Does anyone know whether this novel will bring the Drizzt saga to present time 4e. I'm assuming that it will deal wth Cadderly and the Spirit Soaring in some way but beyond that just looking for insights
Or did Oghma just eat him? I can't be bothered to look it up.....
But these Transitions(not Drizzts ponderings they take place in 4e) novels take place before 4E. So Cadderly is still going strong as far as I know.
-The epilogues of the last two books in that trilogy were taking place in the "new" Forgotten Realms.
I know The Orc King had that, but did The Pirate King? I've flipped through it in the store, and I could've sworn that it didn't have any parts that took place in the new Realms (I specifically looked for them). I could have just missed them though...
Didn't Cadderly's God get a 4e demotion?
More like a "pink slip"...
I know The Orc King had that, but did The Pirate King? I've flipped through it in the store, and I could've sworn that it didn't have any parts that took place in the new Realms (I specifically looked for them). I could have just missed them though...
-No? I thought it did. I don't have the book, though, so...
-Go figure, then. What was the point of it in the first book, I wonder, then?
My opinion is that is was all about marketing, pure and simple (as mentioned earlier). The 4E Realms was being cross-promoted by a novel that came out right after 4E itself (and the resulting changes to the Realms) was announced.
All I can do is laugh at all this. "Stella!!!!"
CCC: A racist group whose goal is the extermination of a singular race. (Orcs)
He also said that hes going to wait and see how 4th ed develops to see if he wants to write in it. He said, "I still have stories to tell in this timeline". That fact paired with the factt that his contract is up in 2 years, there is no guarantee that he'll move into the 4th ed world.
In the end I think they'll make a deal to put Drizzt into 4th ed, but its not 100%.
RAS spoke at a book signing in Orlando a couple of months ago and said that Ghost King is still in the 3rd ed world but leads right up to the edge of the Spellplague, but doesn't go into it.
He also said that hes going to wait and see how 4th ed develops to see if he wants to write in it. He said, "I still have stories to tell in this timeline". That fact paired with the factt that his contract is up in 2 years, there is no guarantee that he'll move into the 4th ed world.
In the end I think they'll make a deal to put Drizzt into 4th ed, but its not 100%.
Complete speculation on my part, but I have a feeling that RAS will either:
- write something completely new for 4E, tied only indirectly to characters in his previous novels (or perhaps even totally separate), -or-
- take up a 4E story involving a half-drow offspring of Drizzt.
He also said that hes going to wait and see how 4th ed develops to see if he wants to write in it. He said, "I still have stories to tell in this timeline". That fact paired with the factt that his contract is up in 2 years, there is no guarantee that he'll move into the 4th ed world.
-I cannot foresee this.
-Anyway, there is a 0% chance that he'll get to finish the stories he still has to tell in "this" timeline.
I feel that if Elaine wishes to do so she would have "access" to the 1300s as well. Making money is making money and if those books sell then so be it. Plus the stories they tell in the 1300s can be setups for upcoming stories set in the 1400s.
He may be one of those authors like Ed that will be able to write in the 1300s.
-He has yet to, which was my point. Thus far, Ed hasn't mentioned any stories that he's going to be able to write, being set in the pre-1,375 DR. As such, if Ed isn't allowed to- and, so far, we'll see- there's no way that R.A. Salvatore will be allowed to.
He may be one of those authors like Ed that will be able to write in the 1300s.
I'd like to think Ed can set stories in whatever year on the timeline he wants, but we haven't heard yet that that will be the case.
When they decided they didn't have the room, he opted to use them in the novel he was working on.
Thats my take, anyway, because it really looks like they were meant to go elsewhere.
As I have said in the past, I have a feeling the RAS prologue and epilogues were really the 'story' we were supposed to get in the GhotR (remember that a RAS story WAS indeed promised in that tome?)
When they decided they didn't have the room, he opted to use them in the novel he was working on.
Thats my take, anyway, because it really looks like they were meant to go elsewhere.
-Hmm...Interesting. Quite possibly. Did Salvatore actually write the story, though? That's something to ask Rich Baker and/or Brian. One of them might know. Having a prologue and epilogue in the future for each novel, like I said, I thought that was going to be the format, and in that way, I could see it making sense.
As I have said in the past, I have a feeling the RAS prologue and epilogues were really the 'story' we were supposed to get in the GhotR (remember that a RAS story WAS indeed promised in that tome?)
When they decided they didn't have the room, he opted to use them in the novel he was working on.
