Forgotten Realms Lore - The Time of Troubles

[@Kainlarsen]

Helm: "Have you ever punched someone so hard, they turned into a star?"

[@mayaaaluna]

Game!

[@autisticautomaton]

Ao: you don't care enough about your followers Mystra: I want to get back to the weave for the sake of my followers Ao: no… Helm: die

[@lifeofvadim]

AO: Helm, you moron!!!

[@baronbeat2210]

Camnarok He was more concerned about the tablets at the time.

[@MeepChangeling]

Actually, she wanted to preserve her own life. Without a God of Magic suppressing mortals abilities, 10th, 11th, and the one 12th level spell become possible to cast again. That 12th level spell rips the power of a chosen god away from that god and gives it to you, making you a god and killing the god you chose to power-drain. Sure, the only time it was ever used the gods stopped it ASAP, but it nearly destroyed the world because Karsis chose to replace the god of Magic (via magic... dumbass >

[@thomasplummer8103]

@@MeepChangeling Even that, though, is for her followers. When that happened, it damaged the weave so badly it still hasn't been repaired. Sometimes, you can do things for more than one reason.

[@JakubWojciechowski933]

Not followers, but Weave itself

[@OisinDebard]

One thing you might find interesting. Richard Awlinson, the author of the novels you mention, isn't a real person. It's a pen name for Scott Ciencin and Troy Denning, who all wrote the novels together, but wanted to use a pseudonym instead of taking credit for the novels. That's why there are no other books by that author.

[@Jorphdan]

+Oisin Debard sweet, that is interesting

[@jasonhunter1620]

Oisin Debard I thought there was one other author involved. I thought there were three...one for each novel.

[@OisinDebard]

well, kind of. Scott wrote the first two books, and Troy wrote the third. The second was edited by James Lowder, and James wrote the followup "Prince of Lies", but he wrote it under his own name, not the Awlinson pseudonym.

[@schwann145]

Each book only has one author, but the stories were put together by a team of FR authors, so the pseudonym was a way of keeping credit fair.

[@dragonchr15]

for real? those books were horrible troy denning is a good writer. his dark sun books were amazing!

[@LAJackson123]

"They were called what?" "Bhaal Spawn." "Ballspawn?" "Yep." "Ballspawn." "Wait . . no no." * grabs pencil * HAHAhahah

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

For that and other reasons, I pronounce Bhaal as "Bey-hall."

[@stepetu]

The Baldur's Gate series is FUCKING INCREDIBLE.

[@LightStreak567]

+Stephen Pettavel Hell yes! I enjoy playing the enhanced editions of the Baldur's Gate games!

[@Recardoguy007]

LightStreak567 enhanced planescape torment came out recently as well. Runs really smooth

[@h.walker1332]

You like 3?

[@korvasterindar9672]

"The lord of murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos will be sewn from their passage. So sayeth the wise Alaundo." I love Baldur's Gate and the time of troubles hehehe

[@PaladinFeora]

Yes, you need to play Baldur's Gate!

[@Jorphdan]

+Renee Vorbeck I'm on it. Just took out the camp of bandits

[@PaladinFeora]

Awesome. Love your videos!

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks!!

[@ANonymous-bh1un]

In your Time of Troubles video, where did you find the high-detail image of the Forgotten Realms dieties that appears at about 2:10? I've never seen that one before.

[@draxthemsklonst]

@@ANonymous-bh1un It's not D&D in that pic. That's an MtG image of planeswalkers. If you know anything about planeswalkers, then you'll know the pic fits the topic well, regardless of the source.

[@mauricio20]

I'm from Brazil, 46 years old and I've been playing D&D since the 2nd edition. I just found your videos. Thanks! I just miss subtitles to understand some words, mostly place names or npcs that I don't recognize, because the automatic subtitles don't get the correct pronunciation sometimes. But it's alright. Really, fantastic job! Thank you again!

[@michaelpaliden6660]

In the books it gives detail that all the god,s were banished as even prior to the theft of the tablets the gods were shirking there duties.

