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<blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 1302662" data-attributes="member: 2020">(Post 4)&nbsp; Thread One of the 1st IRTheBalor&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:30 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Wait a sec, I ain't on the technomancy side anymore. I'm doing my damndest to kill all the fiends and close&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; all the gates to the hells. Plus I don't think that druids, no matter how desperate the situation, would use&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; fiends. F*ck technomancy if they continue their use of demons, I'm lending my skills to the elves. BTW,I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; agree with the whole dragons wouldn't switch sides because of guns thing. That's just absurd. And, as I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; leave techno lands, I make sure that none of the leaders of the tech leaders live to see another sun rise.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It'd be easy, I just don't tell anyone that I'm switching sides, I just go to 'report my findings after scouting&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the enemy' to the leaders of those countries. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; must simply laugh.-The Magus&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Edena_of_Neith&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:50 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It should be becoming obvious to all sides that:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- The gnomes aren't doing that much damage with their non-magical weapons, powerful though they are.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- The industrialized nations aren't doing that much damage with their non-magical weapons, powerful&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; though they are.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- The elves and druids, and their allies, aren't doing that much damage with their non-magical weapons,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; powerful though they are.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is the mages who are doing the worst damage.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- They are the ones combining magic and technology to make technomagic weapons.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- They are the ones who are (on the Technomancy side) shouting the glories of technology, then secretly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; using it to boost their magical powers.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- They are the ones who are summoning the Outsiders.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; --- They are the ones who got the dragons involved in the war, and continue to keep them involved.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; While everyone else fights over whether there will or will not be technology in the world, the Red Wizards of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Thay, the Zhentarim, the city of Mulmaster, Mulhorand, Chessenta, Lantan, Halruaa, are quietly taking over.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; With everyone in such a weakened state from the war, they will be easy pickings for these powerful mages,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; now armed with technomagic.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; DarwinofMind&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 01:11 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I'm with Balor up there, I'm still in favor of tech but I'm helping anyone willing to fight agasints the fiends.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Come on people lets stop swabling and stop armagedeon.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 01:31 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; My money is on the MindFlayers. They have the time and resources to lurk in their caverns, plotting,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; relatively unmolested by the conflict above. They can exert their influence on many of the primary&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; representatives of the concerned parties, bending the volatile political situation to their will. With their great&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; intelligence and psionic power, I am inclined to think that they could easily improve and expand upon any&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; technology produced by surface-dwellers, and their use of minions makes them naturally suited to&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; mass-production. The introduction of the new technological factors could be enough to give them utter&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; dominance over the Underdark and unite the disjointed MindFlayer groups behind the primary goal of that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; hated race. I would guess that they would bide their time... waiting to strike when the primary warring&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; factions had worn themselves down a bit. Faced with Techno-Psionic weaponry more advanced than anything&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of gnomish design, wielded by hordes of mindlessly, suicidally loyal thralls, directed by the cunning and evil&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of the MindFlayers, who are bent on nothing less than world domination... If the war-torn surface had any&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; chance of survival whatsoever it would only be in uniting their weakened opposing forces to combat the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; threat from below...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Regards,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus T. TapeFiend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;My middle name is not cunning, but it could have been.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Blood Jester&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 02:04 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In the highest councils of the Elven Kingdoms a grim decision is reached. There is one answer to both of the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; current crises, the rampaging Outsiders (especially the fiends), and the technomagic forces.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; That which the Humans thought lost with the fall of Nethril, that which most humans are mostly ignorant of,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the greatest folly of any Mage in history. That which the Elves had long since hidden away, believing they&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; were keeping it safely out of the immature hands of the Young Races. That which they would now modify to&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; employ as a doomsday weapon.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The spell of Karsus.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Now modified to nullify the weave (hopefully) for a short period of time. It would require a team of Wizards&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; to cast, all of whom were giving their lives for the cause.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; With ALL magic temporarily removed from the Realms, the outsiders would be either killed outright, or at&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the least weakened so severely that they would have to limp back to their own planes, taking centuries to&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; recover.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The magic enhanced technology will fail spectacularly when the enchantments that are compensating for&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; mechanical flaws and weaknesses are cancelled. Boilers will explode, as will powder stores, gears will grind&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and strip, overloaded components and structures will collapse, improperly designed seams will burst. The&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; true failure of combining technology with magic is that the technology is not developed in harmony with&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; itself, and WAY to many magical shortcuts are used.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; As for magic and the weave, it will recover as it has in the past, but the shattered technology will recover&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; much more slowly. By which time the forces of magic will be able to eradicate all traces of it.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Dragon allies will be warned to stay in their caves and aeries on that day (with out getting into the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; details). The rest of the creatures of the realms should be no more affected then they were the last time&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; this happened.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Other threats now loom on the horizon (Phasmus and his Illithids) this must end NOW!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The war is grim, and defeat is not an option.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Blood Jester&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Blood Jester (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; zouron&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 02:16 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the mages talking over the battle is both good and bad for my causes, bad since they do so much more&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; havoc then the others, good because it gives a testing ground for new spells, but as thing is I wills tart&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; researching and devices training progam for secretly spying and assassinating the powerful mages my&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; common man. Using every resource to spread this knowledge to both sides because if wizards fight the war&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; successfully then surely will they destroy the earth completely, the goal was technology and nature in&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; harmony, so wizardsneeds to be pulled from the front, letting the worse quality, but mass stand strong&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (sorta why the germans lost, they build for the best equipment but was unable to mass produce). of course&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; also researching procedures against this and keeping them secret. still in secret spread the knowledge of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; wizard assassination to both sides through middle men.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; also reading myself and my armies to withdraw if tides turn against us. same time negotiating with the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; neutral parts to get them to employ technology and nature harmony through magic, in exchange for raw&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; materials and such, building up a stock pile. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and also encourage the thoughts of peace the hope of cooexisitng ideologies&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Reprisal&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:16 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If what Blood Jester says is true, then the Old Guard has just shot itself in the foot before the great race.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Although I do not know how long this absence of magic will last, at this point, any one group within the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; technocracy, or even affiliated will have the advantage of having the most powerful force on the planet. You&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; think technology will fall because some patents went into the toilet? I should think not. There will still be&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; firearms, although they do not have +5 and True Striking ability, they'll kill any mounted knight bearing&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; down on them. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Elves in the trees, critters in the air? A sniffet of grapeshot will do them well enough to stay out of the affairs&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of the new inheritors of the world.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; With the removal of magic, it no longer becomes a contest, it merely becomes a matter of time.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ((BTW, how long does this last? A mere day? If so, would it not also destroy most if not all magical devices&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; as well?))&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I severely doubt that the absense of the magitech would really have that much of a bad effect on&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; technocrats. I also doubt that those who wrought the benefits of that technology would sit idly by and let all&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of this happen.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Give the people a glimmer of hope, let them touch it, taste it and fall in love with it, then have it taken away&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; by a race that had little to do with their lives. That's ground for a real War. Are the elves prepared to dish&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; out something so desperate that they would face utter annihilation?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I think not, for they are far too vain a people.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You think the conflict was bad before, wait and see when Joe, his brother and their children all join their&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; respective armed forces to take out their frustrations on these creatures who think they can dictate what is&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; good for them and what is not. If there's one thing I know, it's that humans crave liberty at any cost. And&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; now, when they've sipped from the cup, the elves decide to take it all away because it threatens their vision&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of the world, you just angered a population far larger than your own, and you've made enemies of those&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; would would otherwise have been complacent.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You've mobilized the entirety of a nation, of a race even, good job, Hirohito.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ((Elves try to kill me, I'll be the first to jump atop the soapbox and make sure that every single citizen of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the human/gnomish states know of this travesty.))&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If this is a war of power, it is now a war that every single man, woman and child will know to be a just&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; cause... Technology is already there, how can it be destroyed? Sure, you've destroyed the &quot;clean&quot; magitech,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; but in doing so, you've created a Leviathan, and the once visible and potent barrier of tech's destructiveness&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; to the land will be moot. All the humans will want is the utter destruction of this elven nation far too arrogant&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; in its old and tired ways.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; With the lack of any real magical artillery (like Lightning Wands, Staves of Power, and other things like&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Scrolls) all gone, the Old Gaurd are forced to hit the front lines, or at least stand behind their lines of fewer&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; troops. The Old Guard will be forced to attack, because even though Sir Jester says that technology will&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; recover more slowly, that is simply not the case. When a single factory can equip an entire battalion (500&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; men?) in a day, not to mention the existence of the more conventional arms like Xbows and Longbows, as&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; well as siege weaponry.... &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If the Old Gaurd do not attack, guess who will have stockpiled enough weapons in a mere week and will be&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; slash and burning the elves' precious forest? A smart general would force the elves to attack him in an open&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; field, where the might of the firearm, the cannon filled with grapeshot can be brought to peak efficiency; the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; massed warriors ready to deliver the final blow after the first few volleys which will terrify anyone on the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; receiving end, especially the elves, who I would believe would not have faced anything quite like a Light&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Brigade charge.