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 RASalvatore |
GHOST KING INTERACTIVE THREAD _ SPOILERS!!!!!!! |
Lead | ||
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11/07/09 7:16 AM |
Okay, here it is...bag it and tag it.
If you haven't read the book, GO AWAY. This one involves spoilers. I've set up another Interactive thread for general questions, Ghost King without spoilers.... Peace, Bob |
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Laethyn |
#1 | |||
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11/07/09 10:15 AM Admin |
So it's quite obvious how difficult this one must have been to lose some friends that you've known for ~20 years, and I've been arguing with folks
that no matter how painful it was to read it, it must have been that much more difficult to write.
We haven't seen any of the characters suffer that type of loss before. If you had to do it all over again, would things be the same? I may be in the minority here, but I'm really really happy with Cadderly's end.
~ Let me understand. One woman puts her knee into your cabarachees and the other puts her tongue into your ear, and you prefer the one with the knee? I'm
very worried about you. ~ Oliver deBurrows
Drizzt books in Chronological Order The Drizzt Do'Urden Movie Discussion |
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Slim The Just |
#2 | |||
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11/07/09 11:25 AM |
Cadderly's end felt similar to the way Francis came around in Mortalis and came outside the Abbey. I really loved reading The Ghost King.
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Stormsnake |
#3 | |||
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11/07/09 12:15 PM |
Honestly, Caddery's end fit very well with the character. I.E. the obvious giving over one self for the greater good. It was an outstanding read. The only
part that caused me to me pause was the last line... who never came. It must have been the hardest line to write of the whole book.
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datura |
#4 | |||
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11/07/09 3:47 PM |
Hi Bob,
I just wonder who knows the truth of Jarlaxle's birth. Since you wrote there are three living drow, including Kimmuriel and Jarlaxle himself, who knew it, is the third one Gromph? Many people guess so, I just want to make sure. Another thing confused me is that in Ghost King, how could Danica know the Family name of Jarlaxle? Final question is about Entreri: will he get any chance to show up in future? I really worry him about dealing with two liches alone. Thank you! I really enjoy reading the book. |
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BEAST |
#5 | |||
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11/07/09 6:01 PM Arch-Analyzer |
Loved it, loved it, loved it!!! I sure do hope you're proud of this one, Bob. It has all the good stuff, with practically none of the bad. This is good
reading.
I was wondering if you'd be willing to tell us what "Transitions" really means to you. Of course the Realms are in a state of flux. And we can all pick out how individual characters of yours are dealing with changes of their own. But is there any one single transition or change or shift that you'd really like to highlight?
<Comprehensive Chronology of RAS
Forgotten Realms Works>
"Guen."; "TFN"; Hom., Exi., Soj.; "TTL"; "IETHUML"; TCSh, SOSi, THG; "DM"; TL, SN, SOD; "TDo"; TBL; Can., ISS, NM, TFF, TCC; TSt; PTD; TSB, TSOTW; SOTS, "TCSw", "EJ", "WITN", POTWK, ROTP; TAT; SOSw; TTO, TLD, "BAS"; TTS; "CAO"; TOK; Dis., Ins., Con., Ext., Ann., Res.; DSt; TPK; EOTFM, TWD, BOD; TWOB, TDD, DR; TSOB, LG, TDK; TH:ANOC, TA; TDAw, TDSp, TDAp; Mor.; Asc., Tra., Imm. "He is blunt, yes, particularly with criticism. He speaks of error without apology and without judgment, simply telling the honest truth and leaving it up to the offender to correct, or not to correct this situation. Bruenor never allows tact or empathy to get in the way of his telling the world how it can be better!" --On BEAST, and Bruenor Battlehammer; Drizzt Do'Urden (The Crystal Shard, Part 1) |
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rotor cutter |
#6 | |||
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11/08/09 1:16 AM The Rogue |
+1 more to the "Loved it" list.