[@RtotheK605]

2:15 Ao cast out the gods and sent them to live as Planewalkers in MTG.

[@TheLafaellar]

I really like your work summarizing important parts of the history of the realms. I noticed the absence of Kelemvor in your presentation and I think this is because you only refer to the "Avatar trilogy" and the campaign but there are two more books to take into account: "The Prince of lies" and "Crucible". These novells refer to the time after the time of troubles and explain how cyric rules the realm of the dead and tries to become the only deity in the realms. He does so by writing the Cyrinishad, a book that tells the time of troubles story in a very perverted form in which Cyric was the sole hero. The book contains magic so powerful that even a deity that reads the book will completely believe it to be true (which happened to mask). At the end Kelemvor manages to bring rebellion to the city of the damned and dethrone Cyric and he becomes the new God of the Dead. It is an interesting story one shouldn't miss when talking about the Time of Troubles.

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks for the info, I'll look into it. So much more happens in these novels, I failed Kelemvor...

[@Dndditches]

This. You cant really talk about the time of troubles and 2 mortals ascending to godhood and leave out Kelemvor. Plus hes kinda unique for being a non evil god of death.

[@jollyredgiant203]

Anyone else here because they're playing Baldurs Gate 3?

[@SonofMarZ]

Yes

[@Emosauce69]

Yes

[@valentijnk6073]

Yup

[@VirtuousLiam]

So close to 1000 subscribers, you deserve it! Great video as always Jorphdan!

[@Jorphdan]

I know! I've got my hand over this button for when I hit 1,000! :) www.myinstants.com/instant/mlg-air-horn/

[@johnmichaelarnaud]

Great job! A lot of these types of explanatory videos can be tedious to watch, but you went right through the heart of it without missing the contextual information. Thank you!

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks!!

[@rudeboyjohn3483]

Refreshing my grasp of the lore in preparation to running a 4th Edition campaign. Good times.

[@transient_moonlight]

Myrkul and Bhaal have recently come back too, if you're interested, Bhaal taking the portfolios of murder and Myrkul that of death (while Kelemvor retained the portfolio of the dead). Bhaal returned after the last Bhaalspwan died, while Myrkul returend as a result of the Second Sundering.

[@bsboyscout]

Keep up the good work. Thank you it’s so nice to have something to go to when there a not sure moment or when some that is just trying D&D for the first time.

[@zach5539]

I love your videos! Thank you for doing this, it's so nice to binge on DnD lore every now and then :)

[@joshuaforester]

Thanks for putting this one out @Jorphdan! My kids watch these and always groan when you say, 'the ph is silent' because they can't stand that it's silent. lol

[@nickh3205]

ONE PUNCH!!!(Mystra vs Helm)

[@johnthomaskaiser1217]

Hey I'm running the Shadowdale module (and soon the other 2) during the Time of Troubles. Loved your synopsis, as I haven't read the novels in like 10 years. It's the 5th session of a return to 2nd edition for my Sunday game. I've been running 2nd since 1990 but never played the published adventures. Things were already "past that". After a couple of 5e campaigns I said "let's play this instead" and here we go!

[@sm0ky_cowboy693]

My dude!! You are an amazing personae! Thanks for all your videos!! The best movies, quality sound, your voice is always easy to understand, easily if you not fluently in english, and it is quite okay tone to keep listening for a few videos! Following all your forgottenRealms, just such a beatiful world 🤠🤜

[@OctopusDropkick]

Baldur's Gate I is a little spotty, it was their first roll. Baldur's Gate II however is a goddamn masterpiece and usually tops the first place on all types of gamesites top RP games of all time.

[@Jorphdan]

I've been making my way through Baldur's Gate and I agree. It's fun but hopefully I'll enjoy Baldur's Gate 2 more :)

[@schwann145]

BG1 was alright. BG2 was a gd masterpiece, lol

[@Sokanas42]

​@@Jorphdan You will certainly enjoy BGII. Another fun one is Icewind Dale (but not the second one, that wasn't as good)

[@Metalhammer1993]

@@Jorphdan have you played the remake of bg1? It is WAY better than classic bg1 but bg2 is brilliant. Gotta replay it again soon.

