Lantan [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Lantan [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Palem Whistler
08-26-03, 10:33 PM I was never into D&D, let alone Forgotten Realms, until fairly recently, which only includes 3rd Edition. It has almost no information on Lantan. Does anyone know of any other sources I could get more information out of on it?

Thanks in advance.
Desies
08-27-03, 12:04 AM I was also very intrigued by Lantan and it's history (mostly the gnomes and their hillarious inventions!). However throughout my searching I have found little to no information other than that in the FRCS. However I'm sure that a Island Kingdoms Supplement (similair to Unapproachable East and Silver Marches) will 1) come out and 2) have a lot of information on Lantan and it's people.
Shyhawk
08-27-03, 01:21 AM In the 2nd Edition Forgotten Realms campaign setting, there is some good info on Lantan. Look in "A Guide to the Realms" pages 108 and 109. According to the book:

"Lantan is a southern nation some thousand miles south of the Moonshaes that is known for its merchant tranders, found up and down the Sword Coast. Lantan is widely known for its maroon-sailed, lateen-rigged ships, which ply the crystal and deep green waters of the southern seas of the Realms.

"Lantan itselfis a land of lush jungle and rock pinnacles, atop which perch the turreted aerial homes of the Latanna. These homes are often joined to neighboring abodes by spidery, railless bridgespans. Lantan is peopled by contented folk who worship Gond the Wonderbringer, god of artificers. The Lantanna carry on energetic independent sea trading in order to make enough money to enrich their homes with splended ornamentation and new ideas or inventions, which they are always encouraging the experimentation with and impementation of.

"The Lantanna prefer to avoid conflict, viewing combat as wasteful and expensive. However, this has not prevented them from introducing to the rest of the world the arquebus, a primitive musket that uses magical smoke powder (which Lantan seems to have in abundance).

"Both islands of the nation, Lantan and Suj, are ruled from the capital of Sambar by the Ayrorch, a council of twelve whose members serve for life and who themselves select replacements to their ranks. The head of the Ayrorch, the ayrar, speaks for the council in Lantan; another member of the council, the lantar, is its traveling envoy to other lands. Neither position is traditionally given by seniority or as a reward for service or merit. The Ayrorch seems to sort out its members' duties on a pragmatic basis-- those with a talent or liking for certain tasks undertake them. The current leader is Bloenin (N hm P24), a cleric of Gond who delights in the interaction of systems, in particular humans systems such as governments, politics, and economics. Those fortunate enough to encounter the man will find him reserved and almost alien in his dealings, as if wheels were physically turning behind his green eyes.

"Lantanna as a race favor shades of yellow in their clothing and have large green or black eyes, copper-colored hair, and skin the color of parhment or old ivory. They wear loose robes and large sun hats when at home on their islands, and anything practical when on a ship or trading ashore elsewhere.

"Lantanna often barter, but among themselves they use coins, particularly electrum and platinum pieces, as currency. Lantan merchants carry trade bars of electrum and platinum, usually in the standard 25-gold piece denominations and marked with the symbol of Gond. This money is considered universal tender, but it has caused a number of fights when presented beneath the noses of those who do not like the Wonderbringer.

"Lantanna dislike traveling far inland, but they do have widely roving agents who keep tabs on inland events and on caravan companies-- mainly based in Amn and Waterdeep-- authorized to trade for, and with goods, of Lantan. Unless an expedition to Lantan is planned, the Lantanna most likely to encountered are merchants or agents. The Lantanna abroad tend to use native help whenever possible, so that only the leaders of a Lantan trading group are Lantanese.

"The typical Lantanese merchant is also a cleric of Gond of 5th-10th level, and usually is accompanied by a group of 3-12 bodyguards (sometimes Lantanna, often local). Such merchants prefer a light touch in their dealings as opposed to brute force, though when such force is necessary, they hire adventurers to wield it."

You might also check out the Forgotten Realms campaign settin for 3e (page 148) for the main "Lantan" entry.

:)
Palem Whistler
08-27-03, 01:43 AM Thanks for that.
Shyhawk
08-27-03, 01:48 AM :)
Faraer
08-27-03, 02:39 PM Note that there's no particular connection between Lantan and gnomes!!!!
Palem Whistler
08-27-03, 03:06 PM Originally posted by Faraer
Note that there's no particular connection between Lantan and gnomes!!!!

Except that a crapload of them live there...
Faraer
08-27-03, 03:16 PM What source says that, Palem?
Palem Whistler
08-27-03, 03:36 PM "The humans and gnomes of the island of Lantan pioneer technological solutions to problems that citizens of Faerun solve with magic." - Page 148, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 3rd Edition.

