Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Realmslore
 Realms Events
 Current/Recent Wars
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Previous Page | Next Page
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic
Page: of 4

ShadezofDis
Senior Scribe

402 Posts

Posted - 21 Feb 2008 :  16:10:02  Show Profile  Visit ShadezofDis's Homepage Send ShadezofDis a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Well, last I knew there was a semi-cease fire between the Amnians and the Sythillisians due to the Stinger invasion. I'm not really sure if there's been a substantial update since Power of Faerun. I mean, a change in the Amnian view on magic would be pretty huge but it sounds like it's mostly "maybes and ifs"
Go to Top of Page

creyzi4zb12
Learned Scribe

Philippines
129 Posts

Posted - 04 Feb 2009 :  18:26:03  Show Profile  Visit creyzi4zb12's Homepage Send creyzi4zb12 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Anybody has info. on the Orcfasting Wars = War that made Waterdeep.
Orcgate Wars = epic war

orc orc orc orc orc orc orc orc orc orc orc
Go to Top of Page

Ardashir
Senior Scribe

USA
544 Posts

Posted - 06 Feb 2009 :  18:48:25  Show Profile  Visit Ardashir's Homepage Send Ardashir a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I was interested in doing something with the Amnian Ogre Mage war, if only because of the three faiths/temples you would have fighting alongside the 'good guys':

1) A Selunite temple

2) Loviatar's worshippers

3) A rival ttemple of Cyric

Just imagine trying to keep them all from killing each other!
Go to Top of Page

Thesleepyone
Acolyte

Romania
2 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2014 :  00:37:55  Show Profile Send Thesleepyone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I am surprised nobody said anything about the Luruar vs Many Arrows kingdom. And what are the chances for Luruar to survive.
Go to Top of Page

Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36779 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2014 :  02:33:31  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Thesleepyone

I am surprised nobody said anything about the Luruar vs Many Arrows kingdom. And what are the chances for Luruar to survive.



Given some of the 4E material about Mary Arrows, I think it's likely Many Arrows will self-destruct.

Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!
Go to Top of Page

Thesleepyone
Acolyte

Romania
2 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2014 :  19:45:49  Show Profile Send Thesleepyone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
There was also Sembia/Netheril-Cormyr war that ended with Cormyr's victory like they were not strong before.
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 06 Nov 2020 :  23:14:29  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Greetings everyone,

Just to reinvigorate the war juices in this scroll, I had one that I hope will start getting this going again!
_____________________

The Invasion of Ruinspoke

East Faerūn in 1480 DR involving Tymanther and Queen Sisay's Army of Kobold's

Commanders who took the field were Lord Tuanek and Queen Sisay, Masika, Bragg, and Gertros. There were heavy civilian casualties in the area, with Lord Tuanek possibly having been taken out along with Bragg, Gertros, possibly Masika, and the entire Kobold army.

Best regards,






Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

PattPlays
Senior Scribe

469 Posts

Posted - 07 Nov 2020 :  08:03:32  Show Profile  Visit PattPlays's Homepage Send PattPlays a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It might become more active if we endeavor to discuss conflicts in and after the Era of Upheaval? Get some 4e and 5e wars in there post 1450DR?
Honestly when I first got into deep current lore I was surprised to find that in the years of 5e's start [Around and after 1487DR] there were wars with actual netheril as well as a flying independent city-state, as well as a whole mess going on south-east of the High Forest.

An army of kobolds you say? I might have to look that one up..

:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:


https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com

T_P_T
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 07 Nov 2020 :  12:39:25  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I was thinking of making a topic like this one, so count me in. As soon as I'm able, I'll start to update this stuff.

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 07 Nov 2020 :  17:49:44  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Master Zeromaru X,

I myself am going to focus on wars from 1370DR to 1384DR (as I don't do Spellplague), but this scroll is for 1370DR onward, which of course goes well into the 4e/5e zone. So, I'll be digging into some wars in that time frame soon.

Best regards,




Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

PattPlays
Senior Scribe

469 Posts

Posted - 08 Nov 2020 :  16:31:46  Show Profile  Visit PattPlays's Homepage Send PattPlays a Private Message  Reply with Quote
And for me I am less interested in the historical record aspect and more interested in the anthropological perspective. What does the average Faerunian level 1 adventurer know of the wars in the dalelands in 1480~? Do the average folk in the valleys outside of Waterdeep know and fear the floating literally-a-netherese-city that is waging war? How fast does info of it's demise spread? Stuff like that :O

:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:


https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com

T_P_T
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 08 Nov 2020 :  16:57:56  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote

quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2

Master Zeromaru X,

I myself am going to focus on wars from 1370DR to 1384DR (as I don't do Spellplague), but this scroll is for 1370DR onward, which of course goes well into the 4e/5e zone. So, I'll be digging into some wars in that time frame soon.

Best regards,




Well, I'm more of an expert in the 1470s-1490s area, but I guess I can investigate anything from 1385 onwards, for completeness.

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 08 Nov 2020 :  20:41:01  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Learned Scribe PattPlays,

quote:
And for me I am less interested in the historical record aspect and more interested in the anthropological perspective. What does the average Faerunian level 1 adventurer know of the wars in the dalelands in 1480~? Do the average folk in the valleys outside of Waterdeep know and fear the floating literally-a-netherese-city that is waging war? How fast does info of it's demise spread? Stuff like that :O


Yeah, that is pretty interesting stuff. One would think that it would travel at the speed of a wagon, with speed limit set by trade. Though, you have bards, wizards, priests, and others that can travel fast while doing so with messages bearing truth, and some bearing falsehood. People in the Realms "civilized lands" as stated in the 3rd Ed. FRCS are literate. However, reading and writing do not mean well educated of course. So, as to your question of, what does
quote:
...the average Faerunian level 1 adventurer know of the wars in the dalelands in 1480~?
, I gather virtually nothing.

Best regards,



Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 08 Nov 2020 :  23:22:05  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
By the time of the "starting year" of the SCAG (1489), people of the Sword Coast was aware of the Cormyrian victory and the destruction of both Myth Drannor and Netheril, as well as the dissolution of Luruar. They knew of the conflicts in Vaasa, Tymanther/Unther, and Thay, but didn't knew their results, with the exception of the Mulhorandi rebellion, as they knew the Mulhorandi had won, but didn't knew details.

