The next trilogy will build off of the events of the Twilight War. Some characters will recur, others will be entirely new. The new trilogy is entitled, "The Cycle of Night," and the individual book titles are: Godborn, Godbound, and Godslayer.
Paul
I cannot wait for these novels! :D
Dark!
And Empty! ;)
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because that would be redundent...
If you produce the same shadow/Cale/Mask thing over and over you start to get the RAS syndrome.
-Agreed. Personally speaking, it should "die" with Book III of the Twilight War trilogy. It's been an extremely good run, from the first Erevis Cale novel, to that short story in Realms of the Dragons, to now, but all good things come to an end.
-I don't believe this is "new" news, either. I recall Paul mentioning this in the past a few weeks/months back. Maybe the titles are new.
I do not think he will return but perhaps we will see his offspring and Riven team up to blah blah blah. I understand why this happens, because the characters sell novels. I want to see Mask brought back officially (he lives in my wolrd) but I just want it to happen in an article or sourcebook, not another series where I have to wait 3 + years to see the story unfold.
-I see no reason why this would happen. We don't have any indication that Erevis Cale's child is anything special (note, I haven't finished Book III of the Twilight War trilogy yet, so...). The only thing that could be interpreted that he is was when Mask poked Varra's pregnant stomach in "Continuum", the short story in Realms of War. Thus, being that in all likelihood the new trilogy will take place in 1,479 DR, that's 104 years after Cale's child's birth. Again, since we have no evidence of indication that he's anything special, he should be dead in 1,479 DR.
-Given the titles, I think Prince Rivalen of Shade is going to have some sort of role, given the fact that, in the Twilight War trilogy, he makes mention of wanting to bind the divinity of Volumvox to himself, and goes about accomplishing this in some fashion, given the spoilers I've unfortunately been exposed to.
If the novels are just about how Riven and whoever rebuild the church of Mask through guile and killing Cyric and Shar worshippers than I might buy that. This series should be a revenge tale IMO like High Plains Drifter or Payback.
-I see no reason why this would happen. We don't have any indication that Erevis Cale's child is anything special (note, I haven't finished Book III of the Twilight War trilogy yet, so...). The only thing that could be interpreted that he is was when Mask poked Varra's pregnant stomach in "Continuum", the short story in Realms of War. Thus, being that in all likelihood the new trilogy will take place in 1,479 DR, that's 104 years after Cale's child's birth. Again, since we have no evidence of indication that he's anything special, he should be dead in 1,479 DR.
Yeah.... You better finish Book III. :D
Aye but one of the titles is Godborn. Perhaps Mask pulled a Mystra when Cale did the "deed"?
-It's possible, but, again, there's no evidence. The ambiguous term could just as easily apply to...Storm Silverhand. The book series could be about the Shadovar hunting down the remaining Chosen of Mystra.
Yeah.... You better finish Book III. :D
-Getting there.
-It's possible, but, again, there's no evidence. The ambiguous term could just as easily apply to...Storm Silverhand. The book series could be about the Shadovar hunting down the remaining Chosen of Mystra.
Perhaps but only if the series was not called Cycle of Night. Most likely it is a shadowstuff and gods of shadow. At the very least it will have Riven or someone related or trained like him doing Masks will or something shadow related.
This is from his blog
quote Paul Kemp
You got it, brother. SW first. Then CoN, with an anthology contribution to Realms of Undead thrown in there somewhere. Busy, busy. But it's a good kind of busy. The SW novel, in particular, is just plain fun.
So he will write for an anthology about Undead at the same time as his series comes out. Hmmmmm.....
So he will write for an anthology about Undead at the same time as his series comes out. Hmmmmm.....
-Looks like Erevis Cale isn't exactly as done as we think. Even Drizzt can't match that. ;)
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split between 3 characters now. Riven, Rivelin, and The Lord of the 8th Layer Of Hell Mesphistopholes(sp).
If Cale comes back as a revanent that will make him the angstiest hero ever.;)
Maybe he will show up in the anthology as a ghost that offers insight to Riven or someone.
-Looks like Erevis Cale isn't exactly as done as we think. Even Drizzt can't match that. ;)
You sure about that
But on Erevis Cale I would hope he doesn't become as popular. Inthis era of Wotc it seems that not being uber popular alwys seem to be better characters and novels because of the freedom the author has with the character. I think I'm going to pick up the first Cale novel tomorrow and see what this character is all about. 
