Pages Behind the Pixels: The Eye of the Beholder Trilogy and the Sparse Fiction that Accompanied It

 Eye of the Beholder released in 1991. Developed by Westwood Associates and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. for MS-DOS. It was later released on other systems and also spawned two sequels. The first, The Legacy of Darkmoon released in 1991 and developed and published by the same companies as the first. The third game, Assault on Myth Drannor, released in 1993 and was developed in-house by SSI.

All three take place in the Forgotten Realms, the focus of this blog. The first two are set in Waterdeep but the third is far to the east in the ruins of Myth Drannor. While all three were popular enough in their day, they received relatively little fiction compared to some other games (like Baldur’s Gate). In fact, there is only one story for the games, and it’s for the third. “Moonrise Over Myth Drannor” by Ed Greenwood has been reviewed on this site before. It can be read only in the game’s guide. I’m not sure if it can be found online, I cannot find it. Beyond purchasing a copy of the game with the manual, or maybe just the manual, maybe finding someone willing to share from their copy is an option?

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You can track my current progress here.

How I got into TTRPGs

 I didn’t start with Dungeons & Dragons. I want that to be clear. I became exposed to the Realms via video games first and then novels and then I played Lost Mines of Phandelver beginning in March 2018. But I had already been playing TTRPGs for years at that point. One, really, though I had tried one other.

Let's go back to the Summer of 2013. I was visiting Illinois for the first time since I had moved away in 2008. It was my childhood home, almost all my family is still there, including my eldest brother. I had not seen him for about a year, since we moved from Florida, and we were living in Texas at the time. If you note the year, Fifth Edition, my first D&D edition, was not yet released. At the time I played a decent amount of Magic: The Gathering. That feels so long ago as I haven't played it at all in several years. But we were going to the local game stores, and we stopped by a favorite of my older brother's, Armored Gopher Games. I'm not sure on the state of it now, but at the store my older and younger brother found something. 

It was a beta test for a forthcoming Star Wars TTRPG. The way the guy-behind-the-counter spoke about it sure made it sound exciting, and guess what? The full thing had just released. Star Wars: Edge of the Empire, hot off the presses. We were broke teenagers, I think my older brother pulled through and we got the massive tome into our hands. We took it back to my friend's house, who we were staying with, and what ensued?

an ad for the game store in Saints Row IV, made by a local developer

Surely some mediocre and garbage roleplaying. We didn't know what we were doing. But I do very strongly remember that I felt like the possibilities were endless. Not in a shallow way lost in some tagline, but truly I had the world at my fingertips, uninhibited. I often felt there should be more to MTG, and now I had it.

I'm not a big Star Wars fan, but my brothers were. We played Edge of the Empire almost exclusively for five years. In 2015, when I went back to Illinois, I received a gift of the Pathfinder box starter set. I tried that out and didn't like the gaminess, the rules. Even though I'm generally more of a fantasy fan, it didn't stick. I haven't played it since. I have tried many other systems though.

But those are asides. The world of TTRPGs was opened to me more than a decade ago. I did not know they existed, I did not know what I was missing. My mother had apparently played 2e when she was in high school, but that was her friend's hobby, not hers. Well, this became a big hobby of mine. I felt like I had found a treasure trove, endless and overflowing. I still feel that way. It is why I have this project. 

I am curious, how did you get into TTRPGs? If you want to hear my brothers and I discuss our discovery of this amazing genre, check out the video below. Thank you!

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You can track my current progress here.

Session Recap: Cormyr Goblin War Act 3, Session 1

On February 2, 2025, my group kicked off act 3 of our campaign in Cormyr. You can see recaps for acts 1 and 2 if you want. 

Only two characters from act 2 remained: Hjalmar the Red from the Earthfast Mountains, a cleric of Clangeddin; and Faelivrin, a half-elf servant (Castles & Crusades pacer class) of House Huntcrown that goes by the name of Stardust. 

We also had three new characters. First is Feek Bolb, from Saerb, a reformed follower of Loviatar that was an in-house priest for Ilmater at the College of Shaping Magics during the reign of Proster Obarskyr. When the college fell, he went into stasis and awoke at the present age with a king's tear stuck in his forehead. There is also Piper, a bard/warlock. He somehow found a patron with a much reduced in power Myrkul. His origins are not clear. Lastly, we have Whitehead Rallyhorn Joyner, a skald from Hultail and a bastard child of House Rallyhorn.

