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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Nov 2005 : 16:10:47
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After reading the brief adventure hook in Champions of Valor about the medusa queen, I got to thinking: Does Faerun has legendary progenitors for some of the mythologically inspired species that inhabit it?
For example, I could see the first medusa being tied to the Sunite faith in a similar manner to how Medusa was cursed in Greek mythology. The medusa that came later were the offspring of the first cursed monster, and the original is much more powerful and perhaps effectively immortal, at least unless slain in an epic quest.
There is a precedence for all of this, between the allusions to Dendar being the world serpent, Yggdrisil's Child, and the story of Tyr and Kezef the Chaos Hound.
Does anyone else think this is interesting? Or is my mind wandering in my old age?
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2005 : 18:15:25
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Not at all, my friend!
I think if there are not those myths, the Realms are ripe for myths to be created.
I mean, just like our world, kids need to be put to bed with some humility, and half of those stories would turn into the myths that we are used to.
Look at the Leucrotta - they make noises as if they were children - what a horror story one could put their children to bed with - don't go too far, unless...
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe
169 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2005 : 20:16:33
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| This is an excellent idea, KnightErrant. This could also be the basis for many an epic adventure: The first medusa has lain in silence for eons, but now it has woken, and turned its evil upon Toril. It is up to the players to stop this powerful creature. |
Goblins? *Slash* *Scream* *Thunk* What goblins? |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12189 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2005 : 15:01:06
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| The perytons were creations of Malar according to the one of the Moonshaes book. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2005 : 15:12:24
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Well, like sleyvas and I mentioned - if you take the more FR specific monsters - it's easier to create myths about them. Every world has Dragons, or Medusae, but Beasts of Malar? The ability to take three forms, all very evil - that is perfect to scare young children into being good - or whisper 'round a campfire.
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Vangelor
Learned Scribe
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2005 : 09:06:52
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It is said that the elves are born of the blood shed by the Larethian when he warred with Gruumsh, watered by Sehanine's tears...
I would say that Faerun is thick with such tales, and to overlook them is to miss out on an astounding array of stories. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 03:59:17
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| I wrote up a couple . . . let me know what you think. And I am purposefully writing these in a less than specific manner since they are myths. There may be an actual medusa queen, or not, but this would be the myth that surrounds her . . . at any rate, let me know what you think . . . |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 04:22:20
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The Tale of the Medusa Queen
The following is the legend of the Medusa Queen, a legend that is often told within the clergy and among the faithful of the Firehair, Sune, Goddess of Beauty. Many a paladin of the faith have considered it a sacred duty to watch for signs of the Medusa Queen, for slaying it would be considered one of the greatest accomplishments in the eyes of the Goddess of Passion and Love.
Long, long ago, there was a priestess of the goddess Sune, and this priestess was a being of exceptional beauty. She grew vain and arrogant, and expected those other members of the faith to consider her the paragon of what a Sunite should be. Sune was displeased with the hubris of her priestess, but still the priestess spread beauty and passion where she walked, so she had not lost the favor of the Firehair.
Eventually, the vain cleric heard rumors of the one Sunite more fair than even she. The priestess followed these rumors to another follower of the Firehair, this one said to be blessed with a trace of the blood of the goddess herself. Indeed, the younger priestess was a breathtaking sight, and the older priestess was furious to have found such a rival.
The older priestess set upon the younger late at night, and with a knife she marred the girl's face, ruining her beauty. Vindicated, she cried out to Sune in her pride, asking the goddess who her most beautiful servant was now.
Sune was horrified by what she had done, and withdrew her favor from the priestess, and banished her from all Sunite temples. Further, all Sunites were given her image in their minds, a reminder of the Firehair's cesure, and no Sunite was to speak with nor give aid to the fallen cleric.
The priestess swore that she would have her revenge upon her former goddess, and eventually she sought out the most handsome and virile of all of Sune's male priesthood. The man was wary of her, but in truth, he had been haunted by the image in his mind of the banished Sunite, and longed to see her face up close.