Thats my take, anyway, because it really looks like they were meant to go elsewhere.
You know, that's possible. I didn't even think of that.
my prediction is for two trilogies one of drizzt in the future (current realms) and one similar to transitions where he wraps up his other caharatcters possibly cattie bries adventure with alustriel (i think thats where alustriel will die) cadderly and wulfgar or entreri
Thats just a theory I have, nothing more.
As for continueing to write in the 1300s, I doubt it as well, which is kind of a shame since I like the 1300s so much. I don't think moving the entire time line ahead 100 yrs was necessary, thus killing every important NPC that made the Realms great, but thats just me.
As for your theory about the Prologue to Orc King being for the GHoftR, thats a sound theory, they may not have wanted to tip their hand too much.
Although I must admit the idea of Drizzt facing off against Shade Swordmages is one I can get into!
-The only thing that makes that hypothesis a little weird would be that AGHotR was published September of 2007, which was a while before the preview glimpses of the "new" Forgotten Realms were being leaked. If the story was indeed planned for AGHotR, it would have seemed very out of place with AGHotR ending only at 1,385 DR, and no preview tidbits of the 1,479 DR Realms yet.
Here's the way I see it - a story was promised, and RAS has been 'in on' the 3e decision for over four years now.
In fact, the prologue and epilogue seem to have been written with a slightly different future in mind - RAS might have been in on the eartly talks, and then was 'out of the loop' as things started getting finished (I was going to use the word 'polished' there... but it just didn't fit).
The story would have served as an excellent vehicle to introduuce us to the new realms of 1479 DR. Since the GHotR ended with the Spellplague, it was really no surprise that something major was in the works.
Now, someone probably decided that the vingettes were a better option (Yay! A smart decision!), and also RAS's Prologue/Epilogue might have given us more of a picture then the designers wanted back then. It makes sense that first they hit us with the Spellplague news, and then they hit us with THE BIG ONE - the hundred year timejump.
If you recall, many of us refused to believe the epilogue/Prologue was indeed the new timeframe... which is EXACTLY what it turned out to be. They chose to feed it to us in two chunks, making it easier to digest, and even then we were still like "it CAN'T be..."
Perhaps the CCC was an idea they canned early on, and they forgot to tell Bob. :D
-They don't necessarily have to be dead. There's always wacky ways to make things work.
Oh, my. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Let the humans die, RAS.
I wouldn't mind the rhyming dwarf's demise either, honestly. His story could have potential if he'd stop with the rhyming schtick.
-Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, I'd be happy having nothing ever mention them again. I'm not too fond of blatant analogues in Kara-Tur and Maztica, and I'm not fond of them in Faerûn, either.
Agreed. This made me cringe. It was both an unneeded, somewhat tasteless, and a little absurd. I'd really prefer it never rear it's ugly head, again, for several reasons.
Oh, my. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Let the humans die, RAS.
I wouldn't mind the rhyming dwarf's demise either, honestly. His story could have potential if he'd stop with the rhyming schtick.
-Agreed, on all points.
Agreed. This made me cringe. It was both an unneeded, somewhat tasteless, and a little absurd. I'd really prefer it never rear it's ugly head, again, for several reasons.
-Unneeded and somewhat tasteless, I agree. Absurd, not that much. It's not like "racist groups" aren't unheard of- the Eldreth Veluuthra, for example.
-Agreed, on all points.
-Unneeded and somewhat tasteless, I agree. Absurd, not that much. It's not like "racist groups" aren't unheard of- the Eldreth Veluuthra, for example.
True. The "absurd" part might have been phrased better. I thought it a sad real-world analogue that would have best been avoided. It was "absurd" to see it in print, in a book for which I'd paid money.
I'm fine with the existence of an "elven orc-haters group". It's to be expected, honestly, with millenia of antipathy between the races. It was also cool to see Drizzt, Hralien, and the guys fighting against it. The "CCC" name, though, was just cheesy.
Cheesy. Yes, that's a better word. The "CCC" was unneeded, tasteless, and cheesy.
*I think pretending that there was no malice and pleasure on the elf/dwarf side of the conflict would have been negligent. We've read enough passages of characters reveling in the slaughter to know that's not the case.
-At the time, everyone was pretty puzzled by it. At the time, and in retrospect, it seems a bit off, especially if the others don't have similar epilogues/prologues. I figured, that was how R.A. Salvatore was going to write in the "future" while his current trilogy was still in the "past".
