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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 17:18:09
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Given that what the names of last few Faerunian years (Wild Magic, Rogue Dragons, and Lightning Storms) refer to isn't exactly subtle, I thought it might be fun to throw in a few idea of what might occur during the year of Risen Elfkin. Be aware that this contains a few spoilers.
Following the death of Vhaeraun and her assumption of his portfolio, Eilistrae begins encouraging Vhaeraun's former worshippers to abandon the ways of evil. While a few heed her call, many believe this would lead to them once more come under the sway of the females. Some instead chose to remain independent of the gods, while others decide to adopt the human god Mask, a former ally of Vhaeraun.
Shevarash, long considered an outsider in the elven pantheon, finally falls under the sway of evil. His fall is largely due to the influence of the dark goddess Shar, and he pledges his complete allegiance to the Mistress of the Night. Following this, the Seldarine eject him from Arvandor, and he instead takes up residence on the plain of shadow with his new mistress. Shevarash's fall has numerous repurcusions:
- Followers of Shevarash, many of whom had long only grudgingly tolerated the worshippers of Eilistraee, launch several raids upon communities of good aligned drow. The few survivors report that the attackers were every bit as vicious and bloodthirsty as drow attacking a community of surface elves, with children butchered as readily as the armed defenders.
- Several priests of Shevarash join the Eldreth Veluuthra, and several existing members of the human-hating organization become clerics of the god. This marks the first time the group has had divine magic wielding members, and they immediately begin putting their new asset to good use.
- The situation becomes the major talking point in most major communities of surface elves, and several rumours relating to the situation rapidly spread. These include talk of a new sister group to the Eldreth Veluutha, dedicated to ridding Faerun of all dwarves; that at least one entire mainland community of elves has pledged themselves to Shar and allied themselves with the city of Shade; that followers of Shevarash are gathering in the north, preparing for an assault on Menzoberranzen itself; and that there is a rapidly growing cult of shadow magic wielding elves.
This last rumour is of particular concern amongst the elves. Since elves normally hold a deep, innate connection with the weave, an elven wizard adopting shadow magic is something all but of unhearf although, as many are quick to point out, it is not entirely without precedent. The influx of the shadow weave on an elf is said to be both painful and profound, having numerous psychological and physical side-effects, and consequently many elves fear that this could be the beginning of a new subrace of shadow elves, with either Shevarash or Shar as their patron. Elven scholars and wizards instead focus on an even more worrying possibility: shadow high magic.
- Due to the increased association between Shevarash and Shar, Lolth declares Shar and her followers to be one of her gravest enemies. The Spider Queen instructs several of her high priestesses to form hunting parties to track down and kill exiled drow who have taken to worshipping the Nightsinger. This campaign is moderately successful, but in response Shar secretly begins working to form cults within major centres of Lolth worship.
- Those worshippers of Shevarash who recongize what their god and their religion have become take to worshipping Fenmarel Mestarine, leading to some enmity between the two former comrades.
- Fearing that Hoar and his followers may very well suffer the same fate as Shevarash, Tyr redoubles his efforts to persuade the human deity of vengeance to accept the ways of goodness into his heart. He also requests Lathander's aide, knowing his ally and good friend would not want Shar to gain a second divine servant. Tyr also asks his worshippers to be extra vigilant against the servants of the Lady of Loss; he places the greatest emphasis on this to his clergy in Tethyr, located as they are directly between Shar's two most major centres of worship.
Mod Edit: Slightly altered the title to add spoiler tag
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Edited by - Arkhaedun on 04 Feb 2007 19:35:14
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 17:30:36
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all very interesting, indead, especially to pick up on the so for mostly neglected fact of whatever happened to Vhaeraun after his dealings with Selvetarm in WotSQ, IIRC. But (and you must read this as a HUGE but) you might want to read the Last Mythal series first before elaborating on this any further....
