[4e Forgotten Realms] Netheril

[Zoombaba]

What has anyone done with Netheril in their FR games? They are shaping up to be the big baddie in my (first) FR campaign.

We started our first 4e campaign using the 4e Campaign Guide, setting the game in Loudwater. A vision of Lady Saharel has sent the PCs (now 4th level) to Spellgard (and the module Scepter Tower of Spellgard). I've been dropping a lot of hints of ascendancy of Netheril, and a possible invasion by the "shadow empire" into Loudwater (maybe an invasion of Silvery Moon? The Sword Coast?).

Which is all fine and dandy, but I have no real game plan beyond Scepter Tower. I've primarily been using modules up to this point, but feel now the campaign needs to go its own way. I'd like to map out levels 6th through 10, at least. I think the PCs would be 6th level by the time they leave Spellgard. I want Lady Saharel to give them a major clue at the end of this module that sets them up to fighting Netheril.

So far, the PCs have encountered shadar-kai bands seeking Netherese artifacts and ruins. So, what could be some possible adventures, bad guys, set pieces that would emphasize Netheril's overall bad-guyness?

 

[Drowbane]

Your post is confusing. If only because my FR knowledge is restricted to 1e to 3.5.

So, what is it that you want the PCs to face? In 3e, an Enclave returned from shadow and started causing chaos... are they the "new netheril"?

 

[Zoombaba]

Let me get the FR Campaign Guide ...

In the Year of Wild Magic (1372 DR) the Netherese returned to find their old empire in ruins ... they are ruled by the 12 Shade Princes from Shade Enclave ... Sembia is now a part of growing Empire of Netheril ... Shadovar of Netheril have attempted to infiltate and conquer Cormyr they way they overtook Sembia but so far Cormyr has escaped that fate ...

Since I've never checked out the Realms till now, I can't really put this into context with the pre-4e Realms.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Your post is confusing. If only because my FR knowledge is restricted to 1e to 3.5.

So, what is it that you want the PCs to face? In 3e, an Enclave returned from shadow and started causing chaos... are they the "new netheril"?

Yup. They made the Anauroch desert fertile again and conquered Sembia later on. They are essentially the new Evil Empire of the setting - and unlike Zhentil Keep (which is in ruins now), they have the firepower to be credible in that role.

 

[Zoombaba]

Cool. What he said.

So, what have people done with that? If anything?

 

[chaospez]

anyone still read this?

Noone has posted here for a while but i thought I would try anyways. I am playing a 3.5 game does anyone know how they made the desert fertile? I found a boxed set from 96 online all about netheril but could not afford it but wikipedia reference it and said the netherese had mythallars which allowed arcanists to creat quasimagical items without draining thier lifeforce. It also led to the development of floating cities. "Its function was a simple one—it converted raw magic from the Weave and sent that power throughout an enclave to provide the magical energies required for the continued operation of quasimagical items. Every enclave contained at least one mythallar-especially since the mythallar was absolutely necessary to keep the city afloat." it also says it looks like a crystal ball 150 feet in diameter. I am using the netherese in my campaign but have just started thinking what new magic they have. I thought high level potions (above 3rd) might intrigue my players.

 

[Malerai_Kayne]

While I am not using the Shadovar as the main bad guys, I am running a FR campaign along similar lines. One of my players pitched the idea that Mystra isn´t dead and is sending visions to him. I expanded the idea that she is orchestrating events around the characters while at the same time Karsus (the guy who tried to claim old Mystryl´s portfolio) is trying to resurrect himself as well.

I am using Loudwater as a base and published modules as adventures. Especially "Menacy of the Icy Spire" from Dungeon magazine fits because it introduces the idea that Karsus´ corpse lies somewhere under the Dire Wood. I then move on to "Remains of the Empire" and switch out the Dragonborn-story to Netheril and Shadovar. The crashed city on the mountaintop is in fact a part of Karse (Karsus´ old city). We´ll then head into "Thunderspire Labyrinth" and so on.

The idea is that both Mystra and Karsus are manipulating events on Faerun to resurrect themselves. The PCs will eventually be aided by some of the Seven Sisters whose whereabouts are unknown. They will eventually (if all goes well) be consumed by Mystra when she reincarnates (maybe even through a PC, who knows?).

This story could easily be adapted so that maybe the Princes of Shade are trying to resurrect Karsus to help them or whatever and because his remains and his city lie in the Grey Vale they become very active in that region. My campaign will eventually have the PCs travel to all kinds of fantastic places to find clues/help/artefacts to stop Karsus (including a part of his city that got transported to another plane and so on).