Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kainhighwind Sep 10, 2008 2:33:02	I'm a big fan of R.A. Salvatore adn have read most of his books, but I haven't been able to find his latest trilogy:Transitions. So I was wondering if you people would be kind enough to fill me in on some things: 1) Does this take place before, during, or after the Spellplague? 2) if After, how are Wulgar and Catti-Brie still alive, since they're human? I can see Bruenor still alive, but not those two... 3) How is everyone, and how did the Kingdom of Many-Arrows get established, I had thought all his plans demolished at the end of the Hunters Blades trilogy... Also worth mentioning is the fact I do not have the Campaign Guide for 4e, but I intend to get it soon, providing I can find it...
#2 GreenKnight Sep 10, 2008 2:44:42	Only the prologue and epilogue take place after the Spellplague, about 100 years after. The rest of the book takes place before the Spellplague, in the same era as the previous Drizzt books.
#3 kainhighwind Sep 10, 2008 2:48:00	Much appreciated, do the prologue and epilogue say anything about how Drizzt and Bruenor are doing and how Catti-Brie and Wulfgar died, or does it only talk abotu the general state of the realms?
#4 keveras Sep 10, 2008 3:04:50	As far as I can remember, no. Drizzt fights against some organization that is against the orc kingdom. Bruenor's gone, as is Catti-Brie and Wulfgar, but we the book does not say how or when. Btw, you can download the Prologue on WotC's site ;)
#5 lord_karsus Sep 10, 2008 11:39:36	1) Does this take place before, during, or after the Spellplague? -The prologue and epilogue of The Orc King takes place in 1479 DR. The main body of the book takes place in 1372 DR, however (Or was it 1370 DR?). It's likely that the next two books in the series follow the formula. 2) if After, how are Wulgar and Catti-Brie still alive, since they're human? I can see Bruenor still alive, but not those two... -Being as that Drizzt mentioned all of the above individuals in the past tense, it is likely that, sometime in the transition from then to "now", Cattie-Brie, Wulfgar and Bruenor all died. 3) How is everyone, and how did the Kingdom of Many-Arrows get established, I had thought all his plans demolished at the end of the Hunters Blades trilogy... -This is shown in The Orc King. In case you don't want to be spoiled: Show -After being defeated, Obould begins wanting to keep the territories that he has conquered, and have something to show for all of the work the Orcs put in, rather than continue raiding and pillaging until their strength is depleted, and they are forced back into the mountains. He is betrayed by some of his own, who want to keep on fighting, but Obould eventually sends an envoy of peace to Mithral Hall, and some events happen in which Bruenor and Obrould come to a begrudging "friendship".
#6 JudgeDookie Sep 10, 2008 21:06:25	-Being as that Drizzt mentioned all of the above individuals in the past tense, it is likely that, sometime in the transition from then to "now", Cattie-Brie, Wulfgar and Bruenor all died. OK. The only one that I truly got past tense was Bruenor. After that, all I got was "friends." Did something get leaked that I wasn't aware of?
#7 MattDroz Sep 10, 2008 22:04:02	The only confirmed death was Bruenor (in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting). Wulfgar, Catti-brie, Regis, even Artemis have not been confirmed as living or dead.
#8 lord_karsus Sep 10, 2008 23:08:59	OK. The only one that I truly got past tense was Bruenor. After that, all I got was "friends." Did something get leaked that I wasn't aware of? -Hence why I said that "it is likely that" those individuals include Wulfgar and Cattie-Brie. Both being Human, they should both be dead, having the timeline increased 104 years, and neither being present around Drizzt during those scenes.
#9 keveras Sep 11, 2008 4:08:02	Well, maybe Catti-Brie became a powerful mage who was able to cast a longevity spell or brew a longevity potion and so she and the other dapplers are still around. Typically Salvatore :D
#10 kainhighwind Sep 11, 2008 7:18:59	I can very easily see that happening with Catti-Brie. ALso, seeing as how I like Orcs, I'm glad to see they have their own kingdom finally... I would like to know just how well Bruenor and Obould get along though, because I really liked Obould( I wouldn't be surprised at all if he really is a Chosen of Gruumsh)
#11 keveras Sep 11, 2008 8:05:04	I can very easily see that happening with Catti-Brie. ALso, seeing as how I like Orcs, I'm glad to see they have their own kingdom finally... I would like to know just how well Bruenor and Obould get along though, because I really liked Obould( I wouldn't be surprised at all if he really is a Chosen of Gruumsh) Obould is now an exarch of Gruumsh, according to the FRCG.
