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Raserys
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Oct 2024 : 15:54:05
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| Aha! Thanks very much to you all! |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1734 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2025 : 18:28:34
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Launching a query here to see if there'd be any interest or if the echo in my own head is what's bugging me....
If I were to restart my website/blog and start doing brief annotations of my first novel BLACKSTAFF to help readers ID where info and references came from, why I put something into play, etc, would anyone be interested in reading that at all?
Granted, the bulk of the references and necessary annotations would be in the latter third of the book, but I'd force myself to reread the novel and add in commentary and notes as I went to explain either my process or why someone or something got dropped in there. Perhaps might even elaborate on characters who'd only appeared in the novel and never since, like some tavern owners with their own relationship with the Blackstaff for one reason or other...
Steven
who's curious and needing more paying projects so he's drumming up ways to remind people he's a wordsmith |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Scots Dragon
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2025 : 19:54:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Launching a query here to see if there'd be any interest or if the echo in my own head is what's bugging me....
If I were to restart my website/blog and start doing brief annotations of my first novel BLACKSTAFF to help readers ID where info and references came from, why I put something into play, etc, would anyone be interested in reading that at all?
Granted, the bulk of the references and necessary annotations would be in the latter third of the book, but I'd force myself to reread the novel and add in commentary and notes as I went to explain either my process or why someone or something got dropped in there. Perhaps might even elaborate on characters who'd only appeared in the novel and never since, like some tavern owners with their own relationship with the Blackstaff for one reason or other...
Steven
who's curious and needing more paying projects so he's drumming up ways to remind people he's a wordsmith
I absolutely adore seeing writers annotate and explain their works so I'd definitely be interested. |
Edited by - Scots Dragon on 30 Sep 2025 19:55:25 |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6449 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36984 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2025 : 01:26:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Launching a query here to see if there'd be any interest or if the echo in my own head is what's bugging me....
If I were to restart my website/blog and start doing brief annotations of my first novel BLACKSTAFF to help readers ID where info and references came from, why I put something into play, etc, would anyone be interested in reading that at all?
Granted, the bulk of the references and necessary annotations would be in the latter third of the book, but I'd force myself to reread the novel and add in commentary and notes as I went to explain either my process or why someone or something got dropped in there. Perhaps might even elaborate on characters who'd only appeared in the novel and never since, like some tavern owners with their own relationship with the Blackstaff for one reason or other...
Steven
who's curious and needing more paying projects so he's drumming up ways to remind people he's a wordsmith
I'd be interested. |
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Demzer
Senior Scribe
893 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2025 : 09:18:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Launching a query here to see if there'd be any interest or if the echo in my own head is what's bugging me....
If I were to restart my website/blog and start doing brief annotations of my first novel BLACKSTAFF to help readers ID where info and references came from, why I put something into play, etc, would anyone be interested in reading that at all?
Granted, the bulk of the references and necessary annotations would be in the latter third of the book, but I'd force myself to reread the novel and add in commentary and notes as I went to explain either my process or why someone or something got dropped in there. Perhaps might even elaborate on characters who'd only appeared in the novel and never since, like some tavern owners with their own relationship with the Blackstaff for one reason or other...
Steven
who's curious and needing more paying projects so he's drumming up ways to remind people he's a wordsmith
Count me interested! |
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kysus
Learned Scribe
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2025 : 19:19:06
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| Hi steven schend i hope your having a good holidays this year. i had something come to mind recently i wanted to ask you about your city hope (Rhymanthiin), I was reading through the two new forgotten realms books that just came out and some information in them got me into wondering the 3 grand high mages of Rhymanthiin that was mentioned i think it was the blackstaff novel, correct me if im wrong though, but did you have any notes about who they are or what would your thoughts be on them? and also in one of your posts you said there were quite a few high mages in the city of hope, how many would you say there are in the city say when it was first brought back to the present time of 1490s? |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1734 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2025 : 18:40:12
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quote:
Originally posted by kysus
Hi steven schend i hope your having a good holidays this year. i had something come to mind recently i wanted to ask you about your city hope (Rhymanthiin), I was reading through the two new forgotten realms books that just came out and some information in them got me into wondering the 3 grand high mages of Rhymanthiin that was mentioned i think it was the blackstaff novel, correct me if im wrong though, but did you have any notes about who they are or what would your thoughts be on them? and also in one of your posts you said there were quite a few high mages in the city of hope, how many would you say there are in the city say when it was first brought back to the present time of 1490s?
This will take a bit of time to compile and flesh out, but the fact that I had to hunt through files for nearly an hour before I could track down names and particulars tells me I've a lot of work to do making these notes and scribbles (and cryptic quotes from a novel I started 20 years ago) into something coherent and readable.
Short answer, though, is the trio of Grand Mages of Rhymanthiin are resurrected from sharnform as the elves they once were.
APOLOGY: I have to fudge here as my notes are scrambled and I can't recall which of them is a dark elf from Illythiir or Miyeritar or a green elf from Illefarn, so I'll be vague until I've time to dig deeper
Some basics to note: None of these three (and in truth many of the restored elves in Rhymanthiin) use their former clan surnames, either because that clan is long dust or they choose new paths that are not connected to their bloodlines. Their families and heritage can be uncovered with some digging and research--but that's nothing we're going into today.
The tallest of them is Hamra, a bald woman of regal bearing and severe posture, whose high voice has a bell-like ring. If I read my notes correctly, she was a Grand Mage of Illefarn who came to the aid of beleaguered Miyeritar, but I can't confirm that conclusively. Yet.
T'Karon, the sole male among the trio, was once Cor'selu'taar Miyeritar and his gruff exterior remains even if restored to relative youth (for someone approaching his twelfth millennium, that is). He wears his hair to the midpoint of his back with enough wave and curl to make folk think it's constantly shifting in a breeze that may or may not be there in truth. Of all this trio, he is most invested in restoring and resurrecting the life and knowledge of Miyeritar long buried...especially the secrets yet hiding behind Kraanfhaor's Door (which he may or may not have accessed and not yet shared with others yet).
Alunor is the shortest of the Grand Mages and the most approachable, given her round, ever-smiling face and abundant curls that spill around and across her shoulders. Again, my notes here are jumbled and she could be a younger sister to Hamra and another green elf; she might be a sister (in-law?) to T'Karon, which doesn't help ID which elf species she is either.
I'll have more later (unlikely before year's end, alas) after I've put a few projects to bed and will then be able to work out more details as I do both editorial development and archaeology on my notes and scribbles about Rhymanthiin.
Hope this little bit helps, at least...
Steven |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Edited by - Steven Schend on 11 Dec 2025 18:41:56 |
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Questions for Steven Schend
