Q: Deep Imaskari [Archive] - Wizards Community

Q: Deep Imaskari [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Uulbaan
09-11-07, 09:53 AM I would like to know if there is any FR novel books featuring the Deep Imaskari?
Rizogue
09-11-07, 10:09 AM I don't know of any. They are mentioned in limited detail in the Races section of the 3E Underdark Guide, and Ancient Imaskar is detailed even less in Lost Empires of Faerun. Other than that, I don't know of much more than just causual mentions.
BadCatMan
09-11-07, 10:16 AM Darkvision is all about the Deep Imaskari.
MarkusTay63
09-11-07, 11:05 AM AND a truly excellent read - you learn a good deal about the Imaskari, and several other 'forgotten' races as well.
Uulbaan
09-11-07, 11:18 AM Aaah thanks a lot for this first reference :)
Rizogue
09-11-07, 11:28 AM Awesome!

I have it, but it's sitting on the shelf with the rest of the Wizards series, unread. That one may have to break in line before Blackstaff now! :)
Uulbaan
09-11-07, 11:45 AM Just to be sure we are talking about the same book, is it this reference you are talking about when you mention Darkvision?

Darkvision: the Wizards (Mass Market Paperback)
by Bruce R. Cordell
Old Sage
09-11-07, 12:33 PM That's the one. ;)
MarkusTay63
09-11-07, 12:55 PM Blackstaff ends with a similar conclusion - both are excellent, and both teach you about FR's history (Blackstaff perhaps moreso, but you are looking for Imaskar stuff so go with Darkvision).

Sage, anyone... are the other books in the Wizards series as good as those two?
squidfur-
09-11-07, 02:12 PM Blackstaff ends with a similar conclusion - both are excellent, and both teach you about FR's history (Blackstaff perhaps moreso, but you are looking for Imaskar stuff so go with Darkvision).

Sage, anyone... are the other books in the Wizards series as good as those two?
Please tell me that Darkvision is better written than Lady of Poison.:(
MarkusTay63
09-11-07, 04:14 PM Never read it... couldn't tell you.

If it's the writing style you hated, then I doubt an author would change over-much. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though.
Old Sage
09-11-07, 08:05 PM Sage, anyone... are the other books in the Wizards series as good as those two?Heh. I don't believe I can answer this honestly, as my opinion in extremely biased by the fact that Blackstaff was the only novel in "The Wizards" series that I thoroughly enjoyed. ;)
Shemeska the Marauder
09-11-07, 10:20 PM Please tell me that Darkvision is better written than Lady of Poison.:(

I saw a distinct improvement between Lady of Poison and Darkvision, and I rather enjoyed the latter. So yes. :)
Dark Wizard
09-11-07, 11:21 PM Blackstaff was also the one book in the Wizards series that probably shouldn't have been marketed with the rest. It should have been it's own series to start with.
Uulbaan
09-11-07, 11:33 PM It should have been it's own series to start with.

Why so?
MarkusTay63
09-12-07, 12:36 AM Ah, but I see a clear connection between them, and if I'm right I will find further hints in the other two.

There is general 'trend' I'm seeing in all of the newer novels - that's why I'm scarfing up as many as I can and reading them this week.

Oh, and the trend can really be applied to the Forgotten Realms setting in general, now that I think about it, so if it is tied into the 4e debacle, at least the uber-RSE will be FR-flavored in and of itself (although whats left afterword is still questionable).
Tigger11
09-12-07, 01:39 AM I would like to know if there is any FR novel books featuring the Deep Imaskari?

The deep Imaskari character actually appears first in Lady of Poison, though there is much more Imaskari info in Darkvision, including who there teachers were, which I loved and others hated.
-Tig
Old Sage
09-12-07, 01:41 AM Why so?More than likely because Steven Schend recently announced, at Candlekeep, that he'll be writing a follow-up of sorts to Blackstaff.

Blackstaff Tower will be a mid-'08 release.
MarkusTay63
09-12-07, 02:39 AM I wonder how much adventuring a tower can do... :thinks:

I mean... does it sneak out at night, when no one's looking?

;) :P
Rizogue
09-12-07, 09:09 AM I wonder how much adventuring a tower can do... :thinks:

I mean... does it sneak out at night, when no one's looking?

