18DELTA (Chosen of Cyric, who happens to like Cale!) :D
-I maybe disappointed, or saddened, but I will not get mad or angry. The joys of writing in a shared setting when your name is not Ed, or RAS.
18DELTA (Chosen of Cyric)
18DELTA (Chosen of Cyric)
(...) The joys of writing in a shared setting when your name is not Ed, or RAS.
To tell the truth, both Greenwood and Salvatore bend to the wishes of the editors. That's just life as an author, regardless of sales achievements.
Gives us a few spoilers. ;) :D
It was awesome, and it does tell what happens to Mask! All the spoilers I'm giving!
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-Like the other planet that Kesson Rel is from. Mesphisto being summoned by Brennus not once but twice, The lord of the 8th telling Brennus that Rivelin killed mom. The Most High knowing about it. Only a Chosen of Mask can kill Kesson. Mask telling Cale that he was a man at one time.
I'm confident with a solid 4 star review of the novel, all in all
I managed to snag a copy a day early yesterday (had to ask for it, the copies were behind the counter) and I spent all last night and thismorning before work reading it. Going to go finish the epilouge at lunch in a little bit. There was even a point in the middle of the book were i teared up.
I'm confident with a solid 4 star review of the novel, all in all
Got mine last Wednesday, had to hunt it down going all over town, but hey...it was well worth it.
18DELTA (Chosen of Cyric) ;)
To tell the truth, both Greenwood and Salvatore bend to the wishes of the editors.
Yup, that is 100% correct.
18DELTA (Chosen of Cyric)
-Just finished it. In shock.
I wouldn't say i was really shocked by the ending, but more then a little surprised by a few of the revelations and characters endings.
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I always thought that Cale would have a tragic endding, in my oppinion there wasn't any other place for the story to go and it wouldn't have felt as complete and ending if Cale had lived happily ever after.
I wouldn't say i was really shocked by the ending, but more then a little surprised by a few of the revelations and characters endings.ShowI always thought that Cale would have a tragic endding, in my oppinion there wasn't any other place for the story to go and it wouldn't have felt as complete and ending if Cale had lived happily ever after.
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Dark and Empty, I still live in the hearts of my fans. Jak Fleet too.
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I don't know, self sacrafice was a big theme in the book. While Cale didn't get to go out in a big blaze of glory as most hero's do, his end seemed fitting.
My biggest dissapointment with the book was that Rivalen got to keep the spark of divinity from mask. I thought the character was such a jackass through the whole thing. I think it would have been more fitting had he been denied the prize of mask's "spark" at the end.
His bitterness would have been sweet to the lady. or whatever the hell phrase the sharrans kept telling everyone else.
My biggest dissapointment with the book was that Rivalen got to keep the spark of divinity from mask. I thought the character was such a jackass through the whole thing. I think it would have been more fitting had he been denied the prize of mask's "spark" at the end.
His bitterness would have been sweet to the lady. or whatever the hell phrase the sharrans kept telling everyone else.
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If Mask was reclaimed by Shar... then, well, what happens to the fifth unnamed Chosen? Does it mean Mask will break free from her? Or does it mean something else entirely?
Well, based on what I've read, something does confuse me.ShowIf Mask was reclaimed by Shar... then, well, what happens to the fifth unnamed Chosen? Does it mean Mask will break free from her? Or does it mean something else entirely?
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Though with no Mask, who is going to make him his chosen? Unless Mask did it during Realms of War.
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There are 3 beings with a portion of Masks Divinity in the Realms. The Nightseer of Shar, Riven, and The Lord of the 8th Mephisto(or what ever that jack asses name is). Cales body is still in Cania.
I have a feeling that by the time everything is done Mask will be back. The Shades will be seriously screwed. Sembia will be free. Our three Shard carriers will be suffering unimaginable torments, and their dear sweet dark lady is going to get pwned.
Not unless the WotC Shar Lovefest dies down.
Not unless the WotC Shar Lovefest dies down.
