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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 08:43:17
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
I was wondering about an answer you gave a while back here, and since we have moved past Dan and Arilyns time, if it is yet something you can expand on( at the time you rightly passed on answering it in full, planning on telling "on stage"....
Moving on to your Realms questions. When you say "now," I assume you're talking about DR 1375, the current time in the Realms. My stories about Arilyn and Dan, however, have only gone up to 1368. At that time, Arilyn was in her early forties, which is very young for a half-elf--the equivalent of a human woman in her early to mid twenties. No, she was not pregnant. There was a mention of a "little one" in the paperback edition of Evermeet, but I didn't intend for this comment to see print. Apparently the book was reprinted from an old file--most likely, from a file that did not reflect changes made in the galley pages. I removed this reference because the explanation would have been too cumbersome for that particular book, and I've resisted explaining the situation because I hoped to address this issue "on stage" in a new book. So bear with me a while longer, and all will be known. 
Thank again!
P.S. I'm crossing my fingers and wishing hard as hell, but don't have my hopes too high!
Second that request. So that's where the rumors about Dan and Arilyn having a child originated! Though there's no 'little one' mentioned in Polish edition of Evermeet... save for the "lost prince".
Oh, on that topic - anything about the "lost prince", pretty please?
Zi |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 13:11:45
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Unfortunately, both those questions fall under the "unpublished lore" catagory, and I don't think it would be appropriate for me to speculate. Plus, who's to say that the current editorial zeitgeist will ALWAYS be the way things are? If at some point WotC decides to publish stories set in the past, I'd like to leave my options open. Giving spoilers for untold tales is....not exactly conducive to that.
And yes, there are some stories in past times I'd like to tell. I'd like to finish RECLAMATION, preferably before SERPENT'S DAUGHTER comes out, so it could be included in omnibus editions of Songs & Sword, assuming WotC decided to re-issue those books. I'd take THORNHOLD out of the Songs & Swords lineup, give it an editing pass, and make it the first in a trilogy of Fortress novels. Follow it up with DARKHOLD--primarily a villain-focused novel, with intrique among the Zhentarim--then a final story focusing on the paladin fortress in which Algorind was raised and trained. Many, if not most, fantasy stories have a strong theme of redemption, and in this case it would, ironically, be the paladin order of the Knights of the Shield that find a sort of redemption. I would love to tackle a Crown Wars trilogy. Then there's Lamruil's ill-fated attempt to establish a kingdom in the remote northlands. It might be fun to revisit Liriel and her kick-ass elven sisterhood.
I doubt I'll ever get to any of these tales, but you never know. There has been a murmuring or two about informally publishing tales telling readers what happened to favorite characters. I am most decidedly NOT in favor of this. If by some strange twist of fate, I get a call from Susan Morris of WotC saying, "We want a 4E Liriel book, a stand-alone story that, if it's well accepted, might be the first in a continuing character series," I wouldn't have to contend with an online story by some other writer who turned her into a vampire and forced Thorn, her lythari pal, to kill her. (Oh, the irony! A drow seeking the light only to become a creature of darkness! Dark and gritty! Much angst potential!) Having to tell readers, "No, that's not what really happened..." would be confusing to them and detrimental to the continuity of the world. For that matter, it wouldn't HAVE to be another writer. If I told people "what happened" to my characters, without running these character's proposed fate past WotC and without knowing what direction the world is taking and what projects are in the pipeline, I'd probably write my characters into a corner just as effectively as another writer would.
This is a long-winded answer to two short questions, but from time to time it makes sense to explain WHY I'm very careful about unpublished lore. Especially here on Candlekeep, where Ed Greenwood gives detailed responses to all manner of lore questions. But he's Ed Greenwood and I'm not. What Ed says IS Forgotten Realms lore unless/until it's directly contracted by published material. |
Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 13 Jul 2010 14:18:49 |
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
767 Posts |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 14:20:26
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| I am going to write a nice letter to Wotc, expressing great interest in FR stories in the past....especially Reclamation. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 14:58:04
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
I am going to write a nice letter to Wotc, expressing great interest in FR stories in the past....especially Reclamation.
