
Arno is uglier and less intelligent than Julien. Julien is handsome and clever [13]
Tavis kills Arno with a rune arrow [13]
The enchanted breastplate he wears allows him to disguise as Arlien. It was forged by Lanaxis the Twilight Spirit and makes him nearly indestructible [17]
Ancient History
So it was that Othea gave birth to Twilight from her own dying shadow, thus imprisoning forever the faithless ones who had poisoned her. And when the winds of life whistled no more inside her breast, Annam's final son crawled at last from her womb. Great was his hunger, for Othea had held him captive a century of centuries and fed him not, and so he chased down a hart and ate it from the antlers to the hooves, and thereafter he called himself Hartkiller.
Now it was that Hartkiller remembered that mighty Annam had conceived him as immortal King of the Giants, and so he went to search out his rightful lands. He came first to the hill giants, and to them he said, "I am Hartkiller, your rightful king, and you shall bow down before me and make me a silver crown to set upon my head."
But the hill giants laughed, for Hartkiller seemed no king to them. Though his voice boomed like thunder and his mighty fist could shatter stone, his eternal fast had made of him the puniest of all Annam's sons, so that he stood barely the height of a firbolg and wore his skin upon a frame more haggard than a verbeeg. So the hill giants would not bow, and they called him Othea's bastard and drove him from their lodge with stones and filth.
Hartkiller went next to the grotto of the fire giants, and to them he said, "I am Hartkiller, your rightful king, and you shall bow down before me and make me a golden crown to set upon my head." But the fire giants said they would not have a king who stood as high as their knees, so they roared their mirth and set a crown of cinders upon his head, and they drove him from their cave with lashing tongues of flame.
Hartkiller climbed last to the windy eyrie of the storm giants, and to them he said, "I am Hartkiller, your rightful king, and you shall bow down before me and make me a crown of diamonds to set upon my head."
The storm giants asked if the hill giants had given him a crown of silver, and Hartkiller said they had driven him from their lodge with stones and filth. The storm giants asked if the fire giants had given him a crown of gold, and Hartkiller brandished the crown of cinders they had set upon his head. Then the storm giants said they would not have an oaf and a runt for a king, and they blasted him from their mountain with icy gales of wind.
When he saw that the giants would not have him, Hartkiller turned his back on the empire of Ostoria and went into the lands of the humans, and to them he said, "I am Hartkiller, and if you will have me as your king, I will drive the giants from this valley and make your farms safe from their pillage."
And the humans bowed down before Hartkiller. They made him a crown of steel to set on his head and gave him a wife to bear his sons, and also warriors to lead into battle. Hartkiller went first to the hill giants. With his great axe, he cleaved their chief down the centre and smashed their lodge asunder, and he told them to flee the hills of his valley and go live in the mountains, or live not at all.
Next, Hartkiller poured a tarn into the grotto of the fire giants, and when the flood drove them from their holes he pierced the heart of their dark khan with a lance as long as a tree, and he told them to leave the caves of his valley and go to live among the dwarves of the south, or live not at all.
Hartkiller went last to the eyrie of the storm giants, and they offered him crowns of silver and gold and diamond. Their paramount called him King of Giants, and said all giants would bow down before him if he turned his back on the humans. But Hartkiller would have none of that, for Annam had made him to be a good and loyal king, and now his subjects were men.
So the paramount and the king fought. Their fury boomed over the valley like thunder, spears flashed across the sky like black lightning, and the land shuddered beneath the might of their blows. For a hundred days they battled, never eating nor drinking nor sleeping. The ceaseless clanging of their weapons deafened all who heard it, until the Clearwhirl ran red with the blood of their wounds and their cries filled the air like the keening of spirits. Then did they drop their shields and sink to their knees, and they each struck one last blow before falling dead in each other's embrace.
And Hartkiller's son Brun went to the storm giants with all his father's warriors. He said that henceforth humans would live in the valleys and giants would live in the mountains, and they would all abide in peace. But the storm giants had no fear of Brun, and they told him the humans would live as slaves, or live not at all.
