Crelanu (Canon Infos)

[s1m0n]

Hello fellow forists,

I am currently working on a campaign where you will first play as outlaws, but later your leader will become a mage. As I think the figure Crelanu is really interesting, I thought about modifying my story so it fits to Crelanu. Is there any "Canon"/Mainline information about Crelanu? If yes, please write it down below, if not, then I will go wild

Any feedback will be appreciated!

s1m0n

[s1m0n]

Is there any "Canon"/Mainline information about Crelanu? If yes, please write it down below, if not, then I will go wild

Also anything which isn't clearly said but could possibly be (for example does a magician exist, who has about the age so that he could be Crelanu's Mentor, even if this isn't told anywhere that Crelanu learned from him)

[revansurik]

Is there any "Canon"/Mainline information about Crelanu? If yes, please write it down below, if not, then I will go wild

Also anything which isn't clearly said but could possibly be (for example does a magician exist, who has about the age so that he could be Crelanu's Mentor, even if this isn't told anywhere that Crelanu learned from him)

Not sure you're still planning that campaign (it's been a few months since your message ^^''), but here's what I can remember about Crelanu:
- In mainline, he appears both in Legend of Wesmere and Secrets of the Ancients;
- He's already quite old in the early years of Wesnoth, so one must assume he came from the Green Isle along with Haldric (and spent his youth there).
- He's a very powerful mage, and wrote a book with all the spells he knows. Said book is rumoured to contain extremely powerful magic, and for years he was attacked by those who would seize it (until he gave the book to Kalenz and his elves for keeping).
- He survives both those campaigns, so if yours is set after them, he could easily feature (though, again, he'd be quite old).
- He was Haldric I's friend, but was banished from Wesnoth by him; Crelanu claims Haldric was already corrupted by the Ruby of Fire then.

[egallager]

Is there any "Canon"/Mainline information about Crelanu? If yes, please write it down below, if not, then I will go wild

Also anything which isn't clearly said but could possibly be (for example does a magician exist, who has about the age so that he could be Crelanu's Mentor, even if this isn't told anywhere that Crelanu learned from him)

Not sure you're still planning that campaign (it's been a few months since your message ^^''), but here's what I can remember about Crelanu:
- In mainline, he appears both in Legend of Wesmere and Secrets of the Ancients;
- He's already quite old in the early years of Wesnoth, so one must assume he came from the Green Isle along with Haldric (and spent his youth there).
- He's a very powerful mage, and wrote a book with all the spells he knows. Said book is rumoured to contain extremely powerful magic, and for years he was attacked by those who would seize it (until he gave the book to Kalenz and his elves for keeping).
- He survives both those campaigns, so if yours is set after them, he could easily feature (though, again, he'd be quite old).
- He was Haldric I's friend, but was banished from Wesnoth by him; Crelanu claims Haldric was already corrupted by the Ruby of Fire then.

I always thought it was weird how he was a "very powerful mage" as described by the lore, but then when he actually appears in Legend of Wesmere, as a unit and side commander, he's actually rather weak, in gameplay terms...

[Lord-Knightmare]

About Crelanu, I once made a campaign around 10 years ago about him. This is the thread.

[revansurik]

I always thought it was weird how he was a "very powerful mage" as described by the lore, but then when he actually appears in Legend of Wesmere, as a unit and side commander, he's actually rather weak, in gameplay terms...

That's an issue in most Wesnoth campaigns, I'd say. Take Kalenz: a legendary, centuries-old elvish lord, who is just like any other lvl 3 elvish lord in terms of attacks and powers. Or Delfador: a legendary human mage, arguably the greatest in Wesnothian history, yet he's weaker than a standard lvl 4 Great Mage (granted, he's also quite old so you can argue he's past his prime).
Sure, a hero unit doesn't need be much more powerful than standard units, but it's weird how a lot of heroes in campaigns are exactly like any standard unit of the same type and level. Like, give Gweddry a "mentor" ability once he reaches lvl 4 (like Garak in UtBS), or give Crelanu abilities such as leadership or heal or illuminate... Anything that sets these supposedly exceptionally powerful individuals apart.

[Pewskeepski]

That's an issue in most Wesnoth campaigns, I'd say. Take Kalenz: a legendary, centuries-old elvish lord, who is just like any other lvl 3 elvish lord in terms of attacks and powers. Or Delfador: a legendary human mage, arguably the greatest in Wesnothian history, yet he's weaker than a standard lvl 4 Great Mage (granted, he's also quite old so you can argue he's past his prime).
Sure, a hero unit doesn't need be much more powerful than standard units, but it's weird how a lot of heroes in campaigns are exactly like any standard unit of the same type and level. Like, give Gweddry a "mentor" ability once he reaches lvl 4 (like Garak in UtBS), or give Crelanu abilities such as leadership or heal or illuminate... Anything that sets these supposedly exceptionally powerful individuals apart.

For the most part, I agree with you, particularly about Kalenz. Delfador on the other hand is quite a powerful unit in his own campaign (when he is in his prime), as a level 4 Great Mage with lightning strikes, and quite a surprising about of damage-dealing with his melee staff! As for Gweddry -- as a character -- I think what sets him apart is the actions he takes from a story perspective, but beyond that, he's an ordinary military leader who's doing his duty. It's something I find rather compelling about Eastern Invasion; that he's not the standard hero-type, and is instead a more normal person. Sceptre of Fire and The Hammer of Thursagan are the same way.

[revansurik]

As for Gweddry -- as a character -- I think what sets him apart is the actions he takes from a story perspective, but beyond that, he's an ordinary military leader who's doing his duty. It's something I find rather compelling about Eastern Invasion; that he's not the standard hero-type, and is instead a more normal person. Sceptre of Fire and The Hammer of Thursagan are the same way.

Fair point. Though I must say SoF and THoT have the weakest protagonists by far imo xP At least Thursagan and Durstorn make SoF interesting, but Rugnur feels like just an excuse for the player to have a way of recruiting units.