quote:

---

Originally posted by Ergdusch

However, I checked all sources except for Crown of fire, with the only info being that it burned down after a tavern brawl and has not been rebuilt since. Than all the sudden Into the dragons lair pronounces it as the only oparating tavern in town. Makes me wonder, it does, how that came about. Due to the war? are all other palces ruined after some goblin attack? Are some of the owners dead or did they flee town? Or is business so bad that it is no longer profitable to run a tavern/inn/rooming house?

---

quote:

---

Could thou be a little more forthcoming with what info the novel Crown of Fire has to offer on this part?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Garen Thal

The Purple Dragon ranks from lowest to highest (with very roughly equivalent real-world ranks, useful for anyone familiar with a military deriving its ranks from the British system) is:

Blade- Private or Corporal
First Sword- Sergeants
Swordcaptain- Warrant Officers/ Lieutenants
Lionar- Captain
Ornrion- Major/Lt. Colonel
Constal- Colonel
Oversword
Battlemaster

Battlemaster and Oversword are somewhat equal, both being roughly equivalent to general officers in our world. Generally speaking, a battlemaster is a field officer, while an oversword is a garrisoned or "base" officer (like the commander of the garrison of Arabel, Oversword Dutharr). You'll never really see a noble below the rank of swordcaptain, and rarely below the rank of lionar. Commoners, for their part, have a hard time making it past lionar, though an ennobled or knighted commoner can rise to any rank the crown or his superiors desire.

Standing above these ranks is the (Lord High) Warden of the Eastern Marches, currently Dauneth Marliir. Any other regional wardens ("Warden of the North," for example) would also be at this level. The Warden of the Port of Marsember, Ayesunder Truesilver (and de facto head of the Imperial Navy), is effectively at this level as well.

Above the Warden is the (Lord) High Marshal of the Kingdom. This post is currently vacant--in truth, it's filled by Alusair--and answers only to the Crown, having full command over the total forces of all Cormyr.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Skeptic


I'm starting an online campaign (Fantasy Grounds) with my long-time players and because of this thread, I've decided to start it in Cormyr

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Skeptic


I've noticed you have included Garen Thal's answers about Cormyr, what gives him a special "authority" about it ?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Skeptic

I've noticed you have included Garen Thal's answers about Cormyr, what gives him a special "authority" about it ?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ergdusch
What Asgetrion said is quite correct. Galen is "THE" expert when it comes to the kingdom of Cormyr. This is even acknowledged by THO herself in some of her answers IIRC. How this exactly came about I don't know myself. Maybe the Sage or someone else can tell you more on that. However, recalling Galens insight to Cormyr I found it appropriate to include his answers as well (as did Kuje in his project).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage
Maybe we should just let Garen explain how his own relationship with Forest Kingdom developed.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Garen Thal
"Garen," dear Ergdusch. It's Garen. "Galen" is an overused generic fantasy name, so much so that Wizards' Author Submission Guidelines, for a number of years, included a warning not to name one's protagonist Galen.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Garen Thal

"Garen," dear Ergdusch. It's Garen. "Galen" is an overused generic fantasy name, so much so that Wizards' Author Submission Guidelines, for a number of years, included a warning not to name one's protagonist Galen.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Garen Thal

And please, don't tease Ergdusch overmuch.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Garen Thal

And please, don't tease Ergdusch overmuch. The mistake is a common one (imagine correcting someone seven times in a ten minute online conversation) precisely because of the overuse of the name in novels and games. It's only an online handle, anyway--my name is still Brian--so I'm never offended if someone gets it wrong. Just a bit amused.

---

quote:

---

Hello again, fellow scribes of the Realms.
This time Ed will no doubt please both Mkhaiwati and Sanishiver by tackling Mkhaiwati's eight questions:

1. The Path of the goblin army and Devil Dragon. In the Death of a Dragon, there is a fight at Calantar's bridge after Arabel is lost. Looking at the maps, the easiest way for a retreating army would be along Calantar's Way, and I would assume the goblins and dragons followed. What happened to Blisterfoot Inn, Immersea, and Hilp (which Volo mentions has a wall)? Would anything be left, or would the goblins ignore since they were being driven by the Dragon?
Ed replies: Blisterfoot Inn was pillaged (and all livestock devoured) after the folk there fled, but not torched or destroyed. Hilp and Immersea were largely bypassed, though the swift-moving goblins did slay everyone they saw and pillaged where they could - - and the goblins struck so lightly because they were indeed being driven on, hard, by the Devil Dragon.