Brun returned to his people and commanded them to prepare for a terrible war, and the storm giants summoned the hill giants from the mountains. They summoned the fire giants from the caves, and together they readied their hosts to march against the humans.
But then it was that a mighty keening rose from a hidden vale. So loud was the wailing that the clouds shattered and fell from the sky, and so terrible was it that all the beasts of the north—all the foxes and all the bears, and the wyverns and all the dragons, too—all turned more pale than snow. A cold mist as purple as twilight seeped from the valley, and the armies of the giants fell to coughing and trembling, and every warrior heard in his own ears the hissing voice of a great spirit, and the Twilight Spirit spoke thus:
"Annam gave you a king, a king destined to bring all giants together and remake the lost empire of your fathers. But you would not have Hartkiller for your king. You laughed at him and you set a crown of cinders upon his head, and you sent him into the arms of the humans. In this, you have defied the will of the All Father, and it is fitting that Hartkiller has driven you from your valley and stolen all your lands.
"But your punishment need not be eternal. There is destined to come a woman of Hartkiller's line who rules your stolen lands. She is your hope, for Annam's blood is strong and it will run thick in her veins. She will bear you a new king, one with the power to undo what you have done and revive the empire of Ostoria. Be patient. Let the humans live in peace, for only through them can you lift the veil of twilight that shrouds the lost glory of your ancestors." [9]
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2021 : 14:57:51
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The more i read about the giant lore the more i like it. Its different.
The ogre magic and behaviour was quite interesting and immersive in the first book. In this one we get a bit more detail on each of the giants and their subraces.
Stone giants never break their word and record everything, are careful and ponderous.
Frost giant value strength and prowess above all and would never sneak attack, but aren't above a bit of rule bending or breaking.
Hagamil and Halflook are interesting, two giants in the same space but never at the same time. The changeover (Tyler Durden style) seems to be controlled by the glowing sceptre. Never explained, but interesting nonetheless.
Lots more extra ancient lore that i don't recall reading in the giantcraft book. Plenty of ideas for potential magical artefacts connected to Hartkiller and the giants.
One thing that struck me was Basil, he read in the books about a scion of an ancient evil which i presume is Julien and Arno. It says he was searching for a treasure long lost before the first human kingdoms arose in Hartsvale. What this treasure is was never explained, but it would appear to be in Castle Cuthbert.
Then we have the mention of a storm giant eyrie in the ancient lore, no mention of where it went, but a wind shattered the clouds. Sounds to me like the eyrie may have landed or a part of it. I did wonder how a giant castle managed to get built on a rocky spire in the middle of the river. Perhaps the storm giant eyrie is Castle Hartwick. The fact that Hartkiller and the storm giant paramount shed their blood until the Clearwhirl turned red suggests the eyrie was above the Clearwhirl.
And has anyone ever noticed that Julien sounds almost like a Titan in his description, tall, strong, handsome, clever, charismatic, human looking. Then there is his bestial, vestigial twin Arno (i don't believe i ever read about Arno being in control of the body). I wonder if Arlien was to be the original name of this new Titan, but Othea perhaps mixed Annam's child with Ulutiu's child and created a hybrid.
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Baltas
Senior Scribe
Poland
955 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2021 : 21:14:37
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With Julian and Arno, it is indeed quite interesting.
If Arlien (or separate Julien) was originally a beautiful, titan-like giant, it sounds similar to Fomorians in 4E and 5E lore (once beautiful, but cursed into being monstous, to embody their ugly hearts) and earlier lore surrounding Karontor (a once beautiful god of giants, fomorians specifically, warped by his jealousy). Though Ettins were rather connected with Grolantor.
This certainly wasn't Troy Dennings' (or Ray Winninger's) intent, but it's curious Demogorgon also was in 4E and 5E lore connected with Ettins stating he created them. This could be used to explain Demogorgon was somehow involved with making Arlien to his two-headed self.