Ergdusch
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 17:52:18
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According to another thread here at Candlekeep, Vhaeraun's fate is addressed in Lisa Smedman's the Lady Penitent book 1, although I have yet to read it myself. It may be that some of my ideas presented above are at odds with what's contained in that novel (and indeed the remainder of the trilogy), so it's definitely on my to-buy list.
I have actually already read the Last Mythal, and the reason I excluded the new northern realm of elves (I forget the name) and the reestablished realm of Cormanthor is mainly because I haven't even an inkling of what they'll be getting up to in 1375, other than continuing to grow, build, and assert their influence in the surrounding regions.
I do know the Cormanthyran elves look set to play a part in the second and third books of Paul Kemp's Twilight War trilogy, but there's no way to tell quite what it will be, or even which way those novels will turn out; given that this is Paul Kemp, Sembia may very well end up becoming a vassal of Shade.
BTW I should probably explain that the idea for the fall of Shevarash was influence by another tale by Lisa Smedman, her Neccessary Sacrifices short story in Realms of the Elves. What occurs are the very end of that story puts the Black Archer's followers in a very negative light indeed. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 03 Feb 2007 18:10:33 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 20:17:50
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| I was thinking about the name of the year as well, and I thought that perhaps finding a 'secret' enclave of Vyshaantar Elves would fit the bill. They would be uncovered, either long buried (in stasis) or hiding in a pocket dimension (a'la the star Elves). I figure these Elves would probably be worse then Drow and give the Shades a run for their money in the 'evil' dept. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 21:22:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I was thinking about the name of the year as well, and I thought that perhaps finding a 'secret' enclave of Vyshaantar Elves would fit the bill. They would be uncovered, either long buried (in stasis) or hiding in a pocket dimension (a'la the star Elves). I figure these Elves would probably be worse then Drow and give the Shades a run for their money in the 'evil' dept.
To be honest I could really do without another 'Hi, we're a long lost race/civilisation/tribe of monkeys suddenly returned to Faerūn' currently. Or even for the foreseeable future. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4705 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 22:36:23
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Well year names, so far have not always resulted in RSE.
One can suspect that an outline of expected events for a few hundred years were established, however any that DM know, expected outcomes do not always occur.
Risen Elfkin might trger to Drow returning to the surface in greater numbers, it is posible that Good Drow will rise in numbers, or it could refer to Elfkin (Sprites, Centuars, the whole range of huminiods and creatures related to Rves in one way or another. Until the year is done (which will take perhaps three years, not counting retcons that might come later) it will be rather hard to judge how well the year name matches events that are reported for the year. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 22:44:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I was thinking about the name of the year as well, and I thought that perhaps finding a 'secret' enclave of Vyshaantar Elves would fit the bill. They would be uncovered, either long buried (in stasis) or hiding in a pocket dimension (a'la the star Elves). I figure these Elves would probably be worse then Drow and give the Shades a run for their money in the 'evil' dept.
To be honest I could really do without another 'Hi, we're a long lost race/civilisation/tribe of monkeys suddenly returned to Faerūn' currently. Or even for the foreseeable future.
Seconded.
Also, isn't it rather hard to be overly conclusive about what's happened in The Lady Penitent, considering that that book is the beginning of trilogy that has only just begun?
Lastly, I agree that the year names need NOT always refer to huge "realms-shaking" events...it's just that this is a recent trend WotC has hopped up on. |
"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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Pasta Fzoul
Seeker
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 23:35:23
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| Nice work, nbnmare. Regardless of what actually comes to pass, I really like the far-reaching interconnections that you've extrapolated from a single event. |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 02:05:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Lastly, I agree that the year names need NOT always refer to huge "realms-shaking" events...it's just that this is a recent trend WotC has hopped up on.
Spot on - it always used to be something not blindingly obvious - I used to enjoy seeing something in the Current Clack and putting two and two together. In a good way, of course. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37008 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 04:58:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
Well year names, so far have not always resulted in RSE.
One can suspect that an outline of expected events for a few hundred years were established, however any that DM know, expected outcomes do not always occur.
