WotC's take on Eilistraee in 5E
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:59 am
Recently, I've sent a letter to Christopher Perkins (WotC lead world builder and D&D creative manager), talking about Eilistraee's role in the Realms and why I feel that she is an integral, even iconic, part of the setting. The answer I received was very encouraging.
[quote:lox0jksr][...]Our thinking has changed somewhat with 5E. We would rather embrace the complexities of FR than oversimplify it. The Sundering (as told in recent novels) will enable us to restore all of the "lost" gods of the FR pantheon, including Eilistraee. I don't know the extent to which she'll feature in upcoming stories, but in our minds she is very much alive. I hope this news allays some of your concerns.[/quote:lox0jksr]
There is another part of that e-mail, concerning the exact reason why they decided to remove Eilistraee for 4e, however I am not sure how he would feel about sharing it. So -until I receive word from him- I won't (but many people have already guessed it). Nonetheless, this -together with what Ed said about the Dark Maiden- is pretty awesome news.
[b:lox0jksr]EDIT[/b:lox0jksr]: In Ed's upcoming novel, ''Spellstorm'', there's this passage -one of Elminster's thoughts about Mystra's current manifestation-:
[...]Twas no easy thing, being the goddess of magic. A different deity than the rest, in a world so steeped in the Art, a divinity that had to care more for mortals, or embrace utter tyranny. And at the same time share the Weave - the Weave that was Mystra, as well as being so much more - with other deities, or what remained of them, like Eilistraee[...]
This definitely means that Eilistraee is currently alive, since the new Mystra has to share the Weave with her. I've made some questions to Ed in his scroll, and e-mailed him. I will report here once I get answers. I will also edit Wikipedia and FR wiki once I get more info: the news have to spread
This is really encouraging, and -even if it is little- I can't wait to see the passages about Eilistraee that he is writing in his next novel.
It's also telling that Ed went out of his way to mention Eilistraee in a story that has nothing to do with her, it's just like he's really trying to tell people that Eilistraee lives
[b:lox0jksr]EDIT2[/b:lox0jksr]: Ed's to my question and confirmation that Eilistraee is alive once again.
''Hi again, all. Irennan, heeeere's Ed:
Communications being what they are in the Realms, with caravans bringing news and gossip and inevitable distortions as things get told and retold, most mortals can't be certain of much; they always have to trust (or not trust) retellings from afar.
However, the word spreading about the return of Eilistraee and Vhaeraun comes from excited reports of mortal worshippers personally meeting MANIFESTATIONS and AVATARS of the deities; i.e. yes, Vhaeraun and Eilistraee are both "back."
Now, as to whether they'll appear face to face with a given mortal in a given location in the Realms, that's a far different matter. The gods in general seem more "distant" post-Sundering, more "heard from" than "personally seen."
And there you have it.
The Word of Ed, so to speak.
love,
THO''
As for the answers:
1)Q: Does that thought (Mystra's sharing the Weave with Eilistraee) refer to the ''present'' time? If so, it would mean that Eilistraee is alive and -if you can share- I have some questions about that
A: Yes, that refers to the present time (and it makes me curious, why is Eilistraee among the deities with whom Mystra is sharing the Weave. Is it because of their old alliance? Because she is the daughter of a god of magic, so she has some kind of affinity?)
2)Q: Are Eilistraee and Vhaeraun separated again? A: Yes, separate again.
3)Q: Did she manage to survive to the events in LP like some speculated (in a fashion similar to how Mystra did, for example) and emerge again after the Sundering (or has the Sundering simply brought her back)?
A:Mortals know only of a reappearance, post-Sundering; details to be revealed, perhaps, in the fullness of time (this now 100% confirms that Eilistraee is alive in the present time).
4)Q:Also, in what condition is Eilistraee now, and what are she and her followers doing (and -since I'd like to edit the FR wiki page about her- is she now a demipower, or retained her status of lesser power)?
A:Current condition? Unknown to mortals (including power level/ranking); sorry
5)Q:Finally, where is QiluƩ's soul currently (since we know that the Cescent Blade couldn't destroy souls anymore, given that Cavatina survived it).
A:As for the soul you mention: also known. My bet would be on "a voice in the Weave" (there may or may not be more on this status, if not that particular soul, in future fiction, but it's too early to say for certain).
I've asked some clarification on 3 (namely, if she has appeared to mortals post-Sundering, or if they are only aware of her return (because she has sent visions or something like that), and if her followers know of her being alive. Will post here once I get the answer).
