Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 3 Mar 2002 to 4 Mar 2002 (#2002-63) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 05/03/2002, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 10 messages totalling 488 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Almanac Frustration (3) 2. Dwarves of Mystara 3. Mystara 3E website (2) 4. War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Summary (2) 5. War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part X (2) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 10:51:45 +0200 From: Ville V Lahde Subject: Re: Almanac Frustration On Sun, 3 Mar 2002, Herve Musseau wrote: > >One of the things that I would like to see is, a > simple general timeline of the Almanac events. (Both > official and Net Almanacs). Just to give us a general > overwiev of whats been going on there lately. > Anyone up for the job? > > A continuation of Daniel Boese's Unofficial Timeline of Mystara, which I think > stops at JA? That would be most interesting and useful. Daniel Boese's Timeline has been exremely useful, all praise to his wonderful work. But if the project to widen the scope of compiled timelines is started, why not also continue his excellent work and compile version 1.3 of the pre-Almamac Timeline together? We all know that the Gazetteers created some discrepancies which could be explained in the Timeline. For example the event described in the Shawodelf, Alfheim, Thar and Darokin Gazetteers differ a bit from each other. By careful reading we could point these out. One example: "The Elfwars" after 500 AC (501-504?) - Alfheim Gazetteer doesn't mention them directly. Instead, it mentions a Darokinian invasion during the time that Illodius's forces invaded Canolbarth. That was around 550 AC, I think, and the Gazetteer describes the Darokinian invasion as a serious one. The whole situation was nearing disaster. - No mention of such a war is made in the Darokin Gazetteer. Instead, the Elfwar is described as a relatively short engagement, scarcely mentioned in the elven lore (even though many elves should still have living memories of it!). - So: We have two Darokinian invasions take place within 50 years, PLUS the shadowelf invasion of 560 in which the Darokinians aided the elves??? For anyone reading the Timeline it would be helpful to point thing like this out. I remember being baffled by several thing when I complied the Timeline of my campaign. Also, events described in the Gazetteers could be cross-referenced - for example, the humanoid invasions in the Five Shires, like the one in 700AC, could be explained by events that took place elsewhere, thus the reader of the Timeline could get a fair grasp of the humanoid migrations (described in the Thar Gazetteer) and their effect on the world. And what about adding some optional material from the wonderful fan-created timelines available in the Vaults? Of course only those that have at least a loose basis in "canon" events. I'm referring to things like the Denagoth&Wendar timeline. Yours, Ville ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 22:17:12 +1100 From: Alfred O'Meagher Subject: Re: Almanac Frustration I have prepared both a canonical and a non-canonical version of a Mystara timeline if anyone is interested. It starts way back and goes through past 1016 - way past. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 14:27:26 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Dwarves of Mystara Jenni wrote: > I don't own the Rockhome Gaz, and was wondering if > this material was > all directly from there and other Mystaran sources? > The reason I ask is > that, while the M3E project expects to leave the > Dwarf race "as is" in > the 3E rules, it would be nice if we could provide a > "Full Description" > of them as we have for Gnomes and Elves, and this > information would be a > great place to start from. My article was based on the Rockhome Gaz, the D&D Rules Cyclopedia, D&D 3E Players Book, Dawn of the Emperors Boxed set and I may also have gotten a fact or two from the original D&D rule books. I don't think any of this was my own creations, except the translation of the thyatian Dwarf clan which I used the Rockhome Vocabulary to translate. Feel free to use my stuff for the 3E project. It was more or less what I intended for it. (Let me know what you do with it though so I can have a look! :) Håvard ______________________________________________________ Sjekk snørapporter... fra 500 ski-destinasjoner i Europa på http://no.snow.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 14:40:02 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Almanac Frustration --- Alfred O'Meagher skrev: > I have prepared both a canonical and a non-canonical > version of a Mystara > timeline if anyone is interested. It starts way back > and goes through past > 1016 - way past. Ofcourse we want to see them! :) Håvard ______________________________________________________ Sjekk snørapporter... fra 500 ski-destinasjoner i Europa på http://no.snow.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 15:05:03 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Mystara 3E website Jenni's recent posting made me take another look at the 3E site, and I just wanted to say that I think its really beautiful. I love the layout and the litle icons aswell as the front page image! Keep up the good work! Håvard ______________________________________________________ Sjekk snørapporter... fra 500 ski-destinasjoner i Europa på http://no.snow.