Time of Troubles question(s) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Time of Troubles question(s) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Moscone
10-02-04, 05:20 AM Working on a campaign set during the Time of Troubles. I'd like to know:
1) How long did it last? days? weeks? months? years?

2) Was it just the Faerunian Pantheon banished as mortals, or all of them, like the Seldarine, the dwarven gods, etc., even the Kara-Tur gods?

3) How did magic function during this time? wildly? Not at all?

I'd like to know, so please don't refer to the Avatar trilogy and get this shut down. I remember TSR had put out a series of modules way back when, and now out of print.
Faraer
10-02-04, 09:44 AM 1. Kythorn 15 to Marpenoth 15, 1358 DR, so four months.

2. All the gods (though as avatars, not mortals).

3. Wildly.

All these sources will be helpful for you: the Avatar trilogy, the FRE1-3 modules (lousy modules due to their linearity but wonderful sources of Realmslore), the Shadow of the Avatar trilogy, the Forgotten Realms Atlas (timeline and maps of Avatar Crisis locations), "The Avatar Trilogy: The Gods Walk Toril" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/deitytrouble).
Ssussunriyh
10-02-04, 03:28 PM During the ToT, divine magic would only function if the caster was within one mile of the deity (or rather, as indicated above, the avatar of the deity) who granted the spell. Tymora, for example, took up residence in her temple in Arabel, so a cleric of Tymora could cast spells if he were within a mile of the temple. Beyond that distance, the spell would simply fail.

Arcane magic fluctuated wildly, sometimes fizzling, sometimes producing unexpected results - often unpredictably dangerous ones. This became doubly true after Mystra's destruction.
Ma'ElKoth
10-02-04, 06:51 PM During the ToT, divine magic would only function if the caster was within one mile of the deity
The exception being Helm, who was allowed to stay on as a god because he was Ao's little :censored: . Another exception is that several deities bit it during the ToT (Myrkul, Bane, Baahl, and Torm.) Baahl's death is the pseudo-explanation for the lack of the assassin class in 2e. Torm came back form the dead almost immediately, and Bane found his way back eventually. Baahl had his spawn (see Baldur's Gate), which was some sort of plot to bring him back. Also, Myrkuul seems to be making some noises from beyond the grave. There's some class based around him IIRC, though I don't know which book it is in.
AvengedMutablegenus
10-02-04, 07:07 PM 3) How did magic function during this time? wildly? Not at all?

Kinda sparatic, you had to take your chances, with no god to control teh weave and no weave rules, some bad :censored: could happen.....
infirno_Snake
10-13-04, 03:35 PM there's some rules posted in the FR guide (if i can remember) about wild magic functioning too..

i've also been thinking about setting up a ToT adventure, although i might have to alter the wild magic rules (no one here actually role plays enough to want to be a "useless" class).

i guess reading the avatar series really has me into it...(reading the "4th" currently)..
sw04ca
10-13-04, 08:06 PM 2) Was it just the Faerunian Pantheon banished as mortals, or all of them, like the Seldarine, the dwarven gods, etc., even the Kara-Tur gods?
All of them. I recall a reference in some sort of supplement to the Kara-Tur gods, and the Mulhorandi Gods and Gilgeam were definately incarnated. The old Forgotten Realms comic book series has one of the characters (an elven priest of Labelas Enoreth) actually become his god's avatar.

Surprisingly, no mention was made of the Avatar crisis in the Al Qadim books, but that might simply be because Al Qadim uses elemental, not weave-based magic, and that their gods are rather different from the regular ones, perhaps even created by fate, and not Ao. After all, the gods of Al Qadim were very, very quiet, and allowed their roles to be filled by the genies. Perhaps the 'gods' are merely different facets of the overgod 'Fate', which is beyond Ao's ability to punish?
Moscone
10-14-04, 05:21 AM Next question that still bugs me: Who does Ao call "master'?" Or was that ever established, or just left hanging?
Kuje31
10-14-04, 01:27 PM Next question that still bugs me: Who does Ao call "master'?" Or was that ever established, or just left hanging?

Faiths & Avatars answers this. "A Luminous Being."

TSR considered that to be the DM or the reader as seen from this from Candlekeep.com.

2.7. Whom is Ao talking to at the end of "Waterdeep"?

There are all kinds of theories, but the one that seems to make the most sense is that he was talking to the Supreme God, the DM. In other words, the reader.
Gray Richardson
10-14-04, 01:49 PM Next question that still bugs me: Who does Ao call "master'?" Or was that ever established, or just left hanging?It was implied that Ao answers to a greater Author of the universe such as you the DM or Ed Greenwood or WoTC, but most likely you the DM.
Brahzs M'ahnkei
10-14-04, 02:25 PM In addition to wild arcane spells and non-functioning divine spells, the Realms themselves seemed to "misfunction" during the ToT. Never-before-seen creatures stalked the forests, souls could not leave their dead-and-decaying mortal forms, and there were instances of entire forests pulling up their own roots and moving to a new local for little or no apparent reason. Nature itself was in complete and utter chaos, thanks to the instability of the Weave. Random magical dead zones also sprang up (some permanant some not) all over- especially where Mystra died trying to get past Helm, up the Celestial Staircase.

