Your thoughts?
After hundreds of years deciphering ancient halfling cave-art, Dregoth the undead dragon-king succeeded in creating a new race in his image. They were deemed unworthy and banished. So he created another set, whom he named the Dray, and they worshipped him as a god.
Deep below in the underdark of New Guistenal, together they lived. And the Dray passed their time fishing for Giants on the shores of the Sea of Silt. Ever mindful for the lurking tentacles of unspeakable evil just below the surface.
... or something about thri-kreen.
What is that image you posted?
Damn vague Amazon listing!
What is that image you posted?
It is the art from the City by the Silt Sea boxed set expansion, 2E ... The commonly held fan opinion has been that it would make a great novel. Now it looks as though it's actually the topic of the next novel ... HUZZAH!
A few indicaters that solidify the logic of this:
- Dregoth and the Dray haven't been covered in the novels. The only exception being that Dregoth's death was briefly mentioned by Hamanu in Rise and Fall of a Dragon King. Could someone confirm or correct this?
- Underdark ... New Giustenal is the only underground city on Athas, or atleast in the Tyr region.
- Dray are purportedly playable as Dragonborn. A novel would offer the Athasian flavor of 4E Dragonborn. Dray are classically only found in-or-around New Giustenal (2nd generation) or Kragmorta (1st generation).
- Located on the shores of the Sea of Silt, it is the only seaside city-state ... with a sorcerer-king (Balic=democracy). The Silt Sea is a primary geographic point-of-interest. Being located far away from campaigns set in Tyr, players will often wish to go there but the desert won't allow it. map (1.4MB)
- Dregoth is the only undead dragon king. When not ruling over his sycophantic followers, he is plane-hopping his way to god-dom. Manual of the Planes, The Plane Below ... and now The Plane Above (due April 2010).
- Pre-existing Brom art. Gerald Brom painted the cover art for all DS novels and most of the cover art for the supplements. "It's not Dark Sun without Brom art." ~Dale from THAC0. January 29, 2010: ep61@54:43
Also, Vor Rukoth: An Ancient Ruins Adventure Site (due July 2010) might be easily ported with a few modifications, to represent the Ruins of Giustenal on the Sea of Silt.
Of course, the title listed on Amazon is vague (City Under the Sand), and could be something else, as yet unknown ... hrm.
"I don't think I should say much about the book yet, as it's still going through the editing process and so nothing is set in stone. I can tell you that the city in question is not New Giustenal. I have no idea who's doing the cover art, haven't seen anything yet."
from Jeff Mariotte
www.jeffmariotte.com
jeff_mariotte.typepad.com/my_weblog/
facebook.com/jeff.mariotte
www.myspace.com/jeffmariotte
I gave him a link to this thread (New Novels: What about 'em?), so he may be watching ... check out his typepad blog for a preview of his writing.
Jim, I don't get where you got your info and how you drew those conclusions. Care to elaborate?
From the Dark Sun Capaign Setting, Expanded and Revised (2nd edition boxset) Bill Slavicsek's The Wanderer's Chronicle has lots of infomation.
the one interpretive conclusion i drew was disproved by the author.
You appeared to be stating you found the title and author and subject of an official yet still unannounced future DS novel.
Was I close?
I believe that the "or something about thri-kreen" at the end of Jim's initial post in this thread implies he's speculating. I'd guess that the book cover isn't a cover for a real book, but rather something photoshopped (isn't the image from city by the silt sea or something?) Considering it isn't following the artistic style and layout of the re-released prism pentad books, I'd say that it isn't a picture of a real book.
Correct.
Iwashavingabitoffun.
IfyousearchErinHunteryou'dseethatit'sapseudonymfortheauthorsoftheWarriorsandSeekersseriesofbooks.
Whicharetheepicadventuresofdomesticcatsandvariousspeciesofbear,respectively.
WhenIsawthetitlewhichyou*nodsrespectfully*found,Istartedjustifyingthesubjectofmyinitialresponsetothequestionaskedinthefirstpost.
