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Naeryndam
Learned Scribe
USA
115 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Nov 2005 : 23:21:25
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All right I'm confused about this whole High Magic thing. Here is my understanding of it: High Magic is an extremely powerful form of elven magic that is cast within "Circles" of high magi with one magi using his body as a conduit for the magic itself. It can now only be cast...where? Evermeet was once able to, but the towers were destroyed, so is magic still able to be cast there? Lamruil's haven (Where is that by the way?) has the tree of souls, so I would imagine that it could be cast within that haven. Evereska still has High mages but is high magic still able to be cast with Galaeron's mythal cloaking the city? Are there any other places that high magic can still be cast, besides Arvandor?
Mod Edit: Moved to the right section of Candlekeep
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Edited by - The Sage on 19 Nov 2005 01:59:36
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Tathral
Acolyte
7 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 07:53:11
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| As far as I know, High Magic can be cast anywhere were there are enough High Mages. "The Last Mythal" series is the clearest example of this, and I think several other 2 and 3e sources either confirm the use of High Magic by a single individual/circle wherever they felt like it. Not all the towers were destroyed in Evermeet, and it will be interesting to see what effect Galaeron's tainted mythal has on Everska and her elves. I'd like to know what sources you're pulling your conclusions on High Magic from. |
Edited by - Tathral on 20 Nov 2005 07:54:08 |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 16:43:28
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The concept of pre-set places to cast High Magic is a hold-over from 2E. Basically, if you cast HM in a place designed for it or prepared/blessed/whatever, you don't incur the penalties built into its casting (as noted in CORMANTHYR).
The places destroyed on Evermeet et al were simply buildings holding High Mages and their collected knowledge. It's more akin to destroying a library and a bunch of librarians--you don't destroy the knowledge so much as you destroy those who know what and where it is and what to do with it.
High Magic can be cast anywhere there's a High Mage and the will to do so.
Steven
who wanders away now, musing aloud malevolently about random pockets of wild High Magic left over in tiny caves all across the High Moor, and wondering what effect they'd have on things...... |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Edited by - Steven Schend on 20 Nov 2005 16:45:26 |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 16:53:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
The concept of pre-set places to cast High Magic is a hold-over from 2E. Basically, if you cast HM in a place designed for it or prepared/blessed/whatever, you don't incur the penalties built into its casting (as noted in CORMANTHYR).
Now that's interesting. To veer into 3e rules talk, I suppose that these areas could counteract the effects of the backlash damage and xp burn mitigating factors for epic spells...
quote:
who wanders away now, musing aloud malevolently about random pockets of wild High Magic left over in tiny caves all across the High Moor, and wondering what effect they'd have on things......
If you were going to bring living spells into the Realms, this would be an excellent place to do so...well, that and the Ring of Gray Flames...
What I'm also thinking is that the High Moor might be a great place to place stone tablets of epic spells... |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 20:09:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Arivia
What I'm also thinking is that the High Moor might be a great place to place stone tablets of epic spells...
True....but Halaster collects such things and paves certain hallways and tunnels in the deeper levels of Undermountain with such.
There's a certain hallway that sort of serves as a secondary spellbook, all the spells carved into the walls (as the spells are complex enough to need 20x20 feet of space to delineate their details.
Steven
Cackling over having used Halaster's Retributive Strike twice in print without ever detailing the spell....(Hint--Material component: Caster)..... |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Naeryndam
Learned Scribe
USA
115 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2005 : 03:59:08
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| In Evermeet Island of Elves there is a paragraph that says Evermeet will soon be the only place High Magic can be cast. |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2005 : 15:15:58
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I think it is generally talking about Elven High Maic, Naeryndam - Characters like Halaster and Larloch and the such can still cast high magic, if I am not mistaken.
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2005 : 17:07:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Naeryndam
In Evermeet Island of Elves there is a paragraph that says Evermeet will soon be the only place High Magic can be cast.
It might say that in E:IoE, however, you have to remember that that book was written from a human perspective, and therefore cannot be taken as entirely accurate (EC has explicitly stated this).
High Magic was rare in 2e primarily because most of the High Mages had been killed off in the ensuing centuries, and the empires that might have trained more had fallen. I don't think any High Mage escaped Myth Drannor alive, and Eaerlann (though it fell after Myth Drannor) was never very well covered. About the only place that still had High Magi was Evermeet and the sea elves of Seros.
Like Steven said, outside of a few blessed spots (like Evermeet and the shadow of the Tree of Souls - somewhere way up in the High Ice around the north pole), anyone who tried to cast High Magic got zapped big time, which made casting it even more rare.
I find it rather amusing that with the switch-over to 3e there's been a great upsurge in the numbers of High Mages. Evermeet went from having one tower that we knew of to many, and they started popping up (and dying) here, there, and everywhere.
I've done a bunch of work with 2e High Magic, since I allowed a PC of mine to become one (sometimes I allow things just to watch what will happen...), so if you're curious, ask away. I don't know anything about the Epic magic that now masquerades as High Magic, however. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2005 : 19:02:56
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I'll step in and correct one misunderstanding:
Fourteen High Mages survived the Fall of Myth Drannor, and perhaps more--the 14 who lived were just the most celebrated. Grand Mage Ualair the Silent disappeared and has yet to be found before the end of the Fourth Campaign, IIRC. The thirteen surviving High Mages established / restored Elven Court then became the Highfire Crown; while their bodies no longer survive, their essences/souls/intelligences do yet wander the Realms in secret.....
Steven
Who knows where all of them are but is sworn not to tell..... |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2005 : 03:35:51
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Good point, I forgot about them. But while they are still alive in whatever form that you've been oh-so-careful to not explain to us ( ), they aren't exactly in the same form as before. But you're right, it's possible others might have survived the Fall. Someone needs to take an inventory... |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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High Magic
