Series Notes: The Forest King
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tales_of_faerunMore thoughts The Forest King
House Do'Urden is moderately successful, thanks to Malice's command of magical salves. They have one of the smallest militias, and practically no cavalry, but they have a well-fortified house during the periodic violence that comes to their city.
They also have Zaknafein, who is thought to be the most gifted strategist and fighter in ten generations. He was, at one point, Malice's official consort, and sired a daughter by her that is held in high regard. The choice to sever their union was made so each could focus on the House, finding each other too much a distraction.
As evidenced by her youngest child be unmistakably his.
Rizzen doesn't hold it against her. Monogamy does not truly work for nigh immortal beings, after all. He is an able administrator of the household staff, though, freeing up more of Malice's time for politics and business.
Briza was the product of a tempestuous affair in her youth, and as the father never acknowledged it, Briza is considered only half-noble. She is a bit insecure and quick to anger over it, but has thrived in the religious side of their lives.
Nalfein's father was enough of a nobody that Malice never even made a point of acknowledging the affair, but made certain to provide for his schooling so that he could take on the alchemical workings of their House (magic).
Vierna is the first true noble child of the House, and shares her mother's gift for crafting with magic, but her bent is more towards items than salves. Malice encourages this, and had Vierna schooled in theology, alchemical theory, as well as personal lessons of politics. Malice also made sure Vierna learned the art of warfare; she wasn't going to waste Zak's gifts.
Maya was going to be the youngest, but when she struggled to find a specialty to make her own, Rizzen tempted Malice to try again. Dinin has promise in the fighting ranks, and is arguing for purchase of mounts to train.
Drizzt actually is an accident in this universe. A celebration of some event, a religious festival... something that made Malice and Zaknafein incapable of ignoring their mutual attraction, and it resulted in pregnancy, to both their surprise. As Vierna had been the only pregnancy from his siring to happen, despite many chances for it do so. And there's literal centuries between the brother and his sister.
Malice, of course, fusses over the baby. Briza resents him. Maya and Dinin are indifferent, mostly, while Nalfein indulges him about as much as Vierna does. Yet, despite the chance to be a spoiled nobleborn, Drizzt's nature runs toward noblesse oblige - he will one day be responsible for people, and strives to understand them, so he can be kind and compassionate.
He is also the first naturalist in living memory, with an ease toward animals that wins him Dinin as a friend, for aid in taming the great lizards they bring in.
He is Zak's pupil from the first time he defends himself and Maya with a makeshift staff and shield (read - pennant pole and a serving tray) in a botched assassination attempt.
Marriage among the noble onyx elves is a ritualized thing. Matings happen, but to actually wed is to commit to pooling resources toward a true House, one that is to have starting resources given from both parent Houses, if the marriage happens at the noble level.
Malice had been her mother's last remaining heir, and chose not to bring outside blood into the House. Zaknafein is from an ancillary line, far enough removed to be socially acceptable. Rizzen was a commoner who brought himself to her attention and proved he would serve her well.
Briza has no interest in courting. Vierna has had offers, but declined them as she knows Malice intends for her to inherit. Nalfein has fathered children, by mutual consent, but has not properly courted because it gets in the way of learning (and hanging out with other alchemists). Maya, Dinin, and Drizzt are, when everything gets set in motion, considered young enough to not be of serious courting age.
No one is more floored than Malice when an offer, an Official Offer, for courtship is sent by House Baenre. While Malice has held the House in absolutely neutrality (as a supplier of medicinal goods), she does yearn to move fully within the ruling sphere of their city. An alliance like this --
-- but the offer is for her youngest child, and she doesn't care much for the abridging of freedom that means. Drizzt hasn't lived enough to be placed into a union with another powerful House.
She declines, politely, with an insinuation that when Drizzt has finished a quest, they can revisit the matter.