2. What percent of Cormyr is still blighted at the time of Elminster's Daughter? I seem to recall that the cleric of Chauntea saying something along the lines that if they discovered the ruined fields early, they could repair them.
Ed replies: By the time of ELMINSTER'S DAUGHTER, Cormyr's farms are only about 8 percent blighted: in the wake of the defeat of the Devil Dragon, Filfaeril called in some favours, and the priests of Cormyr pleaded with their brethren - - and the call was heard and heeded: clergy of Chauntea, Eldath, and Silvanus came to the Forest Kingdom and worked tirelessly together for some months to "turn the tide."

3. What happened to the Red Raven company in Arabel? Did they try to fight the goblins and get destroyed or did they flee and regroup later?
Ed replies: The Red Ravens fought the goblins and took heavy losses until the decision was made to empty the city by the magical means seen in DEATH OF THE DRAGON, whereupon War Wizards bolstering the Purple Dragons as a rearguard on the Arabel end of the link allowed the exhausted Raven survivors to flee through the link to Suzail (they were in fact ORDERED to get out). As a result, they're back in Arabel now, and busily rebuilding.

4. For that matter, what is the current policy towards adventurers in Cormyr, still the status quo? I ask because on one hand Cormyr really would need help with the Stonelands and roving bands of goblins, but on the other hand, with Gondegal in everyone's minds, would they (Alusair) actually be more strict towards adventurers, feeling that with Cormyr weakened parties of armed adventurers could make more trouble?
Ed replies: Alusair is as strict with adventurers as her father was: meaning, she comes down hard on those who don't report in, don't peacebond, and don't get charters if they're residents, but turns a smilingly blind eye to adventurers who hurl spells and draw blades in aid of anyone against marauding monsters, brigand attacks, and the like. She's VERY wary of adventurers turning brigand or becoming the sponsored "swordstrike" forces of ambitious nobles seeking to take advantage of the weakened realm, and has opened the coffers (drawing on the Crystal Grot) to hire adventurers she (or her mother, through Dove and other regular Harper contacts; you'll see a glimpse of what Filfaeril's been up to, down the years, in SWORDS OF EVENINGSTAR) "knows" and trusts. So a lot of adventuring bands, each closely watched over by War Wizards to make sure they don't "go bad," are busy in the northeastern part of the realm right now.
The Harpers, the royal foresters, the War Wizards, and the Purple Dragons have all teamed up in a hitherto-unknown close and cordial manner, to scour out the King's Forest of goblins, monsters, and other perils, and are well on their way to doing so (the Hullack, I'm afraid, is another matter). That's not to say things are back to normal, yet, but the "dozens of beast raids every night" that typified conditions in locales "in the shadow of the Forest" in the days after Azoun's death have faded to one or two every few nights.
In Marsember, the authorities are VERY keen-eyed and intolerant of weapons and skulking, but in Suzail, the war against the Devil Dragon has made everyone a little more relaxed when they see a sword or dagger discreetly sheathed at a belt (folk no longer run to tell the authorities, they just keep a quiet eye on openly-armed folk, to make sure no one draws steel). Moreover, adventurers buying arms or coming to Cormyr to seek commissions as bodyguards, caravan escorts, and "scour-outers" for private estates in the countryside are welcomed far more than before. Purple Dragons still stop armed bands riding past and ask to see charters or commissions, but are far more friendly while doing so, and faster to accept explanations like: "We're on our way to see Lord Truesilver right now to obtain the commission he said he wanted to hire us for, when we met last month in Daerlun."

5. What actually is the policy towards mages. In the Cormyr accessory, is says every mage of 5th level on up needs to register, but it seems (I could be mistaken) that I read in a later publication that it was every mage, or just Cormyr born, or something different (memory is a tricky thing).
Ed replies: Every arcane spellcaster must, by law, register with the Crown (or, if passing through the realm, inform Purple Dragon officers or local lords of their names, reasons for being in the realm, and where exactly they intend to go in Cormyr). Children can, of course, plead ignorance of their powers, as can sorcerers of all ages who don't hurl magic where they can be seen by a War Wizard or Purple Dragon, or someone who'll report them to such folk. Ignorance of the law is no real defense for anyone, but obvious outlanders who aren't seen using magic for hostile purposes tend to get a stern warning and forcible registration, these days, rather than automatic "jail and then deportation." Those who can hide their spellbooks and scrolls (by having someone else in their party carry them, for example) can claim to have given up wizardry after having their minds harmed during the "Devil Dragon War," but they'd better not be seen hurling spells around if they want to escape detention or worse. Suzail is the most tolerant place in the Realm for such transgressions, Marsember (and the guest quarters at High Horn) the worst, with Arabel close behind. A day's ride east of Arabel, the law of Cormyr now ends, it's considered lawless country, and so even Purple Dragon patrols will expect groups of travelers to be well-armed and ready to fight (in other words, they're not enforcing registration, peacebonding, or anything of the sort in the vicinity of Tilverton, which in practical terms is no longer within the reach of Cormyrean law; rather, the 'law of the sword' applies).