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You think you won the war? You merely escalated it, and you've removed most of the extra-planar parties,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; no more complications: just you, and them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And the Illithids? Don't the dwarves hate these guys? What are they doing in their underground delves? I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; would think that they would be the first line of defense, and the stout ones will not be defeated in one fell&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; swoop... Seeing how they might be defeated, who would they turn to? The elves? Somehow, I don't think&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; so... The gnomes and the humans? More than likely.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Just my opinion, but it mostly depends on the length of this absence of magic, still, what I say after that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; little question still has merit.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Wouldn't you agree?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Rep.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity.&quot; - Albert Camus&nbsp; &nbsp; This topic is 16 pages&nbsp; &nbsp; long:&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp; 2&nbsp; 3&nbsp; 4&nbsp; 5&nbsp; 6&nbsp; 7&nbsp; 8&nbsp; 9&nbsp; 10&nbsp; 11&nbsp; 12&nbsp; 13&nbsp; 14&nbsp; 15&nbsp; 16 &nbsp; &nbsp; All times are Central Time (US)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Hop to:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Contact Us | D&amp;D 3rd Edition News &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47b&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; D&amp;D 3rd Edition News Board &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Other Archived Stuff &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? (Page 5) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; profile | register | preferences | faq | search &nbsp; &nbsp; This topic is 16 pages long:&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp; 2&nbsp; 3&nbsp; 4&nbsp; 5&nbsp; 6&nbsp; 7&nbsp; 8&nbsp; 9&nbsp; 10&nbsp; 11&nbsp; 12&nbsp; 13&nbsp; 14&nbsp; 15&nbsp; 16 &nbsp; &nbsp; This topic was originally posted in this forum: General RPG Discussion&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Author &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Topic:&nbsp;&nbsp; What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Blood Jester&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:59 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You are overlooking some key points.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All of the technos have been arguing that all of the drawbacks of early technology would be eliminated by&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; adding magic to their mix, making their weapons accurate enough to compete with bows and arrows wielded&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; by skilled archers. Making them fire fast enough to match the rate of fire of said archers. Making their&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; factories produce at such prodigious rates. At every turn the technocrats have ignored improving their&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; machines within the bounds of their new 'science' and have simply said 'Aha! We will use your magic against&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; you to overcome the limitations of our machines, and thus we will prevail!' Now picture what happens to a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; machine that is running several hundred times faster than it is truly capable of running, and it's 'immunity'&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; to the effects of this speed are instantly removed. Ever see a turbine lose a blade, and then fly apart from&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the imbalances? Picture that magnified by a thousand, remember, instant failure. If every machine of any&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; size or complexity comes apart, violently. How long will that take to dig out from, much less rebuild?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone seems to assume that one hundred and fifty years of development will occur in a couple of weeks.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Without using magic as a crutch, how is this accomplished? The war is not an excuse, we had plenty of those&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; during our technology growth, and that was with BOTH sides working on developing technology.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (Not to mention, this started out as STEAM POWER being discovered, all these assumptions of other&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; technologies coming along with this have been allowed to ride unchallenged, but I will have to say that this&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; requires the excessive use of magic to accomplish.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You also overlook that we have plenty of humans on our side, it is not an 'Elves vs. Humans' war. It is Elves&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; vs. a faction of Gnomes, with humans on both sides, war. And how sympathetic do you think the humans&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; would be who lived in the town leveled by artillery shells meant to destroy the tower of the kindly wizard who&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; had always been willing to help out the townsfolk, and who was targeted for making the 'mistake' of using&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; his specialty of Divination to answer some questions of his old elf-mage friend? Or the families of the young&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; boys and girls killed by friendly fire as the techno-army learned not to fire too close to it's own lines? Or the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ranchers, or farmers whose land is taken so that the rail line can run through?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It won't be as one sided as you seem to assume.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And, if the plan works, the day after the spell is cast, while the tech-army is digging out and re-organizing,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the mages of the Preservationist army will be able to Time Stop, Teleport Without Error in, Meteor Swarm&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (X3), and T.W.E. out at zero risk. For starters.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Blood Jester&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Blood Jester (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Edena_of_Neith&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 06:17 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Based on Blood Jester's article on the last page back, and on other articles written since ...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The elves cast their modified version of the 12th level spell, Karsus' Avatar, with the intention of temporarily&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; nullifying the Weave.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It works. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately, it works, and all find out the consequences, for magic striking magic down on a scale of this&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; magnitude has ... consequences.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It works across Faerun, but it does not stop there. It affects the Hordelands, it affects Zakhara, it affects&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Kara-Tur. It leaps across the seas and affects Maztica and all the continents and oceans of Abeir-Toril.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It affects all of Realmspace, from Toril's sun to the Crystal Sphere boundaries. Within that area, across&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; every world, every rock, every inch of wildspace, magic is nullified.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is not known, whether the elven spell of nullification killed Mystra.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Or put her into suspended animation.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Or caused her to flee.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It did one of those things, however.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; For an entire month, there is NO magic in Realmspace. This has consequences, as follows:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Gods of Realmspace cannot communicate with their followers, send Avatars to Realmspace, or do&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; anything at all except watch and wait.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All clerics in Realmspace lose their ability to cast spells, memorize spells, turn undead, and all supernatural&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; powers.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All mages lose all memorized spells, the ability to cast spells, and all their spellbooks go dormant.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Bards, rangers, paladins, suffer the same losses.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Monks lose all supernatural powers.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Even rogues are reduced to the mundane.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All Outsiders, whoever they are and whatever alignment they are, are instantly banished back to their home&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; plane, and cannot return, or they are slain outright and their spirits dispelled to their home plane.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If the Outsider in question is native to the Prime Material Plane (like a 20th level monk), it is killed&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; instantly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All monsters with spell-like abilities, lose them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All monsters with special abilities, like a dragon's flight or breath weapon, lose them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All beings with supernatural powers, lose them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (Thus, all dragons and Outsiders are banished from the war.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Beings who depend on magic for their existence (such as dryads) or who are so innately magical they could&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; not survive without magic, are killed or (at best) simply disappear.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Across Realmspace, magical constructs collapse.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; People aboard Spelljammers die, suffocated, as their ships are now stranded in deep space.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating buildings and homes held up by magic collapse and fall, killing their occupants.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; On the sun of Toril, the portals to the elemental plane of fire collapse. Those creatures caught on the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Realmspace side when this happens are destroyed.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All technomagic fails, and all technomagic items are destroyed. The magical part simply ceases to exist.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The scientific parts of these technomagic items stick around, with the devastating results outlined by Blood&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Jester.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Machines explode, firearms detonate, magically rigged factories collapse or blow themselves apart, mines&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; cave in.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The screams of thousands of people are drowned out by the cachophony of explosions, rumbles, the hissing&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of broken pipes, the screeching of metal rupturing, the crackling of huge fires (which there is no hope of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; putting out.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The entire world of Toril is drastically affected in other ways, also, for on Toril magic and life are entwined&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (this is said in many FR supplements and guides)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Worldwide, the climate abruptly turns colder.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Except around the Great Glacier, where it abruptly turns warmer, and massive flooding occurs as the Glacier&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; starts melting at an awesome pace.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In the Calimshan Desert, it is suddenly pouring down rain, for the Desert was maintained magically.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Many living things, from animals to trees, sicken, and of those that sicken, many die. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The more innately magical they were, the more they are affected by the loss in magic, and the sicker they&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; are, and the higher the mortality rate.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; A premature autumn comes across most of Toril, as the tree leaves turn, stricken by the loss of magic,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; unable to cope quickly enough with mundanity to avoid going into dormancy, at the least.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Many of the planted fields worldwide suddenly wither, ruined and inedible. It will be a rough winter for a lot of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; hungry people.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; There are other effects of various sorts:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Sharn Shield keeping the phaerimm imprisoned under Anauroch is destroyed, freeing them. They find&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; they have no magic - for now. They are not happy, these freed phaerimm. Not happy at all.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In Anarouch, green things begin sprouting at once. Given time, the desert will cease to exist.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In Evermeet, the climate - which was kept magically benign - turns subarctic immediately. Leuthilspar, which&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; was warm, is now suddenly buried in snow and freezing temperatures.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ocean currents begin to alter, for magic was keeping the climate altered in many places.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Halaster fumes as all the Gates in Undermountain close. (and adventurers plunder Undermountain, and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Halaster's magical death traps can't stop them)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is now safe to approach Elminster's Tower. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is now actually possible for a thief to break into Blackstaff Tower.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Menzoberranzan is suddenly without magic, and her clerics without Lolth, which means an instant uprising by&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the downtrodden males.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The slaves of Thay rise up in revolt, and Thay dissolves into total anarchy, as the slaves capture and kill&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; hundreds of Red Wizards, and put their homes to the torch.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The halflings of Luiren, next to the dread realm of Dambrath where Loviatar is the state religion, invade that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; realm, and occupy a good part of it, which is turned into a halfling security zone.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Var the Golden invades and occupies the (now helpless) magical nation of Halruaa.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Candlekeep is sacked by intrepid explorers and adventurers seeking it's secrets, because all of it's magical&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; defenses (which were nigh invincible) are down, and it's secret guardians (including the dragon)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; incapacitated.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ironfang Keep is actually breached, maybe for the first time in history. Those breaking in find ... nothing&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (the chronomancers inside simply left before the elven spell went off and will return after it's effects&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; dissipate.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; All undead in Realmspace are destroyed, or at the least disappear for the month.