The quest, it turns out, is to go and learn of each of the cities within a certain distance from their own. Drizzt is puzzled at why he should leave, but curious. Zaknafein sees it for what it is, a way to get the baby out of sight, out of mind, as well as to let him gain experience. He increases his attempt to get spies into House Baenre, really not liking the idea of this offer in the first place. Baenre's children are well-known for choosing not to wed, or if they do, the Houses they set up are little more than satellite demesnes to the main House.
Why does the old crone want Drizzt in her family? What plans does she have? All of this, Zaknafein tries to ferret out as his student goes off into the larger world.
No one actually told Drizzt WHY he was being sent to learn of the other cities. He has no idea that Baenre wants him to wed one of her daughters. So he travels, and he learns more of the magic inherit in what he is as a naturalist.
And meets Alustriel. Who winds up teaching him of more about the world than he imagined possible. They are mutually attracted, driven as they are to protect others in all ways. He knows he cannot properly wed her by onyx elf customs, any more than her other elven love could wed her in a way that mattered among the elves he belonged to.
It's just not accepted by elves, to Bind oneself to a non-elf. But affairs of the heart? Those are up to the individuals, and they are firmly in love by the time Drizzt receives a summons to return to his city.
He makes a Promise to return to her, once he has absolved himself of the family duties. He has learned much. He is a gifted fighter, has gifts that will aid all of his siblings, even Briza, in growing stronger in their chosen paths.
Once he has discharged the quest, he will be free. He's an adult, he can revoke his own status, and become an Outsider allied to the House.
Only, he arrives to find out that his House is in a precarious position, and there are rumors of war within the city, one that could rip reality wide open if the Old Magics are unleashed.
And Baenre still wants him. It's a slim hope for Malice, one to protect all she has built, if her child can just... accept the courting.
Drizzt agrees to meet with the intended daughter, even as his heart is not in it. But during the meeting, he learns he is being courted for his skills, to enhance the Baenre auxiliaries, as the rumors of war in the city are not true.
They intend to go after the nearest city and take their resources, to found a new colony. This dovetails with everything Zak had ferreted out, and he, having escorted his son but been made to wait outside the room where the children spoke (and it is NOT a young daughter, but one who is experienced in bending people to her will), helps Drizzt escape the House.
Suspicious of Malice now, for having sent him to discover more about the other cities, Drizzt is uncertain where to turn. Zak tells him to flee, but Drizzt sees that as painting a target on the city he flees to. He decides to try to use logic and passion alike to convince the Matron of the House that the path she seeks, both out of the city and with him, is not a good one.
This leads to the revelation that Drizzt is in love with a Betweener, one of those touched by divine forces and elven blood mixed to human, and Baenre uses that as a pretext of insult to launch a campaign against House Do'Urden, politically.
Zak takes it all back to Malice, so they can plan, together, while Drizzt considers his ideals, his heart, and the coming storm he has set off.
A counter proposal is offered; Zaknafein himself will accept a Courting, Drizzt will be freed but exiled, and House Do'Urden will accept a satellite position in the city, an extension of Baenre.
It is refused, because honor and pride have mixed.
In the end, the Houses do come to blows, and in the aftermath, Zaknafein has been caught in a hellish spell where time all but ceases to move, just out of phase with their world, and as the spark that set it all off Drizzt is banished, not exiled, but banished to the other realm, until such time as he has saved as many lives as his choice cost the city. The spell that caught Zak was, of course, meant for Drizzt, and part of his goal is to learn how to undo it, while he is in his banishment.
And a few more 7/24/2023
Alustriel and her sisters are considered the major leadership of the Betweeners. They are effectively immortal because of the goddess being part of them. There are others, including evil ones like the former Chosen that fixated on Alustriel so much.
Fully mortal humans in the Reflected Lands didn't stay truly human. They changed to something fey, and their children became changelings. Those sometimes slip to the other world, tied there by their human blood.
It's not very safe for the Betweeners to go back and forth, as their human heritage can grow too strong and make it impossible to return.
