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Arivia
Great Reader

Canada
2965 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  07:14:29  Show Profile  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
A group of mine has expressed interest in settling down their roots and creating a stronghold and settlement of their own. I'm now reading through Power of Faerun's appropriate sections, and I have a small list of local candidates --- including the Stonelands. Only problem is, I'm nowhere near familiar with Cormyr or the sources on the process of laying claim to the Stonelands. Help?

Dargoth
Great Reader

Australia
4607 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  07:24:46  Show Profile  Visit Dargoth's Homepage Send Dargoth a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Arivia

A group of mine has expressed interest in settling down their roots and creating a stronghold and settlement of their own. I'm now reading through Power of Faerun's appropriate sections, and I have a small list of local candidates --- including the Stonelands. Only problem is, I'm nowhere near familiar with Cormyr or the sources on the process of laying claim to the Stonelands. Help?



Read Baron of the Stonelands on page 114 o the FRC

“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”

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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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36817 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  10:14:51  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I believe one of the Elminster's Ecologies books covered the Stonelands...

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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31794 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  13:26:30  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Indeed it is -- Stonelands and Goblin Marches. And as I recall, there's a tiny bit about landholds in the area also.

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scererar
Master of Realmslore

USA
1618 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  15:23:04  Show Profile Send scererar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
have you read Beyond the high road and Death of the dragon? I once ran a campaign where a lot of adventures took place in the stonelands, but the novels brought the terrain to life in a way I never even dreamed to picture it.
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Bakra
Senior Scribe

628 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  15:49:43  Show Profile Send Bakra a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Also Volo's Guide to Cormyr. The lack of good water, fertile land, and choatic storms (firestorms) makes it a less than ideal place for a hamlet. Not counting the zhents, the abberations, the shade.... Good luck to your players if they decide to go there and earn the title. And I think one of the Dragon Annuals briefly mentions the Stonelands after the death of the Dragon.

I hope Candlekeep continues to be the friendly forum of fellow Realms-lovers that it has always been, as we all go through this together. If you don’t want to move to the “new” Realms, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with either you or the “old” Realms. Goodness knows Candlekeep, and the hearts of its scribes, are both big enough to accommodate both. If we want them to be.
(Strikes dramatic pose, raises sword to gleam in the sunset, and hopes breeches won’t fall down.)
Enough for now. The Realms lives! I have spoken! Ale and light wines half price, served by a smiling Storm Silverhand fetchingly clad in thigh-high boots and naught else! Ahem . .
So saith Ed. <snip>
love to all,
THO
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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Posted - 22 May 2006 :  17:36:56  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Bakra

Also Volo's Guide to Cormyr.


Which, I am complelled to point out, is available as a free download from the Wizards downloads page.

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martynq
Seeker

United Kingdom
90 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  19:33:06  Show Profile  Visit martynq's Homepage Send martynq a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Bakra

Also Volo's Guide to Cormyr. The lack of good water, fertile land, and choatic storms (firestorms) makes it a less than ideal place for a hamlet. Not counting the zhents, the abberations, the shade.... Good luck to your players if they decide to go there and earn the title. And I think one of the Dragon Annuals briefly mentions the Stonelands after the death of the Dragon.


I also have a vague idea that there are dinosaurs there too... but this is not mentioned in the Elminster's Ecologies booklet, which is where I thought it was. I may be wrong here...

Martyn
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore

Finland
1564 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  20:42:28  Show Profile  Visit Asgetrion's Homepage Send Asgetrion a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Arivia,

I remember that Ed has written something here at Candlekeep about the Stonelands. Although Elminster's Ecologies mentions that the Stonelands are named after the ruins that "fell from the sky" (Netherese conclaves and the 'Cloudlands' or something like that), I yet vaguely remember him saying that the Stonelands are, in fact, named after their topography - endless series of barren stony ridges and ravines ("Break-leg break-neck country").

