Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Matt_James Feb 23, 2010 12:45:46	My latest Realmslore article on the Underdark city of Ikemmu- formerly Sphur Upra. wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/duad/... The artwork is simply stunning. My thanks and appeciation to Evan Shipard, John Stanko and Sean MacDonald
#2 The_Silversword Feb 23, 2010 13:53:03	I like it, It really gives Shadar-Kai a better back ground than being born by human citizens of Shade. Interesting concept with the "real" city and the shadow one, kinda reminds me of that video game, Legacy of Cain. I really liked the map too, we need more maps, but it would be nice to have a key or something indicating where all the inns and taverns and feasthalls and everything are.
#3 Matt_James Feb 23, 2010 13:54:46	The key is there, you just need a super secret decoder ring... oops...
#4 The_Silversword Feb 23, 2010 14:26:47	Aw man! how do i get a super secret decoder ring!? My gem of true seeing just aint cuttin it.
#5 ukplayerx Feb 23, 2010 16:02:31	You need to save all those coupons on the top of your Official FRCS Breakfast Cereal
#6 gray_richardson Feb 23, 2010 23:46:14	The article is really great, Matt!  The way it straddles the material plane and the Shadowfell, it reminds me a little of a dark version of the town of Wall from Stardust.  Although Ikemmu sounds a little bit more exotic and interesting than Wall.  Might be a nice location from which to launch an expedition in to the Shadowfell.  And a good home-base for an underdark campaign. Not quite sure if the map-maker depicted the vertical nature of the city correctly; it looks like a birds-eye view of a fairly flat, horizontal city with streets--as opposed to what you described in the article. Although, perhaps I am not looking at it correctly. However, the painters who did the artwork seemed to capture that verticality much better, it is a beautiful piece. It captures the majesty and mystery of what you described very nicely indeed.
#7 Matt_James Feb 24, 2010 5:55:50	The cover art of the article is stunning. I was amazing when I opened to find it. Thanks for the kind words, Gray! I didn't have much to do with the actual map, which is a turn from the past. I think someone else had the article prior to me, but I can't confirm it. Normally, I would describe said map and the article would interpret it and draw it.
#8 Jorunhast Feb 24, 2010 7:06:56	Checked this out on a friend's account yesterday.  It's nicely done, but lately in the Realms it just seems like there's way too much of a concentration on darkness, shades, shadow.  Or aberrations and undead.  Here, it's underdark and shadowy stuff, like a double dose.  It's all just way too dark, and that stuff isn't really to my tastes. It's clever, and nicely done, just not something that grabs me.
#9 Matt_James Feb 24, 2010 8:01:51	I'm sure the Ikemmu assignment is meant to support the upcoming novel. As far as darkness, shades, and shadow- I'm not sure I follow. The Airpur article as well as Windrise Ports and Tarmalune pieces all exist without too much gloom. We have the articles on Cormyr and even details of good/kind FR gods. Check out the FR page for a complete listing. www.wizards.com/dnd/ForgottenRealms.aspx www.wizards.com/dnd/WorldsArchive.aspx?c... (FR Articles listing) I'm sorry the article didn't grab your attention. While not all topics will appeal to everyone, I hope the additional detail helps sate the hunger of Realmslore fans.
#10 Aegeri Feb 28, 2010 21:41:50	This was a pretty solid article. Nice to have an untagged map that is actually usable for a game as well, which was a true gift and the descriptions of the towers in the text make it inherently obvious where those towers were. If I run another game in FR, I'll definitely be using this city as an entrance to the underdark.
#11 Rils Mar 02, 2010 17:41:14	One thing I was confused on - how do you get to the city through the Underdark?  Looking at the map, there's no road leading into or out of it, just the huge chasm...
#12 Matt_James Mar 02, 2010 17:56:23	Tunnel complexes that lead up into the Underdark Side- ones that are heavily guarded for the most part. Because of the nature of the Underdark, this place was naturally well-suited for defense and thus why the Gloamings originally inhabited the area for so long.
#13 The_Silversword Mar 02, 2010 19:22:30	I was hoping the final version compiled in the Dragon issue would have a key to the map, but nope. Having an untagged map is nice, but I would still like to know where everything is "officially". Is this something they maybe in a future article? Or Matt could you post a tagged version of the map?
#14 Matt_James Mar 03, 2010 4:24:50	You may find more acute information in future articles. I did not get a chance to even draw those maps (as like in previous articles). I assume someone else had been working on an article and completed the art-order only to have it dropped. I was subsequently given a blank slate with those completed maps. Sorry I can't give you more.
#15 panics Mar 03, 2010 11:22:51	Good article.  Good maps.  Good drawings. Keep the Good work   We really need more of these articles.  I very much enjoy those.  Well better than Eye on the Realms.  I Love ED Greenwood work, but I found his article not very useful in describing places of the Realms.  I wish we had more "updates" on renowned City states... But I'm faithful that you and Brian will keep the good work in this direction ;)
#16 Matt_James Apr 01, 2010 16:33:57	Brian has a Realmslore article coming out in a week or so on Vaasa.
#17 LordManshoon Apr 01, 2010 19:12:34	Brian has a Realmslore article coming out in a week or so on Vaasa. Good to hear. I'm also looking forward to the Ikemmu novel by Jaleigh Johnson, Unbroken Chain. It sounds like it'll be very good.
#18 18DELTA Apr 01, 2010 20:23:51	Brian has a Realmslore article coming out in a week or so on Vaasa. Guess I will have to get that issue.