Risen Elfkin might trger to Drow returning to the surface in greater numbers, it is posible that Good Drow will rise in numbers, or it could refer to Elfkin (Sprites, Centuars, the whole range of huminiods and creatures related to Rves in one way or another. Until the year is done (which will take perhaps three years, not counting retcons that might come later) it will be rather hard to judge how well the year name matches events that are reported for the year.
It could even be something as simple as a half-elf rising to a very prominent position, somewhere. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Calrond
Learned Scribe
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 06:01:28
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I considered that it might be referring to "risen" as in risen from the dead by necromancy. A few dozen elf and half-elf zombies in the right area could be shocking and damaging enough to warrant the year's name.
It could also refer to a few squads of drow increasing their attacks on surface elves, "rising" to the surface from the Underdark.
I honestly hope it's something sort of small-scale like that. I'd much rather see the authors spend their time and effort on continuing the great storylines created in, say, Blackstaff (I want to know what happens next, particularly with Laeral!) than to keep up the RSEs. RSEs are the spice, not the meal itself. |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 13:00:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Calrond
I considered that it might be referring to "risen" as in risen from the dead by necromancy. A few dozen elf and half-elf zombies in the right area could be shocking and damaging enough to warrant the year's name.
It could also refer to a few squads of drow increasing their attacks on surface elves, "rising" to the surface from the Underdark.
I honestly hope it's something sort of small-scale like that. I'd much rather see the authors spend their time and effort on continuing the great storylines created in, say, Blackstaff (I want to know what happens next, particularly with Laeral!) than to keep up the RSEs. RSEs are the spice, not the meal itself.
Hehe! That is actually something that i thought of as well when playing the adventure 'City of the Spider Queen'. Should Iria T'sarran accomplish her goal in that year it would have been a very fitting name indeed - with half the dalelands flooded by risen elves...
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 13:43:38
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Well, a SPOILER warning might be included somewhere, as the demise of certain drow deities is not common knowledge as yet.
Risen Elfkin ... I doubt that there will be a mass conversion of Vhaeraunian to Eilistraee, as you cannot simple switch them off. Maybe the priests have a nice problem at hand, but this does not hold true for non-divine casters, There might be turmoil, but e.g. Jezz does not need a deity to carry on. A number of things should be taken into consideration instead: for one, we have the return of elves to the High Forest (that Myth something where part of the fey'ri were imprisoned) as well as Myth Drannor. Second, though I have no info at all on this, there is this Blackstaff affair in the High Moor, where remains / a Mythal city of old Miyeritar is being raised. |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gęš a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerūn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 16:13:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Zanan
A number of things should be taken into consideration instead: for one, we have the return of elves to the High Forest (that Myth something where part of the fey'ri were imprisoned) as well as Myth Drannor. Second, though I have no info at all on this, there is this Blackstaff affair in the High Moor, where remains / a Mythal city of old Miyeritar is being raised.
The thing is, though, technically both of those things happened in 1374 DR. I've read Blackstaff, and it seems to correllate a lot more with "Lightening Storms" than "Risen Elfkin". |
"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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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 19:09:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
Well year names, so far have not always resulted in RSE.
One can suspect that an outline of expected events for a few hundred years were established, however any that DM know, expected outcomes do not always occur.
Well no but, as I pointed out in my original post, the last several year names all do directly refer to RSEs; Unstrung Harp - the Harper Schism; Wild Magic - the breach in the Great Seal and the return of Shade; Rogue Dragons - the dracorage; Lightning Storms - the events of Blackstaff. It's a growing trend, and there's no reason not to expect it to continue.
quote:
Originally posted by Calrond
I honestly hope it's something sort of small-scale like that. I'd much rather see the authors spend their time and effort on continuing the great storylines created in, say, Blackstaff (I want to know what happens next, particularly with Laeral!) than to keep up the RSEs. RSEs are the spice, not the meal itself.
