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Senbar Flay
Learned Scribe
185 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 03:26:05
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I was wondering what this item is does it exist I remeber Elminster mentoning it and that Halaster Blackcloak has. if it is real what does it do any stats? please tell.
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Imagination is more important than knowledge for knowledge is limited imagination encircles the world.- Albert Einstein |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 03:52:17
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It's real but hasn't got stats - yet. Maybe the upcoming "Waterdeep" sourcebook can illuminate us all.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 06:41:14
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It was originally mentioned in a few throwaway FR sentences from Steven Schend in a bunch of scattered places - the old TSR FR website frontpiece flavour quote (which also mentioned the Seven Imaskarna and Jhauraq "the Paragon Blade") and the small article in Dragon that showcased the upcoming Volo's Guide to Waterdeep IIRC - a long time ago now. He might also have snuck it in to the Dragon article on the Harpers: "I Sing a Song by Deepwater Bay".
Steven always did know just that bit too much about the Mad Mage of Undermountain.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 07:00:49
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Ah. I recall the reference in "I Sing a Song by Deepwater Bay". Though I don't have the issue. George, do you have the relevant issue number that the article was published in?
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
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Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 07:26:09
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It was Dragon #211, p.29.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36876 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 08:13:55
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I actually have that article as a Word document... A quick scan of the file reveals no mention of the Grandstaff.
Hitting the Dragon Magazine Archive CDs, I only find the word Grandstaff once, and that's as the last name of a real-world person. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 09:43:11
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| Archive CDs? That sounds like something I should pick up one of these days . . . . |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 11:35:01
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Blast. If they're that old, then with my luck even if I found them they wouldn't work. Same thing happened with the CD archive National Geographic magazines my father gave me. They only work on Win95.  |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 15:35:09
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| The Dragon Magazine Archive is still available from some retailers, such as SVGames.com. By far the best-value RPG product ever published. |
Edited by - Faraer on 03 Jul 2004 15:35:43 |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1727 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 16:22:32
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
It was originally mentioned in a few throwaway FR sentences from Steven Schend in a bunch of scattered places - the old TSR FR website frontpiece flavour quote (which also mentioned the Seven Imaskarna and Jhauraq "the Paragon Blade") and the small article in Dragon that showcased the upcoming Volo's Guide to Waterdeep IIRC - a long time ago now. He might also have snuck it in to the Dragon article on the Harpers: "I Sing a Song by Deepwater Bay".
While I buried a lot of lore into that article (and thanks for remembering it, by the by), I couldn't find the Grandstaff info there. I finally found it in CLOAK & DAGGER, under the duties of the tel'teu'kiira (Moonstars):
"Other questionable missions involve stealing (or planting) relics, artifacts, and items to reapportion them to whom Khelben deems appropriate (sometimes the agent herself). Items hunted and recovered (or released) by the Moonstars include two of the Seven Swords of the Shoon, the Tapestry of Saint Alaric, the Grand Staff of Hilather, and the Black Gauntlet of Bane’s Vengeance."
Just an odd note, but I think I put more info on the Gauntlet into Sea of Fallen Stars, but I can't recall if it made it into the final print or not.
This thread made me think about discussions I've had with Bryon Wischstadt and Eric Boyd over the years, one of whom would alternately threaten to compile a list of all the named items I'd seeded throughout the Realms and force me to generate more material on them beyond the name. If someone were to make that list (and please tell me where the original reference was from, to give me some context as to where my thoughts were going or coming from), I might just be able to scribble out something fun for ye olde Candlekeep visitors....
And for the record, the Grand Staff of Hilather is a 86 inch long staff of white ash that seems twisted and knotted (as in tied, not covered in knots). At the top of the staff, the twists become one big whorl, leaving a cavity through which four gems spin and float. These are not ioun stones but something different as their shapes and colors shift depending on the time of day, depth beneath the earth, and the presence of certain types of magics and extraplanar creatures. As for what it does.....
quote:
Steven always did know just that bit too much about the Mad Mage of Undermountain.
 Probably, George.... The Mad Mage is dear to me, as the Ruins of Undermountain box was the first time I'd worked on the Realms and got to know Ed Greenwood, so it'll always have special memories for me, as will City of Splendors. I'm still a little disappointed that they put hair on him, though (in the 3E FRCS); I wanted him to stand out visually from the other big wizards so I made him bald with a beard. Now he looks like an unkempt Elminster. <shrug> Still a good illo, though....
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 16:52:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
...I might just be able to scribble out something fun for ye olde Candlekeep visitors....
And for the record, the Grand Staff of Hilather is a 86 inch long staff of white ash that seems twisted and knotted (as in tied, not covered in knots). At the top of the staff, the twists become one big whorl, leaving a cavity through which four gems spin and float. These are not ioun stones but something different as their shapes and colors shift depending on the time of day, depth beneath the earth, and the presence of certain types of magics and extraplanar creatures. As for what it does.....
Impressive...
Now, if only we could pry the secrets from the Mad Schend about what the staff actually does. But then, I guess we have DMs who will likely fill in those particular details...
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36876 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2004 : 17:54:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
Blast. If they're that old, then with my luck even if I found them they wouldn't work. Same thing happened with the CD archive National Geographic magazines my father gave me. They only work on Win95.
The GUI interface works just fine on my machine, and I'm running ME (yes, I am to be pitied for that). And even if it didn't, all the issues are on the CDs in .pdf format. I usually find what issue I'm looking for, and then close the program and open the .pdf directly.
