| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Dec 2002 : 22:22:06
|
|
Does anyone know the whereabouts of the Highfire Crown? Or any rumors to that effect? I read that it might be in the possession of Lolth but I am not at all sure it is canon.
|
Edited by - Alaundo on 23 May 2003 09:14:08
|
|
|
Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2002 : 23:03:40
|
Cant say ive heard of it, although it may be mentioned in a paragraph I skippeed somewhere once 
Where have you heard of this Highfire Crown Artalis? Tell more about it. Whats the location and associated legends\origin? |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
|
Edited by - Lord Rad on 11 Dec 2002 23:04:09 |
 |
|
|
Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2003 : 07:07:46
|
From The Fall of Myth Drannor page 35
"The Cleansing and the Night of the Highfire Crown
With the removal of the monsters, Elven Court was deemed safe
once more. As an essential step in removing all taints of the drow
and other fell creatures from the site, the 13 surviving High Mages
of Cormanthyr returned from their support work at Semberholme,
where they protected the young and old of Cormanthyr
during the height of the War. All of them performed the Cleansing
rituals that eroded all the elder remnants of Elven Court and
restored the natural balance of the site. Indeed, their ritual had
far greater scope than many realized was possible, as it extended
throughout the Darkwoods, clearing away the taint in nearly
areas and brought the land back in harmony with the Weave
the rest of Cormanthor. And their magic did not stop there;
High Mages immediately (within the same tenday) began
weave a mythal about Elven Court.
Just as it was when Mythanthor wove a mythal around Myth
Drannor, the 13 principals were wreathed in arcane fires, though
they smiled broadly as the flames engulfed them and turned
all into living torches. Instead of exploding, the central caster
rose high into the sky and became first a gargantuan bird of
whose wings spread out over the cleared area of the city. Where
the birdís wings touched the rising pillars of flame that were
fellow casters, magic pulsed in all directions, causing the
trees and rocks to twist and merge and become homes for
elves. Soon, the bird of flame began expanding into the mythal
itself, enveloping the growing buildings and magical temples rising
from the soil. As the sun set over Elven Court aborning,
image of the central caster appeared as a fiery apparition
above the city. The thirteen High Mages-turned-fiery pillars unexpectedly
erupted, lancing in flaming bolts toward the Grand
Caster and creating a massive ball of fire that splashed at
peak and edges of the mythal.
When the firestorm subsided, nothing remained of any of
High Mages save a beautiful sight: a brand-new mythal of extraordinary
strength and power, its boundaries set as a pyramid
defining the city site and reflecting and enhancing the star-
moonlight. At the peak of the mythal, for those with great
(since this mythal did not grant the power of flight) were
selu’kiira, the lore gems of the 13 High Mages that gave their
for this new elven capital. Surrounding each of these gems were
silver and amber flames as they moved in graceful, controlled
orbits that sketched out the design of a crown of seven points
trailing licks of arcane flame. Called immediately the Highfire
Crown, the soon-to-be-legendary magic hovered high above
Elven Court untouched by all for the entire night. When the dawn
came, it dissolved into bright sunshine, much like the Passing
Eltargrim. Hereafter, there are no High Mages left in Cormanthyr
save those that came after the Fall, and these numbered fewer
than a dozen."
From the Fall of Myth Drannor page 52
"The Highfire Crown
Sighted only briefly after the establishment of the mythal over Elven
Court, the Highfire Crown was a mysterious portent for the surviving
elves after the Fall of Myth Drannor. As the mythal rose and
bloomed throughout the newly restored holy city of Elven Court, the
13 High Mages unexpectedly erupted into pillars of fire that lanced
toward the central Grand Caster. When the conflagration subsided,
all that remained of them were 13 seluíkiira, each surrounded by silver
and amber flames and moving in graceful, controlled orbits that
sketched out the design of a crown of seven points in trailing licks of
arcane flame. The soon-to-be-legendary Highfire Crown hovered at
the peak of the new mythal for the first night of its life, then merged
with the next dayís dawn, like Eltargrimís Passing.
Notes: The Highfire Crown effectively contains 13 special
selu’kiira, or High Lore Gems which contain the essences of the
13 High Mages. As they were absorbed into their own lore gems,
their full knowledge and sentience remains. However, without a
conduit person (or persons) to walk out and perform the rituals,
the collective High Mages are little more than a magical phenomenon.
In terms of power, anyone who can don this crown would
immediately become a Grand Mage with the ability to cast any
High Magic rituals alone. The Crown acts as three to thirteen supplemental
casters, creating flaming doppelgangers of their original
forms to aid the physical central caster. Other effects and
secondary powers may apply, but this is the basic function of the
legendary Crown."
I was wondering if anyone has ever run into ANY other canon information on this Artifact? |
Artalis
Email
|
|
|
|
Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2003 : 22:45:05
|
Ok it's been awhile since I posted this question and we have some new and knowledgeable members.
How about it folks? Anyone run into any other canon info on this artifact? |
Artalis
Email
|
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2003 : 06:23:12
|
Actually I might be able to assist, just give me a day, or so. I'll try and go through the relevant FR material I have here (pretty much everything published on FR), and see what I come up with.
Good learning...
