And ignore the whole shadovar empire, it's the child of the current dev team and it should not exist on the setting.
Szazz Tam, Elmenster, Volmuxx(that dude from shadowstorm, chosen of shar), and I'm probally sure many more that I don't know of. How do you have these near God status casters, all effecting the realms in some huge way, and they never hear of each other? I'm pretty damn sure if there was some huge war going on turning everyone into undead, some other super powerful caster that has gone through hell, has even bedded his own Goddess, would step in. But wait! That's not all, now we have a shadowstorm killing all in it's path with a evil shadvor empire taking over. Still no sign of the legendary hero? Isn't Elmenster in the same area that the twilight war is currently taking place in? Logic+1
A. All those npcs to know of each other, they just try really hard to avoid each other, because none of them is entirely sure they can beat the others, so why risk death when the outcome is uncertain.
B. Elminster has a lot on his plate at any time, while his home is near to Sembia, that is no guarantee that he was there and not otherwise occupied during the several months that the Twighlight War is occurring. Also, Elminster tries to avoid direct confrontation with the Shadovar, since the interaction between his magic and theirs tends to rip holes in reality. Nothing says he can't be moving around the fringes, giving help and advice where he can, but he is not the focus of the series, so we don't hear what he is doing.
No author should have to explain the actions of another author's characters or any npc. Those stories are for those other authors to write.
A. All those npcs to know of each other, they just try really hard to avoid each other, because none of them is entirely sure they can beat the others, so why risk death when the outcome is uncertain.
Do they know of each other?
It's sounds like you try very hard to justify interaction. What if Drizzt saw Szazz Tam murdering millions of people, I'm sure he would know very well his chances slim, but he would still try. So therefore, according to your logic, Elmenster would let many people suffer due to the possible cost of his own life? So why risk? Because when people(s) lives are at stake, the risk becomes very certain.
You just completely contridicted with Alediran response.
Elminster doesn't lives in the same area,
See quote:
while his home is near to Sembia
he also is retired and spends his time doing favors for Mystra and just living for himself for the first time in centuries.
See quote:
B. Elminster has a lot on his plate at any time
Can someone please come in here as in a 3rd party and give me proper answers, because these 2 have completey different stories.
Szazz Tam, Elmenster, Volmuxx(that dude from shadowstorm, chosen of shar), and I'm probally sure many more that I don't know of. How do you have these near God status casters, all effecting the realms in some huge way, and they never hear of each other? I'm pretty damn sure if there was some huge war going on turning everyone into undead, some other super powerful caster that has gone through hell, has even bedded his own Goddess, would step in. But wait! That's not all, now we have a shadowstorm killing all in it's path with a evil shadvor empire taking over. Still no sign of the legendary hero? Isn't Elmenster in the same area that the twilight war is currently taking place in? Logic+1
-El at the time of the shadowstorm is MIA. With Thay we I really dont know where he is at and thats in an Area he is usually not around. His Girlfriend the Simbul is/was queen of Aglorond but I dont know if she was missing or just enjoying the show watching the Red Wizards destroy one another. I think the Ritual that Tamy is goind to do is covered in the last book of the Thay Trilogy. Is that better GKS? ;)
18DELTA :D
-El at the time of the shadowstorm is MIA.
18DELTA :D
So there is no reason? He just isn't there? So when it is logical for them to step in, their justification is just: Missing in action?
Is that better GKS? ;)
Ok, um, for abbreviations, wouldn't it be: G S K? Also, I had thought you and LK always called me EB? But I must admit, this name is so...how do you say..? Sexy...yes that's it. GG Beneath the sky-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58h51VX0EdY
P.S. Even though you change avatars as much as I do accounts, I hope you stick with that one, black/red is a nice dual color to match with.
-
My bad.18DELTA
Oh, and 1 - 6 can help.
Do they know of each other?
It's sounds like you try very hard to justify interaction. What if Drizzt saw Szazz Tam murdering millions of people, I'm sure he would know very well his chances slim, but he would still try. So therefore, according to your logic, Elmenster would let many people suffer due to the possible cost of his own life? So why risk? Because when people(s) lives are at stake, the risk becomes very certain.
First, Tam's name is known throughout the realms, at least among adventurer's. The Harpers have spent a lot of time working against him and the red wizards, as well as the Zhents, Cult of the Dragon, etc. The Harpers have a large number of Bards, who like to tell stories and sing songs of their exploits, and to spread news from other areas. So most people would have heard tales of atrocities in some far off land, but having other things to take care of where they are, they do not go running off to do something about it. Yes they will act, even if they sacrifice themselves in the process, if they witness someone doing something evil, they are heroes after all, but there is a difference between witnessing evil and hearing about it 2nd or 3rd hand. And there is, in the Realms, a closer bad guy to deal with.
