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

Moonstars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Butterface
11-09-07, 12:12 PM I'm having trouble discovering why the Blackstaff and his Harper buddies started their own version of the Harpers - can anyone enlighten me as to the events that led to the schism?
Old Sage
11-09-07, 06:45 PM Summarising the details here simply won't help to successfully translate the complexity of the events that led to the creation of the Moonstars. Rather, I'll direct you to the Cloak & Dagger source which handles the subject admirably. Additionally, you'll find a few extra tidbits in Steven Schend's Blackstaff novel and in many of his replies made over at Candlekeep.

There's a few bits in the new Waterdeep tome as well.
Butterface
11-09-07, 07:36 PM Thanks, I'm reading Blackstaff at the moment - I'll check out the other sources you mentioned as well!
Charles Phipps
11-09-07, 07:51 PM Yes, actually it's not really that complex on Khelben's end. He gave the Sceptre of the Sorcerer Kings, taken from Harper vaults, to Fzoul Chembryl in exchange for the man not expanding Zhent activity for a period of a few decades. Fzoul used it to destroy a Bane Lich (A Demigod with the power to resurrect Bane). It also destroyed the ancient artifact in the process. So it was a win-win-win situation for Khelben.

However, the Harpers objected to Khelben's activities for a number of reasons.

* Khelben had no right to take the Scepter from Harper vaults.
* He had no idea that Fzoul would use it for defeating another evil.
* It was done without consulting anyone or any debate.
* The Harpers aren't too happy about making deals with organizations like the Zhentariam.

Khelben didn't consider himself subject to Harper justice, so he and his wife resigned from the organization. Sylune also resigned in protest along with Alustriel (though with different degrees of politeness).

Khelben then started recruiting his favorite operatives from the Harpers to resign their posts and start his own organization similar to the Harpers but much more in line with what he wanted. The Moonstars, as opposed to the Harpers, are a great deal more ruthless in how they conduct business and more interested in preserving lore as opposed to doing goody goody things for their own sake.

All the cool characters went to the Moonstars sadly. The Lady Lord of Arabel, Kyriani, Larael, Khelben, Arilyn, and Danillo.
Craig C.
11-15-07, 01:44 AM I wish a lot more could have been done in making the Moonstars-vs.-Harpers squabble a bit more interesting and nail-biting. As it stands, it just seems to be a dangling side-story with very little "oomph".

With all the heavyweight arcanists in both organizations, the advent of the Spellplague (and 4.0) should have a HUGE impact on the efficacy and operations of both groups.
Alter_Boy
11-16-07, 12:21 AM Honestly, without Khelben, I don't see why the Moonstars would continue. IMO, they came off as Khelben's Personal Hit Squad. Without him, a lot of the group's raison d'etre to be separate from the Harpers seems to have been lost.
Charles Phipps
11-16-07, 02:03 AM I think Tsarra is going to continue being Khelben with her "Khelben is in my head" telkirra.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
11-16-07, 10:56 AM I think Tsarra is going to continue being Khelben with her "Khelben is in my head" telkirra.

Agreed, but I also agree that the Moonstars are just a little less fun without Khelben (the REAL Khelben). He was the glue that held them together and made them interesting. I have nothing against Tsarra as a character, but she doesn't replace Khelben for me.
Old Sage
11-16-07, 07:13 PM Tsarra may have a better chance of masquerading as Khelben in terms of his leadership of the Moonstars, but canny members such as Malchor may soon find her out. This one is up in the air at present.

I'm hoping Blackstaff Tower will reveal more.
Charles Phipps
11-16-07, 07:13 PM I like Tsarra fine, but she's just another generic heroine to me.
Sullivan
11-16-07, 09:51 PM I'm hoping Blackstaff Tower will reveal more.

What is this, a new book?
Butterface
11-16-07, 10:59 PM Yeah, I'm curious as to the fate of this power group as well without Khelben.

I have a player in my home game that is playing a Drow Fighter/Rogue that wants to go into Assassin - except he doesn't want to be evil, he envisions the character more neutral to neutral good. He wants to assassinate people that "deserve it" basically, to kill for a cause. He still as a character admires the brutal efficiency of his Drow training, but he lacks the malice for malice's sake mindset of his kin.

So, he's designing a prestige class thats based around that general idea, and I really encouraged him to build the class around FR lore, as well. The Moonstars to me seem way more likely to go for something like this than the Harpers.

Any suggestions for a neutral/good Power group that would embrace a neutral/good assassin? Or tolerate one? What if the character was also a Drow?
Charles Phipps
11-16-07, 11:18 PM The Moonstars are definitely good, though the Harpers aren't as nice as some people might suggest as well.

