premise: I only learned about the new 4th edition release yesterday (yes, I haven't been much around in the last months) and have read everything I have found about it.
Generally speaking the changes done seem interesting to me, I mean about the fighting system, game-play etc. although I have just glimpsed here and there.
A simpler and more harmonized game also means that it is easier to customize it with personal advanced modules and features and so on.
The forward leap can also be a good think for me especially since I have never had that much time to spend reading about the Forgotten Realms and this new start seems like a good thing.
BUT I am a bit stunned, to say the least, about the disappearance of Mystra's Chosen, such great personalities all just gone?
My campaign is set in Silverymoon around the 1500 (so already quite forward in time) and Alustriel was a very important figure, a central one I'd say and not she's just gone?!?
As you may imagine this poses quite a problem if I am to use the 4th edition stuff (which I want) especially since I haven't find any true explanation about that happened to her.
I've searched but only found that Alustriel "passed away", not much and therefore I have a few questions.
questions: can someone tell me or tell me where I can find these pieces of information?
- when exactly did Alustiel die?
- how did she die?
- is she truly gone for good?
I really loved the Seven Sisters and am truly sad there are gone
!!!Thanks for any help,
Ivy
Hello,
premise: I only learned about the new 4th edition release yesterday (yes, I haven't been much around in the last months) and have read everything I have found about it.
Generally speaking the changes done seem interesting to me, I mean about the fighting system, game-play etc. although I have just glimpsed here and there.
A simpler and more harmonized game also means that it is easier to customize it with personal advanced modules and features and so on.
The forward leap can also be a good think for me especially since I have never had that much time to spend reading about the Forgotten Realms and this new start seems like a good thing.
BUT I am a bit stunned, to say the least, about the disappearance of Mystra's Chosen, such great personalities all just gone?
My campaign is set in Silverymoon around the 1500 (so already quite forward in time) and Alustriel was a very important figure, a central one I'd say and not she's just gone?!?
As you may imagine this poses quite a problem if I am to use the 4th edition stuff (which I want) especially since I haven't find any true explanation about that happened to her.
I've searched but only found that Alustriel "passed away", not much and therefore I have a few questions.
questions: can someone tell me or tell me where I can find these pieces of information?
- when exactly did Alustiel die?
- how did she die?
- is she truly gone for good?
I really loved the Seven Sisters and am truly sad there are gone
Thanks for any help,
Ivy
There is no evidence that the Simbul resides in Shadowdale.
I have read this somewhere too but I don't remember when, I've been searching and reading non stop since yesterday
!Ivy
We don't know. This has not been revealed in any published material (yet.) We only know that Qilue, Sylune, Alustriel, and one of either Dove or Storm are gone, Laeral's fate is unknown, and Alassra is hanging out with Elminster in Shadowdale.
That's what I had found out too, I hoped I had missed some infor
!Thanks
Ivy
There is no evidence that the Simbul resides in Shadowdale.
Elminster lives in Shadowdale and the Simbul is his wife so since we know she is there and he is there they should be together finally.
There is no evidence that the Simbul resides in Shadowdale.
Hmmm, not big on the definition of the word "no" are we. ;)
I mean, I've read (Luruar excerpt form the Realms new volume) that Alustriel's son is now at the lead of the past Silver Marches League "Before she passed away, High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon founded a mutual defense league in the region. Her son Methrammar Aerasumé came to head a more diminished league" but then it is also written that he is aging, what/who next then?
What about Silverymoon Government? What about the Council? The Campaing Guide doesn't say anything but I read somewhere else that as far as Government is concerned there were substantial changes (more military-driven)
Who does really possess power in the Gem of the North now?
Ivy (her head full of questions!)
So there are a lot of things open.
I just prefer to not have rumors or people's preferences presented as fact.
The Simbul is not Elminster's wife. She was once his lover, but their current status is unclear. She hides out 'in the Dalelands', but it is not specified where.
So there are a lot of things open.
I just prefer to not have rumors or people's preferences presented as fact.
Evidence and fact are two quite different things by definition.
Elminster lives in Shadowdale and the Simbul is his wife so since we know she is there and he is there they should be together finally.
