So, in the hopes of clearing up a bit of the disparate elements and making them fit into the new tapestry of the Realms, I'm gonna Realmsify my favorite addition to the Realms, the Feywild, while incorporating as much from the Manual of Planes as I can manage. This is obviously all my own version of things, so please comment and shoot some feedback at me if you like what you see, or if you think something needs tweaking.
I'd like to try and do this all at once, but let's start small and work it up.
Moonshae Isles
The Moonshae Isles have long been a source of fey activity, with both beneficent and malign fey residing amongst the various isles. The isle of Gwynneth is home to the eladrin kingdom of Sarifal. It's capitol city, Karador, slumbered beneath the waters of Myrloch Vale for centuries until recently awakened as the Feywild slowly reconnected with Faerun. Ruled by High Lady Ordalf, this eladrin kingdom has displaced the human dynasty that has ruled from their ancestral seat of power, Caer Corwell, and pushed them to Alaron. Unbeknowst to the humans who have been forced out, the eladrins face a grave threat from their homeland in the form of Citadel Umbra and it's foul inhabitants.
The arrival of this ancient lineage of noble eladrins has shifted the power dynamic in the Moonshaes dramatically. Karador exists simultaneously in the Feywild and Faerun, as other eladrin cities with close ties to their ancestral lands do.
On the isle of Alaron itself is Dernal Forest, on the southern side of the island. Home to malicious fey and riddled with intermittent portals to the Feywild, it is avoided by most people of Alaron. Alaron's Feywild echo is a dangerous and shadowed realm, ruled by the iron hand of the fomorians who rule from the northern mountains. It won't be long until they make their presence known, just as they've done so on the isle of Oman.
Oman isle has been wholly taken over by the marauding troops of cyclopses and their fomorian masters. They are unaware that the great firbolg leader, Grond Peaksmasher, is imprisoned in the depths of the Ice Peak. Were he to awaken, they would find their foothold on Oman tenuous at best. Oman in the Feywild is actually one larger isle consisting of the Faerunian islands of Norland and Moray. There is a large freshwater lake in the center of these islands ringed by forbidding mountains that house the vile fomorians. For reasons unknown, they avoid this body of water completely, and are content to plot from their cavernous fortresses. It appears that as of now, their only outlet to Faerun lies upon the isle of Oman.
Snowdown is the only isle of the Moonshaes that does not have a stable connection to the Feywild. It is accessible only to those who travel through the Feywild, a journey that is easily accomplished. The two isles are separated by only a narrow strait, easily traversed by the various eladrin who ply its waters to trade with the outlying settlements of Sarifal that reside among the verdant hills and valleys.
Dambrath
The Forest of Amtar to the north of the Gnollwatch Mountains teems with fey creatures of all stripes. Very few eladrin live amongst the eldritch boughs of the Feywild's larger and more majestic representation of this forest, although nomadic tribes of ancient elven lineages traverse its depths. It coats the land for many miles north of the mountains to the south, known as the Peaks of Despair to the Feywild residents. The forest goes from what is the Southern Lluirwood west until it hits the foothills of Halruaa's North Wall. The forest coats the Feywild's coast up to what would be Faerun's Riftwood.
The Peaks of Despair consist of Faerun's Gnollwatch Mountains, as well as the Southern Gnollwatch Mountains. These forbidding mountains are home to the fomorian kingdom of Harrowhame (MoP), whose ruler, King Bronnor, has begun to recently send out scouting parties through the various fey crossings to be found in the Forest of Amtar.
Directly south of the Forest of Amtar and covering the eastern parts of Dambrath from the Hills of the High Kings west to Luenath, is the Feywild's Brokenstone Vale (MoP). Brokenstone Vale is rife with lycanthropes of all stripes, and many have ventured to Dambrath and back and vice versa. These two cultures get along surprisingly well, as the Dambrathans view lycanthropy with reverence. Thus far, the cordial relationship the Faerunian and Feywild communities have with one another has prevented any fomorian aggression, as the leaders of Brokenstone Vale enjoy the freedom from persecution they've experienced in Dambrath, and wish to keep it.
Rashemen
Rashemen is a land teeming with the spirits of the Feywild. Two uniquely Rashemii fey (until now) are the uncaring and cruel bheur of the mountainous ranges and the aughisky, a temperemental fey creature that would drag you to the depths of Lake Ashane rather than assist you. An ancient land, Rashemen's deeply held connection to it's place spirits and fey beginnings has made it far easier for the Feywild to find a foothold here than in other realms.