#12 lord_karsus Sep 11, 2008 12:24:26	Well, maybe Catti-Brie became a powerful mage who was able to cast a longevity spell or brew a longevity potion and so she and the other dapplers are still around. Typically Salvatore :D -Can't do that anymore! But yet, you can...:P
#13 kainhighwind Sep 12, 2008 6:50:53	What is an exarch?
#14 keveras Sep 12, 2008 7:53:27	What is an exarch? Essentially, the are regarded as being demigods. However, if you look at their stats, they are hardly more than any other epic level monster/NPC.
#15 lord_karsus Sep 12, 2008 11:01:42	What is an exarch? -It's a new term. Basically, think of it as a "saint", who isn't a deity exactly, but yet, kind of is, and they serve an actual deity. To use an example, Denier, now, is an Exarch of Oghma.
#16 kainhighwind Sep 13, 2008 6:18:42	Cool, I recently aquired the Forgotten Realms Campaign guide, and I've a few questions: 1) I know Mystra died, can anyone fill me in on the details? i saw Selune's symbol now has 7 stars, which was one of Mystra's Symbols.... 2) What happened to Bane's symbol? A cheap claw does not scream out "utlimate tyrant!" That claw would be better suited for Gruumsh I think 3) I can see why Mystra is no longer needed, what with no more Weave, but What happened to Azuth? You always need a god of mages... 4) For what insane reason is Ghaunadaur a greater god??? 5) I haven't read through the entire book yet, btu what happened to the Harpers and Zhentarim? I'm positive I'll have more as time goes on, btu I'd like to say this: Sucks for Elminster, I liked him, and while I don't mind him getting humbled a little, in his little write up, he seems like a broken old man to me, which sucks, because I always envisioned Wizarding teachers going "Study hard Timmy adn one day you could be as powerful as Elminster!" Another thing is, I can understand why they why would have wanted a smaller pantheon for new players (I was fine with all those deities, never ran out of gods to worship) but they did very cheaply. I don't mind the gods having a secret identity of the elven pantheon, because that makes some sense to me, since I don't think Ao wanted gods to share portfolios... I don't mind Mystra dying and Faerun losing the weave, although I think the Weave was a nice little thing to help separate the FR from other generic fantasy RPG settings... And while I don't mind altogether what they did with the FR... It just seems slightly more generic to me...I don't know what it is... it could be the book's layout, going from "ancient tome" to "textbook" since I think how you feel while reading the book is a big deal... Also, WHY IS MY FAVORITE DALE NOW JUST A PUPPET STATE?!?!
#17 keveras Sep 13, 2008 7:49:46	-It's a new term. Basically, think of it as a "saint", who isn't a deity exactly, but yet, kind of is, and they serve an actual deity. To use an example, Denier, now, is an Exarch of Oghma. Even as an example this is neither good nor accurate, since Deneir isn't mentioned in the CG.
#18 d1tremere Sep 13, 2008 8:58:50	Even as an example this is neither good nor accurate, since Deneir isn't mentioned in the CG. How does Deneir not being mentioned in the CG (something never stated by LK in the first place) make this example neither good nor accurate?
#19 keveras Sep 13, 2008 9:10:04	How does Deneir not being mentioned in the CG (something never stated by LK in the first place) make this example neither good nor accurate? As Deneir is no exarch of Oghma. Had he said Milil is now the exarch of Oghma, then everything would be alright.
#20 lord_karsus Sep 13, 2008 12:25:21	Even as an example this is neither good nor accurate, since Deneir isn't mentioned in the CG. -I don't know if he's in the book or not, but Denier's church began when Oghmite Clerics broke off from the mainstream Church of Oghma, and began worshipping Denier, who has close ties to Oghma. That is, perhaps, the greatest example of what the poster was looking for in all of Forgotten Realms history.
#21 kainhighwind Sep 14, 2008 9:40:37	No one has answered and of my new questions...
#22 keveras Sep 14, 2008 9:56:34	No one has answered and of my new questions... Oh, sorry. Well, then... 3) Azuth was thrown into Nessus, where he was killed by Asmodeus, who in turn pushed the Abyss into the Elemental Chaos. Yeah, yeah, ridiculous, I know. 4) Don't know exactly, but I seem to remember that he's the Realms aspect of the new Tharizdun, isn't he? Edit: Well, maybe not. But I always associate those guys in some way or another. 5) The Harpers are gone, effectively, except one small faction in Everlund. The Shades wiped the floor with the Zhentarim (:P) and destroyed Zhentil Keep along the way. So they are now mostly some damn Cyric guys.