For me, the read was purely about the characters, all the 'friends' that i had come to love while reading all the series for so long. I followed the mechanics of the 'Ghost King' and the changing world, but to me that was not what the book was about so much. Bob, your words on the page before the prelude seemed to set the tone for the whole book, and it made me pause at various stages throughout. Reading TGK was an emotional roller coaster. It must have been much harder to write. Thank you for putting so much into this work. Bruenor's humor made me laugh out loud many times. Especially the one with him having an itchy arse and moradin scratched it himself and jarlaxle fell out. OMG how do you come up with such things! lol For me, Cadderly's, Cats and Regis end was sad for me. I feel they got a rough deal. Cat and Regis were all alone on that pocket of Mieliki's paradise and oblivious to anything else? Forever? It made Jartlaxle's remark about shopping around for a god with the best afterlife plan quite a valid statement even though he made it sound like a joke. And Cadderly is stuck forever in a repetitive act? Does he have any control or self awareness or free will? The ending is sad. I do respect Cadderly's sacrifice. It is the ultimate gift, and an expression of love for his family and friends. What Deneir did in writing himself into the weave shows how alike they are. I also loved Jarlaxle's character here. Hes an opportunist through and through but he has some amount of... conscience or honour i suppose.
Variety is the spice of death ;-)
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Laethyn |
#7 | |||
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11/08/09 11:36 AM Admin |
So ...
If I can sneak in a non Ghost King question: How goes Copernicus? The concept art looks fantastic. Also, because of Copernicus, the kid, Anna, now wants to be a game artist though she wants to make a game staring Munch and his girlfriend. I'll take what I can get though :)
~ Let me understand. One woman puts her knee into your cabarachees and the other puts her tongue into your ear, and you prefer the one with the knee? I'm
very worried about you. ~ Oliver deBurrows
Drizzt books in Chronological Order The Drizzt Do'Urden Movie Discussion |
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Xain |
#8 | |||
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11/08/09 3:27 PM |
WOW! What a great book! I don't know how you can do it...come up with a new adventure for the Companions each time. For 20 years (yes, I am that old) I
have followed along with these characters.
I am greatly saddened that it was the end for Cadderly, Cattie-Brie, and Regis. I am with the others here who think Cadderly's end was fitting. As for Cat and Rumblebelly, well they are in a paradise where there is no more cares and worry so, that too is a just reward for those characters. Wolfgar we know found his place and peace in his homeland of Icewind Dale. That brings me to Bruenor and Drizzt. Bruenor, I can see grieving for a time and finishing out his days as King of Mithril Hall. But, poor Drizzt! He was just left hanging with a broken heart full of anger. Obviously his tale has more to tell. Will we ever see another Drizzt book to bring closure to his character? I really would rather his story not end on that sad note. He has suffered his whole life and now it seems he is left out to dry with us just longing for him to find the peace he so deserves. You sir have been my favorite author since I picked up my first book written by you. I have read (and own) every book you have published with the exception of the Star Wars and Tarzan books. I have laughed and morned with the Companions of the Hall for these past 20ish years. I hope that someway we can get at least one more tale about them. Until then I will be reading what ever you give us, be it Corona or Crimpson Shadow or something entirely new. I eagerly await your next release. Thank You, Phil |
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Nightshadow |
#9 | |||
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11/08/09 7:11 PM |
Bob, if I can you call that, I've been with you from 88 (I was 11) , I just showed my original paperback Crystal Shard to my fiancee two nights ago. I
first want to say thank you for bringing these characters in my life. If you ever come to NYC, I'll gladly buy you a beer at your place of choosing. My
thoughts on your latest offering, The Ghost King: Excellent, particularly the development of Jarlaxle, which was started in the Sellswords trilogy. I think you
dealt with the deaths of characters well, you pointed out throughout that sometimes deaths aren't noble or explained -- they just happen. My question is
the one pertaining to Entreri: Why mention him if not providing any kind of exposition? With a dedicated reader such as myself -- who has been through all your
short stories-- Entreri's acquisition of shade traits just seemed to fit in the story. Were there too many threads to bring Artemis into the story? Why
mention him if not to include him? Was it a nod to longtime Salvatore fans? Thank you again for all the fun you've brought to my life.
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ness180 |
#10 | |||
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11/09/09 2:55 AM |
Just finished reading the Ghost King at 4am. Yes 4am. And like others have already said the book is an emotional rollercoaster and the deaths of Catti-Brie and
Regis were truly gutwrenching for me. I was just waiting for them to miraculously return but then the cold finality that they weren't coming back revealed
itself when I reached the end of the book and there was nothing more to read. Such a great book though even though it is tough to chew that two members of the
Companions of the Hall are gone :(
I shall now take my solace by going to bed. |
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TheLadyElizabeth |
#11 | |||
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11/09/09 10:51 PM |
Hi Bob!
