The Test and The Towers in the 5th Age - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The Test and The Towers in the 5th Age

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jul 31, 2003 3:08:12 Alright, I haven't read any DL novels since I finished the WoS. I also do not have the DLCS. What with the Tower of Palanthas in the middle of the Cypress trees and lacking an owner, and the Tower at Wayreth not where it used to be(was it destroyed? I don't remember. Last I saw of it it was running around all willy nilly with a traitorous mage, an old guy who was actually lots of old guys, and Palin driving). Well, now where do Wizards meet? And where are the Tests conducted?

Anyone care to enlighten me?
#2
cam_banks
Jul 31, 2003 3:16:31 If you read the War of Souls trilogy, you'll know why the Tower of Palanthas (now the Dark Tower or Tower of Nightlund) is where it is. Wayreth's current status is unknown. Beryl had a very hard time finding it.

Until the Conclave gets back up and running properly under Dalamar, wizards are probably taking the Test in the old-fashioned way from before the Towers were built - in small groups, with mentors and tutors across Ansalon who run wizardry schools and private sessions. Not the best solution, but it's certainly going to result in a diverse base of young wizards.

Cheers,
Cam
#3
ferratus
Jul 31, 2003 3:21:19 Personally, I think Dalamar would probably use this approach in addition to the one Cam suggested.

Watch and observe the scattered remnants of the users of "old magic" using their skills in crisis situations. If they succeed, he just invites them into the conclave and considers them "tested". This is a very flexible option for the DM, who can just have Dalamar show up at the end of any adventure where the mage PC has played a prominent role.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jul 31, 2003 3:21:40 Sigh, I cannot wait for a DLCS... ::squirms::

Yes, I know of the location of the Palanthas Tower, I'm going to ask a few dumb questions because I have completely forgotten some of the WoS stuff. (I only read it like two years ago! I'm going mad!)

Dalamar - He got his magic back or no? I remember that whole thing at the end, I remember Palin giving up his, and I remember Dalamar trying to set up the conclave. But does he have Magic or is he powerless?

Did the three Moon Gods lock away the Palanthas Tower or did they bar only Dalamar from accessing it? I'm just brainstorming campaign ideas when I can set up a gaming group. Argh! I have to move, make friends, shift through my friends, and only then can I play again ::weeps::
#5
ferratus
Jul 31, 2003 3:28:58 Well, since I don't have to follow the novels anymore, I'm putting the Tower back in Palanthas... eventually. Right now, some hordes of undead are going to inhabit it. New base of operations for the boss undead.

Btw... is there are reason now for the undead in Nightlund beyond the 5th Ages' "Oh, we thought they would be cool there?" I mean is there a demonic plot involving necromancers, a fallen prince, and an orcish lich-king or something? Background is very important for a campaign setting.
#6
talinthas
Jul 31, 2003 3:32:38 well, there *was*, back in the original fifth age concept, when soth and his hoardes of undead went and tried to conquer ansalon, but not really much to do anymore.
#7
ferratus
Jul 31, 2003 3:40:08 First I've heard of it. I knew Soth was around, the sun didn't shine, and there was lots of undead. Without any further geographical and setting information however...

The 5th Age had a particularly bad habit of wanting to reveal core setting info at "a later time" to ensure that they decided what adventures should be played at a DM's gaming table. I had hoped that trend had ended.
#8
cam_banks
Jul 31, 2003 3:54:31
Originally posted by ferratus
First I've heard of it. I knew Soth was around, the sun didn't shine, and there was lots of undead. Without any further geographical and setting information however...

Following the War of Souls and the end of Soth, the curse on Nightlund was lifted and the darkness has gone from the land. It's recovering from being in twilight for so long, but cities like Kalaman and others within Nightlund's borders are seeing the sunlight and many fewer undead. There's no reason for undead to hang around there at the moment, unless you count the Tower, which has always been pretty spooky.

Cheers,
Cam
#9
ferratus
Jul 31, 2003 16:45:36 Cool.... so if there isn't undead, what is there now? Is it a sort of a semi-independant Solamnic republic now?
#10
zombiegleemax
Jul 31, 2003 18:53:40 What about whichever tower is behind the Shoikan Grove? Can that one still be used?

