Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
<STRONG>I don't have a problem with it, Harry. You might want to let a few of us know what you are up to, so we can work out the method and timing of the integration of your plot with the greater story line..
</STRONG>
Well i was thinking i'd have the shadow master(or mistress, who knows) establish some kind of mental link and slowly fed my depression etc about my wifes deaths until he was able to possess my thief somehow.
actually now i want to appear in the kitchen as Gwally explodes with the Shadow master in control of me and i'll flash back to what happened later, perhaps after the shadow master is driven from me or something
Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
<STRONG>True. I am sorta waiting to see what she does. I'm not worried, though. I'm old enough that I've got some totally groovy saving throws.... </STRONG>
ROFL ... well i think i'll go with the idea i show up in the kitchen under the domination of the shadow master ... i'll post if later tonight if no one beats me to the punch and throws the timing off
Harry: <edit> Harry might want to walk into the kitchen rather than appear from outta nowhere - Simbul already got a sword to her throat for doing that....
[ 11-20-2001: Message edited by: Gwalchmai ]
That there; exactly the kinda diversion we coulda used.
Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
<STRONG>Harry: <edit> Harry might want to walk into the kitchen rather than appear from outta nowhere - Simbul already got a sword to her throat for doing that....
Since two people have asked about this, I just want to clarify that the incident of Simbul calling Gwally "Dark Poet" is simply a case of mistaken identity. Simbul was introduced to the Flames as a group -- she still doesn't know everyone's names.
Those who will play with kitties must expect to be scratched.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
Information on The Simbul from various Forgotten Realm texts:
Alassara Silverhand (a name know only to a chosen few), is know to Faerunians today only as the Simbul. She is the second youngest of the Seven Sister, who are Chosen of Mystra, born when Mystra took possession of her mother Elue, the Lady of the Gate, a powerful sorcerer.
The reason why Mystra, the Goddess of Magic, invested a portion of her divine might in mortals is not known. One of the more popular theories, and one that is gaining more support in light of the goddess's other actions during that period, is that Mystra foresaw the Time of Troubles (and her own passing at the hands of Helm) and chose to give some of her power to mortals in order to ensure that her successor (the female mage Midnight, as it turned out) would have a number of nearly immortal allies in the struggle against the schemes of the gods (the now dead Bane, Myrkul, and Bhaal) who precipitated the Time of Troubles by stealing the Tablets of Fate. The theory goes on to suggest that Mystra informed Azuth at approximately the Year of the Rising Flame (0 DR), more than 1,300 years before the Time of Troubles, that some of her power must be put into the hands of mortals who would then become known as Mystra's Chosen. This power would sleep within the bodies of those mortals, allowing Mystra to call on it only with their permission. It would give the Chosen the innate ability to heal quickly, and would give them life spans far greater than those of ordinary mortals. Mystra speculated that these mortals might be able to call on her power and thereby gain some special abilities, but that these powers would not rival those of a deity.
The Goddess of All Magic then began to select mortals she thought to be suitable. One of the first was the young mage Elminster, and she also singled out a promising wizard named Khelben Arunsun. Both have proved to be worthy and capable receptacles of her power, but Mystra's other early attempts to invest her power in living humans were unsuccessful, and she came to realize that only very few mortals were of stern enough substance to contain such power within themselves without being destroyed or corrupted. Even though some people aside from Elminster and Khelben may have possessed the requisite strength, it is possible that having lived for years prior to being visited by Mystra had set them on a path from which they were not able to deviate. Whatever the reason, the problem needed to be solved. To get around the difficulty, Mystra devised a plan to use herself as a vessel to breed individuals who could be nurtured and acclimated to her power from the very beginnings of their lives.
For the father of these individuals, she picked the best example of human stock she could find: Domal Silverhand, a nobleman and a former Harper who lived near Neverwinter. Mystra then possessed the body of Elue Shundar, a half-elven sorceress whom Dornal was already attracted to. Mystra revealed her presence and her plan to Elue, who happily and eagerly agreed to have the goddess share her body. Elue had been reluctant, but under the influence of Mystra the woman became a seductress, and Domal found his advances being suddenly returned with great fervor.
