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Originally posted by Steven Schend

Well, I'm getting married tomorrow afternoon. Will be offline for the rest of the week, methinks. Take care, all.

Steven

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Originally posted by Lemernis

Steven I know it'll be a while for you to answer, but I'll go ahead and post the question now.

The Isle of Skaug, detailed in LoI, looks like a really fun place. And an interesting place for players to get a glimpse of three different cultures living side by side (Tethyrian, Amnian, and Calishite). Your outline in LoI prvodes a rich location for a DM to develop by filling in various details. I'd be very grateful for any further thoughts or ideas you can offer on this location.

Here are my plans for it so far. I'd like to emphasize:

* the mix of Tethyrian, Amnian, and Calishite cultural influences to the island's permanent population
* visitors who regularly do business in Skaug are from all over western Faerun
* the island's enormous wealth actually keeps the place pretty well kept (for a pirate isle); it is presumably maintained by a slave population (i.e., slaves taken on the high seas)

The island's residents' primary identity would be as 'pirate' first, no doubt, i.e., belonging to that brotherhood. And specifically who they sail with. I'd like to develop the pirate culture a bit, I think. I don't know much about pirates but I'd imagine they probably have to commonly swear blood oaths of loyalty to their captains--although I'm not sure how reliable any such oaths could really be. Treachery is undoubtedly common. Anyway, I'll be taking a look at some RPG sites devoted to pirate culture for some inspiration (I recall seeing at least one site of this type in the past, anyway).

Again, I think the pirate identity would always come first. But to some extent, for a good number of the island's residents, identification with one's land of origin would probably remain fairly strong. I don't see being a pirate erasing those tensions. So I don't picture this island as a melting pot, for example. Rather, my guess is that the mix would more likely reinforce the three main cultural identities as very distinct. The three nations of LoI are all strong economic competitors, something I'm sure has affected the cultural attitudes. There'd be strain between Tethryians and Calishites, since Tethyr was subjegated by Calimshan for so many centuries. Tethyrian elves harbor a particular hatred for Calishites, since Shoonites almost wiped them out. Amnians are going to tend to relate better to Calishites as a rule. Etc. Anyway, I'm interested in developing the cultural dynamics when all three cultures are brought together on a small island.

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

Thanks for all the kind comments and good wishes. The wedding went off without a hitch, though the all-day rain and all-night thunderstorm made us feel like we'd been blessed by multiple pantheons with special solos by Talos, Thor, and the Thunderbird of Native American mythos.

As for the "Adventures of K&L's Babies," that's not for me to say at present. Lips are sealed with the stitching spelling out NDA. Same goes for what I'm working on, though I will tell you that I'm on horrible deadlines to finish a big project soon (and have kicked a pirate story out the door this morning as well).

Another thought on Skaug came to me as I wrote my pirate story..... If you've a wizard helming your pirate ship, you'd be a fool not to have some air elementals on hand to ensure you good winds (or at least better than those of your prey), water elementals to ease the currents your way, not to mention a wood golem as your figureheads. That is, if you're already a wizard who's gone pirate. I suspect it'd be too expensive for a pirate to hire a wizard for such things....but marrying one isn't out of the question either....

SES

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

Thanks for all the kind comments and good wishes. The wedding went off without a hitch, though the all-day rain and all-night thunderstorm made us feel like we'd been blessed by multiple pantheons with special solos by Talos, Thor, and the Thunderbird of Native American mythos.

(snip)

SES

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

The wedding went off without a hitch, though the all-day rain and all-night thunderstorm made us feel like we'd been blessed by multiple pantheons with special solos by Talos, Thor, and the Thunderbird of Native American mythos.

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

have kicked a pirate story out the door this morning as well

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Originally posted by althen artren

Back to work?

Ha, you funny.

Being just married, he should be too busy for us for several weeks. And I don't mean in the bedroom but helping around with chores around the house (dishes, laundry, getting used to another person)
Marriage brings about a lot of changes in a gamer... hey wait a minute
Steve are you a gamer?

