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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 22:33:34
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Wow was that an amazing start to the book. I knew that the series would be focusing on undead from the title of the trilogy and from what Richard has said here at the keep, but I have to say, right from the get go, this book has an great amount of material on Thay. I'm really glad to see Thay from the perspectives of the characters that we have seen so far, and I've really liked the wide variety of characters we have seen. It shows Thay in a manner consistant with what we know about it, but from angles that we haven't viewed if from before.
So far I've really enjoyed the portrayal of Szas Tam. For some reason, I like the whole calm, almost detatched feeling about him, which makes sense for a ruler who is also a powerful wizard and happens to be undead as well. Its also very interesting to see the appearance and portrayals of several of the key players in Thay's politics as well.
Bareris makes for an interesting protagonist, being high born by neither noble nor Red Wizard, and having perspectives about Thay and the outside world as an adventurer. Its also nice to see a competent, skillful bard as a lead character as well.
As far as the overweening political drama unfolding, am I the only one that is wondering of Szas had his own ally offed to throw suspicion onto his opponents and perhaps begin to turn Thay from its mercantile policy back to one of aquiring power? I guess I'll see more about this as I read.
Just a great start to the book. Definately looking forward to delving deeper into this one. |
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RodOdom
Senior Scribe
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 15:14:08
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| So far, this is an incredibly well told story. Perhaps I'm just imagining it, but it seems this is not the Richard Lee Byers who wrote the Rogue Dragons trilogy (which I enjoyed), but someone TWICE as good. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 01:32:43
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I love it so far as well (I'm about 40 pages in) because it's packed with dialogue and intrigue...and I can't get enough of that stuff. I also love the protagonist for being Thayan but a non-Red Wizard, and for having his own life that ]doesn't have to do with the Red Wizards and their evil. It's just rare to see all the "normal" people who live their lives in Thay. And much like KEJR I like how the protagonist is a bard.
Hmm, does anyone else find Szass Tam to be rather sexy in his darkness? |
"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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 02:15:13
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Well, maybe not sexy, but he does come across as charismatic  |
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Mazrim_Taim
Learned Scribe
341 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2007 : 04:32:53
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Makes you wonder how real his illusions can be.
Oops, I said it. *blush* |
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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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1075 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2007 : 08:48:59
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I bought the book yesterday and I really like the book.
I don’t find Szass Tam sexy at all.. But as I aspect.. a master Villain that sees the political structure in Thay as a game, I cant stop thinking of the twisted rune when I read about Szass Tam.
I have only read the first 25 pages, and I really like the way Richard Lee Byers describes what is happening in the story.
The only thing I would had like to see different is the brutal start of the death of the zulkir, I would have liked more history around him, and his situation.
But until now I am really enjoying the book…..
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Victor Ograygor The Assassin and Candel keeps cellar master
Everything I need to know about life I learned from killing smart people.
Links related to Forgotten Realms
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9571
Adventuring / Mercenary Companies / Orders / The chosen from official sources
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11047
Priests in Forgotten Realms.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9609&whichpage=1 |
Edited by - Victor_ograygor on 18 Apr 2007 09:19:48 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11830 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2007 : 21:11:40
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<<Makes you wonder how real his illusions can be.>>
Hmmmm, still waiting on the book, but hoping I'm reading this incorrectly. Tam can't cast illusions. Its supposed to be one of his opposition schools according to a short story from one of the realms of anthologies, as well as the epic level handbook. Considering he'd have to give up 3 schools of magic to be the Zulkir of necromancy (in 3.5), I'd expect him to have to keep enchantment and illusion as oppositions and add even another school (reds got really gimped under 3.5, at least under 3.0 rules they were really damn good at their chosen school... in return for giving up pretty much most of their spells.... I would have liked to have seen a happy medium <like a reduction in how much they could affect their DC's, but still be able to affect them in ways without having to just use heighten>).
Anyway, it won't make me horridly upset, but I would like to see this kind of thing shown in novels. The red wizards are not very versatile casters. Most have only 5 schools of magic open to them (except for low level spells), and of those at least 1 of the schools is always divination. Makes for some hard choices, and makes them somewhat more predictable in their spellcasting styles if you know what schools they use.
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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shandiris
Seeker
61 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2007 : 14:33:39
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I really loved the first 3 chapters.
Well, perhaps i missed something but i always saw him as being recognized immedeatly so not having any illusions cast around him. Richard does make him look very charismatic and mysterious wich is really good.
About the 5 schools why is divination always one? I personnaly would think Conjuration is always one due to teleporting. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11830 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2007 : 16:52:16
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After getting the book, I realized that I had misread the above. Overall he did a very good job of stressing the school focus nature of Thayan mages.
Divination is always one because that's in the rules for specialization. Game mechanics wise, it would be to prevent most mages from dropping divination in favor of another school. For instance, as you say, conjuration is one that many might consider dropping, until they realize they get no transportation spells. With the spells spread out the way they are now, its really a hard choice (at least for me) as to whether I want to be a specialist or not. With so many spells out there to prevent taking over people's minds, I tend to not take enchantment.... but beyond that.... if I'm good I may consider giving up necromancy. Of course, that's why I like being a diviner so much under the new rules. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2010 : 08:29:25
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| Just finished rereading this. Loved it still. I do hope that Richard's confirmed new trilogy after The Brotherhood of the Griffon will be set in Thay. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2010 : 18:06:50
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| This has been reprinted with the new D&D logo. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Unclean: Prologue & Chapters 1 - 3
