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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Jul 2020 : 22:28:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
So... I was away from Candlekeep for such an embarrassingly long duration that I forgot my login credentials! Thankfully, the kind seer Alaundo was able to restore my access in exchange for a rare tome describing the migratory patterns of vrocks. Once I get situated, I'll proceed to reply to these long overdue inquiries. Apologies for being away so long folks.
-Brian
Good to see you in these halls, Brian.
-- George Krashos |
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Baltas
Senior Scribe
Poland
955 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2020 : 15:41:22
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Good to have you back Brian.
I also have a question about Auril.
Recent materials and even statements imply she is different from the Queen of Air and Darkness, including a statement by Ed:
https://twitter.com/CineastBenRowe/status/1228217386689413120
https://twitter.com/TheEdVerse/status/1228370295649599488
But I wonder if it's the case, if Auril indeed is Aurilandür the Frost Sprite Queen, and just worked with the Queen of Air and Darkness, and the two were confused (like Ed suggested)? As the "Halls of the Frostmaiden" did give a slight possibility of that, when I reread it (ie it saying the Fey of the Shiverpine Forest
revere Auril as the Queen of Air and Darkness, not that she is her). |
Edited by - Baltas on 14 Jul 2020 15:51:49 |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2020 : 17:19:05
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Baltas asks a great question about the true nature of Auril, the Frostmaiden. During my time as a Forgotten Realms designer I attempted to weave plot threads into lore that would be slowly revealed over time. The redemption of Auril was one such thread. Sadly, WotC moved in a different direction and I was unable to deliver the full story as I had envisioned. The short version is this:
For the first time in several millennia Auril is now free from the corrupting influence of the Queen of Air and Darkness. The two were once separate entities, then conjoined as one, and are now separate again. After regaining her freedom and true identity following the events of the Stormstar Requiem, Aurilandür is now aligned with Silvanus who is aiding the Frostmaiden in repairing her relationship with the Seelie Court of Stars.
Clearly, WotC is moving forward with Auril being evil, as shown in the previews for the upcoming adventure Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. In my view, the antagonist of that adventure is in fact the Queen of Air and Darkness, now falsely masquerading as Auril while seeking a new host to corrupt with the Black Diamond. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2020 : 17:23:53
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quote:
Queen of Air and Darkness
The oldest myths and legends tell of a race of vile entities that once presided over the remains of a dying universe. These immortal beings of evil incarnate had drained their realm of all life and power. So it was that in the last age of their race, these entities breached the barrier between their realm and ours, pushing shards of unspeakable evil through the fissure between realities. With the power of the shards, they hoped to corrupt the most powerful beings of our cosmos into enacting their vile schemes.
Eons passed as the scions of elemental evil slowly succumbed to oblivion. When only a handful of their kind remained, the plan they had enacted so long ago finally came to fruition. A divinity from our realm, capricious and curious to a fault, found and took hold of the shard of evil. To the archfey Aurilandür, the shard appeared as a black ten-faceted jewel, looming entropy reflected in its soulless gloaming.
This unwise act opened the archfey’s thoughts and essence to the vile entities trapped in their collapsing universe. The link from the Black Diamond corrupted the fey goddess in an instant, transforming the once cheerful and benevolent Frost Sprite Queen into a cold and hateful husk of her former self. Wretched beyond any hope of her own physical death, Aurilandür retreated into the dark subconscious of the entity that had subsumed her—the Queen of Air and Darkness.
—Demonomicon of Iggwilv
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Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Baltas
Senior Scribe
Poland
955 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2020 : 12:21:18
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Thanks for the answer Brian, and I love how set-up the clues for the story of Aurilandür/Auril and Queen of Air and Darkness.
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
Clearly, WotC is moving forward with Auril being evil, as shown in the previews for the upcoming adventure Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. In my view, the antagonist of that adventure is in fact the Queen of Air and Darkness, now falsely masquerading as Auril while seeking a new host to corrupt with the Black Diamond.
