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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 02:46:58
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I also think that Artemis killing Gareth would have been a long shot. I do think we could have seen Artemis and Jarlaxle do some serious damage to his Royal Highness though. Killing Olwen would have been a good start and maybe some more of his entourage (or perhaps his Queen-there's only one thing worse than a couple that refuses to get together and that's a happy couple that has). The complete lack of anything happening to his armies also ticked me off.
But yes, if Gareth had died then Artemis would have made a more interesting addition to the political figures of the Realms. A political marriage with Regent Allusair!
Haha. Just kidding.
Jarlaxle and Artemis weren't utterly spanked by Gareth and his newcommers but they sure as hell didn't make much of an impression in their short time in Bloodstone. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Edited by - Charles Phipps on 03 Jan 2007 02:50:01 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 22:51:14
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| To be fair, Gareth does come to the realization that A&J's seizure of that castle was really no different or less valid then the way he acquires land and power, other than his probable claim of doing it "with good intentions". |
"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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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 00:05:06
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I give R.A. Salvatore credit, for essentially creating a monarch and entourage whole cloth in order to steal the PC's victory in the Bloodstone modules......they come off as an interesting bunch of characters.
(My player characters had their most narrowest and cruelest adventure campaign in order to defeat that series. It was a running joke in our game that Gareth had snuck in behind their backs to become King)
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 00:10:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
I give R.A. Salvatore credit, for essentially creating a monarch and entourage whole cloth in order to steal the PC's victory in the Bloodstone modules......they come off as an interesting bunch of characters.
Ahem,
RAS didn't create the characters, nor did he write the original Bloodstone modules. He only wrote the Bloodstone sourcebook that added more to the 1e Bloodstone modules.
Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson and Ed Greenwood wrote the original modules. The first two game designers more then Ed, since Ed only helped out with the third module. |
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
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 04 Jan 2007 00:15:56 |
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 00:15:01
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Charles, I happen to agree with most of what you've just posted about Road of the Patriarch.
But.
As Ed and Bob and two head editors that I can remember from panels (and a whole lot of newspaper people and profs I sat in front of, too) have said, one of the cardinal sins in book reviewing is "the author didn't write the book I wanted him to write."
Personal reactions to a book are just fine - - just don't call it a "review." Call it "My take on Road of the P" or something of the sort, please.
Otherwise, I find it hard to agree with your points, without remembering all those prof wagging their fingers.
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 00:29:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
I give R.A. Salvatore credit, for essentially creating a monarch and entourage whole cloth in order to steal the PC's victory in the Bloodstone modules......they come off as an interesting bunch of characters.
(My player characters had their most narrowest and cruelest adventure campaign in order to defeat that series. It was a running joke in our game that Gareth had snuck in behind their backs to become King)
And they weren't exactly created to "steal the victory" from the PCs, they were the pregenerated PCs. If you or your DM didn't want your PCs to be the "offcial" ones to complete the adventure, then they would be the default guys that did. They were no more created to "steal the victory" than the Heroes of the Lance were created to steal the glory in DragonLance. |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 00:31:26
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Touche.
And I agree with Ed and Bob's statement.
Rarely do I let expectations hurt my enjoyment. This was one of the cases where it happened because there was so much build up for their epic confrontation that it just sort of fizzled out. So in this case, I feel somewhat justified in complaining about it.
I also stand corrected on the Blood Stone Modules. I just got used to the "An a nameless band of adventures completed X quest."
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Edited by - Charles Phipps on 04 Jan 2007 00:33:04 |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 17:15:00
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| I'm going to have to post on here that I too wanted to see King Artemis the First of D'Aerth/Vaasa and have that show up in a future realms product. Ah well, great book nonetheless. |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2007 : 09:46:08
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Well, this discussion is way out of date and I am late in reading the novels, as always. therefore I will say only a few things:
1. I greatly enjoyed the book (esp. since the fighting scenes are limited to a neccissary minimum)!
2. Esp. the ending is intriguing and follows the over all plot of the novel. Not to be expected but enjoyable all the more, IMO.
3. I can only recomand this book to anyone intrested in reading about Artemis Entreri.
4. Lastly a question: Was this be last we'll have seen of Artemis? *wonder wonder* |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Lady Fellshot
Senior Scribe
USA
379 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 01:38:31
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An additional question:
When will we see Jalaxle and Bregan D'Aerthe again (not a prequel)? *makes big starry eyes*
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Rants and reviews that interest no one may be found here. |
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Brynweir
Senior Scribe
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 04:10:19
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I know my post is late as well, but I just finished this one two weeks ago.
I have to say that I loved it.
I also think there was quite a leap from the non-confrontation with Gareth to Artemis going back to Calimport to face his past, however, I think that this action was foreshadowed well by the use of the flute.
Artemis begins to look inward and examine himself. He begins to look for reasons why he is the cold, emotionless killer that he is. When he begins to realize that his new outlook is partly due to Jarlaxle's influence, I think that he has no choice but to 360 because he does not want anyone else to have a hand in who he is going to be. He has been manipulated his entire life and he's sick of it. He is going to take control of his life even if it means doing the opposite of what he wants to do just for spite.
And no - I do not think that this is the last we will see of Artemis (or Jarlaxle for that matter). I think that this novel set up a new beginning for him.
I also liked this book because it had a stronger sense of character than hack and slash. I admit that I sometimes skip over the paragraphs containing the fights and just check to see who won. I am much more into examining the characters than the fighting styles.
Quick question - I have only read about 1/4 of the FR novels. Are there novels detailing Artemis' life before he encounters Drizzt?
(Must...Know...More) |
Anyone who likes to read something that's really dark and gritty and completely awesome ought to read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. You can check out a little taste at www.BrentWeeks.com I should probably warn you, though, that it is definitely not PG-13 :-D
He also started a new Trilogy with Black Prism, which may even surpass the Night Angel Trilogy in its awesomeness. 
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Lady Fellshot
Senior Scribe
USA
379 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 04:34:30
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| There is "The Third Level" in Realms of Infamy if you wish more on early Entreri. As far as I know, there isn't anything else in canon. But, hey, what do I know, maybe there's something else. |
Rants and reviews that interest no one may be found here. |
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RileyWhitson
Acolyte
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2008 : 09:33:56
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| Okay, so you know how they talk about Sir Liam of Halfling Downs? The knight who vanished? I just re-read the book, and I realized he's Liam Woodgate from Spine of the World. How awesome. |
Riley Whitson |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2010 : 11:07:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
The Road of the Patriarch review
<snip>
I would also like to add that Calihye is a bit of a problem for me because I never bought the Artemis/Calihye romance. She never seemed a fully realized character and certainly not in Artemis' league. I never got what he saw in her and honestly felt like he would have done better with Gareth's evil niece (of course Jarlaxle got there first)
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I heard a rumor that Calihye was pregnant in this book. Having just read it, I think her behaviour would confirm it... bursting into tears unexpectedly, trying to stab Artemis and starting to cry again... but there's nothing else. Your thoughts? |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2010 : 17:13:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
I heard a rumor that Calihye was pregnant in this book. Having just read it, I think her behaviour would confirm it... bursting into tears unexpectedly, trying to stab Artemis and starting to cry again... but there's nothing else. Your thoughts?
Perhaps, but I don't think so. Knellict got a hold of her and brainwashed her into going off on Entreri.
It is partially because of [this] that Jarlaxle and Co. later went off on Knellict and wiped out most of his soldiers. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
Edited by - BEAST on 03 Jun 2010 17:14:30 |
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Road of the Patriarch (Spoilers!)
