Lore Assistance

[Boddynock]

Has anything happened in Mulhorand that isn't a part of the canon lore or history?

Liam was born and all the Priest-Kings bowed down to him and sang his praises. True story, really happened. Also on his 16th birthday Liam ordered all the men of Mulhorand to the Thayan border and made everyone moon Thay. There was much rejoicing.

[Tsidkenu]

On a more serious note, no, not really. Pretty much if its an area not covered by the server's general geographical sweep (ie. the Sword Coast from the Misty Forest and south to the Cloud peaks), assume regular canonical/historical progression.

[Kauaiian]

Hello,

In the server's time line, is the Feywild known as Faerie or is it called the Feywild? Also, pretty unclear from all the different lore books, but does the server recognize Titania and Oberon, Morwel and Faerinaal, or Tiandra and Oran as Archfey?

[Tsidkenu]

Insofar as Toril is connected to the wider planescape (Great Wheel cosmology according to server timeline), they could be?

Faerie & Feywild are two names for the same place according to the FR wiki. . . take that how you like.

You're best passing off such things to the DM team as planescape stuff could get a bit messy if it's mingled too much with the Forgotten Realms setting.

[metaquad4]

Hello,

In the server's time line, is the Feywild known as Faerie or is it called the Feywild? Also, pretty unclear from all the different lore books, but does the server recognize Titania and Oberon, Morwel and Faerinaal, or Tiandra and Oran as Archfey?

As far as I am aware, it is Faerie (we are in 2e lore). Feywild is 4e and onward I believe. It might be 3/3.5, but, I'm pretty sure its not. I'll dig through what I have on it later.

[Karond]

Hi,

I've read what I can find about demons and devils, but I've a few questions that I've been unable to answer:

1.) Why do demons/devils when banished have to wait for a 100 years to get back? Is that a rule Ao or Azmodeus is enforcing?

2.) Do demons/devils technically have a soul? For devils its mentioned that souls are stripped bare with pain until they're little more than husks, before becoming lemures. That seems to imply that each outsider has a soul, no?

3.) What happens to devils/demons that die in their home planes? I believe I read something that dying there is the only way for them to actually die, but I'm a bit uncertain since devils in the blood war always fight on certain home ground so they come back if they fall. At any rate, following 2.), what happens with their souls when they die? All the other souls go to specific deities, but those from devils/demons are permanently destroyed? If they can be brought back even after that, which I believe I read in a FR novel a few years ago, where are the "souls" staying while they're dead?

Thank you

[Deathgrowl]

1.) Why do demons/devils when banished have to wait for a 100 years to get back? Is that a rule Ao or Azmodeus is enforcing?

Ao, I would assume. It's never really specified where the enforcement comes from, but it can't come from Asmodeus, as he is subject to the same rules. This is a core D&D rule, though, and could simply be a natural law of the multiverse, rather than something someone (deity or otherwise) has decided.

2.) Do demons/devils technically have a soul? For devils its mentioned that souls are stripped bare with pain until they're little more than husks, before becoming lemures. That seems to imply that each outsider has a soul, no?

D&D seems very vague on what the definition of "soul" is. Devils are, as you point out, originally made from souls (unless they are birthed like children of other devils, as with Belial and his daughter Fierna who together rule the 4th layer of Baator.

3.) What happens to devils/demons that die in their home planes? I believe I read something that dying there is the only way for them to actually die, but I'm a bit uncertain since devils in the blood war always fight on certain home ground so they come back if they fall. At any rate, following 2.), what happens with their souls when they die? All the other souls go to specific deities, but those from devils/demons are permanently destroyed? If they can be brought back even after that, which I believe I read in a FR novel a few years ago, where are the "souls" staying while they're dead?

A lot of the Blood War happens on the planes between Baator and the Abyss on the Great Wheel: Gehenna (mildly lawful evil), Hades/Gray Waste (neutral evil - native plane of the yochlol, who are also known as daemons) and Tarterus/Carceri (mildly chaotic evil). So most of the fighting happens away from their native plane, in which case they get banished when defeated.

But if they are indeed defeated and killed in their native plane, they are entirely destroyed, yes.

Where their "souls" go though? Well, I don't know. It is possible that if they have a soul (again, the vague description of this in D&D isn't helping. Maybe only mortals truly have souls?) it is entirely destroyed upon their death. On the other hand, they could have a similar fate to that of dead gods: They float as dead husks of themselves in the astral plane for eternity.