I think I also now share this view. |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2020 : 20:34:01
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Mr. James,
I would love to know more about the Exodus of the Leirans in 173DR, from Halruaa. Specifically, I have the following questions, and I thank you in advance for any feedback you provide me! Also, I have no illusion (get it... illusions... Leira? Kind of tricky there. It's my natural improv abilities shining through there.) that all of my questions will be answered, but I certainly wouldn't be unhappy at the thought of it. :)
Question 1
The Exodus entry begins with the entry of, quote:
This excerpt is from the minutes of the Council of Elders, when that august body convened in the Year of Screaming Sharn to select a new Netyarch. (GHotR, p65)
My question with that excerpt, to clarify is: does that political process play out absent the viewership of the populace of Halruaa? It appears so when I read from FR16: The Shining South that, quote:
When the wizard-king dies, or steps down, his successor is chosen from among the ranks of the Elders. The Elders pick the most powerful of their number to lead. A complicated system involving level of power, ranking of specialization, and opinions expressed by the Elders, is used to determine the new leader. The last three leaders have all been divination specialists. It is thought that these are the most powerful of the wizards. Knowledge is power, great knowledge is great power. (FR16: The Shining South, p4-5)
Question 2
Are you aware of any more information about "Delbuestur Garamond"? He is identified as a Servant of the Mists, and since a person has to be at least 16th level to be on the council, I am assuming he was a Council member. Also, for the fact that Servant Garamond of the Mist was speaking on behalf of Leirans, I am assuming he was a senior Council member. Would that be correct?
Question 3
Though it is stated clearly in the quote that Servant Garamond of the Mist rises quote:
...today to note my opposition to the election of yet another Netyarch in the grip of the Church of Mystra. (GHotR, p65)
, what was going on that led to such strong and direct opposition to the selection of the Netyarch in that specific election? It is clear that quote:
...the stranglehold that worshipers of Mystra and Azuth have gained over the Council Elders...(GHotR, p66)
was a symptom of the problems. They clearly must have been pushing for certain policy prescriptions, or something else, beyond merely being outnumbered.
Question 4
The next line says, quote:
Cries from the Crowd: For shame! For shame! (GHotR, p65)
Is that only the Council of Elder's, or would that have been observing citizens as well?
Question 5, 6, 7, & 8
Servant Garamond of the Mist goes on to say, quote:
Although the Lady of Mysteries governs the Weave, she sees fit to let other gods oversee specific schools of magic. If Mystra can abide the existence of Azuth and Leira and Savras, why should the council single out their followers as second-class citizens who are unworthy of leadership positions within our realm? (GHotR, p65)
(5) Was there anything to demonstrate that the followers of Leira were in fact being treated as "second-class citizens", or was that hyperbola predicated upon the anger of a sense of disenfranchisement, as opposed to actual mistreatment?
(6) It is clear from an earlier quote that followers of Mystra and Azuth dominated the Council. There is a distinct lack of acknowledgement regarding followers of Savras. Is this an implicit acknowledgement of the approximate time of Savras' loss to Azuth in the Year of the Hangman's Noose (161DR), since it is known that, quote:
Some time in the first few centuries of the Dalereckoning calendar, Azuth came into conflict with a minor southern deity of divinations, Savras the All-Seeing. (Magic of Faerun, p6)
?
(7) Regarding Savras, if that is an implicit affirmation of the time by which Savras lost his battle with Azuth the Magister, is that the reason Savras had such a lack of representation on the Council since quote:
Savras's worship dwindled after his imprisonment (Magic of Faerun, p6)
, or were there enough followers still active a mere (12) years later that it was a situation indicative of second-class treatment for them as well?
(8) Assuming that Savras and Azuth battled in or approximate to 161DR, then how would it be that Azuth had his apotheosis as a deity (or becoming a deity) in 147DR, yet be clearly a mortal when he fights Savras?
Question 9
Towards the end of the Exodus "conversation", it is written that, quote:
Cry from the Crowd: Liar! You Leirans seek only to sow confusion. I doubt there’s more than one ship, and that one is more likely fleeing than heading toward some mythical land!
Why is Servant Garamond of the Mist being called, and seemingly his compatriots of Leira, a liar?
I know that may seem like an odd question, because Leira is listed as the deity of liars in the multiple religious texts. However, it is pretty clear that in 173DR, her followers were active civic participants, and extremely out in the open political leaders in at that time I argue one of the most powerful nations in the world. They were hardly hiding or seemingly being deceptive.
I ultimately ask all of the questions I have as I play Leira as a deity of freedom in my Realms. Not a good or evil freedom deity, but one of absolute freedom. So much so, that her expression of complete self-determination runs afoul of the other deities who try to control their worshipers actions through dogma. Her teaching appear to be pretty straight forward: you do you without concern for "right", "wrong" or whatever.
I appreciate any and all input on this. Leira is one of my most favorite deities and I really think she is overlooked too often as an amazing deity in the Realms.