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...

Edited by - Zeromaru X on 08 Nov 2020 23:23:11
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2020 :  20:40:13  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Master Zeromaru X,

I do wonder how efficacious that communication was though. Communication in modern times even is full of misdirection, lies, deception, and more. Keyholders to expenses involving private messengers, bribing bards, etc., could really skew what people did know, and more importantly, how they came to know it.

It sounds like it is time for a separate scroll! :)

Best regards,





Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

PattPlays
Senior Scribe

469 Posts

Posted - 10 Nov 2020 :  03:06:10  Show Profile  Visit PattPlays's Homepage Send PattPlays a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X

By the time of the "starting year" of the SCAG (1489), people of the Sword Coast was aware of the Cormyrian victory and the destruction of both Myth Drannor and Netheril, as well as the dissolution of Luruar. They knew of the conflicts in Vaasa, Tymanther/Unther, and Thay, but didn't knew their results, with the exception of the Mulhorandi rebellion, as they knew the Mulhorandi had won, but didn't knew details.



Thanks everyone for the responses. Though now I'm curious how the word of Ao is dispensed throughout the populace, and how info spreads about the declared end of an era. And how quickly and obviously is Mystra's full return (upon the climax of The Herald IIRC?) be to the people? I have my campaign set just before 1489 so I'm just curious.

as for the thread's topic.. are there any of those Abeir-Toril wars that still continued during and after the second sundering?

:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:


https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com

T_P_T
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 11 Nov 2020 :  13:56:11  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Well, here is my contribution for this scroll. I’m focusing in the post-Spellplague (4e) years as I’m more familiarized with these events, and because other sages can cover the earlier years better that me. I’m going to use paec_djinn’s format for convenience. I’m sticking to canon here. Which means I’m going to ignore stuff from the LFR adventures. My notes and comments are written in cursive.

Untheric Crusade
Unther (1372–1379)

Conclusion: Mulhorand manages to finally conquer Unther, ushering in the short-lived "Third Mulhorandi Empire". Both Unther and Mulhorand are destroyed during the Spellplague.

Sources:
Grand History of the Realms, p.159

First War of the Zulkirs
Thay (1375–1385)

Important Battles:
1375
-First Battle of Thazar Keep (the keep falls to a horde of undead. The Tharch of Pyarados is overrun)
-Second Battle of Thazar Keep (Thazar Keep is reclaimed by the Griffon Legion. Pyarados is reclaimed in the following days)
1385
-First Battle of the Keep of Sorrows (almost decisive victory for Szass Tam, until the Spellplague hit, forcing all combatants to retreat)
-Second Battle of the Keep of Sorrows (decisive victory for Szass Tam)
-Naval Battle of Benzatur (the Council of Zulkirs successfully flees Thay)

Conclusion: Szass Tam becomes the High Regent of Thay. The Council of Zulkirs flees to the Wizard’s Reach in exile. The Zulkir of Necromancy and the six other Zulkirs settle in for a long civil war.

Sources:
Grand History of the Realms, p.158
The Haunted Lands, Book I: Unclean
The Haunted Lands, Book II: Undead

Ghost King invasion of Erlkazar
Erlkazar (1385)

Conclusion: An army made up of undead and creatures from the Shadowfell belonging to the Ghost King assault the Spirit Soaring and Carradoon in Erlkazar. The Ghost King was eventually stopped by the efforts of Drizzt Do’Urden and friends.

Sources:
Transitions, Book III: The Ghost King

The Wailing Years take place in the 1385-1395 decade.

Chessentan unification
Chessenta (Wailing Years)

Conclusion: War Hero Ishual Karanok unifies Chessenta as a single political entity. Chessenta involuntarily cedes all its western lands, those most radically altered by the Spellplague, to the Abeiran genasi of Akan#363;l.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.100
Dungeon 178: “Backdrop: Chessenta”, p.69

Dambrathi Rebellion
Dambrath (Wailing Years)

Conclusion: The Arkaiun rebels overthrow their Crinti masters and end their rule of Dambrath. The Crinti and the priests of Loviatar are killed or driven away from the country.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.115

Dragonborn rebellion in Laerakond
Melabrauth, Skelkor (Wailing Years)

Important Battles:
-Battle of Djerad Kusold (Djerad Kusold is obliterated by Melauthaur, all the defenders die)

Conclusion: The dragonborn rebels of Melabrauth managed to slay nearly one-quarter of the dragon lords before their rebellion was put down. Melauthaur forbid the use of humanoid slaves in his lands ever since. The dragonborn of Skelkor are also defeated, after killing many of the dragon lords of that realm as well.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, pp.210, 213

Second Era of Skyfire
Calimshan (Wailing Years–1450)

Important Battles:
-Battle of Skyfire Desert (Auril’s forces attack Calimshan; the desert is frozen for months)

Conclusion: The Second Era of Skyfire starts when the djinn Calim and the efreet Memnon are freed from the Calimemnon Crystal during the Spellplague, and they immediately began to fight each other once more. The result was thousands dead, the desert’s expansion east across the Spider Swamp, and an explosion in the genasi population. The Second Era of Skyfire comes to an end when Calim and Memnon are sent back to their homes in the Elemental Chaos by unknown means in 1450. Their genasi lieutenants and foot soldiers continued a bloody war based on little more than opposing elemental philosophies until the Second Sundering, when human followers of a Chosen of Ilmater overthrew their masters.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.98
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, p.10

Cormyr vs Eldreth Veluuthra
Cormyr (1394)

Conclusion: A brief conflict between Cormyr and the Eldreth Veluuthra of the Hullack Forest breaks out, ending when King Azoun V turns his full attention to more pressing threats from neighboring Sembia and Netheril.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.108

Amnian invasion of the Moonshae Isles
Moonshae Isles (1404–1413)

Important Battles:
1404
-Amnian conquest of Caer Westphal (this invasion starts a long war between the Amnian invaders and the Kendrick dynasty).
1408
-Siege of Caer Corwell (Amnian invaders successfully conquer the Kingdom of Corwell)
1411
-Deachtere Wood Massacre (the Amnians kill almost all the fey of Deachtere Wood)
1412
-War of Gwynneth (The queen of Sarifal declares war on all non-fey in response to the Deachtere Wood Massacre)
-Battle of Mog Goidel (Decisive victory of the Kendrick armada over the Amnian invaders)

Conclusion: The Amnian invaders flee the Moonshaes in 1413, but all their ships are destroyed while fleeing by the Leviathan. The Kendrick dynasty remains in power, but now has to deal with the fey of Sarifal and the dark fey of Dernall Forest.