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Chosen of Mystra retain their power, but they are temporarily unable to use it. They age, can possibly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; be killed by normal means, and are otherwise weakened during this time.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - - - &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; There is no question that the Technomancy suffers MASSIVE losses and disasters during this time. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is quite possible the Technomancy collapses altogether.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Elven Alliance is able to use the lapse in magic to smash many Technomancy countries, and destroy&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; vast amounts of technology and the papers documenting how the technology works and how to build it.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; However, their allies, the dragons, are grounded, stripped of their power.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Druids find themselves powerless, the magic of the Earth beyond their reach, their sacred groves reduced to&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; mundanity.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Swanmays find themselve back in their human form permanently (or they are now permanently mindless&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; swans.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The countries allied with the elves suffer all the losses described above.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The mind flayers are NOT affected by the loss of magic.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Onto the surface they come, with their hordes of psionic slaves, and they proceed to destroy nation after&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; nation, land after land.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The people, traumatized and helpless, stripped of magic, armed only with what technology survived the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; elven spell, are no match for the illithid.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Before the end of the month, the illithid have conquered major parts of the surface, and are THE major 3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; side in the war (as both the Elven Alliance and Technomancy Confederation are forced to fight them.) (It is&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; up Phasmus who posted on the illithid above which 10 nations will be destroyed ... Phasmus, pick any 10&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; nations! These nations are gone, their inhabitants enslaved or eaten.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Then, at the end of that month, Mystra (or is it the new Mystra?) returns.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; She is very, very weak when she returns.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; She cannot strike at the elves, or anyone else.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is all she can do to restore the power of clerics and mages, give back magical strength to creatures with&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; innate magical powers, and try to keep the autumn of the world from turning into a permanent winter.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The effects of the spell thrown by the elves will linger in the world for thousands of years to come (just as&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Karsus' Avatar has done.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Toril is a changed place at the end of that month, changed forever (heh, NOW we know why Toril is suddenly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; a 3rd edition world!)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If the above seems too drastic, please read the Post about 5 posts back.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; One does not throw Karsus' Avatar, modified to strike down all magic, without consequences!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is the opinion of this person that the elves have probably ended the gnomish industrial revolution.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; They have, in addition, probably brought the dark ages back to Toril - for there is no question that there is&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; worldwide anarchy.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The question now is, can the illithid be stopped from taking over the surface world?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; They are quickly doing so.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Oh, on a side note: Sorry, Naya. Your slave labor factory with the half-orc children is now out of business.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The whole place collapsed when the elves threw the spell.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Since you probably used magic to ward your safe (and to open and close it) where the money is being kept&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; stored, you may have to dig your treasure out.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This won't be easy, since a lot of very angry half-orc children armed with crude weapons and bludgeoning&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; devices are trying to kill you.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; zouron&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 07:52 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; it is in truth a sad existance, much have been elimnated, the elves with this knowledge knowledge of 12th&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; level magic must be found and stopped for good, their spells hidden away in the deeps of the unknown.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; immidiately setting in what powers we have left (much be fair since my troops mostly lived on a demiplane)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and search out these chaosing a mass destruction greater then the war did in all. All my resources will be&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; used to gatherr the spells and eliminate the elves in question (luckily some theories and tactics in none&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; magical people eliminating mages have been developed earlier).&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; such an event may never happend again&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 11:17 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I have relatively limited information on the overall geographic and political situation of the realms...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; however... I believe I can safely say that the targets of the Illithid will be those nations that are most likely&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; to regain their power with the return of magic, with secondary precedence given to nations who may have&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; retained power by virtue having little reliance on magic. Places with high concentrations of mages and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; magical creatures will swarm with heavily armed thralls and their masters... The MindFlayers target the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; defenseless pockets of the magic-bound with surgical precision, but they do not make mere meals or slaves&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of their spell-casting victims... oh no. With a sizable proportion of the magic using population under their&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; control, the Illithid must only wait for magic to return to the world... at which point they can use the power&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and knowledge of their newly acquired arcane thralls to blot out the sun and secure utter dominance over&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the world of Toril forever!!! &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -insert diabolical laughter here-&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [That is, of course, unless someone has the presence of mind to stop them.]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Needless to say, the Illithid of Toril will attempt to provide news of these events to their kin in space and on&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; other worlds and planes, so that perhaps, eventually, the great Illithid empire may be reborn out of the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ashes of the realms...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Regards,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus &amp; Co.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;When in doubt, use duct tape.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Edena_of_Neith&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 11:37 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The illithid of Realmspace have lost all of their ships, those aboard having suffocated.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Even illithid ships were powered by magic, and when that magic failed, the ships stopped ... and the illithid&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; died.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Illithid that are planetbound are another matter.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Countries that are major targets, Phasmus, by your criterion are:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Aglarond (country, home of the Simbul, most powerful human mage)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Calimshan (major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Chessenta (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Candlekeep (record-keeping fortress, major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Cormyr (major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Evereska (major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Evermeet (major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Halruaa (the major magical center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Luruar (the major center of civilization in the North)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Mulhorand (ancient center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Neverwinter (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Nimbral (island, major center of magic)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Phaerimm of Anauroch (very powerful mages, currently incapacitated)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Rasheman (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Shadowdale (small country, home of Elminster, Storm, Sylune)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Thay (major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Waterdeep (largest city in Faerun)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Zhentil Keep (fortress city and military alliance)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; There are almost certainly others that might fit your criteron.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Amn (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Dalelands (small countries)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Drow of the Underdark (currently disabled by lack of magic)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Hillsfar (city)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Lantan (island, small country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Luskan (city)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Moonshae Isles (islands, small countries)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Myth Drannor (ruined city full of ancient magic, guardians currently disabled by lack of magic)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Sembia (major center of civilization)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Tethyr (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Turmish (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Vast Dale (country)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Westgate (city)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; What are your targets, Phasmus? At the moment, the illithid have the upper hand.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The first 3 targets you pick, are considered destroyed or occupied.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The next 3 targets you pick, are considered devastated.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The next 4 after that, are considered beset and fighting for their lives.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; They fought, they weakened themselves, the elves wrecked magic, and now they are vulnerable.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (chuckle) Only fair to Phasmus, here. The illithid were untouched when the elves ended all magic for that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; month.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Burned Man&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:07 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Isn´t Psionics magic in 3e&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Orco42&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:13 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; quote:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Originally posted by Edena_of_Neith:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The elves cast their modified version of the 12th level spell, Karsus' Avatar, with the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; intention of temporarily nullifying the Weave.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; How could it work? Mystra has banned all spells above 10th level since the fall of Nethril?&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Estlor&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:34 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; After spending the Month of Dread reflecting peacefully in his forest temple, I emerge and make several&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; pilgimages.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; First I travel to the Steelie court and speak with King Oberon and Queen Titania about the war and tell them&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; my plans to seek some sort of peaceful resolution, as neither side expected things to go this route.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Once I have successfully gained the support of the Fair Folk (sprites, pixies, nixies, grigs, sidhe, pookas,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; brownies, and leprechauns) I make my pilgrimage to the cavern of the eldest dragon, informing our allies of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the new developments. I beseech their aid to attack and destroy the illithid threat and attempt some sort of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; a cease-fire with the now ruined technomancer order so as to discuss things further with them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Then, with the aid of the fairies and the dragons I speak with the peaceful creatures of the sea, begging&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; that they use their powers over the waters to foil the illithids long enough for the Alliance to meet with the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Technomancer Imperitive.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Once I have assured that the fairies, dragons, and sea folk are agreed to assist me, I declair open war on&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; all illithids, stating nothing should be held back in the war up to and excluding causing harm to nature that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; our druid allies could not repair.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; THEN, conveniently being a bard and having a high Charisma, I will propose the other leaders of the Alliance&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; request a diplomatic meeting with the Imperitive in order to attempt to find a point of nature/technology&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; coexistance.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ah, but to the illithids I have only one thing to say...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; CRY HAVOK! AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Lighthouse Webmaster&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;More conversions, less talk.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Riot Gear&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:36 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Well, I'd say this is going to be the next campaign setting this board makes after we finish Daemonforge.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; So damn cool.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; My Illithid persona is working on creating a usable psionic feat that will allow the user to dampen light in a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; small radius around them and allow Illithids to exist more happily on the surface world. He is also&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; experimenting with surface-worlder psychology.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -My character.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Edena_of_Neith&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 12:41 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Elven High Magic is the equivalent of spells of levels 10, 11, and 12, to answer a question above.