Hell, I am still puzzled by it.
Oh, my. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Let the humans die, RAS.
I wouldn't mind the rhyming dwarf's demise either, honestly. His story could have potential if he'd stop with the rhyming schtick.
Agreed. This made me cringe. It was both an unneeded, somewhat tasteless, and a little absurd. I'd really prefer it never rear it's ugly head, again, for several reasons.
man, i love the rappin dwarf i think hes hilarious. especially when contrasted with the stoic characters hes with.
i think it may just be the perfect thing for the legend of drizzt to have an infusion of new characters. drizzt being the lone survivor wandering alone dispensing justice as he sees it hated and feared by all all who see him a drow on the surface friendless and alone untill he meets the new friends that make him see what he lost and thier new adventures in the realms as theyve changed. possibly an old enemy who also has changed in time. it sounds canned but i think itd work and i dont see any way to organicly introduce anyone without traveling back into unpublishable territory
man, i love the rappin dwarf i think hes hilarious. especially when contrasted with the stoic characters hes with.
He has his moments.
it sounds canned but i think itd work and i dont see any way to organicly introduce anyone without traveling back into unpublishable territory
Agreed. RAS has to introduce someone to replace the (hopefully) now dead humans, dwarf, and halfling (though I will miss Bruenor and Regis).
I'd like to see what would happen if/when he and Entreri run into one another again. Could Artemis finally have outgrown his obsession? I'd like to see that from his character.
I'd like to see what would happen if/when he and Entreri run into one another again. Could Artemis finally have outgrown his obsession? I'd like to see that from his character.
-It seems he has, given that, in Promise of the Witch-King and Road of the Patriarch, Drizzt is barely mentioned by Entreri.
-It seems he has, given that, in Promise of the Witch-King and Road of the Patriarch, Drizzt is barely mentioned by Entreri.
True, but I can't clearly remember an important point: Did Jarlaxle ever come clean about Drizzt still being alive? Artemis had believed Drizzt dead for a long while. I think I remember the truth coming out, but I could be fooling myself. If Artemis never learned, he could be in for a strange chance-meeting one day. I'd like to be fly on the wall of that tavern.
The last we see Artemis, he's heading home to Memnon. I wonder what becomes of him in the following years. It seems unlikely he'd be living there long after the resumption of the Skyfire Wars. I've also wondered, though never voiced the idea, of whether RAS will have the two team up in an uneasy alliance of sorts at any point in the future. It would be strange, but I'm sure I could come up with ways to make it happen. Especially so with a 100+ years of cooldown-time in their feud.
True, but I can't clearly remember an important point: Did Jarlaxle ever come clean about Drizzt still being alive?
No.
No.
It figures. It wouldn't really be like Jarlaxle to come clean about anything, unless pressed.
Perhaps I'm remembering correctly, then, that Jarlaxle once thought Artemis had figured it out, and briefly feared for his own well-being?
I believe I remember him subtley readying himself for a fight until discerning that Artemis was indeed still "in the dark", so to speak.
It would seem I need to reread those stories; or, at least, skim them. I can't imagine rereading them, to tell the truth. They were sort of "meh".
Perhaps I'm remembering correctly, then, that Jarlaxle once thought Artemis had figured it out, and briefly feared for his own well-being?
I remember that part too.
It would seem I need to reread those stories; or, at least, skim them. I can't imagine rereading them, to tell the truth. They were sort of "meh".
Ugh, no, don't reread them if you didn't care for them. Plenty of other books out there, and life's short.
In the FRCG, I read something about a "matrix"... and a "slowtime portal"...
They ain't dieing.
Salvatore won't kill of his chars. for a 4e novel.
-Not even for a Klondike Bar?
I remember that part too.
I'm glad at least some of my memories are real. :P
Ugh, no, don't reread them if you didn't care for them. Plenty of other books out there, and life's short.
QFT.
It's not that I didn't enjoy them. I just didn't enjoy them as much as I'd have liked. I have a few novels at my bedside yet to read, as it is, and another on the way. Now that I think of it, all are either FR or Eberron. There really are some quality DnD novels out there.
I definitely won't be rereading and RAS anytime soon, no offense intended to Mr. Salvatore. I just have a lot of other options, as you said.
I don't intend to read them
so what happens in these new RAS novels, in short? who is the Ghost King?
