| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| questing gm |
Posted - 05 Nov 2023 : 14:05:37
Since starting up his own Discord server (https://discord.onl/greenwoods-grotto/), Ed Greenwood has been answering Realms-related questions in the #q4ed channel. Although it's free to join the Discord and view his answers, but I believe it requires a subscription to Ed's Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/EdGreenwood) to be given access to ask him questions there.
So since his answers are free to view by anyone on his Discord and for the benefit of those who are not on Discord, I'm starting and updating my compilation of his answers in this scroll. I'll leave it to the wisdom of moderating scribes if anything should be changed or removed.
I won't be able to put down everything (I already have 300+ answered questions to put down), so consider updates here will be intermittent, and will take a while before it catches up to the latest questions answered. (Or just join the Discord if you want the latest  )
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| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 15:50:31
On Damascus forging on adamantine
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:41 PM
I was asked this Realmslore question: My character would like to craft a weapon as a gift for his deity through the campaign. Is it possible to perform a Damascus forging process with Mithril?
Could other metals like Adamantine be used in this process?
And my response is.... Adamantine is the flexible/durable alloy made from the brittle, super-hard pure metal adamant (derived from the ore adamantite). Neither adamant, in any of its forms, or mithril can serve well in the Damascus forging process/pattern welding/layering and hammering; the extensive reworking involved destroys both adamantine and mithril. On the other hand, both adamantine and mithril can be cast, and “worked thrice,” and dwarves who know how can make adamantine and mithril items have edges that can be hammered and ground repeatedly to keep them sharp and true. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 11:38:39
On detailed Ironfang Keep
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:41 PM
I was asked: Have you (or anyone else) ever detailed/mapped out Ironfang Keep? ...and my reply is: No, because TSR very early on (1986) declared it off-limits, for use in a third-party licensed computer game. Which so far as I know either never happened, or used Ironfang not at all, or only peripherally. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 09:17:51
On vanilla cordial or liquers
Zonesylvania — 18/7/2025 10:33 PM
Good saer @Ed Greenwood , are there any liqueurs or cordials in the Realms that have vanilla as a primary flavoring or somehow taste like it? thankee!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:30 PM
Most Faerûnians know the taste of vanilla through drinking Athkatlan clarry, a ruby-red wine made in Athkatla, the capital of Amn. It’s a fortified, spiced wine in which sweet (thanks to honey) vanilla is the predominant flavor.
However, there’s also a cordial enjoyed in Tashluta (and throughout the Tashalar, by those aspiring to the customs of Tashluta) as an after-supper “delight,” in very small quantities (usually served in the equivalent of what we in the modern real world would call “shot glasses”). It is VERY sweet, vanilla-flavored, and known as “unicorn tears” (though this is a fanciful name; it has nothing at all to do with unicorns, and is simply a cordial someone concocted in the 1200s DR that caught on, locally).
And finally, some families in Chessenta, back in the 1100s DR, made and enjoyed olortharr, a heavy, oily red liqueur that is more peppery than sweet, but has a vanilla-like “undertaste.” It’s derived from secret family recipes, and is still made today all over Faerûn (wherever descendants of those Chessentans relocated to), but is an acquired taste. And has no vanilla in it at all, just a taste akin to vanilla derived from its mixture. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 08:41:21
On Jarlathin Mantlepard
Juniper Churlgo — 24/8/2025 2:47 AM
Ed, quick Q about Jarlathin Mantlepard. What's the year of his death? Also can you pin the Mantlepard home on the Suzail map?
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:30 PM
Lord Jarlathin Mantlepard died in “the middle of the night” (actually in the early hours of) Kythorn 12, in 1376 DR. His grand manse, Mantlargard, is the westernmost-in-the-same-block large building west of High Oronel, on the Suzail interactive FR Wiki map (the building between the two grand houses is the Mantlepard stable block). |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 08:33:05
On how elder and younger dwarves address each other
Kokopelli — 8/11/2025 12:40 PM
Friend @Ed Greenwood, my question-asking roll continues... How would an older dwarf address a younger dwarf? Especially in the case of a mentor/teacher addressing an apprentice? I'm trying to avoid the obvious "son" or "lad" that so readily comes to mind.