You sure about that
-Just being silly. Though I don't know the circumstances, from being being liberal with the spoilers, I've learned that
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Erevis Cale dies
Perhaps but only if the series was not called Cycle of Night. Most likely it is a shadowstuff and gods of shadow. At the very least it will have Riven or someone related or trained like him doing Masks will or something shadow related.
-That's an inconclusive result. The Twilight War had, as it's protagonists, Lathanderites and a Half-Fiend in no way related to shadows/Mask/Shar/etc.
-Having finished the book, now, it seems that the emphasis will be on
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Erevis Cale's son, with Mask having 'teleported' Varra into the future, and with the cryptic statements of Mask upon his "death" and Riven at the Wayrock. If the character played no important role, none of this would have been necessary
LK, please say that you agree with me about him being the fifth Chosen! The 5th is supposed to be "hidden," and I can't think of anything more hidden than the future.
-It seems very likely, but I don't like it. It's too...I don't know the right word...'hokey', I guess. Now, you know who would have been a cool Chosen? The Shadow Dragon whose name I can never remember. Furnsomethingorother.
And a Divine Champion of Lathander riding a shadow dragon during their moment of shared revenge/redemption was satisfying.
Furlinastis.
-Yes, him. Thank you.
Godslayer? This is a joke, right? (please, please tell me it's a joke)
Doesn't ANYONE remember the mistakes that killed-off the phenomenal Thieves World series?
Alas, history repeates itself.
I guess if your main character isn't juggling planets, he just isn't 'Michael Bay' enough for FR anymore.
BTW, if anyone wants a preview of those, just read the Thieves World series about Shadowspawn... I kid you not... he was 'born of gods' as well.
Its true what they say... their are no more original stories...
Godslayer? This is a joke, right? (please, please tell me it's a joke)
Maybe it'll be about Mask dying again ! (like once isn't enough
)My qualms are NOT with his writing (as they are with so many other FR authors), they are with the subject matter.
For the past few years most fans have been pleading with WotC NOT to do any more stories involving the gods... and then we get three books with 'God' in the title.
It's so painfully obvious that corporate America is so out-of-touch with the consumers it's scarey.
I just had a crazy thought... how about an FR novel that takes place on TORIL?
I just want to state for the record that I think Paul Kemp is perhaps the best author currently writing in the Realms.
My qualms are NOT with his writing (as they are with so many other FR authors), they are with the subject matter.
For the past few years most fans have been pleading with WotC NOT to do any more stories involving the gods... and then we get three books with 'God' in the title.
It's so painfully obvious that corporate America is so out-of-touch with the consumers it's scarey.
I just had a crazy thought... how about an FR novel that takes place on TORIL?
You amaze and appall me at the same time.
Screw those two nutjobs.
You amaze and appall me at the same time.
I have that effect on all of my fans. :P
I love the concepet of a god of thieves, I liked Cale and Kemps writing. I read his stuff because it was a bit gritty and about Sembia which I never really read about...
Exactly my point.
I HATE Shadowcrap, and find Sembia a total snore-fest, and yet Mr. Kemp was able to keep me enthralled with his series about that subject matter.
Truly an amazing feat, and my hat's off to him.
I can't wait until he starts writing novels that take place outside of FR - then I can enjoy his talent again.
can't believe Shar will die
Sembia wasn't detailed, but still, better to play there than in Kara-Tur
K-T is interesting, and very imaginative when you start digging around.
Sembia was pre-unification Italy painted onto a Fantasy backdrop.
I have that effect on all of my fans. :P
The only fan in use here is the one that I am waving to get rid of your silent farts, you stinky punk.
Exactly my point.
I HATE Shadowcrap, and find Sembia a total snore-fest, and yet Mr. Kemp was able to keep me enthralled with his series about that subject matter.
Truly an amazing feat, and my hat's off to him.
I can't wait until he starts writing novels that take place outside of FR - then I can enjoy his talent again.
I've got nothing against the Shadowvar, other than their entrance into the Realms was written poorly and that they have quickly been overplayed as the drow were.
Kemp has done a masterful job of creating their true character, IMO.
I would read a series about Riven though as long as it stayed down to earth so to speak. Give me Riven and his dogs and I would be happy.
I would read a series about Riven though as long as it stayed down to earth so to speak. Give me Riven and his dogs and I would be happy.