The fallen cleric seduced the male Sunite on the Altar of Sune in one of her most sacred temples. When the man realized what he had done, he ran in shame from the temple, and Sune turned her wrath on the fallen cleric once again. Sune cursed the woman's shining tresses, so that they moved constantly, whirling and tangled as if whipped by the wind. She also made the fallen one's eyes so deep that to gaze into them made anyone who looked upon her fall unconcious, not able to remember the face they had just seen. Sune took the image of the fallen priestess from all of her follower's minds, and told the former priestess that her beauty was now doomed to be forgotten.
In her despair, the woman cried out, wishing that she had never known the favor of Sune, that she had never known the blessings of her beauty, and that she never was moved by passions. The depths of her despair and loss reached out to Shar, the goddess of the night and loss, and Shar granted the fallen one's wishes.
The fallen cleric's hair turned from a tangled, wind tossed mass, into a mass of serpents, venemous and dangerous. Her gaze no longer caused those who gazed upon her to forget her beauty, but rather they froze, petrified in fear as they gazed into the depths of her hatred. She would turn her victims to stone.
The Medusa Queen, as she is now known, took several slaves as her playthings, and from her dalliances were born the whole race of vile creatures known as medusas.
Shar granted the Medusa Queen a longevity to match her hatred for Sune and her followers, and beauty in general, and thus, she may still live on, enslaving lovers, slaying those that displease her and creating a legion of statues made of the same cold stone as her heart. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 04:49:40
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The Tale of the First Minotaur
The following tale is an ancient one, at one time told among the followers of Garagos, but with the waning of the importance of that god's faith, the myth is fading from the common vernacular. Some sages still know of this tale, and many bards have written ballads based on various versions of the tale. What follows is the most common accounting of the legend.
There was a great warleader among the followers of Garagos, a warleader that was constantly at war, bathing in the blood of his enemies. Never did he sue for peace, and the spoils of war meant little to him, only the promise of more bloodshed and more challenge for his sword arm.
Among his people, another was according the same status as he, a jovial man and fellow warleader, a man renowned not only for his sword arm, but for his wit and smile. Surely this man could not also be in the favor of Garagos, the first war leader thought. He grew envious of the man's position and his standing, and when he first had the oppourtunity, the first war leader fell upon the second.
The jovial man defeated the first war leader, but would not kill him, and the warleader felt burning shame. He would find a means to defeat the man, to prove he was the better.
The warleader asked far and wide about the means by which he might be made even greater, dispite his already famous skill with the sword. Eventually a twisted old man heard of his inquireries, and told him of a name to speak, alone, at night, and that name would have the power to answer his question.
That very night, the warleader spoke the name the twisted old man supplied him, and a great demon, one with the muscular body of a giant and the head of a great, fearsome bull. The demon told the man that if he would brand the rune of the demon on his chest, and if he would dedicate the heart of his fallen rival to the demon, the demon would help him with his desires.
The warleader agreed, and the demon lord showed the warleader a great labyrinth, which contained a glittering treasure hoard in its center. The warleader was to challenge the other man, the jovial warrior, to navigate the labyrinth, the the one who first found the treasure would bow to the other, ackowlaging him the greater warrior. But to claim the treasure in the center of the maze, the victor would have to slay a great beast, a powerful dire bull.
The warleader's rival accepted his challenge, and each man brought their men and their families with them to watch the competition. The Demon Lord had blessed the warleader with an uncanny knack to navigate mazes, and so the warleader had an advantage. He followed his rival, just far enough back to keep an eye on him, waiting to kill his rival and then blame his death on the dire bull.
His rival was quicker of wit than the warleader realized though, and made it to the heart of the maze, where the treasure and the dire bull awaited him. Dispite his valliant effort and skill at arms, the jovial man died at the horns of the dire bull. The warleader laughted at the death of his rival.
