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RodOdom
Senior Scribe
USA
509 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 06:09:50
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What's your favorite good organization, other than the Harpers? For me, it would be the Knights of the Mystic Fire.
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boddynock
Learned Scribe
Belgium
258 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 08:56:45
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| Well I like the "seven sisters" but I doubt this can be called a real organisation :-) |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 16:08:35
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| Moonstars, although calling them "good guys" is a tad simplistic. |
"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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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 16:42:27
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In Amn, a land where mages are persecuted and ostracized, the secret, underground organization of the Cowled Wizards strives to preserve the study of arcane magic. They have a bit of the feel of medieval Eurpean monks who preserved knowledge from the ancient world lost to general society during the Dark Ages, because the knowledge was deemed (potentially) heterical. They are also reminiscent of the medieval alchemists.
At it's root the Cowled Wizards is a very prosocial organization. One of the foundations of the organization was to monitor the land for evil wizards, and confront them. In Amn, over the centuries a deep fear and prejudic arose against the practice of arcane magic after unscrupulous mages unleashed one plague or monster infestation after another on the land in the midst of their incessant power schemes and bizarre experiements. This is not to say that evil mages don't manage to make it into the fraternity, and that they don't abuse their power. Amn is a land of byzantine intrigues. But the 'charter' aims of the Cowled Wizards are quite noble. |
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RodOdom
Senior Scribe
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 17:03:21
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| Huh, I thought the Cowled Wizards were the oppressors in Amn. I'd better look up the "Land of Intrigue" books again. |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 17:13:10
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| That's the impression created by the Shadows of Amn computer game, where it appears that the Cowls have been coopted into Amn's government (which is the Council of Six). That has nothing to do with canon. In addition to LoI see also Empire of the Sands which details some of its earlier history. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37008 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 17:15:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Moonstars, although calling them "good guys" is a tad simplistic.
Me, too. I am a huge fan of the Tel'Teukiira. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 23:55:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Moonstars, although calling them "good guys" is a tad simplistic.
Me, too. I am a huge fan of the Tel'Teukiira.
They certainly aren't "good guys", not in the strictest sense of the term anyway.
In fact, I sometimes like to think the Moonstars are like the Gray Council in B5 -- "standing between the darkness and the light" -- an organisation of diverse individuals with alternate mindsets and abilities all dedicated to the preservation of an ideal.
And that's another vote for the Tel'Teukiira here. 
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 00:13:08
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| Lots of good-aligned adventuring bands. |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 01:13:42
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| Rather obscure, but I'd have to go with the Harmonious Order (paladins of Milil). |
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Mazrim_Taim
Learned Scribe
341 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 02:36:51
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| The Moonstars are my favorite 'good' group, and have been ever since I read Cloak and Dagger. |
And if the PCs DO win their ways through all the liches to Larloch, “he” will almost certainly be just another lich (loaded with explosive spells) set up as a decoy, with dozens of hidden liches waiting to pounce on any surviving PCs who ‘celebrate’ after they take Larloch down. As the REAL Larloch watches (magical scrying) from afar. Myself, as DM, I’d be wondering: “Such a glorious game, so many opportunities laid out before your PCs to devote your time to, and THIS fixation is the best you can come up with? Are you SURE you’re adventurers?” -Ed Greenwood
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 03:03:32
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I can only go by what I have read either in game supplements or novels, which means that the frequency at which we see 'good' organizations appear in these product will ultimately affect my judgement. If I could pick an organization which I know nothing about, I'd pick the Knights of the Shadowy Cloak, a gnome paladin order worshipping Baravar Cloakshadow (as per the F&P supplement). Of the organizations which we know about from game products or novels, I will have to go with [big surprise here] the Purple Dragons of Cormyr, and all affiliated branches (incl. War Wizards, the Highknights, and most of the 'good/honourable' nobles of Cormyr). Alusair and her mobile battalion of 'man-flesh TV dinners' ranks high amidst these organizations!  (what can you say? I have a soft spot for hot leader chicks who like to reward their men with some sweet action, after a night of bashing goblin skulls in... hey... I should have been born back in the 60's... I could have grown-up to be one of Janis Joplin's roadies... ) |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 06:26:54
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| I would pick one of the various adventuring bands, out to save the realms single handedly |
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 14:23:03
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I almost went the same way, but I've got to go with the Lords Alliance.