 First off I wanted to say thank you so
much for starting a new interactive thread, even though I'm sure your schedule is pretty full right now. I don't know of many other authors who take
the time out to talk to their fans like this.
I absolutely loved The Ghost King!! I think it is now my second favorite (after Homeland- which will always be number one for me). I tried to brace myself
before reading it because I knew that some of the characters, these wonderful fictional people that have felt like friends to me for the past 14 yrs, were
going to die. But, even though I was braced for it...I still wound up in tears! You have such an amazing ability to bring out emotion in your readers :). I
did have one question though (and I think Roto Cutter mentioned something about this too), with Catti-brie being in that separate pocket heaven, does that mean
that when Drizzt eventually dies he will never be reunited with her? I think it was the idea of that that saddened me most of all.
"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people?" -Westley,
The Princess Bride
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BEAST |
#12 | |||
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11/10/09 11:55 AM Arch-Analyzer |
I know you've said before that you write what you want to, and nobody really tells you what to do, because you get a lot more artistic freedom and leeway
now with WOTC than you did with those other guys. But I've gotta ask you to think about that again, in light of this darker turn that the Drizzt
saga is taking. Have you gone down this path because:
1) It's the Spellplague and everybody just feels that that's what the situation warrants; 2) You felt like a change in the tone and mood, personally, and you relish it, with the same flare in your eye and wicked grin on your face as Drizzt; or 3) You've heard the comments from numerous readers that the saga has been too soft, stale, repetitive, non-developing, . . . whatever . . . and so you've decided to try to change the tale for them? Readers grow up, and their tastes change. Some move on, while others try to stick around, even if it just doesn't feel the same as it once did. So are you targeting those folks, with this move? You get both praise and flak for your books, regardless--we all know that. But I've seen some wild variation in the responses to TGK already, from apparently longtime fans. Some love it immensely, while others condemn this darker turn. One guy even said that he felt betrayed! You obviously have to don a flak jacket when you wade out into the internet pool these days, but did you prepare yourself for that sort of thing? If so, then what kind of preparation did you employ, other than listening to Ms. Nicks and co.? Did you brace yourself for that sort of reaction from readers, yet nevertheless proceed full steam ahead because it felt like the right thing to do, just the same? Was it a bullheaded dwarven charge, or more of a cautious descent over a cliff?
<Comprehensive Chronology of RAS
Forgotten Realms Works>
"Guen."; "TFN"; Hom., Exi., Soj.; "TTL"; "IETHUML"; TCSh, SOSi, THG; "DM"; TL, SN, SOD; "TDo"; TBL; Can., ISS, NM, TFF, TCC; TSt; PTD; TSB, TSOTW; SOTS, "TCSw", "EJ", "WITN", POTWK, ROTP; TAT; SOSw; TTO, TLD, "BAS"; TTS; "CAO"; TOK; Dis., Ins., Con., Ext., Ann., Res.; DSt; TPK; EOTFM, TWD, BOD; TWOB, TDD, DR; TSOB, LG, TDK; TH:ANOC, TA; TDAw, TDSp, TDAp; Mor.; Asc., Tra., Imm. "He is blunt, yes, particularly with criticism. He speaks of error without apology and without judgment, simply telling the honest truth and leaving it up to the offender to correct, or not to correct this situation. Bruenor never allows tact or empathy to get in the way of his telling the world how it can be better!" --On BEAST, and Bruenor Battlehammer; Drizzt Do'Urden (The Crystal Shard, Part 1) |
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Laethyn |
#13 | |||
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11/10/09 12:25 PM Admin |
"when you wade out into the internet pool these days, "
These days? lol I don't envy you Bob. Yet, at the same time, I'm jealous of the thick skin, and your ability to roll with the punches.