The warleader however, could not kill the beast. He struggled mightily, was wounded, and retreated into the maze. He called out Garagos' name, asking for aid in killing the beast. And he heard the voice of his god.
Garagos told him that no follower of the Reaver would resort to guile and trickery when he could best his foe on the field of battle. No follower of Garagos should still live when he was bested in a duel. He would receive no help from the Reaver this day.
The warleader was incensed, but then he heard another voice. The voice of the Demon Lord was in his mind, and it told him that if he would dedicate himself and all of his children to the Demon Lord, the Demon Lord would grant the warleader the power to best the dire bull.
The warleader agreed, and he strode back to the center of the maze. He grabbed the dire bull's horns, and pushed. He felt that he was pushing the beast back, that he was forcing it to its knees, and he twisted its head and snapped the great beast's head.
When he looked down, he saw that he had taken on the aspect of the bull. He was covered in fur, and he now had a snout and horns. He screamed out toward the Demon Lord, and the Demon answered him.
The Demon Lord told the man to use his bellowing voice to call to his followers and their families, that if they would meet him in the center of the maze, he would share the riches with the men and their families. Then he told the warleader to hide in the maze and slay every man and their sons and to take the wives and daughters as his harem.
The warleader did so, and thus was born the first generation of minotaurs, consecrated to a demon lord. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 06:43:35
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Good stuff, KEJr...
But as someone who has played a minotaur (under 2E rule), I dislike the demonic connection. It's just a personal thing. 
(Though I didn't play him in the Realms, my minotaur wound up as an NPC, owning a tavern in Waterdeep. He often acts as a bouncer there, too.  ) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 07:49:52
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Very nice KEJR... I hope Big Al has taken note of these also  . They'd make fine additions to the fan-based Realmslore here at Candlekeep.
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
The warleader was incensed, but then he heard another voice. The voice of the Demon Lord was in his mind, and it told him that if he would dedicate himself and all of his children to the Demon Lord, the Demon Lord would grant the warleader the power to best the dire bull.
This I like especially -- the direct tie-in to the legends of minotaur myths that suggest a connection to Baphomet.
Good stuff.
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5699 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 08:38:15
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Very nice KEJR... I hope Big Al has taken note of these also . They'd make fine additions to the fan-based Realmslore here at Candlekeep.
Well met
Aye, Sage. I ne'er miss opportunities of lore such as this  Great work, KnightErrantJR. Judging by these two entries, they will go to make a great collection and an interesting resource. If I may, i'd like to setup a shelf in the library, starting with these two articles |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 14:57:27
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| I would be honored Alaundo, and thanks! |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 14:59:44
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| Sage and Wooly, sorry about besmirching the Minotaur's good name (heh heh), but yeah, I wanted to tie them to Baphomet, especially since the old Baphster's got a few specific demonic minions running around the Realms. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2005 : 17:15:25
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Sage and Wooly, sorry about besmirching the Minotaur's good name (heh heh), but yeah, I wanted to tie them to Baphomet, especially since the old Baphster's got a few specific demonic minions running around the Realms.
Heh, it's okay.
Actually, though, I have long been irked about the absence of a non-evil deity for minotaurs... Krynn has shown that you can have large minotaur societies, but no other setting has run with that concept -- so the minotaurs are kind of left out, deity-wise.
My minotaur NPC was, as I said, originally a character I played. He was inspired by an odd range of ability scores, and my DM saying "You could always trying playing a minotaur..." (at which point I jumped up, grabbed my friend's copy of the Humanoids Handbook, and went to work). On his (unspecified) homeworld, he lived in a large minotaur kingdom. He arrived in the Realms via a portal in Myth Drannor. I'd prefer he had a proper minotaur deity to worship, but I think he's going to have to stick with Lathander or Shaundakul (most likely Lathander; he spent a lot of time at the Dawnspire and several of his companions worship Lathander). |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 01 Dec 2005 17:16:38 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2005 : 04:50:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Actually, though, I have long been irked about the absence of a non-evil deity for minotaurs... Krynn has shown that you can have large minotaur societies, but no other setting has run with that concept -- so the minotaurs are kind of left out, deity-wise.
