Halaster Blackcloak

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

lord_kranthor

May 07, 2008 22:00:56
Humbly submitted for discussion and advice:

I've recently been intriqued by Halaster (after reading 'El in Hell' for the third painful time - nuther thread...). Anywho, I started doing some research on books that have either had or feature Halaster in them and am coming up short.

Can anyone of you learned worthies provide any insight into narratives that the Mad Mage has appeared with some level of discription? If it is an instance where his name is just referenced, then don't bother to post.

I'm looking for something that would allow me to better build (and read) background on him as a character since in 'El in Hell' Mystra has decided to make him a Chosen.

Your efforts to enlighten me are appreciated in advance.

Signed,

Your friendly neighborhood forum newbie, but D&D veteran

LK
#2

sfdragon

May 07, 2008 23:01:02
Halaster Blackcloak

was listed in silverfall, and one of the best of the realms books. think the 2nd of them i'm not certain as far as the later is.



his stats though, are in the elh.
#3

Stigger

May 08, 2008 0:28:24
2e's Undermountain boxed sets and related adventures would probably have at least some mention of him, Volo's Guide to All Things Magical mentions some lore about him (for a potion as I recall)... not too sure about the 3e sources, but I seem to recall him being mentioned in connection with Demonshields for some reason, though I don't recall what source those appeared in offhand. As for novels, couldn't say, as I don't really indulge in them much.
#4

lord_kranthor

May 08, 2008 0:38:05
Ok,

Thus far our little "Where's Halaster" adventure is turning up very little in the way of any major motion pictures (or sizable parts in any recent or earlier literary works).

I do know he has some minor parts in Escape from Undermountain and of course in El in Hell. I was really hoping there was a book out there that really delved deeply into him and his past that I was not aware of.

LK
#5

Stigger

May 08, 2008 1:18:11
None that I know of... Lost Empires of Faerun goes into him a bit under the name Hilather, in a couple of sections, which was probably where the demonshield thing was.
#6

old_sage

May 08, 2008 11:07:11
The references for Halaster are fairly well scattered throughout diverse Realmslore sources. If you're looking for just a quick synopsis, I suggest you read through Halaster's entry in the Villains' Lorebook, which is available as a free PDF download here at WotC.

Further sources are noted below:-

Escape From Undermountain
FR1 Waterdeep And The North
Faiths and Avatars (Ibrandul's corpse reference)
Ruins of Undermountain I
"If You Need Help --- Ask The Drow!" [Dragon #176]
Ruins of Undermountain II
City of Splendors [boxed set]
"I Sing A Song By The Deep-Water Bay" [Dragon #211]
The Lost Level
"The Reports From Undermountain" [Dragon #227]
Maddgoth's Castle
Iakhovas' Attack on Waterdeep
The Great Modron March
Stardock
Skullport
Elminster In Hell
Dawn of Night [Erevis Cale Trilogy, Book II]
City of Splendors: Waterdeep
Return to Undermountain [web articles]

#7

the_wrath_of_talos

May 08, 2008 12:59:18
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of The Underdark has a scene where your hero comes to rescue Halaster. After you free him you get a quick glimpse(1-2 minute video/converstion thing) of Halasters power and personlity. I'd recommend at least looking into it. It will take you a few hours of game play to get to this part of the story line unfortunetly.
#8

thinblade

May 08, 2008 14:38:59
I'd add to Sage's reply Grand History of the Realms.

Halaster for much of FR's history has been handled much like Garak on Deep Space 9: a whole lot of suggestion, and innuendo, and competing theories (is he Netherese? is he Imaskari? what's he like?), and only recently has the picture started to firm up.

Most of the information about his are snipets, rumors, and cameos (like in Realms of the Underdark, where he pops up two or three times in Ed's Skullport story).
#9

woobyluv

May 08, 2008 18:31:29
More recently he is discussed in Expedition to Undermountain or at least his demise is discussed.
#10

18DELTA

May 08, 2008 22:01:24
More recently he is discussed in Expedition to Undermountain or at least his demise is discussed.

-Which leads me to believe that The Frostrune will be in charge of Undermountain in 4E. Those that have Read Blackstaff will know who I am talking about. Its just a theory of mine. It would be poetic justice.