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:27 PM
“Bright days” is the dwarven term for youth, and a pupil or apprentice is a “seeker,” so a formal or fond ‘title’ that an older dwarf may well use is “Bright Seeker,” as in: “And what have you concluded, then, O Bright Seeker?”
“Small axe” is a dwarf term for young, not yet fully-grown or experienced; it’s fond or gentle rather than disparaging. (It does NOT refer to the actual size of any body part, or weapon or tool.)
In the other direction (younger dwarf addressing older), “greybeard” is only disparaging through tone of voice or context (i.e. if said sneeringly or bitterly).
“Wisebeard” is a clearly respectful alternative (meaning “older and more experienced individual I revere,” not necessarily a dwarf but almost always a dwarf).
“Manypages” (meaning “dwarf who has lived enough that the tale of their life would fill many pages in their stone book) is another way of respectfully addressing an elder, and gets used a lot to be polite to a stranger who is likely or clearly a much older dwarf).
“Manysuns” is a specifically feminine term of respect (younger dwarf of either gender to older female dwarf), and refers to the elder having seen many spring sunrises: of old, in some deep-dwelling dwarf clans, females went on a foray to see a spring sunrise on the surface, to try to judge from portents sent by the dwarf gods, visible only at that sunrise, what the unfolding year would bring).
Zonesylvania — 8/11/2025 1:52 PM
piggybacking on to this, how would the younger dwarf address the older as well? thankee!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:28 PM
See my reply to Kokopelli: it applies to your question too! |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 07:54:46
On the Realmsian Florida Man
Zonesylvania — 11/8/2025 7:41 AM
Dear saer @Ed Greenwood , this is a little of an offbeat question, but is there any in-Realms equivalent of Florida Man or similar phrase someone might use to describe such people? thankee!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:25 PM
In the lands about the Sea of Fallen Stars, “country bumpkins”/yokels are often described or joked about as coming from “Ambral Isle,” an island in the Inner Sea.
However, the maniacal or irrational or ridiculous actions that are the heart of the Florida Man meme are ascribed to being “god-touched” (and hence, no laughing matter) or (and here’s where a Florida Man equivalency comes in) the result of someone “working hard to get touched by the gods.” This gets shortened into “trying hard to get touched” or “he’s/she’s a try-hard.”
There are several competing beliefs (different faiths) about a place at the center of everything (not necessarily holding it together, but must be there, for “everything” to continue to exist as it does now).
Entropists and other believers in Entropy believe that “the House of Entropy,” which they envisage as an unlit M.C. Escher-like structure (and by this, I mean the strange-gravity area of archways, walls, floors, and staircases seen in the movie LABYRINTH, wherein Sarah tries to rescue Toby as Jareth the Goblin King menaces/taunts her) where Entropy dwells and desires to/or is compelled to periodically return to, for reasons not known to mortals, is at the center of everything.
Cultists of Ao believed that Ao existed as “the Flame In The Void” at the center of all existence/a dark gulf of nothingness multiple crystal spheres, literally a talking miniature star of flame floating in a dark void, that could project forth other forms Ao could take.
Some believers in the World Tree cosmological model held that the Cynosure demiplane floated at the center or heart of everything, and that if this neutral amphitheater was every destroyed, reality would collapse into endless chaos.
Some goblins believe the plane of Clangor is the true heart of all existence.
And so on. There are literally scores of competing beliefs. Even Zelazny’s Keep of the Four Worlds (from a later Amber novel) made it into the Realms as a “central to it all” place, thanks to a Milwaukee-era D&D Open tournament (I think Len Lakofka wrote the adventure that used it, but I’m not sure; I wasn’t on staff).