Sources:
“Post-Spellplague Timeline” by Brian R. James
Dragon 376: “Realmslore: Sarifal”, p.60

Sembian invasion of the Dales
Sembia, the Dales (1418–1441)

Important Battles:
1418
-The Shadovar accidentally conquer Featherdale.
1420
-Sembian invasion of Tasseldale
1421
-Chandler’s Cross Massacre (A Sembian mercenary army slaughters many folk of the Scardale)
1422
-Battle of Essembra (Shadovar forces conquer Battledale)
1439
A series of battles between Cormyr and Sembia lead to a full-scale war.
1440
-Battle of Archenbridge (the free Dalesfolk join forces to defeat a massive Sembian mercenary force)
1441
-Siege of Saerb and Urmlaspyr (Cormyrian forces come to aid the Dalesfolk to defeat the Sembians)

Conclusion: Pressured on all sides, Sembia (with approval from its Netherese governors) agrees to sign the Treaty of Griffonfang Bridge with Cormyr, the Dalelands, and the elven realm of Cormanthor. The uneasy armistice endured until 1484.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.108
“Post-Spellplague Timeline” by Brian R. James

Aglarondan civil war
Aglarond (1425)

Conclusion: A brief conflict between the apprentices of the Simbul and the Aglarondan nobles after her presumed death. The apprentices win and form the Simbarch Council to rule Aglarond. The Simbarchs then declare war on the Thayan expatriates living in the Wizard’s Reach, but the conflict reaches a standstill.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.88

Akan#363;l vs the Abolethic Sovereignty
Akan#363;l (1429)

Important Battles:
-Destruction of Brassune

Conclusion: The genasi relocate their capital to the formerly Chessentan city of Airspur.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.90

Twelvefold conflict
Gontal (1429)

Important Battles:
-Destruction of Darkturret

Conclusion: An army of the Twelvefold families attacks Darturret (an outpost of one of the families) and destroys it in revenge for the stealing of some treasures.

Sources:
Dragon 366: “Gontal”, p.52

Undead invasion of Elturel
Elturgard (1444)

Conclusion: A powerful vampire lord, leading an army of undead, conquers the city of Elturel. The Companion (a “mini-sun”) appears in the sky and destroys the undead, as part of one of the nefarious plans the archdevil Zariel had for Elturel.

Sources:
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus, p.7

Many-Arrows’ Civil War
Many-Arrows (1450–1460)

Conclusion: The king of Many-Arrows, Obould XVII, unifies the disparate orc tribes and is able to maintain the kingdom as a singular political entity until 1484.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.149

Warlock Knights vs minotaurs
Vaasa (1453)

Conclusion: The minotaurs of Kond are swept away by the Warlock Knights.

Sources:
“Post-Spellplague Timeline” by Brian R. James

Bloodstone’s civil war
Damara, Vaasa (1459-1469)

Conclusion: Bloodline of Dragonsbane presumed extinct. The usurper Lord Yarin Frostmantle takes the throne of Damara. The Warlock Knights take control of Vaasa.

Sources:
Dungeon 177: “Realmslore: Vaasa”, p.78
“Post-Spellplague Timeline” by Brian R. James

Elturgard vs goblinoids and gnolls
Elturgard (1459)

Conclusion: The High Observer of Torm orders the Reaching Woods barricaded, in an attempt to contain the goblin and gnoll tribes living there.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.125

Shadovar-Thay War
Neverwinter (1461-1463)

Important Battles:
-Battle of Neverwinter

Conclusion: Both forces are defeated by the efforts of Drizzt Do’Urden and friends. The Dread Ring of Neverwinter is damaged.

Sources:
Neverwinter, Book I: Gauntlgrym
Neverwinter, Book II: Neverwinter
Neverwinter, Book III: Charon’s Claw

Derro vs Yuan-ti
Delzimmer (1462)

Conclusion: The Slime King, ruler of a derro clan, orders her subjects to abduct a yuan-ti tribe living in the jungle near Delzimmer.

Sources:
Venom in Her Veins

Battle of Hulburg
Hulburg (1466)

Conclusion: In an attempt to seize control of Griffonwatch Keep in Hulburg, Kamoth Kastelmar and several Shieldsworn loyal to him attempt to kill Harmach Grigor Hulmaster but are discovered. Rather than face prosecution, they flee the castle and town.

Sources:
Blades of the Moonsea, Book II: Corsair

Demon invasion of Ten-towns
Ten-towns (1466)

Conclusion: The balor lord Errtu and several glabrezu demons attack Bryn Shander in Ten-towns in an effort to draw out Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt does not appear but Tiago Baenre, also hunting Drizzt, witnesses the attack and slays Errtu, banishing him back to the Abyss. Despite their reservations, the people of Bryn Shander laud Tiago as a hero, erecting a statue of him while Drizzt becomes a persona non grata in Ten-towns.

Sources:
Neverwinter, Book IV: The Last Threshold

Keepers of the Cerulean Sign vs the Abolethic Sovereignty
Akan#363;l (1473)

Conclusion: The Keepers of the Cerulean Sign attack the Abolethic Sovereignty in Akan#363;l. In retaliation, the Abolethic Sovereignty destroys the towns of Tohrepur and Caidris, where they defeat the Keepers’ mercenary army.

Sources:
The Wilds, Book II: The Restless Shore

Najara’s Civil War
Najara (1474)

Conclusion: The dark naga Jarant slays the naga Ebarnaje to become the new King of Snakes of Najara.

Sources:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p.158

Aglarond vs Zulkirs-in-exile
Aglarond, Wizard’s Reach (1478)

Important Battles:
-Battle of Yuirwood

Conclusion: The Aglarondan forces are defeated by the efforts of the exiled Thayan forces and the Brotherhood of the Griffon mercenary company. The Zulkirs-in-exile decide to attack Thay instead of pressing towards Aglarond.