[@ragzilbragzilb6603]

Yeah cant wait for Andromeda 2 ..................

[@alexrusso401]

Great video! Looking forward to you talking about the other edition transition events!

[@joshuamckay3796]

I came here because I was looking history on The Time of Troubles. (Thanks Cadderly) I've discovered a gem! I'm watching them entire lore playlist. Thank you for working so hard on all these videos.

[@Jorphdan]

Excited you're finding them useful!

[@JeremiahMcCoy]

I would be interested to see you tackle Tiamat as a lore subject. She has a bunch of stuff going on in the Realms history. Her stuff in the Time of Troubles was super convoluted but interesting.

[@stylgen]

The best lore I've listened to so far. Great job mate!

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks!

[@ArtoriasB]

Not gonna lie the gods are just a giant soap opera and I’m here for that.

[@D-sQU1NTER]

greek mythology headass right

[@chrisgray6589]

just became a recent fan of all the videos jorphdan! I myself a DM to a group that travels Faerun through the running of module/book adventures, and you have been ALOT of help sorting things out for me since the wikia is usually...well daunting. I was curious if you might ever do a video on the old gods and possibly their connection to toril.

[@Jorphdan]

I've got devils and demons coming up, but a series on the gods seems like a good idea once I catch up on history. Thanks for watching :D

[@Trollgernautt]

I always had a soft spot for Helm, and learning he bitchslapped Mystra intro stardust is awesome, lmao

[@michaellance6627]

I started with second edition, haven't seen those books in forever. Read the Avatar trilogy as a young teen. Thanks for the nostalgia trip.

[@lorddraekan]

Jorphdan Congrats on checking off one of those things! "1k Subs." WOOOO!!!

[@Jorphdan]

Wooo!!! Thanks feels good :D #ExcitingTimes

[@TheFrostilin]

Oh man i can't wait for the spellplague :D keep the good work

[@thevashfan12392]

whoa......! Lord Ao summoned *ALL* the gods....all at once instantaneously; that's an incredible compulsion power....

[@TheMimiSard]

Baldur's Gate got the timing of the siring of the Bhaalspawn a bit askew. The game says that the Children of Bhaal were sired during the Time of Troubles, but the events of the game only happens ten years after the ToT, but Charname is 20 at the start of the game. I think the most common fanon for BG is that the prophesy predicting Bhaal's death was originally told centuries before, so Bhaal had prior warning and was siring Bhaalspawn long before the Time of Troubles. I mean credit where due, in "Throne of Bhaal", one of the Five (powerful Bhaalspawn trying to gather as much power by killing all the other Bhaalspawn) is a fire giant, and another is a half-dragon.

[@graemebass2391]

These videos are excellent. Keep them coming!!

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying them. New videos every Wed!

[@jasonlyons4753]

This was the best and my up most fav time frame in the realms

[@baronbeat2210]

I wish you would explain a few concepts. How gods get powers from worshipers, what avatars actually are, what souls are in this world. It’s cool if you don’t but I’m really curious.

[@banishedfromars]

This video threw me back to high-school and reading the shadowdale trilogy .

[@MRDLT00]

I'm liking these bite sized videos on the massive lore of this series. :)

[@ukaszstrzelecki9157]

It's funny to watch this video 2 years after publishing where your goal was reaching a thousand of subscribers, now having almost 60.000. Keep up good job!

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks!! 😁

[@twyztidbro3929]

Awesome vid :D fun fact for creation: at the end of the Shadowdale trilogy, Lord Ao meditates to seek guidance...from his master ;D

[@loganmarshall5414]

Thanks for all the history I am currently working on my own home brewed psionic gods and these really help me work put the cononical details.