I highly doubt that Gnomes would have been mentioned as the only race other than human in that line if they were such a minority as the other races there.
Palem Whistler
08-27-03, 03:45 PM On that note, for some reason they did forget to include the population breakdown of Lantan in the book. Strange. But still, Gnomes and Humans are obviously the two prominent races.
Iakhovas
08-27-03, 07:20 PM Lantan is a human nation, plain and simple. Gnomes do live there, but in no larger number than any other place on Faerūn.
Palem Whistler
08-28-03, 12:38 AM Originally posted by Iakhovas
Lantan is a human nation, plain and simple. Gnomes do live there, but in no larger number than any other place on Faerūn.

Except it does not say that. But as I pointed out earlier, it mentions both of them, and not other races. Must be a reason for that.
Desies
08-28-03, 04:30 PM It also lists Lantan as one of the Rock Gnome home regions...probably for a reason
Gez
08-29-03, 02:21 AM Oh, that's simple. In 2e, Lantan was a human nation. Gnomes? Where?

Then in 3e, every campaign settings, save Greyhawk and Faerūn, were dropped. This meant that no more Dragonlance. So, they decided to meld Dragonlance into the Forgotten Realms, and this was by taking previous background on Lantan, scrapping it, tearing it, and burning it; for replacing Lantan with Mount Nevermind in all but name.

I always hated the concept of gnome tinkers. We've got a race of little people that may speak with animals and are skilled at illusion; and what do they do? Steam-powered toasters (the single-toast model takes up 457 cubic feet, the twin-toast model takes up 9874 cubic feet, both provoke a mini-thermonuclear explosion centered on user if you roll a 1 on your Use Stupid Device check).
Kuje31
08-29-03, 02:36 AM Originally posted by Gez
Oh, that's simple. In 2e, Lantan was a human nation. Gnomes? Where?

Then in 3e, every campaign settings, save Greyhawk and Faerūn, were dropped. This meant that no more Dragonlance. So, they decided to meld Dragonlance into the Forgotten Realms, and this was by taking previous background on Lantan, scrapping it, tearing it, and burning it; for replacing Lantan with Mount Nevermind in all but name.