The Feywild version of Rashemen consists of the dark and marshy lands of the Murkendraw (MoP) to the north and rolling forested hills to the south of Lake Ashane. The Murkendraw's foul influence covers much of northern Rashemen, starting at the northern shore of Lake Ashane's Feywild counterpart and continuing north into the lands of Narfell and Damara. The great gray swamp that is the Murkendraw houses Baba Yaga's Hut and the foul personage of the Great Hag herself. Baba Yaga's Hut can often be found lurking in the northern woods of Rashemen's forest, waiting for it's mistress to return from her hunting. Many a Rashemii youth has been lost on dajemma while trying to brave the grounds that Baba Yaga's Hut stalks. In the exact center of the Murkendraw is a giant sinkhole that is miles deep, spilling into the Feydark into a great glittering cavern of mist and dark magic. With some tenuous connections to the Cold Sea in Faerun's Earthroot region of the Underdark, this miles-wide cavern houses two major fomorian kingdoms and a fair number of other fey strongholds. Very few of these strongholds are permanent, as the roving bands of cyclopses sent out by their fomorian masters often raid the smaller communities. The incursions into the Underdark from its Feydark parallel have been few to date, although the fomorian kingdoms have found themselves shifted into strange new lands intermittently, and this has piqued their interest and thirst for conquest.
The southern shore of Rashemen in the Feywild is a verdant and varied land where many of the more mortal-friendly fey reside. The hathran of Rashemen have begun to forge pacts and alliances with these fey, in hopes of staving off, or at least being prepared for, the incursions of less friendly fey. Dryads, satyrs, and many other spirits of the Feywild are but a handful of the exotic fey that cavort through the Forest of Shirala, as the Feywild inhabitants call it. Shirala is the name of an ancient archfey of the woods, who has not been seen for ages. The living embodiment of the woods in which she inhabits, the hathran who have heard of this legend believe she is the mother of the forest spirits who have come to aid them in the past.
Next up, Dambrath and the Feywild!
Why do the Dambrathans revere Lycans? Because of Selune's influence over there?
My own personal interest is in figuring out what the terrain of Faerûn's Feywild looks like. For my purposes I assume the geography resembles the pre-Sundering map of Toril from the Grand History of the Realms. It would have roughly mirrored Toril before that time, but no reason it should have been similarly torn by the Sundering or recent RSE's.
Using the Manual of the Planes, I have made arbitrary decisions about where some of the named kingdoms and powers are located on my map. But I find that I have been very curious how others who are interested in such things are mapping out the Feywild of their Realms, and how they think things should be placed.
I was very glad to read your post and see what your own thought process was.
Edit: Also note that the Spellplague is (at least partly) the reason why the Feywild and Toril are back in sync... and why Eladrin (Sun, Moon & Star elves) now have glowing orbs and the ability to fey step.
My own personal interest is in figuring out what the terrain of Faerûn's Feywild looks like. For my purposes I assume the geography resembles the pre-Sundering map of Toril from the Grand History of the Realms. It would have roughly mirrored Toril before that time, but no reason it should have been similarly torn by the Sundering or recent RSE's.
I was in the same headspace when I initially started this all out. Having the geography be the same as the pre-Sundering would, I felt, be far too confusing for people to wrap their head around, so all of my 'Realmsified' versions of the Feywild can be assumed to use the 4e version of the Realms geography. This makes the Realms and Feywild much more compatible, and also it makes sense with the whole 'Feywild is the echo of the Prime' situation we have going on.
Using the Manual of the Planes, I have made arbitrary decisions about where some of the named kingdoms and powers are located on my map. But I find that I have been very curious how others who are interested in such things are mapping out the Feywild of their Realms, and how they think things should be placed.
I was very glad to read your post and see what your own thought process was.
Glad you like it! I'll be posting some more updates as I get the time.
Having the geography be the same as the pre-Sundering would, I felt, be far too confusing for people to wrap their head around, so all of my 'Realmsified' versions of the Feywild can be assumed to use the 4e version of the Realms geography. This makes the Realms and Feywild much more compatible, and also it makes sense with the whole 'Feywild is the echo of the Prime' situation we have going on.