I don't intend to read them
-All I read is The Orc King, so far. I wrote a review for it, if you are so inclined to read it. As for the plot, to make a long story short, there is a general standstill in the war with King Obould in the North. A new, more evil group of Orcs appears, who want to keep on fighting, while Obould wants to stop. In the end, Obould and the Dwarves make an alliance, stops the new faction, and the Kingdom of Many-Arrows is truly established.
-As for The Ghost King, it has something to do with Luskan being destroyed, and Captain Deudermont (Sp?) dying.
-As for The Ghost King, it has something to do with Luskan being destroyed, and Captain Deudermont (Sp?) dying.
Actually, that's Pirate King, LK. Ghost King is *should* be out in November (although I can't find a release date anywhere on the net...)
The Ghost King is supposedly going to deal with Cadderly and the other Spirit Soaring characters.
-The Spirit Soaring is described as destroyed and inhabited by "ghosts" in The Orc King prologue, and the FRCG, so, there we go. Now, I wonder, will Cadderly or one of his companions be the literal "Ghost King", if such a literal entity is born.
*sigh* I missed that in the CG and prologue. Either that or old age is getting the better of me.
From the Publisher
Don’t miss the gripping conclusion to Salvatore’s New York Times best-selling Transitions trilogy!
When the Spellplague ravages Faerûn, Drizzt and his companions are caught in the chaos. Seeking out the help of the priest Cadderly–the hero of the recently reissued series The Cleric Quintet–Drizzt finds himself facing his most powerful and elusive foe, the twisted Crenshinibon, the demonic crystal shard he believed had been destroyed years ago.
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Ghost-King-Transitions-Book-Iii-R-a-Salvatore/9780786952335-item.html?pticket=zixlxcraik05ri55adqmlpy3HR0drM0ATr%2fZbs5aswfBeQLyZY4%3d
-The Prologue: Something to the effect of Drizzt saying, "I saw the grandest of cathedrals be destroyed". The grandest of cathedrals that we can associate with Drizzt would be the Spirit Soaring, as we've never seen him in any other places that could be given that title.
"The grandest of cathedrals burned to the ground"
you know LK your theory on Cadderly being the Ghost King kinda makes sense. It would explain how Cadderly is around in 4e."The grandest of cathedrals burned to the ground"
-I'll admit that I don't even remember ever saying something to that effect, that Cadderly is "the ghost king", and that's an interesting idea, but I don't want to take credit for someone else's idea.
EDIT: And, I scrolled up, and saw myself say it. Go me.
Is RAS going to have him take-over Erlkazar? (a country that the Spirirt Soaring and Caradoon are both in, yet are never mentioned in the novels)
That could interfere with the plot of Obsidian Ridge - was that 3e, or 4e?
Edit: Far more likely it is Bruenor - the only King that Drizzt associates with.
That could interfere with the plot of Obsidian Ridge - was that 3e, or 4e?
Not only was it 3E, but it took place even earlier than usual (1367 DR, IIRC).
SPOILER BELOW
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Similar to what he did in "The Pirate King" in which the city of Luskan is ruled by 5 pirates and one of them is in control hence "The pirate King". To me it rang to similar to "The Bretheren Court" from Potc :P
If he's an Earth-bound ghost, that makes his entire life and devotion to Deneir a lie.
Bummer.
Well, I betcha Caderly's spirit ain't soaring anymore. :D
-If he's a ghost, it'll be a lot easier to do so, not having a mortal body to be contained to.
-Does Denier even exist anymore?
That seems to be the trend - they don't discuss things one way or the other when it has to do with a novel's plot (they don't want spoilers, like what they did with Mask).
Anyhow, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that Mithral hall is full of Ghosts, and Bruenor is the 'Ghost King', and Drizzt enlists Cadderly's aid in freeing his friend's spirit from it's 'earthly bounds'.
Think about it - Bruenor lead his people there - ANYTHING that happens to them he is going to blame himself for, most especially if he failed to protect them from some wretched fate.
I so want to see a zombie Wulfgar, Regis, and Cattie Brie. :D
I so want to see a zombie Wulfgar, Regis, and Cattie Brie. :D
Gah! With Rumblebelly's appetite, there's not enough brains in the Realms to satisfy a zombie like that!
Hmph... maybe his 'fate' was left open because RAS was planning to cver it?
That seems to be the trend - they don't discuss things one way or the other when it has to do with a novel's plot (they don't want spoilers, like what they did with Mask).
-Yeah, that's why I started thinking about Denier, and his fate. When it's not mentioned, that's not good.