"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm
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Kuje
Great Reader

USA
7915 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  20:50:19  Show Profile Send Kuje a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion

Arivia,

I remember that Ed has written something here at Candlekeep about the Stonelands. Although Elminster's Ecologies mentions that the Stonelands are named after the ruins that "fell from the sky" (Netherese conclaves and the 'Cloudlands' or something like that), I yet vaguely remember him saying that the Stonelands are, in fact, named after their topography - endless series of barren stony ridges and ravines ("Break-leg break-neck country").



It's a Feb 9th, 2005 reply. :)

For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

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Edited by - Kuje on 22 May 2006 20:51:07
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Arivia
Great Reader

Canada
2965 Posts

Posted - 22 May 2006 :  20:54:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks, all of you. This should provide some interesting fodder for a few levels of play...
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31794 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  01:17:02  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
There's also some tidbits in Anauroch as well.

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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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USA
36817 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  02:06:58  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by martynq

quote:
Originally posted by Bakra

Also Volo's Guide to Cormyr. The lack of good water, fertile land, and choatic storms (firestorms) makes it a less than ideal place for a hamlet. Not counting the zhents, the abberations, the shade.... Good luck to your players if they decide to go there and earn the title. And I think one of the Dragon Annuals briefly mentions the Stonelands after the death of the Dragon.


I also have a vague idea that there are dinosaurs there too... but this is not mentioned in the Elminster's Ecologies booklet, which is where I thought it was. I may be wrong here...

Martyn



I remember the reference myself, but not where it's from... It's an older reference, though. I remember using it many years ago as part of the backstory for one of my sillier ideas -- Jurassic Park-style velociraptors, given telepathic abilities and bred for life in the Underdark.

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scererar
Master of Realmslore

USA
1618 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  03:24:37  Show Profile Send scererar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
it is indeed referenced in Elminster's ecologies, under the booklet covering the stonelands and the goblin marches. I would have never thought of placing a dinosaur in this area, and frankly will keep them to other locations in "my" realms.

The map on page 2 shows a loose territory of sorts, where it shows disosaurs inhabiting an area fairly close to the moonsea ride, just north and west of gnoll pass. The explorer's manual states that 60% of dinosaurs encountered are herbivorous while the other 40% are carnivorous.

Hmmm, still seems a little far fetched to me, even for a fantasy setting.

Edited by - scererar on 23 May 2006 03:42:11
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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Posted - 23 May 2006 :  03:44:28  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by scererar

it is indeed referenced in Elminster's ecologies, under the booklet covering the stonelands and the goblin marches. I would have never thought of placing a dinosaur in this area, and frankly will keep them to other locations in "my" realms.

The map on page 2 shows a loose territory of sorts, where it shows disosaurs inhabiting an area fairly close to the moonsea ride, just north and west of gnoll pass. The explorer's manual states that 60% of dinosaurs encountered are herbivorous while the other 40% are carnivorous.

Hmmm, still seems a little far fetched to me, even for a fantasy setting.



I can readily accept dinosaurs in a fantasy setting -- but not in a location like the Stonelands. It's not isolated enough. Still, it is in canon... Maybe there's a large portal connecting the Stonelands to Chult, or a couple of deepspawn that have been fed dinosaurs for some reason...

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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 23 May 2006 03:52:26
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scererar
Master of Realmslore

USA
1618 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  06:02:10  Show Profile Send scererar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert




I can readily accept dinosaurs in a fantasy setting -- but not in a location like the Stonelands. It's not isolated enough. Still, it is in canon... Maybe there's a large portal connecting the Stonelands to Chult, or a couple of deepspawn that have been fed dinosaurs for some reason...



Oh, I agree, just not in the stonelands. Additionally, I like the portal theory, I have some ideas brewing as I type
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Arivia
Great Reader

Canada
2965 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  06:24:22  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I can readily accept dinosaurs in a fantasy setting -- but not in a location like the Stonelands. It's not isolated enough. Still, it is in canon... Maybe there's a large portal connecting the Stonelands to Chult, or a couple of deepspawn that have been fed dinosaurs for some reason...