Sources:
The Haunted Lands, Book III: Unholy

Second War of the Zulkirs
Thay (1478)

Important Battles:
-Siege of the Dread Ring of Lapendrar (Brotherhood of the Griffon, Zulkirs’ army and Thayan rebels’ pyrrhic victory)
-Battle of Anhaurz (Brotherhood of the Griffon pyrrhic victory)

Conclusion: All the Zulkirs-in-exile are killed by Szass Tam, thus ending the long Thayan civil war with a decisive victory for Szass Tam, but the Dread Ring of Thay is damaged. A diminished Brotherhood of the Griffon is able to flee Thay.

Sources:
The Haunted Lands, Book III: Unholy

Brimstone’s Xorvintaal
Akan#363;l, Chessenta, High Imaskar, Murgh#333;m, Threskel, Tymanther (1479)

Important Battles:
-Chessentan invasion of Threskel (Decisive Chessentan victory; Threskel is annexed to Chessenta)
-Ash giant invasion of Tymanther (Tymantheran victory)
-Siege of Ashhold (Decisive Tymantheran victory; the ash giant coalition is dissolved)
-Battle of Luthcheq (all the major dragon players are killed)

Conclusion: With the deaths of many of the dragon players, the leaders of the Brotherhood of the Griffon, as well as several dragon princes of Murgh#333;m and dragonborn knights from Tymanther, travel to Dracowyr to confront Brimstone and force him to cancel the magic that bound wyrms to the game. Brimstone claims that the game was just a ruse to allow him to eliminate the most powerful dragons around the Sea of Fallen Stars. Even after Brimstone canceled the spell, nobody could be sure if the surviving dragon players would stop their Xorvintaal games.

For info about the Xorvintaal game, check its article on the wiki.

Sources:
The Brotherhood of the Griffon, Book I: The Captive Flame
The Brotherhood of the Griffon, Book II: Whispers of Venom
The Brotherhood of the Griffon, Book III: The Spectral Blaze

Vaasan invasion of the Moonsea
Moonsea, Thar (1479)

Important Battles:
-Invasion of Glister (Vaasan victory)
-Battle of Lendon's Dike (Defenders victory)

Conclusion: With their defeat at Hulburg, the Vaasan invaders are routed and retreat.

Sources:
Blades of the Moonsea, Book I: Swordmage

Cyricist attack on Thentia
Moonsea (1480)

Important Battles:
- Battle of Lasparhall

Conclusion: Harmach Grigor Hulmaster is slain, but the rest of the family survives. Shortly before Grigor's funeral, Geran Hulmaster is named Lord Hulmaster. In retaliation for the attack against his family, Geran Hulmaster travels in secret to Hulburg and secures the aid of Sarth Khul Riizar. Together, the two enter the Temple of the Wronged Prince and defeat Valdarsel, the priest who ordered the Hulmasters’ assassinations.

Sources:
Blades of the Moonsea, Book III: Avenger

The Second Sundering takes place in 1482-1487.

Second Shadovar vs the Dales and Cormyr War
Netheril, Sembia, the Dales, Cormyr, Cormanthor (1484-1487)

Important Battles:
1484
-Invasion of Archenvale (Sembia attacks the Dalelands and captures Archendale; Cormyr sends an army to protect the Dalesfolk. Netheril begins to attack Cormyr’s borders, forcing Cormyr into a fight on far reaching fronts)
-Destruction of Sakkors (The darkness over Sembia, caused by the Ordulin Maelstrom, starts to dissipate)
1485
-Bedine rebellion (The Bedine tribes rebel against Netheril as the Shadovar spread their forces thin against Cormyr and the Dalelands)
1486
-Siege of Myth Drannor (The elven city is under siege by the forces of Netheril)
-Attack on Marsember (The shadow fiends of Wheloon escape their prison and march on Marsember. The city is sacked by the Shadovar and Grand Duke Farninger Seasilver is slain)
-Siege of Arabel
-Siege of Suzail (Suzails walls are briefly breached by the shades. Although the shadow warriors kill many, not one of them is able to open the gates before being slain)
-Battle of the Forgotten Keep (War wizards close the portal within the Forgotten Keep, cutting of Netheril’s supplies in the region, breaking the siege of Arabel)
-Battle of Suzail (The Army of the Western Marches rides down from Arabel, crushing what remains of Netheril’s army at the walls of Suzail. King Irvel Obarskyr of Cormyr “dies in battle”. Not a single soldier of the Shadovar is spared. Once the siege of Suzail ends, both cormyrean armies quickly liberate Marsember)
-The Battle for Candelkeep (Netherese sleeper-agents among the monks of Candlekeep are activated and attack the other monks, only to discover that among these are agents of the Moonstars and Red Wizards. The wards of Candlekeep are destroyed, but their energies absorbed by Larloch)
- Second Fall of Myth Drannor (Larloch, the Netherese forces, and the Chosen of Mystra/elven defenders clash in a catastrophic battle. The Srinshee herself appears to fight for Myth Drannor, ordering the baelnorns to protect the Tree of Souls, and sacrificed herself to wrest magical power from both Telamont Tanthul and Larloch, then used the Wards of Candlekeep and the mythal of Myth Drannor to strengthen the Weave. As Elminster defeats Tanthul in a mage duel the Netherese enclave crash atop Myth Drannor. The survivors of Myth Drannor were rescued by the Srinshee (before she disappeared) and transported to Semberholme. While Thultanthar was destroyed, the barrier erected by the baelnorns around the Tree of Souls managed to save it and small parts of the city from destruction)

Conclusion: Netheril ceases to be as a political entity, the few survivors battling against the Bedine and the resurfaced phaerimm. The survivors of Myth Drannor begin to slowly rebuild the city. Raedra Obarskyr is crowned Queen of Cormyr. The Dales regain their independence and Sembia dissolves into independent city-states.