Maybe it could be taken over by the kender. You get a bunch of Kender, load the lot of them in a gnome-flinger, and bingo, right into the tower :D

-Robert
#11
talinthas
Jul 31, 2003 19:08:57 see, it all comes down to you reading vanished moon and lost star =)
#12
zombiegleemax
Jul 31, 2003 19:23:37 Gnomes armed with Kender loaded Gnome-flingers are in those books?

:OMG!

SWEET!

-Robert
#13
cam_banks
Jul 31, 2003 20:07:42
Originally posted by ferratus
Cool.... so if there isn't undead, what is there now? Is it a sort of a semi-independant Solamnic republic now?

It's mainly a lot of people trying to get back to what's left of their lives, if you could call them that. Nightlund's in a state of repair, like much of Ansalon. The post-War of Souls isn't exactly a time of instant prosperity and happiness, which is part of what makes it so ripe for opportunity and development by Dungeon Masters.

Cheers,
Cam
#14
ferratus
Aug 01, 2003 0:06:14
Originally posted by Cam Banks
It's mainly a lot of people trying to get back to what's left of their lives, if you could call them that. Nightlund's in a state of repair, like much of Ansalon. The post-War of Souls isn't exactly a time of instant prosperity and happiness, which is part of what makes it so ripe for opportunity and development by Dungeon Masters.

Yep, I always said that it makes for a particularly gritty setting if the reward for cleaning out a dungeon is the stonework from the dungeon. Notice what I did as well with Southern Ergoth and cattle. With 25 years of glacier (or tundra these days) you don't have cattle herds. You simply cannot feed them. The deer and the antelope on the range would die too.

As you can imagine, breeding stock cattle in a post-Gellidus Southern Ergoth is worth its weight in steel.

I'd imagine it is the same in Nightlund, Balifor, Goodlund, Blodeheim, New Coast and more! In fact, in a post-WoS world, if we follow the logic used in the past for steel peices, cows should be the new monetary standard.