- The Sage of Perth: For all your Realms Lore needs
|
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 |
|
|
|
Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2003 : 22:54:39
|
| Ditto, I will go sift through my archives and get back to you, there might be something burried in all the more obsure, yet canon, sources. Although, I will warn you I think the Highfire Crown, like Ar'Kor'Kerym, has never had it's current location flushed out, but rather it just disappeared like the contents of the Vault of the Ages. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
Edited by - Edain Shadowstar on 22 May 2003 22:55:03 |
|
|
|
George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2003 : 18:23:37
|
Hmm... I'm not sure there is any further canon references to the Highfire Crown in published realmslore. Basically, as per the write-up in "Fall of Myth Drannor", it was the magical embodiment of the sacrifice of the High Magic spellcasters who raised the mythal over Elven Court. The write-up specifically says that its whereabouts are unknown - I say if you want to use it, put it where it suits you.
-- George Krashos
|
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
|
|
|
Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2003 : 21:02:27
|
I had a feeling that this was the case, but wanted to check with my esteemed collegues first. Don't drive yourselves crazy looking for it I am pretty sure that it was left unspoken for a reason.
It will be a sort of "Holy Grail" objective if I use it at all and I will see that it is not easy to find, that is for certain.
Thanks for all the help folks, I appreciate it.
Artalis |
Artalis
Email
|
|
|
|
Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1730 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 02:26:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by Artalis
I had a feeling that this was the case, but wanted to check with my esteemed collegues first. Don't drive yourselves crazy looking for it I am pretty sure that it was left unspoken for a reason.
It will be a sort of "Holy Grail" objective if I use it at all and I will see that it is not easy to find, that is for certain.
Thanks for all the help folks, I appreciate it.
Artalis
Another old thread to touch on for clarification....
You guessed correctly--the Highfire Crown is meant to be a questing goal, a Holy Grail of sorts for the elves or any interested in magics (especially those fascinated by High Magic or mythals).
It's probably made a few appearances here and there over the ages, but like trees falling in the forest, if no one was around to record it for posterity, how does one know?
It's also a method by which mythal cities could be revived in your own campaigns, allowing the crown to settle onto a PC's head (assuming s/he has elven blood) and then be the conduit for the magics of 13 High Mages. In fact, given the new rules with Epic et al, this'd be a way for GMs to gift player characters or have a way to get PCs out of a tight spot. Of course, as with all artifacts and relics of obscene power, there's a cost to be paid (and perhaps one of the High Mages decides it's fair, since he saved your lives, that he and his fellows get to possess your party for a few years so they can touch things again).
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
|
|
|
|
Aulnil
Acolyte
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 17:42:57
|
| Sorry to revive such an old topic, but one that never ceases to intrigue, are the names of these mages recorded anywhere (perhaps in some of Sage Schend's archivial lore)? Also, are these individual Selu'kiira items that are at rest long enough to physically atain, or does their sentience grant them the ability to chose when and who and where they'll be found? Thanks in advance for any further info. |
|
|
|
Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1730 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2006 : 18:58:49
|
quote:
Originally posted by Aulnil
Sorry to revive such an old topic, but one that never ceases to intrigue, are the names of these mages recorded anywhere (perhaps in some of Sage Schend's archivial lore)? Also, are these individual Selu'kiira items that are at rest long enough to physically atain, or does their sentience grant them the ability to chose when and who and where they'll be found? Thanks in advance for any further info.
Give a thorough rereading of Cormanthyr & Fall of Myth Drannor to find names of any and all High Mages of note. If they weren't specifically mentioned as having left the city or died or pulled some other mysterious disappearance (like Ualair the Silent), they would probably be among those 13 whose souls and selu'kiira became the collective Highfire Crown.
Yes you can find the individual selu'kiira, though they hold even more than the usual dangers of touching one of them.
As for their sentience, you'd have to ask them. I have to chew on this NDA cookie.... |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
|
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2006 : 23:57:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by Steven SchendYes you can find the individual selu'kiira, though they hold even more than the usual dangers of touching one of them.
But any adventure of discovery should not be taken lightly...
I offer these comments from Sage Schend about the Crown as a "questing item" for a party -
"For anyone to repost on the D&D / WOtC boards, since I scanned a discussion this morning...
The Highfire Crown's reference as The Holy Grail was not a mention of its power level, but more how the elven race sees it--It's the "Holy Grail" of things for which to quest. It's the ultimate prize/elven treasure that should be sought. It's a reminder of what elves are capable of at their best. It's not because it brings its bearer untold amounts of power (though it does, that...).
By the by, (Steven dances nimbly around the edges of an NDA standing by with a grim look, black cloak, and a scythe), don't worry about whether or not people will come to look for you for possessing the Highfire Crown. It's NOT a singular item, but 13 individuals (High Mages, no less) who choose to work cooperatively. THEY choose who finds them, and THEY choose whether or not to assemble into the Crown and grant the wearer their help/power. It's almost closer to the Crown of Horns, which also chooses its own wearer, but to the power of 13.
Bet that really puts the cat among the pigeons...
Steven Schend
A guy who knows a few things about the Fall and such"
|
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 |
|
|
|
Aulnil
Acolyte
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2006 : 16:24:38
|
| Sage, Steven, thanks for the reply. It always goes a long way. Try some milk with that NDA cookie; it might help wash it down j/k. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Highfire Crown
