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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jun 2023 : 13:37:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X
I just realized that we were forgetting something: swordmages (the 4e equivalent to the Eldritch Knights of 5e). They did exist on Abeir way before the Spellplague exchanged lands (see the Anarch of Shyr paragon path in the FRPG, p.47).
So, there we have a canon example of arcane magic used on Abeir. And it is a discipline different to that of the wizards. The closer a Torilian wizard has is the bladesinger, and that one is elf-only.
Just to make it easier for others to read and follow this
You have studied the ways of the anarchs of Shyr, an order of genasi swordmages who developed their arts thousands of years ago in Abeir. Students of this school harness the power of the Elemental Chaos to unleash devastation against their enemies
For centuries the anarchs defended the genasi realm against the draconic empires. They also served to check the power of Shyran lords when the rulers of that land veered toward tyranny. The order fell apart when the anarchs lost their way and turned to meddling and kingmaking. A handful of masters who remained true to the order’s ancient purpose preserved the anarch teachings. When Abeir and Toril merged briefly during the Spellplague, anarch disciples brought this ancient tradition to Faerûn.
Yes, similar to eldritch knights in 5e. Another good comparison could be the 3.5e edition Tome of Battle with the swordsage or warblade using the desert wind discipline, though that precludes cold and electricity. But its another good example of two things. Their magic drew on the elemental planes and their magic often required some kind of "focus" or "component" in order to work. In the descriptions of this class, that focus would be a weapon.
What this does make me think ... partly returning to Maztica... is that taking some concepts from Tome of Battle and applying them to Pluma and Hishna would make for a good mix. The Tiger Claw discipline very easily meshes with the concepts of Hishna. The White Raven discipline could fit somewhat with the ideas of Qotal and Pluma magic in that its more about cooperation... not a perfect fit on this one mind you. It does make me think another discipline "The feathered serpent" might be an interesting thing to develop.
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Zeromaru X
Great Reader
Colombia
2476 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2023 : 21:08:52
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I've found two more examples of arcane magic users in Abeir before the Spellplague. These paragon paths are special, as their prerequisites were that your PC must be multiclass of an arcane and a primal class.
Shyran Spiritblade
Prerequisites: Shaman and swordmage, Akanûl regional background
In the days of old Shyr, the practices of the swordmage were forbidden to all but the favoured of the ruling primordial Karshimis. Many genasi, however, took to the wilds outside of civilization to learn their ancestral craft in secret. Deep in the wilds, some of these students found masters that had become sympathetic with the primal world, carrying on an ancient discipline that blended arcane prowess with primal resonance. You have carried on this tradition, calling your spirit ally to your mystic blade, resulting in a fighting style unknown to almost all others on Toril.
You have an intense bond to both your blade and your spirit friend, such that both have become inseparable from you. You often act as an emissary between the wilds of the frontier and the learned halls of civilization, spending time in both worlds. Your balanced upbringing means others often rely upon you to be the source of stability when things go awry.
Dragonfoe Ragespell
Prerequisites: Barbarian and sorcerer, Tymanther regional background
While the dragonborn suffered under the reign of the Empress Dragon of Skelkor, many were left adrift in the world, their families and homes taken from them without warning or care. Some of these dragonborn from the tribes at the fringes of civilization learned to awaken their latent magic and fuel their primal fury with arcane power. Becoming the scourge of dragons and their allies, these relentless warriors lived to bring down their prey. In time, they taught their secrets to tribes of other races that also suffered under draconic rule. You are one of their kind, a dragonfoe ragespell, a cauldron of rage and power set upon a mission to rid the world of the creatures that once enslaved your people.
You blend the primal fury of your tribe’s roots with your innate manipulation of arcane forces to become the ultimate big game hunter. You prefer to take on your sworn enemy—dragons—but your abilities lend themselves well to bringing down any big threat your group might face. You take many risks getting up close to creatures that tower above you, but you know that without fully giving into the fury that constantly smolders within you, there would be no future for your tribe.
Source: Dragon 377, "Adventurers of the Realms: Displaced Lands and Dire Frontiers".
These Paragon Paths are interesting because they show us that the Abeirans had to use weird and unique practices to use arcane magic, as the common ones (wizard) were more difficult to use. And the Dragonfoe Ragespell PP confirms us that sorcerers were also a thing in Abeir way before the Spellplague. |
Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world... |
Edited by - Zeromaru X on 26 Jun 2023 21:17:10 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2023 : 14:50:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X
I've found two more examples of arcane magic users in Abeir before the Spellplague. These paragon paths are special, as their prerequisites were that your PC must be multiclass of an arcane and a primal class.
Shyran Spiritblade
Prerequisites: Shaman and swordmage, Akanûl regional background
In the days of old Shyr, the practices of the swordmage were forbidden to all but the favoured of the ruling primordial Karshimis. Many genasi, however, took to the wilds outside of civilization to learn their ancestral craft in secret. Deep in the wilds, some of these students found masters that had become sympathetic with the primal world, carrying on an ancient discipline that blended arcane prowess with primal resonance. You have carried on this tradition, calling your spirit ally to your mystic blade, resulting in a fighting style unknown to almost all others on Toril.
