Seldra Tylmarande

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Metafictional

Nov 02, 2011 9:03:40
I'm currently playing in this season of Encounters, which deals with the various factions of Neverwinter trying to get their hands on Nasher's crown, to prove that they have a legitimate claim to the throne.  It's currently being carried around by a Half-Elf, named Seldra Tylmarande.  I didn't catch her last name until recently, and it has me very curious.

Aribeth del Tylmarande claimed (in Neverwinter Nights 1), that her family was killed, and that she was the sole survivor.  She canonically dies in the events of the game (her fate is ambiguous, but NWN2 explicitly states she is dead).  This implies that Seldra is a more distant relative (although there's probably more information in the adventure I'm not privy to).  I highly doubt that, given her duties in NWN1, that a fighting Paladin of Tyr would allow herself to become pregnant, so it seems unlikely that Seldra is a direct descendant.

What has me curious is how Seldra can hope to claim to be an heir of Nasher, crown or no crown.  A secret liason between Aribeth and Nasher doesn't seem probable...

Not to mention, her lineage would be suspect anyways, as Aribeth was likely killed for turning traitor, after her corruption by the Sarrush.
#2

Stigger

Nov 02, 2011 17:14:55
As far as I'm aware, Aribeth of NWN1 is non-canonical, and as such, never existed officially within the the P&P Realms.  I'd guess an author used the name to reference her, an easter egg if you will, more than to imply that she was a descendent of anyone in particular.
#3

sfdragon

Nov 02, 2011 17:50:07
the wailing death however was canon.



but do whatever you want 
#4

Metafictional

Nov 02, 2011 23:15:16
Hm, that's a point I hadn't considered, that NWN might just be an "alternate universe" FR.  I'll borrow "Lost Crown" as soon as my DM is done with it and see if it says anything.  It probably is an Easter Egg though. 
#5

eriksdb

Nov 10, 2011 12:51:29

Speaking as the author of the adventure, it is indeed an Easter Egg for players and DMs familiar with the game. (Also, fun fact, the badges the Lost Heir hands out at the end of encounter 2 are supposed to look like the purple "weeping eye" symbol of Neverwinter.)

In the course of "Lost Crown," Seldra claims to be a niece of Aribeth, not a direct descendent. There's little evidence to support this claim one way or another, and it's left as a plot thread for DMs to use however they like.

Seldra does NOT claim to be a descendent of the Alagondar line--in fact, she specifically states that she is NOT a scion of Alagondar. Read the adventure. It'll answer your questions on this point.

Also, I'm pretty sure "Lost Crown" isn't considered canonical, so you should feel free to do whatever you want with it without feeling like you're straying from canon.

Cheers

#6

TheGimper

Nov 18, 2011 1:05:19

(Also, fun fact, the badges the Lost Heir hands out at the end of encounter 2 are supposed to look like the purple "weeping eye" symbol of Neverwinter.)




Eric, what about the badge that Neverember gives them? Did you have any particular image in mind for those?
#7

sfdragon

Nov 18, 2011 7:55:09
ever see the neverwinter nights game boxes.

it's an Eyye with three tears on it 
#8

TheGimper

Nov 18, 2011 12:18:00
ever see the neverwinter nights game boxes.

it's an Eyye with three tears on it 



Is that in response to me? 
#9

eriksdb

Nov 18, 2011 13:16:50
Gimper, I think SFD is describing the Heir's symbol, which is the old school Neverwinter symbol.

Lord Dagult Neverember has his own sigil, which I don't think made the cut into the Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Unless you find a better answer elsewhere (you might ask Ed at Candlekeep), assume that it's similar to the Waterdeep sigil, though no doubt Neverember has added his own personal device. Possibly an eye like the Neverwinter symbol, to (not so) subtly imply that he is a rightful heir. Seems like something he would do!

Cheers
#10

sfdragon

Nov 18, 2011 15:15:19
the eye thing was IIRC was not even neverwinter's original seal.
the  savage north or some other 2nd ere book actually describes it and stated that it was on the badge of the greycloaks.



how the crying eye came in to be IIRC I do not know.

unless it has something to do with the fact that Tyr appeared in the city of skilled hands during the time of troubles.

and yes I was describing the neverwinter eye...


so if I misread something I do appologize           
#11

TheGimper

Nov 18, 2011 15:43:08
Gimper, I think SFD is describing the Heir's symbol, which is the old school Neverwinter symbol.


Which is exactly what I thought, and why I wondered if he was replying to me, or to someone else. 

Lord Dagult Neverember has his own sigil, which I don't think made the cut into the Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Unless you find a better answer elsewhere (you might ask Ed at Candlekeep), assume that it's similar to the Waterdeep sigil, though no doubt Neverember has added his own personal device. Possibly an eye like the Neverwinter symbol, to (not so) subtly imply that he is a rightful heir. Seems like something he would do!

Cheers


Correct. There's no sigil shown in the NWCG. I saw online an image of the weaping eye that was gold, not purple. I thought I might incorporate that.

Ideally, I'll try to incorporate this




Into this (maybe for the reflected image in the water)


 
     

Thanks Eric.
#12

TheGimper

Nov 18, 2011 15:46:24
the eye thing was IIRC was not even neverwinter's original seal.
the  savage north or some other 2nd ere book actually describes it and stated that it was on the badge of the greycloaks.



how the crying eye came in to be IIRC I do not know.

unless it has something to do with the fact that Tyr appeared in the city of skilled hands during the time of troubles.

and yes I was describing the neverwinter eye...


so if I misread something I do appologize           


No problem. It just confused me because I was asking about the badge that Neverember gives to the players in the Encounters adventure that Eric was talking about. I don't know if you played that adventure, but the Lost Heir gives the PCs a badge (which Eric said is the purple eye) and Lord Neverember also gives the PCs a badge.
#13

Stigger

Nov 18, 2011 17:10:15
The original badge of Neverwinter was:

"The royal badge of the city is a white swirl - a sideways "M," with points to the right.  It connects three white snowflakes; each flake is different, but all are encircled by silver and blue haloes." - Volo's Guide to the North (pg 131)

As to where the eye came from, first place I ever saw it mentioned or depicted was in the original Neverwinter Nights game, and it just sorta stuck around for whatever reason.
#14

sfdragon

Nov 18, 2011 21:38:01
which makes me wonder if the eye was in fact Nasher's coat of arms


or when the info was passed on to bioware, they got dark sun stuff instead..... but then  I dont have any of the dark sun stuff  
#15

eriksdb

Nov 20, 2011 14:02:09
Good questions! Someone needs to ask Ed about this . . .

Cheers
#16

Stigger

Nov 21, 2011 16:49:16
Personally, I'm of the opinion that it was probably some artist making a symbol for the People of the Eye in the game that just sort of caught on.  Honestly, I seriously doubt Ed had much to do with it at all, though one never knows, I could be mistaken about that.
#17

sfdragon

Nov 21, 2011 16:50:18
that makes sense stigger