House Do'Urden is moderately successful, thanks to Malice's command of magical salves. They have one of the smallest militias, and practically no cavalry, but they have a well-fortified house during the periodic violence that comes to their city.
They also have Zaknafein, who is thought to be the most gifted strategist and fighter in ten generations. He was, at one point, Malice's official consort, and sired a daughter by her that is held in high regard. The choice to sever their union was made so each could focus on the House, finding each other too much a distraction.
As evidenced by her youngest child be unmistakably his.
Rizzen doesn't hold it against her. Monogamy does not truly work for nigh immortal beings, after all. He is an able administrator of the household staff, though, freeing up more of Malice's time for politics and business.
Briza was the product of a tempestuous affair in her youth, and as the father never acknowledged it, Briza is considered only half-noble. She is a bit insecure and quick to anger over it, but has thrived in the religious side of their lives.
Nalfein's father was enough of a nobody that Malice never even made a point of acknowledging the affair, but made certain to provide for his schooling so that he could take on the alchemical workings of their House (magic).
Vierna is the first true noble child of the House, and shares her mother's gift for crafting with magic, but her bent is more towards items than salves. Malice encourages this, and had Vierna schooled in theology, alchemical theory, as well as personal lessons of politics. Malice also made sure Vierna learned the art of warfare; she wasn't going to waste Zak's gifts.
Maya was going to be the youngest, but when she struggled to find a specialty to make her own, Rizzen tempted Malice to try again. Dinin has promise in the fighting ranks, and is arguing for purchase of mounts to train.
Drizzt actually is an accident in this universe. A celebration of some event, a religious festival... something that made Malice and Zaknafein incapable of ignoring their mutual attraction, and it resulted in pregnancy, to both their surprise. As Vierna had been the only pregnancy from his siring to happen, despite many chances for it do so. And there's literal centuries between the brother and his sister.
Malice, of course, fusses over the baby. Briza resents him. Maya and Dinin are indifferent, mostly, while Nalfein indulges him about as much as Vierna does. Yet, despite the chance to be a spoiled nobleborn, Drizzt's nature runs toward noblesse oblige - he will one day be responsible for people, and strives to understand them, so he can be kind and compassionate.
He is also the first naturalist in living memory, with an ease toward animals that wins him Dinin as a friend, for aid in taming the great lizards they bring in.
He is Zak's pupil from the first time he defends himself and Maya with a makeshift staff and shield (read - pennant pole and a serving tray) in a botched assassination attempt.
Marriage among the noble onyx elves is a ritualized thing. Matings happen, but to actually wed is to commit to pooling resources toward a true House, one that is to have starting resources given from both parent Houses, if the marriage happens at the noble level.
Malice had been her mother's last remaining heir, and chose not to bring outside blood into the House. Zaknafein is from an ancillary line, far enough removed to be socially acceptable. Rizzen was a commoner who brought himself to her attention and proved he would serve her well.
Briza has no interest in courting. Vierna has had offers, but declined them as she knows Malice intends for her to inherit. Nalfein has fathered children, by mutual consent, but has not properly courted because it gets in the way of learning (and hanging out with other alchemists). Maya, Dinin, and Drizzt are, when everything gets set in motion, considered young enough to not be of serious courting age.
No one is more floored than Malice when an offer, an Official Offer, for courtship is sent by House Baenre. While Malice has held the House in absolutely neutrality (as a supplier of medicinal goods), she does yearn to move fully within the ruling sphere of their city. An alliance like this --
-- but the offer is for her youngest child, and she doesn't care much for the abridging of freedom that means. Drizzt hasn't lived enough to be placed into a union with another powerful House.
She declines, politely, with an insinuation that when Drizzt has finished a quest, they can revisit the matter.