With a FR year lasting for several of our own, WotSC publishing at least FR three trilogies per Earth year, and the vast majority of recent trilogies featuring RSEs, it's all but guaranteed that at least one RSE will occur during the Year of Risen Elfkin, and more likely-than-not more. Alaundo seems more likely to reference a major event than a minor one; I mean, to do otherwise would be like calling 1939 "the Year of the World Science Fiction Convention", or 2001 "the Year of Mac OS X10  .
quote:
Originally posted by Zanan
Well, a SPOILER warning might be included somewhere, as the demise of certain drow deities is not common knowledge as yet.
Err, there *was* a spoiler warning. The second sentence to be precise, i.e. "be aware that this contains a few spoilers."
quote:
Risen Elfkin ... I doubt that there will be a mass conversion of Vhaeraunian to Eilistraee, as you cannot simple switch them off. Maybe the priests have a nice problem at hand, but this does not hold true for non-divine casters, There might be turmoil, but e.g. Jezz does not need a deity to carry on.
"While a few heed her call" hardly equates to a 'mass conversion', now does it?  . I'm also pretty sure I covered everything else you just said with "some instead chose to remain independent of the gods, while others decide to adopt the human god Mask, a former ally of Vhaeraun."
Anyway, for Eilistrae to utterly ignore the followers of the deity she's just killed seems unlikely in the extreme. She's repeatedly demonstrated an interest in attracting worshippers of very much still living drow deities into her fold, so she's hardly going to pass up the opportunity to bring yet more under her wing. While most won't heed her call, that doesn't mean there won't be *some* who do; I mean, if she has former priests of Lolth in her clergy, why not former priests of Vhaeraun?
quote:
A number of things should be taken into consideration instead: for one, we have the return of elves to the High Forest (that Myth something where part of the fey'ri were imprisoned) as well as Myth Drannor. Second, though I have no info at all on this, there is this Blackstaff affair in the High Moor, where remains / a Mythal city of old Miyeritar is being raised.
Yes, but we have absolutely no information about where any of these places are headed, other than it looks as though Myth Drannor may end up involved in the Sembian civil war due to Shade's involvement in the same event (the Twilight War trilogy). Granted that the ideas I offered were based on guesswork, but it was logical guesswork and based on certain recent trends. The consequences of Black Staff and the Last Mythal are much more difficult to predict.
Besides, if major events like the Sythillisan War in Amn and the Knights of the Black Gauntlet's invasion of southeastern Tethyr can go unmentioned in official WotSC products for many years, it could very well be a *long* time indeed until the city of Rhymanthiin, supposedly unknown to all but the inhabitants and Khelben's colleagues, gets another mention. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 04 Feb 2007 19:53:19 |
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Arkhaedun
Senior Scribe
869 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 19:36:43
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Just for everyone's edification, I slightly altered the initial title of the thread so as to keep anyone from being "spoiled" by the events of recent novels. Sometimes a warning within the post itself is brushed over, so I felt it better to keep the warning up front on the thread as a whole.
Thanks. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4705 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 19:39:15
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| One thing to remember in sprculation, Deities do not always stay dead in the realms. Some conversion clearly posible to other deities, however considering Lolth's solence the number of conversions indeed could be low. After all Lolth came back a greater power then before. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 21:50:08
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I kind of disagree that "Wild Magic" correllates directly with the return of the Shade--after all, "wild magic" is a specific type of magic that has nothing to do with the plane of Shadow or the Shadow Weaves (that is, "wild mages"). Other than that, "wild magic" could be quite a vague term.
Also, the "Rogue Dragons" year does not actually refer directly to the dracorage, but rather certain rebellious dragons who were determined to stop it (at least, that's the impression I got from the novels).
Anyway. I think I've done more than my share of nitpicking against you here. They're your storylines, and you can do with them as you like, but I for one am no fan of the frequency of RSEs lately. Just because WotC seems to like this trend doesn't mean everyone else has to like it or support it. |
"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) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 04 Feb 2007 21:55:53 |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 22:57:46
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I'm with Rino. Also, there at least used to be a level of ambiguity of which events were tied to the name of the year. There might be several minor happenings that all could be the inspiration for the name.
