#140 The Summoning by Troy Denning (Return Archwizards 1)
Read 28/9/21 to 2/10/21
Well... I'm still having to think about this one, and not (much) in a good way.
Don't get me wrong there's a lot to like in here, but part of the problem is there is a lot... a lot- a lot, like just a heap of stuff.
But still no villain that you'd want to spend five minutes with, no bad guy or gal with a bit of chat. I miss that.
The Phaerimm (I think that's how you spell it), well I could do without them, whirling vortices- with egg injecting scorpion-like (I think) tails, and with (four) clawed/taloned arms/hands. I don't see it, they just sound daft.
I remember the first hardback D&D Monster Manual, and yet if I went and dug a copy out of that book (If I've still got one) then there would be creatures in there that I just hadn't (didn't wanna) get around to using/DMing (although not many). I've been DMing since 1981 (bloody hell- 40 years) but there are monsters that I still avoid. I've been more Beholders than I can remember, and every type of demon, devil, elemental, humanoid... most of the aberrations, and... well, thousands of others. But Phaerimm, there aren't many on the collective monster list that I wouldn't fancy having a crack at, but Phaerimm- what gives.
Can't the bad guys have a story, and then get the chance to tell us it?
If my big bad end of world villain had nothing to say...
So, I don't dig on Phaerimm.
But there's good in here I tell yer, an adventuring party of sorts- made up of disparate and desperate folk- many of them really groovy for a variety of reasons. Malik's back, and I like him- or at least I like him here. He's tawdry and bad, and what's not to like about that. I quite like Galaeron (our hero) and his tangled love life, and his battle (such as it is) with the shadow. I kinda dig Melegaunt, at least for a little while- he has his own agenda, and even an eight year old reader can see that.
Elminster's even worth a shout here, he's obviously very subdued, and I like him as a tree. He should stay that way.
And yet the three (or four) characters I am left liking most are- Aris the Stone Giant, you'd feel a whole lot safer with him at your side; the knight/wight(?) Jhingleshod- he's a hoot, but determined with it, again a character I'd like to introduce to my PCs; Aubric (Galaeron's dad) because, well- do the right thing. Also, possibly, Wulgreth because he's a villain with lines, and at this point I'm desperate for a talking villain.
But don't be afraid there's a metric ton of everything else in here.
Scores of Mind Flayers- check.
Scores of Ridgebacks (or something similar, instantly forgettable)- check.
Scores of Beholders- got it covered.
Piergeiron Paladinson walk on- sorted.
Khelben Arunsun letting loose with his 23rd level Smash-Bang-Wallop spell- tick repeatedly.
Twelve shadowy Lords of... err, Shadow- in the bag.
Threat of invasion/annihilation/end of days- large as life.
It has everything in it.
Which is part of the problem- this is set up for what comes next, got it.
It's well written, got it- some of the characters come alive, okay.
But there's this adventuring party sorta, and we watch them come together and get on with their quest. Then, suddenly, there's Khelben and all hell breaking loose elsewhere. Then back to the adventurers. But then over to the armies of Evereska. Then back to the adventurers. But then Elminster's tricks, and... he's a tree. But then back to the adventuring party. Then a bunch of shadowy Lords of Shadow- and suddenly Laeral Silverhand. But then back to the adventuring party...
I get it- rising tension.
But for me, I just wanted more of the guys in the hole- following their quest, and less- particularly towards the end of the Phaerimm/Beholders/Mind Flayers versus the usual rag-tag-and-bobtail uber heroes.
Read, sheesh, more to follow.
Oh, but just to make clear- The Summoning, we're about to get a visit from Shade, the ex-Netherese last Floating City which has been lying low in the Plane of Shadow. Got it.
We could have got there quicker/better.
Stay safe and well you lovely people.
Cheers goonalan