[@CosmicDuskWolf]

I never finished it but put Icewind dale on your to-do list as well.

[@methodofinstruction1368]

If you want to increase your realms lore by + 5, playing baldurs gate as you mentioned would be a great idea! (they are very long games so if you don't have a lot of time, I recommend you play BG2 shadows of Amn over the others, despite it coming second in the sires). Thanks for the video!

[@michaelklaczynski3650]

Bane, Ba'al and Merkel sound like three high-level CN/CE players who kept on wrecking DM Ao's carefully laid out campaign setting.

[@DemonSesshyy]

they need an Egyptian focused game

[@924project]

Just came across your channel, really enjoying your videos.

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks! new videos every Wed :)

[@jonwelly]

Omg Baldurs gate 2 was my favorite game of all time easily. Love your video’s! Downloaded a bunch of them for my last drive, made it go by so fast

[@oscarsiri2763]

There were also 3 graphic novels by DC comics (that's where I learned about this event many years ago). I dont' have the issues in physical but I have them in digital after A LOT of search. It's a fantastic event to play! the avatars of the gods are really fantastic allies and enemies!

[@Vulfthyr]

Hey there! First of all, great video! Helps a lot when trying to understand how all the events of the Time of Troubles fit together. I was kinda surprised, however, that you didn't mention Kelemvor at all. From what I know, he was supposed to be quite important to all this, and, I think, used to travel with Cyric and Midnight. Am I mistaken? Or maybe you're planning a future video on him?

[@riyadali4082]

"She leaped at him with fire in her mouth..." Yep, sounds like a lot of women I've dated.

[@exploringpnw716]

great video as always!

[@xioxetta1]

I love your work, man! THANKS! AND KEEP GOING!

[@Jorphdan]

Thank you! :D

[@diegoreds]

I Love How Loth (Spider Queen) Sent a Demon to open Box with Piece of “Time of Troubles,” --INSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF MAGIC FOR SECONDS--- (ALL DEFENSES & SHIELDS DOWN) Dwarf’s Battle axe Chopped a 1st House Matron’s Head in half Ending Invasion on “Mitral Hall,” THE SPIDER QUEEN ENJOYS WATCHING MORE CHAOS FOR HER FOLLOWERS.

[@lancedyllan]

One example of rule changes in 2E was the removal of the "assassin" class by killing Bhaal, patron deity of assassins.

[@billcox8870]

Richard was a pseudonym for several writers. The last name refers to the fact that it was multiple writers doing the books.

[@EliteGoosePlusOne]

cool video one thing in D&D it's never green fire it's always GREEN FLAME

[@Jorphdan]

GREEN FLAME 🟢🔥

[@Ravenwind555]

I always wondered what happened to Hoar/Assuran - my favorite deity in Forgotten Realms. Though when playing a character in Unther, usually the forgotten Untherian god, Anu.

[@LauriHyttinen]

Fun little fact. Richard Awlinson is a pseudonym. There were actually three writers as far as I remember.

[@SomeHobo7]

It’s funny seeing “get 1000 Subs” on the to do list now

[@Jorphdan]

It's been a long road, but the travel is fun. 😁

[@TheSwartz]

Great videos! Keep it up!

[@NotCrazyLimitedEdition]

I might end up asking this a few times. 2:35 what source book is that?

[@Jorphdan]

That is the first of the three Time of Troubles Adventures for AD&D 2nd edition. "Shadowdale" www.drivethrurpg.com/product/16811/FRE1-Shadowdale-1e-2e?affiliate_id=728035

[@ikeb9367]

Second addition is still the GOAT

[@MrChupacabra555]

I loved the "Time of Troubles", it was a great way to explain the changes the game was making between "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons" and 3rd Edition, particularly with magic. Unfortunately, they tried the same thing with the Spellplague for the switch from 3rd to 4th Edition, with less than satisfactory results.

[@gekolvr0734]

Iyachtu xvim is what happens when a WotC intern is typing during allergy season

[@zer1337]

Will we every get a video about Vecna's uprising and nearly taking over Sigil and the Lady of Pain and how that was kinda the reason for edition changing?