[edit]
Maybe Othea merged the Fomorian ancestor (one of Ulutiu's children) with one of her children with Annam? with Arlien not being imidatelly visibly deformed, if maybe having a split personality.
With some of Arlien's chidren, due to connection him, mutating into Ettin, or Fomorians, when he was transformed. This would ask the question though, why
I take this idea, as in Giantcraft, Fomorians have a myth the prophesied king of giants would be born as a fomorian, would be born among Fomorians. This is a spoiler, but let's say Arno and Julian's child, will kinda qualify, as also being the descendant of the Hartkiller too. Ettin are also among the most deformed of giants, kinda parallel to Fomorians among giant-kin.
Both Fomorians and Ettin have some links to orcs - Ettin look orcish, while Fomorians were stated to get their evil-eye power from Gruumsh.
Last, Julian also resembles somewhat in story mythological Fomrians like Elatha and Bres.
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Edited by - Baltas on 29 Dec 2021 13:29:40 |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Baltas
Senior Scribe
Poland
955 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2021 : 15:07:26
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Glad you like it. One part got cut in my comment, that is my one issue in my theory - "This would ask the question though, why Ettin are counted as true giants, while Fomirians as giant-kin?"
I guess though it could be decided politically, and/or with help of priests which one strain of Arno and Julian's children shoul be counted as true giants, and descended from Annam, even if in reality that difference could be minimal or none (and explain why ettin are just above giant-kin in the Ordning).
[edit]
Also, I also now noticed Arno and Julian and his children - ettin, were the only of Annam's true sons, who didn't get land/a kingdom in Ostoria, just like sons of Ulutiu and their giant-kin children (as stated in Giantcraft). Further showing Ettin are kinda implied to be in a strange gray area in terms of relation between giant-kin and true giants.
I re-read Monster Mythology, and it also states the ancestors of Fomorians were beautiful ("some of the fairest of the giants"), but Karantor twisted them with dark magic, to be as twisted as him both in in spirit and body. |
Edited by - Baltas on 31 Dec 2021 18:52:33 |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jan 2022 : 15:54:49
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Shadows of Doom (1358 DR)
Ed Greenwood
The Book of Mysteries discusses the matter of Mystra’s essence as the author understands it. The book is hidden beneath a rune graven flagstone under the circular table in the innermost chamber of Candlekeep [prologue]
Mystra’s essence is held by herself, Azuth and a handful of mortals all self-willed. When one of these dies the essence of Mystra is returned to Toril and slowly recycled to Mystra (no one else can use it). [prologue]
Those who hold Mystra’s power keep it secret (for their own protection). They cannot be located or affected by magic that spies upon the mind or tames the will. Will live many hundreds of years (unless slain), resisting disease, poison, and the ravages of time. Their eyes tend towards blue and their hair towards silver. Those who hold Mystra’s power can all link thoughts with each other and communicate telepathically over any distance [prologue,1]
The Magister holds Mystra’s power as does Khelben and the 7 sisters. Mystra holds as much power for herself as all her mortal vessels combined [prologue]
Mystra fashioned a pendant containing her power in preparation for her demise [prologue]
During the ToT new stars appeared in the sky [prologue]
Elminster
Elminster possesses a book written by a necromancer of lost Netheril (Aumvor????). A crazed wits, paranoid, raving, disguised his knowledge behind code, jargon, misinformation, and mystical gibberish. Indecipherable to most sane wizards [1]
In Elminster’s home, Elminster has prepared a number of protective potions and antidotes for emergencies, hidden in a flask on a certain shelf in the kitchen [1]
When Mystra vanished during ToT, she poured her power into Elminster, it jumbled his mind and memories [1]