#23 kainhighwind Sep 14, 2008 10:03:33	Cool, thanks for answering! One of the real biggies for me though is Bane's symbol. I started out as a gauntlet, then changed into a hand(which was explained and made sense) but where did this whole "bony claw with rings on it" thing come from? People here know mroe abotu teh Realms then me, so I'm sure you all could at least come up with some convincing speculation..... Also, how did Selune aquire Mystra's old symbol??? I haven't looked thorugh my 3e FRCS in a while, btu I"m positive that Selunes symbol now has parts of Mystra's.. ... I think that Azuth should have stayed around, if they REALLY wanted a smaller pantheon, just have Asmodeus absorb a bunch of smaller deities, we need a god of mages, I'm just not content having my wizard worship Oghma for knowledge...
#24 keveras Sep 14, 2008 10:10:51	I can't really help you with the deities' symbols, since, acutally, I don't care for the oh so logical ways of the 4e designers, especially regarding deities and npcs. But someone else surely can.
#25 kainhighwind Sep 14, 2008 10:24:10	Oh well, I appreciate the help you've given mre thus far...
#26 Therise Sep 14, 2008 10:28:29	... we need a god of mages, I'm just not content having my wizard worship Oghma for knowledge... Selune would make a pretty good deity for mages.
#27 lord_karsus Sep 14, 2008 11:03:34	1) I know Mystra died, can anyone fill me in on the details? i saw Selune's symbol now has 7 stars, which was one of Mystra's Symbols.... -It's in AGHotR. In short, Cyric entered into her Divine Realm, and assassinated her. 2) What happened to Bane's symbol? A cheap claw does not scream out "utlimate tyrant!" That claw would be better suited for Gruumsh I think -This, I don't know. I don't believe there is any explanation. 3) I can see why Mystra is no longer needed, what with no more Weave, but What happened to Azuth? You always need a god of mages... -When Azuth was shunted from Dweomerheart, when Mystra died, he landed in the Nine Hells. Asmodeus decided to eat him as a tasty treat. Magicians now worship those deities who they have interests in common with. For example, a magician who happens to be a jeweler would worship the deity of jewelers. A magician who is a librarian would worship the deity of knowledge. 4) For what insane reason is Ghaunadaur a greater god??? -Don't know, but I like it that way! 5) I haven't read through the entire book yet, btu what happened to the Harpers and Zhentarim? -A lot. The Harpers disbanded, and then a second group calling themselves the Harpers reformed, and dedicate themselves to toppling the Shadovar, while the Zhents, they are now under the control of Cyricists, and work to free him from his prison.
#28 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Sep 14, 2008 15:54:48	4) For what insane reason is Ghaunadaur a greater god??? Emphasis mine. You answered your own question (IMO)--there is no rational reason.;) Also, WHY IS MY FAVORITE DALE NOW JUST A PUPPET STATE?!?! Which dale is that?
#29 Therise Sep 14, 2008 16:11:21	-When Azuth was shunted from Dweomerheart, when Mystra died, he landed in the Nine Hells. Asmodeus decided to eat him as a tasty treat. (...) I know I'd be interested in hearing the details about how that happened; although the likelihood of that is minimal, I know. I just don't get how Asmodeus could've beaten a god, it just seems way too plot devicey and not really high in believability. Devil vs. devil, demon vs. demon, even deity vs. deity I could see, but a deity should've trounced Asmodeus in a life-or-death combat.
#30 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Sep 14, 2008 16:18:58	I just don't get how Asmodeus could've beaten a god, it just seems way too plot devicey and not really high in believability. The whole thing (Spellplague) is one big plot device, and not the most convincing one at that--at least not to me.
#31 lord_karsus Sep 14, 2008 16:27:45	I know I'd be interested in hearing the details about how that happened; although the likelihood of that is minimal, I know. I just don't get how Asmodeus could've beaten a god, it just seems way too plot devicey and not really high in believability. Devil vs. devil, demon vs. demon, even deity vs. deity I could see, but a deity should've trounced Asmodeus in a life-or-death combat. -Asmodeus, in some books, was a deity, at times. Last time (before 4e), he wasn't. No matter, however, as cosmic entities, such as Archdevils, Demon Lords, Slaadi Lords, Primus, are quite powerful, on par with deities. In this case, it was Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells, against Azuth, a minor deity of a single Crystal Sphere. I have no problem in saying that Asmodeus badly outclassed Azuth.