Second, if Elminster (or any NPC) strikes at an enemy when the outcome is uncertain, and dies in the process, it is worse than not acting, in that not only will those lives still be lost, but you are now unable to strike at a more opportune time, when the outcome could be more sure.
And as for Elminster, he is semi-retired, but a lot of things still fall in his lap, so he is often called away to various places both in the Realms and elsewhere, and when at home does not like being disturbed by a constant stream of adventurers and favor seekers.
Elminster isn't just stopping a direct assault from the evil of the Realms. Things such as tears in the fabric of reality come up, in which he must risk life and limb sealing the wound. If he did not, people like Tam wouldn't.
-RW
Szazz Tam, Elmenster, Volmuxx(that dude from shadowstorm, chosen of shar), and I'm probally sure many more that I don't know of. How do you have these near God status casters, all effecting the realms in some huge way, and they never hear of each other? I'm pretty damn sure if there was some huge war going on turning everyone into undead, some other super powerful caster that has gone through hell, has even bedded his own Goddess, would step in. But wait! That's not all, now we have a shadowstorm killing all in it's path with a evil shadvor empire taking over. Still no sign of the legendary hero? Isn't Elmenster in the same area that the twilight war is currently taking place in? Logic+1
This is a game world first and formost. Badguys are around to give the players a challenge and something to fight against. So El is not taking any of them down anytime soon because they serve a very important purpose, keeping players entertained.
Basically game worlds and game novels are like comics. Lots of illogical stuff happens but we don't care because we want light entertaining fluff.
You mentioned the Game of Thrones before and how great a series it is and you wish FR could be like it. It will never be like it. THe novels sell well enough that they do not have to be "realistic" like Throne. Not ragging on Throne at all, I like the series alot. It is predictable though after reading the 4th book. I know how the author weaves a stroy and his books will eventually get tired and dull and depressing because it is so close to real life with the raping and ture evil found within it. Hopefully that series ends after the next two books. We do not need another "Wheel of Time".
Elminster doesn't lives in the same area, he also is retired and spends his time doing favors for Mystra and just living for himself for the first time in centuries.
And ignore the whole shadovar empire, it's the child of the current dev team and it should not exist on the setting.
Read Kemp's latest books on Everis Cale. The Shade are awesome bad guys. I think Kemp has the Shade down pat. You should give them a chance. If only a little one. If anything you get to read about Cale kicking their, well you get the idea. :D
Szazz Tam, Elmenster, Volmuxx(that dude from shadowstorm, chosen of shar), and I'm probally sure many more that I don't know of. How do you have these near God status casters, all effecting the realms in some huge way, and they never hear of each other? I'm pretty damn sure if there was some huge war going on turning everyone into undead, some other super powerful caster that has gone through hell, has even bedded his own Goddess, would step in. But wait! That's not all, now we have a shadowstorm killing all in it's path with a evil shadvor empire taking over. Still no sign of the legendary hero? Isn't Elmenster in the same area that the twilight war is currently taking place in? Logic+1
Aye they are aware of each other, and in many cases they have contended against each other before, and more often than not it ended in stalemate, or came at a high cost, or nearly cost them their existence, or had unforeseen consequences for the realms at large or the many innocent folk who reside within.
However, the more pressing answer is that your “logic +1” perspective on the issue of the Twilight War, the Shadowstorm, and other calamities does seem to take into account EVERYTHING ELSE that is going on in Faerûn during the exact same timeline. Likewise, you do not take into account how the mighty long lived personages of the realms interact with and against each other...namely by spinning intrigues behind the scenes and using heroes (players characters) or minions (younger NPC adventurers) as the unforeseen trump cards in the struggle against their enemies.
As such, your questions can be answered by the following
1) the "Concerns of the Mighty" sidebar in the 3E Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Specifically since it is a treatise which comes from Elminster himself.
2) the Grand History of the Realms timeline for 1374-1375 DR. Specifically in comparing with the events in the Twilight War trilogy to events occurring in Shadowdale, the High Moor, Myth Drannor, Anauroch, and other locales in and around the same time.
The events of the following novels and adventures are all taking place in and around the same time as the Twilight War:
Blackstaff (novel)
Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land (adventure)
Anauroch: the Empire of Shade (adventure)
Expedition to Undermountain (adventure)
Unclean (novel)
[size=3]SPOILERS FOR THE TITLES ABOVE FOLLOW IN THE TEXT BELOW[/size]
These events effectively remove the following individuals from any interference with Shar’s machinations for Sembia
Elminster: after recovering from the high magic ritual that restored the City of Hope in the High Moor, he is attacked in his tower by an elite sect of Shadow Adepts and Sharran assassins. They strike on the eve of an invasion of the Dales planned by the drow and the Zhentarim, who in turn are secretly masterminded by the Shades and the clergy of Shar. Though he destroys most of the assassins who infiltrate his tower, he is severely wounded and whisked away from certain death thanks to his contingency spells. His tower is shattered and its remnants are flung into the planes, and the damage dealt to the Weave in and around Shadowdale by the rite of unwinding prevents him—or any other Chosen of Mystra—from returning for some time (Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land adventure, Blackstaff novel).
