Hawkstone: The Archetype of a RANGER + the Tragic Life of One of My Earliest NPCs

[@edgreenwoodofficial]

It was such a joy getting to revisit this old, beloved NPC from my original "Old Gray Box." Are there any other memorable NPCs that you've been curious about over the years? Thank you so much for becoming a Protector of the Realms. The support of my Patrons is what makes my continued work on the Realms possible: patreon.com/EdGreenwood

[@crightbrayons8416]

Oh seeing the artwork on the old grey box brings back so many memories! I still have it but it is very old, crushed and beaten.

[@theprofessorkeen1911]

I wish i could remember the others but due to a basement flooding incident years ago, I lost my old realms box and I can't remember the rest of the NPCs these days. I'm sorry to inform you Mr. Greenwood.

[@arkyark8]

Dear Ed, I would like to request a video covering the history of Bellas's Band. How did they come to rule Calaunt? What did that rulership look like and did they all get along? What happened to them as the years rolled on? May I also say THANK YOU for the world and stories you created. They have been a constant source of joy and excitement for me since the age of 13 and the decades since. Kind regards, Mark from Australia.

[@vortraz2054]

Hey guys, I wanna double check the way im pronouncing the Thesk Mountains. I dont know if the H is silent or maybe theres something I hadnt thought of going on. Can you help me out?

[@Scianta]

Used to have the old gray box a lifetime ago... made for good upgrades to Dragons til the Draconomicon and Cult of the Dragons books came out

[@Meshifuari]

Man! It's both sad and epic to go down fighting an army of ogres. Sir Ed, you've said that Hawkstone ghost became sad-eyed, silent apparition that warns of impending attacks all over Moonsea North... It's poetic that he still protects against evil... but that makes me wonder, will he ever stop and pass on? Will he ever meet Lhoraie in the afterlife? Their child?

[@HMarcBower]

This is brilliant. Also I'm learning that I have pronounced so many names incorrectly for decades. ;)

[@arkyark8]

Haha, so many people do, unless the "the Grey Box" was your intro to the FR.

[@helixxharpell]

Join the club! 😂

[@DeanNatheos-i2t]

Me to.

[@arkyark8]

Wow what a treat! I remember Hawkstone from the "Grey Box" and was fascinated by him. Consequently, I fell in love with rangers!

[@zoltanwolfe1260]

A great story and I especially appreciate that you titled it "an archetype of a ranger." So many think the ranger lacks identity in DND but Hawkstone is the perfect ranger. The jack of all trades, the wanderers, the hero's hero

[@FilmAcolyteReturns]

This something that I’ve notice has been missing from 5e. There’s just a genuine lack of NPCs. Even if I didn’t use 97% of the NPCs, they still gave me measuring stick as to where players stood in comparison to the rest of the world. They were really useful when it came to learning about the world itself.

[@sebbonxxsebbon6824]

5e leaves a lot to be desired.

[@cristiananao294]

I was enthralled listening to this riveting tale 🤩Thanks!

[@zachsmalley2380]

Thank you! This is a wonderful way to learn about forgotten realms. I hope you feel loved and appreciated.

[@Streetsam]

Great!

[@Zouzk]

I love these videos, your voice and way of speaking is very soothing. They're great for listening to when in bed getting ready to sleep while also learning more about the lore of the world.

[@janetcameron4652]

Thanks EG.

[@Jerrysteward59]

I've heard Hawk Stones name before but I never truly knew his tail I'm honored

[@ericpeterson8732]

I had a life cleric of Chauntea I called Brother Thomas. Agriculture is a weird domain for D&D. It's nature-y, but not like Milikki or Silvanus. The life cleric is more healing based, but I made sure to include some plant based spells to round him out. He survived the first adventure, but sadly not the second. Thanks for all the good stories, Mr. Greenwood. I bought most of the FR books and yours were excellent, until it was all Elminster all the time. Spellfire was one of my favorites and I wished that more Knights of Myth Dranner books could have been published before Hasbro shut the publishing department down. Alas, twas not meant to be.

[@theprofessorkeen1911]

This is why I keep following you Mr. Greenwood. I remembered about Hawkstone and i am glad to hear his back story. I wonder if he would want his old sword and shield returned to his grave or not. Also, seeing he was well loved by two goddesses, why didn't they come and collect him when he died so he wouldn't become a ghost?