Elminster believes there is a central place (a cavern) wherein “the Primal Weave” lurks, and that the daughter of Shar and Selûne who became Mystryl truly became the Weave of Toril after being melted to nothingness in that Primal Weave, and “becoming” it, her body transformed forever (though she could take human and other forms—and still can, as the will o’ wisp “queen” she’s most often encountered as, today). However, Elminster has no idea where/on what plane this cavern is, and cares not—so long as Shar, Entropy, or Cyric never find it. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 07:26:27
On storm giants forging mithral
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:24 PM
Storm giants know how to forge mithral, but very seldom do—because the blood of all true giants “sours” mithral; repeated exposure to blood (but not sweat) causes the metal to crumble into black powder, forever useless (if the damage hasn’t “eaten too deep,” the “black dust” can be scoured and burnished off finished mithral to rescue what’s left of it). |
| questing gm |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 07:18:57
On Volo's mother's accelerated pregnancy
Kokopelli — 2/11/2025 1:57 AM
Friend @Ed Greenwood, because I cannot ask enough odd questions... The topic of Volo and his parentage came up in another discussion, and his mom's "sideline" business was referenced... Since that business would require a LOT of just sitting and waiting for the end result, I find myself wondering – was she somehow able to accelerate the process? Also, wouldn't this business mean that Volo – at least before the Spellplague – had a lot of noble and royal half-siblings he was presumably ignorant of?
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:23 PM
No, Volo’s mother had no way that I know of, of accelerating the process. And yes, Volo does indeed have a lot of noble and royal relatives he doesn’t know about (and hopefully for his sake, vice versa). |
| questing gm |
Posted - 17 Nov 2025 : 07:20:28
On food source and waste outlet of Evereska
Doc Webb — 6/8/2025 11:02 AM
@Ed Greenwood To follow up on the tenets of city design that you mentioned at Candlekeep: with regard to Evereska, where does the food come from, and where does the poop go? #128578; Thanks so much for all that you do!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:22 PM
The food comes from the following sources: most herbs and garnishes from gardens (rooftop, in many cases) in Evereska itself; crops (especially forest roots, wild garlic and other marsh shoots, the Brussels sprouts-like “knuckle ferns,” and barley) primarily from the Greycloak Hills (moon elven farmers working with the land rather than seeking to tame it); wines and other prepared foodstuffs (such as jams and jellies) from elven settlements all over Faerûn (trade with Evereska); and rare fish and meats, such as snake-meat, from the Forest of Wyrms and the River Chionthar and the Winding Water.
The poop gets sluiced out of garderobes in dwellings and other buildings, down into cellar cessponds seeded-by-the-elves with calace (“CAHL-lays”) flowers; these floating white flowers (think: water-lilies, but without root-stalks; they truly float at random) kill all stench and neutralize the acidity of urine (slowly, as they drain the nutrients they need from whatever liquid they’re floating in).
These cessponds are periodically pumped (by teleportation spells that gather liquids into stable bubbles, not with hoses and stinking workers wearing boots and waist-waders!) into settling ponds (spaced apart from each other, in an arc around settled Evereska, near the Meadow Wall) where spells are cast to purify the water and quell bacteria in the settled-out-of-the-water gooey solids, and (again by spell) these solids are subsequently spread on forest loam. Which is one reason why the forests that ring Evereska (the Vine Vale) are so rich and fast-growing. (The same specialized teleport spells also remove any “excess” purified water that would otherwise overflow or flood the pools.)
Doc Webb — 13/11/2025 12:41 PM
This is amazing. Thank you so much, sir!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:43 PM
My pleasure!! |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 17:10:18
On “the ends justifies the means” Harpers
PurpleProseLady — 6/8/2025 7:31 AM
Hello. Do the Harpers, when faced with truly dangerous enemies, ever resort to morally questionable strategies such as summoning a being from the Lower Planes to help defeat their foes? If a group calling themselves Harpers did such a thing, should we suspect that they are perhaps imposters, styling themselves as Harpers to achieve some perfidious goal? Or are such “the ends justifies the means” tactics to be expected from true Harpers? Thank you.
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:21 PM
SOME true Harpers are “ends justifies the means” people; Khelben was. Not all. So some may well resort to such tactics, if desperate. If there are other ways, they’ll use them, because Harpers DO try to foresee consequences. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 16:48:57
On sacred plants of Eldath
Zonesylvania — 7/8/2025 5:08 AM
dear saer @Ed Greenwood , do Eldathyn have any sacred plants or herbs that are beloved to the goddess or used in their general rituals? thankee!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:20 PM
Yes, two plants in particular.
The tiny white flower known as the runra (“ROON-rah”), a shade-loving forest weed that grows in rotting flesh and turns it to dirt, “purifying” any illness, contagion, or infection borne by the corpse. Eldathyn call it “everlife,” and for them it represents the hand and will of the goddess in renewal (the natural cycle of purification).
