Arelith

Xerah wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:52 pm It's actually the most fitting since one of Gond's objectives to is subvert Mystra's magical advances.

Xerah wrote: Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:50 pm It's talked about in Elminster's Forgotten Realms.

Eliminate spellcasters who openly deride, hate or fear inventions and mechanics - covertly, whenever possible, but openly if you must. To the public, magic and mechanics are not at war. Privately, they are deadly foes. So smile and be an ally in public, but await a good chance to smite spellcasters who denigrate or oppose Gond.

Gondsmen are formally styled Wonderbringers, but since Gond himself is “The Wonderbringer,” they prefer to address each other as Fellow Artificer, Brother Artificer, or Sister Artificer. They subscribe to both a public creed (above), and a secret creed. Their secret creed is as follows:
Influence or control every ruler possible, so the works of Gond will be embraced by—and forced on, if need be—everyone, smashing guilds and others who won’t champion them. Covertly enrich oneself personally by selling Gondar wonders and by cheaply buying up the lands and buildings of those ruined by competition over such wonders.

Work to become so wealthy that you can live like a king—and overwhelm and subsume the church of Waukeen, just as Gond shall conquer and wed Waukeen herself. Whenever a wizard or other wielder-of-Art destroys something mechanical or its maker without just personal cause, avenge that blow. Eliminate spellcasters who openly deride, hate, or fear inventions and mechanics—covertly, whenever possible, but openly if you must. To the public, magic and mechanics are not at war. Privately, they are deadly foes. So smile and be an ally in public, but await a good chance to smite spellcasters who denigrate or oppose Gond.

Both the stationary Gondsmen in Waterdeep, Athkatla, Selgaunt, Saerloon, Baldur’s Gate, and the other burgeoning cities of the Realms, and the majority who wander, include ambitious individuals who hunger for power and wealth. They tend to be bold but to think ahead, establishing hidey-holes for caches of weapons and transport vehicles, inventions that entrap intruders, and wealth. Every one of them has plans of his or her own, for Gond doesn’t seem to mind his clergy doing well for themselves so long as they use inventions, modify inventions, and stir others to invent and innovate as they proceed.

Hundreds of Gondsmen scheme to make themselves “coin mountains” or rulers or both, just as soon as they can. One example is the goldeneyed and urbane Aersilk Krondamar in Athkatla. Another is the striding, whirlwind-swift “Mad” Madeenan Breldart, who races around the Heartlands selling small disguised pistols and blades that fold down into scroll tubes, all the while aiding inventors and shopkeepers who want to mechanize things. Some Gondsmen are bound to succeed—or blow up Faerûn trying.

Xerah wrote: Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:55 pm Here is what the full text says for the secular aims:

Gondsmen are formally styled Wonderbringers, but since Gond himself is “The Wonderbringer,” they prefer to address each other as Fellow Artificer, Brother Artificer, or Sister Artificer. They subscribe to both a public creed (above), and a secret creed. Their secret creed is as follows:
Influence or control every ruler possible, so the works of Gond will be embraced by—and forced on, if need be—everyone, smashing guilds and others who won’t champion them. Covertly enrich oneself personally by selling Gondar wonders and by cheaply buying up the lands and buildings of those ruined by competition over such wonders.

Work to become so wealthy that you can live like a king—and overwhelm and subsume the church of Waukeen, just as Gond shall conquer and wed Waukeen herself. Whenever a wizard or other wielder-of-Art destroys something mechanical or its maker without just personal cause, avenge that blow. Eliminate spellcasters who openly deride, hate, or fear inventions and mechanics—covertly, whenever possible, but openly if you must. To the public, magic and mechanics are not at war. Privately, they are deadly foes. So smile and be an ally in public, but await a good chance to smite spellcasters who denigrate or oppose Gond.

Both the stationary Gondsmen in Waterdeep, Athkatla, Selgaunt, Saerloon, Baldur’s Gate, and the other burgeoning cities of the Realms, and the majority who wander, include ambitious individuals who hunger for power and wealth. They tend to be bold but to think ahead, establishing hidey-holes for caches of weapons and transport vehicles, inventions that entrap intruders, and wealth. Every one of them has plans of his or her own, for Gond doesn’t seem to mind his clergy doing well for themselves so long as they use inventions, modify inventions, and stir others to invent and innovate as they proceed.

Hundreds of Gondsmen scheme to make themselves “coin mountains” or rulers or both, just as soon as they can. One example is the goldeneyed and urbane Aersilk Krondamar in Athkatla. Another is the striding, whirlwind-swift “Mad” Madeenan Breldart, who races around the Heartlands selling small disguised pistols and blades that fold down into scroll tubes, all the while aiding inventors and shopkeepers who want to mechanize things. Some Gondsmen are bound to succeed—or blow up Faerûn trying.

Sea Shanties wrote: Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:44 pm If this schism is something to push people towards it might be nice to have an avenue for making artifices, contraptions and devices separate from the standard wizard spellbook. It’s tough to play a Gondite who’s against Mystra if they’re both using the same spells and wands.