Hmm, no we don't know. As gomeztoo has stated, they are not bound in marriage. Does circumstantial evidence point toward that fact.... yes. But still, with the ClusterFarg that is 4E FR ya never know.
I thought the two were married. But they are lovers so close enough. Six of one thing half dozen of another. It doesnt make sense for her to be anywhere else but in Shadowdale with Elmenster. The only thing that connects her to that area is Elmenster.
And the grave (or Spectral Harper form) of at least one sister. Also she spent a lot of time in the region over the years, so when she left Aglarond, she may have decided to take up Elminsters role as a defender of an area she has fond memories of. Also it puts her in a region that has a lot of trade with all the Realms, so she can gather news and keep an eye on the Netherese (a much more dangerous group than the Red Wizards these days), all while staying out of the limelight.
To the OP, if your campaign is already near 1500 DR, then I would say that since you are not running cannon, that having Alustriel still around is no big deal. I'm guessing that that is the smallest of the changes that didn't happen in your campaign.
Personnally if your campaign is based in 1500, and you need Alustriel, you could make her "die" during a time, and bring her back (beign resurrected or something else). So she would still be around in your time frame.
If I remember, she used to "leave" leadership of silverymoon, or assume another persona during her long reign... it could happen again. Maybe she fell sick like Elminster has become and retire until she became sane again.
The lack of description brings more flexibility for you DMing skills. So let your imagination work and you should come up with an explanation that will suite best your campaign. ;)
To the OP, if your campaign is already near 1500 DR, then I would say that since you are not running cannon, that having Alustriel still around is no big deal. I'm guessing that that is the smallest of the changes that didn't happen in your campaign.
SweetIvy,
Personnally if your campaign is based in 1500, and you need Alustriel, you could make her "die" during a time, and bring her back (beign resurrected or something else). So she would still be around in your time frame.
If I remember, she used to "leave" leadership of silverymoon, or assume another persona during her long reign... it could happen again. Maybe she fell sick like Elminster has become and retire until she became sane again.
The lack of description brings more flexibility for you DMing skills. So let your imagination work and you should come up with an explanation that will suite best your campaign. ;)
In fact that was my intention but I was looking for more information so that I could give a decent and 4th edition-linked (although invented) background to her come-back.
If I knew how she died I could make up a resurrection to sort of make sense with it, so to speak.
Anyhow, my idea is to have her come back leading Silverymoon (as she already was doing in my campaign) as a weaker character than she was before Mystra's death since, obviously, she must have lost some of her power because of her mother departure and the weave disruption.
Moreover she certainly has to somehow recover, I guess that with big power come big losses through a resurrection or something like that, moreover she also has to adapt to the new way that Magic now works.
What do you think?
Any suggestion/advice about this?
Thanks for the nice replies!
Ivy
Anyhow, my idea is to have her come back leading Silverymoon (as she already was doing in my campaign) as a weaker character than she was before Mystra's death since, obviously, she must have lost some of her power because of her mother departure and the weave disruption.
It's likely that the remaining chosen have lost much power in the last century, as would have Alustriel, if she were here. Anyway, not all of her power came from Mystra; she was an excellent wizard on her own, too
Anyhow what also bothers me a lot is not only the loss of such outstanding people but also who is now in charge in their stead.
Well, WotC let the PCs be the heroes of the land, not some epic NPCs. Thus, the only good epic NPCs you're gonna see are actually evil ones in disguise :P
The only thing that connects her to that area is Elminster.
Not the only connection. There are others.
there is death, and then there is death.
and then there is faking your death completely like Prince Arutha did in that one midkeimia novel.
if she is not dead then she is mad, or had been warned enough for permanent stasis....
passed on in her sleep is still the most likely
I would imagine that she passed away in her sleep.
-That's what I read from the mention. If she died in some horrible manner, the entry wouldn't have said, "Before she passed away..."
And the grave (or Spectral Harper form) of at least one sister. Also she spent a lot of time in the region over the years, so when she left Aglarond, she may have decided to take up Elminsters role as a defender of an area she has fond memories of. Also it puts her in a region that has a lot of trade with all the Realms, so she can gather news and keep an eye on the Netherese (a much more dangerous group than the Red Wizards these days), all while staying out of the limelight.
