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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 02:48:13
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I had this thought as I was thinking about the other thread that I had started a bit ago, about arcane casters and their ability to prepare spells ahead of time. I had posited on the thread that perhaps in many "low magic" worlds that magic does not work differently so much as wizards just never learn to prepare their spells ahead of time, and thus, all spells take at least 15 minutes to cast as they refer to their spellbooks. In this case, very few short term combat spells would ever be researched, and wizards would likely multi-class as experts (perhaps as sages or alchemists), or take martial classes if they were adventureres to make up for the lack of combat training in their profession (Grey Mouser?).
That long set up brings us here. What if, in a world where you normally did learn how to prepare spells, you didn't? In this case, it would be much like taking a flaw, and would garner an extra feat. This brought me full circle to thinking about the Vremyoni. What if most Vremyoni took this flaw to discourage casting on the spur of the moment, thus reinforcing their normal inclination to learn spells that aid them in research and item creation. They would also likely take the expert class to learn how to actually build masterwork items within their enclaves, thus cutting down on their interaction with the outside Rashemi society. This all would make sense since it is implied that many Vremyoni are very old (70 or so) by the time they are basically considered done with their apprenticeship. In this case, their apprenticeship would likely not only include magical training but also learning enough of their chosen trade that they can reliably create masterwork items as well.
Those that swear to leave Rashemi don't take the flaw, and are thus considered normal spellcasters. Now here comes the problem. In Spellbound it pretty clearly states that the Vremyoni are hermits that rarely leave their caves, if ever, and almost never learn offensive spells. This fits with what I was thinking above.
But then I reread the comments in Unapproachable East about Vremyoni, and it mentions that in rare instances Vremyoni go to war, tying themselves to the Hathrans and aiding them with spellcasting. Which would imply that a) my flaw idea obviously wouldn't be a universal trait of the Vremyoni, b) that they must learn something worthwile as far as combat magic goes (perhaps more defensive oriented), and c) that the "Old One" either come out before their training is complete or they are pretty spry 70 year olds. I realize that Spellbound mentions longevity magic, but I assumed that they didn't start using that until their FULL training was over, when they were nearing venerable age.
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Eremite
Learned Scribe
Singapore
182 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 05:49:01
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I think the easiest way to model them is to use the artificer class from Eberron.
Of course, various psuedo-purists will argue that this is heresy but it fits nicely so why not use it? |
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ShadowJack
Senior Scribe
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2006 : 19:12:56
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KEJr,
What is Spellbound? It must be a product that came out when I was on my hiatus away from the Realms... |
ShadowJack |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2006 : 19:27:37
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It is a second edition regional boxed set, that treat of the Unapprocheable East.
Here is a little look at the material presented:
Spellbound
Chosen of Moradin |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2006 : 15:04:36
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| The vremyoni are a myth used by the witches to cover their nefarious misdeeds. The witches force all males with a talent towards magic to don girdles of femininity/masculinity. They then use mindwipes to program appropriate childhood memories (remember, they are taken away from their families and loved ones to become Hathrans). Since said girdles sometimes produce butt-ugly women, they adopted the fashion of wearing masks. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 00:53:12
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| Man . . . that one has to go in the "Great Faerunian Conspiracies" file . . . |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 01:28:06
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I would agree... and someone definitely has some strong feelings about this, don't they? 
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2006 : 22:17:32
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<<Man . . . that one has to go in the "Great Faerunian Conspiracies" file . . .>>
LOL, along with "Thay doesn't really want to take over Aglarond. They keep them around as a buffer state upon which to drop experimental creatures, dangerous magic items, and a place to acquire new slaves from. Meanwhile they plot how to strike at their Rashemi and Mulhorandi neighbors based on what they learn on these test assaults. With Aglarond still there, the pirates, Impilturans, and pesky druids nearby tend to feel more at ease and less likely to cause Thay difficulties. But, by culling the country, they keep a defensible border."
You just gotta understand the mind of a Thayan <g>.
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2006 : 22:35:27
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Well, how about the fact that the cabal of wizards that we know as the Red Wizards existed prior to their supposed historical rise in Thay in the 900s DR and actually have Halruaan roots - and that some powerful mages of Halruaa continue to monitor developments in Thay and play a very clandestine role in how that part of the world ticks.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2006 : 16:30:57
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<<Well, how about the fact that the cabal of wizards that we know as <<the Red Wizards existed prior to their supposed historical rise in <<Thay in the 900s DR and actually have Halruaan roots - and that <<some powerful mages of Halruaa continue to monitor developments in <<Thay and play a very clandestine role in how that part of the <<world ticks.
<<-- George Krashos
Aye, laddy me friend, you are indeed correct.
From the original Shining South.
"Halruaa also suffered through a civil war about five centuries ago. A number of mages advocated beginning new experiments in magic, ones which even the Netheril didn't approve of. The renegades were driven from the region. The surviving renegades left to found the land of Thay, or so it is said in Halruaa"
From the secrets of the sages mailer which first introduced Halruaa
"Thay's current regime is said by some to have been founded by renegade Halruan mages."
Also, in the timeline for the 3e Shining South, there is a mention in the timeline of a person by the name of Velsharoon (and if its the "infamous" Velsharoon, he was a noted renegade Thayan wizard prior to becoming the deity of necromancy)facing off against a powerful Halruaan wizard.
"827 DR ( Year of the Sacrificed Fortune) The wizard Omm Hlandrar of Halruaa engages a Red Wizard named Velsharoon in a spectacular magicalbattle in the skies over the Shaar. The contest ends in a draw."
Note: this is before the great uprising against Mulhorand in 922 DR which founded the country of Thay. The red wizards as a cult existed prior to the nation, therefore, I would believe that the deity Velsharoon was one of the founding members of the red wizards. However, prior to their establishment of rulership by Zulkirs there was a war amongst the archwizards to try and establish a type of government. I'm betting that it was during this falling out that Velsharoon became a renegade.
I'd really like to know more of this little section in history. Who were the Halruaan renegades? Was the great conjurer Jorgmacdon one (the person who led the summoning of Eltab), or was he a person who studied Raumathic and Narfellian arts? What about Ythaz Buvaar who led the uprising in Delhumide? We know that he lives on as a demi-lich within the city tombs of Bezantur seeking a body to inhabit, but what was he Zulkir of... how did he get removed from office, and who removed him? Who was the famous archmage in the Odesseiron line who aided in the summoning of Eltab (was it Jorgmacdon)... and when did Homen Odesseiron go from being a magical genius studying multiple schools to being a fighter (pet peeve)? How does Velsharoon feel about the Tam family, and were they involved in the formation of the Zulkir government (they're family head has been alluded to have always been the Zulkir of Necromancy since the founding of Thay... but its never outright said)? Could there be animosity there because only one family could become Zulkir of Necromancy? Who was "the Vampire Zulkir, Nyressa Flass", and what was she Zulkir of... obviously she was head of the Flass family from which Thay's "first princess" comes.
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2006 : 10:55:19
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All very good questions that I'm slowly working toward answering - but as in all such things I've had to start at the beginning with sarrukh, elves and giants. We'll get to the humans sure enough.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Thoughts on the Vremyoni