The bark-feeding, ambulatory (slowly creeping, seemingly at random) fungi known as “feykiss” due to fanciful old bardic beliefs about fey kissing trees and causing it. This rare fungus looks like a translucent milky sap (that is, it looks like dew or water with white particles deep in it), and can be used as a potent ingredient in healing spells and potions by those who know how to use it. Sorely-wounded or -infected Eldathyn who possess any magic at all (spell or item) have been known to ingest feykiss while magic is also present in their mouths (by casting a spell or literally licking or sucking on an enchanted item), to gain its healing benefits—and some of them have “miraculously” recovered from near-death as a result.
Runra is plentiful, but feykiss is not. Both are found in temperate woodlands only, usually “deep in” simply due to harvesting (that has occurred more in fringe areas, and less in the depths of forests).
Zonesylvania — 13/11/2025 12:23 PM
Thank you so much!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:45 PM
You're very welcome! I FINALLY got some time to dig into the beeeeeg file of unanswered Realmslore questions! |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 16:35:13
On Myrkul's resurrection during/around the Sundering
Genghis Sean — 19/7/2025 11:16 PM
Greetings @Ed Greenwood! We know Bane was resurrected by bursting out of his son, and Bhaal similarly returned when the remaining Bhaalspawn killed each other. Is there anything you can tell us about how Myrkul resurrected during/around the Sundering?
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:18 PM
As the Crown of Horns moved from mortal host to mortal host, it left behind tiny amounts of Myrkul’s sentience in some of their minds (whenever Myrkul desired this to happen; it was essential to his cunning plan to return). One such mind was that of Aumvor the Undying, and Myrkul eventually moved from Aumvor’s mind to possess an assistant during Aumvor’s attempts to magically leach power from the mad god Cyric. The power drain was successful, and Cyric is diminished to this day—but Aumvor could not keep the power he’d taken; it “melted away” (Aumvor did not realize his assistant, under Myrkul’s control and guidance, was in turn draining it to make possible his return to godhood). As this re-ascension was so silent and sneaky, priests and sages and bards had no notion of it, so it’s not been known until now. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 13:49:16
On quintessential food or drink of a magefair
Moon On The Horizon Etherdell — 7/11/2025 10:24 AM
Hail and well met, @Ed Greenwood!
I come with another questions about the magefair: On Earth, a lot of festivals, while having foods of every description available, have specific foods, drinks, or types of that are "iconic" and are intertwined with their respective festivals. I was wondering if there is any sort of food or drink that is considered a quintessential part of a magefair, and if there are what they look (and more importantly, taste) like.
Thank you!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:18 PM
Oh, yes, but it’s not what you might expect. A tradition from the earliest MageFairs is for vendors to roast and serve buttered chestnuts and mulled (spiced) cider. This arose long ago simply because some minor wizards wanted to be accepted and welcomed by mages of greater ability, and hit upon serving and selling these particular refreshments.
More recently, a particular drink has joined them as “always served” refreshments, for practical reasons: tavvul, a minty concoction from Evermeet that’s rather like pina colada in taste (but not ingredients; it’s entirely a secret mixture of herbs, leaves, and spring water) is now available at every MageFair. Why? Well, its slang name in Common is “sober-up,” because it causes an overall body sweat plus urgent urination that purges alcohol from the body of a drinker, banishing their drunkenness rapidly but unpleasantly. Making surviving some duels possible, after drinking gave the combatants the urge to agree to the duel in the first place. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 13:44:05
On the Ghost Holds of Battledale
Joe Chang — 8/11/2025 7:16 AM
@Ed Greenwood Patreon suggestion: the Ghost Holds of Battledale!
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:17 PM
Already in the hopper. Delayed because of a third-party side-project that itself has been delayed. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 13:36:34
On how drow dress or groom themselves differently based on gender
abra — 10/11/2025 7:27 AM
Tossing another question out for ya @Ed Greenwood since I know some of the language stuff is still NDA. Do you happen to have anything down about how drow dress or groom themselves differently based on gender? Currently I focus on hairstyles as one of the ways in homebrew lore, but the "women wear fur boleros to bed" thing stuck out to me and I was wondering if you've got anything else like that?