Khelben Blackstaff: he sacrificed himself in the High Magic ritual used to cleanse the High Moor and prepare it for the refounding of Rhymaanthin, the City of Hope. As such, he is unavailable (Blackstaff novel).
the Seven Sisters: Syluné’s undead existence as a specral harpist was ended by an upstart cleric of Shar, who learned the secret conditions for laying her to rest and ending her ghostly existence. Though Syluné lingered on as a being of pure silver fire, she nonetheless had to sacrifice herself to undo the effects of the ritual that had unwoven the Weave in Shadowdale, so that the heroes could succeed in liberating it (Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land adventure).
Laeral is grieving in the hidden city of Rhymanthiin over the loss of her husband Khelben, whose sacrifice restored the city. More importantly she is carrying twins fathered by the fallen archmage, and therefore is in no condition to run off and attack the Princes of Shade (Blackstaff novel).
Alustriel participated in the High Magic ritual that restored Rhymanthiin, and as such it would make sense for her to need time to recover. More importantly, among the Seven Sisters she was closest to Khelben and Laeral, and as a mother of twelve she is the most experienced in matters of childbirth and midwifery. As such, it can be easily assumed her presence is needed to ensure the safe delivery of the Arunsun twins and Laeral’s emotional recovery during the long period of mourning (Blackstaff novel).
Storm Silverhand and Dove Falconhand have gone to Myth Drannor to aid the elves against the drow and Zhentarim forces who have vowed to crush the newly restored elven realm. After word reaches them of the attack on Elminster’s tower and the death of Sylune, they return to Shadowdale with an elite contingent of elves in order to liberate the town. Unfortunately upon arrival they are grievously wounded by the effects of the rite of unwinding through the damage it has inflicted upon the Weave near Shadowdale, due to the presence of the silver fire of Mystra that flows through their veins (Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land adventure).
The Simbul is more than occupied at present; between working behind the scenes to interdict or delay Szass Tam’s bid for power in Thay, to rushing to the aim of Elminster and her sisters, to dealing with the threat to Mystra’s weave posed by the Shadovar. Besides, Sembia tolerates Red Wizard Enclaves in their capital city... and the Witch-Queen is chaotic neutral, so maybe the folk of Ordulin should wait for Samas Kul to come to their aid, assuming their is enough magic in all of Toril to haul his paunchy corpulence across a room let alone the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Qilué Veladorn has more than her fair share of own problems to contend with, namely due to the Drow pantheon being devoured by the machinations of Lolth and the ongoing threat to Mystra posed by Shar. (the Lady Penitent novel trilogy)
Szass Tam: the zulkir of necromany is a bit too busy consolidating his power in Thay and crushing his innumerable enemies to concern himself overmuch with any strife or cataclysms occurring across the Sea of Fallen Stars (the Haunted Lands novel trilogy).
Halaster: was destroyed by the unforeseen consequences/failure of a magical ritual...one which he likely spent the previous months preparing and/or casting (Expedition to Undermountain adventure).
These are just the more famous/infamous archmages of the Realms and the official timeline events and entanglements that occupy them during those months. If we want to delve into more esoteric personages we can easily still find or presume suitable reasons for why they have other, nearer, pressing matters to attend to.
Read Kemp's latest books on Everis Cale. The Shade are awesome bad guys. I think Kemp has the Shade down pat. You should give them a chance. If only a little one. If anything you get to read about Cale kicking their, well you get the idea. :D
Agreed. I thought the Shade were pretty lame until Kemp came in. Suppose its all in who's telling the story.
And ignore the whole shadovar empire, it's the child of the current dev team and it should not exist on the setting.
-The Empire of Shade started at the beginning of 3E, when they returned to the setting. Thus it is a child of the 3E design team. :D
18DELTA ;)
Aye they are aware of each other, and in many cases they have contended against each other before, and more often than not it ended in stalemate, or came at a high cost, or nearly cost them their existence, or had unforeseen consequences for the realms at large or the many innocent folk who reside within.
However, the more pressing answer is that your “logic +1” perspective on the issue of the Twilight War, the Shadowstorm, and other calamities does seem to take into account EVERYTHING ELSE that is going on in Faerûn during the exact same timeline. Likewise, you do not take into account how the mighty long lived personages of the realms interact with and against each other...namely by spinning intrigues behind the scenes and using heroes (players characters) or minions (younger NPC adventurers) as the unforeseen trump cards in the struggle against their enemies.