I think that is a valid option, and one I considered. However, in considering things, it didn't make sense to me that the Feywild would still mirror the geography of Toril if it didn't undergo the same catastrophes.
The Feywild might have suffered it's own FSE's (Feywild Shaking Events) and thus might have diverged in it's own separate way substantially from the ancient map of Toril, but I am not sure that the Sundering would have reached to the Feywild, nor would the exchange of landmasses that Abeir and Toril swapped in more recent times.
Don't forget that the Feywild is said to be the same Feywild for Abeir as well as Toril. We know these two worlds now look very different although they were at one time clones of each other (or might they more properly be called gametes?) I can't really reconcile how the Feywild can mirror both Toril and Abeir when they both look so different.
I suppose we could speculate that the Feywild could have some sort of morphic planar trait that causes it to flow and shift to match the material plane over time. Easy to believe for such a dream-like realm. But with two material planes in the cosmos, I would expect the Feywild to be tugged between two configurations, perhaps averaging the two.
From my own perspective, given that we have no idea what Abeir's geography looks like these days (other than possessing a nice chunk of Maztica, and possibly Anchorome) it seems like the simplest option is to assume the Feywild hews truer to the geography of ancient Toril, before the major renovations rained down upon it.
The good thing is, though, that most of current Faerûn will map quite nicely to Toril's ancient Merourobouros super-continent pretty easily. So if one starts out mapping the Feywild using the current map of Faerûn as a reference point, it should still (mostly) resemble a map based on Merourobouros. Except that in current Faerûn, where you hit an ocean, in ancient Faerûn the land still went on quite a ways.
From my own perspective, given that we have no idea what Abeir's geography looks like these days (other than possessing a nice chunk of Maztica, and possibly Anchorome) it seems like the simplest option is to assume the Feywild hews truer to the geography of ancient Toril, before the major renovations rained down upon it.
The good thing is, though, that most of current Faerûn will map quite nicely to Toril's ancient Merourobouros super-continent pretty easily. So if one starts out mapping the Feywild using the current map of Faerûn as a reference point, it should still (mostly) resemble a map based on Merourobouros. Except that in current Faerûn, where you hit an ocean, in ancient Faerûn the land still went on quite a ways.
Any chance you've got a link to a map of Merourobouros? I tried to find one yesterday but couldn't find anything. I'd definitely like to check it out and see how that might work.
And obviously Returned Abeir has to have a Feywild, right? So what explains the reason why there aren't any fey there? I suppose the dragon overlords mighta killed 'em off back on Abeir, right?
It's possible, but I'd be more inclined to believe that Abeir was removed from the cosmic scheme of things to placate the Primordials, and was set aside, so to speak.
Otherwise, there would be elves and eladrin in their history as well.
great map btw, particularly Mhairshaulk
Although LeShay are supposed to be Immortal... maybe they lost that bit... or lost their connection to the Feywild after being outcast and they are now (and have been) trying to redeem themselves.
Now, weather they created all the other fey, or are merely another branch of that incredibly diversified race is still a mystery. I would imagine they would have had to have created a least some of the Fey races to have even been considered a "Creator' race. They may have also created the Feywild itself after the incident of the Balck Diamond, or just moved there (or even relocated their homeland there, a'la Evermeet).
Le'Shay made their first FR appearance in Darkvision, but they already existed in core (in the ELH, IIRC).
In Darkvision, it is alluded to that they either gave the Imaskarkana to the Imaskari, or at least helped them with it in some way. Considering Imaskar is best known for their translocation magics, and the Le'Shay are Planer travellers, I think it was a good fit.
I would imagine they would have had to have created a least some of the Fey races to have even been considered a "Creator' race.
-"Creating" things isn't a prerequisite of being a 'Creator Race', intentionally or unintentionally. Humans are members of the official Creator Race club, and, as a whole, the Human race in Realmspace has not evolved into something else (we simply have specific incidences, like Mongrelmen for example), or intentionally created "servitors", like the Sarrukh did with the Yuan-Ti.
-As I have always said, will continue to say, and will be supported in anything I theorize, the leShay gain the title "Creator Race" not because they created the various Fey that exist across Realmspace, but rather, because they were the first ones to open portals from the Plane of Faerie to Realmspace, and vice-versa. We have the first incident taking place circa -28,000 DR. Nothing that we know states that portals to/from Realmspace and the Plane of Faerie existed beforehand. In introducing Fey/Sylvan creatures, and enabling movement between the two, the leShay are Creators.