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 16:06:58 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Summary Ok, I'll try to get the story done properly. I won't rush it, don't = worry, in fact it might gain a few more parts than originally planned. = This post will contain a summary of the plot so far, if you want the = entire story, it can be found at Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk --- The story so far is set in Vatermont of the year AC 1000 and builds on = previous work I have done, detailing the domains of Ostland, and is also = a sort of precursor to this year's Almanac entry for Ostland. Geirstein Thorgelson is an ambitious man, the jarl of Clan Noslosford in = Ostland. He wishes the throne of Ostland for himself. He has confided = these plans to his family and close retainers. The family consists of = Geirstein and his loyal wife, the two older brothers Lot and Bue, the = younger sisters Oda and Lis, and the youngest brother Hjort. The = siblings' loyalties are split, the oldest son Lot follows his father, = Oda has plans of her own, Bue is mostly loyal to the Northman Gods = (particularly Odin), and Lis is loyal only to Bue, with Hjort being too = young to have any say in the matter. The story revolves around Bue, his realization that the Gods wish Hord = Dark-Eye to retain his throne, and his attempts to save his clan from = being destroyed by a vengeful king. Bue initially confides in Asgrim the = Bowed, head of the priesthood of Odin and advisor to the king, but is = soon forced to confess to the king. Asgrim convinces Hord that Bue = should be given the chance to redeem his clan by rooting out the = treacherous elements and eliminating them. At first Bue confronts his father in an attempt to convince him to give = up, but his father scorns him, expelling him from the clan and family. = Next he speaks to his sister Oda, but realizes that she is as ambitious = and heartless as his father. Oda flees Noslosford, being betrothed to = jarl Ragnar Solmundson of Clan Vithesford. She means to bend the old = jarl to her will and take over that clan. Geirstein leaves the King's = Court, taking the remainder of his family with him to Noslosford, = including Bue's younger sister Lis, to whom he is very close. Bue raises an army with the help of the king, an army consisting of the = king's loyal troops, but from two rival factions: The Ravenguard, = Berserkers of Thor, and the Royal Household, King Hord's personal = warriors. Among the Royal Household are two women, to whom Bue gradually = finds himself attracted, Asta Katlasdottir and Ingibjorg = Siglindesdottir, both daughters of jarls. Ingibjorg is an impulsive = Northlander maiden, while Asta is a more thoughtful warrior of mixed = Alphatian heritage. During his talks with the two shield-maidens, doubt = is sown about Asgrim the Bowed's motivations, but in the end Bue brushes = them off, as he is offered a blessed spear by Asgrim to lead him in = battle. In the night Bue is accosted by the envious Stein Anlafson, another son = of a jarl, who is jealous of his accomplishments and the affection shown = Bue by Ingibjorg. They are surprised by the object of their discussion = and she brushes Stein off, then flirts with Bue, who is taken aback by = her manner, but not exactly put off by it. As Bue leads his army into his ancestral clan lands, they are met by = free karls, whom Bue attempts to win over. But suddenly the Ravenguard = attacks, the berserkers killing every man before them. Bue realizes that = the king wishes as much bloodshed as possible and tricks the berserkers = into going back to the capital of Zeaburg. He begins to realize that = matters are not truly well within Ostland. Reaching the clan hall, Bue is met by his brother Lot. As his clansmen = lay down their arms in surrender, Lot challenges Bue to a duel, a = challenge which he cannot deny. Bue barely defeats his brother, though = Lot breaks the rules and stabs him with a hidden dagger. Lot loses an = eye, but survives the ordeal. Though severely wounded, Bue travels on to his father's secret fort = built at a hidden mine, where weapons for use in usurping the throne are = forged. At the fort Bue attempts to undermine the morale of his father's = troops by claiming that King Hord himself is on the way to punish them. = Geirstein agrees to exchange Bue's sister Lis for his brother Lot. = However during this exchange, the men in the fort open fire with their = bows and Bue stumbles to safety, shielding his sister with his body, but = taking several hits... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 16:07:41 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part X Back to the main attraction. Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk --- The War-Journal of Bue Geirsteinson Vatermont 25th, the year 1000 After Crowning of the First Emperor of the = Thyatian Empire I awoke in my tent to see concerned people standing about me. My eyes = first fell on Asta Katlasdottir, her left cheek marred by a new scar. = Beside her stood Ingibjorg Siglindesdottir, worriedly watching a man = standing over me, his hands on my arm. As he moved back, I caught sight = of my sister Lis. Her gaze found mine and she threw herself into my = arms. "Brother!" she exclaimed, "I was so worried about you, fearing that you = would not survive." I held her tightly, basking in her presence. We had been apart for too = long, my father ruthlessly keeping her from me. Pushing her back, = holding her by the shoulders, I examined her closely. She looked thin = and tired. "How are you? Has anybody hurt you?" I asked. She shook her head. "No, I have been kept locked up in the fort, guarded = by father's men, isolated from all others, but I haven't been abused." "Thank the Gods," I sighed in relief. It was then that I realized that I = had regained the use of my arm and that while I was somewhat numb, my = injuries had ceased to hurt. I looked at the strange man standing = respectfully a short distance from us. He was aged, long white hair and = beard flowing about his face. There was humour in those eyes, and he = smiled at me. "Yes Geirsteinson, I have healed your injuries. By the grace of the Gods = I have been given the powers of restoration. I am Ralf Askeson, known as = Silk-Tongue." His voice was smooth and pleasant, a voice accustomed to = the telling of tales and singing of songs. "Ralf Silk-Tongue," I muttered in disbelief. "The famous skald? You have = come to heal me?" He laughed. "Indeed Bue Geirsteinson, the famous prodigy. Tales of your = quest to save your clan from treachery against the king have reached far = and about, and I quickly decided to be where the events unfold, so I can = retell