That's not entirely true.
Sections of the minotaur societies on Krynn do venerate good-aligned powers -- Kiri-Jolith (LG) being amongst the more prominent. Additionally, there is the worship of Habbakuk (NG) among many minotaur mariners from Mithas.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2005 : 06:24:36
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Actually, though, I have long been irked about the absence of a non-evil deity for minotaurs... Krynn has shown that you can have large minotaur societies, but no other setting has run with that concept -- so the minotaurs are kind of left out, deity-wise.
That's not entirely true.
Sections of the minotaur societies on Krynn do venerate good-aligned powers -- Kiri-Jolith (LG) being amongst the more prominent. Additionally, there is the worship of Habbakuk (NG) among many minotaur mariners from Mithas.
I was referring to other settings. I know that minotaurs in Krynnspace have a couple of options for deities, but Krynn is a different set-up, deity-wise. Krynn has just the one pantheon, and that's it (though a particular scribe once told me the Seldarine had a presence in Krynn, he failed to provide that info, as he said he would... ).
On other worlds, where there are things like racial deities, there is no real minotaur deity. Minotaurs may not be common elsewhere, but there's enough of them that they should have a deity. Heck, there's a vampire deity... |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2005 : 14:33:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I was referring to other settings.
Ah.
quote:
I know that minotaurs in Krynnspace have a couple of options for deities, but Krynn is a different set-up, deity-wise. Krynn has just the one pantheon, and that's it...
Okay, now this isn't entirely true... the Time of the Dragon boxed set tells us that worship on Taladas has in the past illustrated the possibility that "other" gods outside the traditional pantheon may (or perhaps did) exist.
quote:
...(though a particular scribe once told me the Seldarine had a presence in Krynn, he failed to provide that info, as he said he would... ).
Hmmm... I wonder who that could have been?  
I'll have to track down the reference again. I'll let you know when I find it .
quote:
On other worlds, where there are things like racial deities, there is no real minotaur deity. Minotaurs may not be common elsewhere, but there's enough of them that they should have a deity. Heck, there's a vampire deity...
I'll have to check to be certain, but I'm pretty sure there's a minotaur deity (or rather a Titan) in the Scarred Lands setting.
And Krynnish minotaurs are a unique case anyway... considering the fact that they are not a naturally evolved race. Being products of the Graygem, minotaurs on Krynn are actually descended from ogres -- thus they have no true representation among the pantheon, but rather were seized upon by Sargonnas as "his" race.
What we really want, is a deity that specifically represents the minotaurs as a naturally occuring race and has a definitive place in a divine pantheon.
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Edited by - The Sage on 02 Dec 2005 14:40:05 |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5699 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2005 : 17:39:06
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
What we really want, is a deity that specifically represents the minotaurs as a naturally occuring race and has a definitive place in a divine pantheon.
That's exactly it! So many other races have a patron deity or pantheon, but not the minotaurs... |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2005 : 17:40:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Alarms were ringing in my study. Must mean that the "Krynn" word-count has broken the boundaries 
We were using that word alot, but it was in comparison to the Realms. So it's all good.
We could, of course, start talking about that Eber-something setting...  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2005 : 06:43:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Alarms were ringing in my study. Must mean that the "Krynn" word-count has broken the boundaries
Sorry Big Al... . Must be my eagerness to get my new DL campaign started. It's making me see and speak about Krynn everywhere (I even got in a Krynnish minotaur reference over on the HMP forums  ).
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Edited by - The Sage on 03 Dec 2005 06:44:32 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2005 : 06:53:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
What we really want, is a deity that specifically represents the minotaurs as a naturally occuring race and has a definitive place in a divine pantheon.