It would probably really hurt your hip carrying those bovines around in your pouch though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jul 31, 2003 3:08:12	Alright, I haven't read any DL novels since I finished the WoS. I also do not have the DLCS. What with the Tower of Palanthas in the middle of the Cypress trees and lacking an owner, and the Tower at Wayreth not where it used to be(was it destroyed? I don't remember. Last I saw of it it was running around all willy nilly with a traitorous mage, an old guy who was actually lots of old guys, and Palin driving). Well, now where do Wizards meet? And where are the Tests conducted? Anyone care to enlighten me?
#2 cam_banks Jul 31, 2003 3:16:31	If you read the War of Souls trilogy, you'll know why the Tower of Palanthas (now the Dark Tower or Tower of Nightlund) is where it is. Wayreth's current status is unknown. Beryl had a very hard time finding it. Until the Conclave gets back up and running properly under Dalamar, wizards are probably taking the Test in the old-fashioned way from before the Towers were built - in small groups, with mentors and tutors across Ansalon who run wizardry schools and private sessions. Not the best solution, but it's certainly going to result in a diverse base of young wizards. Cheers, Cam
#3 ferratus Jul 31, 2003 3:21:19	Personally, I think Dalamar would probably use this approach in addition to the one Cam suggested. Watch and observe the scattered remnants of the users of "old magic" using their skills in crisis situations. If they succeed, he just invites them into the conclave and considers them "tested". This is a very flexible option for the DM, who can just have Dalamar show up at the end of any adventure where the mage PC has played a prominent role.
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 31, 2003 3:21:40	Sigh, I cannot wait for a DLCS... ::squirms:: Yes, I know of the location of the Palanthas Tower, I'm going to ask a few dumb questions because I have completely forgotten some of the WoS stuff. (I only read it like two years ago! I'm going mad!) Dalamar - He got his magic back or no? I remember that whole thing at the end, I remember Palin giving up his, and I remember Dalamar trying to set up the conclave. But does he have Magic or is he powerless? Did the three Moon Gods lock away the Palanthas Tower or did they bar only Dalamar from accessing it? I'm just brainstorming campaign ideas when I can set up a gaming group. Argh! I have to move, make friends, shift through my friends, and only then can I play again ::weeps::
#5 ferratus Jul 31, 2003 3:28:58	Well, since I don't have to follow the novels anymore, I'm putting the Tower back in Palanthas... eventually. Right now, some hordes of undead are going to inhabit it. New base of operations for the boss undead. Btw... is there are reason now for the undead in Nightlund beyond the 5th Ages' "Oh, we thought they would be cool there?" I mean is there a demonic plot involving necromancers, a fallen prince, and an orcish lich-king or something? Background is very important for a campaign setting.
#6 talinthas Jul 31, 2003 3:32:38	well, there was, back in the original fifth age concept, when soth and his hoardes of undead went and tried to conquer ansalon, but not really much to do anymore.
#7 ferratus Jul 31, 2003 3:40:08	First I've heard of it. I knew Soth was around, the sun didn't shine, and there was lots of undead. Without any further geographical and setting information however... The 5th Age had a particularly bad habit of wanting to reveal core setting info at "a later time" to ensure that they decided what adventures should be played at a DM's gaming table. I had hoped that trend had ended.
#8 cam_banks Jul 31, 2003 3:54:31	Originally posted by ferratus First I've heard of it. I knew Soth was around, the sun didn't shine, and there was lots of undead. Without any further geographical and setting information however... Following the War of Souls and the end of Soth, the curse on Nightlund was lifted and the darkness has gone from the land. It's recovering from being in twilight for so long, but cities like Kalaman and others within Nightlund's borders are seeing the sunlight and many fewer undead. There's no reason for undead to hang around there at the moment, unless you count the Tower, which has always been pretty spooky. Cheers, Cam
#9 ferratus Jul 31, 2003 16:45:36	Cool.... so if there isn't undead, what is there now? Is it a sort of a semi-independant Solamnic republic now?
#10 zombiegleemax Jul 31, 2003 18:53:40	What about whichever tower is behind the Shoikan Grove? Can that one still be used? Maybe it could be taken over by the kender. You get a bunch of Kender, load the lot of them in a gnome-flinger, and bingo, right into the tower :D -Robert
#11 talinthas Jul 31, 2003 19:08:57	see, it all comes down to you reading vanished moon and lost star =)
#12 zombiegleemax Jul 31, 2003 19:23:37	Gnomes armed with Kender loaded Gnome-flingers are in those books? :OMG! SWEET! -Robert
#13 cam_banks Jul 31, 2003 20:07:42	Originally posted by ferratus Cool.... so if there isn't undead, what is there now? Is it a sort of a semi-independant Solamnic republic now? It's mainly a lot of people trying to get back to what's left of their lives, if you could call them that. Nightlund's in a state of repair, like much of Ansalon. The post-War of Souls isn't exactly a time of instant prosperity and happiness, which is part of what makes it so ripe for opportunity and development by Dungeon Masters. Cheers, Cam
#14 ferratus Aug 01, 2003 0:06:14	Originally posted by Cam Banks It's mainly a lot of people trying to get back to what's left of their lives, if you could call them that. Nightlund's in a state of repair, like much of Ansalon. The post-War of Souls isn't exactly a time of instant prosperity and happiness, which is part of what makes it so ripe for opportunity and development by Dungeon Masters. Yep, I always said that it makes for a particularly gritty setting if the reward for cleaning out a dungeon is the stonework from the dungeon. Notice what I did as well with Southern Ergoth and cattle. With 25 years of glacier (or tundra these days) you don't have cattle herds. You simply cannot feed them. The deer and the antelope on the range would die too. As you can imagine, breeding stock cattle in a post-Gellidus Southern Ergoth is worth its weight in steel. I'd imagine it is the same in Nightlund, Balifor, Goodlund, Blodeheim, New Coast and more! In fact, in a post-WoS world, if we follow the logic used in the past for steel peices, cows should be the new monetary standard. It would probably really hurt your hip carrying those bovines around in your pouch though.