18D
#11

lord_kranthor

May 08, 2008 23:24:28
Wow!

Very impressed with the support given to a forum newbie by all - especially the detailed provided by the Old Sage.

Thanks much!!!

LK
#12

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 09, 2008 17:39:06
I'm looking for something that would allow me to better build (and read) background on him as a character since in 'El in Hell' Mystra has decided to make him a Chosen.

LK

Mystra did not make Halaster a Chosen, as per Ed.
#13

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 09, 2008 17:39:48
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of The Underdark has a scene where your hero comes to rescue Halaster. After you free him you get a quick glimpse(1-2 minute video/converstion thing) of Halasters power and personlity. I'd recommend at least looking into it. It will take you a few hours of game play to get to this part of the story line unfortunetly.

It's a fun game, though!
#14

lord_karsus

May 09, 2008 23:56:20
Wow!

Very impressed with the support given to a forum newbie by all - especially the detailed provided by the Old Sage.

Thanks much!!!

LK

-You know, I am thinking you're going to have to get a new shortened nickname there, buddy...
#15

Stigger

May 10, 2008 1:04:24
L_K versus LK... can the steel cage be far behind...
#16

Stigger

May 10, 2008 5:16:53
And who got majorly suckered by Khelben...
#17

18DELTA

May 10, 2008 7:57:00
You meen Frostrune form the 2ed adventure Stardock? Priamon «Frostrune» Rakesk, the Twisted Rune?

Frostrune, the bad guy who managed to emprison Halaster for a short while in space?

The spell that he designed, Frostrune's Restraints , was so cool.

Got to love the genius who came up with such a spell.

-Cool I didn't know all about that stuff you just mentioned. Did you ever read Blackstaff? If you did then you will know what I am talking about.:D


18D
#18

lord_kranthor

May 10, 2008 8:55:55
Mystra did not make Halaster a Chosen, as per Ed.

hmmmm ... will have to re-read that section of 'El in Hell'.

I know she offered to cure his insanity but I thought she also offered to make him one of her own.... Maybe I misread that... I'll check into it.

Do you have a reference your pulling that from as you state "per Ed" ... or did you just call him and ask? Hell, she may actually be Ed for all I know :D (Dont' worry, I won't tell....;) )



-You know, I am thinking you're going to have to get a new shortened nickname there, buddy...

Well know....well, well, well... How should we handle the handling of the contested handle?

Perhaps a duel to see who's is stronger, my magical armor and armaments or your knowledge of that which is arcane? Or perhaps we can throw at each other the myriad thralls, henchmen, retainers, mercenaries, and in-laws that we have at our disposal? Better yet, mayhap I'll unleash upon you that which is my wife - surely then you'll be forced to give way and submit to my supremacy.

But then, I wonder if the moniker "LK" is truly worth the before described escalation? I have, after all, gone by that online pseudonym for well over a decade and have grown found of the somewhat cool way it ends a posting…. But then, I would imagine you too have some similar ridiculous emotional attachment and reasoning.

I guess that time in service on this forum would be the mature manner in which this issue can be resolved and since I am the FNG to this particular forum, it would be mature of me to allow you dominance in this one thing. Additionally, you do deserve some small modicum of pity as you are admittedly a Mets fan – so, as with most other special people, we (who can) must occasionally give them his or her ‘way’ so as to not offend others with the noise and ruckus that would surely follow if the special one in question did not get their way.

Thus, I will refrain from using the signature I’ve come to grow so found of and will acquiesce to your seniority and influence in this forum, on this topic.

(I would normally put LK here as a form of signature, but someone else was already using that and apparently cannot share)

Go Cards!
#19

old_sage

May 10, 2008 10:00:21
I'm looking for something that would allow me to better build (and read) background on him as a character since...

Consider this small tidbit from Ed Greenwood:-

"Now, if the city above had been around for centuries, and city-dwellers were going down exploring (via the Yawning Portal, etc.) from time to time, surely all the traps would already have been sprung, monsters slain, and dangerous challenges blasted away by the fireballs and suchlike of long-ago mages. No? Well, then, someone or something would have to be creeping around “resetting” and restocking and renewing them. A lot of those traps were magical, so that someone should be a powerful mage (also handy in capturing, compelling, and transporting dangerous monsters). Okay, so WHY would someone so powerful do this - - instead of forcing world peace upon the Realms, or making everything blue, or (ahem) conquering the city above long ago?