In Darkvision, it is alluded to that they either gave the Imaskarkana to the Imaskari, or at least helped them with it in some way. Considering Imaskar is best known for their translocation magics, and the Le'Shay are Planer travellers, I think it was a good fit.
-The Moonshae appendix to AGHotR states that the leShay of Sarifal and Imaskar made alliances with each other, and that the leShay shared their knowledge of Translocational magic with the Imaskari.
Its been a long while since I read that piece by Brian. The Moonshaes aren't exactly my favorite region (having almost no connection to the rest of the Realms until Brian's article).
Its bizarre - the used the Moonshaes as the premiere locale when FR was first introduced (commercially), with both a novel series and sourcebook... and then NADA for two whole editions.
The treated it like a red-headed stepchild.
So much potential wasted... of course, I could say that about the entire setting now.
The treated it like a red-headed stepchild.
This made me laugh... I thought I was the only person to use this saying anymore...
Sadly, I am the bastard son of a red-headed stepchild...
Back on topic: Even if the LeShay are the FCR, why or for what reasons did they leave the Feywild?
Beings as powerful as them don't strike me as the types to run off and hide in small corners of distant worlds...
And even at their levels of power numerous things can be the source of their fear and exodus. Think of threats from the Far Realm, planar instability, environmental disasters and so on.
Back on topic: Even if the LeShay are the FCR, why or for what reasons did they leave the Feywild?
Beings as powerful as them don't strike me as the types to run off and hide in small corners of distant worlds...
I don't think they ran off, their home moved back to the Material Plane and they just went along with it, believing it's a natural cycle they should respect
Even if the LeShay are the FCR, why or for what reasons did they leave the Feywild?
-Who says they are even from the Plane of Faerie, and/or that they don't exist on the Plane of Faerie (either in the past, or any longer)?
-By what is said in the Epic Level Handbook, if we want to treat that as relevant, since we know next to nothing about the Forgotten Realms leShay, their history is very much like what was said about Illithid- they come from an era that a disaster retroactively erased from ever having existed. So, that's all we have on their origins.
-Who says they are even from the Plane of Faerie, and/or that they don't exist on the Plane of Faerie (either in the past, or any longer)?
Right.
Which is why I often postulate that they either created the plane (after leaving their homeworld - possibly Toril), or discovered an existing plane, which they moved to after some sort of disaster (the incident of the Black Diamond).
Which means the plane could have gotten it's name from the Fey, or the Fey (le'Shay) could have gotten their 'alias' from the plane. As for 'The Fey' - that would be a catch-all for any denizens of the Feywild. Other then the Le'Shay (who are probably not indegenous to the Feywild), the only other group I would imagine were non-natives are the Centaurs (probably migrated from Olympus - the two planes are heavily connected).
So the fey creature-type could be creatures created by the Le'Shay, augmented or changed by the Le'Shay, or simply found already dwelling in the Feywild.
For all we know, their could be something beyond the Le'Shay (True Fey?), and the Le'Shay themselves are creations of that creator race.
I think all of those 'unknowns' just adds to the mystique of Faerie... as it should be.
So the fey creature-type could be creatures created by the Le'Shay, augmented or changed by the Le'Shay, or simply found already dwelling in the Feywild.
-Right. There is no evidence that the leShay created any other Fey creatures, and it is seemingly against how their race is depicted in the Epic Level Handbook. There is irrefutable evidence, however, that they opened portals from the Plane of Faerie to Realmspace, and opened up migration between the two places. As such, that would infer that things already existed and lived on the Plane of Faerie before the leShay opened up traffic between Realmspace and the Plane of Faerie- things that are not necessarily related to the leShay in any way, shape, or form literally and figuratively).
For all we know, their could be something beyond the Le'Shay (True Fey?), and the Le'Shay themselves are creations of that creator race.
-Like I always say, the leShay are considered the Fey Creator Race not necessarily because they were the "first to evolve", or whatever, but because they were the first Fey in Realmspace, and were the first to introduce other Fey creatures into Realmspace. That does not necessarily have any bearing on their own origins, however. The "laShay" could have just as easily created the leShay elsewhere, with the "laShay" being the proverbial Fey Creator Race where ever that elsewhere is.
I think all of those 'unknowns' just adds to the mystique of Faerie... as it should be.