Sources:
The Sundering, Book II: The Godborn
The Sundering, Book V: The Sentinel
The Sundering, Book VI: The Herald
Brimstone Angels, Book III: Fire in the Blood
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, p.17

War of the Silver Marches
Luruar, Many-Arrows (1484-1485)

Important Battles:
1484
-Attack on Port Llast (Port Llast is attacked by a force of drow led by Tiago Baenre)
-Attack on Kelvin’s Cairn (The dwarves of Kelvin's Cairn are attacked by a host of drow under the command of Tiago Baenre and Ravel Xorlarrin)
-Civil war in Many-Arrows (The rather moderate royal line of Obould is eliminated due to drow intrigues. The bloodthirsty Warlord Hartusk becomes the new leader of the orcs and agrees to an alliance with the drow)
-Siege of Silverymoon, Citadel Adbar, Citadel Felbarr and Mithril Hall
-Conquest of Sundabar (Sundabar is conquered by a orc army commanded by the warlord Hartusk and renamed Hartusk Keep)
-Battle of the Cold Vale (Bromm, one of the twin kings of Citadel Adbar, is killed by Tiago Baenre)
-Destruction of Nesmé (Nesmé is destroyed by an orc horde led by Tiago Baenre riding the white dragon Arauthator)
1485
-Battle of Midwinter
-Battle of Hilltop
-Battle of Silver Arrows
-Battle of Everlund
-Battle of Dark Arrow Keep (Bruenor kills Hartusk)

Conclusion: The War of the Silver Marches ends when Hartusk is killed by Bruenor Battlehammer and the Darkening is dispelled. Many-Arrows is forced to dissolve by the dwarves, and the orc horde is exiled to the Spine of the World. The League of the Silver Marches disbands in 1488 due to ill feelings among its members caused by failures during the war against the orcs.

Sources:
Companions Codex, Book I: Night of the Hunter
Companions Codex, Book II: Rise of the King
Companions Codex, Book III: Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, p.17

Battle for Gauntlgrym
Gauntlgrym (1486)

Conclusion: The dwarven forces claim victory over the drow in Gauntlgrym. King Connerad Brawnanvil of Mithril Hall is posthumously crowned 1st king of Gauntlgrym. King Emerus Warcrown dies while being proclaimed the 2nd king of Gauntlgrym. Shortly after Bruenor Battlehammer is crowned 3rd king of Gauntlgrym.

Sources:
Archmage
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, p.61

Mulhorandi Rebellion
Mulhorand (1486)

Conclusion: The appearance of Chosen during the Second Sundering allowed the old Mulhorandi pantheon to manifest again on Toril and to come to the aid of their people, who had become second-class citizens in High Imaskar, and believed they had once more been enslaved by their ancient masters, the Imaskari. With the aid of the ancient wizard Nezram the World Walker, the Mulhorandi started a rebellion that ended with victory for the rebels. The surviving Imaskari fled to the Plains of Purple Dust or to extra planar safeholds. After that, the Mulhorandi gods remained as the rulers of the Mulan people, retaining the Imaskari laws that forbid slavery.

Sources:
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, pp.12, 41
Brimstone Angels, Book IV: Ashes of the Tyrant

Tymanther-Unther War
Tymanther, Unther (1486-1487)

Important Battles:
-Siege of Djerad Kethendi (The Untherans are able to destroy the Kethendan Forward Regiment thanks to the demon army Gilgeam got from a deal with the demon prince Graz’zt. The dragonborn defenders resist, and the Untheran forces are unable to breach the defensive perimeter of the city)
- Siege of Djerad Thymar (The gods Asmodeus and Azuth chose the city to make a ritual that would allow them to be separate deities once again. Glasya sends a regiment of devils to take care of the pesky demons and make sure that they don’t bother Asmodeus, so she could ensure her position in the Nine Hells. With the devils and dragonborn joining forces against his demon army, and the last flares of the Second Sundering still threatening the field of battle, Gilgeam orders his human forces to retreat to Unthalass. The demon army is completely destroyed, lifting the siege of Djerad Thymar).

Conclusion: As part of a pact between Enlil and Asmodeus, the ancient Untherite god Nanna-Sin is resurrected as an immortal dragon turtle (instead of as a god, as Asmodeus took his divinity). Vivesh Nannari (aka Nanna-Sin) immediately destroys the Untheran navy surrounding Djerad Kethendi, allowing the dragonborn to lift the siege of the city. The Tymantherans win the Tymanther-Unther War with a decisive victory, and the Untherans are forced to flee from dragonborn lands, having retrieved just a few of their former territories.

Sources:
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, pp.12-13
Brimstone Angels, Book IV: Ashes of the Tyrant
Brimstone Angels, Book V: The Devil You Know

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...

Edited by - Zeromaru X on 28 Nov 2020 04:52:41
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 14 Nov 2020 :  17:40:04  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Master Zeromaru X,

What I find most interesting about all of those wars listed are the first three!

You can really see how the Untheric Crusade and the First War of the Zulkirs, would have geo-politically allowed for a power vacuum to occur to distract any possible outside interference and thus get Chessenta to unify. So cool to see that. Ironic of course that any Karanok would have made that happen, hahaha.

Best regards,






Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

Delnyn
Senior Scribe

USA
883 Posts

Posted - 26 Nov 2020 :  15:24:09  Show Profile Send Delnyn a Private Message  Reply with Quote
So the Karanoks are no longer flaming insane murderhobos of arcanists, dwarves and elves? What is next, a Thayan enclave in Luchteq(sp)?

quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2

Master Zeromaru X,

What I find most interesting about all of those wars listed are the first three!

You can really see how the Untheric Crusade and the First War of the Zulkirs, would have geo-politically allowed for a power vacuum to occur to distract any possible outside interference and thus get Chessenta to unify. So cool to see that. Ironic of course that any Karanok would have made that happen, hahaha.

Best regards,


Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 26 Nov 2020 :  16:27:23  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
They still discriminate dwarves, elves and wizards. But now is more civilized, not something done by deranged people.

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...
Go to Top of Page

George Krashos
Master of Realmslore

Australia
6641 Posts

Posted - 27 Nov 2020 :  00:25:21  Show Profile Send George Krashos a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X

Well, here is my contribution for this scroll. I’m focusing in the post-Spellplague (4e) years as I’m more familiarized with these events, and because other sages can cover the earlier years better that me. I’m going to use paec_djinn’s format for convenience. I’m sticking to canon here. Which means I’m going to ignore stuff from the LFR adventures. My notes and comments are written in cursive.

<BIG SNIP>

Aaaand… that is what I have so far. I’m checking my 5e sources for any major conflicts during the Second Sundering, but any help would be appreciated. Especially with stuff related to the Thayan Resurrection…



This is great but if the references for these events could be added (sourcebooks/adventures/novels etc.) then that would be fabulous.