You have an intense bond to both your blade and your spirit friend, such that both have become inseparable from you. You often act as an emissary between the wilds of the frontier and the learned halls of civilization, spending time in both worlds. Your balanced upbringing means others often rely upon you to be the source of stability when things go awry.
Dragonfoe Ragespell
Prerequisites: Barbarian and sorcerer, Tymanther regional background
While the dragonborn suffered under the reign of the Empress Dragon of Skelkor, many were left adrift in the world, their families and homes taken from them without warning or care. Some of these dragonborn from the tribes at the fringes of civilization learned to awaken their latent magic and fuel their primal fury with arcane power. Becoming the scourge of dragons and their allies, these relentless warriors lived to bring down their prey. In time, they taught their secrets to tribes of other races that also suffered under draconic rule. You are one of their kind, a dragonfoe ragespell, a cauldron of rage and power set upon a mission to rid the world of the creatures that once enslaved your people.
You blend the primal fury of your tribe’s roots with your innate manipulation of arcane forces to become the ultimate big game hunter. You prefer to take on your sworn enemy—dragons—but your abilities lend themselves well to bringing down any big threat your group might face. You take many risks getting up close to creatures that tower above you, but you know that without fully giving into the fury that constantly smolders within you, there would be no future for your tribe.
Source: Dragon 377, "Adventurers of the Realms: Displaced Lands and Dire Frontiers".
These Paragon Paths are interesting because they show us that the Abeirans had to use weird and unique practices to use arcane magic, as the common ones (wizard) were more difficult to use. And the Dragonfoe Ragespell PP confirms us that sorcerers were also a thing in Abeir way before the Spellplague.
So, my thoughts here are that we could use the Shyran Spiritblade for my idea that Abeir had ties to the Spirit World instead of Faerie.. and that this is where "normally dying" souls went on Abeir instead of the outer planes (which are "gods lands"). "Other deaths" may have gone on to the plane of shadow and negative material plane. Exactly what that means may be nebulous at present, but perhaps certain spells and/or undead may force souls to not go to the spirit world. The undead of the spirit world too may have no ties to the negative plane... in effect they are what the Rashemi would call a Telthor.
On the ragespell, yes, Ed has noted this as well, that WIZARDS in Abeir were next to unknown if not totally unknown. I personally like the idea that PRIOR to the spellplague this was true, and FOLLOWING the spellplague Toril's transfer started changing this. However, I prefer to make the wizards in Abeir to still be weaker. By that... no shenanigans to get past toting material components. No shenanigans to get past making spells silent or stilled, etc... without doing something like "worldfire". Maybe the idea behind 5e concentration was in effect (i.e. more spells require concentration to maintain), and the wizards that were in Abeir started focusing on mental related ideas on how to maintain multiple concentrations. Maybe certain types of planar related spells didn't work or were harder, while possibly elemental related spells were easier. Maybe for a long while they can only cast close to home and eventually they develop "magic batteries" somewhat akin to "mini-mythallars" that they use to expand this range, and eventually turn into portable "battery" devices called "weave caches"(these mini-mythallars might take elemental energy and turn it into "arcane energy"). Of course, they call these "mini-mythallars" something like "weave anchors". A wizard stripped of these portable devices might be unable to cast entirely if in an area without a weave anchor nearby. In short, the wizards that show up are NOT decimating the world and destroying dragons left and right, but they might be able to give dragons pause in a way that they haven't seen in millenia of ruling.... and their long age causes slow response as they ponder this quandary, allowing humans to build moderate power in what would seem a flash to dragonkind.
Hmmm, and in fact... one of the things I had been playing with was the idea of the Netherese exploring into Anchorome (and I say "Netherese", but the enclaves that I was exploring possessed powerful "magic users" from other cultures of the time such as Calimshan, Jhaamdath, Mulhorand, etc....). We know that there was some research on mythallars that possibly were powered by other sources... why not have these Netherese in Anchorome studying this same idea, but possibly with using elemental energy or spirit world/primal energy.
Also, a big change from 3e to 4e was the concept of the elemental chaos AND the concept that the abyss was tied to it. What if in Abeir, prior to the spellplague, it didn't so much have the separate and distinct/orderly elemental planes (or they were smaller), but they had a huge "elemental chaos". Also, in a similar way, what if they had demons and an abyss that was tied to the "elemental chaos" of their world, but that it was akin to a COPY of the abyss OR select layers of it... or basically a single vast place of "demonkind" warring against one another as well as primordials. The primordials that were in elemental areas that were primarily one elemental type might have represented the order against the demonic chaos.... such that beings like Efreeti may have been the equivalent of the lawful "devils" that fought against chaotic "demonkind", possibly hiring dao as mercenaries to act like "yugoloths" in some respects... while Marids and djinn oppose all of these somewhat VAGUELY like "angels". On all this last bit, just throwing out a basic idea of rivalry, and not intending mirroring things exactly. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 27 Jun 2023 15:06:30 |
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Is anyone running an Abeir campaign?