The quest, it turns out, is to go and learn of each of the cities within a certain distance from their own. Drizzt is puzzled at why he should leave, but curious. Zaknafein sees it for what it is, a way to get the baby out of sight, out of mind, as well as to let him gain experience. He increases his attempt to get spies into House Baenre, really not liking the idea of this offer in the first place. Baenre's children are well-known for choosing not to wed, or if they do, the Houses they set up are little more than satellite demesnes to the main House.
Why does the old crone want Drizzt in her family? What plans does she have? All of this, Zaknafein tries to ferret out as his student goes off into the larger world.
No one actually told Drizzt WHY he was being sent to learn of the other cities. He has no idea that Baenre wants him to wed one of her daughters. So he travels, and he learns more of the magic inherit in what he is as a naturalist.
And meets Alustriel. Who winds up teaching him of more about the world than he imagined possible. They are mutually attracted, driven as they are to protect others in all ways. He knows he cannot properly wed her by onyx elf customs, any more than her other elven love could wed her in a way that mattered among the elves he belonged to.
It's just not accepted by elves, to Bind oneself to a non-elf. But affairs of the heart? Those are up to the individuals, and they are firmly in love by the time Drizzt receives a summons to return to his city.
He makes a Promise to return to her, once he has absolved himself of the family duties. He has learned much. He is a gifted fighter, has gifts that will aid all of his siblings, even Briza, in growing stronger in their chosen paths.
Once he has discharged the quest, he will be free. He's an adult, he can revoke his own status, and become an Outsider allied to the House.
Only, he arrives to find out that his House is in a precarious position, and there are rumors of war within the city, one that could rip reality wide open if the Old Magics are unleashed.
And Baenre still wants him. It's a slim hope for Malice, one to protect all she has built, if her child can just... accept the courting.
Drizzt agrees to meet with the intended daughter, even as his heart is not in it. But during the meeting, he learns he is being courted for his skills, to enhance the Baenre auxiliaries, as the rumors of war in the city are not true.
They intend to go after the nearest city and take their resources, to found a new colony. This dovetails with everything Zak had ferreted out, and he, having escorted his son but been made to wait outside the room where the children spoke (and it is NOT a young daughter, but one who is experienced in bending people to her will), helps Drizzt escape the House.
Suspicious of Malice now, for having sent him to discover more about the other cities, Drizzt is uncertain where to turn. Zak tells him to flee, but Drizzt sees that as painting a target on the city he flees to. He decides to try to use logic and passion alike to convince the Matron of the House that the path she seeks, both out of the city and with him, is not a good one.
This leads to the revelation that Drizzt is in love with a Betweener, one of those touched by divine forces and elven blood mixed to human, and Baenre uses that as a pretext of insult to launch a campaign against House Do'Urden, politically.
Zak takes it all back to Malice, so they can plan, together, while Drizzt considers his ideals, his heart, and the coming storm he has set off.
A counter proposal is offered; Zaknafein himself will accept a Courting, Drizzt will be freed but exiled, and House Do'Urden will accept a satellite position in the city, an extension of Baenre.
It is refused, because honor and pride have mixed.
In the end, the Houses do come to blows, and in the aftermath, Zaknafein has been caught in a hellish spell where time all but ceases to move, just out of phase with their world, and as the spark that set it all off Drizzt is banished, not exiled, but banished to the other realm, until such time as he has saved as many lives as his choice cost the city. The spell that caught Zak was, of course, meant for Drizzt, and part of his goal is to learn how to undo it, while he is in his banishment.
And a few more 7/24/2023
Alustriel and her sisters are considered the major leadership of the Betweeners. They are effectively immortal because of the goddess being part of them. There are others, including evil ones like the former Chosen that fixated on Alustriel so much.
Fully mortal humans in the Reflected Lands didn't stay truly human. They changed to something fey, and their children became changelings. Those sometimes slip to the other world, tied there by their human blood.
It's not very safe for the Betweeners to go back and forth, as their human heritage can grow too strong and make it impossible to return.