-Agreed. Part of the mystique about the Plane of Faerie is that it's magical, and anything is literally possible as a result. I know, when I think of it, I think of forest, twilight, and a lot of green, blue and purple colors. And, that's really all. It's still completely mythical, with no real places and sites, for me.
The "laShay" could have just as easily created the leShay elsewhere...
To bad they couldn't create themselves a better name.:P
You know... I mis-read your post at first, and it gave me a weird yet intriguing idea...
What if the Le'Shay created themselves?
They went back to the moment of their creation, and created themselves (probably just by 'seeding' another race with their genetic material).
How strange would that be? A race responsible for their own creation? The only reason why I find that so intriguing is that Faerie is known for its bizarre time-anomalies (moving faster, slower, and sometimes reverse to the 'mortal worlds'). In fact, I often think of Faerie (now the Feywild) as a plane existing 'outside of time', which makes it somewhat unique (even the outer and inner planes - and all who dwell there - must conform to the rules of time).
Anyhow, it would be why they are so strange compared to other, naturally (or divinely) evolved races. Imagine knowing that you are not supposed to exist - that you are a self-created anomaly in the universe.
It would almost be like you needed to 'live for the moment' (Planescapes sensates?), because at any moment, the universe may just decide to 'right itself' and erase your very existance.
To bad they couldn't create themselves a better name.:P
-Yeah, well, they had to think of it on the spot, so...
What if the Le'Shay created themselves?
-That's getting into Lords of Madness (ie, the beginnings of Aberratiomania) Illithid wierdness.
Maybe they are the same race, that followed seprate evolutionary paths (hence, only one belongs in the universe - the other shouldn't even exist).
Funny how I hate Aberrations, yet I like to blame a lot on them (or rather, the Far Realms).
Funny how I hate Aberrations, yet I like to blame a lot on them (or rather, the Far Realms).
-Yeah, don't get into the Aberrations = Far Realms rut. It's patently not true!
I DO think that Far Realms = Aberrations.
The Far Realms is the source of all unnatural 'weirdness' (psuedo-natural), so it's ideally suited to aberrations.
-Pseudonatural (Far Realms) are completely foreign to nature. They don't occur naturally, and the laws of reality (our laws) don't allow for them.
-Hey, we've had this conversation! I remember having to type this something like the above two or three times, because you (and/or someone else) wasn't fully getting what I meant until the third time or so. Remember?
Well, like I keep saying, I think there is some sort of relationship between the illithids returning form the end of time, and the Fey living 'outside of time'.
Maybe they are the same race, that followed seprate evolutionary paths (hence, only one belongs in the universe - the other shouldn't even exist).
Funny how I hate Aberrations, yet I like to blame a lot on them (or rather, the Far Realms).
You dislike much it seem. Elf aberrations and blame for much. It funny but you good story maker.
-Hey, we've had this conversation! I remember having to type this something like the above two or three times, because you (and/or someone else) wasn't fully getting what I meant until the third time or so. Remember?
Right - I remember the converstaion.
I just still feel - in my games - that the Far Realms is 'Aberration land'. I understand your take, and thats fine for your game, but thats the way I use it (don't we both constantly tell people "It's YOUR game - do whatever you want?")
You dislike much it seem.
VERY astute observation. ;)
Elf aberrations and blame for much. It funny but you good story maker.
Thank You.
I like history that revolves around 'Hubris', which is ideal for all things Elvish. The best (IMHO) stories are about someone powerful setting-out to change the world for the better, only to make it much, much worse.
"The Road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions" is sort-of my credo when I design.
Or "No good deed goes unpunished" is another.
You'll find throughout history, Tyrants always took-over in order to make things better. Its a huge self-delusion (and temptation) that so many good men have fallen prey to.
Here's another: "Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely"
I just still feel - in my games - that the Far Realms is 'Aberration land'. I understand your take, and thats fine for your game, but thats the way I use it (don't we both constantly tell people "It's YOUR game - do whatever you want?")
-You do, I don't. I have no qualms about telling people they're doing things wrong when they are. :P
-You do, I don't. I have no qualms about telling people they're doing things wrong when they are. :P
It is wrong to play in fun way for group? I not understand this.
It is wrong to play in fun way for group? I not understand this.