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; There is a serious problem with your tactic, Estlor.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It is called the Elven Imperial Navy of Wildspace.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; After the Month of Dread ends (and Phasmus has picked his targets), this Fleet appears in the skies over&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Toril.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Elven Imperial Navy of Spelljammers was forewarned of the spell.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Thus, they went into dockage before it happened.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Their forces did not suffocate, but waited the month out in drydock.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Now, their fleet - which PRIOR to the Month of Dread was the greatest in the Spheres, now attacks Toril in it's&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; full fury.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Please remember that the elves are attacking in total war now, no holds barred.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; After the little tactic pulled by Blood Jester, they would have to be.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; They intend some serious annihiliation here.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Thus I say to Blood Jester:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Pick from the list of targets above.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; They can be targets already occupied by the illithids (if Phasmus responds in time)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The first FIVE targets you choose are considered destroyed.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The next five are considered devastated.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The next five are considered beset.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Then, and only then, can Estlor put his plan into motion. A good plan, too. We will see if it works ...&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Forrester&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 01:58 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; As the standing representative of the hoards of orcs, goblins, kobolds, and other humanoid races that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; *rarely* rely on magic and instead rely on cunning and brute strength, I would like to point out that our&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; sheer numbers (we breed, you know) must have *some* positive effect on the defense of the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Technomancy. An elf without magic is pretty much a weak orc. And elves, feeling &quot;magic in their bones like&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; perhaps no other race&quot; are probably not feeling overly well right now anyway. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; As far as the Illithids are concerned -- we Underdark dwellers&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 1) Don't like them, and &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 2) Know how to collapse large, large sections of caves. 10 kobolds with pickaxes can collapse cave entrances&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; faster than an Illithid with 3 or 4 Disentegrate Psi-Powers a day can move through them. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And given the proximity to which we live to the surface (as opposed to the Illithids, who generally live deeper&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; into the Underdark) we know where the entrances/exits to the Underdark are. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And we've got a lot of kobolds. Oh, my do we have a lot of kobolds!!!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; So while I'm sure the Illithids have been nasty and caused a lot of damage . . . I think you're forgetting&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; precisely what some recent allies of the Technomancy can do. Taking away Magic from the entire world&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; doesn't hurt us *nearly* as much as it does the elves and humans and dragons. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Buhahaha!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [Edit -- remember we have those &quot;Blue&quot; goblins, too. So we've got a little psionic help on our *own* side, if&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; need be.]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Riot Gear&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:02 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; But we can teleport. And you can't. So, you can't really stop the Illithids, just slow us down. Your blue goblins&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; might be a minor hindrance, but they would fall so quickly as to be inconsequential. We are a lot nastier&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; then you might believe, and we have a lot of slaves for cannon fodder in our cities.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -My character.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Forrester&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:06 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Sure, you can teleport. Big whup.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; That doesn't mean you can teleport tens of thousands of slaves to the surface, though. For that, you'll need&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; actual PASSAGES, bucky boy. You know, like the one that just fell on your head. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Chalk another one up for Kobold trap-making.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Estlor&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:13 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; For once I'm thankful for Kobolds &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Lighthouse Webmaster&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;More conversions, less talk.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Riot Gear&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:20 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Then we'll just have to teleport to your homes and burn you all to ashes then, won't we?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; See you in hell....&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (Illithids launch campaign of extermination against the subterranean monstrous humanoids.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -My character.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 03:32 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ah, excellent... Thank you for the data.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The MindFlayers gazed at the surface world which had been opened up to them... at long last their patience&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; had been rewarded. The thralls would be put in their place once and for all.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The first move of the Illithid upon the cessation of magic was to eliminate the primary threats found in their&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; home territory. The Drow of the Underdark, along with multiple less well established population, were&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; besieged, slaughtered, consumed and enslaved. Their most powerful magic users were maintained for&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; more... specialized... applications. Now the undisputed masters of the subterranean domain, even should&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; their campaigns on the surface fail, any attempt at retribution against the Illithid by the thrall-races would&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; be mere folly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Next, knowing full well the power of the now free Phaerimm, the MindFlayers set their sights on Anauroch.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The essentially defenseless magical abominations were easy prey... and are now held captive in the most&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; secure regions of the MindFlayer's Underdark domain. When the magic returns, the full power of the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phaerimm will be wielded by Illithid.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In keeping with their goal of obtaining arcane power to enact and enforce their new world order, the forces of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the Illithid stormed Halruaa, claiming artifact and sage alike for use in their grim plot. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Luruar, WaterDeep and Thay were selected for simple devastation. There would be ample time to extract the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; riches, knowledge and power of these targets from their gutted shells after the conflict was over. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, Hungry for the power stored in Myth Dranor, the MindFlayers begin the process of advancing on the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ancient city. CandleKeep was also laid siege, along with Nimbral.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Many heroes captured and by the MindFlayers are slated for Ceremorphisis. The Illithid population booms,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; along with their capacity for enslaving the lesser humanoids who dare to oppose them. The population&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; centers not under direct attack are infiltrated by small parties of MindFlayer specialists, along with&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; doppelganger assistants when possible. Discord is sewn amongst the unsuspecting surface dwellers... who&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; are temporarily powerless to magically detect the source of their misfortune.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Experimentation with Ceremorphisis on creatures normally unfit to host tadpoles have a drastically increased&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; success rate due to the lack of magical inhibitors. New, nightmarish, strains of MindFlayer created by the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; transformation of powerful creatures stalk the land the sea and the air. There are even rumors of successful&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ceremorphisis procedures being performed on wyrmlings. The sages pray that the tomes that claim such&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; things are impossible are correct.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Regards,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus &amp; Co.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Sentience is a privilege, not a right.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; buzzard&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 04:19 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; quote:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Originally posted by Blood Jester:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; You are overlooking some key points.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; All of the technos have been arguing that all of the drawbacks of early technology would be&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; eliminated by adding magic to their mix, making their weapons accurate enough to compete&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; with bows and arrows wielded by skilled archers. Making them fire fast enough to match the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; rate of fire of said archers. Making their factories produce at such prodigious rates. At every&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; turn the technocrats have ignored improving their machines within the bounds of their new&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'science' and have simply said 'Aha! We will use your magic against you to overcome the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; limitations of our machines, and thus we will prevail!' Now picture what happens to a machine&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; that is running several hundred times faster than it is truly capable of running, and it's&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'immunity' to the effects of this speed are instantly removed. Ever see a turbine lose a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; blade, and then fly apart from the imbalances? Picture that magnified by a thousand,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; remember, instant failure. If every machine of any size or complexity comes apart,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; violently. How long will that take to dig out from, much less rebuild?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Everyone seems to assume that one hundred and fifty years of development will occur in a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; couple of weeks. Without using magic as a crutch, how is this accomplished? The war is not an&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; excuse, we had plenty of those during our technology growth, and that was with BOTH sides&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; working on developing technology.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (Not to mention, this started out as STEAM POWER being discovered, all these assumptions&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; of other technologies coming along with this have been allowed to ride unchallenged, but I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; will have to say that this requires the excessive use of magic to accomplish.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Blood Jester&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [This message has been edited by Blood Jester (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I've made no claims that magic was necessary for technological prograss. My arguments are based on the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; given premise that:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Technology is advanced enough for steam power and railroads. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This implies a good deal you know. It doesn't just imply that you know that steam expands and can drive&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; an engine. It implies that you have the machining abilities to make such an engine. It also implies that you&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; are going to make machine tools capable of making more than one of those engines. (and rails, etc) That&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; was one of the most immediate consequences of the industrial revolution. The mechanization of machine&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; tools is crucial to everything. It enables rifles to be mass produced, rather than hand crafted. Also the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; general level of mechanical sophistication is going to be pretty high. A railroad is not a simple thing. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Also if we're talking railroads, a certain amount of metallurgy must have been accomplished. This means&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; higher quality steel, or you could not make steel rails (you can't roll cast iron into the shape). Once you&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; have this better steel, you can make better and cheaper cannons. (Sweden was a great power for a while&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; based on tin deposits which allowed them to make bronze cannons, since the steel technology in the era&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; was so poor- this was well before railroads). I've yet to see what a wizzard is going to do in the face of a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; cannon shot. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If I can make really good steel, I can make really good breastplates which will likely stop arrows (but not&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; bullets). &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Also, whoever thinks that civil war era rifles were worse than bows, has a lot of convicing to do to make me&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; buy it. I will certainly grant that early firearms were inferior, but by the civil war muzzle loading weapons had&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; reached their pinnacle. They shot 50 caliber conical bullets at substancial velocities to effective ranges of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 700 yards or so. No such bow exists. Rifles are also easier to use. Ammo is easier to make, and more lethal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (soft lead bullets of the era would remove limbs, at best- for the target, or simply kill you). &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Also Eneda just jumped the gun and implied that nitroglycerin was invented. This implies smokeless powder,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and thus the possibility of cased ammunition and repeating breachloading rifles. Once those hit the scene,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; there is not a chance that bows are comparable. This will also increase effective range and lethality. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; As for what my character would be doing the whole time, is learning the technology, and improving it. You&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; don't need a wizzard to do technology (well actually my last character in Faerun was a custom class called a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Tinker, who was sort of a medieval engineer- he never liked magic much anyway- too illogical). Though the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; influx of fiends would have him concentrating on wiping them out. A nice 8 gauge shotgun with either silver&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; or cold iron shot would likely do wonders. Also I'd make sure I'd have a priest of Gond on hand to cast&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; magic weapon where necessary. For a reach out and touch someone excersize I'd make the old heavy&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; barrelled Sharps rifle- and become the first sharpshooter. That will outrange any spell. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Buzzard&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Forrester&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 04:35 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Riot Gear -- teleport into our homes? Wouldn't that require you having knowledge of exactly where our&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; homes ARE? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And I think that kobolds/goblins/orcs/gnolls/bugbears/hobgoblins probably outnumber Illithids at LEAST 100&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; to 1. Perhaps 1000 to 1. Remember, we breed. Meaning there's a whoooole lot of lairs. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; So give us your best shot. It isn't as though the humanoids are lining up in front of the illithids to be taken&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; down by their mind blasts. We don't need to attack you -- just stop your minions from getting to the surface&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; by closing off said passages. You'll get through eventually, but it'll be VERY tough to get enough people&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; through in ONE MONTH to do that much damage. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; We Are The Underdark. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And we're not like the weak drow, who are far too dependent on their magic to survive. We've had to deal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; with Drow and Illithids from below, and max-minning elves and humans from above for millenia. And we're&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; STILL HERE. During none of that time did we have powerful magics at our disposal. You're not just walking&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; through us, or you would have done it a long time ago. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; So, Phasmus, let's keep our plans to ourselves for now . . . I hope Edena announces an 'errata' or two to&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; take into account her forgetfulness. (As opposed to coming up with some creative but highly doubtful&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; explanation why hoards of humanoids who never relied on magic for survival in the Underdark would&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; somehow fall so easily NOW.) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Please?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 05:41 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Why, Mr. Forrester, we haven't forgotten you. Far from it. In addition to providing valuable slave labor, your&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ineffectual humanoid throngs are delicious and nutritious... You are a very important commodity for us.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Furthermore, inasmuch as you are not enslaved outright, you provide a convenient buffer between our forces&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and the surface.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The question we now put to you is, if your misdirected forces are so capable, why do they choose to act now,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; at the height of the power of the Illithid on Toril? The technology we have recently obtained, and vastly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; improved upon, makes moving earth and rock a fairly simple matter. We have been preying on you as long&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; as your history records... and now you think enough has changed that you can do something about it?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Your minds call to us... You are rightfully OURS to take! You honestly think we would allow you to even&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; approach areas where you could cause the damage you speak of? That you and your thick-skulled&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; humanoids could outthink the greatest minds this pitiful ball of rock has ever harbored?! That you could&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; even begin to seal off the underdark enough to inconvenience our plans? An exercise in futility, that...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; No, Mr. Forrester, you will fall before us like all the rest. We suggest, however, that if you bow to us now,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; without necessitating our guiding influence, we will consider granting you a position of relatively comfortable&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; servitude for the rest of your days... As opposed to the variety of horrors we will inflict on you otherwise.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Regards,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Phasmus&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Speaker-To-Thralls&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Representative of the Illithid&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Horde-Master 1st Class&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; TheBalor&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 05:44 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; WTF?! All of you 'psionic devourers invade' people are idiots. The illithids are not a numerous race, you will&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; recall. I think, that at most, there will be 30,000 illithids on Toril. Plus, as forrester said, they'd have to plow&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; through subterranean goblinoids,orcs, svirfnebli, drow(adamantite, enchanted or not,still is the hardest&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; metal), and dwarves. There is no way they could get past everyone in just a month. PLUS get past every&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; race in-between.PLUS conquer all those countries. Edena,Phasmus, whoever the hell the people who give the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; war updates are, don't post an update after every single post. That's just idiotic. And quit favoring technos,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; dammit. Every time they post something, you immediately don't bother with how ridiculous it might be, you&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; just write it in. If that's the rules around here, anything goes, then put in forrester's logic and that I killed all&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; of the techno leaders just before I switched sides, because I did. That should have put them in a state of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; total anarchy.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; must simply laugh.-The Magus&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by TheBalor (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by TheBalor (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Forrester&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 06:14 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; quote:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Originally posted by Phasmus:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Why, Mr. Forrester, we haven't forgotten you. Far from it. In addition to providing valuable&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; slave labor, your ineffectual humanoid throngs are delicious and nutritious... You are a very&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; important commodity for us. Furthermore, inasmuch as you are not enslaved outright, you&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; provide a convenient buffer between our forces and the surface.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The question we now put to you is, if your misdirected forces are so capable, why do they&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; choose to act now, at the height of the power of the Illithid on Toril? The technology we have&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; recently obtained, and vastly improved upon, makes moving earth and rock a fairly simple&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; matter. We have been preying on you as long as your history records... and now you think&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; enough has changed that you can do something about it?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Your minds call to us... You are rightfully OURS to take! You honestly think we would allow&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; you to even approach areas where you could cause the damage you speak of? That you and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; your thick-skulled humanoids could outthink the greatest minds this pitiful ball of rock has&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ever harbored?! That you could even begin to seal off the underdark enough to&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inconvenience our plans? An exercise in futility, that...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No, Mr. Forrester, you will fall before us like all the rest. We suggest, however, that if you&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; bow to us now, without necessitating our guiding influence, we will consider granting you a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; position of relatively comfortable servitude for the rest of your days... As opposed to the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; variety of horrors we will inflict on you otherwise.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Regards,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Phasmus&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Speaker-To-Thralls&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Representative of the Illithid&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Horde-Master 1st Class&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You know, Tentacle-boy, you sound a lot like an elf. Are you sure there's no elven heritage hiding in those&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; slimy little tentacles of yours?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Here's the situation, as I understand it.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You are at point A, deep in the Underdark.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; We are at point B, in the Upper Underdark/near the surface, and point C, the Surface.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; To get to the surface, you need to pass US. Not the other way around, Mr. 20+ Intelligence. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In other words, we aren't &quot;approaching&quot; the areas we need to affect. We're already THERE. You're the ones&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; approaching US, squid-face. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; And it's really quite exciting that you've just learned how to move rock and earth. We've been doing it for&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; thousands of years. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Note that it's a helluva lot easier to collapse a tunnel than it is to dig a new one. As you should know, Big&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Brain. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Sure, you might make some progress here or there. Get a few people through, here or there. But in a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; month? Get tens of thousands of thralls to the surface? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Been sniffing glue again? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; But don't worry. We've got enough humanoids to kill all of the elves AND stop your puny efforts. So you can&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; count on a good amount of death and destruction on the surface. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; But it'll be humanoids that are in charge, not you, squid-head. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Forrester&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; No Title Required&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; PS Edena -- realistically, the Technomancy machines aren't all going to just EXPLODE! You make 1/2 of a&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; machine stop working, it generally doesn't explode . . . the whole machine stops working. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; But let me know . . . if the Technomancy really is gone so soon, then I guess the humanoid hordes will work&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; on taking over the entire surface, as long as this petty Squid menace can be taken care of. Elves die first,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; second, and third. We'll work from there. And get some kobolds to start tinkering with those machines . . . &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Oh -- if any of those artifact-ridden places had HUMANOIDS working as lackeys (as they usually do!), count&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; on my people being able to loot the places far, FAR more quickly than the dumb humans or elves or illithids&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; can. Heh heh heh. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Idiot elves. The only thing keeping us from taking control was all of that damn magic. We're going to come&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; out of this even better than the Illithids. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Oh -- and Edena -- you might want to consider whether there are any big ole Elven Ships left after the elves&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; have been overrun by tens of thousands of pissed off humanoids. (That's assuming we can do both that&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and fight off of the Illithids, of course. Which we can, because there's SO damn many of us.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Riot Gear&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Member &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; posted 04-09-2001 06:27 PM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; You are foolish.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; We are just short of omniscient, we Illithid, Flayers of the Mind, and we are no weak warriors. Finding the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; weakest points in your defenses, and leaping there directly, is not hard.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Nor do you keep in mind are ability to shift harmonic vibration (Plane Shift) at will. You do not merely face&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the Illithid of Faerun, but of the entire Prime Material and Outer Planes. We are legion.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; As for defeating us - A single Mind Flayer can rip your petty minds to shreds with ease constantly (Mind Blast&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; EVERY ROUND) as well as transform enemies to thrall effortlessly (Charm Person EVERY ROUND) and float&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; out of the reach of your mindless hordes (Levitate at will.) 10 mind flayers could wade through thousands&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; upon thousands of your underselves, and even attempting to crush us under thousands of tons of rock&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; would be futile, as we vanish to the Ether before they strike.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; From a metagaming perspective, I can't imagine ANY AMOUNT, even MILLIONS, of monstrous humanoids&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; surviving a concerted assault of even as few as 10 Mind Flayers. High level Psion Mind Flayers make the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; whole exercise, frankly, silly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; So sorry, you're screwed. Really flaunting that 8 intelligence, aren't you?