That said, I like the idea of a few dozen undead elves rising up somewhere - it's a small scale event that could happen anywhere and fits in nicely with the name. I might just drop it into my campaign. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2007 : 01:51:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
I kind of disagree that "Wild Magic" correllates directly with the return of the Shade--after all, "wild magic" is a specific type of magic that has nothing to do with the plane of Shadow or the Shadow Weaves (that is, "wild mages"). Other than that, "wild magic" could be quite a vague term.
I was more thinking of the actual breach itself (i.e. the massive surge of magic that resulted from the combination of the weave and shadow weave) being the inspiration for the name, with the return of Shade being a major closely-related event. Of course, the resulting war was one of (if not *the*) most magic-heavy wars ever fought in the Realms, and could well be the source of the name in of itself.
quote:
Anyway. I think I've done more than my share of nitpicking against you here. They're your storylines, and you can do with them as you like, but I for one am no fan of the frequency of RSEs lately.
Whether anyone here likes or supports RSEs is besides the point; whether or not many, most, or even all Realms years up until recently used to be named after relatively minor events we don't even know about is also besides the point; the fact is that recent Realms years *have* been named after major events, and there is absolutely no reason to believe this won't continue to occur.
It's a dead cirt that more RSEs will occur in the future, so why not speculate about what they might be? And as I said, why would Alaundo name a year after some trivial event, when so many other far more important occurences are going on?
quote:
Just because WotC seems to like this trend doesn't mean everyone else has to like it or support it.
I'm afraid RSEs are a trend that's clearly here to stay, something which would not be the case if a lot of people didn't like or support them. With trilogies being so popular over at WotSC, and most of their trilogies containing RSEs, we can expect several to occur per Realms year. The only means in which you could go about not supporting them is to either ignore virtually all new official Realms-related products (both novels and sourcebooks) and stick with what's already been published, or transfer your interest to a different campaign setting entirely. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 05 Feb 2007 02:14:16 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2007 : 03:28:11
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quote:
Originally posted by nbnmare
It's a dead cirt that more RSEs will occur in the future, so why not speculate about what they might be? And as I said, why would Alaundo name a year after some trivial event, when so many other far more important occurences are going on?
Well, for one thing many of the names are so general and mundane in and of themselves that they could mean almost anything (ie. The Year of the Sword).
Also, all of these speculations are exactly that...speculations. I don't really see the point in all this, but if it floats your boat, go right ahead.
quote:
I'm afraid RSEs are a trend that's clearly here to stay, something which would not be the case if a lot of people didn't like or support them.
You have inside knowledge or sources that support such a strong statement? It's not like WotC has never totally changed directions before.
quote:
With trilogies being so popular over at WotSC, and most of their trilogies containing RSEs, we can expect several to occur per Realms year. The only means in which you could go about not supporting them is to either ignore virtually all new official Realms-related products (both novels and sourcebooks) and stick with what's already been published, or transfer your interest to a different campaign setting entirely.
Err, not exactly, that's untrue and a false dichotomy. Not every new trilogy, (or most novels) is a RSE despite what you are making them out to be (I know this, because I read them). And I know of plenty people here who happily ignore certain RSEs, including the Time of Troubles, and continue to stick with and enjoy the setting, as well as purchase certain sourcebooks and novels. Heck, Ed Greenwood's own setting ignores a lot of these events. |
"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) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 05 Feb 2007 03:28:31 |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4705 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2007 : 03:46:27
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Well I will add, some claimed RMEs appeared not to really shake the Realms as a whole. Lolth falling silenent did effect an Elven subrace to some degree, but the surfacers (except some Drow) really did not even notice the event. The Distruction of an underdark city might have had minor effect to the surfacers, but in general the Realms were not effected by that either.
The Rage of the Dragons is an RSE as it was a wide spread event.