Azuth, Noumea (the Lady Magister), Storm Silverhand, High Lady Alustriel, and Nethreen (the Simbul) the Witch Queen of Aglarond. All came to Elminster’s mind after Mystra vanished [1]
Elminster watches over Mourngrym and Randal Morn. He leaves the Simbul (with the help of Storm) to watch over them in his absence and help the Harpers as best she can [1]
Elminster hides two plain brass (magic) rings in a rail post on his stairs. [2]
Elminster learned to harp from a beauty in Myth Drannor before it fell [3]
Zhent mage and warriors sent to kill Elminster, have a wand that pointed at Sharantyr (who was travelling with Elminster). Travelled through a mage-gate (an amber hued oval appearing in mid air) to Daggerwood from High Dale [3]
Elminster has a wand of magic missiles (alag for one missile, baulgoss for two missiles), a belt flask containing an elixir of health (cures disease, poison, etc), a ring of feather falling, a ring that turns away some spells. A ring of regeneration (works slowly). Wand of lightning, and his pipe (which holds a trick or two). All these items are old (from Myth Drannor mostly) and may not work as expected in modern faerun. [4]
Sabryn, Mulser, and a few Zhentilar attacked Elminster in Daggerwoods using a mage-gate [4]
Shadowdale
Aumry’s Feast, the day when the people of Shadowdale gather to toast their current lord in the name of a much beloved predecessor. [1]
Storm Silverhand is as famous among the Harpers as Mintiper or Sharanralee. Now semi retired and trains Harpers in the ways of song and battle [2]
Belkram of Everlund, originally from Baldur’s Gate (his truename is Kelgarh) and Itharr of Athkatla (a burly man a hand shorter than storm but much heavier, his truename is Olanshin), rangers and Harpers, training swords with Storm Silverhand. Belkram accidentally stabbed Storm while she was surrounded by blue fire, she was unharmed but his blade will now never rust [2]
Storm has a bastard sword that glints blue (magical???) [2]
Sylune, true name is Vethril, sometimes spars (as a ghost) with Storm using a black bladed battleaxe [2]
Storm warns Belkram and Itharr that for a while the most important being in the world is Elminster. All Harpers must aid and protect him, he cannot use his own magic [2]
Jhaleen, girl child in Shadowdale, brown eyes. Elminster saw in his dreams that she will one day ride dragons when she is older [3]
Balrik Daershun, rode in the forefront of Lashan’s troops as they cut down Sembian lancers on the road south of Essembra. When Lashan’s host routed, Balrik and a dozen comrades cut down a well armed cormyrean patrol to escape. Balrik is quick with a blade. Now him and his surviving comrades (3 in total) are brigands operating in the forests of the Dales (Shadowdale at the moment) [3]
Gaerth Wolfarm, brigand with Balrik Daershun [3]
Albeir o’ the Axe. Veteran of half a hundred mercenary skirmishes on the Westgate caravan roads and in the Vilhon [3]
New temples in Shadowdale, west of the river, near ruined castle Grimstead [3]
Sharantyr, Knight of Myth Drannor, originally from Baldur’s Gate [20]
Other Lore
Luth’s fabled bull, very wide (from over-eating I think????) [1]
Ghalaster of Thay, Murdrimm the Hierarchmage (a Calishite), Manshoon, all overly ambitious mages that might seek to seize Elminster’s power [1]
The Simbul has a hidden refuge deep in the Yuirwood, used by her and others in the past to hide [1]
Chilled green Calishite wine [2]
Cross arms on the breast and bow from the waist – as they do at court in Suzail or on the Sword Coast when meeting royalty [3]
Gallant knights perform a low, hand sweeping bow [3]
Swagger-swords [3]
Daggerwood, south east of Daggerdale. Home to orcs. Wooded country of ravines and ridges [3]
Bilarro’s Iron Spheres. Originally devised by Azuth himself (if you know Azuth’s truename you can command the power of any Iron Sphere, even if you do not know its actual command word. Bilarro, a much later and lesser mage, found one of these spheres, worked out how to recreate it, and retired fat and rich selling Iron Sphere’s to swordsmen fearful of magic. It is said that an apprentice used an Iron Sphere on Bilarro himself and threw him into a pond to see if he could swim [4]
Myth Drannan wands can be voice set (like a magic mouth) but only once [5]