When it comes to Balckstaff Tower...... Maybe!

:cool:
Suin Bahhar
09-12-07, 09:49 AM I have three words for you:
Imaskary Dimensional Magic
Vulpes
09-12-07, 11:31 PM Regarding Darkvision, I've always wondered, since, though I try, I'm not a true Realmslore scholar, if we were supposed to know who Phanorym was. Is he an obscure character from FR's past, or something new to the book? And just what the hell was he? I've seen people say a Far Realms entity, which would fit, though the crystal stuff doesn't seem as "organic" as the Far Realms entities have been presented.

Also, what are the LeShay and are they appropriate to possibly be the "tutors" of the Imaskari?
Tigger11
09-12-07, 11:41 PM Also, what are the LeShay and are they appropriate to possibly be the "tutors" of the Imaskari?

The LeShay are featured in the Epic Level Handbook.
-Tig
MarkusTay63
09-12-07, 11:52 PM That last sentence should have been in a spoiler block. ;)

Phanorym, AFAIK, was created just for that novel. It appears that he IS a Far Realms entity, although it is never actually stated which dimension the Imaskari found him in. However, some of 'its' methodology lends itself nicely to that realm and abberations in general (psionics, tentacles).

The Crystal was a naturally occurring by-product of the Celestial Nadir - I'm under the impression that all demi-planes have something akin to this stuff growing around the 'fringes' (like human stem cells, proto-matter). It is basically 'unrefined' demi-plane 'stuff' (new growth).

At first, there was no problem using it in implants, but it appears that when Shaddon partially opened that 'containment vault' by breaking a few seals, the entity was able to seep into the surrounding crystal and corrupt it.

Pg. 91 -

"This crystal is a manifestation of the Celestial Nadir's existance. It seems to have been somehow... corrupted"
Shemeska the Marauder
09-13-07, 12:44 AM I've seen people say a Far Realms entity, which would fit, though the crystal stuff doesn't seem as "organic" as the Far Realms entities have been presented.

I wouldn't label it as a Far Realms entity myself. Something dredged from an alternate multiverse with radically different physical laws? Yes. But was that reality the Far Realms? I wasn't stated, and to me at least, it seemed different enough in style to not fit. I'd make it another, unnamed reality entirely (the Far Realm isn't the only other adjacent multiverse to be described in prior lore. The Keepers for instance came from such a place).

Though admittedly, the early Imaskari did have contact with the Far Realms (see the Ecology of the Kaorti). They had contact, both sustained and exploratory with probably every orthodox plane and realities beyond those. They're cool like that.

Also, what are the LeShay and are they appropriate to possibly be the "tutors" of the Imaskari?

It was a nice touch I thought, and it really expands the list of early influences upon the Imaskari. We already knew they had fiendish influence (from all three primary fiendish races it seems), but adding a proto-fey (or whatever the heck you care to peg the LeShay as) influence was just icing. :)
MarkusTay63
09-13-07, 04:39 PM Since the other three Creator races helped pen the Nether Scrolls, I felt that the Le'Shay involvement with the Imaskarna was well done.

Shemeska - I had the Kaorti in mind as well when I gave my answer. ;)
Lord Karsus
09-13-07, 04:54 PM -Bruce Cordell's next novel, Stardeep, is going to have something to do with Stardeep, the Prison that Kiril Duskmourn mentioned. Being as that Bruce also wrote Darkvision, I wouldn't be surprised if Kiril was the main character of Stardeep. When we last saw Kiril, she was in the company of Ususi, Iahn, and everyone else, so they might be recurring characters yet again, in Stardeep.
MarkusTay63
09-13-07, 05:09 PM I understand that Bruce is one of the lead people on the FR 4e design team - if that is true then I reallly like some of what I think will be occurring.

More 'planar boundaries' weakening, eh?