I know that some FR writers encourage this, but I wasn't hinting.
If you frequent the D&D Insider forum, you might have read the recent post by James Wyatt about the restructuring of the Realms' creative team. Game designers and novel editors will be working more closely together. This is great--anything that improves continuity is fine with me--but it suggests a stronger congruence between novels and games. Since the game is very forward-looking, it seems unlikely to me that any new novel would revisit the past.
The only thing that would make sense, imo, would be to include Reclamation in an omnibus, which would make it plain that this was an "early work" and not part of the current storyline. But then, I'm just a freelance writer--demographics and market trends and so on are not my field of expertise. It could be that the omnibus editions don't sell particularly well because of the size and price, and including a new story in one of these big, pricey books might backfire and piss off more readers than it pleases. I don't have the information and perspective needed to know how or if this might be feasible.
That said, I would really like to finish Reclamation. While writing Azariah's story, I've been rereading my earlier stuff, and the first few chapters are among the best things I've written. There's a sample up on the FR Novels forum--the post labled "Amlaruil" is the prelude. This morning I was sorely tempted to post the first chapter, which puts Arilyn in the midst of the debacle that broke the siege of Maratma in Tethyr's war of reclamation. But that would be stepping WAY over the line. Once Azariah's story is finished, I'll take another look at Reclamation . Assuming that's possible, I'd be very pleased if WotC made it available to readers in any form, even if it were just a free ebook or a online serial novel.
But that's a topic for another day. I need to focus on Azariah's story.
Back to it.... |
Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 13 Jul 2010 15:18:01 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 15:36:58
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the last thing I want is so sidetrack you from Azariah, so I will just say that about thecoolest thing wotc could do to alay some of my fears for the realms future would be to do Reclamation or what ever comes of it as a free download or with some way to access it for free with purchase of the serpents daughter.
Thanks for the answers, your the best!
P s. About that first chapter..... Maybe Ed should read it, he may glean a few thins from that he thinks should be realmslore? |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 13 Jul 2010 16:02:47 |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 16:26:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
Elaine,
May those dreams come true!
Seconded. |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1607 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 17:36:01
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I'm also with the others, Mrs. Cunningham, wishing with all of my heart that your writing dreams come true some day. And since I'm a great fan of the "Songs & Swords" series, I just DREAM of having RECLAMATION available, in whatever form they could release it. And I know it's not necessarily what the market looks for, but I would gladly pay for one of those pricey books! 
But, while it is - at least for now - just a dream, have a good work on The Serpent's Daughter... I'm pretty sure it will also be a great book!  |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 17:43:15
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Thanks, all. I'm having a lot of fun with Azariah's story and hope you'll enjoy it.
On another matter, if there's a moderator about, perhaps you would consider starting a new scroll? This one is getting a tad cumbersome :) |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2010 : 18:01:46
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| Oh Sage.....add this to your list! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37006 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37006 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2010 : 00:30:48
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
Thanks, all. I'm having a lot of fun with Azariah's story and hope you'll enjoy it.
On another matter, if there's a moderator about, perhaps you would consider starting a new scroll? This one is getting a tad cumbersome :)
I'm still checking over everything else posted whilst I was at work... And my wife is preparing dinner. I'll come back to open a new scroll, but The Sage may wander by before I can get back. If not, I'll do it later tonight. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2010 : 01:56:10
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
Thanks, all. I'm having a lot of fun with Azariah's story and hope you'll enjoy it.
On another matter, if there's a moderator about, perhaps you would consider starting a new scroll? This one is getting a tad cumbersome :)
Ah. I had intended to do just that once this scroll reached 100 pages, but since you've asked ahead of time, I'll do it now.
...
All scribes wishing to participate further in asking questions to Elaine, should proceed here:- http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13887
*Casts Seal Scroll* |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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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Questions for Elaine Cunningham
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