Toconfirmthisspeculation,asitwaspreviouslypointedouthowvaugethetitlewas,ItookituponmyselftoemailJeffMariotte.
Hereishisreponse:
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Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:22:25 -0700
Subject: Re: City Under the Sand: A Dark Sun Novel discussion
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Hi Jims,
I don't think I should say much about the book yet, as it's still going th=
rough the editing process and so nothing is set in stone. =A0I can tell yo=
u that the city in question is not=A0New Giustenal. =A0I have no idea who'=
s doing the cover art, haven't seen anything yet.
Best,
Jeff
--
Look for=A0Cold Black Hearts, on sale now from Jove!
"Mariotte can flat-out write."
--Don Winslow, author of=A0The Dawn Patrol
"A very talented guy."=A0
--Clive=A0Barker
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On Jan 31, 2010, at 8:05:15 PM, "James Maher" wr=
ote:
From: "James Maher"
Subject: City Under the Sand: A Dark Sun Novel discussion
Date: January 31, 2010 8:05:15 PM MST
To: jmariotte@aol.com
Hello,
About an upcoming novel of yours:
Could you please confirm the topic of City Under the Sand: A Dark Sun Nove=
l?=A0 We suspect that the city in question is New Giustenal.=A0
www.amazon.com/City-Under-Sand-Dark-Nove...
1?ie=3DUTF8&s=3Dbooks&qid=3D1264982802&sr=3D1-1
Also, do you know if the cover art will be by Gerald Brom?=A0 He has heret=
ofore painted the covers for all Dark Sun novels.
Fan discussion about this novel can be found here:=A0
community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...
m=3D7#388923921
Thank you,
Jims
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There go the nosebleeds again.
Honestly? ... thanks for tracking down that link to amazon.
Correct.
Iwashavingabitoffun.
IfyousearchErinHunteryou'dseethatit'sapseudonymfortheauthorsoftheWarriorsandSeekersseriesofbooks.
Whicharetheepicadventuresofdomesticcatsandvariousspeciesofbear,respectively.
WhenIsawthetitlewhichyou*nodsrespectfully*found,Istartedjustifyingthesubjectofmyinitialresponsetothequestionaskedinthefirstpost.
Toconfirmthisspeculation,asitwaspreviouslypointedouthowvaugethetitlewas,ItookituponmyselftoemailJeffMariotte.
Hereishisreponse:
Here is a message from Mr. Spacebar:
Hello Jim. What happened? You don't write, or call any more, and I'd really hope that we're still friends. Please don't ignore me.
I suspect it's a setup for the sci-fi feel of Spell Jammer in 2011
I'd love to see something well written about the halflings tribes. Whenever I think of DS halflings, I think of the Gremlins movies: they either fit the soft, cute and cuddly stereotype or the nasty, trickster, man-eating stereotype. When I FIRST read about the halfling tribes, they were supposed to neither: but cultured, mysterious and wise. I got the impression that they eat other races because they viewed other races on par with animals (not sentient beings). Anyways... in complete dream mode.
I've had the same confusion.
I've even read stuff about halflings being more confused by foreign cultures than disdainful, and of course very ethnocentric.
When I FIRST read about the halfling tribes, they were supposed to neither: but cultured, mysterious and wise. I got the impression that they eat other races because they viewed other races on par with animals (not sentient beings).
Thanks!
Now I don't imagine them as feral ewoks and they're MUCH cooler.
I think of Halfling cannibalism as being something along these lines. I doubt any old expedition into the forest ridge that has a terminal run-in with a tribe of halflings get completely eaten by them. Maybe the leader fights and loses to the halfling leader and they eat him...something like that.
If the fluff is handed right on this kind of thing, it can make the culture richer rather than just make them more savage. I hope that'll be the case anyways.
Big_Goon, where were you when I was writing Athasian Emporium?
I blame Renteriaa and Masterfat! They're the ones who kicked off the ritual idea.
Jus' sayin.
And I will most certainly be buying City Under the Sand.