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Tue May 09, 2006 4:13 pm CORS3-03 Return to the Ghost Tower of Inverness

How "canon" is the timeline presented in CORS3-03 Return to the Ghost Tower of Inverness? "The Account of Zinethar," supposedly penned on 4 Readying 571, describes the original adventure as having occurred over three months prior (so, Ready'reat 570). The revised set-up for the original adventure posits that the Seer convinced Duke Justinian that the Soul Gem might be able to cure his wounds — the wounds he suffered battling dervishes, which no cleric in the Duchy would heal. The LGG dates this as occurring "later that year [571]." While I like the additional motivation for Justinian to send the first party to Inverness, the dates just don't work. Any thoughts?

Wed May 10, 2006 9:20 am

I don't have CORS3-03 Return to the Ghost Tower of Inverness, but I have recently run through C2 Ghost Tower of Inverness with a fine-toothed comb. There are a few clues as to when C2 took place:

(1) It had to happen after the Duke's edict banning certain "sorceries which (he) had forbidden to all the people” of Urnst. The reason Hodar was in prison, was for violating said edict. (C2, pg 4)

(2) It had to happen three months after the Temple Coalition Revolt (C2, pg 4). As the revolt was in response to the high temple taxes and the raizing of the Temple of Zilchus, one would assume these events took time to occur. I imagine the construction of a temple takes some time, and although it doesn't need to be finished in order for the revolt to happen, the amount of unrest needed to cause mass rioting does take time to build. This is especially true in a nation like the Duchy, which is not particularly known for it's religiosity.

My guess is that the revolt happened at the end of 570, which would place the meeting that is described on page 4 of C2 sometime ca Readying 571.

(3) You have to allow for enough time for the party of adventurers to get from the Duchy to Inverness. Inverness is 60 miles from Hardbv... that's quite a trek. The party didn't have to travel overland for the return trip, as they had a magic item to help with that, but the text on C2 page 5 says they were escorted to the tower on the way out, seemingly indicating an overland route. This is not necessary, but it's my interpretation.

(4) Duke Justinian romps off to the Bright after the events of C2, where he is wounded. He eventually dies from his wounds. Ok, so why did he go running off into the Bright? Slavers indicates that the Soul Gem was stolen after the events of C2. It might be that the Duke was giving chase after the thief. That is total supposition on my part. At any rate, you do have to account for Justinian's campaign.

(5) Justinian's successor does not take office until 572, so his death must have happened in Sunsebb (or very close to it). I'm not familiar with the Duchy customs on succession, but Justian definately dies in 571 and the Ducal seat is not filled until 572.

Ok, all very interesting... but the end result is that the Duke was wounded AFTER the events of C2. Again, I'm leaning toward the Duke chasing down the Soul Gem's thief, but I have no hard evidence for such a statement.

Wed May 31, 2006 5:03 pm