~ Let me understand. One woman puts her knee into your cabarachees and the other puts her tongue into your ear, and you prefer the one with the knee? I'm
very worried about you. ~ Oliver deBurrows
Drizzt books in Chronological Order The Drizzt Do'Urden Movie Discussion |
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RASalvatore |
Round one... | #14 | ||
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11/10/09 3:34 PM |
Before I start, spread the word: there is a story about Cat and Regis in the upcoming "Realms of the Dead" anthology. There's a lot more to say. Laethyn: I don't have any regrets about the series, not even the Wulfgar situation circa the Legacy series. It's been an amazing and wild ride. And sure, writing this one hurt - a lot. Slim: I'll take that as a great compliment, because Francis was…well, pretty cool to me. Stormsnake: Alas, poor Cadderly. And sure, that last remark…(but define "never"(?)). Datura: I'd have to see the context of that remark, honestly - been a while. I expect I was talking about Kimm, his mother and…probably Jarlaxle, since Kimm told him. BEAST: Well, for me it's the transition from the Companions of the Hall to Drizzt and something new. Not sure what that "new" might be yet (that's not true, since I've already created a kick-butt protagonist (villain?) for the next book). The Realms moved so I move, but beware, I'm a slippery little writer-guy. Rotor: Thanks! I think you've hit every note the way I wanted them to sound. As for Cadderly (and the still open rift in Carradoon), I'm hoping some designer sets a module there. I think there's a lot left to learn about our priest and the Spirit Soaring! Laethyn: Rolling along. BHG is doing some incredible work on the IP, too…patience…patience. Xain: Thank you for the kind words. Since I'm writing another Drizzt book right now, I expect there to be more, yes. As for closure…we'll see. I guarantee you that there will be more Drizzt tales. Nightshadow: Jarlaxle intrigues me - does it show? As for Entreri, it would have been a hole if I didn't mention him, since the dragon kind of despises him. And don't think of it as a tease; I do intend to tell more Entreri stories - I just don't know when. Ness: Just the reaction an author hopes for. Seriously, if it didn't hurt, I did something wrong a long time ago in bringing out these characters. TheLadyElizabeth: So glad that it hurt - you know what I mean. I promise you that we'll learn more about the forest and Cat and Regis. I promise. It usually takes me about 4-6 months to write a book, depending on the book and the intrusions of the real world. To write a book, you have to go away to a dark place. BEAST: I've never been "crimped" by WotC or the other guys…seriously. To your premises…it's the Realms, they're moving forward and it's their sandbox. I can either play along or go away. They asked my opinion a long time ago and I gave it. Then all of the advance of the Realms, the Spellplague, etc., is their choice to make and I accept that. On the second part, there is indeed a "freeing" element to the changes. I was blasting through the next book, more so than I've done in years, honestly, until the re-write of The Bear interrupted. No worries - I'll be blasting away again next week. As for #3, Beast, I've been hearing those comments for nearly 20 years, no kidding. I lose Drizzt readers with every book and gain Drizzt readers with every book - been that way for nearly 20 years, too. It's all good. I'm just following these folks down a winding road of adventure. And yeah, I get slammed/loved for every book. Comes with the territory - a long running, successful series. At this point, I'd be almost as scared if the criticism stopped as if the praise stopped…well, not really, but still. I no longer brace myself. I own it - the praise and the criticism. At this point, I lose nothing by occasionally taking on an offensive poster. I did that at FlamesRising recently, and the idiot then ran off and gave me a 1-star review (ooo, the pain, the pain) at B&N. I spent a long time being all nice and conciliatory, and a long time just looking away. Neither was much fun. So now I own it. You can criticize the books all you want - it's your right as a reader, of course. But cross a line (mostly by criticizing my readers as "fanboys" or some such nonsense) and I'll be more than happy to hold a mirror up in your face and laugh at you. Laethyn: Maybe I just wear as armor the stories I get from readers about how my books helped them in a dark time. Or maybe, I'm just in my 50's now, see the end of the road not too far away, and have a better perspective. (Or maybe writing about Entreri has rubbed off on me.) Peace, Bob |
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Laethyn |
#15 | |||
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11/10/09 4:24 PM Admin |
And I think that is one hell of a thing Bob. That you not only will defend yourself, but you defend your readers. And not just the readers who enjoy your
books, but the ones who may also not love them.
I do have to say, regarding The Ghost King, I liked the split nature of the entire thing. How characters such as Ivan and Pikel, who have been together, side by side for so long, were forced in to a situation where they were apart, and had to fight their way back together. Just seemed utterly poignant to me for some reason.
~ Let me understand. One woman puts her knee into your cabarachees and the other puts her tongue into your ear, and you prefer the one with the knee? I'm
very worried about you. ~ Oliver deBurrows
Drizzt books in Chronological Order The Drizzt Do'Urden Movie Discussion |
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BEAST |
#16 | |||
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11/10/09 6:23 PM Arch-Analyzer |
Ah, the notorious "F-" word: "fanboy". Bah! I wear the label, proudly. Let 'em say some'in'.