Abeir is just around the corner. ;)
Lord Karsus
09-13-07, 05:13 PM Abeir is just around the corner. ;)

-If you own the last issue of DRAGON Magazine, one of the "unanswered questions" (Just what is Abeir, or Abeir-Toril?) is answered...kinda...
MarkusTay63
09-13-07, 05:26 PM I don't have it, but I though that all that was said is that "Fans will soon find out about the 'Abeir' in Abeir-Toril? :confused:
Lord Karsus
09-13-07, 05:38 PM -Well, that was the 'kinda' part. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Uulbaan 09-11-07, 09:53 AM	I would like to know if there is any FR novel books featuring the Deep Imaskari?
Rizogue 09-11-07, 10:09 AM	I don't know of any. They are mentioned in limited detail in the Races section of the 3E Underdark Guide, and Ancient Imaskar is detailed even less in Lost Empires of Faerun. Other than that, I don't know of much more than just causual mentions.
BadCatMan 09-11-07, 10:16 AM	Darkvision is all about the Deep Imaskari.
MarkusTay63 09-11-07, 11:05 AM	AND a truly excellent read - you learn a good deal about the Imaskari, and several other 'forgotten' races as well.
Uulbaan 09-11-07, 11:18 AM	Aaah thanks a lot for this first reference :)
Rizogue 09-11-07, 11:28 AM	Awesome! I have it, but it's sitting on the shelf with the rest of the Wizards series, unread. That one may have to break in line before Blackstaff now! :)
Uulbaan 09-11-07, 11:45 AM	Just to be sure we are talking about the same book, is it this reference you are talking about when you mention Darkvision? Darkvision: the Wizards (Mass Market Paperback) by Bruce R. Cordell
Old Sage 09-11-07, 12:33 PM	That's the one. ;)
MarkusTay63 09-11-07, 12:55 PM	Blackstaff ends with a similar conclusion - both are excellent, and both teach you about FR's history (Blackstaff perhaps moreso, but you are looking for Imaskar stuff so go with Darkvision). Sage, anyone... are the other books in the Wizards series as good as those two?
squidfur- 09-11-07, 02:12 PM	Blackstaff ends with a similar conclusion - both are excellent, and both teach you about FR's history (Blackstaff perhaps moreso, but you are looking for Imaskar stuff so go with Darkvision). Sage, anyone... are the other books in the Wizards series as good as those two? Please tell me that Darkvision is better written than Lady of Poison.:(
MarkusTay63 09-11-07, 04:14 PM	Never read it... couldn't tell you. If it's the writing style you hated, then I doubt an author would change over-much. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though.
Old Sage 09-11-07, 08:05 PM	Sage, anyone... are the other books in the Wizards series as good as those two?Heh. I don't believe I can answer this honestly, as my opinion in extremely biased by the fact that Blackstaff was the only novel in "The Wizards" series that I thoroughly enjoyed. ;)
Shemeska the Marauder 09-11-07, 10:20 PM	Please tell me that Darkvision is better written than Lady of Poison.:( I saw a distinct improvement between Lady of Poison and Darkvision, and I rather enjoyed the latter. So yes. :)
Dark Wizard 09-11-07, 11:21 PM	Blackstaff was also the one book in the Wizards series that probably shouldn't have been marketed with the rest. It should have been it's own series to start with.
Uulbaan 09-11-07, 11:33 PM	It should have been it's own series to start with. Why so?
MarkusTay63 09-12-07, 12:36 AM	Ah, but I see a clear connection between them, and if I'm right I will find further hints in the other two. There is general 'trend' I'm seeing in all of the newer novels - that's why I'm scarfing up as many as I can and reading them this week. Oh, and the trend can really be applied to the Forgotten Realms setting in general, now that I think about it, so if it is tied into the 4e debacle, at least the uber-RSE will be FR-flavored in and of itself (although whats left afterword is still questionable).
Tigger11 09-12-07, 01:39 AM	I would like to know if there is any FR novel books featuring the Deep Imaskari? The deep Imaskari character actually appears first in Lady of Poison, though there is much more Imaskari info in Darkvision, including who there teachers were, which I loved and others hated. -Tig
Old Sage 09-12-07, 01:41 AM	Why so?More than likely because Steven Schend recently announced, at Candlekeep, that he'll be writing a follow-up of sorts to Blackstaff. Blackstaff Tower will be a mid-'08 release.
MarkusTay63 09-12-07, 02:39 AM	I wonder how much adventuring a tower can do... :thinks: I mean... does it sneak out at night, when no one's looking? ;) :P
