Ask Arkanis

[V'rass]

Not sure the item name i came across a few months ago is pg13 lol.

[DM Arkanis]

OK I found the best drop today.

Potion of Remove Paralysis

Awesome, right? Except, that I am paralyzed and cannot use it because, you know, I am paralyzed.

Amazing.

Ark

[chad878262]

I still remember that one ring called "Shar's brown finger".
*shudders*

Moltrazahn wins...

[Sokolsky]

DM Arkanis,

From time to time I enjoy reading about all the deities and powers at the Forgotten Realms Wikia. They give me a lot of ideas for character concepts. I was wondering though, how well known all these powers are.

For example, how common is the knowledge it that The Triad and the Gods of Fury are groups of cooperative deities? How well known are baatezu like Asmodeus, Gargauth or even Malkizid?
And more specific: what sort of lore score do you feel is required for a character to know about these creatures?

[DM Arkanis]

DM Arkanis,

From time to time I enjoy reading about all the deities and powers at the Forgotten Realms Wikia. They give me a lot of ideas for character concepts. I was wondering though, how well known all these powers are.

For example, how common is the knowledge it that The Triad and the Gods of Fury are groups of cooperative deities? How well known are baatezu like Asmodeus, Gargauth or even Malkizid?
And more specific: what sort of lore score do you feel is required for a character to know about these creatures?

Good question.

We need to make some basic assumptions before I can give an answer:

1. That there is a lot of Dungeons & Dragons lore out there.
2. The Forgotten Realms Campaign setting uses a lot of DnD lore.
3. Our server has some of its own lore apart from either canon DnD or FR lore.
4. This is a friendly conversation and not meant in any way to be a DM ruling on the subject.

OK

The Triad is a known thing as of 729 DR when an army is dedicated to them.

↑ Brian R. James and Ed Greenwood (September, 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
↑ 9.0 9.1 Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.

My take on this would be that just about anyone who knows about Tyr, Illmater, and Torm will know that they comprise The Triad. Low/no Lore Religion check required, except for people from other lands where these gods may not be well known. A quick trip to any one of their temples though would enlighten even the most ignorant of travellers.

Similarly the Gods of Fury do not call themselves this while at secret-gods-only-meetings so I would extrapolate based on the above reasoning that there would be some basic knowledge of who they are, and what their portfolios are, although being evil-aligned gods, more detailed knowledge would really only be easily found among their faithful/clergy/devout followers, who would not readily or easily share it unless they were sure that they could trust the one asking the questions... I would put this one at a Moderate-High Lore Religion check for someone just asking basic questions, and something requiring higher Lore Religion/INT checks + study for deeper information.

Asmodeus, "In the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, Asmodeus is established as an ancient deity who was relegated to the position of archdevil and toiled for untold millenia to regain his divinity." Doesn't really give us much to go on with respect to "how well known" he is.

Gargauth, Despite being widely unknown to most people living in Faerûn, Gargauth appears in many cautionary tales and parables under the names of his aspects and guises. One of the most popular of these is the dwarven Legacy of Astaroth, which teaches dwarves that steel can be more precious than gold. Opposed to other, evil gods, and a demi god only in power, I would think that specific knowledge of him would be very hard to come by. Hi Lore Religion Check plus additional RP around research for sure.
Eric L. Boyd (1997). Powers and Pantheons. (TSR, Inc), p. 24. ISBN 0-7869-0657-X.

Malkizid, a fallen solar, " For thousands of years, Malkizid was subtly the cause of many troubles for the elves of Faerûn." I think you would need to know the connection with the elves, specifically lore around Lloth or Corellon Larethian. Being an archdevil himself, I would surmise that whatever information learned from elven sources would be heavily biased. Again, I think that Hi Lore Religion Check plus proper RP would be required before anything useful could be learned.
Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, Eric L. Boyd (May 2005). Champions of Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-3692-4.

While there is mention in DnD and FR canon lore sources about all of these individuals, for the sake of our server, it would be best to flesh-out a good back story, and then approach the DM team with ideas if you want to pursue some RP around it.

All IMHO as usual.

Arkanis

[Hoihe]

Who is the Machiavelli of Forgotten Realms?

Who is the Socrates of Forgotten Realms?


In general - who are sages/philosophers educated characters could refer to when discussing philosophy/strategy/approaches?