Well, he must be mad, of course. :}

Hence, Halaster: he’s unpredictable - - there’s no telling WHAT he may do. So he won’t automatically regard adventurers who kill his monsters, take the treasures (and again, he must be mad if he hasn’t glommed onto all that magic and riches for himself, right?), and smash all his best traps as his foes. Sometimes he will, for short periods, but not for long or consistently (otherwise, it would be Halaster versus adventurers, equals no more adventurers). I then turned to thinking about WHY Halaster is the way he is, why he’s so tied to Undermountain, and so on (Halaster was around in my stories in 1967, but it wasn’t until 1976 or so that I started delving into these matters). In the published Realms, Steven Schend picked up on Halaster’s life, sanity, nature, and powers, and developed him a lot farther."

...

I'd also recommend you read through both Ed's and Steven Schend's comments re: Halaster in their compiled Candlekeep reply files.
#20

old_sage

May 10, 2008 10:02:08
hmmmm ... will have to re-read that section of 'El in Hell'.

I know she offered to cure his insanity but I thought she also offered to make him one of her own.... Maybe I misread that... I'll check into it.

Ed has specifically said, in more then one reply at Candlekeep, that although Halaster was NOT a Chosen of Mystra, we do know he is [was] something, and that something may have indicated that she did have future plans for him.

Do you have a reference your pulling that from as you state "per Ed" ... or did you just call him and ask? Hell, she may actually be Ed for all I know :D (Dont' worry, I won't tell....;) )

Rinonalyrna is referring to this bit from Ed, back in March '04:-

"1. Halaster has been around for a LONG time, and for almost all of that time he’s been an enigma. Steven Schend and I pretty well agreed that he was only insane as long as he was in Undermountain, and it seems that ‘the new’ Mystra has freed him from the worst magical effects of its thrall, returning him to sanity. She did NOT make him a Chosen, but instead made a ‘separate peace’ with him, giving him the status of a free-willed agent (from time to time she’ll ask him to do something for her, with new spells or augmented powers as his reward or price, but she will do absolutely nothing to coerce him into service, nor look upon him unfavorably if he refuses).

Whether he’ll become a threat to the wider Realms, or a ‘good guy,’ depends on him. Right at the moment, I personally have no plans for a Halaster novel, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the good folks at WotC are pondering this topic for some scribe’s pen. He is a perfect main character for a pull-out-the-stops spellhurling novel, after all. :}"
#21

lord_karsus

May 10, 2008 10:31:26
Hell, she may actually be Ed for all I know :D (Dont' worry, I won't tell....;)

-She's much better looking, and has no beard. Trust me. Though I've never had the...honor(?) of smelling him, I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to say she smells better than him, either.

Well know....well, well, well... How should we handle the handling of the contested handle?

-You find something new, and that's that. As Stigger suggested, L_K might work...Copy and Pasting Lord_Kranthor would also work.

Go Cards!

-Yeah, good luck with that one.

-Regarding Halaster, though, to be helpful, are you award of what transpired in Return to Undermountain, the adventure released about a year ago?
Show
Halaster was killed, and his soul was shattered into thousands of fragments (meaning resurrection cannot be cast until said fragments are put back together) after he saw visions of an upcoming disaster (Spellplague), and he began experimenting on a way to prevent it/curb it's effects. This reaffirmed, and was made Forgotten Realms canon in AGHotR
#22

lord_kranthor

May 10, 2008 16:47:21
--You find something new, and that's that. As Stigger suggested, L_K might work...Copy and Pasting Lord_Kranthor would also work.

Oh come on, what kind of cut-and-dry reply is is that? And after all the time I took to come up with such a witty, intelligent (and hopefully) humorous reply - you hit me back with that??? I expected much better from the wearer of my monicker....