Rizogue 09-12-07, 09:09 AM	I wonder how much adventuring a tower can do... :thinks: I mean... does it sneak out at night, when no one's looking? When it comes to Balckstaff Tower...... Maybe! :cool:
Suin Bahhar 09-12-07, 09:49 AM	I have three words for you: Imaskary Dimensional Magic
Vulpes 09-12-07, 11:31 PM	Regarding Darkvision, I've always wondered, since, though I try, I'm not a true Realmslore scholar, if we were supposed to know who Phanorym was. Is he an obscure character from FR's past, or something new to the book? And just what the hell was he? I've seen people say a Far Realms entity, which would fit, though the crystal stuff doesn't seem as "organic" as the Far Realms entities have been presented. Also, what are the LeShay and are they appropriate to possibly be the "tutors" of the Imaskari?
Tigger11 09-12-07, 11:41 PM	Also, what are the LeShay and are they appropriate to possibly be the "tutors" of the Imaskari? The LeShay are featured in the Epic Level Handbook. -Tig
MarkusTay63 09-12-07, 11:52 PM	That last sentence should have been in a spoiler block. ;) Phanorym, AFAIK, was created just for that novel. It appears that he IS a Far Realms entity, although it is never actually stated which dimension the Imaskari found him in. However, some of 'its' methodology lends itself nicely to that realm and abberations in general (psionics, tentacles). The Crystal was a naturally occurring by-product of the Celestial Nadir - I'm under the impression that all demi-planes have something akin to this stuff growing around the 'fringes' (like human stem cells, proto-matter). It is basically 'unrefined' demi-plane 'stuff' (new growth). At first, there was no problem using it in implants, but it appears that when Shaddon partially opened that 'containment vault' by breaking a few seals, the entity was able to seep into the surrounding crystal and corrupt it. Pg. 91 - "This crystal is a manifestation of the Celestial Nadir's existance. It seems to have been somehow... corrupted"
Shemeska the Marauder 09-13-07, 12:44 AM	I've seen people say a Far Realms entity, which would fit, though the crystal stuff doesn't seem as "organic" as the Far Realms entities have been presented. I wouldn't label it as a Far Realms entity myself. Something dredged from an alternate multiverse with radically different physical laws? Yes. But was that reality the Far Realms? I wasn't stated, and to me at least, it seemed different enough in style to not fit. I'd make it another, unnamed reality entirely (the Far Realm isn't the only other adjacent multiverse to be described in prior lore. The Keepers for instance came from such a place). Though admittedly, the early Imaskari did have contact with the Far Realms (see the Ecology of the Kaorti). They had contact, both sustained and exploratory with probably every orthodox plane and realities beyond those. They're cool like that. Also, what are the LeShay and are they appropriate to possibly be the "tutors" of the Imaskari? It was a nice touch I thought, and it really expands the list of early influences upon the Imaskari. We already knew they had fiendish influence (from all three primary fiendish races it seems), but adding a proto-fey (or whatever the heck you care to peg the LeShay as) influence was just icing. :)
MarkusTay63 09-13-07, 04:39 PM	Since the other three Creator races helped pen the Nether Scrolls, I felt that the Le'Shay involvement with the Imaskarna was well done. Shemeska - I had the Kaorti in mind as well when I gave my answer. ;)
Lord Karsus 09-13-07, 04:54 PM	-Bruce Cordell's next novel, Stardeep, is going to have something to do with Stardeep, the Prison that Kiril Duskmourn mentioned. Being as that Bruce also wrote Darkvision, I wouldn't be surprised if Kiril was the main character of Stardeep. When we last saw Kiril, she was in the company of Ususi, Iahn, and everyone else, so they might be recurring characters yet again, in Stardeep.
MarkusTay63 09-13-07, 05:09 PM	I understand that Bruce is one of the lead people on the FR 4e design team - if that is true then I reallly like some of what I think will be occurring. More 'planar boundaries' weakening, eh? Abeir is just around the corner. ;)
Lord Karsus 09-13-07, 05:13 PM	Abeir is just around the corner. ;) -If you own the last issue of DRAGON Magazine, one of the "unanswered questions" (Just what is Abeir, or Abeir-Toril?) is answered...kinda...
MarkusTay63 09-13-07, 05:26 PM	I don't have it, but I though that all that was said is that "Fans will soon find out about the 'Abeir' in Abeir-Toril? :confused:
Lord Karsus 09-13-07, 05:38 PM	-Well, that was the 'kinda' part. ;)