At the end of Act 2, the survivors from Vast Swamp made their way to Hector Crestfallen's camp in the Thunder Peaks. This camp is just north of Hidden Vale, a gnome village in the High Dale. The winter lasts longer at higher climes and the party waited out the rest of Mirtul waiting for the passes to be more accesible. Feek wandered into camp, and even though he is a Sembian, he was recruited to aid in the cause of the Goblin War. Whitehead and Piper were recruited for camp bards. Hector misses Magnus Trumpettower, who is busy down in Dawngleam, and so has been looking for a suitable replacement musician. He hired these two and wishes to see which proves the better, so maybe one will get fired.

Hector sent out three scouts when the weather started turning brighter, Kythorn approaching. One went to the northern passes, one in the middle north of Thunder Gap, and the last south of Thunder Gap to the borders of the High Dale and Archendale. Only the one from the north has returned, though he retrieved minor reports from the other valleys and peaks on his return. Another setback is this: Hector's forces were reassigned elsewhere. While quite a force had been recruited, the same that moved against the Norgath in Vast Swamp, Oversword Wolfwinter ordered them stationed to Thunderstone to guard the secret way through the High Dale and to Thundarlun to ward Thunder Gap. Only the player's party will be on missions in the mountains proper, to root out oppurtunists and threats to Cormyr's sovereignty during this crisis.

The biggest rumors surround giants in the vales and dragons on the ridges and peaks. These latter are with the Cult of the Dragon and the name Sibilant Shade, that mysterious figure, is still being whispered. The party eats from the mess tent and then meets with Hector in his tent.

He confirms the rumors, introduces the two prospective bards, and gives more information. He also introduces a local gnome, Gnomo, from Hidden Vale. He wants the group to show him the ropes, and to protect him.

There is a brief encounter of Hjalmar attempting to remove Feek's gem from his head, but even though he gets a great grip on it, he does not succeed. Instead, he sees a dark scene of twisting shadows and otherworldly stares. The party then heads north to Volkumburgh, with plans to stop at the College of Shaping Magics on the way. After acquiring provisions, they hit the road.

After some hours, they reach a bridge, only about 15 feet across, spanning a stream that runs into the Thunder River west of the reaches. At this bridge is a bent-with-age halfling woman berating three kobolds. These scaly fellows are pressing her for a toll to cross. The party, led by Feek, rush in to assist. As they are dispatching the three kobolds, a score more appear over the ridge across the bridge, and Whitehead is the first to meet them while Piper sings a constitution increasing song. 

But behind these kobolds comes a figure in black robes, masked to the point where it looks like the figure has no neck. He immediately casts Cloudkill. The kobolds gasp out there last while Gnomo, not knowing what is happening succombs as well. While the haze continues, choking the party, an explosion comes from in their midst. The bridge is gone! 

A voice sounds in everyone's head, the mage calls himself Khalgixer, Scion of Aurgloroasa.

Hjalmar is able to make it over to Whitehead as another fireball rocks them, pushing Piper to the brink of death. A weakened Myrkul sends him back with a spell and a scolding. Stardust and Feek have avoided the explosion by teleporting with Stardust's magical sword, Maltanecel, to the ridge where the mage lies. Feek is able to stagger him with two blows of his fists before the figure teleports to another ridge and sends a personal fireball at the two brave Purple Dragons. Stardust is brought low, but stays conscious, as a voice speaks once more: "The Sibilant Shade controls these passes, this is your warning. You are beneath me."

The party camps for the night, Hjalmar providing healing and everyone licking their wounds and mourning Gnomo.

Review: The Innkeeper’s Secret by Troy Denning

 “The Innkeeper’s Secret” is a tie-in to Beyond the High Road, book 2 in the Cormyr Trilogy. it can be found in Dragon Magazine issue #266, on pages 56-65. It was released in December 1999. This was the first fiction I had read in the magazine since reading Odom’s “Dark Legacy” in 2023.

story art by Carl Critchlow

The story opens with Princess Tanalasta Obarskyr and Vangerdahast entering a village. It’s quiet, too quiet. This village is Torrinville, and the pair travel to Condor Pass in the Storm Horns, and Huthduth must be relatively close by.

They encounter an innkeeper that tells them not to travel the pass, but doesn’t say specifically why, just that they will need up dead. 

We get an array of creatures. My favorite was the cultural play with cats, Cormyr being against harming them in law and custom. We learn of a Sorela Dunsleigh and Tanalasta teaching empathy, being neighborly, and gaining interests in “spellbeggars.” It’s a good little story, Denning is fine.

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You can track my current progress here.

A Forgotten Realms MUD in 2024 - TorilMUD

I have played very little MUDs, unless you consider graphical ones like RuneScape. About the time I first played EverQuest, late 2012 or so, I played a MUD set in Middle-earth, Two Towers Mud, or T2T. When I was browsing a post at The Ancient Gaming Noob, a blog I've followed for years, I saw a reference to a game new to me, TorilMUD. Toril was immediately recognizable to me as the name of the planet the Forgotten Realms is set on, Faerun being a continent upon it.

