Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 The_High_Blademage Jun 09, 2010 20:06:07	Well as a DM I like 3 elements in my Campaigns: Drow (thank Mr. Salvatore for that), Eladrin and Netherese. Back in the 3,5 edition I didn't knew much so I only added a few god-forsaken Ruins and spots where the Allmighty Karsus visited. Now the threat from this Empire is real. They are Back. But I do not know much about them. Are they as the Netherese of old: obsessed with Magic and aristocratic??? or Creepy since they lived millenias in the Shadofell??? Well ok, the princes of shade and their papa are pure evil and surrounded by misteries. But are their people too evil??? Are there any settlements with real shadovar on the ground??? Are there people in Thulanthar and in the land of Netheril in general that could help them??? (besides the tribal bedine that possibly the Netherese do not trust) And what about the terrain???? Is it like the Living-hell-like land of undead-transformed Thay: land where the sun never passes the thick clouds etc etc????? Any opinion counts :P
#2 sfdragon Jun 09, 2010 21:27:14	Its supposed to be partly a grassy plain.
#3 LordManshoon Jun 09, 2010 22:35:04	Now the threat from this Empire is real. They are Back. But I do not know much about them. Are they as the Netherese of old: obsessed with Magic and aristocratic??? or Creepy since they lived millenias in the Shadofell??? The resurrected Netheril is still concerned with magic, both the development and study of new magic and the retrieval of magical lore lost during the death of old Netheril. The more Shar-centric of the bunch enjoy spells that relate to darkness, shadow, and inflicting emotional pain/manipulation. As for "aristocratic", we really only know that Telamont and his kin are calling the shots; the structure/class system below them is still foggy, though I expect they've probably retained some level of aristocracy to seperate the powerful/reverent to Shar/Shades from the commoners/lip service worshippers/non-Shades. As for "Creepy", I suppose people living in lands outside Netheril, especially Cormyr, Silverymoon, and the Dalelands, would paint the Netherese as sinister figures indeed, so "creepy" is apt enough (to an outsider). An important thing to remember is that not all Netherese are Shades, and those who aren't still retain a (relatively) clear sense of humanity.   Well ok, the princes of shade and their papa are pure evil and surrounded by misteries. But are their people too evil??? Most of them? No. Despite the stranglehold Shar's managed to achieve in Netherese society, and their rapid "do whatever it takes" expansion policy, most of the common Netherese folk wouldn't really earn the label "Evil" (though biased perceptions outside the empire might beg to differ). Most of the Netherese have pride in the empire and know a strong sense of nationalism and cultural pride, but they don't enjoy the murder, destruction, or ravages of conquest that are associated with being a major, expanding power. Granted, there are plenty of Netherese who would earn the evil tag, especially those who are fully under Shar's sway, but most people offer Shar no more than gratitude for saving their hides when the old cities started plummeting, and lip service would be common enough.   Are there any settlements with real shadovar on the ground??? Are there people in Thulanthar and in the land of Netheril in general that could help them??? (besides the tribal bedine that possibly the Netherese do not trust) There likely are, but I can't think of any off the top of my head, and I don't have my FRCG in front of me. And what about the terrain???? Is it like the Living-hell-like land of undead-transformed Thay: land where the sun never passes the thick clouds etc etc????? The opposite of that. When Shade returned to Toril, the city was hovering above a harsh desert that most folk wanted nothing to do with. They put their magic to good use rejuvenating the land, even creating a new lake where the old one once was (before the phaerimm, their ancient foes, went to town). The desert receded, and new growth and vegetation took its place. Compared to conditions before, the new terrain is much more... pleasant.
#4 Jorunhast Jun 09, 2010 23:01:07	Additionally, it's important to consider that Netheril has been back for about 100 years.  Trade with other nations would be common, and would no longer be limited to their vassal state of Sembia.  In fact, because of their control of Sembia which was massively involved in trade, the merchants of Netheril would have been able to rapidly expand their own trade efforts.  With trade restored, not only supplies and other items would have filtered into Netheril but also ideas and knowledge.  Very quickly, the common Netherese traders would have learned that Shar was no longer the sole deity available to them and that there were potential friends and allies outside their empire. Whether or not the worship of deities other than Shar would be allowed in a formal, open manner (doubtful), the common people would know of the other deities and could practice worship in private.  Additionally, commoners of every nation have a tendency to smuggle things through trade lines if they are worth more money than standard supplies.  Holy symbols, books of other faiths, even magical spells of non-shadow variety would be exceptionally high-earning contraband.  Books detailing the histories of other nations, even romantic and chivalrous chapbooks from Cormyr would find their way into a Netheril "black market" of sorts. Think of it as a sort of reversal of hidden evil elements in a goodly society (clandestine temples to Shar in Cormyr, for example), and you'll get the idea.  As powerful as the shadovar nobility might be, they cannot control trade at the bottom levels short of killing all the commoners, but then they would have no one to rule.  And they've been expanding their empire rather than remaining completely insular.
#5 The_High_Blademage Jun 09, 2010 23:19:02	THX guys!!! Now I have more than something to portrait the Shadovar!