-- George Krashos

"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 27 Nov 2020 :  00:52:45  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sure! I'm updating the list with the events from the 5e sources. I'll add the sources on my next update.

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 27 Nov 2020 :  08:04:56  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Senior Scribe Delnyn,

quote:
So the Karanoks are no longer flaming insane murderhobos of arcanists, dwarves and elves? What is next, a Thayan enclave in Luchteq(sp)?


In post-Spellplague history, a guy named Ishual Karanok rose up and led the nation to unification. Very ironic. As Master Zeromaru X said though, there is still plenty of racism, etc. It is afterall an Old Empire and old habits die hard, if ever.

Best regards,





Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2441 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  04:51:20  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I've updated the list up to 1487 DR and added sources, as well as some date corrections.

I'm still laking anything from the 5e modules, such as the Thayan Resurrection and the giant civil war.

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  06:12:49  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Master Zeromaru X,

Living Gem war
1367DR - 1368DR: purported to go on for at least (5) months, but not exactly known
Type: A rebellion

The "war" was not a proper war itself. It was a wizard who had some serious insanity issues who went and pursued the royal library of Ruathym. In the process of doing so, he found the Tome of the Unicorn and encountered Shoon VII (my favorite wizard). He made a deal with Shoon VII that ultimately led to Shoon VII escape imprisonment in the tome. The boon granted Shond Tharovin (the wizard who found the tome) was information on where to find the Living Gem. Ultimately he found it and supplanted the government in Schamedar. An archmage tried to stop Shond, but failed and died in the casting of a spell. In the end, cultists of Shond slew many in the city. The fight lasted months when finally the Satraps attacked and took over the city after much death, money and time was spent retaking the city.

Best regards,





Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

PattPlays
Senior Scribe

469 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  08:02:40  Show Profile  Visit PattPlays's Homepage Send PattPlays a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2

Master Zeromaru X,

Living Gem war
1367DR - 1368DR: purported to go on for at least (5) months, but not exactly known
Type: A rebellion

The "war" was not a proper war itself. It was a wizard who had some serious insanity issues who went and pursued the royal library of Ruathym. In the process of doing so, he found the Tome of the Unicorn and encountered Shoon VII (my favorite wizard). He made a deal with Shoon VII that ultimately led to Shoon VII escape imprisonment in the tome. The boon granted Shond Tharovin (the wizard who found the tome) was information on where to find the Living Gem. Ultimately he found it and supplanted the government in Schamedar. An archmage tried to stop Shond, but failed and died in the casting of a spell. In the end, cultists of Shond slew many in the city. The fight lasted months when finally the Satraps attacked and took over the city after much death, money and time was spent retaking the city.

Best regards,







waitwaitwaiwatiwitaiwitiwaitwiatiwait-

that happened in the 14th century DR? I thought that was ancient history!! So the female elf spirit which became trapped in Shoon's Demilich remains in the Tome of the Unicorn has only been in there for a little over a hundred years! Wow. And to think that the Temple to the Elder Orb of Ooze was opened so recently..

I'm just amazed that Shond Tharovin's colossal gibbering mouther transformation isn't a more commonly discussed thi-
Oh my god you just made me check the eizzn archives and apparently Shond learned how to shift back into their human form. I thought this dude was cursed to be the 99 roll on a d100 for any adventurers in the Shining or Trackless seas..

quote:
Nightal 1637DR: A mage observing the situation in Schamedar reports that Shond Tharovin has escaped into the sea, heading north and west. He claims that Tharovin can now shift between his human and his gibbering mouther forms (which he can use to travel underwater) and has devised a spell that can track him whenever he is human. »


Looking up Schamedar and.. there it is again! Why does this Twisted Rune keep showing up in my research..

:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:


https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com

T_P_T

Edited by - PattPlays on 28 Nov 2020 08:06:41
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  08:07:24  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Learned Scribe PattPlays,

quote:
So the female elf spirit which became trapped in Shoon's Demilich remains in the Tome of the Unicorn has only been in there for a little over a hundred years! Wow. And to think that the Temple to the Elder Orb of Ooze was opened so recently... I thought this dude was cursed to be the 99 roll on a d100 for any adventurers in the Shining or Trackless seas..


Indeed good sir! Yeah, I cannot speak to the later timeline stuff (like the 1600's, haha), but yeah it was a crazy situation. This is why Shoon VII is my favorite wizard. The crazy stuff he does. Ridiculously powerful, insightful, and gets the job done.

Best regards,




Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

PattPlays
Senior Scribe

469 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  08:28:14  Show Profile  Visit PattPlays's Homepage Send PattPlays a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by cpthero2

Learned Scribe PattPlays,

quote:
So the female elf spirit which became trapped in Shoon's Demilich remains in the Tome of the Unicorn has only been in there for a little over a hundred years! Wow. And to think that the Temple to the Elder Orb of Ooze was opened so recently... I thought this dude was cursed to be the 99 roll on a d100 for any adventurers in the Shining or Trackless seas..


Indeed good sir! Yeah, I cannot speak to the later timeline stuff (like the 1600's, haha), but yeah it was a crazy situation. This is why Shoon VII is my favorite wizard. The crazy stuff he does. Ridiculously powerful, insightful, and gets the job done.

Best regards,






Hah! I hadn't realized Dawnbringer (don'ttalkaboutOOTApatrickdon'tyoudoit) was set in the future like that. Funnily enough I found a quirk in the wiki's code.
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/1599_DR 1599 is the Present Age. 1600 is the Era of Upheaval. Funny mishap there.

So Shoon's female elven form isn't even growing that old by the time of the Present Age, huh?

quote:
1358 DR [Year of Shadows]

Shond Tharovin unleashes the demilich Shoon VII on Zallanora Argentresses, a young female moon elf wizard, and the spirits of the undead qysar and the young elf switch bodies. »


So there's been nothing about him..
I mean, it makes sense. Wizards had a BAD TIME with the Spellplague and Shoon's best chances at survival would probably be to just never cast even a cantrip and just -be- Zallanora for a century.