I looked it up, found a very convoluted Wikipedia page, and learned it was still running in some form and that Brad McQuaid had played it before creating EverQuest. 

I quickly set up an account, made a shield dwarf named Hemvar (this race was marked with an * meaning it is easier for new players), and chose paladin as my class. I rolled stats and then began in Scardale. There are several classes, more than present D&D offers, and Barbarian is a race.

Finding out time it said it was the month of Annaxes, which is not in the Calendar of Harptos. The "Breath of Frost" subtitle indicates it is winter though. The year is 1236, DR is not indicated. The first named NPC was Khelvos Dermenn, implying this is likely around 1370 DR. Obviously the lore is not strict to the setting, this game not being an official product and it is also considerably aged, it is older than I am. 

I reccomend this Newbie Guide and this map of the starter zone. This will teach you about combat, glancing (like consider in EQ), skills, travel, quests, etc. and help with having an idea of where you are outside of just the places you can go from each area. Of course, there is a forum on the official website for more answers and to ask questions. The game also still gets updates by a figure named Shevarash.

Overall, it is low commitment if you can figure the genre out or are already familiar with it. Join up, play around. If you really want to get committed, join a raid! I will definitely log back on, as this is coming out over a year after I initially played!

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You can track my current progress here.

Review: Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn by Philip Athans

 In the year 2000, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, the novel by Philip Athans, was released. While the first novel was released half a year after the first game, this one released with the second game. Listen to my review here.

                              

Like in the first novel, our protagonist is Abdel Adrian. Characters such as Jaheira reappear, while Minsc and Yoshiro are new to the novel story but familiar to game players. My favorite new character was the vampire elf, formerly of Suldanessellar, Bodhi. She presents as a human though. Imoen is a young woman that gets pulled along with Abdel because of her parentage too. Her arc involves some homoeroticism, particularly where some drow are concerned. 

Bhaal, Lord of Murder, is dead. His followers want to bring him back, so naturally his mortal children become targets of these machinations. We know Abdel is a surviving Bhaalspawn, and thus the story has its call to adventure.

The story begins with a nightmare where Abdel is a prisoner in a dungeon. It’s a nice set up, though we get a flashback explaining how he got there. He’s treated how heroes often are in life, torturously and in the dark. 

Shadow thieves and vampires play a part, and of course Amn, a nation south of Baldur’s Gate and Candlekeep. We get a good look at Athkatla in particular.

Abdel is still an angry but capable warrior, though he starts this story naked, in a place for rebirth of sorts. 

The plot itself is more interesting than the first. It does grey deeds well, being close to bad and good. The action is fast and bloody, like last time. But the plot is more interesting and not as ridiculous as the first. What fans of the game think of it, I’m not sure, since my exposure to its plot is limited. Overall, it is an Acceptable novel though.

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You can track my current progress here.

Eastern Plains, Cormyr, 1370 DR: Act 2 - Campaign Recap

It is a slushy day in Mirtul. At Battlerise, a company of 200 Purple Dragons, arrayed in purple, fought the black clad cultists numbering 300 and headed by a black dragon from the ruins of Battlegate Castle. The dragon was slain and the cultists slain or scattered.

While gathering requisitions a group of select individuals were selected by the high knights to save a Huntcrown noble woman, kidnapped by fleeing cultists. This took them to the caverns below the castle where various monsters were fought, including a vampire and shapeshifters (the caverns were based on the Lost Cavenrs of Tsojconth, and yes with an o, not an a). Of course, our heroes should rightfully be mentioned. They were Stardust, a discreet servant of house Huntcrown, Clack Paddle, a local legend of the Thunder Peaks, Hjalmar of the far off Earthfast mountains and servant of Clangeddin, Manlove from Ghars, and Greg Bob the gnome.

Greg perished in the caverns and they sadly did not rescue the noble lady. Afterwards the group murdered, remember they’re not high knights, a bard before taking a historian named Shaan Smallpine into Vast Swamp. They were joined by the Paladin Raheem on the road. They came into contact with a Cormyr loyal faction of lizardfolk in the Sharptooth clan. They defeated goblins and darkenbeasts and a slaad and a Red Wizard of Thay, and sneaky Sembians. They unified the swamp. In the efforts, Clack Paddle fell to a devil at Orvaskyte Keep, Manlove fell at the Norgath village along with the lady Daoine Huntcrown. They were met there by forces of Hector’s. A fey creature named Dave Grigger and a gnome that was not all he seemed, hight Illikut, briefly joined them, and Stardust went to the mountains to ask Hector for aid at Norgath after Clack’s death. Raheem disappeared into the Astral Plane after Norgath were subjugated.

They then made their way to the Thunder Peaks.