The spellsinger Andarra was dying in a battle near the Greycloak Hills with Zhents from Darkhold. She used her lifeforce to power a song that made all magic go wild so the Zhentarim mages would have to fight with weapons. The Harpers won that fight. Belkram was present [5]
"Mages who walk in darkness," went the old saying, "cloak themselves in it and
think themselves strong—until the day it swallows them, and they come not out again." – old saying first uttered by Elminster [6]
Firequench, ruby red liqueur [6]
Belkram once evaded a Zhent group in Luskan, hid above their barracks and stole all their gear while they searched [7]
Black Stag, inn in Selgaunt
Lissel of Daerlun, merchant
The Laughing Hero of the North, spoken of in legends (this could have been Elminster)
Reddarn wine, hot spiced drink [11]
Mineira, a healer in Saerb, friends with Irreph Mulmar. Can get word to the Harpers via Elminster in Shadowdale [12]
Stealspell. Takes the most powerful spell out of a wizard’s mind and gives it to the caster of the stealspell. Known to mages of Myth Drannor [20]
Belkram’s parents were on a Nao (a type of ship) called the Dancing Dolphin sailing out of Baldur’s Gate. Pirates attacked and his parents were killed. Belkram took to the road. [20]
Itharr ran away from Athkatla and Amn, didn’t like cheats [20]
Belkram and Itharr met in an inn in Daggerford. Cult of the Dragon agents were there, they attacked a Master Harper Osryk (who slew them all), who sent Belkram and Itharr to Berdusk. [20]
Master Harper Osryk has been missing for a while [20]
Obslin Minstrelwish’s favourite musical instrument is a songhorn. He sent Belkram and Itharr to be adventurers before they could join the Way of the Harp (become Harpers) [20]
Last time Elminster was in Spellgard he was running from and fighting a family of mages who had learned how to turn themselves into dragons (House Orogoth????) [21]
Lathlamber, sparkling, glowing, warm wine [23]
Every archlich may choose how to spend their entire life and energy in a single task. Lady Saharel chose to expend hers slaying Manshoon because he attacked Elminster in her home [23]
The Flame Void, a place not quite out of Faerun, yet not in the Faerun that most folk can see and reach. A void of blackness, lit only by glowing purple mists and winking lights. No horizon or boundary. Mystra often leaves messages for Elminster in a tower in the Flame Void. No metal can be taken inside the tower [24]
Zhentarim
Manshoon, High Lord of Zhentil Keep, Lord of the Zhentarim, Overmage of the Dark Ring, the Hand of Darkness. Can drain the life and spell energy from rival Zhentarim mages all over Faerun [1,21,23]
Ithaqull, largest beholder, working with Manshoon [1]
Mulser, Zhentilar warrior, serves Heladar Longspear. Mulser and the zhentilar mostly charge tolls for passage through High Dale. Slain by Elminster and Sharantyr [4]
Saragh, Zhentilar warrior, serves Heladar Longspear. [4]
Heladar Longspear, Zhentilar commander of Zhents in High Dale (lord of High Dale at the moment). Served in the taking of Daggerdale and the Citadel of the Raven. Hard, but a good blade. Commands 40 Zhentilar with a dozen mercenaries (mostly crossbowmen) from Sembia. Stout, hook nosed, massive, in well-worn armour. Ruled High Dale for over a moon. Slain by Itharr and Belkram [4,8,10,13]
Angruin “Stormcloak” Myrvult. Zhentarim mage supporting Heladar Longspear. Commands mages Hcarla Bellwind (bad one, untrustworthy), Sabryn (slain by Elminster and Sharantyr), Nordryn Spellbinder (quiet). Commands apprentices Mrinden (slain by Elminster and Sharantyr) and Kalassyn (who rode to battle in Daggerdale and can cast fire or lightning), Haragh Mnistlyn (strutting dandy always wears court robes) and Ildomyl (arrogant and sneaky, mostly do guard duty). Haragh slain by Sharantyr and Elminsters. Owns a death dagger – a blade of black glass a Zhentarim blade. Slain by Irreph Mulmar [4,16,20]
Zhents are sponsoring brigands in the Vast Swamp which are preying on the roads and making travel on the Daerlun road difficult at the moment. Most caravans are using High Dale and having to pay Zhent tolls [4]
Zhents killed the constable of High Dale and their archers. The priests are locked up in the castle. Most Zhentilar troops are barracked in Eastkeep and Westkeep [4]
Sword, a title of Zhentilar warrior.
