| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 02:00:00
It seems mention in some 2e paper backs, why would you refer to where you live add forgotten |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 25 Apr 2013 : 14:21:34
I've always considered actual instances of characters in FR fiction referring to their world as either the Realms or the Forgotten Realms as poor writing or a failure in research on the part of the author. Was one of the things that annoyed me so much about the Avatar Trilogy. |
| BEAST |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 18:22:57
quote:
I have always treated the Realms as a "real place" which I am viewing and reporting on rather than a deliberate creation, and I believe that has been the key to making it live.
The "Forgotten Realms" derive their name from the fictitious fact upon which play in my campaign is based: that a multiverse exists, of countless parallel co-existing Prime Material Planes (including the world presented herein, our own modern "Earth," and any other fantasy settings a DM may wish to incorporate in play), all related to the Known Planes of Existence presented in the AD&D system. Travel betwixt these planes was once far more common than is the case now (when few know the means of reaching other worlds, or even believe in the existence of such fanciful places); hence, the Realms have been "forgotten" by beings of Earth. Our legends of dragons, vampires, and of other fearsome creatures and magic are due to this formerly widespread contact between the worlds; most have of course become confused and distorted with the passage of time and many retellings.
--Ed Greenwood (FRCS, 1E, "DM's Sourcebook of the Realms": p.4:"Introductions")
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| sleyvas |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 14:56:40
yeah, I see Elminster as one of the few folks who might refer to it as the "forgotten" realms, and that only if he were relating information to US or Ed (as a means to stress to US that there is so much more to the world that we've forgotten). I see the people referring to the world as Toril, their continent as Faerun, and they may use the same terms for the regions as we do (for instance, "The Old Empires", "The Shining South", and "The Unapproachable East") followed by country, city, or nicknames for their locale. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 14:15:38
If a character in-setting referred to it as "The Forgotten Realms", then I would say that was a mistake. The Realms are only 'forgotten' to us, the people of Earth (and presumably other worlds as well).
In fact, most common folk simply refer to their region, like 'The North', or 'The Swordcoast', and more learned personages might say 'Faerűn' when referring to the entire continent, but only those with a broader interest would say 'The Realms', and not even Elminster would call them "The Forgotten Realms", even though - in story - he is mostly responsible for OUR knowledge of them, and therefor the term.
Just like the folks of "Returned Abeir" would NOT have referred to it thus... a fact I had to bring to their attention after the 4e CG came out. Amazing that none of the professional team had ever even thought of that.  |
| Dennis |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 09:46:52
Where one lives used to be a “forgotten” place. Really, it’s just a matter of word choice. It’s either “forgotten” or “rediscovered,” depending, as MT put it, on one’s POV. |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 04:29:46
Well I have seen it in a few old books though, to a recent dramatic point of Ironhelm, where a mercenary was talking to a maztican , and they interacted where the woman said they called it the one true world, and the mercenary said they called home the forgotten realms. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 03:24:15
The reference is from our point-of-view.
There once many, many (more) connections between 'The Realms' and Earth, and other worlds as well, but those 'magical pathways' are now mostly Forgotten.
Thus, many of our RW myths presumably began as stories related by folks who traveled between the worlds (vampires, werewolves, dragons, and so many other monsters and fey creatures).
In-game, people from the continent of Faerűn usually just refer to it as 'The Realms'; the forgotten part is for our benefit.
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| Kentinal |
Posted - 24 Apr 2013 : 03:23:42
You know what realm you live in, however at a time of discord other realms were forgotten - some gone forever some rediscovered. There also in Ed's answers, IIRC, the reason the name was chosen. It might even be in the FAQ that I have not looked at recently. |
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