That's exactly it! So many other races have a patron deity or pantheon, but not the minotaurs...
I want to speculate on this further, but rather than take this scroll further off-topic, I think we should discuss it here:- http://candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5651
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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2006 : 17:59:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Heh, it's okay.
Actually, though, I have long been irked about the absence of a non-evil deity for minotaurs... Krynn has shown that you can have large minotaur societies, but no other setting has run with that concept -- so the minotaurs are kind of left out, deity-wise.
My minotaur NPC was, as I said, originally a character I played. He was inspired by an odd range of ability scores, and my DM saying "You could always trying playing a minotaur..." (at which point I jumped up, grabbed my friend's copy of the Humanoids Handbook, and went to work). On his (unspecified) homeworld, he lived in a large minotaur kingdom. He arrived in the Realms via a portal in Myth Drannor. I'd prefer he had a proper minotaur deity to worship, but I think he's going to have to stick with Lathander or Shaundakul (most likely Lathander; he spent a lot of time at the Dawnspire and several of his companions worship Lathander).
I have to admit, when I had that book, I liked the idea of playing a minotaur too -- though I went with the "some minotaurs are humans transformed by cursed magic", and had him be an altered human. It gave him a good reason to have a non-typical alignment and to be a wandered, at least to me. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2006 : 18:06:01
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| Ah, the complete book of humanoids. That was one of the first AD&D products I bought and it took several years for the campaign to get something like normal. Still one of my favorites though. |
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Ilztfryn Claddghym
Seeker
Canada
60 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2006 : 20:40:48
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| Wow that was good KEGR |
Ever dreamed of role playing in Faerun? Battling Obould's forces in the North or Pirates at sea? Join this board www.faerunrp.com/forum |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2006 : 22:33:16
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| Thanks, I apreciate the comments. |
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Drunken Master
Acolyte
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2006 : 19:29:16
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I handle the minotaur race's religious inclinations the same as I do for gnolls - some gnolls worship Yeenoghu, some worship Malar. Swap in Baphomet for Yeenoghu, and there you go.
I really like the Medusa Queen legend. There's a cleric of Sune and an anti-Shar ranger of Mystra in my campaign, so I think that legend will work itself into the storyline nicely! |
Erik Nowak
Graphic Designer, Blackdirge Publishing |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2006 : 19:52:54
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| Glad you could get some milage out of it. If you get a chance to use it in game, let me know how it works out. |
Edited by - KnightErrantJR on 15 Sep 2006 19:53:27 |
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David E
Seeker
USA
55 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 17:02:46
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This is an outstanding idea, KEJR! It's stuff like this - creating myths that common folk throughout Faerun tell to their children - that adds some real depth to the Realms. And I really liked the two myths you gave us - very well written. The whole story behind the fallen priestess of Sune is very convincing, and the tie-in to Baphomet... well, I really like the Demonomicon articles in Dragon, so I thought it was totally sweet! Well done!
That being said, I tried to follow KEJR's example as closely as possible. Although I cannot hope to match the knowledge of the Realms possessed by KEJR, I hope that you all find this myth enjoyable. Hopefully, the origin of werewolves and centaurs hasn't already been explained...
The Centaur and the Werewolf
The myth of the Great Mare, as the first centaur is often referred to, is an old one. The tale varies with its teller; the elves believe that the first centaur was descended from the Fair Folk, while Men point to the round ears found on some centaurs as proof of their distant relationship to humankind. Whatever the case, the myth is popular among the faithful of Mielikki, who view the story as a perfect example of the benevolence of the Lady of the Forest.
Long ago, when the great forests once covered Faerûn like the vastness of an ocean, a band of foresters guarded Our Lady of the Forest’s woodland realms. For their selfless efforts in the defense of the forest and its creatures, these rangers were blessed by Mielikki with superb martial prowess and the power of nature itself.