6. Which power groups still operate in the Stonelands? In my mind, I would think the Zhents would still be there, but might be pushed out by the Shadovar if the Shadovar thought they could weaken Cormyr. Of ocurse, the Shadovar would also operate behind the scenes and maybe just have the Zhents thinking they still have control of the Stonelands.
Ed replies: Bingo: your speculation "the Shadovar would also operate behind the scenes and maybe just have the Zhents thinking they still have control of the Stonelands" is spot-on correct. The Zhents are still operating there, and (as usual) skirmishing in the Stonelands with Harpers, adventurers sent out by Cormyr, and the like, but (although they don't know this) are doing so purely at the pleasure of the Shadovar, who are hiding behind them whilst proceeding with something covert nearby in the region which is firmly NDA'd.

7. How about the "Pauper's Town" and bands of refugees near Arabel that are presented in the last of the Archwizards book. What becomes of them? How long did it take for conditions to even become close to being normal (or at least as normal as it could be in Cormyr)?
Ed replies: The refugees were swiftly and forcibly resettled in Arabel and other areas around it that suffered heavy casualties from the goblins. This process went quickly and smoothly because Vangerdahast set his War Wizards to mind-controlling anyone who objected. Few did, because most were only too glad to step into ready accommodations and jobs before a hard winter could hit them. So, no more Pauper's Town or refugee camps or addled / desperate scavenging wanderers, which is the way Alusair wanted things, as swiftly as possible (because having such would aid unrest and provide cover for any brigands, Sembian or Zhent expansions, or any other mischief anyone schemed into being regarding the borders of her realm).

8. I expect a BIG NDA here, but what about Tilverton? A story in Realms of Shadow presents a view of a nasty Tilverton that could at least still be entered and exited, but other sources (Campaign Setting, Doorway to Everywhere adventure in Dungeon) suggest that anyone going in does not come out. I don't expect a full rundown of what is going on, but instead how it is best to incorporate the ruins into the world would be good, as well of a good description."
Ed replies: Always happy to oblige expectations: behold (splot!) one bright, bold, robust NDA, right in your lap. Treat it well, and in time it shall become thy friend. :}
Tilverton is a shattered ruin, in a permanent gloom (a fog-like shadow, by night and day), wherein many opportunistic monsters prowl and undead created in the devastation roam - - and the Shadovar watch, magically capturing those who interest them and letting others fight the perils of the ruins and find what fates they may. So most who go in don't come out. Adventurers had best defeat monsters with a minimum of splashy magic, or they'll be "collected" by watching Shadovar. Those adventurers who go in and prevail against the dangers can find a lot of little treasure (coinage) that can survive explosions and building collapses relatively unscathed but shouldn't expect to find any magic that the Shadovar haven't left as lures or tracer-items. Of course, folk in Faerûn don't know any of this; I'm just murmuring it in confidence to you the omniscient DM. :}
Anyone desiring to rebuild, inhabit, or refound Tilverton is destined for swift doom and disapppointment, and there's a lot more to come in the future for Tilver's Gap, the Shadovar, and [oooh, there's that NDA again - - see how shiny 'tis? Um! Sharp, too!]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Charisbonde's sex change was due to a crisis in his faith, and a penance/challenge from the deity that he accepted, thereby redeeming himself in the eyes of the god. This was an event in the "home" Realms campaign (that incidentally fooled two Zhent assassins who came looking for Charisbonde, and didn't recognize him in his new gender).
love to all,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Charisbonde's sex change was due to a crisis in his faith, and a penance/challenge from the deity that he accepted, thereby redeeming himself in the eyes of the god. This was an event in the "home" Realms campaign (that incidentally fooled two Zhent assassins who came looking for Charisbonde, and didn't recognize him in his new gender).
love to all,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ergdusch

I added the Wyvernspur Family Lineage done by Garen Thal, which I found at another thread here in Candlekeep, to the list of web goddies. Great work, Garen!

I wonder: Are there any other such ieces of lore that you kept from us so far and are willing to share.......?

Ergdusch

---