---Regarding Halaster, though, to be helpful, are you award of what transpired in Return to Undermountain, the adventure released about a year ago?
Show
Halaster was killed, and his soul was shattered into thousands of fragments (meaning resurrection cannot be cast until said fragments are put back together) after he saw visions of an upcoming disaster (Spellplague), and he began experimenting on a way to prevent it/curb it's effects. This reaffirmed, and was made Forgotten Realms canon in AGHotR
#23

Stigger

May 10, 2008 19:49:39
Adventure thingy set in Undermountain, but alas made for Core D&D for some unfathomable reason... supposedly not much more than a sidebar note about it. AGHotR mentions it as well as far as I know.
#24

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 1:52:35
Oh come on, what kind of cut-and-dry reply is is that? And after all the time I took to come up with such a witty, intelligent (and hopefully) humorous reply - you hit me back with that??? I expected much better from the wearer of my monicker....

-Give me a reason to invest more time into it- remember, it's your problem, not mine- and maybe...You know what they say, though. Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line...;)


Was this an adventure module box set or a novel. I've not been able to play any at all since returning to school (and family issues) but I've been trying to keep up on the novel reading in the FR genre??>.. ??

-Neither. It was an adventure core book, released about a year ago, around the same time as Expedition to the Demonweb Pits, and one other thing.
#25

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 15:58:14
No, I haven't read Blackstaff and don't think I will. Could you fill me in please?

-Without going into too much detail, Frustrune was one of the major characters in that novel. A very good novel, if I do say so myself.
#26

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 17:13:13
I was wondering what Frosty the Space Lich had done to become the next Mad Master of Undermountain.

-That was Delta's own hypothesis. Without saying much, Frostrune was last seen in that novel with Halaster, in Undermountain, so...
#27

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 11, 2008 17:19:10
I know she offered to cure his insanity but I thought she also offered to make him one of her own.... Maybe I misread that... I'll check into it.

Mystra has many different kinds of servants. Her Chosen are only a few of the many.

Mystra making Halaster "one of her own" would not necessarily mean making him a Chosen.
#28

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 11, 2008 17:22:50
-She's much better looking, and has no beard. Trust me. Though I've never had the...honor(?) of smelling him, I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to say she smells better than him, either.

LOL, I'm so flattered.:embarrass :D
#29

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 18:17:50
LOL, I'm so flattered.:embarrass :D

-Oh...Who are you kidding? :P
#30

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 11, 2008 18:42:56
You said I smell nice.
#31

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 19:11:44
-You do.
#32

nopityforacoward

May 11, 2008 23:05:45
I was unaware that there is cyber hit-on through out the threads

Well LK, I hope it works out, and maybe if you type your words seducing enough, she can even give you her number so you can go to step 2 instead of online cyber, and thus phone fun ;)
My best wishes to you!
#33

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 23:43:16
Well LK, I hope it works out, and maybe if you type your words seducing enough, she can even give you her number so you can go to step 2 instead of online cyber, and thus phone fun ;)
My best wishes to you!

-More than you know, buddy, more than you know. ;)

-Zing!
#34

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 0:26:08
-More than you know, buddy, more than you know. ;)

-Zing!

Sorry, I did not quite get the indirect-comeback. PM me if it is something that may be too unreasonable for public posting. But none to less I am intrested.

-Don't call me your buddy
#35

lord_karsus

May 12, 2008 0:42:23
-Don't call me your buddy

-Your loss.
#36

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 1:01:44
-Your loss.

I beg the differ. I have legitimate reasons for a distrust in certain people (These certain people include you ;) ). But, I recommend you not to take it to heart.
#37

lord_karsus

May 12, 2008 1:07:40
I beg the differ. I have legitimate reasons for a distrust in certain people (These certain people include you ;) ). But, I recommend you not to take it to heart.

-I don't. I think it's pretty good that it took a couple of posts before my innate True Seeing kicked in. I'm surprised it took you so long to...rerereregister.
#38

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 1:19:20
-I don't. I think it's pretty good that it took a couple of posts before my innate True Seeing kicked in. I'm surprised it took you so long to...rerereregister.