Dornal and Mystra/Elue were wed in the Year of Drifting Stars (760 DR). The first of seven daughters, Anastra Sylune, was born the following winter. Sylune's six sisters emerged at one-year intervals thereafter: Endue Alustriel, Ambara Dove, Ethena Astorma (she prefers the shortened "Storm" these days), Anamanue Laeral, Alassra Shentrantra (known today as the Simbul), and Er'sseae Qilue. These siblings have become known in Realmsian lore as the Seven Sisters.
The Simbul is the Queen of Aglarond (called by some "the Witch Queen"). She mastered metamagic long, long ago and has single-handedly defeated attacking Thayan armies with titanic combinations of spells. She is currently the lover of the famous wizard Elminster of Shadowdale. Thanks to his love, she has mitigated the worst of her dark berserker rages, which makes her even more formidable in battle -- she is still fearless, but no longer heedless of the damage she causes. She is the most powerful wielder of arcane magic in Faerun, a sorcerer of such unfettered strength that she has single-handedly preserved her realm against the Red Wizards of Thay for generations. Red Wizards have been known to faint at the mere thought of facing her in battle.
The Simbul flits tirelessly around Toril and even other planes. As herself, she's heedless of personal appearance, and is usually barefoot or adventurer-booted, and clad only in tattered black robes. Her hair is a wild, long, and silver in color.
Stats
Female, human; Height: 5' 10"
Str 14, Dex 18, Con 26, Int 20, Wis 15, Char 20
Sor 20/Acm 2/ Wiz 10 SA Chosen spell-like abilities; SQ Archmage high arcana, Chosen immunities, enhanced constitution, epic-level abilities, silver fire, spell fire, supernatural abilities.
The Simbul is unaffected by attacks that duplicate these effects: charm person, circle of death, disintegrate, fear, feeblemind, finger of death, fireball, magic missile, misdirection, meteor swarm.
Epic level benefits: six effective levels of sorcerer and six of wizard added to above totals.
She may transform herself into a chain lightening effect that ends as a meteor streak.
Timeline
766 Birth of the Simbul
1320 The Simbul becomes Queen of Aglarond.
Those who will play with kitties must expect to be scratched.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
Woot .. nice person to have as a ally ... OTOH the Shadow Master must be pretty nasty to have her working against him ... hmmm .... what am i going to do
Simbul also is the member of the Harpers. The Elmminster is her consort too. Not to mention she fights the Red Wizards of Thay. I want to know why she is messing with the Dark Flames. From the information I have found she is not that evil.
I had hoped that this would just come out naturally in the storyline, to be revealed as part of the ongoing dynamic, but it seems to be causing some consternation so maybe an explanation would be helpful.
When I originally asked myself how someone like the Simbul would act coming into this situation, I was thinking in terms of the Native American trickster tradition of the Coyote -- or even the guerilla-type instructional style of the Sufis. To come into a situation and be rather cunning and obnoxious in order to discover the psychological responses and patterns of those around her. Given the Shadow Lord's use of not only magic but psionics, it made sense to me that she would test the Dark Flames in this way.
In other words, she is not messing with the Flames... she is learning about them.
Those who will play with kitties must expect to be scratched.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
Originally posted by thantor3:
<STRONG>I had hoped that this would just come out naturally in the storyline, to be revealed as part of the ongoing dynamic, but it seems to be causing some consternation so maybe an explanation would be helpful.
When I originally asked myself how someone like the Simbul would act coming into this situation, I was thinking in terms of the Native American trickster tradition of the Coyote -- or even the guerilla-type instructional style of the Sufis. To come into a situation and be rather cunning and obnoxious in order to discover the psychological responses and patterns of those around her. Given the Shadow Lord's use of not only magic but psionics, it made sense to me that she would test the Dark Flames in this way.
In other words, she is not messing with the Flames... she is learning about them. </STRONG>
Then why was she asking Gwally if he was Darkpoet? Since Gwally is much better looking than Darkpoet, everbody knows that.
</STRONG>