Wolves the name of the men at arms in High Dale, actually Zhentilar warriors commanded by a Sword [5]
Thalmond, old Zhentilar warrior. Slain by Belkram [7]
Oversword, title of Zhentilar warrior
Cabalar, Dhondys, Sabras, Mykhalar, all Zhentilar warriors
Ondarr, Zhentilar warrior [11]
Kalam Bloodsword, veteran Zhentilar, commands the Wolves. Slain by Belkram and Itharr [12]
Zhentilar’s that ignore signal horns are executed [13]
Dannath, Uthren, Balagh, Zhentilar warriors [17]
Gathen Srund, Left Axe to Lord Longspear (commander????), awesomely strong. Slain by Belkram and Itharr [18]
Sunthrun Blackshoulder, Right Axe to Lord Longspear. Cruel, butchers women and younglings. Owns a black, evil (magic???) sword about 5 ft long. Slain by Sharantyr, Belkram, and Itharr [18]
Zarduil, Zhentilar warrior. Heladar Longspear’s best fighter [19]
Mashann and Raeve, Zhentilar warriors and bodyguards to Lord Longspear [19]
Anaithe, bed companion to Manshoon [20]
Avaerl of Sembresh, mageling of the Zhentarim. Knows the truename of a powerful mage in the Zhentarim (“Gulkuth”) does not know who the mage is though [21]
Zalarth Bloodbrow, mageling of the Zhentarim. Owns a teleport ring [21]
Lesker, Zhentarim agent (rogue) [21]
Manshoon has tried to kill Elminster twice and been forced to retreat [21]
Belaghar, Zhentarim wizard in service to Manshoon [23]
Quyssztellan, beholder, works with Manshoon [23]
Manshoon hid a number of clones and a Rod of Rulership in a hidden crypt beneath Zhentil Keep (family crypt perhaps????). Guarded by a Zhentilar who is commanded to never be without a weapon in hand. When he was slain by Lady Saharel a clone awoke and claimed the rod and became the new Manshoon. [23]
High Dale
Eastkeep, Westkeep, High Castle
Belaerus, merchant of High Dale
Durvin the cellarer of High Dale
The Shieldsong of High Dale. Old song
Irreph Mulmar, former High Constable of High Dale, deposed by Heladar Longspear. The other constables of High Dale were slaughtered. Irreph was rendered docile by Angruin’s magic and now works at the mill. Former ranger [8,9,11]
Council of High Dale (many of its members are zhent agents [9]
Jatham Villore, fat, wheezing, heavy lidded weaver. Member of the Council of High Dale. Loud mouthed pest and far wiser than he pretends to be. Agent of the Red Wizards of Thay. Uses spells to hide his identify and abilities. Doesn’t kill people if he can help it. Obscured the Zhent spells when they were searching for ELminster and Sharantyr [9,10,21]
The Wolves, men at arms defending High Dale, actually Zhentilar warriors [9]
Xanther Srildar, Sembian merchant. Member of the Council of High Dale. May be more than he appears. Secret spy for Manshoon, not even Heladar or Angruin knew of his allegiance to the Zhentarim [9,20]
Blakkal Mord, dark eyes, dark brows, leather worker. Member of the Council of High Dale. Hates newcomers to High Dale, especially Zhents. A warrior, lived in High Dale a long time. Warrior in service to the Cult of the Dragon. Has a ring that shield’s his thoughts [9,19]
Thammer Saddusk, wine dealer and merchant from Sembia. Member of the Council of High Dale. Moved to High Dale in semi-retirement from the bustle of Sembia shortly after Haladar Longspear became Lord of High Dale [9]
Gulkin Hammarlin, burly, barrel chested former sellsword. Best carpenter, glazer, and roofer in High Dale. Member of the Council of High Dale. Hates mages and Zhentil Keep. From an old naval family in Daerlun. Had a short, hard mercenary career then lived in High Dale for over 20 winters. [9]
Kromm Kadar, blacksmith, recent addition to the Council of High Dale. Secret Zhentilar warrior of bannerlord rank. Strong, silent, observant. He replaced the former High Dale blacksmith and councilman who was a Sembian spy (killed when the Zhents arrived) [9]
Alazs Ironwood, the Sword of Melvaunt, horsebreeder and trader. Member of the Council of High Dale. Sarcastic. Zhentilar veteran with much experience in battle. His rank is a Sword [9,16]