You have me confused? From reading your previous post, was indirectly implying that I did not like your post style. As I had already called you out on your cyber hit-on thread. Whatever floats your boat kid.
#39

orc_kirin

May 12, 2008 10:40:26
Just a few.
3 o
A reminder: Do not post personal details about other patrons. That's a violation of the Code of Conduct, section 3.

http://forums.gleemax.com/community_coc.php
#40

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 10:43:37
Just a few.
3 o
A reminder: Do not post personal details about other patrons. That's a violation of the Code of Conduct, section 3.

http://forums.gleemax.com/community_coc.php

Such as? Or uh, go ahed and PM me, no reason for me or you to ruin this topic.
#41

lord_karsus

May 12, 2008 11:36:11
-Always such a same, broken record with this one.
#42

sfdragon

May 07, 2008 23:01:02
Halaster Blackcloak

was listed in silverfall, and one of the best of the realms books. think the 2nd of them i'm not certain as far as the later is.



his stats though, are in the elh.
#43

Stigger

May 08, 2008 0:28:24
2e's Undermountain boxed sets and related adventures would probably have at least some mention of him, Volo's Guide to All Things Magical mentions some lore about him (for a potion as I recall)... not too sure about the 3e sources, but I seem to recall him being mentioned in connection with Demonshields for some reason, though I don't recall what source those appeared in offhand. As for novels, couldn't say, as I don't really indulge in them much.
#44

lord_kranthor

May 08, 2008 0:38:05
Ok,

Thus far our little "Where's Halaster" adventure is turning up very little in the way of any major motion pictures (or sizable parts in any recent or earlier literary works).

I do know he has some minor parts in Escape from Undermountain and of course in El in Hell. I was really hoping there was a book out there that really delved deeply into him and his past that I was not aware of.

LK
#45

Stigger

May 08, 2008 1:18:11
None that I know of... Lost Empires of Faerun goes into him a bit under the name Hilather, in a couple of sections, which was probably where the demonshield thing was.
#46

old_sage

May 08, 2008 11:07:11
The references for Halaster are fairly well scattered throughout diverse Realmslore sources. If you're looking for just a quick synopsis, I suggest you read through Halaster's entry in the Villains' Lorebook, which is available as a free PDF download here at WotC.

Further sources are noted below:-

Escape From Undermountain
FR1 Waterdeep And The North
Faiths and Avatars (Ibrandul's corpse reference)
Ruins of Undermountain I
"If You Need Help --- Ask The Drow!" [Dragon #176]
Ruins of Undermountain II
City of Splendors [boxed set]
"I Sing A Song By The Deep-Water Bay" [Dragon #211]
The Lost Level
"The Reports From Undermountain" [Dragon #227]
Maddgoth's Castle
Iakhovas' Attack on Waterdeep
The Great Modron March
Stardock
Skullport
Elminster In Hell
Dawn of Night [Erevis Cale Trilogy, Book II]
City of Splendors: Waterdeep
Return to Undermountain [web articles]

#47

the_wrath_of_talos

May 08, 2008 12:59:18
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of The Underdark has a scene where your hero comes to rescue Halaster. After you free him you get a quick glimpse(1-2 minute video/converstion thing) of Halasters power and personlity. I'd recommend at least looking into it. It will take you a few hours of game play to get to this part of the story line unfortunetly.
#48

thinblade

May 08, 2008 14:38:59
I'd add to Sage's reply Grand History of the Realms.

Halaster for much of FR's history has been handled much like Garak on Deep Space 9: a whole lot of suggestion, and innuendo, and competing theories (is he Netherese? is he Imaskari? what's he like?), and only recently has the picture started to firm up.

Most of the information about his are snipets, rumors, and cameos (like in Realms of the Underdark, where he pops up two or three times in Ed's Skullport story).
#49

woobyluv

May 08, 2008 18:31:29
More recently he is discussed in Expedition to Undermountain or at least his demise is discussed.
#50

18DELTA

May 08, 2008 22:01:24
More recently he is discussed in Expedition to Undermountain or at least his demise is discussed.

-Which leads me to believe that The Frostrune will be in charge of Undermountain in 4E. Those that have Read Blackstaff will know who I am talking about. Its just a theory of mine. It would be poetic justice.


18D
#51

lord_kranthor

May 08, 2008 23:24:28
Wow!

Very impressed with the support given to a forum newbie by all - especially the detailed provided by the Old Sage.

Thanks much!!!

LK
#52

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 09, 2008 17:39:06
I'm looking for something that would allow me to better build (and read) background on him as a character since in 'El in Hell' Mystra has decided to make him a Chosen.