Best regards,
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2020 : 22:31:42
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quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2
Mr. James, I would love to know more about the Exodus of the Leirans
Hello cpthero2. I'm afraid I'll have to direct you to Eric Boyd, as he wrote Exodus of the Leirans in the Grand History. You can tell which of us wrote each vignette by the initials at the end of each; ELB being Eric L. Boyd, TC = Tom Costa, BRJ = Brian R. James, GK = George Krashos, EG = some guy whose name eludes me right now :) |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2020 : 23:01:21
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Mr. James,
quote:
Hello cpthero2. I'm afraid I'll have to direct you to Eric Boyd, as he wrote Exodus of the Leirans in the Grand History. You can tell which of us wrote each vignette by the initials at the end of each; ELB being Eric L. Boyd, TC = Tom Costa, BRJ = Brian R. James, GK = George Krashos, EG = some guy whose name eludes me right now :)
My apologies. Had I paid any more attention, I would have noticed that. Thank you for your quick reply!
Best regards,
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Asharak
Learned Scribe
France
270 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2021 : 12:47:29
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Hi,
From "A Grand History of the Forgotten Realms":
"These humans became known as Lung, the ancestors of the Tuigan, Shou, Wang, and other human ethnicities of Kara-Tur and the Far East."
This is the only mention of the Wangs to my knowledge.
To which ethnic group are they related? Where did they come from? What is their history?
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"Soyez réalistes : demandez l'impossible"
Sorry for my English... it's not my native tongue. |
Edited by - Asharak on 10 Aug 2021 12:48:09 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2021 : 13:56:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Asharak
Hi,
From "A Grand History of the Forgotten Realms":
"These humans became known as Lung, the ancestors of the Tuigan, Shou, Wang, and other human ethnicities of Kara-Tur and the Far East."
This is the only mention of the Wangs to my knowledge.
To which ethnic group are they related? Where did they come from? What is their history?
just to note, From Kara-Tur campaign setting
Wang Kuo (The Province of the Kingdom)
The Land: This is the current location of the Imperial City, Kuo Te' Lung. It is in the center of a fertile river crescent between the Chan Lu tributary and the Hungtse. The area is well drained and crisscrossed by numerous canals and waterways. Much of the Imperial City is constructed on the ruins of an earlier capital burned down in 2050.
History: Although this region has always been heavily populated, it did not come into its own until 869, after the Ivory Plague decimated the Imperial City of Hai Sheng. Ordered to leave by the kirin, the survivors of the Imperial family fled the area, moving to a small city at a juncture of the upper Hungtse. This they named the new capital. With this exodus came an incredible influx of culture and trade, centering around the new Imperial Capital and the upland city of Ping Chow (a major cultural center famed for its arts, theatres and salons). In 2050, a great fire swept the capital, but it was rebuilt upon the ashes of the old site.
The People: The people of Wang are the largest group of Shou Lung, their densely packed cities making up nearly 40 percent of the overall population. They are known for being unfailingly polite, cultured, intelligent and sophisticated on the surface. It is the Wang who have set the styles of dress throughout the Empire; published the most important writings and produced the most famous plays. Of medium height and stature, they are fond of wearing the tight cheosong or the high collared mandarin's coat, usually in tasteful, but heavily embroidered silks. "Her skin is as smooth as a Wang's speech," is a common saying within Shou Lung, reflecting their reputation for mannered conversation and elegance.
Cities or Places of Note: Kuo Te' Lung is the capital City of the Empire of Shou Lung. Nearby is Ping Chow, a major trade nexus, and the "cultural center" of the Empire.
Then in the entry for Tien Lun
The People: The Tien are descended from the Wang, and as such have the same smooth skin, clear eyes and medium stature.
Then there's like fifty other entries using Wang as part of a name throughout the book, and there's some myths that say that "X person was of the Wang". |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 10 Aug 2021 14:14:30 |
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Asharak
Learned Scribe
France
270 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2021 : 16:21:23
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
...
just to note, From Kara-Tur campaign setting
...
thank you very much |
"Soyez réalistes : demandez l'impossible"
Sorry for my English... it's not my native tongue. |
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Italian Archmage Karsus
Learned Scribe
126 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2023 : 01:44:27
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Hello, Mr. James,
I was wondering about your Loremaster dot org site. It's ultimately offline at the moment, but I was wondering if you had any backup copies of the lore that Ed Greenwood posted there? |
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Questions for Brian R. James