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
I can only go by what I have read either in game supplements or novels, which means that the frequency at which we see 'good' organizations appear in these product will ultimately affect my judgement. If I could pick an organization which I know nothing about, I'd pick the Knights of the Shadowy Cloak, a gnome paladin order worshipping Baravar Cloakshadow (as per the F&P supplement). Of the organizations which we know about from game products or novels, I will have to go with [big surprise here] the Purple Dragons of Cormyr, and all affiliated branches (incl. War Wizards, the Highknights, and most of the 'good/honourable' nobles of Cormyr). Alusair and her mobile battalion of 'man-flesh TV dinners' ranks high amidst these organizations! (what can you say? I have a soft spot for hot leader chicks who like to reward their men with some sweet action, after a night of bashing goblin skulls in... hey... I should have been born back in the 60's... I could have grown-up to be one of Janis Joplin's roadies... )
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"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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RodOdom
Senior Scribe
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 16:09:14
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| It would be nice if they featured some of these groups more in the novels. There's a gaggle of really interesting good groups in the Champions of Valor source book. |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 18:31:46
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| The silverstars |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1076 Posts |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:02:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Victor_ograygor
I would say Force Gray in Waterdeep if you could call them an origination
do you mean the Grey Enforcers? |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:14:35
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You mean the Gray Hands?
Though, they're still Force Gray to me!
Eric's thoughts on the subject -
"WoTC decided that Force Grey felt inappropriate as a group name in the Realms and that Gray Hands was a more appropriate.
My bias is always towards consistency (to a fault), but if I was starting from scratch I would have definitely picked "Gray Hands.
--Eric"
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37008 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:24:33
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Though, they're still Force Gray to me!
Ditto! |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 03:18:34
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
You mean the Gray Hands?
Though, they're still Force Gray to me!
Eric's thoughts on the subject -
"WoTC decided that Force Grey felt inappropriate as a group name in the Realms and that Gray Hands was a more appropriate.
My bias is always towards consistency (to a fault), but if I was starting from scratch I would have definitely picked "Gray Hands.
--Eric"
I did mean the grey hands. and I had forgotten that force grey stuff. |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1076 Posts |
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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 15:09:46
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quote:
Originally posted by RodOdom
It would be nice if they featured some of these groups more in the novels. There's a gaggle of really interesting good groups in the Champions of Valor source book.
Very, very true. We get brief snippets of the some of the day-to-day knightly and paladin orders of good deities, have various feats and PrC's adding flavor, and some interesting illustrations to keep the tone. Paladins of Kelemvor versus a dracolich, anyone?
That said, the idea of the Swords of the High One for Azuth struck a tone with me in that it's both unusual and very...Azuthan. You have an order of paladins who must also be highly intelligent and trained in wizardry. From a rules lawyer standpoint, that's spellcasting that requires Wisdom, Intelligence (and Charisma), rather just pumping a beneficial stat like Charisma. From a roleplaying standpoint, you end up with atypical paladins: I imagine the Swords of the High One paladins to not be the typical "holy bruiser" or "valiant knight in heavy armor" archetypes, but a bit smarter and more subtle at paladinship than most. |
One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 15:26:19
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Oh, also--speaking of Azuth, FRCS has a sidebar on p. 25 of monastic orders which describes the Shining Hand which is based in Amn and sounds pretty neat. These are monks of Azuth who combine the practice of wizardry with their monastic pursuits. Because of Amnian society's hatred of arcane magic, they remain an underground organization in Amn, though some have left to travel the world beyond Amn's borders. They are said to be one of the oldest monastic orders in Amn. They are Neutral, but I would think their aims are likely as noble as the Cowled Wizards with respect to the preservation of magic, and its use towards responsible, prosocial ends.
These monks often multiclass as wizards, as long as their monk level is equal to or greater than the wizard level. A sort of 'Kung Fu master/wizard' sounds like it like a potentially devastating combination. I would think they'd use spells that immobilize an enemy to render them sitting ducks to be wailed on with their blinding fists and feet. |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 16:22:48
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| Shining Hand wizard/monks versus Dark Moon sorcerer/monks is a story just waiting to happen... |
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RodOdom
Senior Scribe
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 16:49:17
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| I'd love to read more about the Shining Hands. |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 18:22:59
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| In reading up a little more on Azuth, there's certainly plenty of room for evil types within the faith. But I'd still like to think of the Shining Hand monastic order as largely prosocial because it demands a sense of grave responsibility about the use of magic. Followers of Azuth are taught to maintain a sense of calm and caution with respect to the use of magic; to use always excercise reason and wisdom in its use; to use magic parsimoniously; and to always consider the consequences of the use of magic (especially those which cannot be undone). True, there is an amorality to the religion, and a typical lack of concerns about the social welfare of those in the land. Also Azuth himself was rather power-driven in his rise to divinity. But still, the Authian faith seems to teach a kind of rigorous self-discipline that probably acts as a civilizing force (if civilization is viewed as 'good'; some faiths would disagree, I guess). Anyway, the responsible use of magic would seem on the whole to be a prosocial thing. |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 18:42:10
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| There's also the Loomwarden (anti-sorcerers) verus Spellsavant (pro-sorcerers) split in the Azuthan faith, as briefly described in Faiths & Pantheons. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 26 Feb 2007 18:42:39 |
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Ranin
Seeker
88 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2007 : 19:50:25
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| Lord's Alliance |
Listen to the silence of the wilds, in there lies the wisdom of ages. |
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Your favorite good guys, other than Harpers
