Hi Gary,
Well, you don't know me and I feel fairly certain you don't remember being introduced to me by Dave Arneson and Mike Stackpole at GenCon (either 99 or 2000). We have a common friend, Andre Moullin. I translated and published D&D basic set into portuguese in the 80's, which is when I met him. I was also a partner and manager in Devir the brasilian gaming company (running the portuguese and spanish offices) until last year.
In any case, I am a huge fan of Greyhawk and sometimes have little questions that bug me for awhile. Maybe you'll want to answer the following two queries.
On the Rain of Colorless Fire
In the Gord novel City of Hawks we see Gord traveling to the Plane of Shadows to recover the nine mystical sapphires. He travels through the wilderness of Shadowland to find Imprimus, and is attacked by a duskdrake (a shadow dragon), Vishwhoolsh, a "hyperdragon". He is attacked by its breath weapon which fires gray fire, and barely survives the first onslaught. And then, "at last Gord knew how terrible was the stuff of shadow-fire, understanding the refinement that resulted in the fabulous fire ruin that had been used by human mages to devastate an empire".
I read this to mean that the Rain was some sort of mega spell of shadowfire. My questions are:
Is it correct to assume that the Baklunish have a preference for illusions, shadow and mind magic (this is hinted at in a number of sources)?
What kind of spell can we imagine? A gate opening into the Plane of Shadows, or some sort of coming together of numerous mages to cast some shade spell? Or an artifact?
How would you describe a "hyperdragon" (and you're not allowed to answer "briefly, if at all" like the gloam who played at questions with Gord!
)? Just a bigger dragon or something more?
On Olidammara and his clerics.
In the description of Olidammara (83 WoG boxed set), we are told that there are two rustic hostels, one in the Kron Hills and one in the Wild Coast, where clerics of his are found. In Night Arrant, we are introduced to Hop the Savant, certainly the archetypical, almost perfect image of the follower of Olidammara! Seeing that many sources give the Gnarley as being part of the Wild Coast:
Would it be correct to assume that his inn, the Inn of the Brothers of One and Score, is one of the hostels mentioned?
Does the number have mystical significance for Olidammara? (three times seven)
Were you referring to that place, or is it just a happy coincidence?
Well, this is all, I hope you had a great week end and see you soon!
