An outline of events for the Arabel area
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Is there a such a thing? I think it would be handy for the player base to have something like this for character creation, knowlege of current events, and so forth. If I'm missing it soemone point me in the right direction.
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Something like this?
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It'd be awesome if someone wiki'fied that.
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I don't know.. It's already a huge work for lizard man to keep it updated.
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And if it was on the wiki, then lots of people could help out instead of just Lizard. :wink:
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I like that its maintained by less, makes it more of a defined and consistant resource.
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People are more than welcome to suggest additions to it or write up briefs for entries, and all I usually do is touch them up so that they are somewhat consistant with the writing style throughout and arn't too spoilerish or too vague (which is largely a matter of opinion, admittedly). I've been meaning to expand the timeline to bring it up to date as well, though I got caught up in trying to figure out the order of events since the current latest entry ("Baron Kreswell of Arabel" - which should also be changed to Viceroy)
I may take a stab at wiki-fying it, or if someone else can it would be much appreciated. Though the Timeline is currently rather out of the way in these forums (I don't think you can access it if you're not logged in) I would probably still update this one as the Master Copy, at least until I got used to the wiki.
There is always an issue with multiple writers submitting their work for a larger piece, and an editor would be necessary even if it were on the wiki for the sake of readability. The main reason to stick it on there, for me, would be accessibility.
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would it be a series of articles on the wiki with a page similar the one now on the forums, or just one page?
If the first one, it could be done in a way that all related articles start with Lizard-man's text in italic, and followed by anything the community members happen to write there… with some space separating it, or something.
It would give lizard-man the credit what he will surely try to deny he deserves, but he does, and help to maintain a level of consistency. It would the same time enable people to help with the project.Just an idea though...
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Actually, if people would feel more comfortable adding things that way, the wiki page could just be set up to start with what's currently been fleshed out of the timeline, and I may just use entries from the wiki timeline to get the information I need about these events (eg. I don't know a great deal about the full extent of Greencastle's activities) to fill up this one on the forums, and quote someone as the source of the details just as it's currently done.
I certainly was not trying to get across the notion that this is somehow my work and people need permission to help with it. There are a lot of entries there that were not written by me, or only edited by me, and I'd like to see more such, but for some reason I'm only ever PM'd suggestions or entry briefs, as though people can't or won't post in the forum itself. It's not a big deal for me, though it does make that forum silent by and large besides my occaisional posts.
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The Caravan City. Tymora's City.
Arabel.
Caravans thrundle into the city from Sembia, coming down from the mountains through distant Thunderholme. Smaller caravans, from Bospir, which connects to south-east Cormyr, and Waymoot via Eveningstar, also make their journey, aiming for markets to the northern markets in the Dales and further on.
From Arabel, many caravans continue West through Eveningstar, aiming for the Sword Coast and distant Tethyr, Amn and Calimshan, or even Waterdeep, city of cities. Caravans also pass through Arabel on the way to coastal Suzail, where they take ship across the Sea of Fallen Stars to Westgate, Aglarond, Impiltur and many more, even Mulhorand.
This land is a crossroads, a meeting place and melting pot of races and people. Many people have come to know Arabel, not because of its wealth or its power, but because of the chaos it spews.
Shortages of goods in distant areas of Faerun can be blamed on the troubles that plagued this city, as caravans stall and rot in fields as they wait for wars to end, or battles to finish. Arabel is in the lips of many different people as they speak of the many creatures and demons, monsters and dragons that have made their name known.
Arabel is not a place for the weak at heart, and many of its citizens have become jaded and morose, seeking only to survve the latest threat, the latest horror, wondering why they do not move, vowing to depart, and failing to do so.
Sheriffs mount the guard on the Palace and at their fortified tower, while the local militia, a large army of men, maintains its ultimate neutrality, eschewing politics in favor of defending their homes and their families. Queen Venieth of the Hullack Kingdom lies in state in the Palace, a temporarily heroic figure suddenly gone silent, cast into the shadow of her Viceroy, Baron Kreswell of Arabel, a man as vile as Cassiel, a man hated by many and loved by some.
He rules while she recovers from her illness, extending his tentacles through the countryside. The Sheriffs are his tool, a mix of local men and Sembians, as often as not complemented by mercenaries and assasins working to maintain loyalty in the populace rather than the safety of the citizens.
East Way, razed and razed and razed again. Once the a retirement village for older Purple Dragons, it has been destroyed time and time agan, often by threats from neighbouring Hullack Forest, or the Cemetary of Dread, where the Devil Dragon reigns supremean and unchallenged. Recently destroyed, it is slowly being rebuilt
It is home now to the Varlets, a criminal organisation that has become legitimized by a King, and now works to put down, violently, the same type of people they once were. They're methods are bruthal, and subtle, as often as not. Nobody trusts them, many fear them, and they are nominally allies of the Sheriffs.
Eveningstar, lonely on the border of the King's Forest, watched by the remnants of the Purple Dragons that battle the goblin hordes that lair in a multitude of forest camps. It is home to Fort Hart, and a gateway to the Haunted Halls and Starwater Gorge. The Knightly Order of the Red Hart has its home there, maintaing a strong garrison with the remnants of Queen Lhal's loyalists, who retreated from Arabel after their grevious losses during the battle with the Devil Dragon and the Hullack Kingdom
Eveningstar has just about recovered from a dragon attack.Technically at war with the Hullack Kingdom, Queen Lhal, the Red Harts and her loyalists lick their wounds and engage politely with the sheriffs whilst facing off against their newest enemy.
The Legion.
Castle Crag has been the hottest piece of property for the past few years. Everyone wants it, and when they get it, they have to fight to keep it. Its newest owner is the Forsaken Legion, a group who say they are honorable and good, who claim to be knights, who claim to bring order. They have allies amongst the Company of the Gear, who has opened up a foundry amongst the ruins of Flynn, who provide them with a multitude of war machines.
There is little to note about the Company of the Gear. Its numbers have fallen in recent times. Debacle has dogged it recently, as people take note of its neutrality treaty, yet note that a machine provided to the Red Harts proved disasterous, and that the Company of the Gear has been making huge sales to the Legion.
The Rift yaws wide, unassailable. Cults gather in the shadows. Things begin to creep.
And everywhere in Arabel, roots.