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I wonder what Kobold white matter tastes like...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -My character.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Edena_of_Neith, post: 1302662, member: 2020"] [b](Post 4) Thread One of the 1st IR[/b] TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 12:30 AM Wait a sec, I ain't on the technomancy side anymore. I'm doing my damndest to kill all the fiends and close all the gates to the hells. Plus I don't think that druids, no matter how desperate the situation, would use fiends. F*ck technomancy if they continue their use of demons, I'm lending my skills to the elves. BTW,I agree with the whole dragons wouldn't switch sides because of guns thing. That's just absurd. And, as I leave techno lands, I make sure that none of the leaders of the tech leaders live to see another sun rise. It'd be easy, I just don't tell anyone that I'm switching sides, I just go to 'report my findings after scouting the enemy' to the leaders of those countries. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 12:50 AM It should be becoming obvious to all sides that: --- The gnomes aren't doing that much damage with their non-magical weapons, powerful though they are. --- The industrialized nations aren't doing that much damage with their non-magical weapons, powerful though they are. --- The elves and druids, and their allies, aren't doing that much damage with their non-magical weapons, powerful though they are. It is the mages who are doing the worst damage. --- They are the ones combining magic and technology to make technomagic weapons. --- They are the ones who are (on the Technomancy side) shouting the glories of technology, then secretly using it to boost their magical powers. --- They are the ones who are summoning the Outsiders. --- They are the ones who got the dragons involved in the war, and continue to keep them involved. While everyone else fights over whether there will or will not be technology in the world, the Red Wizards of Thay, the Zhentarim, the city of Mulmaster, Mulhorand, Chessenta, Lantan, Halruaa, are quietly taking over. With everyone in such a weakened state from the war, they will be easy pickings for these powerful mages, now armed with technomagic. DarwinofMind Member posted 04-09-2001 01:11 AM I'm with Balor up there, I'm still in favor of tech but I'm helping anyone willing to fight agasints the fiends. Come on people lets stop swabling and stop armagedeon. Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 01:31 AM My money is on the MindFlayers. They have the time and resources to lurk in their caverns, plotting, relatively unmolested by the conflict above. They can exert their influence on many of the primary representatives of the concerned parties, bending the volatile political situation to their will. With their great intelligence and psionic power, I am inclined to think that they could easily improve and expand upon any technology produced by surface-dwellers, and their use of minions makes them naturally suited to mass-production. The introduction of the new technological factors could be enough to give them utter dominance over the Underdark and unite the disjointed MindFlayer groups behind the primary goal of that hated race. I would guess that they would bide their time... waiting to strike when the primary warring factions had worn themselves down a bit. Faced with Techno-Psionic weaponry more advanced than anything of gnomish design, wielded by hordes of mindlessly, suicidally loyal thralls, directed by the cunning and evil of the MindFlayers, who are bent on nothing less than world domination... If the war-torn surface had any chance of survival whatsoever it would only be in uniting their weakened opposing forces to combat the threat from below... Regards, Phasmus T. TapeFiend "My middle name is not cunning, but it could have been." Blood Jester Member posted 04-09-2001 02:04 AM In the highest councils of the Elven Kingdoms a grim decision is reached. There is one answer to both of the current crises, the rampaging Outsiders (especially the fiends), and the technomagic forces. That which the Humans thought lost with the fall of Nethril, that which most humans are mostly ignorant of, the greatest folly of any Mage in history. That which the Elves had long since hidden away, believing they were keeping it safely out of the immature hands of the Young Races. That which they would now modify to employ as a doomsday weapon. The spell of Karsus. Now modified to nullify the weave (hopefully) for a short period of time. It would require a team of Wizards to cast, all of whom were giving their lives for the cause. With ALL magic temporarily removed from the Realms, the outsiders would be either killed outright, or at the least weakened so severely that they would have to limp back to their own planes, taking centuries to recover. The magic enhanced technology will fail spectacularly when the enchantments that are compensating for mechanical flaws and weaknesses are cancelled. Boilers will explode, as will powder stores, gears will grind and strip, overloaded components and structures will collapse, improperly designed seams will burst. The true failure of combining technology with magic is that the technology is not developed in harmony with itself, and WAY to many magical shortcuts are used. As for magic and the weave, it will recover as it has in the past, but the shattered technology will recover much more slowly. By which time the forces of magic will be able to eradicate all traces of it. The Dragon allies will be warned to stay in their caves and aeries on that day (with out getting into the details). The rest of the creatures of the realms should be no more affected then they were the last time this happened. Other threats now loom on the horizon (Phasmus and his Illithids) this must end NOW! The war is grim, and defeat is not an option. Blood Jester [This message has been edited by Blood Jester (edited 04-09-2001).] zouron Member posted 04-09-2001 02:16 AM the mages talking over the battle is both good and bad for my causes, bad since they do so much more havoc then the others, good because it gives a testing ground for new spells, but as thing is I wills tart researching and devices training progam for secretly spying and assassinating the powerful mages my common man. Using every resource to spread this knowledge to both sides because if wizards fight the war successfully then surely will they destroy the earth completely, the goal was technology and nature in harmony, so wizardsneeds to be pulled from the front, letting the worse quality, but mass stand strong (sorta why the germans lost, they build for the best equipment but was unable to mass produce). of course also researching procedures against this and keeping them secret. still in secret spread the knowledge of wizard assassination to both sides through middle men. also reading myself and my armies to withdraw if tides turn against us. same time negotiating with the neutral parts to get them to employ technology and nature harmony through magic, in exchange for raw materials and such, building up a stock pile. and also encourage the thoughts of peace the hope of cooexisitng ideologies Reprisal Member posted 04-09-2001 03:16 AM If what Blood Jester says is true, then the Old Guard has just shot itself in the foot before the great race. Although I do not know how long this absence of magic will last, at this point, any one group within the technocracy, or even affiliated will have the advantage of having the most powerful force on the planet. You think technology will fall because some patents went into the toilet? I should think not. There will still be firearms, although they do not have +5 and True Striking ability, they'll kill any mounted knight bearing down on them. Elves in the trees, critters in the air? A sniffet of grapeshot will do them well enough to stay out of the affairs of the new inheritors of the world. With the removal of magic, it no longer becomes a contest, it merely becomes a matter of time. ((BTW, how long does this last? A mere day? If so, would it not also destroy most if not all magical devices as well?)) I severely doubt that the absense of the magitech would really have that much of a bad effect on technocrats. I also doubt that those who wrought the benefits of that technology would sit idly by and let all of this happen. Give the people a glimmer of hope, let them touch it, taste it and fall in love with it, then have it taken away by a race that had little to do with their lives. That's ground for a real War. Are the elves prepared to dish out something so desperate that they would face utter annihilation? I think not, for they are far too vain a people. You think the conflict was bad before, wait and see when Joe, his brother and their children all join their respective armed forces to take out their frustrations on these creatures who think they can dictate what is good for them and what is not. If there's one thing I know, it's that humans crave liberty at any cost. And now, when they've sipped from the cup, the elves decide to take it all away because it threatens their vision of the world, you just angered a population far larger than your own, and you've made enemies of those would would otherwise have been complacent. You've mobilized the entirety of a nation, of a race even, good job, Hirohito. ((Elves try to kill me, I'll be the first to jump atop the soapbox and make sure that every single citizen of the human/gnomish states know of this travesty.)) If this is a war of power, it is now a war that every single man, woman and child will know to be a just cause... Technology is already there, how can it be destroyed? Sure, you've destroyed the "clean" magitech, but in doing so, you've created a Leviathan, and the once visible and potent barrier of tech's destructiveness to the land will be moot. All the humans will want is the utter destruction of this elven nation far too arrogant in its old and tired ways. With the lack of any real magical artillery (like Lightning Wands, Staves of Power, and other things like Scrolls) all gone, the Old Gaurd are forced to hit the front lines, or at least stand behind their lines of fewer troops. The Old Guard will be forced to attack, because even though Sir Jester says that technology will recover more slowly, that is simply not the case. When a single factory can equip an entire battalion (500 men?) in a day, not to mention the existence of the more conventional arms like Xbows and Longbows, as well as siege weaponry.... If the Old Gaurd do not attack, guess who will have stockpiled enough weapons in a mere week and will be slash and burning the elves' precious forest? A smart general would force the elves to attack him in an open field, where the might of the firearm, the cannon filled with grapeshot can be brought to peak efficiency; the massed warriors ready to deliver the final blow after the first few volleys which will terrify anyone on the receiving end, especially the elves, who I would believe would not have faced anything quite like a Light Brigade charge. You think you won the war? You merely escalated it, and you've removed most of the extra-planar parties, no more complications: just you, and them. And the Illithids? Don't the dwarves hate these guys? What are they doing in their underground delves? I would think that they would be the first line of defense, and the stout ones will not be defeated in one fell swoop... Seeing how they might be defeated, who would they turn to? The elves? Somehow, I don't think so... The gnomes and the humans? More than likely. Just my opinion, but it mostly depends on the length of this absence of magic, still, what I say after that little question still has merit. Wouldn't you agree? Rep. ------------------ "Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity." - Albert Camus This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 All times are Central Time (US) This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it! Hop to: Contact Us | D&D 3rd Edition News Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47b Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only. D&D 3rd Edition News Board Other Archived Stuff What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? (Page 5) UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! profile | register | preferences | faq | search This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 This topic was originally posted in this forum: General RPG Discussion Author Topic: What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? Blood Jester Member posted 04-09-2001 03:59 AM You are overlooking some key points. All of the technos have been arguing that all of the drawbacks of early technology would be eliminated by adding magic to their mix, making their weapons accurate enough to compete with bows and arrows wielded by skilled archers. Making them fire fast enough to match the rate of fire of said archers. Making their factories produce at such prodigious rates. At every turn the technocrats have ignored improving their machines within the bounds of their new 'science' and have simply said 'Aha! We will use your magic against you to overcome the limitations of our machines, and thus we will prevail!' Now picture what happens to a machine that is running several hundred times faster than it is truly capable of running, and it's 'immunity' to the effects of this speed are instantly removed. Ever see a turbine lose a blade, and then fly apart from the imbalances? Picture that magnified by a thousand, remember, instant failure. If every machine of any size or complexity comes apart, violently. How long will that take to dig out from, much less rebuild? Everyone seems to assume that one hundred and fifty years of development will occur in a couple of weeks. Without using magic as a crutch, how is this accomplished? The war is not an excuse, we had plenty of those during our technology growth, and that was with BOTH sides working on developing technology. (Not to mention, this started out as STEAM POWER being discovered, all these assumptions of other technologies coming along with this have been allowed to ride unchallenged, but I will have to say that this requires the excessive use of magic to accomplish.) You also overlook that we have plenty of humans on our side, it is not an 'Elves vs. Humans' war. It is Elves vs. a faction of Gnomes, with humans on both sides, war. And how sympathetic do you think the humans would be who lived in the town leveled by artillery shells meant to destroy the tower of the kindly wizard who had always been willing to help out the townsfolk, and who was targeted for making the 'mistake' of using his specialty of Divination to answer some questions of his old elf-mage friend? Or the families of the young boys and girls killed by friendly fire as the techno-army learned not to fire too close to it's own lines? Or the ranchers, or farmers whose land is taken so that the rail line can run through? It won't be as one sided as you seem to assume. And, if the plan works, the day after the spell is cast, while the tech-army is digging out and re-organizing, the mages of the Preservationist army will be able to Time Stop, Teleport Without Error in, Meteor Swarm (X3), and T.W.E. out at zero risk. For starters. Blood Jester [This message has been edited by Blood Jester (edited 04-09-2001).] Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 06:17 AM Based on Blood Jester's article on the last page back, and on other articles written since ... The elves cast their modified version of the 12th level spell, Karsus' Avatar, with the intention of temporarily nullifying the Weave. It works. Unfortunately, it works, and all find out the consequences, for magic striking magic down on a scale of this magnitude has ... consequences. It works across Faerun, but it does not stop there. It affects the Hordelands, it affects Zakhara, it affects Kara-Tur. It leaps across the seas and affects Maztica and all the continents and oceans of Abeir-Toril. It affects all of Realmspace, from Toril's sun to the Crystal Sphere boundaries. Within that area, across every world, every rock, every inch of wildspace, magic is nullified. It is not known, whether the elven spell of nullification killed Mystra. Or put her into suspended animation. Or caused her to flee. It did one of those things, however. For an entire month, there is NO magic in Realmspace. This has consequences, as follows: The Gods of Realmspace cannot communicate with their followers, send Avatars to Realmspace, or do anything at all except watch and wait. All clerics in Realmspace lose their ability to cast spells, memorize spells, turn undead, and all supernatural powers. All mages lose all memorized spells, the ability to cast spells, and all their spellbooks go dormant. Bards, rangers, paladins, suffer the same losses. Monks lose all supernatural powers. Even rogues are reduced to the mundane. All Outsiders, whoever they are and whatever alignment they are, are instantly banished back to their home plane, and cannot return, or they are slain outright and their spirits dispelled to their home plane. If the Outsider in question is native to the Prime Material Plane (like a 20th level monk), it is killed instantly. All monsters with spell-like abilities, lose them. All monsters with special abilities, like a dragon's flight or breath weapon, lose them. All beings with supernatural powers, lose them. (Thus, all dragons and Outsiders are banished from the war.) Beings who depend on magic for their existence (such as dryads) or who are so innately magical they could not survive without magic, are killed or (at best) simply disappear. Across Realmspace, magical constructs collapse. People aboard Spelljammers die, suffocated, as their ships are now stranded in deep space. Floating buildings and homes held up by magic collapse and fall, killing their occupants. On the sun of Toril, the portals to the elemental plane of fire collapse. Those creatures caught on the Realmspace side when this happens are destroyed. All technomagic fails, and all technomagic items are destroyed. The magical part simply ceases to exist. The scientific parts of these technomagic items stick around, with the devastating results outlined by Blood Jester. Machines explode, firearms detonate, magically rigged factories collapse or blow themselves apart, mines cave in. The screams of thousands of people are drowned out by the cachophony of explosions, rumbles, the hissing of broken pipes, the screeching of metal rupturing, the crackling of huge fires (which there is no hope of putting out.) The entire world of Toril is drastically affected in other ways, also, for on Toril magic and life are entwined (this is said in many FR supplements and guides) Worldwide, the climate abruptly turns colder. Except around the Great Glacier, where it abruptly turns warmer, and massive flooding occurs as the Glacier starts melting at an awesome pace. In the Calimshan Desert, it is suddenly pouring down rain, for the Desert was maintained magically. Many living things, from animals to trees, sicken, and of those that sicken, many die. The more innately magical they were, the more they are affected by the loss in magic, and the sicker they are, and the higher the mortality rate. A premature autumn comes across most of Toril, as the tree leaves turn, stricken by the loss of magic, unable to cope quickly enough with mundanity to avoid going into dormancy, at the least. Many of the planted fields worldwide suddenly wither, ruined and inedible. It will be a rough winter for a lot of hungry people. There are other effects of various sorts: The Sharn Shield keeping the phaerimm imprisoned under Anauroch is destroyed, freeing them. They find they have no magic - for now. They are not happy, these freed phaerimm. Not happy at all. In Anarouch, green things begin sprouting at once. Given time, the desert will cease to exist. In Evermeet, the climate - which was kept magically benign - turns subarctic immediately. Leuthilspar, which was warm, is now suddenly buried in snow and freezing temperatures. Ocean currents begin to alter, for magic was keeping the climate altered in many places. Halaster fumes as all the Gates in Undermountain close. (and adventurers plunder Undermountain, and Halaster's magical death traps can't stop them) It is now safe to approach Elminster's Tower. It is now actually possible for a thief to break into Blackstaff Tower. Menzoberranzan is suddenly without magic, and her clerics without Lolth, which means an instant uprising by the downtrodden males. The slaves of Thay rise up in revolt, and Thay dissolves into total anarchy, as the slaves capture and kill hundreds of Red Wizards, and put their homes to the torch. The halflings of Luiren, next to the dread realm of Dambrath where Loviatar is the state religion, invade that realm, and occupy a good part of it, which is turned into a halfling security zone. Var the Golden invades and occupies the (now helpless) magical nation of Halruaa. Candlekeep is sacked by intrepid explorers and adventurers seeking it's secrets, because all of it's magical defenses (which were nigh invincible) are down, and it's secret guardians (including the dragon) incapacitated. Ironfang Keep is actually breached, maybe for the first time in history. Those breaking in find ... nothing (the chronomancers inside simply left before the elven spell went off and will return after it's effects dissipate.) All undead in Realmspace are destroyed, or at the least disappear for the month. The Chosen of Mystra retain their power, but they are temporarily unable to use it. They age, can possibly be killed by normal means, and are otherwise weakened during this time. - - - There is no question that the Technomancy suffers MASSIVE losses and disasters during this time. It is quite possible the Technomancy collapses altogether. The Elven Alliance is able to use the lapse in magic to smash many Technomancy countries, and destroy vast amounts of technology and the papers documenting how the technology works and how to build it. However, their allies, the dragons, are grounded, stripped of their power. Druids find themselves powerless, the magic of the Earth beyond their reach, their sacred groves reduced to mundanity. Swanmays find themselve back in their human form permanently (or they are now permanently mindless swans.) The countries allied with the elves suffer all the losses described above. The mind flayers are NOT affected by the loss of magic. Onto the surface they come, with their hordes of psionic slaves, and they proceed to destroy nation after nation, land after land. The people, traumatized and helpless, stripped of magic, armed only with what technology survived the elven spell, are no match for the illithid. Before the end of the month, the illithid have conquered major parts of the surface, and are THE major 3rd side in the war (as both the Elven Alliance and Technomancy Confederation are forced to fight them.) (It is up Phasmus who posted on the illithid above which 10 nations will be destroyed ... Phasmus, pick any 10 nations! These nations are gone, their inhabitants enslaved or eaten.) Then, at the end of that month, Mystra (or is it the new Mystra?) returns. She is very, very weak when she returns. She cannot strike at the elves, or anyone else. It is all she can do to restore the power of clerics and mages, give back magical strength to creatures with innate magical powers, and try to keep the autumn of the world from turning into a permanent winter. The effects of the spell thrown by the elves will linger in the world for thousands of years to come (just as Karsus' Avatar has done.) Toril is a changed place at the end of that month, changed forever (heh, NOW we know why Toril is suddenly a 3rd edition world!) If the above seems too drastic, please read the Post about 5 posts back. One does not throw Karsus' Avatar, modified to strike down all magic, without consequences! It is the opinion of this person that the elves have probably ended the gnomish industrial revolution. They have, in addition, probably brought the dark ages back to Toril - for there is no question that there is worldwide anarchy. The question now is, can the illithid be stopped from taking over the surface world? They are quickly doing so. Oh, on a side note: Sorry, Naya. Your slave labor factory with the half-orc children is now out of business. The whole place collapsed when the elves threw the spell. Since you probably used magic to ward your safe (and to open and close it) where the money is being kept stored, you may have to dig your treasure out. This won't be easy, since a lot of very angry half-orc children armed with crude weapons and bludgeoning devices are trying to kill you. [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] zouron Member posted 04-09-2001 07:52 AM it is in truth a sad existance, much have been elimnated, the elves with this knowledge knowledge of 12th level magic must be found and stopped for good, their spells hidden away in the deeps of the unknown. immidiately setting in what powers we have left (much be fair since my troops mostly lived on a demiplane) and search out these chaosing a mass destruction greater then the war did in all. All my resources will be used to gatherr the spells and eliminate the elves in question (luckily some theories and tactics in none magical people eliminating mages have been developed earlier). such an event may never happend again Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 11:17 AM I have relatively limited information on the overall geographic and political situation of the realms... however... I believe I can safely say that the targets of the Illithid will be those nations that are most likely to regain their power with the return of magic, with secondary precedence given to nations who may have retained power by virtue having little reliance on magic. Places with high concentrations of mages and magical creatures will swarm with heavily armed thralls and their masters... The MindFlayers target the defenseless pockets of the magic-bound with surgical precision, but they do not make mere meals or slaves of their spell-casting victims... oh no. With a sizable proportion of the magic using population under their control, the Illithid must only wait for magic to return to the world... at which point they can use the power and knowledge of their newly acquired arcane thralls to blot out the sun and secure utter dominance over the world of Toril forever!!! -insert diabolical laughter here- [That is, of course, unless someone has the presence of mind to stop them.] Needless to say, the Illithid of Toril will attempt to provide news of these events to their kin in space and on other worlds and planes, so that perhaps, eventually, the great Illithid empire may be reborn out of the ashes of the realms... Regards, Phasmus & Co. "When in doubt, use duct tape." Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 11:37 AM The illithid of Realmspace have lost all of their ships, those aboard having suffocated. Even illithid ships were powered by magic, and when that magic failed, the ships stopped ... and the illithid died. Illithid that are planetbound are another matter. Countries that are major targets, Phasmus, by your criterion are: Aglarond (country, home of the Simbul, most powerful human mage) Calimshan (major center of civilization) Chessenta (country) Candlekeep (record-keeping fortress, major center of civilization) Cormyr (major center of civilization) Evereska (major center of civilization) Evermeet (major center of civilization) Halruaa (the major magical center of civilization) Luruar (the major center of civilization in the North) Mulhorand (ancient center of civilization) Neverwinter (country) Nimbral (island, major center of magic) The Phaerimm of Anauroch (very powerful mages, currently incapacitated) Rasheman (country) Shadowdale (small country, home of Elminster, Storm, Sylune) Thay (major center of civilization) Waterdeep (largest city in Faerun) Zhentil Keep (fortress city and military alliance) There are almost certainly others that might fit your criteron. Amn (country) The Dalelands (small countries) The Drow of the Underdark (currently disabled by lack of magic) Hillsfar (city) Lantan (island, small country) Luskan (city) The Moonshae Isles (islands, small countries) Myth Drannor (ruined city full of ancient magic, guardians currently disabled by lack of magic) Sembia (major center of civilization) Tethyr (country) Turmish (country) Vast Dale (country) Westgate (city) What are your targets, Phasmus? At the moment, the illithid have the upper hand. The first 3 targets you pick, are considered destroyed or occupied. The next 3 targets you pick, are considered devastated. The next 4 after that, are considered beset and fighting for their lives. They fought, they weakened themselves, the elves wrecked magic, and now they are vulnerable. (chuckle) Only fair to Phasmus, here. The illithid were untouched when the elves ended all magic for that month. [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] The Burned Man Member posted 04-09-2001 12:07 PM Isn´t Psionics magic in 3e Orco42 Member posted 04-09-2001 12:13 PM quote: Originally posted by Edena_of_Neith: The elves cast their modified version of the 12th level spell, Karsus' Avatar, with the intention of temporarily nullifying the Weave. [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] How could it work? Mystra has banned all spells above 10th level since the fall of Nethril? Estlor Member posted 04-09-2001 12:34 PM After spending the Month of Dread reflecting peacefully in his forest temple, I emerge and make several pilgimages. First I travel to the Steelie court and speak with King Oberon and Queen Titania about the war and tell them my plans to seek some sort of peaceful resolution, as neither side expected things to go this route. Once I have successfully gained the support of the Fair Folk (sprites, pixies, nixies, grigs, sidhe, pookas, brownies, and leprechauns) I make my pilgrimage to the cavern of the eldest dragon, informing our allies of the new developments. I beseech their aid to attack and destroy the illithid threat and attempt some sort of a cease-fire with the now ruined technomancer order so as to discuss things further with them. Then, with the aid of the fairies and the dragons I speak with the peaceful creatures of the sea, begging that they use their powers over the waters to foil the illithids long enough for the Alliance to meet with the Technomancer Imperitive. Once I have assured that the fairies, dragons, and sea folk are agreed to assist me, I declair open war on all illithids, stating nothing should be held back in the war up to and excluding causing harm to nature that our druid allies could not repair. THEN, conveniently being a bard and having a high Charisma, I will propose the other leaders of the Alliance request a diplomatic meeting with the Imperitive in order to attempt to find a point of nature/technology coexistance. Ah, but to the illithids I have only one thing to say... CRY HAVOK! AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR! ------------------ The Lighthouse Webmaster "More conversions, less talk." Riot Gear Member posted 04-09-2001 12:36 PM Well, I'd say this is going to be the next campaign setting this board makes after we finish Daemonforge. So damn cool. My Illithid persona is working on creating a usable psionic feat that will allow the user to dampen light in a small radius around them and allow Illithids to exist more happily on the surface world. He is also experimenting with surface-worlder psychology. ------------------ Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!! -My character. Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 12:41 PM Elven High Magic is the equivalent of spells of levels 10, 11, and 12, to answer a question above. There is a serious problem with your tactic, Estlor. It is called the Elven Imperial Navy of Wildspace. After the Month of Dread ends (and Phasmus has picked his targets), this Fleet appears in the skies over Toril. The Elven Imperial Navy of Spelljammers was forewarned of the spell. Thus, they went into dockage before it happened. Their forces did not suffocate, but waited the month out in drydock. Now, their fleet - which PRIOR to the Month of Dread was the greatest in the Spheres, now attacks Toril in it's full fury. Please remember that the elves are attacking in total war now, no holds barred. After the little tactic pulled by Blood Jester, they would have to be. They intend some serious annihiliation here. Thus I say to Blood Jester: Pick from the list of targets above. They can be targets already occupied by the illithids (if Phasmus responds in time) The first FIVE targets you choose are considered destroyed. The next five are considered devastated. The next five are considered beset. Then, and only then, can Estlor put his plan into motion. A good plan, too. We will see if it works ... Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 01:58 PM As the standing representative of the hoards of orcs, goblins, kobolds, and other humanoid races that *rarely* rely on magic and instead rely on cunning and brute strength, I would like to point out that our sheer numbers (we breed, you know) must have *some* positive effect on the defense of the Technomancy. An elf without magic is pretty much a weak orc. And elves, feeling "magic in their bones like perhaps no other race" are probably not feeling overly well right now anyway. As far as the Illithids are concerned -- we Underdark dwellers 1) Don't like them, and 2) Know how to collapse large, large sections of caves. 10 kobolds with pickaxes can collapse cave entrances faster than an Illithid with 3 or 4 Disentegrate Psi-Powers a day can move through them. And given the proximity to which we live to the surface (as opposed to the Illithids, who generally live deeper into the Underdark) we know where the entrances/exits to the Underdark are. And we've got a lot of kobolds. Oh, my do we have a lot of kobolds!!! So while I'm sure the Illithids have been nasty and caused a lot of damage . . . I think you're forgetting precisely what some recent allies of the Technomancy can do. Taking away Magic from the entire world doesn't hurt us *nearly* as much as it does the elves and humans and dragons. Buhahaha! [Edit -- remember we have those "Blue" goblins, too. So we've got a little psionic help on our *own* side, if need be.] [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).] Riot Gear Member posted 04-09-2001 03:02 PM But we can teleport. And you can't. So, you can't really stop the Illithids, just slow us down. Your blue goblins might be a minor hindrance, but they would fall so quickly as to be inconsequential. We are a lot nastier then you might believe, and we have a lot of slaves for cannon fodder in our cities. ------------------ Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!! -My character. Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 03:06 PM Sure, you can teleport. Big whup. That doesn't mean you can teleport tens of thousands of slaves to the surface, though. For that, you'll need actual PASSAGES, bucky boy. You know, like the one that just fell on your head. Chalk another one up for Kobold trap-making. Estlor Member posted 04-09-2001 03:13 PM For once I'm thankful for Kobolds ------------------ The Lighthouse Webmaster "More conversions, less talk." Riot Gear Member posted 04-09-2001 03:20 PM Then we'll just have to teleport to your homes and burn you all to ashes then, won't we? See you in hell.... (Illithids launch campaign of extermination against the subterranean monstrous humanoids.) ------------------ Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!! -My character. Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 03:32 PM Ah, excellent... Thank you for the data. The MindFlayers gazed at the surface world which had been opened up to them... at long last their patience had been rewarded. The thralls would be put in their place once and for all. The first move of the Illithid upon the cessation of magic was to eliminate the primary threats found in their home territory. The Drow of the Underdark, along with multiple less well established population, were besieged, slaughtered, consumed and enslaved. Their most powerful magic users were maintained for more... specialized... applications. Now the undisputed masters of the subterranean domain, even should their campaigns on the surface fail, any attempt at retribution against the Illithid by the thrall-races would be mere folly. Next, knowing full well the power of the now free Phaerimm, the MindFlayers set their sights on Anauroch. The essentially defenseless magical abominations were easy prey... and are now held captive in the most secure regions of the MindFlayer's Underdark domain. When the magic returns, the full power of the Phaerimm will be wielded by Illithid. In keeping with their goal of obtaining arcane power to enact and enforce their new world order, the forces of the Illithid stormed Halruaa, claiming artifact and sage alike for use in their grim plot. Luruar, WaterDeep and Thay were selected for simple devastation. There would be ample time to extract the riches, knowledge and power of these targets from their gutted shells after the conflict was over. Finally, Hungry for the power stored in Myth Dranor, the MindFlayers begin the process of advancing on the ancient city. CandleKeep was also laid siege, along with Nimbral. Many heroes captured and by the MindFlayers are slated for Ceremorphisis. The Illithid population booms, along with their capacity for enslaving the lesser humanoids who dare to oppose them. The population centers not under direct attack are infiltrated by small parties of MindFlayer specialists, along with doppelganger assistants when possible. Discord is sewn amongst the unsuspecting surface dwellers... who are temporarily powerless to magically detect the source of their misfortune. Experimentation with Ceremorphisis on creatures normally unfit to host tadpoles have a drastically increased success rate due to the lack of magical inhibitors. New, nightmarish, strains of MindFlayer created by the transformation of powerful creatures stalk the land the sea and the air. There are even rumors of successful Ceremorphisis procedures being performed on wyrmlings. The sages pray that the tomes that claim such things are impossible are correct. Regards, Phasmus & Co. "Sentience is a privilege, not a right." buzzard Member posted 04-09-2001 04:19 PM quote: Originally posted by Blood Jester: You are overlooking some key points. All of the technos have been arguing that all of the drawbacks of early technology would be eliminated by adding magic to their mix, making their weapons accurate enough to compete with bows and arrows wielded by skilled archers. Making them fire fast enough to match the rate of fire of said archers. Making their factories produce at such prodigious rates. At every turn the technocrats have ignored improving their machines within the bounds of their new 'science' and have simply said 'Aha! We will use your magic against you to overcome the limitations of our machines, and thus we will prevail!' Now picture what happens to a machine that is running several hundred times faster than it is truly capable of running, and it's 'immunity' to the effects of this speed are instantly removed. Ever see a turbine lose a blade, and then fly apart from the imbalances? Picture that magnified by a thousand, remember, instant failure. If every machine of any size or complexity comes apart, violently. How long will that take to dig out from, much less rebuild? Everyone seems to assume that one hundred and fifty years of development will occur in a couple of weeks. Without using magic as a crutch, how is this accomplished? The war is not an excuse, we had plenty of those during our technology growth, and that was with BOTH sides working on developing technology. (Not to mention, this started out as STEAM POWER being discovered, all these assumptions of other technologies coming along with this have been allowed to ride unchallenged, but I will have to say that this requires the excessive use of magic to accomplish.) [b]Blood Jester [This message has been edited by Blood Jester (edited 04-09-2001).][/B] I've made no claims that magic was necessary for technological prograss. My arguments are based on the given premise that: Technology is advanced enough for steam power and railroads. This implies a good deal you know. It doesn't just imply that you know that steam expands and can drive an engine. It implies that you have the machining abilities to make such an engine. It also implies that you are going to make machine tools capable of making more than one of those engines. (and rails, etc) That was one of the most immediate consequences of the industrial revolution. The mechanization of machine tools is crucial to everything. It enables rifles to be mass produced, rather than hand crafted. Also the general level of mechanical sophistication is going to be pretty high. A railroad is not a simple thing. Also if we're talking railroads, a certain amount of metallurgy must have been accomplished. This means higher quality steel, or you could not make steel rails (you can't roll cast iron into the shape). Once you have this better steel, you can make better and cheaper cannons. (Sweden was a great power for a while based on tin deposits which allowed them to make bronze cannons, since the steel technology in the era was so poor- this was well before railroads). I've yet to see what a wizzard is going to do in the face of a cannon shot. If I can make really good steel, I can make really good breastplates which will likely stop arrows (but not bullets). Also, whoever thinks that civil war era rifles were worse than bows, has a lot of convicing to do to make me buy it. I will certainly grant that early firearms were inferior, but by the civil war muzzle loading weapons had reached their pinnacle. They shot 50 caliber conical bullets at substancial velocities to effective ranges of 700 yards or so. No such bow exists. Rifles are also easier to use. Ammo is easier to make, and more lethal (soft lead bullets of the era would remove limbs, at best- for the target, or simply kill you). Also Eneda just jumped the gun and implied that nitroglycerin was invented. This implies smokeless powder, and thus the possibility of cased ammunition and repeating breachloading rifles. Once those hit the scene, there is not a chance that bows are comparable. This will also increase effective range and lethality. As for what my character would be doing the whole time, is learning the technology, and improving it. You don't need a wizzard to do technology (well actually my last character in Faerun was a custom class called a Tinker, who was sort of a medieval engineer- he never liked magic much anyway- too illogical). Though the influx of fiends would have him concentrating on wiping them out. A nice 8 gauge shotgun with either silver or cold iron shot would likely do wonders. Also I'd make sure I'd have a priest of Gond on hand to cast magic weapon where necessary. For a reach out and touch someone excersize I'd make the old heavy barrelled Sharps rifle- and become the first sharpshooter. That will outrange any spell. Buzzard Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 04:35 PM Riot Gear -- teleport into our homes? Wouldn't that require you having knowledge of exactly where our homes ARE? And I think that kobolds/goblins/orcs/gnolls/bugbears/hobgoblins probably outnumber Illithids at LEAST 100 to 1. Perhaps 1000 to 1. Remember, we breed. Meaning there's a whoooole lot of lairs. So give us your best shot. It isn't as though the humanoids are lining up in front of the illithids to be taken down by their mind blasts. We don't need to attack you -- just stop your minions from getting to the surface by closing off said passages. You'll get through eventually, but it'll be VERY tough to get enough people through in ONE MONTH to do that much damage. We Are The Underdark. And we're not like the weak drow, who are far too dependent on their magic to survive. We've had to deal with Drow and Illithids from below, and max-minning elves and humans from above for millenia. And we're STILL HERE. During none of that time did we have powerful magics at our disposal. You're not just walking through us, or you would have done it a long time ago. So, Phasmus, let's keep our plans to ourselves for now . . . I hope Edena announces an 'errata' or two to take into account her forgetfulness. (As opposed to coming up with some creative but highly doubtful explanation why hoards of humanoids who never relied on magic for survival in the Underdark would somehow fall so easily NOW.) Please? [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).] Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 05:41 PM Why, Mr. Forrester, we haven't forgotten you. Far from it. In addition to providing valuable slave labor, your ineffectual humanoid throngs are delicious and nutritious... You are a very important commodity for us. Furthermore, inasmuch as you are not enslaved outright, you provide a convenient buffer between our forces and the surface. The question we now put to you is, if your misdirected forces are so capable, why do they choose to act now, at the height of the power of the Illithid on Toril? The technology we have recently obtained, and vastly improved upon, makes moving earth and rock a fairly simple matter. We have been preying on you as long as your history records... and now you think enough has changed that you can do something about it? Your minds call to us... You are rightfully OURS to take! You honestly think we would allow you to even approach areas where you could cause the damage you speak of? That you and your thick-skulled humanoids could outthink the greatest minds this pitiful ball of rock has ever harbored?! That you could even begin to seal off the underdark enough to inconvenience our plans? An exercise in futility, that... No, Mr. Forrester, you will fall before us like all the rest. We suggest, however, that if you bow to us now, without necessitating our guiding influence, we will consider granting you a position of relatively comfortable servitude for the rest of your days... As opposed to the variety of horrors we will inflict on you otherwise. Regards, Phasmus Speaker-To-Thralls Representative of the Illithid Horde-Master 1st Class TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 05:44 PM WTF?! All of you 'psionic devourers invade' people are idiots. The illithids are not a numerous race, you will recall. I think, that at most, there will be 30,000 illithids on Toril. Plus, as forrester said, they'd have to plow through subterranean goblinoids,orcs, svirfnebli, drow(adamantite, enchanted or not,still is the hardest metal), and dwarves. There is no way they could get past everyone in just a month. PLUS get past every race in-between.PLUS conquer all those countries. Edena,Phasmus, whoever the hell the people who give the war updates are, don't post an update after every single post. That's just idiotic. And quit favoring technos, dammit. Every time they post something, you immediately don't bother with how ridiculous it might be, you just write it in. If that's the rules around here, anything goes, then put in forrester's logic and that I killed all of the techno leaders just before I switched sides, because I did. That should have put them in a state of total anarchy. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus [This message has been edited by TheBalor (edited 04-09-2001).] [This message has been edited by TheBalor (edited 04-09-2001).] Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 06:14 PM quote: Originally posted by Phasmus: Why, Mr. Forrester, we haven't forgotten you. Far from it. In addition to providing valuable slave labor, your ineffectual humanoid throngs are delicious and nutritious... You are a very important commodity for us. Furthermore, inasmuch as you are not enslaved outright, you provide a convenient buffer between our forces and the surface. The question we now put to you is, if your misdirected forces are so capable, why do they choose to act now, at the height of the power of the Illithid on Toril? The technology we have recently obtained, and vastly improved upon, makes moving earth and rock a fairly simple matter. We have been preying on you as long as your history records... and now you think enough has changed that you can do something about it? Your minds call to us... You are rightfully OURS to take! You honestly think we would allow you to even approach areas where you could cause the damage you speak of? That you and your thick-skulled humanoids could outthink the greatest minds this pitiful ball of rock has ever harbored?! That you could even begin to seal off the underdark enough to inconvenience our plans? An exercise in futility, that... No, Mr. Forrester, you will fall before us like all the rest. We suggest, however, that if you bow to us now, without necessitating our guiding influence, we will consider granting you a position of relatively comfortable servitude for the rest of your days... As opposed to the variety of horrors we will inflict on you otherwise. Regards, Phasmus Speaker-To-Thralls Representative of the Illithid Horde-Master 1st Class You know, Tentacle-boy, you sound a lot like an elf. Are you sure there's no elven heritage hiding in those slimy little tentacles of yours? Here's the situation, as I understand it. You are at point A, deep in the Underdark. We are at point B, in the Upper Underdark/near the surface, and point C, the Surface. To get to the surface, you need to pass US. Not the other way around, Mr. 20+ Intelligence. In other words, we aren't "approaching" the areas we need to affect. We're already THERE. You're the ones approaching US, squid-face. And it's really quite exciting that you've just learned how to move rock and earth. We've been doing it for thousands of years. Note that it's a helluva lot easier to collapse a tunnel than it is to dig a new one. As you should know, Big Brain. Sure, you might make some progress here or there. Get a few people through, here or there. But in a month? Get tens of thousands of thralls to the surface? Been sniffing glue again? But don't worry. We've got enough humanoids to kill all of the elves AND stop your puny efforts. So you can count on a good amount of death and destruction on the surface. But it'll be humanoids that are in charge, not you, squid-head. Forrester No Title Required PS Edena -- realistically, the Technomancy machines aren't all going to just EXPLODE! You make 1/2 of a machine stop working, it generally doesn't explode . . . the whole machine stops working. But let me know . . . if the Technomancy really is gone so soon, then I guess the humanoid hordes will work on taking over the entire surface, as long as this petty Squid menace can be taken care of. Elves die first, second, and third. We'll work from there. And get some kobolds to start tinkering with those machines . . . Oh -- if any of those artifact-ridden places had HUMANOIDS working as lackeys (as they usually do!), count on my people being able to loot the places far, FAR more quickly than the dumb humans or elves or illithids can. Heh heh heh. Idiot elves. The only thing keeping us from taking control was all of that damn magic. We're going to come out of this even better than the Illithids. Oh -- and Edena -- you might want to consider whether there are any big ole Elven Ships left after the elves have been overrun by tens of thousands of pissed off humanoids. (That's assuming we can do both that and fight off of the Illithids, of course. Which we can, because there's SO damn many of us.) [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).] Riot Gear Member posted 04-09-2001 06:27 PM You are foolish. We are just short of omniscient, we Illithid, Flayers of the Mind, and we are no weak warriors. Finding the weakest points in your defenses, and leaping there directly, is not hard. Nor do you keep in mind are ability to shift harmonic vibration (Plane Shift) at will. You do not merely face the Illithid of Faerun, but of the entire Prime Material and Outer Planes. We are legion. As for defeating us - A single Mind Flayer can rip your petty minds to shreds with ease constantly (Mind Blast EVERY ROUND) as well as transform enemies to thrall effortlessly (Charm Person EVERY ROUND) and float out of the reach of your mindless hordes (Levitate at will.) 10 mind flayers could wade through thousands upon thousands of your underselves, and even attempting to crush us under thousands of tons of rock would be futile, as we vanish to the Ether before they strike. From a metagaming perspective, I can't imagine ANY AMOUNT, even MILLIONS, of monstrous humanoids surviving a concerted assault of even as few as 10 Mind Flayers. High level Psion Mind Flayers make the whole exercise, frankly, silly. So sorry, you're screwed. Really flaunting that 8 intelligence, aren't you? I wonder what Kobold white matter tastes like... ------------------ Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!! -My character. [/QUOTE]

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