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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Sep 2006 : 12:43:06
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In reference to the early dinosaur comments, what do the dinosaurs eat if the stonelands are so.... bare? I mean elephants need a lot to eat and by the beginning remarks detailing the stonelands environment it would sound like a right good starvation fest for a dino.  That is just my take on things.  |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2006 : 15:41:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wandering_mage
In reference to the early dinosaur comments, what do the dinosaurs eat if the stonelands are so.... bare? I mean elephants need a lot to eat and by the beginning remarks detailing the stonelands environment it would sound like a right good starvation fest for a dino. That is just my take on things.
Take a look at elminsters ecologies that covers the stonelands. Additionally, after reading the Cormyr trilogy, I no longer view the stonlands as desolate, maybe in places, but not everywhere. I do still see it as very wild, dangerous, and would be difficult to settle. |
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2006 : 18:25:19
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| Are there any hints of exploitable resources in the Stonlands? |
"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2006 : 18:36:13
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| I didn't notice it in this thread but the 2E Four from Cormyr has a bit of info too to use...mostly between Arabal and Tilverton |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2006 : 01:02:10
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quote:
Originally posted by kalin agrivar
I didn't notice it in this thread but the 2E Four from Cormyr has a bit of info too to use...mostly between Arabal and Tilverton
I wish that module had never been made... it has too much content from the author's campaigns which contradicts with many Canon tidbits and lore.  |
"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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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2006 : 00:20:28
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quote:
Originally posted by bitter thorn
Are there any hints of exploitable resources in the Stonlands?
Ed replies:
Kaysae, you’re very welcome! I hope you enjoy the Realms (upcoming surprises and all) for years to come!
As for the Stonelands: you’ve quite correctly identified the stemming-the-tide benefits of taming that region for the rulers of Cormyr. And, yes, the offer of a barony IS a ruse to give adventurers something useful to the kingdom (as opposed to mischief intended to line their own purses, that gives the realm headaches) to do, and of course to weaken the everpresent monsters, Zhents, and suchlike so as to minimize their raids down into “Cormyr proper.”
Yes, it IS an impossible task, given the “breakneck” terrain (endless knife-edged stone ridges, with precipitous-sided ravines between them) that prevents the building of roads and large settlements, the making of accurate maps and the movement of armies... and so on.
However, there ARE lots of resources in the Stonelands: veins of metal ores and gems, rare herbs and plants that are either succulently edible or that serve in the making of scents, cosmetics, drugs, and dyes, some timber (hard to get out, yes, but there nonetheless), and of course the aforementioned monster life (edible meats, eggs that have a market value, hides and other “body part” alchemical components, a market for live caged beasts, and so on, again). Not to mention large caches of well-hidden treasure (cut gems, coins, statuettes of ivory, jade, jet, and even solid sapphire, ruby, or emerald, and even magic items) stashed in various spots in the Stonelands (such as cavern strongholds that could serve ably as homes or hideouts for adventuring bands). So it’s territory worth venturing into for some adventurers, but land I’ll never expect to see truly tamed and added to “everyday rural Cormyr.”
So saith Ed, describing our old stomping grounds.
Ed forgot to mention one treasure we Knights found there: an extremely angry drow priestess (of Lolth) who’d been captured by the Zhents, flogged until she was raw, tied spreadeagled between two trees, and left hanging there in the sun, day after day, to die and serve as a warning and way-marker. Some day I’ll tell the tale of our rescue of her (Torm was VERY affectionate to her), and of her response (which led to one of the weirdest adventures we ever had).
We also had some quite different fun, once: we came upon a Zhent messenger resting, with his foulwing steed grounded. We overcame him, questioned him, relieved him of his magic items and coins, tied him into his saddle, enspelled his steed - - and made it fly full-tilt into a rock pinnacle (splat). Torm called it “our improved Zhent warning and way-marker.”
love to all,
THO
P.S. Yes, of course that led to some heated moral debates within the party. Penances were arranged, apologies made, and we agreed never to do such a thing again. (By "the next time," of course, Torm had thought up something far nastier.)
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"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2006 : 15:37:27
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Shameless bump #2.  |
"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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Besshalar
Learned Scribe
Finland
166 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2006 : 16:45:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
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. 
I am beginning to think that Woollys a victim of a Geas cast by Alaundo or Ed...  |
The large print giveth , and the small print taketh away.
-Tom Waits |
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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2006 : 00:33:51
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Thanks for all the info on resources in the Stonelands. Though it still sounds like "you have rock, scrub, and boulders. Ad thena few more rocks, just for variety."
Who in their right mind would want to settle in such a place anyway? |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2006 : 06:48:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Ardashir
Thanks for all the info on resources in the Stonelands. Though it still sounds like "you have rock, scrub, and boulders. Ad thena few more rocks, just for variety."
Who in their right mind would want to settle in such a place anyway?
It might just be the Ranger in me, but after reading the Cormyr series, I still see more to the stonelands, then what is presented in Elmister's Ecologies
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 15:48:50
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It may still be in Comyrs best interest to fortify some settlements there to provide a buffer against the Shades among other reasons.
quote:
Originally posted by Ardashir
Thanks for all the info on resources in the Stonelands. Though it still sounds like "you have rock, scrub, and boulders. Ad thena few more rocks, just for variety."
Who in their right mind would want to settle in such a place anyway?
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"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 21:32:46
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| True. There are a lot of places that most people wouldn't see as ideal places to settle...but they get settled anyway. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 18:41:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
True. There are a lot of places that most people wouldn't see as ideal places to settle...but they get settled anyway.
Quite true, besides, where would the adventure be if it were easy to settle.  |
"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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The Stonelands