Cheth Moonviper, balding, birdlike alchemist and psychic. Finger of the Black Hand (Banite priest). Blood member of one of the oldest Zhent noble families. Haughty, fussy, prissy, perfumed, and giggling. Member of the Council of High Dale [9]
Rundeth Hobyltar, local tailor and dyer. Smart and sly, laconic and cynical, appears easy-going. Shrewd warrior, often hired by Sembian interests to ferret out and destroy outlaws in the mountains and thieves in the big port cities of the Land of Silver (Sembia). Member of the Council of High Dale [9]
The Hullack Stairs, the western end of the High Dale beyond Westkeep. Elminster placed a stone marker in the Hullack Stairs around 300 years ago [9]
The Shepherds’ Rest, inn in High Dale. Run by Yoster, old warrior, has an old battle axe. Once saw Elminster battle a bunch of mages in Sembia that were enslaving people with charm magic [10,11]
Ylyndaera Mulmar, daughter of Irreph Mulmar. Set to sewing flour sacks by the Zhents. Young, gangly [11]
Baerus, old man, former warrior [11]
Ireavyn, goodwife [12]
Ulraea, fat woman, mate of Jatham, knows about his allegiance to the Red Wizards [13,21]
Gedaern, old shopkeeper, owns an old broadsword, old former warrior [15]
Lhassar, old man [15]
Jharina, goodwife, husband owns a horse [15]
Tanshlee [15]
Customary for the Council of High Dale to choose who rules in the dale [16]
In the High Castle, the old jakes pit has tunnels leading to a tower, the kitchens, the great hall, guest rooms, and audience chambers. No longer used, the jakes pit has been covered over [17]
Maerelee, wench at the High Castle [18]
An old Gate is located in the cesspool below High Castle. Elminster knows about it from long ago. It leads to a fallen hall Spellgard. It is a one way Gate [20,21]
Guards Tower, in the High Castle, has a guest chamber [21]
Spellgard
Formerly Saharelgard, now named Spellgard by others out of fear [23]
Only one mirror in the ruin, Lady Saharel smashed the others [23]
Lady Saharel is an archlich. Lacks the magic to restore her home to its former condition. Sleeps more often than not [23]
Lady Saharel, Sorceresss of Saharelgard of the High Mages of Netheril. Gave her remaining life and energy slaying Manshoon when he attacked Elminster in Spellgard [23]
The Fountain Hall, one of the few places in Spellgard with furniture left [23]
Elminster once broke the defensive spells in Saharelgard and walked into Lady Saharel’s bedchamber [23]
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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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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2022 : 23:11:55
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| Years with known hard winters are 492, 983, and 1126. Now, 492 and 983 had a lot of snow those winters (491-492 and 982-983 winter seasons). They could have been long, too. 1126 is mentioned to have a hard winter in the Great Dales by Ed. No snow amount was mentioned so that could have been the year with an exceptionally long winter. |
"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 |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2022 : 14:50:31
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The Faerûnian pantheon was a merging of the regional human pantheons, of which there were many. It represented a coalescence where deific names survived, but not necessarily the deity who carried it. Lathander was the member of an as yet undetermined regional human pantheon. His name was the one that the "sun god" (among other portfolios) retained when the Faerûnian pantheon came into being. It might not have been the "actual" Lathander of X pantheon. It could have been (example only) Haruk of the Calishite pantheon who maintained his godhood, giving up his war portfolio to the deity Tempus, his fire portfolio to Kossuth, and his gold portfolio to Waukeen, to maintain his sun portfolio and collect others, while the true Lathander of the (example only) Chondathian pantheon was subsumed and ceased to exist, except in name only. There may have been a shuffling of names, and maybe tweaks in that regard (heck, we had Cyric and Cyruk after the ToT) but it's unlikely that there was cross-pollination of the human Faerûnian regional pantheons before the Dawn Cataclysm such that the name evolution you describe occurred. But, as with all such things, there are always exceptions.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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TheIriaeban