Ed Greenwood — 13/11/2025 12:16 PM
In the Underdark (NOT surface-world), Faerûnian drow gender-based differences in adornment are as follows: male drow never paint or decorate their toenails. Clip, yes, sometimes to points or decorative shapes, but no brushed-on hues, finishes, or glued-on adornments (females: yes, to all of these things).
Female drow may sport any sorts of tattoos or jewelry, but heterosexual male customarily drow bear only house markings (and spider tattoos and jewelry if Lolthite).
This is something I’ve de-emphasized in lore because drow are so popular that many third-party-license artists depict drow, and I don’t want to step on any toes or restrict artists in creating something that might look very cool. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 16 Nov 2025 : 13:31:50
On a "sultry, Red Robe sorceress" from Dragon 359
Melody — 11/11/2025 5:35 AM
@Ed Greenwood In Dragon 359, a "sultry, Red Robe sorceress" is mentioned. Do you remember who this sorceress was?
<https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1072136642162343986/1437556392977502268/image-21.png?ex=691a43b8&is=6918f238&hm=f08ed3ce99846f223247b83c2efaae2b22546e263ca79a349b9c1a5640b33cdc&>
Ed Greenwood — 12/11/2025 10:07 AM
Oh, yes. She was Daerlantha Horvrel, a renegade Red Wizard of Thay.
Born to minor Thayan nobility, she was a junior Red Wizard sent to Teziir to be the “persuasive trader, working the local community” for an enclave (Thayan trading outpost) established there. In other words, use her sex appeal to make friends, build contacts, covertly gather intelligence, and persuade merchants to agree to things they might otherwise agree to. She resented being given this role, and resented it even more when the head of the enclave, the Red Wizard Mourtrim Anagontur (a Conjurer), tried to frame her for his embezzlement from enclave takings.
Szass Tam believed Anagontur, and sent a team of four Red Wizards (three enforcers and a junior observer) to defeat, magically interrogate (how had she done it? Where were the funds? Who were her associates in these crimes?), and then execute Horvrel.
She used her correct hunch as to who would head this team (a Red Wizard Evoker by the name of Ralrahast Khahondr) and her “big secret” (the fact that she had trained as a Red Wizard, but was a sorceress from birth, so could cast spells as a sorcerer when she wanted to) to prepare some traps for the hit team. Using them, she defeated and destroyed Anagontur and the team—except for the junior observer, the timid, quiet Red Wizard Diviner Imrim Sarkel, whom she spared to take word back to Tam of her (faked) destruction—and then plundered and destroyed the enclave.
Departing Teziir for Saerloon, she established a new life for herself as the sultry, pleasure-loving (brothel, inn, and nightclub-owning) sorceress “Telamarra Rauntar,” posing as the daughter of a lost-in-dementia old rake of that city, Obrust Rauntar. She took great glee in entertaining many Red Wizards who had no idea of her past—but had to flee in a hurry, years later, when Imrim Sarkel showed up at her finest inn and recognized her. She ran to Elminster and requested a new identity and quiet life, which he gave her: she became a Harper teacher of Harper sorcerers, living quietly outside Deepingdale with a new face and yet another new name: Varaeda Darglim.
For many years she enjoyed the friendship of Elminster, Storm, and Dove. She was witty, clever, and fun-loving (sensual in every sense of the word). El doesn’t think Sarkel ever informed Szass Tam about discovering her in Saerloon. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 13 Nov 2025 : 12:27:59
On the gods' view on time travel
kageura necromancer wizard — 11/11/2025 1:22 AM
@Ed Greenwood how do the gods like ao mystra and the others feel about time travel? are there rules restrictions or anything against it?
Ed Greenwood — 11/11/2025 11:43 AM
Oh, yes. This has been covered many times, and I've even done a video on it. The short version is: frowned upon and prevented.
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| questing gm |
Posted - 13 Nov 2025 : 11:35:27
On a shrine of Finder in Silverymoon
Juniper Churlgo — 9/11/2025 11:18 PM
Hey Ed, a quick Q. Does Silverymoon have a shrine to Finder? if so, where is it?