-If someone says that Sememmon is a Lawful Good Paladin, regardless of what they are doing in their own games (because I don't really care what they are doing in their own games, since none of that actually matters in actuality) Sememmon is statted out in the FRCS as a Lawful Evil Wizard, and those stats are the only ones that matter.
-If someone says that Sememmon is a Lawful Good Paladin, regardless of what they are doing in their own games (because I don't really care what they are doing in their own games, since none of that actually matters in actuality) Sememmon is statted out in the FRCS as a Lawful Evil Wizard, and those stats are the only ones that matter.
So Sememmon is evil in 4e rule. Now understanding what you write. Give true lore when ask even if others not use in same way.
He is the living, breathing embodiment of entitlement.
Hmmm... an aspect of Entitlement.... we need some stats...
So Sememmon is evil in 4e rule. Now understanding what you write. Give true lore when ask even if others not use in same way.
Precisely
Even though technically EVERYTHING is open to interpretation (and I'm fairly certain that Semmenon's alignment did change at the end there, making that a pretty lousy example).
Ooooops. :embarrass
Anyhow, although I was joking (LK's a good friend), he is usually the second person I think of when I think of that 'entitlement' argument.
D&D's always been about "Doing your own thing", and if you need to change some facts in a setting to better suit your style, then you should NOT feel guilty about doing so. The moment you buy a sourcebook from WotC it becomes YOURS - make it so. The lore is supposed to work for you, NOT the other way around.
Lord Karsus IS the reason why the designers needed to 're-imagine' the Realms for 4e. :P
-I think I'd be the opposite, actually. I was fairly happy with most things, as they were, as opposed to disliking most things, as they were.
Rashemen
Rashemen is a land teeming with the spirits of the Feywild. Two uniquely Rashemii fey (until now) are the uncaring and cruel bheur of the mountainous ranges and the aughisky, a temperemental fey creature that would drag you to the depths of Lake Ashane rather than assist you. An ancient land, Rashemen's deeply held connection to it's place spirits and fey beginnings has made it far easier for the Feywild to find a foothold here than in other realms.
The Feywild version of Rashemen consists of the dark and marshy lands of the Murkendraw (MoP) to the north and rolling forested hills to the south of Lake Ashane. The Murkendraw's foul influence covers much of northern Rashemen, starting at the northern shore of Lake Ashane's Feywild counterpart and continuing north into the lands of Narfell and Damara. The great gray swamp that is the Murkendraw houses Baba Yaga's Hut and the foul personage of the Great Hag herself. Baba Yaga's Hut can often be found lurking in the northern woods of Rashemen's forest, waiting for it's mistress to return from her hunting. Many a Rashemii youth has been lost on dajemma while trying to brave the grounds that Baba Yaga's Hut stalks. In the exact center of the Murkendraw is a giant sinkhole that is miles deep, spilling into the Feydark into a great glittering cavern of mist and dark magic. With some tenuous connections to the Cold Sea in Faerun's Earthroot region of the Underdark, this miles-wide cavern houses two major fomorian kingdoms and a fair number of other fey strongholds. Very few of these strongholds are permanent, as the roving bands of cyclopses sent out by their fomorian masters often raid the smaller communities. The incursions into the Underdark from its Feydark parallel have been few to date, although the fomorian kingdoms have found themselves shifted into strange new lands intermittently, and this has piqued their interest and thirst for conquest.
The southern shore of Rashemen in the Feywild is a verdant and varied land where many of the more mortal-friendly fey reside. The hathran of Rashemen have begun to forge pacts and alliances with these fey, in hopes of staving off, or at least being prepared for, the incursions of less friendly fey. Dryads, satyrs, and many other spirits of the Feywild are but a handful of the exotic fey that cavort through the Forest of Shirala, as the Feywild inhabitants call it. Shirala is the name of an ancient archfey of the woods, who has not been seen for ages. The living embodiment of the woods in which she inhabits, the hathran who have heard of this legend believe she is the mother of the forest spirits who have come to aid them in the past.
-I think I'd be the opposite, actually. I was fairly happy with most things, as they were, as opposed to disliking most things, as they were.
You missed my point (and sorry for responding to this so late) - I meant that you are exactly the type of person WotC meant to 'disarm' with 4eFR.
Ambiguos lore = zero arguments about it.
Note that we can only have those 'really deep' discussion regarding older lore, since nothing is really set-in-stone on 4e.
Thats all I meant - 4e killed the 'Grognardise'.