Alternatively, as we know, demons and devils seek souls of mortals as if it was money. Maybe if a fiend is destroyed on its native plane by another fiend, for instance, the latter absorb the soul?

Again, I can't find any clear sources on this, so it's kind of speculation.

Ending up in the astral plane is a fair bet though. It seems like the general dumping place for anything in D&D.

[NeonAvenger]

1.) Why do demons/devils when banished have to wait for a 100 years to get back? Is that a rule Ao or Azmodeus is enforcing?

Ao, I would assume. It's never really specified where the enforcement comes from, but it can't come from Asmodeus, as he is subject to the same rules. This is a core D&D rule, though, and could simply be a natural law of the multiverse, rather than something someone (deity or otherwise) has decided.

I don't have the books handy so I can't check, but I think back in 1e or 2e the reason given is that when they are banished back to the Hells / Abyss / Wherever they get busted back to being a some kind of lesser fiend and have to murder and sleaze their way back up the ranks.
That's why in the early editions planar creatures were banished x years per HD, becuse that's how long it takes them to rebuild their strength, it also explains why they tend to take it so personally. Going from "Pit Fiend, Right hand of Belial" to "Lemure #1458432" has got to hurt their pride.

[Tsidkenu]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that demons/devils and angels are a fusion of soul & body into the one singular being, rather than a dichotomous view that exists for mortals (body & soul). Can't remember where I read that.

A few tidbits from the School of Conjuration are partially enlightening:

Creatures who are called actually die when they are killed; they do not disappear and reform, as do those brought by a summoning spell

A summoning spell instantly brings a creature or object to a place you designate. When the spell ends or is dispelled, a summoned creature is instantly sent back to where it came from ... A summoned creature also goes away if it is killed or if its hit points drop to 0 or lower. It is not really dead. It takes 24 hours for the creature to reform, during which time it can’t be summoned again.

[Clockwork]

Before the Wall was common knowledge, what were the commonly held beliefs regarding the fate of the Faithless?

What is commonly known about the Blood War?

Are there any common or popular philosophical texts?

[Steve]

I'm in need of having a solid background and understanding of all aspects of Celestial (being), for my character Aldebaran.

I've been doing lots of "homework," but could use some more resources, and some general OOC thoughts. This initial request here will be turned into an in-character post, eventually, when I get my celestial ducks in order!

So far, I've read up on these lists:

Celestia

Celestial

Celestial Creatures (for relating to summons)

What I'm most interested in, atm, is anything Lore or Canon written on personality of Celestials, and how that relates to Mortals on the Prime Material plane.

Cheers.

[Kauaiian]

I'm in need of having a solid background and understanding of all aspects of Celestial (being), for my character Aldebaran.

I've been doing lots of "homework," but could use some more resources, and some general OOC thoughts. This initial request here will be turned into an in-character post, eventually, when I get my celestial ducks in order!

So far, I've read up on these lists:

Celestia

Celestial

Celestial Creatures (for relating to summons)

What I'm most interested in, atm, is anything Lore or Canon written on personality of Celestials, and how that relates to Mortals on the Prime Material plane.

Cheers.

Book of Exalted Deeds is a great book when it comes to celestial outsiders. I keep it on my phone for those idle times. Manual of the Planes as some great backdrop info as well.

[Steve]

Book of Exalted Deeds is a great book when it comes to celestial outsiders. I keep it on my phone for those idle times. Manual of the Planes as some great backdrop info as well.

True, thanks Kai.

What I'm trying to be careful of is not knowing the "whole story," since Source Books are really for DMs to apply, not for PCs to apply to their IG understanding of the world (THAT must be learned, through IG knowledge...which is a whole other issue! ).

But I'll scan these for any information on Celestial personality, and traits I can RP when interacting with my character's Planar Cohort, or Gate summons.

Cheers.

[Glowfire]

Warriors of Heaven AD&D is a great sourcebook which goes very in depth of celestial life. Not all is of course applicable for this setting but gives a very good idea of the secret lives of celestials.

http://www.lomion.de/cmm/_index.php
AD&D monster manual creatures. Has some interesting (and some useless?) lore about creatures, including many celestials.

[Steve]

Warriors of Heaven AD&D is a great sourcebook which goes very in depth of celestial life. Not all is of course applicable for this setting but gives a very good idea of the secret lives of celestials.

http://www.lomion.de/cmm/_index.php
AD&D monster manual creatures. Has some interesting (and some useless?) lore about creatures, including many celestials.

Cheers, again.