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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
 Posted - 21 May 2005 : 07:48:04
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I was glancing through the 2e Vilhon Reach tome earlier when I noticed something that I hadn't realised before. The 2e map for the Vilhon Reach labels a small area of land just south east of the Fields of Nun and east of the northern most expanse of the Chondalwood. It is named "The Blade Kingdoms". I thought at first that perhaps it was a remnant of Jhaamdath, because as we know, the Twelve Cities of the Sword were mostly north of the Chondalwood. Although, Jhaamdath was never mentioned in the 2e tome, so...
I'm curious as to what this refers to? Does the independent city-state of Lomatra or the village of Lotoll have any connection to this realm?
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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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 21 May 2005 08:01:31
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2005 : 09:04:45
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I think the Blade Kingdoms are dealt with in one of the novels - the Nobles Series IIRC. Heck, it may have even been called "The Blade Kingdoms". I haven't read it, but I understand it's not particularly good realmslore and hasn't been taken up by any other authors either in 2E or 3E. I think that they may be in the "ignore for now" category.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2005 : 10:45:04
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That's right, George. In fact, I only just finished the novel yesterday, it's book five of the Nobles Series - Council of Blades, by Paul Kidd.... and it is quite appauling!! 
I'm sure that I had read somewhere here on Candlekeep that the book was enjoyed by someone but I can't now find the poster who stated this to respond to for wasting my time 
The book does give a brief picture of how the kingdom operates (you can get this within the first chapter or two) but then it goes off on total irrelevance for most of the story, only picking back up in the last couple of chapters.
Stay well clear of this novel, it has no Realms flavor and features and is basically a non-eventful, ridiculous attempt at slap-stick predictable comedy.
MINOR CONTENT SPOILER
Also, it contains technology advances such as a laser gun turret, helicopters and armored tanks! The Realms? I think not, no matter how much you twist it! For me, this is THE worst FR novel of all time. |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2005 : 15:14:43
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I think the Blade Kingdoms are dealt with in one of the novels - the Nobles Series IIRC. Heck, it may have even been called "The Blade Kingdoms". I haven't read it, but I understand it's not particularly good realmslore and hasn't been taken up by any other authors either in 2E or 3E. I think that they may be in the "ignore for now" category.
-- George Krashos
Ah, well... that explains it. The Nobles Series are the ONLY Realms novels that I have never read. I appreciate the details George, and thank you as well Rad, for providing me with the extra tidbits  . I think I'll read through the first few chapters just to get a rough idea of what the kingdom is like. Then, I'll add the details to my own Realmslore.
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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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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 20:16:56
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I * think * a certain bearded Realms creator has long-term plans to overhaul, update, and "Realmsify" the Blade Kingdoms. Before turning them over to up and coming Realms authors to ride hard and fast through in hitherto-unplotted novels, of course . . . 
love,
THO |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 00:03:31
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The setting's ok for the moment, as long as you pretend the novel never existed. The Kingdoms were settled by a bunch of mercenary companies from Jhaamdath. Each is an independent city state (with extrememly heavy overtones of Renaissance Italy) ruled by a council made up of the generals of the largest mercenary companies. Each season the various cities fight it out for prestige, only the wars are comprised entirely of maneuvers: whoever can get the other army into a position where they would probably lose if they attacked wins. The book indicates that this is pretty much how it's been ever since their founding.
It's that darned alchemist in the book that changes everything. He's the perfect example of why crazed inventors *should* be crazed, and preferably holed up far away from where they can foist their ideas on anyone. And they *certainly* shouldn't get government funding, which is what happens in the book.
As it stands, the Blade Kingdoms are a relatively peaceful, constantly warring version of Italy, fairly well isolated and content to stay that way. Perfectly fine to have adventurers from the rest of the Vilhon Reach wander through and marvel at the strange local customs. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 02:26:55
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
I * think * a certain bearded Realms creator has long-term plans to overhaul, update, and "Realmsify" the Blade Kingdoms. Before turning them over to up and coming Realms authors to ride hard and fast through in hitherto-unplotted novels, of course . . .
love,
THO
That is quite the little tidbit, my Lady. Thank you .
I was going to attempt to plot some material for myself, and maybe for Candlekeep. However, if this certain bearded Realms creator is already seeing it as a possible future project, I'll leave it in his creative hands...
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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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 02:36:37
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Perhaps then it is best that this Paul Kidd wandered through a portal to Oerth then . . . I remember glancing through some of the novels based on old modules and shaking my head a few times at the characters and resolutions to classic adventures, though I must admit I cannot give a completely fair analysis since I only skimmed the books looking for bits that I knew should be there from the original adventures.
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 06:13:10
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Sigh. It's a testament to how tired I am that I actually started trying to figure out where a portal to Oerth had appeared in the Blade Kingdoms before realising what you meant.
I can't speak for others, but I at least don't miss him. Not necessarily a *bad* writer, but with no clue of what the Realms are. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 17:50:13
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The whole region is in need of some serious overhaul... the Blade Kingdoms are wedged between Chessenta and Chondath, and it resembled neither country in tone or feel. For that matter, Chessenta has slowly been bled of its Greek-like influence, while key portions of Cult of the Dragon dealing with Threskel have been forgotten.
It would be great to see the conflicted lands of the Blade Kingdoms, Chessenta, Threskel, and Unther finally get an update to straighten out many of the inconsistencies. |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 23:13:50
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quote:
Originally posted by TomCosta
The whole region is in need of some serious overhaul...
Damn right! The damage done in Council of Blades must be put right! I was quite intrigued at the opening of the novel when the kingdom's structure was being detailed. It would be good to read about it again from a serious and meaningful angle... and with some flavor! |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2005 : 00:24:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
Also, it contains technology advances such as a laser gun turret, helicopters and armored tanks! The Realms? I think not, no matter how much you twist it! For me, this is THE worst FR novel of all time.
Personally I enjoyed the novel. It's not that the writing or plot were anything spectacular, but any novel set in a previously undetailed region of the Realms gets bonus points in my book. I'd take a unique novel like Blade Kingdoms anyday over yet another book set in dalelands/cormyr/waterdeep. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2005 : 18:47:45
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I think referring to the Blade Kingdoms as a region of the Realms, or any of its contents as Realmslore, is being undeservedly generous.
And I think it's crazy that we got shoehorned **** like this before we got the Knights novels, full detailing of the Dales, etc.
(Those asterisks are not self-censorship, but something like Doctor Who's psychic paper where you get to pick the letters.) |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2020 : 03:00:57
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Master Sage,
I was reading through this scroll and did some poking around. Apparently there is a reference to this very kingdom in A Reader's Guide to the Legend of Drizzt? I didn't realize that. Quite....obscure.
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/A_Reader%27s_Guide_to_R._A._Salvatore%27s_the_Legend_of_Drizzt
Best regards,
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I was glancing through the 2e Vilhon Reach tome earlier when I noticed something that I hadn't realised before. The 2e map for the Vilhon Reach labels a small area of land just south east of the Fields of Nun and east of the northern most expanse of the Chondalwood. It is named "The Blade Kingdoms". I thought at first that perhaps it was a remnant of Jhaamdath, because as we know, the Twelve Cities of the Sword were mostly north of the Chondalwood. Although, Jhaamdath was never mentioned in the 2e tome, so...
I'm curious as to what this refers to? Does the independent city-state of Lomatra or the village of Lotoll have any connection to this realm?
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Lomatra, Lotoll, and the Blade Kingdoms
