Mystra, the weave and magic as we know it now

[Uber Dungeon]

This might be kinda rough but bare with me.

Ok, so as I know it between "2.0" and "3.0" there was a great battle where magic burned and scorched the earth; making the anaurouch the desert we know today. Mystra died and was replaced by some goddess who took on the name mystra, her and Elminster repaired the weave, causing Dead zones where magic does not work and wild zones where the weave was unstable and the usable level of spells to diminish to 9 so it would not happen again.

Now the real question is; In "4.0" is there a reason for how the magic is now?

 

[DracoSuave]

Now the real question is; In "4.0" is there a reason for how the magic is now?

They killed the replacement Mystra, and didn't bother to replace her, due to the high mortality rate of the position.

Needless to say, the weave completely unraveled, spellfire became spellplague and spread like a bastard... the boundries between planes ripped asunder, overlaying one plane onto toril, permanently causing parts of it (like maztica) to go... who knows where.

 

[Uber Dungeon]

AWW, SNAP! thanks for filling me in. it's kinda sad though, Mystra was one of my favorite deity's.

 

[DracoSuave]

I think the reasoning was that because Mystra dies so easily (the last one was the fourth one, I think, and the second one to die in a single human generation) and it has such a catastrophic effect on the weave when she does, that's its better not to have the position at all.

 

[Uber Dungeon]

Yeah, just thinking, I wonder the reason that magic can still be used. Perhaps it's some forum of channeling the resonance of the fallen weave? or I wonder if they covered that base.
Blaa, I need to just go read the faerun guide or something.

 

[Zaukrie]

This is actually the theme of my campaign....

In the old days, before the weave, magic had several sources, which could be controlled and abused. The weave's purpose was to "spread the magic" out and let it be accessible for all to use.

Sources of magic:
Intersection of the planes
Concentrations of wealth (that's why dragons collect treasure, btw)
Concentrations of knowledge (the original purpose for libraries)
Soul magic ( an evil act of killing the living, and using their soul for magic)
"worms" (the wormworld from Rifts is a living source of magic)
the worship of mortals (or belief, or something like that)
? heck, I can't remember all the clues I've given, but I think that is it

With the unravelling of the weave, portals are appearing where these sources are. Groups are beginning to realize what has happened, and are trying to gather the power to themselves.

The PCs will have a choice, help to re-build the weave, and democratize magic again, or help one or more groups hoard it and help them be the power in the world.

Of course, the PCs don't know this yet....

 

[Arivendel]

Actually from a Cannon standpoint does anyone know where the events leading to the death of Midnight/Mystra by Cyric and Shar are? I mean i remember WotC mentioning sorta what happened, and so did the FRCG but i can't remember any source of actual lore where the whole thing takes place, are there any books?

Also I thought Midnight was Mystra #3 not #4... there where 2 Mystra's during Elminster's first book series, i thought these where Mystra's 1 & 2 am I wrong? if not and if Midnight really was Mystra #4 which one was #3?

 

[jester_gl]

The first goddess of Magic was Mystril, killed by a 12th level spell named Karsus' Avatar.

Karsus was very briefly the god of magic, but the very act of killing the previous goddess of magic rendered his spell unstable and gave him the power but his body could not support it. Spells went awry everywhere, destroying the kingdom of Netheril and forming the Anauroch as the weather controlling spell that pushed back the glacier went wild.

Ao (the overgod) saw the problem and appointed (created) the original Mystra so that she could prevent the whole planet from being destroyed by wild magic. She disabbled 10th, 11th and 12th level spell and put lots of limit on magic that weren't there before (material component and limit by level aka 10d6 fireball max for exemple).

She in turn was killed by Helm during the Time of Trouble. After the tablet of Fate were returned to Ao, Midnight became Mystra basically because she was wearing Mystra's necklace.

So Karsus is the 2nd god of magic. Often forgotten or barely remembered, he lives on as an indestructible status somewhere up north in a place called Karsus' folly.

 

[Uber Dungeon]

Hmm, I see. I remember heiring something about Karsus and killing mystra, but I did not know that he actually took up being magic god for a bit.

 

[Arivendel]

Ah yes i always forget Mystril... mostly because i wasn't playing by that point in time so i always forget that part of the lore.

Still i want to know if there's any actual cannon books regarding Mystra/Midnight's death at the hands of Cyric.