LK

Mystra did not make Halaster a Chosen, as per Ed.
#53

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 09, 2008 17:39:48
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of The Underdark has a scene where your hero comes to rescue Halaster. After you free him you get a quick glimpse(1-2 minute video/converstion thing) of Halasters power and personlity. I'd recommend at least looking into it. It will take you a few hours of game play to get to this part of the story line unfortunetly.

It's a fun game, though!
#54

lord_karsus

May 09, 2008 23:56:20
Wow!

Very impressed with the support given to a forum newbie by all - especially the detailed provided by the Old Sage.

Thanks much!!!

LK

-You know, I am thinking you're going to have to get a new shortened nickname there, buddy...
#55

Stigger

May 10, 2008 1:04:24
L_K versus LK... can the steel cage be far behind...
#56

Stigger

May 10, 2008 5:16:53
And who got majorly suckered by Khelben...
#57

18DELTA

May 10, 2008 7:57:00
You meen Frostrune form the 2ed adventure Stardock? Priamon «Frostrune» Rakesk, the Twisted Rune?

Frostrune, the bad guy who managed to emprison Halaster for a short while in space?

The spell that he designed, Frostrune's Restraints , was so cool.

Got to love the genius who came up with such a spell.

-Cool I didn't know all about that stuff you just mentioned. Did you ever read Blackstaff? If you did then you will know what I am talking about.:D


18D
#58

lord_kranthor

May 10, 2008 8:55:55
Mystra did not make Halaster a Chosen, as per Ed.

hmmmm ... will have to re-read that section of 'El in Hell'.

I know she offered to cure his insanity but I thought she also offered to make him one of her own.... Maybe I misread that... I'll check into it.

Do you have a reference your pulling that from as you state "per Ed" ... or did you just call him and ask? Hell, she may actually be Ed for all I know :D (Dont' worry, I won't tell....;) )



-You know, I am thinking you're going to have to get a new shortened nickname there, buddy...

Well know....well, well, well... How should we handle the handling of the contested handle?

Perhaps a duel to see who's is stronger, my magical armor and armaments or your knowledge of that which is arcane? Or perhaps we can throw at each other the myriad thralls, henchmen, retainers, mercenaries, and in-laws that we have at our disposal? Better yet, mayhap I'll unleash upon you that which is my wife - surely then you'll be forced to give way and submit to my supremacy.

But then, I wonder if the moniker "LK" is truly worth the before described escalation? I have, after all, gone by that online pseudonym for well over a decade and have grown found of the somewhat cool way it ends a posting…. But then, I would imagine you too have some similar ridiculous emotional attachment and reasoning.

I guess that time in service on this forum would be the mature manner in which this issue can be resolved and since I am the FNG to this particular forum, it would be mature of me to allow you dominance in this one thing. Additionally, you do deserve some small modicum of pity as you are admittedly a Mets fan – so, as with most other special people, we (who can) must occasionally give them his or her ‘way’ so as to not offend others with the noise and ruckus that would surely follow if the special one in question did not get their way.

Thus, I will refrain from using the signature I’ve come to grow so found of and will acquiesce to your seniority and influence in this forum, on this topic.

(I would normally put LK here as a form of signature, but someone else was already using that and apparently cannot share)

Go Cards!
#59

old_sage

May 10, 2008 10:00:21
I'm looking for something that would allow me to better build (and read) background on him as a character since...

Consider this small tidbit from Ed Greenwood:-

"Now, if the city above had been around for centuries, and city-dwellers were going down exploring (via the Yawning Portal, etc.) from time to time, surely all the traps would already have been sprung, monsters slain, and dangerous challenges blasted away by the fireballs and suchlike of long-ago mages. No? Well, then, someone or something would have to be creeping around “resetting” and restocking and renewing them. A lot of those traps were magical, so that someone should be a powerful mage (also handy in capturing, compelling, and transporting dangerous monsters). Okay, so WHY would someone so powerful do this - - instead of forcing world peace upon the Realms, or making everything blue, or (ahem) conquering the city above long ago?