Where as I can see why they progressed in their effort to change the Realms in spite of objections from many people, I don't see the mixed bag of opinion on this one. Even people who like most of the 4e FR changes (like myself), almost universally despise the Shar love fest. I cannot think of a single poster who even remotely likes it. Shades okay. Shar being the center of all evil, the mastermind of masterminds, the tentacle of darkness that weaves its way through every wrong, no. I sincerely hope they get the message that Shar needs to be nuked, and based on some of the novels out at this moment I would say they have at least intentions of knocking her down a few pegs.
I sincerely hope they get the message that Shar needs to be nuked, and based on some of the novels out at this moment I would say they have at least intentions of knocking her down a few pegs.
I generally agree with the spirit of your post.
However, I don't think Shar needs to be "nuked" so much as she needs to have so much focus taken off of her (and yes, she should be knocked down a few pegs). I like the concept of Shar and I think she should be around, just not so overtly aggressive, or with her hands in every "evil pie", so to speak.
People manage to commit all sorts of atrocities without having to blame in a god...
I totally agree--since when does there need to be a supernatural source for evil? People do a good job of it all by themselves.
I like the concept of Shar and I think she should be around, just not so overtly aggressive, or with her hands in every "evil pie", so to speak.
That is the problem, the "evil pie" is overcooked. :D
Seriously though Shar and the Gods work best for me when they are distant, not easily understood, and not very communicative. I prefer followers to receive vague visions of what a God wants done, not a visitation with clear instructions. This was my biggest beef with the Time of Troubles, and the subsequent clear involvement of Gods in everything. I had high hopes that 4th edition FR was going to put the mystery back into the mysteries and rituals of the churches of the gods.
However, I don't think Shar needs to be "nuked" so much as she needs to have so much focus taken off of her (and yes, she should be knocked down a few pegs). I like the concept of Shar and I think she should be around, just not so overtly aggressive, or with her hands in every "evil pie", so to speak.
That statement right there nailed it. It goes to the heart, also, with so many people's problems with Mystra in the past. Just as Mystra and her servitors seemed to constantly be the end-all-be-all of good, Shar and her servitors now seem to be the end-all-be-all of evil.
To make matters worse, a lot of the stuff attributed to Shar makes absolutely no sense. Why would the Shades worship Shar? Her goals and their goals do not align at all, in fact they are in direct opposition.
Shar is a subtle deity. What else would you expect from a deity of darkness, secrets and forgetfulness? There is nothing in the way she is being written that makes her subtle.
They are doing the same thing to her that they did to Mystra in the past. Even with the reduction of deities there are still other deities in existence. In the past Mystra totally eclipsed deities such as Selune - and virtually every other good aligned deity. Now, Shar is totally eclipsing virtually every evil aligned deity.
Deities do not work in a vacuum.
Shar is a subtle deity. What else would you expect from a deity of darkness, secrets and forgetfulness? There is nothing in the way she is being written that makes her subtle.
I agree, I liked it better when Shar really was "in the darkness", so to speak.
I would prefer the Shades having been Arcanists in the mold of Ancient Netheril. Shar having a Cult hidden in the Shadow's where she and her Cult belongs.
.That's why he left a plot hole there for Cale's son to be the one who'll take revenge for Mask and his father and the 3 persons that now hold Mask's divinity.I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, especially the part where Brenus summons Mephistopheles and learns who murdered his mother, the Most High knowing it and telling him that Rivalen is gonna suffer with divinity(i think that tells us something about Telamont and also leaves room for an establishment for the next Trilogy) and Volumvax's divinity being split between Cale, Riven and Rivalen(there was no other way for that).The only part that i disliked was of the fallen paladin and his refusal to atone(i know it is perhaps because it is human to do but...), and his death near the end of the book .All in all i would say it was a great book 4.5 out of 5 stars.Paul you're awesome keep up the good work:D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I have no problem with cliffhanger endings or whatnot but currently I am into novels that are more "open and shut" and do not keep things going for years. I am not even really upset for what they did. This sells novels. People love the characters and will follow the storyline for years to come.
I am even fine with what happened to Cale and Mask in a story perspective, but if I was to run an FR game things would be a little different. I am no longer a canonphile so I do not need to wait 5 years for Masks "rebirth", I can do it for myself in 2 seconds.