There aren't that many good groups to begin with.
Old Sage
11-17-07, 02:34 AM What is this, a new book?Back in August, Steven Schend revealed he had written [and was on the 2nd draft rewrite] of Blackstaff Tower. It's set for release in Autumn 2008.
Jiggawha
11-17-07, 01:51 PM dope.
MarkusTay63
11-17-07, 04:02 PM dope.Having younglings, I am aware that Sage may take this the wrong way. :rolleyes:

It means "Really Cool" in the vernacular. ;)
Craig C.
11-17-07, 04:28 PM It would be way more fun from a fan perspective to actually see outright warfare and bloodshed between both of these so-called "do gooder" organizations. Otherwise, their mutual feelings of tension and distrust just comes across as ... well, boring.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Butterface 11-09-07, 12:12 PM	I'm having trouble discovering why the Blackstaff and his Harper buddies started their own version of the Harpers - can anyone enlighten me as to the events that led to the schism?
Old Sage 11-09-07, 06:45 PM	Summarising the details here simply won't help to successfully translate the complexity of the events that led to the creation of the Moonstars. Rather, I'll direct you to the Cloak & Dagger source which handles the subject admirably. Additionally, you'll find a few extra tidbits in Steven Schend's Blackstaff novel and in many of his replies made over at Candlekeep. There's a few bits in the new Waterdeep tome as well.
Butterface 11-09-07, 07:36 PM	Thanks, I'm reading Blackstaff at the moment - I'll check out the other sources you mentioned as well!
Charles Phipps 11-09-07, 07:51 PM	Yes, actually it's not really that complex on Khelben's end. He gave the Sceptre of the Sorcerer Kings, taken from Harper vaults, to Fzoul Chembryl in exchange for the man not expanding Zhent activity for a period of a few decades. Fzoul used it to destroy a Bane Lich (A Demigod with the power to resurrect Bane). It also destroyed the ancient artifact in the process. So it was a win-win-win situation for Khelben. However, the Harpers objected to Khelben's activities for a number of reasons. * Khelben had no right to take the Scepter from Harper vaults. * He had no idea that Fzoul would use it for defeating another evil. * It was done without consulting anyone or any debate. * The Harpers aren't too happy about making deals with organizations like the Zhentariam. Khelben didn't consider himself subject to Harper justice, so he and his wife resigned from the organization. Sylune also resigned in protest along with Alustriel (though with different degrees of politeness). Khelben then started recruiting his favorite operatives from the Harpers to resign their posts and start his own organization similar to the Harpers but much more in line with what he wanted. The Moonstars, as opposed to the Harpers, are a great deal more ruthless in how they conduct business and more interested in preserving lore as opposed to doing goody goody things for their own sake. All the cool characters went to the Moonstars sadly. The Lady Lord of Arabel, Kyriani, Larael, Khelben, Arilyn, and Danillo.
Craig C. 11-15-07, 01:44 AM	I wish a lot more could have been done in making the Moonstars-vs.-Harpers squabble a bit more interesting and nail-biting. As it stands, it just seems to be a dangling side-story with very little "oomph". With all the heavyweight arcanists in both organizations, the advent of the Spellplague (and 4.0) should have a HUGE impact on the efficacy and operations of both groups.
Alter_Boy 11-16-07, 12:21 AM	Honestly, without Khelben, I don't see why the Moonstars would continue. IMO, they came off as Khelben's Personal Hit Squad. Without him, a lot of the group's raison d'etre to be separate from the Harpers seems to have been lost.
Charles Phipps 11-16-07, 02:03 AM	I think Tsarra is going to continue being Khelben with her "Khelben is in my head" telkirra.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-16-07, 10:56 AM	I think Tsarra is going to continue being Khelben with her "Khelben is in my head" telkirra. Agreed, but I also agree that the Moonstars are just a little less fun without Khelben (the REAL Khelben). He was the glue that held them together and made them interesting. I have nothing against Tsarra as a character, but she doesn't replace Khelben for me.
Old Sage 11-16-07, 07:13 PM	Tsarra may have a better chance of masquerading as Khelben in terms of his leadership of the Moonstars, but canny members such as Malchor may soon find her out. This one is up in the air at present. I'm hoping Blackstaff Tower will reveal more.
Charles Phipps 11-16-07, 07:13 PM	I like Tsarra fine, but she's just another generic heroine to me.
Sullivan 11-16-07, 09:51 PM	I'm hoping Blackstaff Tower will reveal more. What is this, a new book?
Butterface 11-16-07, 10:59 PM	Yeah, I'm curious as to the fate of this power group as well without Khelben. I have a player in my home game that is playing a Drow Fighter/Rogue that wants to go into Assassin - except he doesn't want to be evil, he envisions the character more neutral to neutral good. He wants to assassinate people that "deserve it" basically, to kill for a cause. He still as a character admires the brutal efficiency of his Drow training, but he lacks the malice for malice's sake mindset of his kin. So, he's designing a prestige class thats based around that general idea, and I really encouraged him to build the class around FR lore, as well. The Moonstars to me seem way more likely to go for something like this than the Harpers. Any suggestions for a neutral/good Power group that would embrace a neutral/good assassin? Or tolerate one? What if the character was also a Drow?
Charles Phipps 11-16-07, 11:18 PM	The Moonstars are definitely good, though the Harpers aren't as nice as some people might suggest as well. There aren't that many good groups to begin with.
Old Sage 11-17-07, 02:34 AM	What is this, a new book?Back in August, Steven Schend revealed he had written [and was on the 2nd draft rewrite] of Blackstaff Tower. It's set for release in Autumn 2008.
Jiggawha 11-17-07, 01:51 PM	dope.
MarkusTay63 11-17-07, 04:02 PM	dope.Having younglings, I am aware that Sage may take this the wrong way. :rolleyes: It means "Really Cool" in the vernacular. ;)
Craig C. 11-17-07, 04:28 PM	It would be way more fun from a fan perspective to actually see outright warfare and bloodshed between both of these so-called "do gooder" organizations. Otherwise, their mutual feelings of tension and distrust just comes across as ... well, boring.