As such, your questions can be answered by the following
1) the "Concerns of the Mighty" sidebar in the 3E Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Specifically since it is a treatise which comes from Elminster himself.
2) the Grand History of the Realms timeline for 1374-1375 DR. Specifically in comparing with the events in the Twilight War trilogy to events occurring in Shadowdale, the High Moor, Myth Drannor, Anauroch, and other locales in and around the same time.
The events of the following novels and adventures are all taking place in and around the same time as the Twilight War:
Blackstaff (novel)
Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land (adventure)
Anauroch: the Empire of Shade (adventure)
Expedition to Undermountain (adventure)
Unclean (novel)
[size=3]SPOILERS FOR THE TITLES ABOVE FOLLOW IN THE TEXT BELOW[/size]
These events effectively remove the following individuals from any interference with Shar’s machinations for Sembia
Elminster: after recovering from the high magic ritual that restored the City of Hope in the High Moor, he is attacked in his tower by an elite sect of Shadow Adepts and Sharran assassins. They strike on the eve of an invasion of the Dales planned by the drow and the Zhentarim, who in turn are secretly masterminded by the Shades and the clergy of Shar. Though he destroys most of the assassins who infiltrate his tower, he is severely wounded and whisked away from certain death thanks to his contingency spells. His tower is shattered and its remnants are flung into the planes, and the damage dealt to the Weave in and around Shadowdale by the rite of unwinding prevents him—or any other Chosen of Mystra—from returning for some time (Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land adventure, Blackstaff novel).
Khelben Blackstaff: he sacrificed himself in the High Magic ritual used to cleanse the High Moor and prepare it for the refounding of Rhymaanthin, the City of Hope. As such, he is unavailable (Blackstaff novel).
the Seven Sisters: Syluné’s undead existence as a specral harpist was ended by an upstart cleric of Shar, who learned the secret conditions for laying her to rest and ending her ghostly existence. Though Syluné lingered on as a being of pure silver fire, she nonetheless had to sacrifice herself to undo the effects of the ritual that had unwoven the Weave in Shadowdale, so that the heroes could succeed in liberating it (Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land adventure).
Laeral is grieving in the hidden city of Rhymanthiin over the loss of her husband Khelben, whose sacrifice restored the city. More importantly she is carrying twins fathered by the fallen archmage, and therefore is in no condition to run off and attack the Princes of Shade (Blackstaff novel).
Alustriel participated in the High Magic ritual that restored Rhymanthiin, and as such it would make sense for her to need time to recover. More importantly, among the Seven Sisters she was closest to Khelben and Laeral, and as a mother of twelve she is the most experienced in matters of childbirth and midwifery. As such, it can be easily assumed her presence is needed to ensure the safe delivery of the Arunsun twins and Laeral’s emotional recovery during the long period of mourning (Blackstaff novel).
Storm Silverhand and Dove Falconhand have gone to Myth Drannor to aid the elves against the drow and Zhentarim forces who have vowed to crush the newly restored elven realm. After word reaches them of the attack on Elminster’s tower and the death of Sylune, they return to Shadowdale with an elite contingent of elves in order to liberate the town. Unfortunately upon arrival they are grievously wounded by the effects of the rite of unwinding through the damage it has inflicted upon the Weave near Shadowdale, due to the presence of the silver fire of Mystra that flows through their veins (Shadowdale: the Scouring of the Land adventure).
The Simbul is more than occupied at present; between working behind the scenes to interdict or delay Szass Tam’s bid for power in Thay, to rushing to the aim of Elminster and her sisters, to dealing with the threat to Mystra’s weave posed by the Shadovar. Besides, Sembia tolerates Red Wizard Enclaves in their capital city... and the Witch-Queen is chaotic neutral, so maybe the folk of Ordulin should wait for Samas Kul to come to their aid, assuming their is enough magic in all of Toril to haul his paunchy corpulence across a room let alone the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Qilué Veladorn has more than her fair share of own problems to contend with, namely due to the Drow pantheon being devoured by the machinations of Lolth and the ongoing threat to Mystra posed by Shar. (the Lady Penitent novel trilogy)
Szass Tam: the zulkir of necromany is a bit too busy consolidating his power in Thay and crushing his innumerable enemies to concern himself overmuch with any strife or cataclysms occurring across the Sea of Fallen Stars (the Haunted Lands novel trilogy).
Halaster: was destroyed by the unforeseen consequences/failure of a magical ritual...one which he likely spent the previous months preparing and/or casting (Expedition to Undermountain adventure).
These are just the more famous/infamous archmages of the Realms and the official timeline events and entanglements that occupy them during those months. If we want to delve into more esoteric personages we can easily still find or presume suitable reasons for why they have other, nearer, pressing matters to attend to.
Awesome as usual and with flawless logic to boot