#32 Therise Sep 14, 2008 16:42:47	-Asmodeus, in some books, was a deity, at times. Last time (before 4e), he wasn't. No matter, however, as cosmic entities, such as Archdevils, Demon Lords, Slaadi Lords, Primus, are quite powerful, on par with deities. In this case, it was Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells, against Azuth, a minor deity of a single Crystal Sphere. I have no problem in saying that Asmodeus badly outclassed Azuth. Stats-wise, I know they're sometimes certainly built that way. But it just seems... wrong on some level. I think it's partly because I've always seen deities as being on an entirely different level (and in my own game, they don't interact directly with PCs or NPCs as they do in canon lore - unlike major demons and devils, who infrequently do have such interaction). So it's partly that as well.
#33 lord_karsus Sep 14, 2008 22:03:37	Stats-wise, I know they're sometimes certainly built that way. But it just seems... wrong on some level. I think it's partly because I've always seen deities as being on an entirely different level (and in my own game, they don't interact directly with PCs or NPCs as they do in canon lore - unlike major demons and devils, who infrequently do have such interaction). So it's partly that as well. -I've never thought of it like that. Perhaps it's because of my like for Planescape, but I dislike when deities are portrayed as "out of everyone's league". They are certainly out of a mortals' league, that's for sure. But, I like the concept that entities exist that are just as powerful as deities (and, for all intents and purposes ARE deities), but they aren't deities.
#34 keveras Sep 15, 2008 4:16:35	I know I'd be interested in hearing the details about how that happened; although the likelihood of that is minimal, I know. I just don't get how Asmodeus could've beaten a god, it just seems way too plot devicey and not really high in believability. Devil vs. devil, demon vs. demon, even deity vs. deity I could see, but a deity should've trounced Asmodeus in a life-or-death combat. Well, maybe Azuth was already severely wounded. After all, Azuth landed in Nessus, which is the equivalent of any deities' domain, essentially. (I know this doesn't mean anything with the hole thing of Mystra being assassinated by Cyric)
#35 kainhighwind Sep 15, 2008 6:22:16	I like the coversation I've started... and my favorite dale is Featherdale.
#36 Proin Sep 15, 2008 7:01:56	Ghaundaur is now a greater deity because he left the drow pantheon before all the Drow deities but Lolth were destroyed and subsequently took over (again) as god of all quasi-intelligent jell-o
#37 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Sep 15, 2008 12:08:05	Ghaunadaur is most likely a greater deity thanks to all the new emphasis on aberrations in the Realms.
#38 kainhighwind Sep 15, 2008 18:27:52	Bah, abberations have no interested me one bit... What happened to that one Dragon king, his name escapes me, but he saw himself as a god-king, and I THINK ruled Unther for a time... Also, why does teh book say that they won't list the stats for famous NPCs, but then they list out Jarlaxle? Hypocrisy ftw...
#39 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Sep 15, 2008 20:11:41	Bah, abberations have no interested me one bit... Me neither (or at least, I'm not interested in them the way the current FR designers seem to be), but oh well.
#40 lord_karsus Sep 15, 2008 21:41:00	What happened to that one Dragon king, his name escapes me, but he saw himself as a god-king, and I THINK ruled Unther for a time... -Tzchazzar. That's spelled incorrectly, but you can figure it out from there. ;) Also, why does teh book say that they won't list the stats for famous NPCs, but then they list out Jarlaxle? Hypocrisy ftw... -He's a monster, rawr?
#41 Therise Sep 15, 2008 21:44:36	I always had a fondness in adventures for using Ghaunadaur, and his nasty slimes and jellies, not to mention deranged drow outcasts. But aberrations, specifically Far Realms and all, just not interested.
#42 lord_karsus Sep 21, 2008 22:46:44	-I have a fondness for Ghaunadaur, period. I don't know why I like the guy, but I do.
#43 Proin Sep 22, 2008 5:36:32	-I have a fondness for Ghaunadaur, period. I don't know why I like the guy, but I do. because there's always room for a 10ft cube of jello?
#44 kainhighwind Sep 22, 2008 7:21:57	perhaps, but not when the Jello is full of bones and wants to eat me... Does anyone know if we'll ever get the stats for Aasimar/devas? I saw their little write-up in the FRPG and really fell in love with them all over again
#45 lord_karsus Sep 22, 2008 11:45:06	because there's always room for a 10ft cube of jello? -Maybe. I don't like Jell-O much, though, so...