When it comes down to it I am not fond of big flashy storylines much anymore and am not fond of the characters gaining uber powers so the can defeat the villain. My favorite heros are Giogi and Alias Wyvernspur, or Myrmeen from the Night Parade. I kinda prefer preShade Cale to the current variety. I am going to try out Cordells recent book and Swordmage. Hopefully those storylines can be told within 3 novels and are rather simple and about a character going up against badguys with some interesting FR scenery placed here and there. That is all I am looking for nowadays.
I totally called Varra's child being Mask's "ace in the hole", of course my theories on their fate/location was not correct. Regardless, I'm happy.
My happiness is bitter to the Lady.
But on a more serious note, the last chapter with Mask and Shar made me like Shar for the first time. It showed a Shar who was tender and motherly, yet still maintain that entropic hunger. I've come to see Shar in a different context; not as an evil spiteful god who just wants to destroy good, but a being who IS the darkness/void that birthed the cosmos and wishes to have things back to what it was ... nothing. I like Shar. I just don't like Sharrans. ;)
I am no longer a canonphile so I do not need to wait 5 years for Masks "rebirth", I can do it for myself in 2 seconds.
Or just don't have him "die" at all.
That was Shar's divine domain at the end, BTW, right?
That was Shar's divine domain at the end, BTW, right?
Yes, but technically the space between the stars, black holes, and outside of the edge of the universe would be Shar's domain. However, what I found wanting was the way the domain was described. A featureless gray? Shar is darkness. There will have to be light in the dark to cast any sort of color or shadow (yes, shadow is born of light and dark). Shar's domain should be pure darkness of the void.
Let Mother Darkest (heehee) embrace you in her cool, comforting arms. :D
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Cale has a son.
One thing I was kind of unsure of was
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Why Shar took back Mask? was it because he did not get his missing piece of divinity back? Did she just absorb him or send him to Timeout?
Since Cale saw the past, present and future, did he see what would happen to himself and know that he had a son in the future?
And why did the Lathanders play such a big role? I understand their constant battle with the darkness but it seemed there was more there. Will Abelar come back in some form? Is Mask the Child of Shar and Lathander or one of his Chosen?
What other planets/realms has Shar destroyed? Are they looking for another way to tie in all the different Realms?
Since Cale saw the past, present and future, did he see what would happen to himself and know that he had a son in the future?
And why did the Lathanders play such a big role? I understand their constant battle with the darkness but it seemed there was more there. Will Abelar come back in some form? Is Mask the Child of Shar and Lathander or one of his Chosen?
What other planets/realms has Shar destroyed? Are they looking for another way to tie in all the different Realms?
ShowWhy Shar took back Mask? was it because he did not get his missing piece of divinity back? Did she just absorb him or send him to Timeout?
Shar = Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds
Mask = Silver Surfer, Herald of Galactus
Yes, but technically the space between the stars, black holes, and outside of the edge of the universe would be Shar's domain. However, what I found wanting was the way the domain was described. A featureless gray? Shar is darkness. There will have to be light in the dark to cast any sort of color or shadow (yes, shadow is born of light and dark). Shar's domain should be pure darkness of the void.
Let Mother Darkest (heehee) embrace you in her cool, comforting arms. :D
"Featureless gray" IS how they've often described the early, pre-Shar/Selune fight universe, before all that pesky "life" got in the way, and since that's the state Shar wants to take the universe back to, it makes sense that's what she wants her domain to be like.
What is darkness without light?
Exactly that.
Also, the truth of the matter is we need darkness (not necessarily Shar, but darkness).
Also, the truth of the matter is we need darkness (not necessarily Shar, but darkness).
That's why I don't like that darkness is always TEH EVUL in fantasy, and Shar is the big baddie of FR. Who would want to live in light all the time? You'd never get to sleep, or look at the stars, or do dirty, dirty things! ;)
That's why I don't like that darkness is always TEH EVUL in fantasy, and Shar is the big baddie of FR. Who would want to live in light all the time? You'd never get to sleep, or look at the stars, or do dirty, dirty things! ;)
Exactomundo!
Light can be equally as evil, and darkness just as good. Light blinds you, burns you, and is merciless. Darkness cools, shades, and is soft on the skin too!
Darkness is like soft, quilted toilet paper.
I agree with the two previous posts though.;)