It was a good time for sword-swingers.

;)
infirno_Snake
10-15-04, 12:20 AM also, in Prince of Lies, early on they mention something about "beings older than Ao himself" when mentioning the contents of the river in hades.

i'm guessing that there's greater beings than Ao that probably created other "Ao's" to govern planets. just a thought though.
warlockco
10-15-04, 01:03 AM also, in Prince of Lies, early on they mention something about "beings older than Ao himself" when mentioning the contents of the river in hades.

i'm guessing that there's greater beings than Ao that probably created other "Ao's" to govern planets. just a thought though.

Of course there are beings greater than Ao, there are the ELDER GODS, beings like Cthulhu :88E:
Charles Phipps
10-15-04, 02:21 AM Cthulhu is nothing to Lord Ao....

AZATHOTH!

Sure, the REAL AO is a mindless gibbering darkness but Nyarlathotep is his avatar and he loves messing with folk like popping in and causally castrating the gods for NO REASON like he did with the ToT.

BWHAHHAAHA!
warlockco
10-15-04, 03:58 AM Cthulhu is nothing to Lord Ao....

AZATHOTH!

Sure, the REAL AO is a mindless gibbering darkness but Nyarlathotep is his avatar and he loves messing with folk like popping in and causally castrating the gods for NO REASON like he did with the ToT.

BWHAHHAAHA!

