quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gary Dallison

I'll be keeping a close watch on your site from now on. I bet there are all kind of secrets to discover. I particularly liked how you showcased people reusing old magic items from ancient past (most without realising it) so I look forward to more magical secrets

---

Maybe I'm just dense, but which showcase do you refer to here? The climax of BLACKSTAFF with folks wielding ancient elven or other artifacts and relics without full knowledge?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gelcur

Steven any thoughts to as what may have become of Count Gamalon Idogyr?

I'm looking to create a new county north of Spellshire that resulted from Gamalon helping hold Trailstone. Figure the noble family would restore the Dark Redoubt and use that to rule from. Fast forward 120 years was curious of Gamalon survived, I am aware his wife did not. Figured go to original Gemhead to get his input.

Thanks.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheIriaeban

Interesting you have a plague located in Tethyr in 1445. Is that what killed Tethyr's Queen Zaranda Rhindaun II (she died the same year as Arn Idogyr II)? Do you have an origin for the plague and an area affected? Maybe a plot by the Twisted Rune to eliminate the Idogyrs that got out of hand and killed many more people than originally intended?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Naeryndam

Hi Steven!

I was replaying Icewind Dale the other day and ran across an in-game book entitled 'Mythal Theory, by Schend and Melka'.

I was wondering if you wrote this, if you had any further notes on it and who the 'Melka' referred to.

Thanks!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Naeryndam

Hi Steven!

I was replaying Icewind Dale the other day and ran across an in-game book entitled 'Mythal Theory, by Schend and Melka'.

I was wondering if you wrote this, if you had any further notes on it and who the 'Melka' referred to.

Thanks!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

For anyone who'd been wondering about my long-delayed Rhymanthiin work, here's a nugget or two that rattled loose in a conversation on Twitter yesterday…

https://twitter.com/garethgarfoot/status/1484929528992571397?s=20

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheIriaeban

I have a Netherese archlich who would very likely have a copy of that book. For important books in a collection, I typically have a sentence or three about the author(s) and the effect (if any) of studying the contents. With your kind permission, I would like to use this:

"Mythal Theory by Schend and Melka: Schend was an Arcanist Inventive cotemporary of Lefeber (who created Lefeber's Weave Mythal) who thought Lefeber's research methods were sloppy and didn't follow through to get the full understanding of the subject. Schend was later counted as an elf-friend and teamed up with an elvish Wielder-of-Art named Melka to produce the book. Studying the book will give the reader enough of an understanding to be able to create stable Mythals utilizing only half the required materials and personnel as long as the core group of spellcasters have all studied this work. Time required is not affected."

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheIriaeban

I have a Netherese archlich who would very likely have a copy of that book. For important books in a collection, I typically have a sentence or three about the author(s) and the effect (if any) of studying the contents. With your kind permission, I would like to use this:

"Mythal Theory by Schend and Melka: Schend was an Arcanist Inventive cotemporary of Lefeber (who created Lefeber's Weave Mythal) who thought Lefeber's research methods were sloppy and didn't follow through to get the full understanding of the subject. Schend was later counted as an elf-friend and teamed up with an elvish Wielder-of-Art named Melka to produce the book. Studying the book will give the reader enough of an understanding to be able to create stable Mythals utilizing only half the required materials and personnel as long as the core group of spellcasters have all studied this work. Time required is not affected."

---

Nifty, though be warned that one reason the book is rare is concerted efforts by certain elf families and associations that deem what it reveals about mythal weaving to be exposing secrets that ONLY ELVES should read.

Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.

How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?

Steven

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheIriaeban

I have a Netherese archlich who would very likely have a copy of that book. For important books in a collection, I typically have a sentence or three about the author(s) and the effect (if any) of studying the contents. With your kind permission, I would like to use this:

"Mythal Theory by Schend and Melka: Schend was an Arcanist Inventive cotemporary of Lefeber (who created Lefeber's Weave Mythal) who thought Lefeber's research methods were sloppy and didn't follow through to get the full understanding of the subject. Schend was later counted as an elf-friend and teamed up with an elvish Wielder-of-Art named Melka to produce the book. Studying the book will give the reader enough of an understanding to be able to create stable Mythals utilizing only half the required materials and personnel as long as the core group of spellcasters have all studied this work. Time required is not affected."

---

Nifty, though be warned that one reason the book is rare is concerted efforts by certain elf families and associations that deem what it reveals about mythal weaving to be exposing secrets that ONLY ELVES should read.

Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.

How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?

Steven

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by sleyvas

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend
Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.

How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?

Steven

---

I heard that him and all of his family back five generations all enjoyed growing beards.... such a vile trait.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

quote:

---

Originally posted by sleyvas

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend
Schend is, in fact, anathema to some subsets of elves for his research; what they try not to reveal is their racism in that part of their zeal in grinding his research and name into dust is his family's mixed races. He is a half-elf by birth, and the five generations preceding him either had a half-elf or full elf parent with a human mate, so much of the anger about his revelations of secrets stems from "pureblood" bigotry.