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Originally posted by Dagnirion
-Basically, how do Elves keep track of the passage of time, with their extremely long lives and all? We have examples of how they did so in Cormanthyr, but how about in the present? What are the relevant Elven terms for 'Day', 'Tenday', 'Month', 'Year', 'Decade', or whatever Elves use?

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

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Originally posted by Dagnirion
-Basically, how do Elves keep track of the passage of time, with their extremely long lives and all? We have examples of how they did so in Cormanthyr, but how about in the present? What are the relevant Elven terms for 'Day', 'Tenday', 'Month', 'Year', 'Decade', or whatever Elves use?

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I think I pretty much covered this in CORMANTHYR ten years or so back; I'll try and scare up the exact words/details on the terms you're asking on, but can't think of them offhand.

In general, I suspect elves won't acknowledge tendays that often, save when dealing with humans or something very exacting. If you read elven histories, they rarely discuss things (except those of major import) that last less than ten years save the birth or passing of major personalities. But then again, I may have to reread my old comments on elves and time and revise said commentary. ASAP....but probably not this month.

Steven
who has to meet a deadline

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Originally posted by Foxhelm

I have a few questions about Fey'ri, and I am asking you as a consultant who has experiences with this topic:

From what is shown in much of the third/third point five edition of the Fey'ri, it seems that a large number of succubi were involved with the processes of the fey'ri creation.

My question is did the elves of these families make deals with any Demon Princes for access to a large number of these and other demons? If so, which ones? If it was just succubi or their linked demons, I could see Malcanthet or Graz'zt being involved.

Also if there is a Demon Prince was involved, could these Greater evils kept some of the demon-tainted elves for their own personal use? Or even have spawned some family lines of Fey'ri that could be reflected in their appearance?

I have an idea for a fey'ri who is in the process of being redeemed by the love of a compassionate Celadrin (A celestial counterpart of the Fey'ri created by Eric Boyd for Dragon 350), but I am trying to brew up a background for her. Perhaps something unique as forshadowing her unique position.

Thanks for trying to help me and all of the others. I hope I haven't taken up much of your time needed for work or for love, being a newlywed.

Foxhelm

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Originally posted by Penknight

Hello again, Mr. Schend.

I have as of late been looking over your Property Values in Waterdeep, and a few of my players are kind of playing with the idea of picking up a house or apartment inside of Waterdeep. (They are 19th level, and I am rather proud of them).


However, one of the PCs would rather settle down in Silverymoon and purchase a house (or mansion, whatever the funds allow) there. Could you please tell me how I could effectively arrive at a decision on how much a home or estates would run in Silverymoon? I am assuming that it wouldn't be quite as steep as Waterdeep, but I wanted to ask you for your expert thoughts and insights on the matter. Thank you for your time, Mr. Schend.


Respectfully,
Penknight

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Originally posted by DMJutti

Hey Steven, you answered a question of mine a ways back about Vamar the cold. I was wondering if you could also look up what u got on the Starskull who etched the star of mystra on his forehead. he is a lich agent of the twisted rune. Thanks

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Originally posted by The Sage

Welcome back Steven!

It's a pleasure to 'read' your voice again.

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

Thanks. Good to be back here as well.

Now, 2 questions from me to all those out there:

1) Anyone have changed ideas or thoughts about BLACKSTAFF a year after its release? Just curious as to how people reacted to it a year after the fact....

2) Who's going to be at Gen Con? I and my blushing bride will be there....

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Originally posted by Steven Schend

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Originally posted by The Sage

Welcome back Steven!

It's a pleasure to 'read' your voice again.

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Thanks. Good to be back here as well.

Now, 2 questions from me to all those out there:

1) Anyone have changed ideas or thoughts about BLACKSTAFF a year after its release? Just curious as to how people reacted to it a year after the fact....

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2) Who's going to be at Gen Con? I and my blushing bride will be there...

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Originally posted by Steven Schend
He's also in love with Mystra and hopes that his unlife will allow him to live long enough to garner her favor and let him become a Chosen and her lover. (And, no, nothing will shake his faith that this is his ultimate fate.)

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