Or does "fanboy" mean you can't ever say something critical? Stoopit labels. Some have said that Regis seems to have gotten short shrift in TGK. I didn't really feel that anything was missing as far as Reg goes, here. But some are more sensitive to it, I guess. Anyway, so would you maybe say that featuring him so prominently with Drizzt in TPK was Reg's send-off? Wulf mostly in TOK, Reg mostly in TPK, and Cat mostly in TGK? Or am I just trying to impose some sort of order where there really is none? While reading TGK, I was reminded of a couple of scenes in the movie Star Trek: Generations: The Spellplague's wave of blue lightning sounded a lot like <the Nexus>, except purely bad, without any of the good. And Heph's strafing run and crash landing across the lawn into the Spirit Soaring reminded me of <the last moments of the Enterprise D>. (FF to around the 5:05 mark.)
<Comprehensive Chronology of RAS
Forgotten Realms Works>
"Guen."; "TFN"; Hom., Exi., Soj.; "TTL"; "IETHUML"; TCSh, SOSi, THG; "DM"; TL, SN, SOD; "TDo"; TBL; Can., ISS, NM, TFF, TCC; TSt; PTD; TSB, TSOTW; SOTS, "TCSw", "EJ", "WITN", POTWK, ROTP; TAT; SOSw; TTO, TLD, "BAS"; TTS; "CAO"; TOK; Dis., Ins., Con., Ext., Ann., Res.; DSt; TPK; EOTFM, TWD, BOD; TWOB, TDD, DR; TSOB, LG, TDK; TH:ANOC, TA; TDAw, TDSp, TDAp; Mor.; Asc., Tra., Imm. "He is blunt, yes, particularly with criticism. He speaks of error without apology and without judgment, simply telling the honest truth and leaving it up to the offender to correct, or not to correct this situation. Bruenor never allows tact or empathy to get in the way of his telling the world how it can be better!" --On BEAST, and Bruenor Battlehammer; Drizzt Do'Urden (The Crystal Shard, Part 1) |
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Lostonbase |
#17 | |||
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11/10/09 6:24 PM |
Bob,
Loved Ghost King, but damn I read it way too fast. I can never put your books down and let them last a few nights reading. But I re read a number of passages. The Pwent and Athrogate fight sequence was one of my favorite parts. Caught a couple of interviews on the net. One you mentioned Oliver Deburrows, any chance of getting another Crimson Shadow? Although, I see a little bit of Oliver in Bransen, Deburrows is still the original undersized Highwayman. Regarding Corona, do the Rangers already exist in the current time line? Did you ever get around to reading Terry's last trilogy? Brooks hit that transition from Word/Void to Shannara out of the park. Got the impression from reading his latest work from him that he had fun writing it. Thanks for your work, thanks for your interaction and keep up the great work. You write it, I'll buy it.
L.O.B
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Ameratsuko |
Wounded | #18 | ||
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11/10/09 10:01 PM |
I'm not sure really what to say about Catti-Brie's death. I have read ever one of your books, since if I first was stuck on a car trip from NY to Cali
and picked up "Demon Wars" at a book store on the way.
I've probably read the same five pages over, and over a hundred times in disbelief hoping my I misread something. Granted, this is fiction, but Regis and Catti-Brie have been a part of my life and always I have been excited for your new book. I suppose Bruenor will be next with the trend of things. You have truly learned well how to jar ones emotions. |
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Laethyn |
#19 | |||
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11/10/09 11:42 PM Admin |
In my opinion:
Novels: Spellplague = Very exciting new possibilities. Games: Spellplague = depends on the DM
~ Let me understand. One woman puts her knee into your cabarachees and the other puts her tongue into your ear, and you prefer the one with the knee? I'm
very worried about you. ~ Oliver deBurrows
Drizzt books in Chronological Order The Drizzt Do'Urden Movie Discussion |
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Ehren05 |
Jarlaxle | #20 | ||
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11/11/09 9:17 AM |
Back to what datura said - when Danica first sees Jarlaxle she says his full name, and there is absolutley no reaction from Jarlaxle that she has this
knowledge, or from Drizzt who is right there. I think the question (at least mine) is how/when did this become general knowledge to these characters. Even
throughout the Sellswords Jarlaxle was saying his surname as Daertha.
Last Edited By: Ehren05 11/11/09 9:20 AM.
Edited 1 time.
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