Well, he must be mad, of course. :}

Hence, Halaster: he’s unpredictable - - there’s no telling WHAT he may do. So he won’t automatically regard adventurers who kill his monsters, take the treasures (and again, he must be mad if he hasn’t glommed onto all that magic and riches for himself, right?), and smash all his best traps as his foes. Sometimes he will, for short periods, but not for long or consistently (otherwise, it would be Halaster versus adventurers, equals no more adventurers). I then turned to thinking about WHY Halaster is the way he is, why he’s so tied to Undermountain, and so on (Halaster was around in my stories in 1967, but it wasn’t until 1976 or so that I started delving into these matters). In the published Realms, Steven Schend picked up on Halaster’s life, sanity, nature, and powers, and developed him a lot farther."

...

I'd also recommend you read through both Ed's and Steven Schend's comments re: Halaster in their compiled Candlekeep reply files.
#60

old_sage

May 10, 2008 10:02:08
hmmmm ... will have to re-read that section of 'El in Hell'.

I know she offered to cure his insanity but I thought she also offered to make him one of her own.... Maybe I misread that... I'll check into it.

Ed has specifically said, in more then one reply at Candlekeep, that although Halaster was NOT a Chosen of Mystra, we do know he is [was] something, and that something may have indicated that she did have future plans for him.

Do you have a reference your pulling that from as you state "per Ed" ... or did you just call him and ask? Hell, she may actually be Ed for all I know :D (Dont' worry, I won't tell....;) )

Rinonalyrna is referring to this bit from Ed, back in March '04:-

"1. Halaster has been around for a LONG time, and for almost all of that time he’s been an enigma. Steven Schend and I pretty well agreed that he was only insane as long as he was in Undermountain, and it seems that ‘the new’ Mystra has freed him from the worst magical effects of its thrall, returning him to sanity. She did NOT make him a Chosen, but instead made a ‘separate peace’ with him, giving him the status of a free-willed agent (from time to time she’ll ask him to do something for her, with new spells or augmented powers as his reward or price, but she will do absolutely nothing to coerce him into service, nor look upon him unfavorably if he refuses).

Whether he’ll become a threat to the wider Realms, or a ‘good guy,’ depends on him. Right at the moment, I personally have no plans for a Halaster novel, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the good folks at WotC are pondering this topic for some scribe’s pen. He is a perfect main character for a pull-out-the-stops spellhurling novel, after all. :}"
#61

lord_karsus

May 10, 2008 10:31:26
Hell, she may actually be Ed for all I know :D (Dont' worry, I won't tell....;)

-She's much better looking, and has no beard. Trust me. Though I've never had the...honor(?) of smelling him, I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to say she smells better than him, either.

Well know....well, well, well... How should we handle the handling of the contested handle?

-You find something new, and that's that. As Stigger suggested, L_K might work...Copy and Pasting Lord_Kranthor would also work.

Go Cards!

-Yeah, good luck with that one.

-Regarding Halaster, though, to be helpful, are you award of what transpired in Return to Undermountain, the adventure released about a year ago?
Show
Halaster was killed, and his soul was shattered into thousands of fragments (meaning resurrection cannot be cast until said fragments are put back together) after he saw visions of an upcoming disaster (Spellplague), and he began experimenting on a way to prevent it/curb it's effects. This reaffirmed, and was made Forgotten Realms canon in AGHotR
#62

lord_kranthor

May 10, 2008 16:47:21
--You find something new, and that's that. As Stigger suggested, L_K might work...Copy and Pasting Lord_Kranthor would also work.

Oh come on, what kind of cut-and-dry reply is is that? And after all the time I took to come up with such a witty, intelligent (and hopefully) humorous reply - you hit me back with that??? I expected much better from the wearer of my monicker....



---Regarding Halaster, though, to be helpful, are you award of what transpired in Return to Undermountain, the adventure released about a year ago?
Show
Halaster was killed, and his soul was shattered into thousands of fragments (meaning resurrection cannot be cast until said fragments are put back together) after he saw visions of an upcoming disaster (Spellplague), and he began experimenting on a way to prevent it/curb it's effects. This reaffirmed, and was made Forgotten Realms canon in AGHotR
#63

Stigger

May 10, 2008 19:49:39
Adventure thingy set in Undermountain, but alas made for Core D&D for some unfathomable reason... supposedly not much more than a sidebar note about it. AGHotR mentions it as well as far as I know.
#64

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 1:52:35
Oh come on, what kind of cut-and-dry reply is is that? And after all the time I took to come up with such a witty, intelligent (and hopefully) humorous reply - you hit me back with that??? I expected much better from the wearer of my monicker....