:rofl:
That is just so wrong :D
Only reason I mentioned only Cthulhu out of the Mythos great beings, it is the only one that I know of off-hand.
But, yeah Azathoth is more appropriate.
Ssussunriyh
10-15-04, 04:45 AM It was a good time for sword-swingers. ;)
Or, as the thought that went through Midnight's head put it, If her spells failed her, she still had her dagger. A knife always worked.
Moscone
10-16-04, 04:25 AM Somehow, though, I doubt Ao was conversing with Cthulu or any other Lovecraft-ian being. It's too bad MotP didn't touch on any of the campaign settings to give the DM a better idea. Yea, they touch on Over-Gods, but nothing about the High Gods of other worlds...even if the FR cosmology is a bit different...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Moscone 10-02-04, 05:20 AM	Working on a campaign set during the Time of Troubles. I'd like to know: 1) How long did it last? days? weeks? months? years? 2) Was it just the Faerunian Pantheon banished as mortals, or all of them, like the Seldarine, the dwarven gods, etc., even the Kara-Tur gods? 3) How did magic function during this time? wildly? Not at all? I'd like to know, so please don't refer to the Avatar trilogy and get this shut down. I remember TSR had put out a series of modules way back when, and now out of print.
Faraer 10-02-04, 09:44 AM	1. Kythorn 15 to Marpenoth 15, 1358 DR, so four months. 2. All the gods (though as avatars, not mortals). 3. Wildly. All these sources will be helpful for you: the Avatar trilogy, the FRE1-3 modules (lousy modules due to their linearity but wonderful sources of Realmslore), the Shadow of the Avatar trilogy, the Forgotten Realms Atlas (timeline and maps of Avatar Crisis locations), "The Avatar Trilogy: The Gods Walk Toril" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/deitytrouble).
Ssussunriyh 10-02-04, 03:28 PM	During the ToT, divine magic would only function if the caster was within one mile of the deity (or rather, as indicated above, the avatar of the deity) who granted the spell. Tymora, for example, took up residence in her temple in Arabel, so a cleric of Tymora could cast spells if he were within a mile of the temple. Beyond that distance, the spell would simply fail. Arcane magic fluctuated wildly, sometimes fizzling, sometimes producing unexpected results - often unpredictably dangerous ones. This became doubly true after Mystra's destruction.
Ma'ElKoth 10-02-04, 06:51 PM	During the ToT, divine magic would only function if the caster was within one mile of the deity The exception being Helm, who was allowed to stay on as a god because he was Ao's little :censored: . Another exception is that several deities bit it during the ToT (Myrkul, Bane, Baahl, and Torm.) Baahl's death is the pseudo-explanation for the lack of the assassin class in 2e. Torm came back form the dead almost immediately, and Bane found his way back eventually. Baahl had his spawn (see Baldur's Gate), which was some sort of plot to bring him back. Also, Myrkuul seems to be making some noises from beyond the grave. There's some class based around him IIRC, though I don't know which book it is in.
AvengedMutablegenus 10-02-04, 07:07 PM	3) How did magic function during this time? wildly? Not at all? Kinda sparatic, you had to take your chances, with no god to control teh weave and no weave rules, some bad :censored: could happen.....
infirno_Snake 10-13-04, 03:35 PM	there's some rules posted in the FR guide (if i can remember) about wild magic functioning too.. i've also been thinking about setting up a ToT adventure, although i might have to alter the wild magic rules (no one here actually role plays enough to want to be a "useless" class). i guess reading the avatar series really has me into it...(reading the "4th" currently)..
sw04ca 10-13-04, 08:06 PM	2) Was it just the Faerunian Pantheon banished as mortals, or all of them, like the Seldarine, the dwarven gods, etc., even the Kara-Tur gods? All of them. I recall a reference in some sort of supplement to the Kara-Tur gods, and the Mulhorandi Gods and Gilgeam were definately incarnated. The old Forgotten Realms comic book series has one of the characters (an elven priest of Labelas Enoreth) actually become his god's avatar. Surprisingly, no mention was made of the Avatar crisis in the Al Qadim books, but that might simply be because Al Qadim uses elemental, not weave-based magic, and that their gods are rather different from the regular ones, perhaps even created by fate, and not Ao. After all, the gods of Al Qadim were very, very quiet, and allowed their roles to be filled by the genies. Perhaps the 'gods' are merely different facets of the overgod 'Fate', which is beyond Ao's ability to punish?
Moscone 10-14-04, 05:21 AM	Next question that still bugs me: Who does Ao call "master'?" Or was that ever established, or just left hanging?
Kuje31 10-14-04, 01:27 PM	Next question that still bugs me: Who does Ao call "master'?" Or was that ever established, or just left hanging? Faiths & Avatars answers this. "A Luminous Being." TSR considered that to be the DM or the reader as seen from this from Candlekeep.com. 2.7. Whom is Ao talking to at the end of "Waterdeep"? There are all kinds of theories, but the one that seems to make the most sense is that he was talking to the Supreme God, the DM. In other words, the reader.
Gray Richardson 10-14-04, 01:49 PM	Next question that still bugs me: Who does Ao call "master'?" Or was that ever established, or just left hanging?It was implied that Ao answers to a greater Author of the universe such as you the DM or Ed Greenwood or WoTC, but most likely you the DM.
Brahzs M'ahnkei 10-14-04, 02:25 PM	In addition to wild arcane spells and non-functioning divine spells, the Realms themselves seemed to "misfunction" during the ToT. Never-before-seen creatures stalked the forests, souls could not leave their dead-and-decaying mortal forms, and there were instances of entire forests pulling up their own roots and moving to a new local for little or no apparent reason. Nature itself was in complete and utter chaos, thanks to the instability of the Weave. Random magical dead zones also sprang up (some permanant some not) all over- especially where Mystra died trying to get past Helm, up the Celestial Staircase. It was a good time for sword-swingers. ;)
infirno_Snake 10-15-04, 12:20 AM	also, in Prince of Lies, early on they mention something about "beings older than Ao himself" when mentioning the contents of the river in hades. i'm guessing that there's greater beings than Ao that probably created other "Ao's" to govern planets. just a thought though.
warlockco 10-15-04, 01:03 AM	also, in Prince of Lies, early on they mention something about "beings older than Ao himself" when mentioning the contents of the river in hades. i'm guessing that there's greater beings than Ao that probably created other "Ao's" to govern planets. just a thought though. Of course there are beings greater than Ao, there are the ELDER GODS, beings like Cthulhu :88E:
Charles Phipps 10-15-04, 02:21 AM	Cthulhu is nothing to Lord Ao.... AZATHOTH! Sure, the REAL AO is a mindless gibbering darkness but Nyarlathotep is his avatar and he loves messing with folk like popping in and causally castrating the gods for NO REASON like he did with the ToT. BWHAHHAAHA!
warlockco 10-15-04, 03:58 AM	Cthulhu is nothing to Lord Ao.... AZATHOTH! Sure, the REAL AO is a mindless gibbering darkness but Nyarlathotep is his avatar and he loves messing with folk like popping in and causally castrating the gods for NO REASON like he did with the ToT. BWHAHHAAHA! :rofl: That is just so wrong :D Only reason I mentioned only Cthulhu out of the Mythos great beings, it is the only one that I know of off-hand. But, yeah Azathoth is more appropriate.
Ssussunriyh 10-15-04, 04:45 AM	It was a good time for sword-swingers. ;) Or, as the thought that went through Midnight's head put it, If her spells failed her, she still had her dagger. A knife always worked.
Moscone 10-16-04, 04:25 AM	Somehow, though, I doubt Ao was conversing with Cthulu or any other Lovecraft-ian being. It's too bad MotP didn't touch on any of the campaign settings to give the DM a better idea. Yea, they touch on Over-Gods, but nothing about the High Gods of other worlds...even if the FR cosmology is a bit different...