Even more reasons then.
Heck, maybe the PCs are warped back in time when the current campaign unravels and the timeline is destroyed. Now they start again in the past?
For me:
I would like to know about the Seven sisters.
Also about Halister Blackcloak. That one's too cunning to just die. Unless, of course, he went down during the Spell Plague. Maybe there was an epic battle wherein the seven sisters were decimated, and he jumped into the fray? Ed Greenwood seemed to want to make him out to have a softer side in some of his writings (elminster trying to save his soul, as a brother mage). Personally, I know what I'd do with him. Undermountain without Hallister is a bit weird. Not unbelievable, just... different. Also, he's not a good guy, so why get rid of him?
Likewise, what about that Spellfire girl, Shandril Shessair? Or the Lords of Waterdeep? And the Blackstaff, what got him?
I'm glad for the changes, and I don't mind eliminating high level types, but having some... well, story hooks for favourite NPCs would be nice.
just don't bring them back as uber-heroes, per se.
Right now I'm planning an FR campaign. The PCs will meet Elminster, but he's going to be broken and bitter. I imagine the seven sisters were killed by Shadovar, mostly (tho Storm I'm keeping; like that bard; and the Simbul in some form). Mystra is gone. Even his servant is long dead, and only the ghosts of his past keep him company.
Now he's alone in Shadowdale, with his books and his tower, and far, far too much wine to be of use to anyone. That and his magic, which just won't let him die. Too mean, perhaps, too stubborn to end it himself.
Anyway, in this quasi-dark future realms (or present-day realms) he's definitely an NPC.
I figure the Simbul wouldn't be active. Maybe she finally went mad and seeks refuge in Shadowdale with the man who raised her (btw: the two of them as lovers is creepy for just that reason). I havn't decided yet.
I would like to know about the Seven sisters.
Likewise, what about that Spellfire girl, Shandril Shessair? Or the Lords of Waterdeep? And the Blackstaff, what got him?
.
Khelben sacrificed himself to restore some elven city to faerun that has not been seen since the crown wars.
Khelben's heir died 18 years or so more or less along with most of the moonstars. her heir died that day too...
the half drow girl, who is in the cos:waterdeep book listed as a lord of waterdeep, becomes the next blackstaff.
either gets assassinated or dies of old age.
the old lords of waterdeep are likely dead of old age.
as for the spellfire chick, is dead of old age as well or the spell plague killed her off and she went out screaming like a 14 year old school girl.
if you want to know more than that, im afraid all info would likely be NDA, and we are not privvy to it.
THE SIMBUL
The former ruler of Aglarond is thought to have perished in the Year of Seven Sisters (1425 DR). Many believe the Simbul was consumed in the fire that destroyed the god Velsharoon, and they honor her sacrifice in keeping the god’s corpse—a powerful token in its own right—out of evil hands. In truth, the powerful mage did survive the conflagration and now resides in the Dalelands.
She lives in the Dales...just not sure what Dale.
Simbul was raised by the Witches of Rasheman as I recall, not Elminster.
You recall correctly.
as for the spellfire chick, is dead of old age as well or the spell plague killed her off and she went out screaming like a 14 year old school girl.
Nope.
Show
Shandril commited suicide at the end of the Shandril's Saga trilogy after she thought her husband was dead (much like what happened in Romeo and Juliet).
She lives in the Dales...just not sure what Dale.
Which leads most to believe she's hanging out with El - both are basically retired; do you think they'd sit one Dale apart from each other chilling in the warm daleland breeze drinking moolattes and not hang out? It really shouldn't be a point of contention, considering the text we've been given. But if you must disagree with my view on things: feel free to run that area however you like.
Which leads most to believe she's hanging out with El - both are basically retired; do you think they'd sit one Dale apart from each other chilling in the warm daleland breeze drinking moolattes and not hang out? It really shouldn't be a point of contention, considering the text we've been given. But if you must disagree with my view on things: feel free to run that area however you like.
My guess would be that Elminster is trying to be alone and that the Simbul is keeping an eye on him without being omnipresent in his life. She is giving him the space he needs to deal with everything that has occurred, while still being close by for when he needs her.