Ah, well not quite. WOTC has just published the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. Granted the rest of the Dragonlance sourcebooks are going to be 3rd party, but WOTC gets some, if not all, of the money from the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, just like they did for Ravenloft.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Palem Whistler 08-26-03, 10:33 PM	I was never into D&D, let alone Forgotten Realms, until fairly recently, which only includes 3rd Edition. It has almost no information on Lantan. Does anyone know of any other sources I could get more information out of on it? Thanks in advance.
Desies 08-27-03, 12:04 AM	I was also very intrigued by Lantan and it's history (mostly the gnomes and their hillarious inventions!). However throughout my searching I have found little to no information other than that in the FRCS. However I'm sure that a Island Kingdoms Supplement (similair to Unapproachable East and Silver Marches) will 1) come out and 2) have a lot of information on Lantan and it's people.
Shyhawk 08-27-03, 01:21 AM	In the 2nd Edition Forgotten Realms campaign setting, there is some good info on Lantan. Look in "A Guide to the Realms" pages 108 and 109. According to the book: "Lantan is a southern nation some thousand miles south of the Moonshaes that is known for its merchant tranders, found up and down the Sword Coast. Lantan is widely known for its maroon-sailed, lateen-rigged ships, which ply the crystal and deep green waters of the southern seas of the Realms. "Lantan itselfis a land of lush jungle and rock pinnacles, atop which perch the turreted aerial homes of the Latanna. These homes are often joined to neighboring abodes by spidery, railless bridgespans. Lantan is peopled by contented folk who worship Gond the Wonderbringer, god of artificers. The Lantanna carry on energetic independent sea trading in order to make enough money to enrich their homes with splended ornamentation and new ideas or inventions, which they are always encouraging the experimentation with and impementation of. "The Lantanna prefer to avoid conflict, viewing combat as wasteful and expensive. However, this has not prevented them from introducing to the rest of the world the arquebus, a primitive musket that uses magical smoke powder (which Lantan seems to have in abundance). "Both islands of the nation, Lantan and Suj, are ruled from the capital of Sambar by the Ayrorch, a council of twelve whose members serve for life and who themselves select replacements to their ranks. The head of the Ayrorch, the ayrar, speaks for the council in Lantan; another member of the council, the lantar, is its traveling envoy to other lands. Neither position is traditionally given by seniority or as a reward for service or merit. The Ayrorch seems to sort out its members' duties on a pragmatic basis-- those with a talent or liking for certain tasks undertake them. The current leader is Bloenin (N hm P24), a cleric of Gond who delights in the interaction of systems, in particular humans systems such as governments, politics, and economics. Those fortunate enough to encounter the man will find him reserved and almost alien in his dealings, as if wheels were physically turning behind his green eyes. "Lantanna as a race favor shades of yellow in their clothing and have large green or black eyes, copper-colored hair, and skin the color of parhment or old ivory. They wear loose robes and large sun hats when at home on their islands, and anything practical when on a ship or trading ashore elsewhere. "Lantanna often barter, but among themselves they use coins, particularly electrum and platinum pieces, as currency. Lantan merchants carry trade bars of electrum and platinum, usually in the standard 25-gold piece denominations and marked with the symbol of Gond. This money is considered universal tender, but it has caused a number of fights when presented beneath the noses of those who do not like the Wonderbringer. "Lantanna dislike traveling far inland, but they do have widely roving agents who keep tabs on inland events and on caravan companies-- mainly based in Amn and Waterdeep-- authorized to trade for, and with goods, of Lantan. Unless an expedition to Lantan is planned, the Lantanna most likely to encountered are merchants or agents. The Lantanna abroad tend to use native help whenever possible, so that only the leaders of a Lantan trading group are Lantanese. "The typical Lantanese merchant is also a cleric of Gond of 5th-10th level, and usually is accompanied by a group of 3-12 bodyguards (sometimes Lantanna, often local). Such merchants prefer a light touch in their dealings as opposed to brute force, though when such force is necessary, they hire adventurers to wield it." You might also check out the Forgotten Realms campaign settin for 3e (page 148) for the main "Lantan" entry. :)
Palem Whistler 08-27-03, 01:43 AM	Thanks for that.
Shyhawk 08-27-03, 01:48 AM	:)
Faraer 08-27-03, 02:39 PM	Note that there's no particular connection between Lantan and gnomes!!!!
Palem Whistler 08-27-03, 03:06 PM	Originally posted by Faraer Note that there's no particular connection between Lantan and gnomes!!!! Except that a crapload of them live there...
Faraer 08-27-03, 03:16 PM	What source says that, Palem?
Palem Whistler 08-27-03, 03:36 PM	"The humans and gnomes of the island of Lantan pioneer technological solutions to problems that citizens of Faerun solve with magic." - Page 148, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 3rd Edition. I highly doubt that Gnomes would have been mentioned as the only race other than human in that line if they were such a minority as the other races there.
Palem Whistler 08-27-03, 03:45 PM	On that note, for some reason they did forget to include the population breakdown of Lantan in the book. Strange. But still, Gnomes and Humans are obviously the two prominent races.
Iakhovas 08-27-03, 07:20 PM	Lantan is a human nation, plain and simple. Gnomes do live there, but in no larger number than any other place on Faerūn.
Palem Whistler 08-28-03, 12:38 AM	Originally posted by Iakhovas Lantan is a human nation, plain and simple. Gnomes do live there, but in no larger number than any other place on Faerūn. Except it does not say that. But as I pointed out earlier, it mentions both of them, and not other races. Must be a reason for that.
Desies 08-28-03, 04:30 PM	It also lists Lantan as one of the Rock Gnome home regions...probably for a reason
Gez 08-29-03, 02:21 AM	Oh, that's simple. In 2e, Lantan was a human nation. Gnomes? Where? Then in 3e, every campaign settings, save Greyhawk and Faerūn, were dropped. This meant that no more Dragonlance. So, they decided to meld Dragonlance into the Forgotten Realms, and this was by taking previous background on Lantan, scrapping it, tearing it, and burning it; for replacing Lantan with Mount Nevermind in all but name. I always hated the concept of gnome tinkers. We've got a race of little people that may speak with animals and are skilled at illusion; and what do they do? Steam-powered toasters (the single-toast model takes up 457 cubic feet, the twin-toast model takes up 9874 cubic feet, both provoke a mini-thermonuclear explosion centered on user if you roll a 1 on your Use Stupid Device check).
Kuje31 08-29-03, 02:36 AM	Originally posted by Gez Oh, that's simple. In 2e, Lantan was a human nation. Gnomes? Where? Then in 3e, every campaign settings, save Greyhawk and Faerūn, were dropped. This meant that no more Dragonlance. So, they decided to meld Dragonlance into the Forgotten Realms, and this was by taking previous background on Lantan, scrapping it, tearing it, and burning it; for replacing Lantan with Mount Nevermind in all but name. Ah, well not quite. WOTC has just published the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. Granted the rest of the Dragonlance sourcebooks are going to be 3rd party, but WOTC gets some, if not all, of the money from the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, just like they did for Ravenloft.