[Hoihe]

Considering the advanced mathematics involved in wizard spell design, and elven/dwarven feats of engineering, could we say the mathematical theory includes aspects only invented/formalised in the 18th/19th/20th centuries on Earth? Perhaps not formalized, but existing as a concept (in other words: the same thing got invented 25 times, with at least 25 different notations and derivations making it a feat to be able to read another's mathematical works (be it pure or applied as magic or engineering)

[DM Arkanis]

Considering the advanced mathematics involved in wizard spell design, and elven/dwarven feats of engineering, could we say the mathematical theory includes aspects only invented/formalised in the 18th/19th/20th centuries on Earth? Perhaps not formalized, but existing as a concept (in other words: the same thing got invented 25 times, with at least 25 different notations and derivations making it a feat to be able to read another's mathematical works (be it pure or applied as magic or engineering)

I cannot find anything in source material that compares arcane spell casting or spell creation to mathematics:

“Before setting out on a dangerous journey with her companions, Mialee sits in her study and opens her spellbook. First she pages through it, selecting the spells that she thinks will be most useful on her adventure. When she has chosen the spells she wants (which could mean choosing the same spell more than once), she meditates on the pages that describe each one. The arcane symbols, which she has penned by hand, would be nonsense to anyone else, but they unlock power from her mind. As she concentrates, she all but finishes casting each spell that she prepares. Each spell now lacks only its final trigger. When she closes the book, her mind is full of spells, each of which she can complete at will in a brief time. A spell is a one-time magical effect." PHB v3.5 p. 169

"In the newly created Toril, magic abounded in everything, but in its raw state it was too dangerous for mortals to use. The Weave was a like a fabric, consisting of many threads, all woven together to create an intricate design. Spell casting and the use of magic items pulled individual threads and reweaved them, creating new designs. After this, both mortals and deities could use magic through this fabric that was both the embodiment of Mystryl and a conduit to raw magic. Any magic that didn't originate from a deity was defined as arcane magic. The use of arcane magic was referred to in day-to-day speech as the Art, and a wide variety of people were able to practice it, to a small or larger extent, though the way in which they accessed the Weave differed dramatically."

Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 8=9. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.

The ability to cast arcane spells is based on the casters ability to gain access to the weave. Symbols written in a spellbook are there for the caster to "remember" and would have no significance to one who could not read magic. It is not simply a matter of building on formulas such as mathematics. The creation and use of magic does not subscribe to scientific laws.

Ark

[DM Arkanis]

Who is the Machiavelli of Forgotten Realms?

Who is the Socrates of Forgotten Realms?


In general - who are sages/philosophers educated characters could refer to when discussing philosophy/strategy/approaches?

There isn't much that I could find that spoke specifically of philosophers - just a short list:

Heptios
Heptios considered himself a philosopher believing that passion was always dangerous and that man must follow a rational path. Despite the rumors, he believed that the Numbers Cult's goal to translate magic into mathematics and find a magic equation to rule the world was based on a mistake.
Scott Bennie (1990). Old Empires. (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 0-8803-8821-8.

Lao Chin-Mao
Born in 531 Shou Years (−719 DR), Lao spent all his life studying how to improve the behavior and morals of his fellow Shou. He wrote the Book of Heaven, a guide to a moral life.
In his old age, Lao become Court Advisor to the Eleventh Emperor Chin of the Ho Dynasty, using his influence to shape the growing bureaucracy in a new social class devoted to his principles. This led to the creation of the Mandarinate, a upper class of scholars and gentlemen who were the intellectual elite of Shou Lung.
Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.

Satama
At some point around -256 DR, the Durpari merchant, Satama had an epiphany and developed the philosophical and spiritual concept that everything in the Torilwas interconnected, including the deities, making everything part of one singular, all-encompassing entity, simply known as "The One" or "Adama" in the language of the durpari.
After developing his teachings, Satama began preaching his philosophy, quickly establishing a fast-growing cult in Durpar.
In -252 DR, the influence of the Adama became so great in Durpar that Satama was named Maharajah of the nation, becoming the new head of state.
Tom Prusa (1993). The Shining South. (TSR, Inc), p. 9, 54, 117. ISBN 1-56076-595-X.

Jantoo
Jantoo was the greatest philosopher alive in 1358 DR.
Two of her most famous pamphlets told about free will. One proved that mankind had free will, the other proved the opposite. Jantoo publicly said that she would marry a man who could defeat her in a debate. She accepted or refused questions depending on her whim.
Ulin studied epistemology and presented a theory that stated that things and people that one did not observe did not actually exist.
Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 3. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.