[@edgreenwoodofficial]

They knew he would find purpose in a continued existence, and they would miss him if he just found oblivion, so...

[@theprofessorkeen1911]

@@edgreenwoodofficial I was under the assumption that they could elevate his soul into an angel (or some version there of) and be able to do more than what a mere ghost can. Provided they haven't already done that and the ghost is a spiritual echo of him....

[@edgreenwoodofficial]

What you envisage is a divine servitor. It is VERY rare (Mystra and Azuth, Mystra and Eilistraee are some examples) of deities sharing a servitor. For whatever reason, this didn't happen in this case. Why? I'll ask Elminster to ask the deities, but...don't hold your breath on an answer, please. @@theprofessorkeen1911

[@AncientRylanor69]

@@edgreenwoodofficial thanks

[@AncientRylanor69]

thanks

[@adammcclendon431]

Ed, you are a fantastic orator and storyteller, thank you for sharing this!

[@isaacbutler9157]

This video sure looks like it's going to be good! They always are good to begin with, but this seems especially good!

[@davidgrider4302]

Such fantastic REALMSLORE

[@wesmaass4669]

Wonderful tale. 😊

[@gregbanks5624]

Such a great channel!

[@MiguelVelez-s9t]

Love the video!

[@LiamsLyceum]

Running a campaign in Cormyr 1370 DR right now. Will definitely be using some of this info, Ed!

[@demondogs]

a fine tale. thank you.

[@masterloquendero5688]

Good evening Mr. Greenwood, I am a new subscriber coming from your collaboration with dungeon dad and decided to watch this video because I was curious about this Hawkstone character and I found myself tearing a bit at such beautiful tale, I am very happy to have found this channels thanks to dungeon dad!

[@Scianta]

Thanx old Mage. Love the tale of that Ranger. Too bad you can't invite Rob Salvatore to do a small piece on Drizzt.

[@pedrostormrage]

Hawkstone has a really tragic and diverse backstory, which makes me wonder what ranger subclass (or multiclass combination, even) would best fit him (maybe Hunter, since that's probably the most generalist option). Also, that description of Chauntea (11:32) makes me think of the Greek Gaia, so I wonder if that was an inspiration. I'm also reminded of the Greek Demeter (because of the association with agriculture), though Chauntea seems to be far more forgiving than Demeter.

[@Christopher_Pug]

I love these videos. Very happy to see the channel pushing through the noise and distractions and giving us the chance to hear directly from Ed himself.

[@Everescale]

This was awesome thank you❤

[@mkdynasty272]

I hope we get a video on Githvyrik and why we don't have any representation of them, lore, appearance, etc.

[@marccountry]

Grey Box set should be in the Louvre with the other masterpieces of western culture. P.S. All this time, I've been saying Chaun-Tey-Ah... and will likely continue to do so.

[@edgreenwoodofficial]

There's nothing wrong with that. If she's Chaun-Tey-Ah to you, and that resonates with you, stay with it!!

[@Just-A-Bit]

Could you make a video about your game making process?

[@khnumra8080]

🔥🔥🔥

[@frankacciarito6099]

Ed ur a god! Have you ever been apart of these fabled D&D games that apparently the writers and editors of D&D used to play back in the day? Did you play Elminster and Bob Salvatore play Cadderly with Elaine Cunningham playing Elaith Craulnober and Jeff Grubb DMing? Or did you all play new characters? And if so did those characters make it into the realms officially?

[@adamholcomb1906]

I love these videos I’m all about Forgotten Realms👍🏼👍🏼💯

[@chaosi17]

Grand papa!!!! 😮❤

[@Christian_Bagger]

What about a story about a regular farmer, with a regular life in a fantasy world? Albeit a farmer/peasant he got a story to tell. Often a mundane life, is not all that mundane.

[@Spectre2434]

❤❤❤

[@gateishonn]

👍👍👍👍

[@RyllenKriel]

I feel somewhat bad for followers of Chauntea. No matter how much you revere your goddess you are always taking a piss or shite on her. Gravity is unforgiving. I suppose you could use a bag of holding for ye old privy. However, those are expensive! They seem doomed to ask for forgiveness just like followers of Ilmater.

[@AncientRylanor69]

🫑🥜

[@GoryWory]

Damn it's good to have Ed alive and bussy!🤍