http://home.comcast.net/~cimerians/npcs/index.htm
Did anyone ever make use of the Heartstone characters? I am still unsure where exactly Ghyr should be located. Maybe Andrew and Thorfinn could get together and make a Norwold map which includes Ghyr?
Håvard
This is how he is supposed to look.
:-) Jesper
There's a "Gazeteer of Ghyr" on the vaults, but I haven't read it. AFAIK, the only things we know for sure about Ghyr is that it's "northern" and that it's close enough to the Known World for some expatriate Thyatians to have made their way there (judging by some of the NPC names). But it was involved in the "Prism Wars" with a bunch of neighbouring countries, and I don't think Norwold and Wendar really fit for those countries, so I'd probably put it farther northwest and add some more countries around it.
The only bits about Ghyr that were ever worked up were things I've done, some of which made their way to the Vaults of Pandius. It first showed up (and was named) in XL-1: Quest for the Heartstone, but that's about all that's ever shown up. It is bounded by the "Mountains of Ice" (which I took to mean the Icereach Mountains), and is presumably in the north. I placed it north of the Denagoth plateau, and had it as a former province of the Kingdom of Essuria (which currently is a nation in anarchy atop the Denagoth plateau).
There is more information on the characters themselves in AC1: Shady Dragon Inn, and some of the characters (Fox-Fingers the thief, notably) are actually tied to the Known World (he's got a Ylari dagger, IIRC). There is a throwaway mention of them in Gaz4, and a couple of them appear as rulers of Ierendi in module X10: Red Arrow, Black Shield- so I worked in Strongheart's appearance there into the "Mystara timeline" and had him as the adventurer-king of Ierendi during the invasion of the Master, but prior to Reston of Akesoli.
There were several coloring books by LJN back in the day- The Lost Wand, Characters Coloring Book, Crown of Rulership, and one about Ringlerun- which may have more information on Ghyr (I don't know for sure- they do have some new characters in them that I've never seen mentioned elsewhere). I'd love to get these to get all the info I can, but they run for some exorbitant prices in the few places I've been able to find them.
And for a really funny look at Kelek, check out a second series action figure from LJN that never actually came out:
Now that's a funny looking Kelek.
There is more information on the characters themselves in AC1: Shady Dragon Inn, and some of the characters (Fox-Fingers the thief, notably) are actually tied to the Known World (he's got a Ylari dagger, IIRC).
AC1 tell of "a magical dagger that he picked up in the great Southern Desert."
There's no mention of any Ylari dagger.
In GAZ4 there's no reference to Ghyr or to any of the characters in the Heartstone adventures (differently from the Ierendi entry in X10).
AC1 tell of "a magical dagger that he picked up in the great Southern Desert."
There's no mention of any Ylari dagger.
That's the part I was recalling- I guess I was misremembering it, though.
In GAZ4 there's no reference to Ghyr or to any of the characters in the Heartstone adventures (differently from the Ierendi entry in X10).
Pg. 23, from the description of "Mikail Dopson" (paragraph 4-5):
"...And, on the left, we have the stately summer residence of Kia'i Figgen Halffellow, companion to Paladin Strongheart, and her of the classic Heartstone campaign. As befitting a halfling of taste and distinction, Sir Figgen has had his cozy little den decorated in High Shire Modern, with elegant Ylari rugs, Empire period elven furnishings, and animated wandering dining tables with serving golems by Chandbeck of Glantri. Quite striking, you'll agree- certainly the only Boulevard house featuring a lavender and puce color scheme..."
Also, the original (mockup) cover for Ierendi featured Warduke on the cover.
Th
Also, the original (mockup) cover for Ierendi featured Warduke on the cover.
Is that cover available anywhere? Would make an excellent cover for your Ghyr gazetteer! ;)
I am also looking for the mockup covers for Orcs of Thar and Minrothad btw.
I always liked having Ghyr in Norwold though. The fact that these characters were mentioned in D&D products. What would their culture be like? More Nordwold-esque than standard fantasy medieval?
Håvard
Is that cover available anywhere? Would make an excellent cover for your Ghyr gazetteer!
Wish I could find it myself. I was looking through some of my old Gaz's (I could have sworn it was on one of the insides of them). I'll check my Dragon mags next- I know I saw it somewhere...
Wish I could find it myself. I was looking through some of my old Gaz's (I could have sworn it was on one of the insides of them). I'll check my Dragon mags next- I know I saw it somewhere...
Now my curiousity is peaked! Please show it if you can!
I'm not positive that the mockup was entirely Caldwell's work- IIRC, the Warduke picture in the middle was just the now-famous Larry Elmore rendition, and was probably just a placeholder.
Something funny about the other mockups you mentioned (Orcs and Minrothad), even after the publication of the now-standard covers, they still featured the mockups on the pull out ad in some of the later products- Gaz9's ad even has the mockup next to the "Available Now" text!