Also, really can't wait till Ed's next novel and see what new tidbits of lore we can get on Eilistraee, even if it is just little things.
[quote:lox0jksr][...]Our thinking has changed somewhat with 5E. We would rather embrace the complexities of FR than oversimplify it. The Sundering (as told in recent novels) will enable us to restore all of the "lost" gods of the FR pantheon, including Eilistraee. I don't know the extent to which she'll feature in upcoming stories, but in our minds she is very much alive. I hope this news allays some of your concerns.[/quote:lox0jksr]
There is another part of that e-mail, concerning the exact reason why they decided to remove Eilistraee for 4e, however I am not sure how he would feel about sharing it. So -until I receive word from him- I won't (but many people have already guessed it). Nonetheless, this -together with what Ed said about the Dark Maiden- is pretty awesome news.
[b:lox0jksr]EDIT[/b:lox0jksr]: In Ed's upcoming novel, ''Spellstorm'', there's this passage -one of Elminster's thoughts about Mystra's current manifestation-:
[...]Twas no easy thing, being the goddess of magic. A different deity than the rest, in a world so steeped in the Art, a divinity that had to care more for mortals, or embrace utter tyranny. And at the same time share the Weave - the Weave that was Mystra, as well as being so much more - with other deities, or what remained of them, like Eilistraee[...]
This definitely means that Eilistraee is currently alive, since the new Mystra has to share the Weave with her. I've made some questions to Ed in his scroll, and e-mailed him. I will report here once I get answers. I will also edit Wikipedia and FR wiki once I get more info: the news have to spread
This is really encouraging, and -even if it is little- I can't wait to see the passages about Eilistraee that he is writing in his next novel.
It's also telling that Ed went out of his way to mention Eilistraee in a story that has nothing to do with her, it's just like he's really trying to tell people that Eilistraee lives
[b:lox0jksr]EDIT2[/b:lox0jksr]: Ed's to my question and confirmation that Eilistraee is alive once again.
''Hi again, all. Irennan, heeeere's Ed:
Communications being what they are in the Realms, with caravans bringing news and gossip and inevitable distortions as things get told and retold, most mortals can't be certain of much; they always have to trust (or not trust) retellings from afar.
However, the word spreading about the return of Eilistraee and Vhaeraun comes from excited reports of mortal worshippers personally meeting MANIFESTATIONS and AVATARS of the deities; i.e. yes, Vhaeraun and Eilistraee are both "back."
Now, as to whether they'll appear face to face with a given mortal in a given location in the Realms, that's a far different matter. The gods in general seem more "distant" post-Sundering, more "heard from" than "personally seen."
And there you have it.
The Word of Ed, so to speak.
love,
THO''
As for the answers:
1)Q: Does that thought (Mystra's sharing the Weave with Eilistraee) refer to the ''present'' time? If so, it would mean that Eilistraee is alive and -if you can share- I have some questions about that
A: Yes, that refers to the present time (and it makes me curious, why is Eilistraee among the deities with whom Mystra is sharing the Weave. Is it because of their old alliance? Because she is the daughter of a god of magic, so she has some kind of affinity?)
2)Q: Are Eilistraee and Vhaeraun separated again? A: Yes, separate again.
3)Q: Did she manage to survive to the events in LP like some speculated (in a fashion similar to how Mystra did, for example) and emerge again after the Sundering (or has the Sundering simply brought her back)?
A:Mortals know only of a reappearance, post-Sundering; details to be revealed, perhaps, in the fullness of time (this now 100% confirms that Eilistraee is alive in the present time).
4)Q:Also, in what condition is Eilistraee now, and what are she and her followers doing (and -since I'd like to edit the FR wiki page about her- is she now a demipower, or retained her status of lesser power)?
A:Current condition? Unknown to mortals (including power level/ranking); sorry
5)Q:Finally, where is QiluƩ's soul currently (since we know that the Cescent Blade couldn't destroy souls anymore, given that Cavatina survived it).
A:As for the soul you mention: also known. My bet would be on "a voice in the Weave" (there may or may not be more on this status, if not that particular soul, in future fiction, but it's too early to say for certain).
I've asked some clarification on 3 (namely, if she has appeared to mortals post-Sundering, or if they are only aware of her return (because she has sent visions or something like that), and if her followers know of her being alive. Will post here once I get the answer).
Also, really can't wait till Ed's next novel and see what new tidbits of lore we can get on Eilistraee, even if it is just little things.