[@Jorphdan]

+Edward I'll add it to the list. 😀

[@ANonymous-bh1un]

Vecna is actually a character from the Greyhawk setting (the original D&D setting of Gary Gygax) and Sigil is the centerpiece of Planescape, which was its own thing. Technically, Vecna's incrusion to Sigil (via way of the Ravenloft setting) doesn't have anything to do with Forgotten Realms or its history, if you want to specifically stay with that for this series.

[@Jorphdan]

I feel like opening it up to a more D&D Lore in the future. There is plenty of Forgotten Realms but people seem to be more interested in what's in their PHB rather than the novels.

[@ANonymous-bh1un]

Can you recall where you found that excellent picture of the Forgotten Realms dieties at 2:10 in the video?

[@Jorphdan]

It's actually Magic the Gathering art of the Planeswalkers, just seemed to fit. Here's a link. orig13.deviantart.net/c0d7/f/2012/252/6/b/6bd6c324cda62be3999b74e5e0ea706c-d41iikm.jpg

[@SonofMarZ]

I’m watching this 7 years in the future.. I hope you played baulder’s Gate, I also hope you played bg3

[@Jorphdan]

Both! thank you :D

[@smilingbandit6900]

what no word on Kelemvor? in the wall you go^^

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

That was a conspicuous omission . . .

[@JonahThaon]

Why was Kelemvor not mentioned in this video, or a reference to the book series that covered Cyric and Midnights journey?

[@jlaw131985]

I think that my favorite D&D story takes place because of Myrkul. Mask of the Betrayer is really good.

[@itsakrieger8172]

My favorite scene in these novels, a cleric was try to cast cure light wounds and a fireball occured instead.

[@itsakrieger8172]

Also you did mention Kelemvor, a warrior who had an affair with Midnight.

[@magua9563]

I'm very pleased you played Neverwinter Nights.

[@bobcobb99]

Thanks for this series

[@keatongraffis6232]

Just now reading Dritzz and it makes it seam like the time of troubles was only a few days long.

[@keatongraffis6232]

Also before the ToT occurs it is mentioned that power is already tied to worship, what holds more sway over cannon?

[@shaneduquette6104]

Jergal became Merkul's chamberlain in the city of the dead. Mystra was killed by Helm when she was rescues by Kelemvor's party (which included Cyric, Midnight, and Adon of Sune) Helm killed Mystra on the Celestial Stairway in Cormyr. Kelemvor's party made their way to Elminster in Shadowdale for he was a known Chosen of Mystra and it was hoped that he could aid the party in locating and obtaining the Tablets of Fate. During the Battle of Shadowdale, Bane's avatar was slain by Elminster, only to be reconstituted by Mirkul. It was determined that the tablet that Bane stole was hidden somewhere in the the city of Tantras. Conditions in the City of Tantras were severe. The priesthood of Helm, bolstered by the presence of their deityseparated

[@HenkkaArtGames]

Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul, the Beagle Boys of the Forgotten Realms, trying to breach Uncle Scroog-- Ao's domain and steal his tablets.

[@rosskerr1439]

The Time of Troubles… Sounds a little vague.

[@scottcampbell9515]

Do you have any videos about Bane, His rise and fall from 3rd to 5th, and current updates? I've seen the symbol changed (again), and would also like to know if His clergy have kept their color schemes.

[@Jorphdan]

I don't have any videos specifically about Bane, and I'm not sure if his clergy kept their color schemes. If you find out please let me know :)

[@magwaaf]

also it should be noted that Ao was completely unknown about by ALL the deities until the tablets were stolen and woke him up

[@descontesetdesdes]

Is there a reason why Kelemvor wasn't mentioned during the video? He was a big part in the story and took upon the mantle of god of death.

[@dustintapp1693]

Love the videos Jorphdan keep it up. If you don't mind could you tell me what software you use to make these videos. I wanted to make some intro videos for my D&D group. Like what happened last time kind of thing.