-Give me a reason to invest more time into it- remember, it's your problem, not mine- and maybe...You know what they say, though. Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line...;)


Was this an adventure module box set or a novel. I've not been able to play any at all since returning to school (and family issues) but I've been trying to keep up on the novel reading in the FR genre??>.. ??

-Neither. It was an adventure core book, released about a year ago, around the same time as Expedition to the Demonweb Pits, and one other thing.
#65

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 15:58:14
No, I haven't read Blackstaff and don't think I will. Could you fill me in please?

-Without going into too much detail, Frustrune was one of the major characters in that novel. A very good novel, if I do say so myself.
#66

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 17:13:13
I was wondering what Frosty the Space Lich had done to become the next Mad Master of Undermountain.

-That was Delta's own hypothesis. Without saying much, Frostrune was last seen in that novel with Halaster, in Undermountain, so...
#67

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 11, 2008 17:19:10
I know she offered to cure his insanity but I thought she also offered to make him one of her own.... Maybe I misread that... I'll check into it.

Mystra has many different kinds of servants. Her Chosen are only a few of the many.

Mystra making Halaster "one of her own" would not necessarily mean making him a Chosen.
#68

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 11, 2008 17:22:50
-She's much better looking, and has no beard. Trust me. Though I've never had the...honor(?) of smelling him, I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to say she smells better than him, either.

LOL, I'm so flattered.:embarrass :D
#69

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 18:17:50
LOL, I'm so flattered.:embarrass :D

-Oh...Who are you kidding? :P
#70

rinonalyrna_fathomlin

May 11, 2008 18:42:56
You said I smell nice.
#71

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 19:11:44
-You do.
#72

nopityforacoward

May 11, 2008 23:05:45
I was unaware that there is cyber hit-on through out the threads

Well LK, I hope it works out, and maybe if you type your words seducing enough, she can even give you her number so you can go to step 2 instead of online cyber, and thus phone fun ;)
My best wishes to you!
#73

lord_karsus

May 11, 2008 23:43:16
Well LK, I hope it works out, and maybe if you type your words seducing enough, she can even give you her number so you can go to step 2 instead of online cyber, and thus phone fun ;)
My best wishes to you!

-More than you know, buddy, more than you know. ;)

-Zing!
#74

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 0:26:08
-More than you know, buddy, more than you know. ;)

-Zing!

Sorry, I did not quite get the indirect-comeback. PM me if it is something that may be too unreasonable for public posting. But none to less I am intrested.

-Don't call me your buddy
#75

lord_karsus

May 12, 2008 0:42:23
-Don't call me your buddy

-Your loss.
#76

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 1:01:44
-Your loss.

I beg the differ. I have legitimate reasons for a distrust in certain people (These certain people include you ;) ). But, I recommend you not to take it to heart.
#77

lord_karsus

May 12, 2008 1:07:40
I beg the differ. I have legitimate reasons for a distrust in certain people (These certain people include you ;) ). But, I recommend you not to take it to heart.

-I don't. I think it's pretty good that it took a couple of posts before my innate True Seeing kicked in. I'm surprised it took you so long to...rerereregister.
#78

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 1:19:20
-I don't. I think it's pretty good that it took a couple of posts before my innate True Seeing kicked in. I'm surprised it took you so long to...rerereregister.

You have me confused? From reading your previous post, was indirectly implying that I did not like your post style. As I had already called you out on your cyber hit-on thread. Whatever floats your boat kid.
#79

orc_kirin

May 12, 2008 10:40:26
Just a few.
3 o
A reminder: Do not post personal details about other patrons. That's a violation of the Code of Conduct, section 3.

http://forums.gleemax.com/community_coc.php
#80

nopityforacoward

May 12, 2008 10:43:37
Just a few.
3 o
A reminder: Do not post personal details about other patrons. That's a violation of the Code of Conduct, section 3.

http://forums.gleemax.com/community_coc.php

Such as? Or uh, go ahed and PM me, no reason for me or you to ruin this topic.
#81

lord_karsus

May 12, 2008 11:36:11
-Always such a same, broken record with this one.