I wonder if there's room for character growth in a Lich when they spend that long kept from the Arcane arts and inhabiting a mortal body. It feels like the perfect setup for a ruined-redemption story. Adventuring party gets a hold of the Tome of the Unicorn and manages to calm the released Demilich inside. She tells them who to look for and that she may be able to do to him what he did to her. After much searching across the lands asking about this moon elf, they may finally find her. Imagine- Shoon VII the terrible- living a peaceful life in the years prior to the official end of the spellplague. (early 5e before 1491, when the spellplague's effects aren't debilitating anyone but information about it all hasn't spread through the world yet and people are just starting to figure out what happened with the Second Sundering)

Just as the party realizes the potential of letting Shoon's innocence develop just a bit longer after over a century of quiet mortal life, that they could just leave him be and perhaps avoid stirring the sleeping wrath inside, Zallanora comes screeching out from the tome to soul-swap with him. Now they have Shoon, his memories and hatred pouring back in an instant and causing him to enter an unending maniacal Demilich rage- and the insane Zallanora now obsessed with lichdom trying to flee the scene (or worse, take the Tome and dissapear with it to research and enact 'proper vengeance' on both Shoon and Shond). There are few scenes I can imagine on Toril in 5e that would be so.. quiet.. yet so terrible to let occur..

Perhaps it's best nobody finds out one way or another. Still, that's one hell of a trope.

:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:


https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com

T_P_T

Edited by - PattPlays on 28 Nov 2020 08:33:34
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  08:44:54  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Learned Scribe PattPlays,

quote:
So Shoon's female elven form isn't even growing that old by the time of the Present Age, huh?


I would gather that has to do with Shoon VII being a demi-lich, but that is merely a guess.

quote:
I mean, it makes sense. Wizards had a BAD TIME with the Spellplague and Shoon's best chances at survival would probably be to just never cast even a cantrip and just -be- Zallanora for a century.


Oh yeah, that could happen. Also, the stats for a demi-lich are insane, and would allow Shoon VII to wreck face the entire (100) years:

quote:
Diminutive Undead
Hit Dice: 21d12 (130 hp)
Initiative: +7 (+3 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: Fly 180 ft. (perfect)
AC: 51 (+4 size, +3 Dex, +5 natural armor, +8 bracers of
armor, +2 ring of protection, +21 insight)
Attacks: Touch +21 melee
Damage: Touch 10d6+20 plus paralyzing touch
Face/Reach: 1 ft. by 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Trap the soul, fear aura, paralyzing
touch, 21st-level wizard spellcaster, Perfect Automatic
Still Spell, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Magic immunity, phylactery transference,
turn resistance +20, DR 30/–, undead traits, acid
resistance 20, fire resistance 20, sonic resistance 20,
immune to cold, electricity, polymorph, and mindaffecting
attacks.
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +17
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 16 (with gloves), Con —, Int 39 (with
headband), Wis 24, Cha 20
Skills: Alchemy +38, Concentration +25, Hide +27,
Knowledge (arcana, religion) +38, Knowledge (the planes,
nobility and royality, history, local) +28, Listen +26, Move
Silently +27, Scry +27, Search +38, Sense Motive +26,
Spellcraft +38, Spot +26
Feats: Brew Potion, Combat Casting, Craft Wondrous
Item, Enlarge Spell, Heighten Spell, Improved Inititative,
Lightning Reflexes, Maximize Spell, Quicken
Spell, Scribe Scroll, Spell Penetration, Toughness
Epic Feats: Automatic Quicken Spell, Epic Spellcasting
Improved Spell Capacity (10th), Tenacious Magician
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 29
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Neutral evil
Advancement: By character class


quote:
I wonder if there's room for character growth in a Lich when they spend that long kept from the Arcane arts and inhabiting a mortal body. It feels like the perfect setup for a ruined-redemption story.


I believe in the Milky Way galaxy, it is a felony to associate, in any way, the word 'redemption' at all with Shoon VII. lol ;) That dude by exact, lore written numbers genocidally wiped out over 3,000,000 million people. He's a bad dude!

quote:
Imagine- Shoon VII the terrible- living a peaceful life in the years prior to the official end of the spellplague. (early 5e before 1491, when the spellplague's effects aren't debilitating anyone but information about it all hasn't spread through the world yet and people are just starting to figure out what happened with the Second Sundering)


I think Eldath just had a stroke reading Shoon VII and peaceful in the same sentence! lol I honestly think he'd be off grabbing that treasure of artifacts and magic items he had that dragon guarding for him.

Best regards,





Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

PattPlays
Senior Scribe

469 Posts

Posted - 28 Nov 2020 :  10:11:04  Show Profile  Visit PattPlays's Homepage Send PattPlays a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I know dude but wizards all across Toril had telepathic heart attacks and all sorts pf nonsense, often losing access to magic fpr their entire lives beyond even the spellplaghe. And the soul-swap left Zallanora as a demi-lich with an undefined level of unholy power. We haven't seen elf-Shoon once since he freaky-friday'd off into obscurity, unless someone else has some hidden lore.

The spellplague, as far as my unenlightened 5e experience can tell, hit like an 18-wheeler fuel truckcarrying liquid blue fire exploding across continents giving wizards such a bad time that Cormyr's entire system of war wizards had to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Isn't it more interesting to believe that, first of all, some of that OP demilich power was left behind in his remains in the Tome now controlled by Zallanora?
And also, a Lich wearing a bpdy kept pretty by Gentle Repose is still a lich, yes?
Liches have conditionally less features (spellcasting set aside) than a demilich. There is a tradeoff in access to surreal soul powers when one dons a physical form to interact with the world, cast non-psionic magic, and wield magic items. Shoon in this body would cease to be a demilich and would, in a way, be like a lich in a fleshy body only instead of being kept alive by gentle repose they are kept alive with blood and air. This story from what i have seen took a sharp left turn at Shond and we never learned any details of the tranference. Obviously Shoon took the body to live on and be a catastrophically terrible evil creature.

However the spellplague is creative liberty incarnate. I knew what I was saying when I played the failed-redemption card because this is a story trope that had been pulled off in other mediums with equally terrible beings.

I'm sure liches survived the spellplague, blue fire, and the death of Mystra in their own various ways. However is Elf-Shoon even a lich anymore? He's a soul stripped free from the bonds of a mortal coil who can destroy the souls of others to sustain their presence as a physical thing.

