(un)reason
Legend
Dragon Issue 283: May 2001
part 5/7
Rogues Gallery: At the end of last year, we got a whole family of characters detailed in this column. Of course, where there's one noble family, the laws of drama dictate there has to be at least one rival one. So say hello to the Talendars. You can bet they'll be rather more ruthless in their attempts to make a profit and get their leg up in Sembia's busy society. Can't make an omlet without breaking a few eggs.
Marance Talendar is easily the most detailed character we've seen in a while, getting not only the full attention of the intro fiction, but a two page spread to himself as well. And he merits it as well. A damned soul who's managed to win the favour of an archdevil in the hells and get back to the Realms, he's now obsessed with bringing down the Uskeverns. Well, money isn't so much of a concern once you've found out you can't take it with you, and spent years being tormented. He's quite capable of faking politeness and rationality though, and might well employ the PC's as part of his schemes. After all, how are they to know who the good and bad guys are until they've had some interaction with them?
Nuldrevyn Talendar is Marance's brother, but has become an old man during the time Marance spent in the hells, so you'd never know it from looking at them. He's mellowed a bit over the years, but he still wants to see his rival family humiliated, so he goes along with his brother's schemes. But if push comes to shove, he will put stability over personal vendetta. This will probably become an issue at some point in the books, won't it.
Ossian Talendar an an ambitious young member of the family, entirely willing to engage in underhanded methods to advance their cause. This has led him to become their underworld liaison, the kind of guy who gets out on the front line and puts his neck in danger. If he survives, he'll level up quite decently and maybe make it to the top in time. Gotta lay the seeds for the next generation, haven't we.
Avos the fisher is one of the low-life thugs that gets employed at a remove by the Talendars. He's a ruthless bullying guy who uses his fish hook as a weapon, and is highly specialised in it. He'll betray them without a second thought if the price is right though. So I guess it's back to business as usual in the column, although they have kept the new emphasis on ensuring characters are mechanically balanced. The writers are starting to really internalise the conventions of 3e, for better and for worse, and it's for the better in this case.
Vs Treants: Oooh. This isn't a monster I was expecting to see here, that has some quite interesting tactical quirks. Obviously fire is an essential part of fighting them, presuming you intend to kill, because otherwise you'll be setting yourself up for a lengthy and unpleasant vendetta. The important points are that they have long reach, but aren't that fast, so you want to have ranks in tumble and attack in groups to reduce the effects of attacks of opportunity, and remember to focus attacks on the treant itself rather than it's animated servitors. If possible, lure them out of the forest, as this will slant things in your favour quite a bit. This one has a good bit of 3e specific tactical notes that makes it clear they're really paying attention to the rules this time, and doesn't completely ignore the strategic approach either. It's definitely one of the better examples of this column.
Nodwick turns it's attention to the D&D movie. Much awesomeness occurs. And someone finally gets to see sex and D&D as well. Shame it's not us.
PC Portraits: Another round of priestly portraits, as you'd expect. They get a mild grimdarking, with heavier lines, a lot more eye makeup, and somewhat less racial diversity than the collection from issue 263. These look less like people you'd approach to talk about your problems, and more you'd cower before them for fear of being smitten or sacrificed on their altar for the greater glory. So I think the question is if you want your clerics to be friendly healbots, or bloodsoaked harbingers. Both are entirely valid, after all.
part 5/7
Rogues Gallery: At the end of last year, we got a whole family of characters detailed in this column. Of course, where there's one noble family, the laws of drama dictate there has to be at least one rival one. So say hello to the Talendars. You can bet they'll be rather more ruthless in their attempts to make a profit and get their leg up in Sembia's busy society. Can't make an omlet without breaking a few eggs.
Marance Talendar is easily the most detailed character we've seen in a while, getting not only the full attention of the intro fiction, but a two page spread to himself as well. And he merits it as well. A damned soul who's managed to win the favour of an archdevil in the hells and get back to the Realms, he's now obsessed with bringing down the Uskeverns. Well, money isn't so much of a concern once you've found out you can't take it with you, and spent years being tormented. He's quite capable of faking politeness and rationality though, and might well employ the PC's as part of his schemes. After all, how are they to know who the good and bad guys are until they've had some interaction with them?
Nuldrevyn Talendar is Marance's brother, but has become an old man during the time Marance spent in the hells, so you'd never know it from looking at them. He's mellowed a bit over the years, but he still wants to see his rival family humiliated, so he goes along with his brother's schemes. But if push comes to shove, he will put stability over personal vendetta. This will probably become an issue at some point in the books, won't it.
Ossian Talendar an an ambitious young member of the family, entirely willing to engage in underhanded methods to advance their cause. This has led him to become their underworld liaison, the kind of guy who gets out on the front line and puts his neck in danger. If he survives, he'll level up quite decently and maybe make it to the top in time. Gotta lay the seeds for the next generation, haven't we.
Avos the fisher is one of the low-life thugs that gets employed at a remove by the Talendars. He's a ruthless bullying guy who uses his fish hook as a weapon, and is highly specialised in it. He'll betray them without a second thought if the price is right though. So I guess it's back to business as usual in the column, although they have kept the new emphasis on ensuring characters are mechanically balanced. The writers are starting to really internalise the conventions of 3e, for better and for worse, and it's for the better in this case.
Vs Treants: Oooh. This isn't a monster I was expecting to see here, that has some quite interesting tactical quirks. Obviously fire is an essential part of fighting them, presuming you intend to kill, because otherwise you'll be setting yourself up for a lengthy and unpleasant vendetta. The important points are that they have long reach, but aren't that fast, so you want to have ranks in tumble and attack in groups to reduce the effects of attacks of opportunity, and remember to focus attacks on the treant itself rather than it's animated servitors. If possible, lure them out of the forest, as this will slant things in your favour quite a bit. This one has a good bit of 3e specific tactical notes that makes it clear they're really paying attention to the rules this time, and doesn't completely ignore the strategic approach either. It's definitely one of the better examples of this column.
Nodwick turns it's attention to the D&D movie. Much awesomeness occurs. And someone finally gets to see sex and D&D as well. Shame it's not us.
PC Portraits: Another round of priestly portraits, as you'd expect. They get a mild grimdarking, with heavier lines, a lot more eye makeup, and somewhat less racial diversity than the collection from issue 263. These look less like people you'd approach to talk about your problems, and more you'd cower before them for fear of being smitten or sacrificed on their altar for the greater glory. So I think the question is if you want your clerics to be friendly healbots, or bloodsoaked harbingers. Both are entirely valid, after all.