Ed Greenwood — 11/11/2025 11:41 AM
Find the map tag "18" on the Silverymoon map. Draw a straight line E of NE to hit a wall tower. Look SW from that wall tower to the nearest small building that's shaped like a backwards "C." That's a small private mansion belonging to a successful retired adventurer, now investor and merchant-shipper Laraelna Bowdragon (CG hf Sor14). She has a shrine to Finder in her cellar (if you enter one of her wall-facing "back doors," you have ready access to the stairs down to it). The shrine is not unguarded. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 13 Nov 2025 : 11:26:39
On Aurora's Whole Realms Emporium store in Silverymoon
GAMEtatron — 9/11/2025 11:38 AM
Hi Ed!
Is there a Aurora's Whole Realms Emporium store in Silverymoon?
If yes, then where?
Thank you! #128578;
Ed Greenwood — 11/11/2025 11:32 AM
There WAS, but it got destroyed in a Zhentarim attempted takeover gone wrong: the Red Wizards jumped the Zhents in mid-attempt, and the resulting spell-duel turned the portal into a rift and certain Chosen had to act fast. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 11 Nov 2025 : 04:00:59
On imagery of Cormyr's golden lions
kageura necromancer wizard — 7/11/2025 1:35 AM
@Ed Greenwood Hi Ed, hope you’re doing well! I have a question regarding imagery. I know gold pieces in Cormyr are called golden lions, but I was curious what they actually look like. Are they a standard round coin, or do they have a more unique shape like Waterdeep’s dragons?
For minting details, I assume one side bears a lion — what would that lion imagery look like? And what image would appear on the other side of the coin?
Ed Greenwood — 7/11/2025 6:20 AM
The shape depends on the minting (age of the coins). Started out as oval because hand-stamped on an anvil, later became round, are round now, and during the reign of Rhigaerd II they were round but had a semicircular “cutout” at the bottom center of the edge (think: a “bite” that would take a typical real-world puzzle-piece “tab”).
One side bears a stand of three fat, heavy-foliage oak trees, with a “lion rampant gardant” (in real-world heraldic terms; that is, the specific pose) superimposed in front of them on one side, with “CORMYR” in Common beneath its feet, inscribed in a curve to match the shape of the coin. On the obverse is the seal of Cormyr (the rampant purple dragon within a shield frame, as seen on the Cormyr entry front screen on the Fr Wiki. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 11 Nov 2025 : 03:54:20
On the closest drink to Bailey’s in the Realms
Juniper Churlgo — 6/11/2025 5:55 AM
More food questions for Illustrious Greenwood. What is the closest drink to Bailey’s in the realms? Manyslake or just a liquor or both
Ed Greenwood — 6/11/2025 11:18 AM
The closest thing to Bailey’s in Faerûn is Telluraudro (“TELL-er-ROD-roe”), a mixture of melted crushed and strained cocoa, thick cream (from cows), powdered mint, powdered thyme, and not-aged whiskey (distilled fermented barley mash) made in eastern and southeastern Tethyr, Erlkazar, and more recently in the Tashalar and various locales in the Border Kingdoms. Unlike Bailey’s, it lacks an emulsifier (in Bailey’s, that’s vegetable oil), so it constantly separates and must be stirred as it’s drunk. The cream makes it spoil quickly if not kept cool, so in taverns, inns, and eateries, it’s typically mixed only when patrons order it (and until then, the whiskey, the dried powder mix, and the cream are all stored separately. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 11 Nov 2025 : 03:45:30
On sleepwear in the Realms
Elliott! — 2/11/2025 1:43 PM
Good evening Ed!
You’ve given us a lot of great info about clothing and culture around who wears what and when in the realms, but I’ve always wondered about what people are wearing to bed. I’d love to hear more about sleepwear in the realms. Are people wearing pjs? Underwear? Their birthday suits?
I’m sure it may differ where you’re at and what culture you hail from. If you’d prefer to get specific let’s say, the big cities on the sword coast, the drow of the underdark, and Cormyr as possible examples? Of course if any other interesting places come to mind I’d be excited to hear about it.
I hope you’re well, and as always thank you for the amazing work you do for all of us realms fans! #10024; #128156; @Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood — 5/11/2025 12:45 AM
Bedwear does indeed vary from place to place, time to time, and with species and culture and even individual. “Time to time” as in: cold winter months versus warmer other times of year, and at home versus traveling and staying in an inn in a big city.