But Elf-Shoon swapped souls with Zalanorra. Now her soul is dormant in the remains and able to be fueled on souls were it to come to that. Elf-Shoon though? He inhabits a body that likely can't tell the difference between their souls. That body is almost certainly in my mind, mortal. If the body died Shoon would likely (as the process in which a body's soul would be flung through the astral upon death has long since been disconnected from Shoon's soul) be stuck in those remains and become another demilich- or maybe an expert can state a more studied answer there. But I don't think shoon has to absorb souls in this form. To sustain his vile magic, of course. But if he was stripped of his wizard levels? Then?

If the spellplague tore through the body of what would appear to all as a living female elf wizard of supreme power the same way it tore through the War Wizards, could it drain him of his arcane powers all the same? An unexpected ridoculous downside to the sinful act of stealing an innocent's body and using it for evil? One Shoon would never have anticipated even with a megalomaniacal immortal paranoia?

As long as the body is fed food and water and air, it is a perfectly viable vessel for a soul. (It's not as if Zallarona's soul has any connection to it at this point. On that note did she just find a way to become a lich without imbibing the suicide potion? That's kind of a big deal- Vecna should get on that.) Shoon would likely still have some capacity to psionically (does the spellplague affect psionics?) drain life and use souls to sustain his spirit or perhaps the body (like in moments of starvation or fatal wounding) in a dire situation. But it would be far easier to just keep the act up and be Zallanora.

Say you're a lich (not a demilich! different capabilities!) and you lose ALL of your wizard powers and can NEVER cast an arcane spell again. Not to mention the gods are COMPLETELY gone and speak with nobody, so faking your way into priest levels is out of the picture. All you can do is absorb souls.

Is that really a smart timr to live off in the wilderness attacking travellers and stealing their aouls, attracting attention to yourself when you have no spells to defend or flee with? Plus, this whole situation happened BECAUSE of wild magi released when she was attacked by Shoon and Shond, right? Why would Shoon ever risk another incalculable random event from wild magic by attempting to push the boundaries again during an age of wild magic tearing across all of Toril and Returned-Abeir in devastating fashion?
If i were him I'd take what gifts I have and run off to a safe village and hunker down, never eating a soul if it would even draw a single eye towards me. I dont care what kind of unstoppable undead I am under the flesh and blood, I can't even cast a cantrip. Limited to the speed of foot and cart (save for portal secrets) even if a militia comes to sus you out for unholy acts of evil and you kill them, that's just going to attract the attention of those who can actually destroy you or worse.

Does Shoon even have a working phylactery? If the Tome of the Unicorn acted as a Phylactery, then that phylactery is in my opinion absolutely 100% HERS now. For the sake of narrative tension, Shoon is a lich in skin with no Phylactery. If his form dies, he's going to be stuck in Zallarona's bones until someone happens upon them. If he tries to attack someone as a Demilich he might encounter wild magic again and get a far less favorable fate. (The soul-swap workin out in his favor was an example of total randomness seeming to favor letting evil get off scott-free. No genius would ever expect randomness to favor them twice.) The best scenario is to quietly live a life as an elf in the spellplague.

Think about it. She's an elf. She won't age much at all over a century or two. He can wait out the spellplague, and lose track of time as they get deep into their fake life as Zallarona. It's a classic trope! I'm not saying he would forget anything but he is in no rush to return to overt lichdom- not for multiple centuries! This is a scenario where an innocent elf became an unholy demilich and an unhply demilich became a innocent elf. Why not run the trope out juuust long enough to make a party of players consider the possibolity of him at least not being a threat. Powerless except for a terrible innate power that they only use in self defense at the most dire situations, having to plead to those who discover him that they didn't do anything wrong. Finding friends who would cover up murders and even signs of undead powers because their friend is "innocent". Looking out their window doing dishes and seeing a lone nobody destitute traveler drop unconscious on the road just in front of their house, getting the itch for a conseauence-free soul drain. Elf-Shoon rushes out the door to the dying man, looking around for anyone within sight. nobody. Suddenly the man grabs her and coughs, asking to be killed to stop the suffering. Elf-Shoon not only can get away with this vile act, but do so in a way that would be.. benevolent? All the while knowing that, a short sprint away, they have stashed away magical poltuces potions and other treatments that they have hoarded for the preservation of their own life. Draining his life would likely feel like ecstasy, sure, but how would they deal with the memory of that peaceful smile coming over the form of the man- not knowing that he just consigned himself to obliteration- never to see any afterlife? This mortal body dreams at night. Would he dare curse himself to conflicted thoughts at night for the rest of this unending mortal charade? Would letting him just suffer and die in his arms feel.. better? Or maybe taking him home and healin him would secure an ally that he could manipulate?

With time and without power, any acts can start looking good. That's the terrifying creeping power of Good. One never has to stop doing evil. The saturday-morning cartoonish second-guessing of evil acts in some strange context is all that is needed to show the faintest glimmer of, not turning good, but turning away from unecessary evil. All snuffed away when a party of interlopers brings back the cursed soul of the life he stole back to him, damning him to return to a form that once again HAS to devour souls to survive. I'm not trying to turn shoon into a story of hope. I'm trying to show how it can be a story of even deeper sorrow and ever the more reasons why evil really is evil. After-all, this whole situation would in the end have produced *two, terrible lich-y evils upon the world. Any good that may have grown in the mortal beating heart of Elf-Shoon would be ever the more torturous. If the unspeakable vileness that is Shoon could be *allowed* a taste of goodness or simple neutrakity, then that shard of innocence would sit in his vile unholy soul for eternity ever-the-more torturing his damned undead spirit to regret and rage against life; no longer purely out of hatred and narcicism, but out of regret as well.

:The world's greatest OOTA fan/critic: :"Powder kegs within powder kegs!": :Meta-Dimensional Cheese: :Why is the Wand of Orcus just back?: :We still don't know the nature of Souls and the Positive Energy Plane: :PC on profile, Aldritch Elpyptrat Maxinfield: :Helljumpers, Bungie.net: :Rock Hard Gladiator, RIP Fluidanim, Long Live Pluto: :IRC lives:


https://thisisstorytelling.wordpress.com

T_P_T

Edited by - PattPlays on 28 Nov 2020 10:12:41
Go to Top of Page
Page: of 4 Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
Previous Page | Next Page
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000