I'm likely going to just ignore it. It may be in canon, but it's very stylistically incongruent for that area, I feel.
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore

USA
1695 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  07:40:38  Show Profile  Visit warlockco's Homepage Send warlockco a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Arivia

quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I can readily accept dinosaurs in a fantasy setting -- but not in a location like the Stonelands. It's not isolated enough. Still, it is in canon... Maybe there's a large portal connecting the Stonelands to Chult, or a couple of deepspawn that have been fed dinosaurs for some reason...



I'm likely going to just ignore it. It may be in canon, but it's very stylistically incongruent for that area, I feel.



Just depends on which Dinosaurs you use.

I could see Protosaurs in the area...

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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31794 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  13:01:51  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Dinosaur-derivatives... or distant relation reptiles perhaps... but not the type of dinosaurs made popular in regions like Chult for example. I can't really see how they could exist in the Stonelands -- what with it being relatively close to civilised lands.

Though, the Stormhorns, as they are, likely act as a partial natural barrier for most flightless dinosaur species moving down into Cormyr proper...

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Edited by - The Sage on 23 May 2006 13:03:11
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36817 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  14:05:52  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage

Dinosaur-derivatives... or distant relation reptiles perhaps... but not the type of dinosaurs made popular in regions like Chult for example. I can't really see how they could exist in the Stonelands -- what with it being relatively close to civilised lands.

Though, the Stormhorns, as they are, likely act as a partial natural barrier for most flightless dinosaur species moving down into Cormyr proper...




I think that smaller herbivores and scavengers like compies would work...

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Hoondatha
Great Reader

USA
2449 Posts

Posted - 23 May 2006 :  22:25:06  Show Profile  Visit Hoondatha's Homepage Send Hoondatha a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It's definately not T-rex or apatasaurous country... (though the image of a bronto rolling helplessly down one of the break-neck valleys is a funny one)

Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well.
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scererar
Master of Realmslore

USA
1618 Posts

Posted - 24 May 2006 :  03:02:06  Show Profile Send scererar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
If we are looking at what is canon for dinosuar types encountered within the Stonelands, page 25 of the explore's manual of Elminster's ecologies states the following.

60% are considered herbivorous to include; anchisaurus, camptosaurus, trachodons, triceratops, stegosaurus, and ankylosaurus.

The 40% that are carnivorous include; allosaurus, compsognathus, and deinonychus.

Now what those all are and what their little lives would entail, is beyond me, but there it is.

I still think I will keep any dinosaurs that may appear in "my" campaigns, contained within Chult and other such "remote" areas of the realms.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
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Posted - 24 May 2006 :  03:17:22  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It occurs to me, now that I think about it, that I'm not recalling any other references to dinosaurs living there... I decided to take the question to Ed.

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scererar
Master of Realmslore

USA
1618 Posts

Posted - 24 May 2006 :  03:27:31  Show Profile Send scererar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

It occurs to me, now that I think about it, that I'm not recalling any other references to dinosaurs living there... I decided to take the question to Ed.



that would be great, and looking at the credits within Elminster's Ecologies, Ed is nowhere to be found. Let us know what you find Wooly.
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martynq
Seeker

United Kingdom
90 Posts

Posted - 24 May 2006 :  10:17:28  Show Profile  Visit martynq's Homepage Send martynq a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
I still think I will keep any dinosaurs that may appear in "my" campaigns, contained within Chult and other such "remote" areas of the realms.


Although personally I think of the Stonelands as a remote area. Otherwise, why would the Zhentarim try to find a route through Anauroch if it were not the case that the Stonelands where pretty impenetrable.

Martyn
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BlackAce
Senior Scribe

United Kingdom
358 Posts

Posted - 25 May 2006 :  10:25:54  Show Profile Send BlackAce a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by scererar

60% are considered herbivorous to include; anchisaurus, camptosaurus, trachodons, triceratops, stegosaurus, and ankylosaurus.

The 40% that are carnivorous include; allosaurus, compsognathus, and deinonychus.





Compies! Yes I can imagine those. In fact they're what sprang to my mind when martyn mentioned dinos.