them properly in the years to come. Imagine my surprise when I = found that I had a role to play in the tale myself. I arrived this = morning to hear of how your father had ordered his men to shoot at your = exposed back during a fair exchange of hostages. Seeing how you had = survived the night on your own, I lent my humble powers, praise be to = the Gods, to your aid, and have brought you back from the brink of = death. Obviously you are meant for great things, or the Gods would not = have granted this boon." "I will thank the All-Father properly then," I said, in awe of this = living legend standing before me. "And my thanks to you, Silken Tongue, = that you showed up when you did." I bowed my head in respect. His gentle laughter again rang about us. "Old One-Eye is not the only = God you owe your thanks. I do not solely revere the Kingsmaker, in fact = the siblings Frey and Freyja are closer to my heart. Yet all the Gods = stand behind my powers, I am one of their representatives among the = Northlanders. I revere them all, and am allowed to put them in = perspective, unlike the true priesthoods, who believe it proper to = always be in respect of their own chosen God, thinking less of the = others. But enough lecturing. I believe a great tale is in the making, = and I cannot tell it properly until it is done. Since it is your tale, I = must await your decisions and see the outcome for myself." I nodded and got up from the improvised bed I had lain in. It was bloody = and soaked, and I saw just how close to death I must have come. There = was buckets of water nearby and I used them to wash the sweat and blood = from my body, while the others waited respectfully outside. Only my = sister remained, helping me and choosing proper clothes for the day. "Bue, you have a terrible duty before you," she said. "I do not = understand why it is so, but our father is enraged and wants your death = above all else. He will not surrender to you, and this can only end in = your death or his. Please tell me why this is so." My sister's innocence was the most precious thing to me, but I would = never lie to her. "Our father wants everything," I replied. "He is a man = who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. In his mind there are no = boundaries, no unthinkable deeds, as long as he ends up as the one in = charge of everything. Oda told me how he wished to rule over her = completely, and it is the same with us. If we do not follow him = completely, he will punish us any way he can." She contemplated this. "But he was a good father for a long time. He = gave you boys what you wanted and protected us girls. He taught you to = be strong and fight, while he made sure I knew proper manners and = respect." "All this was done for his own sake," I explained. "Lot and I were bred = to become successors to his rule, extensions of him, heirs to his = throne. You and Oda were bred to be docile and sweet, beauties that he = could show others and promise away in return for alliances. Perhaps he = cared for us, but only so long as we were useful to him. Oda would not = have it and she found a way out. I will not accept it either, to me = honor and respect for the Gods are paramount. And you will not be ruled = by him, you are the sweetest flower of all, and you will wilt under his = rule." She smiled and kissed my cheek, standing on her toes. "Ralf is not the = only Silk-Tongue around," she said. "I'm still not sure I understand, = but I believe in you, that you do what you must and that you will find a = way that will not lead to bloodshed." My heart heavy I was about to respond, when Asta stuck her head in the = tent. The recent scar on her cheek stood out sharply to me, and I was = grimly aware that I was responsible for it, bringing her into this. "Are = you ready, Bue? The men are waiting anxiously to see that you really are = still alive." She looked me up and down, as I stood in my armour, my sister handing me = the helm. She whistled. "I almost think your mere presence on the = battlefield will grant us victory. You look like a true hero, ready to = conquer his foes. Come now." As I stepped from the tent, the spear given to me by Asgrim the Bowed in = hand, a cheer rose from the men gathered about us. Ralf Silk-Tongue led = a chorus in a battle hymn. Ingibjorg raised her sword in salute, = followed by a number of men. Lis went to stand next to Asta, as I rose = the spear above my head. The roar nearly deafened me. My father would = fall this day, one way or another. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 16:14:29 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Summary I wrote: > Ok, I'll try to get the story done properly. I won't rush it, don't = worry, in fact it might gain a few more parts than originally planned. = This post will contain a summary of the plot so far, if you want the = entire story, it can be found at Oops, missed the link: http://dnd.starflung.com/wjbg_cnt.html Sorry, Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 10:38:05 -0800 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part X Another great installment, thanks Jacob! Chris. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - sign up for Fantasy Baseball http://sports.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 12:42:35 -0600 From: John Polacek Subject: Re: Mystara 3E website Yes, it looks great and already has plenty of great information on it. Keep up the good work!!! > > Jenni's recent posting made me take another look at > the 3E site, and I just wanted to say that I think its > really beautiful. I love the layout and the litle > icons aswell as the front page image! > > Keep up the good work! > > Håvard > > ______________________________________________________ > Sjekk snørapporter... > fra 500 ski-destinasjoner i Europa > på http://no.snow.yahoo.com/ > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. >
Ashlander Developer, Realms of Mystara Webmaster, NWN Mystara Project _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 3 Mar 2002 to 4 Mar 2002 (#2002-63) *************************************************************