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For those who wonder before taking leap of lore in Neverwinter
As I missed many introductions over past due to me being bust with a few other things (points at sig) I read a few people wondering if they can handle the lore about Neverwinter and D&D as they are new.
To them, I want to say - everyone is new to it at some point or the other. Nobody is born an expert (unless it is Elminister). So do not worry about it.
Whenever in doubt, feel free to post in one of the two of my threads below or many other stickies related to lore. The lore is amazing and you may find yourself daydreaming about ... the stuff in fluff.
tl;dr - don't worry about being new. Just post a question and ask. In case you need details, mention you need details and the community will provide you with sources and summaries. And don't be afraid of getting troll posts if you are unfortunate to get some, just ignore them.
tl;dr of tl;dr Just jump and post questions when in doubt.
tl;dr of tl;dr of tl;dr
*pushes people off the cliff*
To them, I want to say - everyone is new to it at some point or the other. Nobody is born an expert (unless it is Elminister). So do not worry about it.
Whenever in doubt, feel free to post in one of the two of my threads below or many other stickies related to lore. The lore is amazing and you may find yourself daydreaming about ... the stuff in fluff.
tl;dr - don't worry about being new. Just post a question and ask. In case you need details, mention you need details and the community will provide you with sources and summaries. And don't be afraid of getting troll posts if you are unfortunate to get some, just ignore them.
tl;dr of tl;dr Just jump and post questions when in doubt.
tl;dr of tl;dr of tl;dr
*pushes people off the cliff*
Post edited by gillrmn on
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Neverwinter was city which was founded in around 85 DR. (DR is dale reckoning, a kind of year). After that, it has been a center of many conflicts. The part of Faerun(continent) where it is situated at is generally referred to as North. However it is never winter in neverwinter as the water flows from volcano Mount Hotenow and keeps the city as well as much of forest (Neverwinter Woods) warm. There is a long history associated with Neverwinter and it is around 1479 DR by the time game starts. During this time, many threats in the form of war, orcs and serious magical threats have weathered Neverwinter. Sometime ago, about 100 years back; a devastation known as spellplague occurred. Neverwinter was able to survive this devastation. However a lot of places were consumed by the Blue Fire - also called the fire that eats. The reason behind the spellplague is unknown but has to do with death of goddess of magic - Mystra. A lot of things changed since including merging of Abeir which is a shadow mirror image of Faerun continent. Merging of two worlds brought about much devastation.
Then some years afterwards Mount Hotenow erupted - the one which keeps Neverwinter warm. As it erupted it burned the whole of Neverwinter and thus Neverwinter was destroyed.
Ever since many things happened, many events (link) and now the Neverwinter is being rebuilt.
Spellplague was the bluefire which ensued when Mystra died. To read more about bluefire, a novel triology series exists :- Plague of Spells
Neverwinter has a huge history to draw from but as you play the game, you will be introduced to many of the plots and subplots in Neverwinter.
The repairs in protectors enclave reflecting eruption of mount Hotenow is one thing... I actually thought it was so because of beta!
what is the moonstone mask btw?
After spellplague, the shadow world merged with Toril. Some chunks of lands just dissappeared in Toril and were replaced by continents, lands and cities from Abeir.
However, Abeir still exists. Perhaps the lands of Toril dissappeared in Abeir? We do not know that. But it has become very easy to step in Abeir from Toril and vice-versa as Shar no longer can control exit and entrances to this world.
~~~
Think of Abeir as dark-side of Toril existing in alternate reality. Netherse mages(old human kingdom) first opened the doors to Abeir with the help of Shar. Then it was never heard of. It is said that the Volcano which is dormant near Neverwinter is active in Shadowfell. Neverwinter also has its mirror-image there Evernight. It is full of undead slaves, mages and things.
So after spellplague(due to mischief of one naughty mage) the worlds "merged" and so many places in Toril were replaced by Abeir.
====
Eladrin, elves and drow share same ancestory. Due to them changing locations ages ago, they slowly adapted to their worlds and became different species.
Eladrin are adapted to arcane power of fairies (usually shiny magic); elves are adapated to forests and drow are adopted to evil ... i mean darkness. Sun, moon etc are old references and attempt to link the elf retcon with old lore. Its confusing due to retcon.
goddess of magic
Mystryl/Mystra was godess of magic formed from magic essence of Selune and Shar. She happens to die and revive a lot. So do not let her death confuse you. She has died multiple times.
Karsus's Folly
Netheril was a human empire of old at times when Mystyl/Mystra didn't use to die a lot. Karsus prepared a very high level spell as he was a gifted mage. In dire times, he used it. As soon as he used it, he was not able to control it. Mystra committed suicide to save the lands from ravaging magic and quickly was reborn like a few minutes later.
However, Netheril cities used to fly in air using magic and without goddess of magic sustaining magic they all fell down killing all the Netherese - except for those who took their city to dark world(Abeir).
The usage of the spell with which Karsus became avatar of Mystyl is called Karsus Folly. Amaunator was the chief god of Netherese. Netherese when they were falling called out to Amaunator but he was not able to help them. So he lost faith and became weak. To gain power, he disguised himself as Lathander who was recently unmasked as Amaunator shortly before the game beings.
As the Abeir has merged, Netheril (those who escaped Karsus Folly due to them being in Shadow-world Abeir) are back. Netheril are fighting with Thay and center of conflict is Neverwinter.
The current Netherese are all followers of Shar as she was their deity in Abeir and because they discarded Amaunator due to him not helping them.
EDIT:
As @steppenkat uts, I am wrong about Abeir and Shadowfell being same. That explains the contradiction I kept thinking in my understanding. Abeir was merged by spellplague while shadowfell was merged by the mad mage I think.
Sorry my knowledge outside of Toril is almost zero.
Uh I didn't remember reading this. As far as I know, the Plane of Shadow (the twisted mirror of the Material Plane controlled by Shar) is a different place than Abeir. Abeir was a paralel world to Toril which was ruled by dragon-emperors, being the Dragonborn their slaves.
Basically it's a "Jurasic Toril" that was ruled by the primordials. Everything was wild and primal there.
There's a very short reference on the FR Wiki but the complete article is in the FR Campaign Guide.
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Abeir
- Titania Silverblade, the Iron Rose of Myth Drannor (Lvl 60 GWF, Destroyer)
- Gwyneth, the Cowardly Cat Burglar Drowling (Lvl 60 TR, Saboteur)
- Lady Rowanne Firehair, Heartwarder of Sune (Lvl 33 DC)
- Satella, Sensate (LvL 44 CW, Renegade, Non-Active)
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