Here’s the usual, for humans of Faerûn (Sword Coast cities and Heartlands cities, Cormyr, Dales): naked at home except when in company or in cold situations, whereupon both genders tend to wear “nightshirts,” which are open at bottom, pull-on-over-head ankle- or shin-length garments, augmented by slippers when up and about. Most folk have one or two “everyday” nightshirts, and a grand-looking “for public show” one for use when traveling to big cities, or when others (e.g. servants in an inn or grand home they’re staying at) might see them so clad. In the Underdark, Drow tend to sleep naked, or (males) in sleepshorts, or (females of rank and standing, such as all priestesses) open jackets, like a real-world “bolero” or “shrug” fur overjacket, that conceal nothing and are used for ornamentation and to denote personal importance. Drow pull on “house boots” (higher-than-the-knee dark, soft-soled boots) when up and about from their beds, indoors. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 11 Nov 2025 : 03:34:41
On dracohar and stagheaded sorcerers
Kokopelli — 3/11/2025 9:41 AM
Friend @Ed Greenwood, I just learned of your Tweet about the dracohar where you said "And there IS a spell that temporarily gives the caster (or recipient) a huge rack of antlers plus the neck muscles to use them and alter head appearance, and THAT is behind all the "stag headed" casters who appear in Realmslore. Hides the dragon head." Does this mean that every reference we've seen to werestags and stagheaded sorcerers and the like has actually been dracohar in disguise? Or are the dracohar aware of and taking the appearance of stagheaded sorcerers, for some reason?
Ed Greenwood — 5/11/2025 12:35 AM
The dracohar are aware of, and taking the appearance of, stagheaded sorcerers so their activities will mistakenly be ascribed to those sorcerers. So, not “every” reference, but “many” or even perhaps “most” references are to spell-disguised dracohar. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Nov 2025 : 05:02:05
On the Brewers and Cheesemakers Guild in 1501 DR
Jeremy Grenemyer — 1/11/2025 3:05 AM
Hi @Ed Greenwood! #128075;
Your latest lore drop (The Witch Duke's Bride) was a real treat to read. Thank you. #128578;
But I must ask: By 1501 DR has the Brewers and Cheesemakers Guild reformed in some way?
Or was Lord Mistwind's 3 million gold pieces not enough to assuage the acrimony that led to this Guild's downfall?
Thank you, Ed, as always.
Ed Greenwood — 1/11/2025 4:15 AM
You're very welcome! Very late in 1500 DR, the Brewers and Cheesemakers Guild is meeting again, quietly and in "upper back rooms" and with a low public profile. Some former members remain so, and others want a very different "fellowship" than before. Right now: tentative, wary, and publicly quiet. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Nov 2025 : 04:51:58
On Aerammarglarya
kageura necromancer wizard — 31/10/2025 3:54 AM
#8288;#129497;#65073;q4ed#8288; @Ed Greenwood I was wondering if convention season has wrapped up for you, and if you might have a moment to provide tips for Aerammarglarya, the black dragon descendant of Thaulglor I’ve been developing. You mentioned earlier this year that you’d look over what I had and talk it through with me when time allowed. I’d really appreciate your help tying her properly into Realms canon — things like ancestry details, backstory connections, appearance guidance, and any general tips to make her fully lore-consistent. Thank you
Ed Greenwood — 1/11/2025 4:12 AM
Soon! I am writing some rush projects right now and dealing with tons of real-world stuff. Soon! |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Nov 2025 : 03:47:44
On gaining the Gift through polymorph and wish
valethehowl — 30/10/2025 7:24 PM
Good day saer @Ed Greenwood ! Today I come with a rather peculiar question, basically how being Giftless interact with spells like True Polymorph and Wish. If a Giftless person is turned into a creature that should have magic powers, like a dragon or an elf, would they gain the powers associated with their new form or would they remain magicless? And what would happen if someone tried to use the Wish spell to grant the Gift to a Giftless?