Anyhow, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that Mithral hall is full of Ghosts, and Bruenor is the 'Ghost King', and Drizzt enlists Cadderly's aid in freeing his friend's spirit from it's 'earthly bounds'.
Think about it - Bruenor lead his people there - ANYTHING that happens to them he is going to blame himself for, most especially if he failed to protect them from some wretched fate.
-Maybe...I don't think so, though. The FRCG mentions Mithral Hall, and it's still a functioning city. If Mithral Hall was destroyed, I could imagine Bruenor being a ghost. But, since it's still around and seemingly doing good, what would cause him to linger and be a ghost?
Note Neverwinter... which was destroyed, according to them... and yet its still there, a little worse for wear.
I can give you the extreme example of Zhentil keep, which was there two days afer it was completely obliterated.
Mithral Hall could have easily fallen and been a complete 'Dungeon' (again) for dozens of years, before Drizzt and Cadderly 'cleansed it' and the Dwarves moved back in (or new Dwarves - that stuff happens all the time... Dwarves just can't make up their minds if they're coming or going).
Mithral Hall could have easily fallen and been a complete 'Dungeon' (again) for dozens of years, before Drizzt and Cadderly 'cleansed it' and the Dwarves moved back in (or new Dwarves - that stuff happens all the time... Dwarves just can't make up their minds if they're coming or going).
-Good point, good point...
Hmph... maybe his 'fate' was left open because RAS was planning to cver it?
That seems to be the trend - they don't discuss things one way or the other when it has to do with a novel's plot (they don't want spoilers, like what they did with Mask).
Anyhow, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that Mithral hall is full of Ghosts, and Bruenor is the 'Ghost King', and Drizzt enlists Cadderly's aid in freeing his friend's spirit from it's 'earthly bounds'.
Think about it - Bruenor lead his people there - ANYTHING that happens to them he is going to blame himself for, most especially if he failed to protect them from some wretched fate.
I so want to see a zombie Wulfgar, Regis, and Cattie Brie. :D
Interesting possibility that you have there. But since The Pirate King pretty much ends close to the spellplague it's not likely that "Bruenor" would end up the Ghost King. I'm going to go out on a limb here and continue with RAS' theme in the first two books(I.e someone Evil ended up being the "title" character Obould = Orc King,
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Kensidan(?spell)
I think I like your theory better then mine (even if an Undead Cattie Brie wrapping her arms around Drizzt just makes me so happy in a truly morbid way).
Good thought, that, and impeccable logic.
I think I like your theory better then mine (even if an Undead cattie Brie wrapping her arms around Drizzt just makes me so happy in a truly morbid way).
Interesting image you have there. But somehow I think WOTC would frown upon the whole necrophilic aspect of that scenario. Though a Half-dead Half-drow child would be..ummm..well it would be an interesting character to say the least. Imagine an Emo-undead creature running out shouting " I want your brains " while apologizing after every bite and then writes down his/her feelings in their journal while still trying to figure out their place in the world .What we got right there is a Drowshade. :D
Or a Shadrow. :P
Anyway, I didn't envision that for sexual reasons - I was thinking of it more in a truly morbid-Stephen King kinda ghoulish way. You know, with an undead (and very different) Cattiie Brie putting her arms around Drizzt and saying "Whats the matter, Drizzt-honey... don't you want to give your lover a kiss?"
And then she opens her mouth for some tongue-action, and magots pour out...
C'mon... you gotta admit thats a great visual - I think even our Uber-Drow would crap himself.
So Cattie-Brie ala "Pet Semetary" huh? You funny ,twisted individual.
Well as long as it isn't a Shardrow it would be cool.
-Ah, you mean Captain Shardrow "Fflar" Melruth, the legendary hero of Myth Drannor, as mentioned in AGHotR?
-Ah, you mean Captain Shardrow "Fflar" Melruth, the legendary hero of Myth Drannor, as mentioned in AGHotR?
His name was supposed to be "Starbrow."
1. It looks like it starts right at the beginning of the spellplague(for those who are looking for lore on how it affected NPC's and some common folk this might be a good book to pick up even if you're not that big on RAS's writing)
2. Jarlaxle is in this as well as Heph(red dragon last seen with the crystal shard) but I'm not sure if he's the Ghost King but I am sure he's the draco-lich on the cover of the book.
So for all you fellow Drizzt and Ras fans like me this looks like it will be a good one. For those of you who are not to each his own
