The curse haunting Allie Mae Cades Cove is a dark and mysterious tale that has long captivated the imaginations of visitors to this secluded valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Legend has it that Allie Mae, a young girl who once lived in Cades Cove, fell victim to a terrifying curse that has haunted the valley ever since. Born in the late 1800s, Allie Mae was described as a beautiful and enigmatic girl. She captured the hearts of many suitors, but it was her secret romance with a young man from a neighboring town that would ultimately seal her tragic fate. The young couple would often meet in the depths of the forest, hidden away from prying eyes and judgement. Their love was forbidden, and they knew that if anyone were to discover their secret, it would spell disaster for them both.
This spell created an invisible, weightless whip of hard-edged air extending from a limb of the caster. With this construct, the caster could strike with his normal BAB at one chosen opponent, dealing 2 points of damage per level per successful attack. In any round in which the wind lash successfully struck, the target had to make a Dexterity check DC 15 or be hurled to the ground, taking an additional 1 point of damage.
The caster could switch targets at will, but switching targets consumed a round, during which time no one could be attacked by the wind lash. The nature of the wind lash was such that only the chosen target was struck. Other beings were aware of the spell because it emitted snarling wind noises and sometimes blew away small, light objects such as cap-feathers and parchments that were not securely gripped (but they suffered no damage). If the spellcaster cast another spell while this spell was still in effect, the wind lash dissipated immediately. A wind lash- wielder could employ magical items simultaneously with a lash if they could be wielded with one hand.
Other beings were aware of the spell because it emitted snarling wind noises and sometimes blew away small, light objects such as cap-feathers and parchments that were not securely gripped but they suffered no damage. As his body fell, his stony eyes, still shimmering with the last glint of godly omniscience, caught a glimpse of the cities of Netheril smashing to the ground, killing all their inhabitants.
Their love was forbidden, and they knew that if anyone were to discover their secret, it would spell disaster for them both. One fateful night, as Allie Mae's family slept soundly in their cabin, tragedy struck. A dark and powerful storm enveloped Cades Cove, unleashing its wrath upon the tranquil valley.
Netherik empire of magic
"Finally, without warning or preamble, Larloch, the Shadow King, revealed the secret past of Netheril." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
So begins the first book in the Netheril boxed set, so begins the Netheril story. The Netheril Empire was located where the Anauroch -- that strange desert in the other wise green and frequently frosty north -- is now located in the modern period of the Forgotten Realms setting. In many ways, the desert is the scorch mark they left when their empire fell. The boxed set was published several years ago and was the first of the Arcane Age supplements. All told it is interesting and despite a few errors worth the money.
"The year 326 marked one of the most important dates in Netheril's history � the discovery of the nether scrolls." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
The boxed set contains two books and two maps, with the two books totaling about 158 pages. Each map is printed on both sides. The first shows Netheril at its height on one side and its frontier on the other � the frontier is Savage North in the current setting. The second map shows Netheril shortly before its collapse, illustrating a stark change as much of its lands have turned to desert. The reverse of the second maps illustrates the Karsus enclave. The first book is "The Winds of Netheril," which details the history of Netheril, offering campaign suggestion and parameters as well as a list of when spells where created. It also describes equipment available, the gods of the period and a list of important cities and locations in the Netheril Empire. Finally, it includes a detailed look at the Karsus enclave and a list and description of important people through the history of Netheril. The second book, the "Encyclopedia Arcana," details magic items unique to Netheril and a list of Netheres spells, such as "Karsus' Avatar": a spell that allowed a mage to become a god.
"This spell allowed the caster to become a god of his choosing, replacing a current with himself the moment the spell was completed." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
However it was not a good idea for Karsus to cast the spell because he choose Mystryl -- the goddess of magic at the time. In so doing he pretty much turned off all of magic for about and hour and a half. This caused all the floating Netheril cities -- the enclaves created and run by 20+ level mages -- to pile drive into the ground, old mages to turn to dust and all sort of trouble all over the place. Mystra � the next goddess of magic � came to power and rewrote all the rules so that could not happen again, basically setting up 1st edition until the Time of Trouble, when 2nd edition came about. Thematically the boxed set is very interesting. It portrays a human society that lasted more than 3,000 years and had its own flavor and so forth. The magic is interesting and the notion of a culture with many floating cities is truly fantastic. After reading the set it does feel like it is something of a sadness to have lost such a nation and people.