Chicken-sized, lizard-like scavengers I can buy, but Stegs and Allosaurs? err no.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36817 Posts

Posted - 23 Jul 2006 :  07:19:46  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

It occurs to me, now that I think about it, that I'm not recalling any other references to dinosaurs living there... I decided to take the question to Ed.



And, though I'd forgotten about this thread, Ed came thru with an answer!

quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One

Hi again, fellow scribes. Ed felt he’d been neglecting Wooly Rupert, and so has tackled Wooly’s query: “A discussion in another thread has mentioned something from one of the Elminster's Ecologies books: the existence of dinosaurs in the Stonelands. To some of us, this seems to be an odd place to drop dinosaurs... And, now that I think about it, I'm not recalling any other references to dinosaurs being there. So, in your Realms, are there dinosaurs in the Stonelands? And either way, is there anything you could add about their official presence there?”
Ed replies:



The Sage is quite right to remind us of my Candle04Page38 reply: there once were many dinosaurs in the Realms, but the dragons flourished by dining on almost all of them, leaving only handfuls behind (usually in jungles or other “good cover from flying wyrms” terrain).
The Stonelands are just such terrain, with their knife-edged ridges, deep ravines, caverns and overhangs, and exposed horns and faces of stone. So, yes, there are a few dinosaurs lurking deep in the Stonelands. Almost all are ostrich-sized or smaller velociraptors (bird-like, darting and hopping predators, of the sort featured so prominently in JURASSIC PARK: see fleshraker and swindlesplitter under “Dinosaur” in the MM3), though there are a few deinonychus (MM). They hibernate in deep, “warmrock” rifts (near earth nodes and volcanic flows) and hunt in cover, never leaving the Stonelands or racing along heights of land (for fear of being devoured by dragons; the Zhent foulwings, dark horrors, and other aerial steeds remind the dim-witted dinosaurs of the “death from above” that they now instinctively fear).



So saith Ed, who will recall Torm trying to interest Jhessail in a skewer of dinosaur steaks that she said VERY rude things about. Even Rathan, with the aid of much wine, downed them only with difficulty, finding them “tough, and with a curious dead-mushrooms taste.”
love to all,
THO



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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe

USA
184 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2006 :  12:21:14  Show Profile  Visit bitter thorn's Homepage Send bitter thorn a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Are there any suggestions on how to make a fort or settlement economically viabe or somewhat self sustaing in the Stonelands? Are there any expliotable natural resources such as rare minerals etc? In our game an abitious matrial commoner has his eye on the Title, but I'm juggling different plot tools for making such an endevor worth the effort from a political and economic standpoint especially considering the current state of affairs in Cormyr and the looming threat of the Shades to such a settlement.Pehaps a concentration of a mineral that disrupts magic would be an option. Is there such a material in canon? It would be highly sought after by Cormyr given the likelyhood of hostilities with the shadowvar.

Are there any known dead magic zones in the Stonelands?

Also any maps, current events, and political info relavent to the Stonelands would be a boon also.

Thanks!

"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"

Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms.
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scererar
Master of Realmslore

USA
1618 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2006 :  17:52:40  Show Profile Send scererar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Cormyr has offered land holdings and I believe titles for anyone who clears, holds and settles areas of the Stonelends. From reading the Cormyr Trilogy, the Stonelands appears more viable and sustainable than I originally thought. Check out Elminsters ecologies also.
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Kuje
Great Reader

USA
7915 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2006 :  17:56:53  Show Profile Send Kuje a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by scererar

Cormyr has offered land holdings and I believe titles for anyone who clears, holds and settles areas of the Stonelends. From reading the Cormyr Trilogy, the Stonelands appears more viable and sustainable than I originally thought. Check out Elminsters ecologies also.



And Ed has just commented, last week or the week before, about the royals giving those titles. :) Basically, it's only to get people there to try to clear them out but it's kind of a BS scheme by the royals to keep track of adventurers and to try to clear that part of Cormyr. :)

For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31794 Posts

Posted - 04 Sep 2006 :  01:40:32  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by scererar

Check out Elminsters ecologies also.
'Tis in the "Stonelands and Goblin Marches" of the Elminster's Ecologies set.

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