Now if you consider sourcebook material being changed as a RSE then indeed many WotC products change the rules of how things work. New feats, skills, spells clearly are a widespread event. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2007 : 22:17:13
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| I would even argue that the events in Blackstaff are really "Realms-shaking" only because of what happens to a prominent FR character (and that probably does more, overall, to affect fans of the Realms and the character rather than people who are actually IN the setting)--other than that the actual event doesn't affect that many people, and the newly risen city isn't well known about and can't be found out about without magic and/or directions. |
"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) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 05 Feb 2007 22:20:59 |
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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 17:39:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Well, for one thing many of the names are so general and mundane in and of themselves that they could mean almost anything (ie. The Year of the Sword).
But as I have already said (several times now, in fact), it's *recent* year names that count.
quote:
Also, all of these speculations are exactly that...speculations. I don't really see the point in all this, but if it floats your boat, go right ahead.
If you don't care about speculations, why even open a thread entitled "Storylines for the Year of Risen Elfkin", let alone bother to make multiple posts in it?
quote:
You have inside knowledge or sources that support such a strong statement? It's not like WotC has never totally changed directions before.
We all have access to inside knowledge and sources that support this statement. Multiple authors of Realms novels both here and and Wizards' message boards have said variations on "RSEs sell". Information on most (if not all) of the FR novels due to be released this year, many of those due to be released next year, and one due to be released in 2009 is freely available on numerous websites, including candlekeep.com. The c
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Err, not exactly, that's untrue and a false dichotomy. Not every new trilogy, (or most novels) is a RSE despite what you are making them out to be (I know this, because I read them).
Err no, what's untrue is that I claimed every trilogy (or most novels) feature RSEs. What I said was that "most [of WotC's] trilogies feature RSEs". 'Most' certainly does not equate to 'every', and the fact I specifically mentioned WotC means that any novel published by TSR is not included in the statement.
Obviously there were RSE novels published by TSR, but the frequency of them was much lower than is the case with WotC's books. In 2006 alone we had no less than five novels based on RSEs: Final Gate (a huge war that included almost all the dales, the fey'ri, Evermeet, Zhentil Keep, Hillsfar, and Sembia), Blackstaff (the return of an ancient city (which admittedly we don't will have repurcussions or not) and the death of a major character), the Ruin (the rage of dragons and its consequences), Lies of Light (the construction of a canal linking the Lake of Steam with the Sea of Fallen Stars, bound to have a major impact on trade throughout Faerun), Shadowbred (the beginnings of a Sembian civil war, with the involvement of the Shadovar and a plot by Mask likely to have some major outcome). Possibly other 2006 FR novels also feature RSEs, but I haven't read most of them yet so I couldn't tell you.
2007 sees the beginnings of not one, not two, but THREE trilogies said to feature RSEs, namely the Lady Penitent, the Haunted Lands, and the Empryean Odyssey, and none of these trilogies is due to culminate until mid-2008 at the earliest. Next year also sees the first in Salvatore's Transitions trilogy, which by the sound of it will also feature a RSE (the founding of the Realm's first orc kingdom). If we go by the typical gap between parts of a WotC trilogy, the third Transitions novel is unlikely to see print until mid-2009 at the earliest.
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And I know of plenty people here who happily ignore certain RSEs, including the Time of Troubles, and continue to stick with and enjoy the setting, as well as purchase certain sourcebooks and novels. Heck, Ed Greenwood's own setting ignores a lot of these events.
My point was that if you want to ignore *all* RSEs, you are going to miss out on an extremely large number of novels (and no, 'extremely large' does not equate to 'all', either), and major portions of many sourcebooks. The "super-adventure" trilogy of Cormyr: Tearing of the Weave, Shadowdale: Scouring of the Land, and Anauroch: Sundering of the World definitely sound as though they will concern RSEs.
I also find it rather bizarre that someone who is willing to disregard the "official" versions of the Realms in favour of their own variation is unwilling to consider unofficial ideas for the future of the Realms. |
Edited by - nbnmare on 09 Feb 2007 17:54:09 |
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Storylines for the Year of Risen Elfkin (Spoilers)