I lucked out and got my Archive CDs on clearance. TSR was dumping them off at a really nice price, and I jumped on it. Ditto for the Interactive Atlas. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2004 : 03:09:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The GUI interface works just fine on my machine, and I'm running ME (yes, I am to be pitied for that). And even if it didn't, all the issues are on the CDs in .pdf format. I usually find what issue I'm looking for, and then close the program and open the .pdf directly.
Hmmm... interesting. The alternative I was suggesting was simply just deleting a line in the system's registry. That would allow the CD to be used as is. But, I think I prefer your alternative Wooly. There's less chance for those who are not completely computer literate to make a mistake and delete the wrong line...
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2089 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2004 : 13:14:36
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Arguably the Master Staff of Halastar Blackcloak is the same item. See Dragon #213, page 98.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 19:47:25
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| Just for fun... Has its powers been stated or been written somewhere? |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 20:11:57
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| For those of you trying to make your old Dragon Mag cds work, you can just copy the program file and run it from your hard drive. I know this works on all windows versions up to XP. I have no idea where those CDs are any more or I'd check Win 7 for you. |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 20:14:38
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| As far as buying a copy of the archive? That is VERY pricy these days - a quick check on amazon have the collection ranging from 155 dollars to 275 dollars - all used. I'd suggest you use DragonDex (the online index) instead - it includes more issues anyways. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 20:42:43
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| I only have print issues, all the single and double digits, all the triples up to final-3E stuff. Terribly difficult to locate specific information sometimes; but I'm confident that it's the original, bona fide, authentic, unadulterated, unedited, uncensored content. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36876 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 21:24:46
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I've not actually installed the Dragon Magazine Archive in a long time... The issues of Dragon are all pdfs; I just copied those to my hard drive.
And wow, I didn't realize I was still running ME as late as 2004... That post must hgave been shortly before the system crashed and I jumped on XP. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2013 : 02:06:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And wow, I didn't realize I was still running ME as late as 2004... That post must hgave been shortly before the system crashed and I jumped on XP.
Heh. I've still got machines running Win95, NT, and, Win98, as part of the SageNetwork of SagePuters in the SageCave. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2013 : 16:08:51
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ME was the worst OS I have ever used... one night i just crashed. FOr no reason.
It says nothing in DRAGON #213 page 98 about the staff, exept for the note, that it is far the most powerful staff/artifact on he face of Toril... |
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2013 : 20:20:41
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After downloading some very nice books from Phasai on deviant art I found the one called IMASKAR to contain a write up of "The Grand Staff of Omanond"
Could this be the one staff? Forged by the dark lord Sau.. ohh wrong story...
The Grand Staff is an 86 inch long staff of white ash that seems twisted and knotted (as in tied, not covered in knots). At the top of the staff, the twists become one big whorl, leaving a cavity through which four gems spin and float. These are not ioun stones but something different as their shapes and colors shift depending on the time of day, depth beneath the earth, and the presence of certain types of magics and extraplanar creatures. This series magic item was created by the Batrachi at the height of their powers during the heady days of the Kolophoon Empire. It came to Lord Artificer Omanond as a gift from his Batrachi mentors in the ruins of old Bilbalanongrapp, deep beneath the city of Inupras.
The staff itself taps into the magical powers of many different dimensions thus being outside anything to do with the weave. In fact its very nature means that the staff exists on more than one plane and in more than one dimension at a time. The staff is made up of 9 parts that when combined make it more powerful than any staff wielded by those who walk the Realms Above or Below.
The four knotted white ash rods are in reality a Staff of Wizardry, rods of Absorption & Cancellation and a staff of Thunder and Lightning. The four gems each hold the powers as greater elemental rings, with each being able to store 4 spells of any level as determined by the caster.
The enclosed metallic tip piece acts like a cubic gate and the butt plate holds the powers of a ring of teleportation (self +50 pounds per level). The staff has the power to manipulate reality so that when used in its fully combined state it contains all known portal spells and transportation powers. It has the ability to create and shape extra dimensional spaces linking them via keyed portals to other such spaces. Specific Powers used 3/day at 25th level are:
Plane Shift, Astral Flight, Gate, Duo-Dimension, Astral Projection, Dimension Door, Probability Travel, Create Extra-Dimensional Space (100 cubic feet per level), Weave (shadow weave) Magic Reflection, Dimensional Trigger, Dimensional Vortex, Dimensional Lock, Summon Elemental Creature (all 101 known elemental types available), Reweave,
117
Barrier Reaver and Dimensional Barrier. There are many other unknown powers that are discovered the longer the wielder has the staff in their possession.
Spells cast from the staff draw upon powers outside any power connected with Faerun, how this happens is a mystery lost with the ancient Batrachi magi. Any magic launched from the staff ignores any magical defences or prohibitions based upon weave/shadow weave based magic. So +4 elf chain is simple elf chain, a ring of spell turning is useless. Thus only anti-magic shells, where all magic is negated are any real defence against the powers of the staff.
Lord Omanond linked it to the seven Imaskarcana so that the wielder of the staff can find each if it is ever lost, but only if the bearer is of Imaskari royal blood.
How "true" would we deem this writeup???
PS. Thanks a million to Phasai for some great "books"!!! |
Edited by - Nicolai Withander on 06 Jun 2013 08:17:08 |
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Aulduron
Learned Scribe
USA
343 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2013 : 04:12:44
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| I recently read about that staff too. It's quite the hunk of wood! |
"Those with talent become wizards, Those without talent spend their lives praying for it"
-Procopio Septus |
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The Grandstaff