Among these blessed foresters, the faith and fervor of a young priestess of Mielikki shone the brightest. She held a special love for the weakest of the forest’s creatures; when not patrolling the forest against the depredations of unnatural beasts, she spent her days caring for the injured and infirm. So great was the love of nature’s children for the priestess that Mielikki named the young woman as one of her mortal champions upon Faerûn.
Word of the priestess’ kindness, however, also reached the ears of Malar. While the Lord of Beasts hated all of the rangers for their defense of the forest realms’ creatures, he particularly loathed the champion of Mielikki, whose steadfast defense of the weak creatures of the forest upset the natural primacy of his beasts. This defender of the forest should be culled by the predators, he connived, so that the fierce may rule the timid. So Malar set out to destroy Mielikki’s champion and, in doing so, break the heart of his hated rival.
While stalking through the outskirts of this woodland realm, Malar came upon an immense wolf, emaciated and ravenous with hunger. Without pity, the Lord of Beasts used fell magic to warp the poor creature’s body and mind to his cruel purpose. The wolf-beast before Malar no longer bore a resemblance to one of nature’s children. Its head was that of a wolf, but its maw was filled with wicked fangs and twisted into a hideous, mocking grin. Its body was that of a man, but its hands ended in the talons of a wolf and its hide was covered with fur matted with blood. The Lord of Beasts was pleased, and bid his new creation to slay the champion of Mielikki in her woodland realm.
In the dead of night, the wolf-beast set upon the priestess. She fought valiantly against the creature, but neither her martial skill nor the powers of nature at her command could fell the beast. She fled into the depths of the forest and in her terror prayed that the Lady of the Forest grant her the swiftness of wild horses. Mielikki, filled with great pity, granted her champion’s request.
Thus, by the grace of Our Lady of the Forest, the priestess was transformed into a great mare. She flew like a summer breeze through the maze of the forest, dancing and weaving between the trees. Yet the bloodlust of the wolf-beast would not be denied. The creature ran as if the claws of the Lord of Beasts were at its very backside. With the savagery of Malar himself, the wolf-beast tore into the mare again and again until her resplendent white coat was drenched by rivulets of blood. The mare, unable to voice a prayer to her goddess for aid, bellowed out in agony and collapsed in the dirt.
Yet Mielikki had not forgotten her beloved champion. Furious that the mare could not protect herself against the wolf-beast, Our Lady of the Forest once again worked her magic upon her, granting her both the swiftness of a mare and the hands of a warrior. The champion, blessed with the body of a mare and the torso of a young woman, rose from the forest floor. She carried weapons and armor of the purest silver, emblazoned with the image of a unicorn rearing back as if in battle.
With the wrath of nature itself, the champion galloped forth and speared the wolf-beast with her lance. The creature howled in agony, but managed to free itself of her weapon even as her scimitar bit deep into its flesh. The wolf-beast, robbed of an easy prey and grievously wounded, fled with great haste from the forest.
Mielikki, impressed by the implacable faith of her champion, offered her the choice to either return to the form of a young woman and follow the path of priesthood, or to remain a centaur, infused with the divine essence of Mielikki herself. The champion, recognizing the extraordinary gift that had been presented to her by her goddess, elected to remain a centaur.
From this champion, the race of the centaurs slowly came into being. With the grace of Our Lady of the Forest, she taught the others to love and protect nature as their home, as she did. Some say she passed on to the great woodland realm of Mielikki after faithfully serving her goddess for many hundreds of years. Perhaps, though, she still wanders the great forests of Faerûn, resplendent in her silver armor, defending her people and her forest home.
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Edited by - David E on 16 Sep 2006 17:04:54 |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 17:30:27
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I really like that one. I had thought about Lycanthropes and coming up with some ideas about Malar and the like, but I think you did an awesome job here. I love the idea of having stories to throw out that the "common folk" might tell about where monsters come from.
Excellent work David E. |
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Legendary Monsters and Myths of Faerun
