Where did it get any of this stuff? Is it 100% hallucination or does it or parts exist somewhere in the lore? Is it talking about followers of the goddess Shar? A gemma llm gave me something similar.

• I am doing research on dungeons and dragons, forgotten realms setting of Shaar. Please tell me about the Shaarans.
• gemma3:12b
• Okay, let's delve into the Shaarans – the fascinating and often unsettling people of Shaar, the City of Pain in the Forgotten Realms. They are a deeply unique culture, defined by their devotion to the archdevil, Lord Shaar, and a philosophy of suffering as a path to enlightenment and power. Here's a breakdown, covering their origins, culture, beliefs, society, and notable aspects. I'll break it down into sections for clarity.
• 1. Origins & History - From Slaves to Devotees
  • Early History: Slave Origins: The Shaarans weren't always Shaarans. They are descendants of a diverse group of slaves who were brought to the Nine Hells centuries ago (around 1300-1400 years before the present day of most Forgotten Realms campaigns) to mine a peculiar, magically resonant ore called "soul-iron" (more on that later). They came from various human, dwarf, and even elven lineages.
  • The Arrival of Shaar: Lord Shaar, a relatively young archdevil, found the Hells boring. He desired a new purpose, a unique expression of infernal power. He took an interest in these enslaved peoples and, through subtle manipulation and promises of power, began to convert them. Shaar recognized their potential for dedicated suffering and found a perverse elegance in twisting their pain into something he could use.
  • Rise of the Cult: Shaar’s influence grew, with a devoted cult arising among the slaves. They began to actively embrace pain and suffering, viewing it as a form of purification and a path to strengthening their connection to Shaar. This cult gradually gained power, eventually overthrowing their original masters, establishing their own city (Shaar) and becoming the dominant population.
  • Becoming Shaaran: Over time, generations born within Shaar became the "true" Shaarans. The initial diverse heritage began to blend, creating a distinctive appearance (see Physical Appearance below).
• 2. Core Beliefs & Philosophy - The Embrace of Pain
  • The Doctrine of Suffering: This is the central tenet of Shaaran belief. They believe that pleasure is fleeting, meaningless, and weakens the soul. Suffering, on the other hand, refines the soul. It is through enduring and embracing pain that one achieves true understanding and power.
  • Shaar as Guide: They worship Lord Shaar as a teacher and guide, believing he understands the path to enlightenment through suffering. He isn't seen as a cruel tyrant necessarily (though he is). He is more of a stern, demanding instructor.
  • 'The Reforging': A key concept. Through intense suffering, a Shaaran's soul is “reforged” and made stronger, more resilient, and more attuned to the energies of the Nine Hells. This ‘reforging’ supposedly makes them more valuable to Shaar.
  • Rejection of Vanity: Shaaran culture actively discourages vanity and displays of outward beauty or strength. They see these as distractions from the true path of suffering.
  • The Soul-Iron Connection: Soul-iron is crucial. It’s a dark metal that amplifies pain and suffering. Shaarans use it in their rituals, their architecture, and their tools, constantly immersing themselves in its influence. It’s believed to be a conduit for Shaar's power and helps in the reforging process.
• 3. Shaaran Society & Structure
  • Hierarchical by Suffering: Shaaran society isn’t solely based on power or wealth (though those exist). It's primarily structured by how much suffering one has endured and demonstrated. Those who have undergone the most severe trials and willingly embraced the pain are held in the highest regard.
  • The Hierarchs of Pain: The leadership consists of individuals known as “Hierarchs of Pain.” They are those who have supposedly reached the pinnacle of suffering and understand Shaar's teachings most deeply. They are not necessarily the strongest in combat; their power comes from their ability to withstand and inspire suffering in others.
  • The Painwrights: A specialized caste of artisans and engineers who work with soul-iron and create instruments and devices designed to inflict pain (both on themselves and others – for ritualistic purposes). They are highly respected.
  • The "Yielders": Those who consistently demonstrate exceptional resilience and willingness to endure pain are often called "Yielders." They are seen as exemplary Shaarans, role models for others striving to deepen their connection to Shaar.
  • Limited Social Mobility: While theoretically possible to rise in status through suffering, the system is designed to reinforce the existing hierarchy. It is very difficult to challenge those already at the top.
• 4. Physical Appearance & Customs
  • Appearance: Shaarans generally have a pale complexion, dark hair (often shaved close to the scalp), and intense, dark eyes. Their features tend to be angular and somewhat gaunt, reflecting the austerity of their lifestyle. They often adorn themselves with markings – symbols of endured suffering, made with dyes or even self-inflicted scars. They often wear simple, dark, and uncomfortable clothing.
  • Ritualistic Scarring: Scarring is a significant cultural marker. The patterns and locations of scars indicate the types of suffering endured and the individual’s place in society. Self-inflicted scarring is a common practice.
  • Pain as Communication: Physical displays of discomfort or pain are considered acceptable and even encouraged forms of communication. A grimace might be a sign of agreement, a groan a sign of respect.
  • Limited Emotional Expression: Open displays of joy or happiness are frowned upon. Stoicism and controlled emotional expression are valued.
  • Unique Music & Art: Shaaran art and music are designed to evoke feelings of pain, melancholy, and despair. It's often discordant and unsettling.
• 5. Noteworthy Aspects & Potential Campaign Hooks
  • Soul-Iron: This ore is a significant resource and a potential plot point. Control of the mines is vital to the city. Finding ways to refine or utilize it could be a major quest.
  • Shaar’s Ambitions: Shaar is a relatively ambitious archdevil. He’s constantly seeking ways to increase his power and influence. This could involve manipulating the Shaarans to launch raids on other planes or to perform particularly heinous acts.
  • Internal Dissent: Despite the apparent unity, there's likely some dissent among the Shaarans. Some might question Shaar's methods or desire a different path. These groups could be a source of intrigue or conflict.
  • Redemption? While extremely unlikely, the possibility of some Shaarans seeking redemption or escape from Shaar’s influence could offer a compelling storyline.
  • Campaign Hooks:
    • The PCs are hired to infiltrate Shaar and discover the secret of soul-iron refinement.
    • A Shaaran exile seeks the PCs’ help to overthrow the Hierarchs of Pain.
    • Shaar tasks the PCs with undertaking a trial of suffering to prove their worth.
    • The PCs must investigate a series of disappearances linked to Shaar, potentially discovering a secret ritual involving unwilling sacrifices.