Ed Greenwood — 1/11/2025 4:09 AM
If a Giftless being is turned into a creature that has inherent magical abilities, they gain the Gift thereby (permanently, if they ever actively use any of those powers/abilities). If someone uses a Wish spell to grant the Gift, it will work, and again, the Gift will be gained. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Nov 2025 : 03:29:51
On darklords from Toril
Spellslamzer — 30/10/2025 7:23 PM
Hello, @Ed Greenwood. In Ravenloft, the darklords Hazlik, Tsien Chiang, Harkon Lukas, Urik von Kharkov and Tristen Hiregaard all come from Toril before being taken by the mists. Of course, since then, the lore has been revamped for Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, with only Hazlik's place of origin being stated in his backstory. Would you still say that the 5e counterparts of these darklords still came from Toril?
Ed Greenwood — 1/11/2025 4:06 AM
I would still say they all came from Toril. I wrote up a secret in-house list of Realms NPCs who ventured into the mists, and although only Gondegal was taken up and used right away, that list was deemed canon and the Ravenloft editor of the time intended that it be used as a stable of NPCs for future Ravenloft adventures. (Or as the TSR joke of the time put it: "an unstable" of NPCs. ;} ) |
| questing gm |
Posted - 30 Oct 2025 : 03:18:41
On Szass Tam in New Jersey
Cdawg — 20/10/2025 12:04 AM
@Ed Greenwood I saw Szass Tam this morning, skulking among Halloween decorations, red robes and all. Why was he in New Jersey? Too many Chosen infiltrating Canada to raid your larder?
Ed Greenwood — 24/10/2025 11:23 AM
No, he scouts Earth locations every Halloween, for his own (almost certainly nefarious) future purposes. However, yes, he stays well away from me for fear of blundering into contact with Elminster or one of the Seven Sisters, and paying the price. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 30 Oct 2025 : 03:14:03
On Waterdeep's paved streets
returnip — 18/10/2025 12:01 AM
Hello again, Ed! I hope you are well, and having fun at the con. Don't catch a bug!
We were discussing the streets of Waterdeep and in particular the paved streets as specified in the poster maps for the 1994 City of Splendors book.
The question I have is if Waterdeep has generally has had more nearby resources of sedimentary rock and the streets are paved with flagstones, or if the nearby resources are mainly non-sedimentary rock and the streets are paved with setts (and what little flagstone is available might have been hogged by the rich families for their garden patios)?
Thanks in advance. #128578; #10084;#65039;
Ed Greenwood — 24/10/2025 11:20 AM
Waterdeep's paved streets are almost all cobbles made of granite (60 percent or so), basalt (35 percent-ish), and limestone. (Sourced up and down the Sword Coast.) Flagstones are indeed used on private grounds. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 30 Oct 2025 : 03:02:35
On mageduel rankings
Kokopelli — 16/10/2025 11:06 AM
Friend @Ed Greenwood, I was reading your Lost Lore about Mageduels earlier today, and it mentions, a couple of times, that Mageduels are used to establish rankings.
I am curious about these rankings. Is it something like "2nd place at the 1371 Mageduel" or a recognized title like "Savant Mage" or just a way for mages to justifiably say "I'm better than Tahm Kewlname"?
As always, I appreciate your time and your lore!
Ed Greenwood — 24/10/2025 11:16 AM
It's mainly a way for individual wizards to boast that they're better than another individual, but also serves as "standing" to be a judge in the duels of others and other situations. There's an informal title, "Strongspells," often used by those who've won more than twenty-two Mageduels (individual contests) over several MageFairs.
Moon On The Horizon Etherdell — 4/11/2025 11:56 PM
Saer @Ed Greenwood, I was wondering what the rules of such a duel are. Would potions or other magic items be allowed? If a mage had a spell that enhanced, say, sword, would they be allowed to use the sword in the duel?
Ed Greenwood — 5/11/2025 12:28 AM
No, it's spell versus spell only. Yes, you can use them in unconventional ways, BUT...not ways that "use" or affect observers, any magic items, and any purpose-made weapon (e.g. knife, sword, arrowhead...whereas a rock or a twig CAN be used as a weapon, but isn't "purpose made" as one). No potions. No secrecy. Duel occurs right there at the MageFair within agreed-upon "dueling ground" area, in front of observers, at approved times (so we don't have 40 duels going on at once side-by-side with likely overlaps and even wild magic generation). Presiding mage (more powerful than combatants, if available) calls a firm beginning, and a firm end (so, now beating up foes you've defeated).
- Edited on 11/11/2025 to add new responses. |
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