[@Jorphdan]

Hi Dustin! I record the audio in Audacity. Then I import that into some free video editing software "Lightworks". It has a bit of a learning curve but it's free for 720p videos, which was fine for the photo transitions I do with my videos. For live action getting 1080p is better. Here's a link to the software, good luck! www.audacityteam.org/

[@Jorphdan]

Oh sorry and here's Lightworks! www.lwks.com/

[@Jorphdan]

Sweet!

[@NRV0]

In my head Helm B Slapped Muster and I can't picture it any other way lol

[@arte0021]

What was the big event between 2nd edition and 3rd edition? I know the other three. But have not heard anywhere about this one

[@zueglitz]

Great one!!

[@JacksonOwex]

2:15 Those are Magic the Gathering Planeswalkers!

[@whoisj]

wait wait wait, I'm old and I played AD&D when it was new - and that was maybe 10 years or more before the Time of Troubles. maybe it was too explain 2nd to 3rd?

[@kevinchristiansen4348]

Really good jorph. Fallen gods and the big bad 3

[@stevenfaw8535]

Wait, were the tablets altered when Jergal stepped down? Then Time of Plotholre.

[@carlries4753]

Hello, I have a theorem involving the time before times. The first proper mortals were the Solarians and Imerian, the only ascendant race, but the gods, forbiddens, and eternals turned against their ways, dividing the 2 races into good and evil. For the Imerians, that turned them into angels and demons. For the Solarians, that turned them into the dragonkin and Cerudanians. But before the Cerudanians had a chance to even emerge, the corruption of the 3 death entities already ended the Cerudanians before they had a chance to properly emerge in the mortal world. In the wake of this, the energies bound by them were both scattered and lost, heading only to the forces with amazing regenerative powers, especially the leviathans, and to other dimensions.

[@jameslewis3793]

I'm about to ask a total n00b question...is this what is happening in the Legend of Drizzt series when Lothe has to enlist the power of that balor guy to help her followers? (I don't know any of the spellings) I do audio books.

[@spicymarine7232]

I am confused and I wish someone could explain it to me. Isn't Midnight and Cyric also in the company of Kelemvor, who absorbs Myrkul's power and become the new god of the dead?

[@Jorphdan]

You are correct. Some lore was part of the books only, mainly Kelemvor. When I originally made this video I focused on the modules they released.

[@spicymarine7232]

Hi, thanks a lot for answearing, I really enjoy your videos and they are helping educate me on my favorite D&D scenario. So back in the day, they released both a series of books that tell the story of Kelemvor, Midnight, Cyric and Adon (some cleric of Sune) in a quest for the Tablets of Fate, and also some modules where the player(s) would take the place of Kelemvor in the story? How strange. Thanks again!

[@johnnyscifi]

The og party was Kelemvor, Cyric, Adun, and Midnight. The original Mystra died halfway through the first book

[@ns0557212]

I hope you played Baldurs Gate by now and Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal of course?! That was such a great series it was my intro to D&D.

[@joshuafoster3415]

So I can’t find this anywhere but how did they steal the Tablets of Fate? Where are the tablets of fate located the new ones and the old ones. How do you stay in the blind side of a OverGod?

[@lesbianismark]

Ah yes Bane is who killed my PC, possessed their dead body, and then tried to kill the rest of the party

[@PixPunxel]

Jorphdan, what is the event for transition to 3rd edition ? I thought there was none ?

[@Jorphdan]

You are correct.There was no event for the transition into 3rd edition. Only 2nd, 4th, and 5th.

[@JakubWojciechowski933]

5:57 Lol, he got it well

[@rogerwilco2]

We didn't forget the Times of Trouble, because we played through it.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Fun fact: the H in Bhaal is not silent.

[@Jorphdan]

This is true! But it's so common to not pronounce it. I made a bhaal video where I did pronounce it and everyone hated it. I rerecorded the audio and ended up re-releasing the video.