Ulin
In the Year of the Helm, 1362 DR, at the temple of Deneir in the city of Procampur in the Vast, Koja fancied that if he ignored his secretary Foxe then he would disappear, in accordance with Brother Ulin's theory.
Ulin's theory is apparently a form of solipsism. Though called "Brother" by Koja (similar to Sister Deara), it is unclear if Ulin is a member of the temple of Deneir in Procampur, a lama of the Path of Enlightenment in Khazari (where Koja hails from), or operates elsewhere.
David Cook (February 1993). “Patronage”. Realms of Valor (TSR, Inc), p. 122. ISBN 1-5607-6557-7.

[DM Arkanis]

One of the things I love about having a basement full of millennial's is that the conversation can turn to just about anything. We were talking about "old" music and the, "Spice Girls" came up and I was "so old" because I knew who they were, and everyone laughed, and of course, consulted their phones. The conversation turned to which Spice would you be? And my answer, seeming obvious, was greeted with stoney-faced stares; "Melange" I said, "from Arrakis." Much phone consulting later I was greeted with groans, dismissive waves, and many 20-somethings looking for a peer group... *sigh* Back to my knitting.

DM Arrakis, er, Arkanis

[Hoihe]

What kind of writing implements exist in the realms? What options do scholars have to make sketches in the field or to make rough calculations other than a blackboard and chalk?

[KOPOJIbPAKOB]

I want to know more about Tashalar, DM Arkanis! The information on the internet is very scarce.

[DM Arkanis]

I want to know more about Tashalar, DM Arkanis! The information on the internet is very scarce.

"Tashalar was a small, exotic country located on a strip of coast along the southern Shining Sea. It lay just east of the Chult peninsula, and west of the magic realm of Halruaa. It was famous for beautiful weather, beautiful people, excellent crossbows, and the richest wine-producing region in the world... The small city-states in Tashalar were home to various wealthy mercantile families who lived quite lavishly. In essence, they ruled the country through various merchant consortia. Commoners of the region typically made their living working in the fields, groves, or vineyards of these merchants' estates. Failing this, they could commonly find work as sailors, shipwrights, sail makers, and provisioners, all contributing to the trade of the region's goods. Tashluta (is the) capital of Tashalar and the main point of arrival of nearly all outsiders to Tashalar.

Hunting was a popular sport in Tashalar, as there were many deadly creatures to be found in the jungles.

The indigenous spicy foods were quite popular, as were strong wines.
Tashlans obsessed over the future; nearly every adult owned a deck of cards or plaques that they could be found poring over for personal divinations, often calling to the deity Savras. Most decks were made of wood or vellum. Wealthier people may have had decks carved from ivory or other exotic materials.

The other unifying factor was a general distrust of arcane magic users. A long, costly feud between several wizards attempting to dominate the region remained fresh in the minds of the people who had to rebuild their spell-ravaged cities.

The Tashalar was part of the Lapal League. The major city centers to the south and east of the Shining Sea shared a common history dating back to the time of the sarrukh empires of old."

Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105.

I can see RP opportunities around: fine crossbows and fine wine, yuan-ti and wild dwarves, and the Rundeen slaving and mercantile consortium that operated in the southern Sword Coast and the Chultan Peninsula.

Arkanis


Another reference is
Ed Greenwood (August 1992). “The Everwinking Eye: Words To The Wise”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #74 (TSR, Inc.), p. 14–15.

[DM Arkanis]

What kind of writing implements exist in the realms? What options do scholars have to make sketches in the field or to make rough calculations other than a blackboard and chalk?

I don't see anything official that would specify the availability of particular writing implements, mostly because I think that the games creators found them too mundane to mention.

I would speculate then (just my opinion) that, in addition to slate and chalk, there would be:

Pen and ink
Paint and brushes
Charcoal pencils
Dye which could be used for inscriptions, painting, or clothing.

Watercolor paints have been very popular in the field for naturalists working on paper or canvas, and I have a good friend who carries a sketchbook and charcoal pencil wherever she goes just in case she gets inspired.

Also, in a magical realm such as we play in, I would speculate that there could be all kind of created magical writing implements, a +2 Style of Inscribing for example might have an endless supply of ink. If memory serves me correctly, there was Disappearing Ink in the magical treasure list of the Basic Rules of DnD... or we might have made it up..?

I think that with a little imagination and some DM help IG the sky is the limit.

Arkanis

[Lockonnow]

Hi DM A. what is to be know what is kill on sight those tha tuse the epic spell vamp feast and what elses?