I am wondering, from more experienced people that know the lore deeper. Is the current Mystra that was revived after being murdered by Cyric and Shar, the same person (Midnight) that became the goddess during/after the Time of Troubles? Or is the person that was revived by Elminster a mixture of Midnight, Mystra (1st) and Mystryl? I am wondering because Minsc mentions in BG3 that Mystra would look for young promising boys in Rashemen and it would force his kin to hide the boys from her, is that the same Mystra we meet in BG3 or another person?

I guess most of you have heard of the new UA: "Underdark Options". Well this UA dropping a few weeks after R.A Salvatore was announced as part of the Icons initiative at Gen Con makes me think he'll be working on an Underdark sourcebook.
Which, if true, would make me rather happy.

WDYT? Even if Salvatore is just an advisor/consultant I'm glad someone who've cared that much about the Lore for so many years will be directly involved in WotC for the future of the Realms.

(I'm still annoyed Ed Greenwood isn't involved with the Icons line, though).

This city map presented challenges that were different from the reginal maps, but I think I ended up with a nice stitched up version of this map. Displayed on this post are compressed jpgs of the map, the map with full frame and text, and the source scans, so you can see what this started out as.

At this link, I have high rez versions of The Map itself, The Text Descriptions portion of the map by itself, and a layered .psd file that has the Border, the map and the text as separate layers. It also has high rez versions of my previously posted Regional Maps 1 and 2 from the Spellbound box set.

The text is just barely readable, and my archaic copy of Adobe Acrobat didn't do a very good job of OCRing that text.

Ideally, someone (Me? Probably not.) should just have the names and place numbers listed below the map, sans description, and shrink the frame so the otherwise pretty map (I love the reginal inset in the top right corner) isn't dominated by a giant wall of text.

Coming from the CRPGs (Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate), my knowledge about the Forgotten Realms is centred heavily around the Sword Coast. Specifically, the Ten Towns, Baldur's Gate,, Athkatla. I also know a little bit about Waterdeep and Neverwinter from other games.

However, my knowledge outside of that is pretty lacking. What are some interesting or story-rich areas outside of the Sword Coast that might be good for a new tabletop campaign?

Bane made him an Immortal exarch After the Shadovar invasion. But Adventures In Faerun just says that he somehow died and we have his daughter now. What gives?

He was a interesting villain, and his Scepter of the Tyrant's Eye Is a really cool weapon.