How's that for another layer for those who actively dig deeper past just what's on the page?

Steven

---

I heard that him and all of his family back five generations all enjoyed growing beards.... such a vile trait.

---

Worse still, while Schend had a sparse but full beard (a rarity among half-elves save within his own family), some of his cousins and siblings adopted the Cormyrean affectation of a razor-slim moustache, which angered some even more for reasons yet undelved…

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

For anyone who'd been wondering about my long-delayed Rhymanthiin work, here's a nugget or two that rattled loose in a conversation on Twitter yesterday…

https://twitter.com/garethgarfoot/status/1484929528992571397?s=20

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Naeryndam

Hi Steven,

I am currently running a campaign wherein there are 2 dark elf npcs, a brother (Asaran, a rogue) and sister (Asara, a cleric... not sure of which god/goddess yet). As I am drawing up their stat blocks, I am struggling with how to handle them, since they are dark elves from Rhymanthiin, not drow. It then occurred to me that there is probably nobody better to ask than you. I realize this is a loaded question, but I was wondering if you could provide any guidance. Even something such as what ability score bonuses/penalties you would give them would be helpful. Or perhaps I am thinking too much and should simply treat them as typical elves?

Thank you!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend
... but I still need to finish scribbling that up (as Eric Boyd reminds me every year or so).

Steven

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steven Schend

quote:

---

Originally posted by Naeryndam

Hi Steven,

I am currently running a campaign wherein there are 2 dark elf npcs, a brother (Asaran, a rogue) and sister (Asara, a cleric... not sure of which god/goddess yet). As I am drawing up their stat blocks, I am struggling with how to handle them, since they are dark elves from Rhymanthiin, not drow. It then occurred to me that there is probably nobody better to ask than you. I realize this is a loaded question, but I was wondering if you could provide any guidance. Even something such as what ability score bonuses/penalties you would give them would be helpful. Or perhaps I am thinking too much and should simply treat them as typical elves?

Thank you!

---

My opinions and thoughts on Rhymanthiin's restored dark elves are my own and can be superceded by any lore published by Ed Greenwood or WotC.

That said, I as a DM would treat them exactly the same as regular elves with one technical adjustment—These elves do NOT get either the +2 Dex of elves or a +2 Cha of half-elves. Rhymanthiin elves, due to being fused among the Sharn Continuum for millennia with other races, came out slightly changed (as did all those restored to life by the ritual noted in BLACKSTAFF).

From my point of view, any stat bonuses for any former Sharn (or those born from them) spread out to +1 bonuses to any two of the following by priority/commonality: Charisma, Constitution, Wisdom, Dexterity.

Thus, your dark elves from the City of Hope; regardless of whether they're restored or first generation born on Faerun or not, will have those bonuses plue all the standard elf benefits.

I'd recommend, just for variety, that Asaran's bonuses go to Con & Dex, while Asara (as a cleric) will do best with bonuses to Cha & Wis.

And if you're still thinking on gods, I'd recommend going OLD and having her be a cleric resurrecting the long-ignored triune cult of Angharradh.

Hope that helps. I'd suggest she be a cleric of the Pentad (from my novel) but I still need to finish scribbling that up (as Eric Boyd reminds me every year or so).

Steven

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by hawakhuri

Good morning Mr Schend, I would like to ask you a few questions:
1. Do you have any artwork on how Trobriand the metal mage looks like?
2. Is his metal magic so powerful and rare or how would you describe him because according to ruins of undermountain Box 1 it says he rivals the elves of Myth Drannor.
3. Can he be considered a high artificer because of his constant creations and inventions?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Friend Steven, I found this one floating in the ethers:

quote:

---

Originally posted by hawakhuri

Good morning Mr Schend, I would like to ask you a few questions:
1. Do you have any artwork on how Trobriand the metal mage looks like?
2. Is his metal magic so powerful and rare or how would you describe him because according to ruins of undermountain Box 1 it says he rivals the elves of Myth Drannor.
3. Can he be considered a high artificer because of his constant creations and inventions?

---

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by orbedal

oh shoot, was not aware! thanks Tom. i would be more than happy with anything from Steven's wonderful brain, but in the future, is there a more appropriate place for such questions?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by kysus

hey steven i hope you are doing well, i seem to have alot of time on my hands right now while quarantining and i was hoping to ask a few question of you. In the fall of myth drannor during the battle of Oacenth's second blooding its stated that irhaal Argentaamn and alea dehast both fell, would you be able to give anymore infomation on how this all went down that finally saw their downfall as im really curious as to how two highmages perished without anything spectacular happening? and were their bodies recovered after that battle to be buried later?

---