"As his body fell, his stony eyes, still shimmering with the last glint of godly omniscience, caught a glimpse of the cities of Netheril smashing to the ground, killing all their inhabitants. His heart broke � greed for the power of the gods themselves caused the destruction of his home, his family, his friends, and his people." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
Of course, the set is backwards engineered to fit into the current Forgotten Realms setting so the empire had to fall down and go boom. That aside, slade and Butler did a good job with the set. In many ways it is reminiscent of the stories of Atlantis � an ancient empire of humanity the rose to a great height but fell when they tinkered poorly with ultimate power. Likewise there is a subtle message about a people who were used to having everything handed to them and who were not able to survive on their own without everything being handed to them. Perhaps this message is why the set has gotten bad reviews elsewhere: gamers do not like games with a message or stories with a moral. They just want to kill thing and only want DM's around to facilitate their ability to do so. Be that as it may, the set is good because it portray a setting that is truly fantastic � great floating cities, magic that provides everyday household needs, strange non-human shaped beings and so forth. In many ways, most supplements and novels just feel like a day at a Ren-Fair where they have a modest laser-lights show budget. Much of "fantasy" in the Realms is no longer so fantastic. This boxed set bring the fantastic back. The set does have its faults. First among these are editorial errors, like in one place where "fate" is misspelled as "fat." These are mostly amusing until the history and time line sections where they become confusing. In addition, the scope of the history of Netheril poses some problems as well. In 3,000+ years, it only filled a space about the size on the Anauroch, rather than a territory much larger. In this 3,000+ year period there were never any major wars to speak of and little to no description of how Netheril dealt with other major world powers like Calimshan, Unther, Mulhorandi and what have you. Granted there was space limitations, but by comparison, "Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves" did a much better job in the history department. This should not stop you from picking up a copy, however. In the end, this boxed set has been unfairly disparaged and is worth picking for the way it details a truly fanatic and interesting setting.
Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)
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"The year 326 marked one of the most important dates in Netheril's history � the discovery of the nether scrolls." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
Thunder cracked and lightning illuminated the night sky as a whirlwind of fury descended upon Allie Mae's secret meeting spot. It is said that the vengeful spirits of Cades Cove, angered by the couple's forbidden love, jealously tore them apart, casting their souls into an eternal abyss. Since that fateful night, the curse of Allie Mae has haunted Cades Cove. Visitors to the valley have reported strange occurrences and unexplainable phenomena. Many have claimed to hear haunting whispers on the wind, while others have witnessed shadowy figures lurking in the corners of their vision. Some have even felt a chilling touch upon their skin, as if being brushed by unseen hands. It is believed that these eerie happenings are a constant reminder of the tragic love story that unfolded in this secluded corner of the Smokies. Despite the eerie reputation surrounding Cades Cove, it remains a popular tourist destination. Visitors are drawn to the valley's natural beauty and rich history, but many also come in search of the truth behind the curse of Allie Mae. Paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters flock to the valley, hoping to catch a glimpse of the supernatural forces that are said to linger here. Whether or not the curse is real, one thing is certain: the story of Allie Mae continues to captivate and mystify those who venture into Cades Cove..
Reviews for "The Curse of Allie Mae: Exploring the Ghostly Phenomena in Cades Cove"
1. Sarah - 2/5
While I was initially intrigued by the concept of "The Curse Haunting Allie Mae Cades Cove," the execution of the story fell flat for me. The pacing was uneven, with long periods of slow and repetitive scenes that added little to the overall plot. The characters also lacked depth and development, making it difficult for me to connect with them or care about their fates. Additionally, I found the resolution to be predictable and anticlimactic. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and felt it didn't live up to its potential.
2. David - 1/5
"The Curse Haunting Allie Mae Cades Cove" was a complete disappointment for me. The storyline was confusing and convoluted, making it hard to follow and understand what was happening. The writing often seemed disjointed, with awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. The characters were one-dimensional, and their actions and motivations felt forced and unrealistic. I found myself unable to become immersed in the story and ended up feeling frustrated and unsatisfied. I would not recommend this book to others.
3. Emily - 2/5
I had high hopes for "The Curse Haunting Allie Mae Cades Cove," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The narrative lacked originality, relying on tired tropes and clichés. The pacing was uneven, with too much focus on irrelevant details and not enough on advancing the plot. The dialogue felt forced, and the characters lacked depth and complexity. While the premise had potential, it ultimately fell flat for me. I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book.
4. Mark - 1/5
"The Curse Haunting Allie Mae Cades Cove" was a chore to get through. The writing was subpar, with awkward sentence structure and an overabundance of unnecessary adjectives. The characters were forgettable and lacked distinct personalities. The plot was predictable, and any potential for suspense or thrills was squandered by inconsistent pacing and a lack of tension. Overall, I found this book to be uninspiring and would not recommend it to others.