Master of Realmslore
USA
1289 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2022 : 16:16:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison
So 330 DR is the coldest winter on record and part of a series of harsh winters that blankets the Calishar Emirates in snow and causing frost giant incursions in 331 DR. Not inconceivable for these cold conditions to last into summer.
Source? I would like to see what was said so I can maybe determine if that was limited to just that area or if it was a realms-wide event. |
"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 |
Posted - 09 Apr 2022 : 16:23:50
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
The Faerûnian pantheon was a merging of the regional human pantheons, of which there were many. It represented a coalescence where deific names survived, but not necessarily the deity who carried it. Lathander was the member of an as yet undetermined regional human pantheon. His name was the one that the "sun god" (among other portfolios) retained when the Faerûnian pantheon came into being. It might not have been the "actual" Lathander of X pantheon. It could have been (example only) Haruk of the Calishite pantheon who maintained his godhood, giving up his war portfolio to the deity Tempus, his fire portfolio to Kossuth, and his gold portfolio to Waukeen, to maintain his sun portfolio and collect others, while the true Lathander of the (example only) Chondathian pantheon was subsumed and ceased to exist, except in name only. There may have been a shuffling of names, and maybe tweaks in that regard (heck, we had Cyric and Cyruk after the ToT) but it's unlikely that there was cross-pollination of the human Faerûnian regional pantheons before the Dawn Cataclysm such that the name evolution you describe occurred. But, as with all such things, there are always exceptions.
-- George Krashos
Well i'm sure i've read in Ed's tweets that portfolios are human constructs.
The changing of Amaunator's name into Atar lends credence to the evolution of names over time (even the names of divine beings).
In the novel this information came from (King Pinch) the priestess of Lathander claims to receive messages in dream visions, so its entirely possible for things, including religious ideas to be corrupted by time and misinterpretation.
And the timeframe i'm thinking about is from a few centuries before Shoon onwards, which is well within the timeframe of the Dawn Cataclysm. Races of Faerun says that any Shaaran Pantheon (if it existed) was subsumed by the Jhaamdath and Calishite pantheon, which means it is possible that some merging happened in the wake of the fall of Jhaamdath, and during the time of Shoon.
I'm not saying my idea is correct, as i'm sure you already have the correct answer somewhere in your brain and archive, but nothing should be static, including religions and the names of the divine. If the church of Talos can contain the religious iconography of 3 separate religions merged together (hence him having a hand with 3 different attachments), then why not merge names, and "portfolios", and ideals, and tenets.
I'm a firm advocate of the believers shaping the religion rather than the other way around. |
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Edited by - Gary Dallison on 09 Apr 2022 16:45:47 |
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Novel Lore