You may get your wish.
Minus the decade old doggies though.
Minus the decade old doggies though.
-Oh, G-d, you're right!
-Two more victims of the Spellplague...
-Oh, G-d, you're right!
-Two more victims of the Spellplague...
Don't cry, my friend. We'll get those cute CENSORED doggies back somehow. Perhaps in some canine park where we can recreate deceased puppies by DNA.
Only time will tell.
Since Riven is a dog lover I am somewhat certain he will have some of the critters around even in 4E.
Yeahhhh... that the ticket... Giant Killer Shadow-mastiffs, with the Warbeast template. :D
Then he got a little superhero on me as Cale became more popular.
Yes... definately 'Gold Star' time for Rauric. :D
Thats the problem, first with Drizzt, and then with Cale... and dozens of other characters I could name in other settings (Conan, Elric, Maud'Dib, Vader/Anniken, Shadowspawn, Richard Cypher, Rand, etc, etc...).
It is the same phenomena that we get with hit movies - there is a need to bring back popular characters, but the writer must 'out-do' the previous incarnation, leading to an almost god-like escalation of the character. Even in Horror movies with see it, with guys like Freddy and Jason.
Its a shame an author can't just write a trilogy and leave it the hell alone after that.
A really great example is the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. The first three were magnificent - everything after was just the author milking his cash-cow.
I would read a series about Riven though as long as it stayed down to earth so to speak. Give me Riven and his dogs and I would be happy.
Maybe he'll have Kezef chained in his basement in 4e. :D
Or they could just treat his affection for animals in a real life fashion and just have him pick up some new mutts.
Good point.
I liked the idea of Cale being turned into a non Sharran Shade and then going after the Shades themselves but I was hoping the aftereffects would be the fragmentation of the Shade Princes or some of the El level ones biting it. I wanted at least the Shar loving Prince to die so the Prince could just go about being evil wizards with their own agendas.
Maybe it'll be about Mask dying again ! (like once isn't enough
Now, the way I read it, Mask is gone. As it looks, he "stole" (I would say was given) some kind of divinity by Shar and in the end it was to a large extend returned to her. He was absorbed by the deity of nihilism, he won't come back.
Yet, it is being said that the divinity that was stolen by Kesson and later given to the threesome was apart of the divinity Mask gained after becoming a deity. That could mean, nothing of Shar's (or whomever's) stuff. That bit remains in the shade prince, Riven and the Lord of Cania (the effects of which has not been recognized in any way in any FR product so far for this change (as opposed to Asmodeus, BTW)).
Anyway, Riven as well as Rivalen are, by the looks of it, deities too. Pretty minor though, quasideities maybe? I for one wouldn't mind a new deity for something similar to Mask, a touch more neutral (for all thieves) maybe.
I liked the idea of Cale being turned into a non Sharran Shade and then going after the Shades themselves but I was hoping the aftereffects would be the fragmentation of the Shade Princes or some of the El level ones biting it. I wanted at least the Shar loving Prince to die so the Prince could just go about being evil wizards with their own agendas.
Perhaps.
But what then happens to the Shadowfell and to the Shade themselves?
Now, the way I read it, Mask is gone. As it looks, he "stole" (I would say was given) some kind of divinity by Shar and in the end it was to a large extend returned to her. He was absorbed by the deity of nihilism, he won't come back.
p. 332:
“Interest is due on your debt, my son.”
He nodded once more. He had expected as much and prepared. In the millenia in which he had been worshiped the faith of his followers had made him something greater than that which he had initially stolen from her. That she knew. But she did not know its scope, and that he had hidden some.
As MT pointed out, he was the god of intrigue for some time—he just “recently” lost it in his span as a god.
Yet, it is being said that the divinity that was stolen by Kesson and later given to the threesome was apart of the divinity Mask gained after becoming a deity. That could mean, nothing of Shar's (or whomever's) stuff. That bit remains in the shade prince, Riven and the Lord of Cania (the effects of which has not been recognized in any way in any FR product so far for this change (as opposed to Asmodeus, BTW)).
And that’s why Mask saved Cale’s nugget in the oven, baby!
Perhaps.
But what then happens to the Shadowfell and to the Shade themselves?
-Nothing, specifically. They go about their own business, being fragmented and divided.
I meant to agree with Rauric. Except I don't like the rogue aspect of it.