Something funny about the other mockups you mentioned (Orcs and Minrothad), even after the publication of the now-standard covers, they still featured the mockups on the pull out ad in some of the later products- Gaz9's ad even has the mockup next to the "Available Now" text!
I never noticed the different covers on there before! Interesting to see the original title for the Dawn of the Emperors was Twilight of the Empires.
Here's an idea for someone that loves to make NPC's; do the characters that appear on the covers of the gazs. (betcha it would make it into the Vaults ;) )
One of my favorite NPCs was Ariana Demerick (cover of GAZ 9). The one eyed privateer who kidnaps PCs and forces them to become part of the crew for the Radiant.
I bet that was hard for the PCs to accept, eh! :P
I could see my players having a contest to see which PC impressed her the most! Not that any of them definately would, but they'd have some fun trying. Actually, I'd probably be doing most of the laughing.
I never noticed the different covers on there before! Interesting to see the original title for the Dawn of the Emperors was Twilight of the Empires.
In light of the Wrath of the Immortals events, I think the original title would have been more apt. I always liked the Twilight title better, anyway.
Here's an idea for someone that loves to make NPC's; do the characters that appear on the covers of the gazs. (betcha it would make it into the Vaults ;) )
Hey- good idea. I hadn't thought about doing that before...
Hmm, I thought most of them had existing NPC's on the cover, but only GAZ3 and GAZ10 have people that are clearly recognizable (Prince Jherek and King Thar). Some of the others could well be the rulers of their countries, but I can't tell from a quick glance.
I believe the blonde beauty on the cover of Gaz 1 is supposed to be Aleena. The King on the Rockhome cover is probably Everast. The big guy on the Northern Reaches cover is probably Ragnar the Stout, especially considering his illustrations in the JA. Malteen already mentioned Ariana and Joe mentioned a couple of others. Still quite a few left though. Who are they?
Håvard
One of my favorite NPCs was Ariana Demerick (cover of GAZ 9). The one eyed privateer who kidnaps PCs and forces them to become part of the crew for the Radiant.
Is she an official Mystara character? Never read about her, but then again I never owned Gaz 9...
Here's an idea for someone that loves to make NPC's; do the characters that appear on the covers of the gazs. (betcha it would make it into the Vaults
Trying to pull me out of retirement, eh?
Just kidding. :D I have been terribly bussy elsewhere and haven't gotten much done for the game lately. But this sounds like an enjoyable challenge.
Just one hitch, though: I'll bet we all have our own ideas who these characters are; are they good? evil? heroes? villains? etc.
In trying to flesh them out as NPC we could produce something completely different from what other people feel these characters should be. But then again, it would be fun to compare how different NPCs are created from the same pictures ;)
:-) Jesper
The rest of her description seems to fit the picture, but it's hard to be sure.
Is the female on the cover of GAZ14 Elaya Moonstalker (without the feather war bonnet)?
The rest of her description seems to fit the picture, but it's hard to be sure.
Just took a look at the cover and discovered once again how I can repeatedly look at something and yet not see it; She is holding a steel dagger! (text says Eleya wields a spear but the description does sound right). Personally, I'd love to see new NPCs created for each of these figures on the cover.
Trying to pull me out of retirement, eh?
You better believe it, Jesper! :D
But then again, it would be fun to compare how different NPCs are created from the same pictures
Variety is the spice of life, afterall. Put on some spice to enhance the flavour of Mystara, eh!
Just took a look at the cover and discovered once again how I can repeatedly look at something and yet not see it; She is holding a steel dagger! (text says Eleya wields a spear but the description does sound right). Personally, I'd love to see new NPCs created for each of these figures on the cover.
Doh! Well spotted, Hugin!
My excuse is that I only got the GAZ today, and have only read it once. Not much of an excuse, I know, but the best I could do on short notice.
In Eleya's description it says she spent some time in Darokin, so she could have picked up a steel blade there, but it is definitely out of synch with the whole Atruaghin attitude to metal. Unless she's from the Tiger Clan - but she's certainly dressed as a Horse Clan warrior.
For GAZ 13 I'd go with Teledriel the Skinwing captain, and Seladir the Shaman, who are both mention in the "Day in the life of the Shadow Elves" narrative.
I'm looking at the ESD, and can't tell if the 2 female pictures are of the same person or not. Can anyone with the actual GAZ make out the facial markings and confirm if it's the same person?
Neither seem to have their stats listed in the NPC section, so that should please you Hugin! I look forward to your suggested stats for the two of them. :D
I'm looking at the ESD, and can't tell if the 2 female pictures are of the same person or not. Can anyone with the actual GAZ make out the facial markings and confirm if it's the same person?
If you mean the two females on the cover of gaz 13, I'd say they are not the same.
If you mean the two females on the cover of gaz 13, I'd say they are not the same.
Ah, in that case I'd go for Seladir for the close-up, and another shaman for the bottom left picture.