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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) |
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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!! |
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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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. ;} ) |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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Posted - 30 Oct 2025 : 02:54:51
On Realmsian name for muscle strain
Juniper Churlgo — 16/10/2025 6:36 AM
A Q for Ed: I’ve been running a ton and recently strained my muscle so this, of corse made me think of the realms, any realmsian names for it? Any cures, natural, or potional?
Ed Greenwood — 24/10/2025 11:13 AM
Yes: in Common, a pulled muscle is an “innerburn,” which long ago got shortened to “inburn.” Natural cures include wet heat (hot baths and hot fog), and potions of healing (and for that matter, regeneration and restoration, too) deal with sprains, strains, and muscle tears. |
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Posted - 30 Oct 2025 : 02:49:04
On men in Loviatan communities
Elliott! — 14/10/2025 6:14 AM
Hello Ed! Bit of random question.
Dambrath seems to have a social + legal system that’s matriarchal in nature, one where men have less rights and struggle to rise the ranks in loviatan religious spaces. Is this matriarchal nature something innate and normal to loviatar and her worshippers in general, or is this moreso a cultural impact from the T'lindhet Lolthites that impacted dambrath and ‘resulted’ in the Cintri? Do men in loviatan communities struggle akin to men in lolthite communities, or is it not quite the same?
Thank you for gracing us with amazing realmslore! @Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood — 24/10/2025 11:06 AM
Hi! And you're welcome! The matriarchal element in Dambrath came from the Lolthites, yes, and was embraced by Loviatan worshippers there, but isn't integral to the worship of Loviatar, and men in Loviatan communities are used to strong women taking leadership roles, but not formal matriarchs, and women (just as men) exhibit a wide range of characters and authority and social standing. A misogynist would have a hard time of it, but otherwise, men don't struggle as a gender, just individuals (i.e. *ssholes not tolerated). |
| questing gm |
Posted - 14 Oct 2025 : 10:32:46
On portals in original Realms
returnip — 10/10/2025 6:18 PM
Hello again Ed. Another question that might be easy to answer:
Did your original realms already feature magical portals, or was it TSR's or someone else's addition?
Ed Greenwood — 12/10/2025 4:10 AM
"My" Realms was riddled with magical gates (portals) years before D&D existed. TSR downplayed them at first, except as a means of "jumping around" in the same continent.
Cdawg — 13/10/2025 9:50 AM
Were they mostly naturally occurring? Who or what made so many? Just a popular pastime for archmages?, elves, and cold blooded creator races?
Ed Greenwood — 24/10/2025 10:59 AM
There were a handful of rifts ("driftgates") created by natural disasters, but moast of them were ancient networks created by many vanished/fallen kingdoms and wizard cabals.
- Edited on 30/10/2025 to add new replies |
| questing gm |
Posted - 14 Oct 2025 : 08:55:02
On Elminster taking Ed to Faerun
returnip — 5/10/2025 4:39 AM
Greetings Ed.
So we've heard (read) your stories about Elminster visiting you, but has he ever taken you with him to Faerûn? And if he did, where did you go and what did you experience? It would be interesting to hear such a story. #128578;
Ed Greenwood — 9/10/2025 4:44 AM
Heh. I wrote one, long ago, and TSR swallowed it. I was never paid for it, so I'll see if I can't find it and resurrect it. May take a while! |
| questing gm |
Posted - 05 Oct 2025 : 08:13:40
On the Moon and Stars Tavern in Waymoot
kageura necromancer wizard — 30/9/2025 7:49 PM
@Ed Greenwood Hi Ed,
I have a few questions regarding the Moon and Stars Tavern in Waymoot. i have not heard anything about it since volo's guide to cormyr. Could you share who currently runs it in the current Realms year, and whether its ownership, clientele, reputation, or physical layout has changed since Volo’s time? Have there been any notable events, visitors, or connections in recent years?
Ed Greenwood — 3/10/2025 3:32 AM
Reply coming; just tracking down some notes (there was an RPGA adventure set there...). Hang tight. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Oct 2025 : 18:15:23
On the nicest deities in the Realms
ChiefAffirmationOfficer — 1/10/2025 5:38 AM
@Ed Greenwood Who are the nicest deities in the Realms? Any Canadian-stereotype-level gods out there?
And by "nice," I suppose, I don't necessarily mean precisely "kind."
Ed Greenwood — 2/10/2025 12:27 AM
Eldath, Chauntea, Sharess, Lliira...and most of the halfling deities...just off the top of my head. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Oct 2025 : 18:11:07
On how do Sorcerer or Warlock level up and accesses new and greater spells
seemingly_clever — 21/6/2025 3:01 AM
To the wise Saer @Ed Greenwood! My fair and lovely ladyfriend has been delving into the Realms via “Baldur’s Gate III” (and we’ve enjoyed watching your playthrough so far), and I wanted to see if you could help me clarify an inquiry of hers.
That is, what does it look like, in-universe, when a Sorcerer or Warlock (particularly the latter) levels up and accesses new and greater spells? She understands that Wizards study, and so, greater experience lets them understand the deeper theories of the Art, but not the newer two spellcasters. Any insight would be much appreciated.
Ed Greenwood — 30/9/2025 10:16 AM
It varies.
To some but not all sorcerers, it’s as if new “windows” or “doors” have appeared in the “walls” of passages their minds traverse while casting spells they already know, revealing that “hey, there’s an entire ROOM here that wasn’t here before!” ... that when they step into it, they can see in the walls of this new room various windows that offer views of magical effects that haven’t seen “the business end of” before (or to put it another way: they may have seen, say, a landslide that’s natural, or caused by a giant creature falling on an unstable steep slope, or caused by a spell cast by someone else—but now, they can see the magical levers that will let them unleash a landslide themselves). So these new windows offer them access to new spells—or ways to “power up” existing magics, so a fireball or lightning bolt gains damage. (Part 2 follows, below...)
(Part 2, as promised...) To other sorcerers, they dream, and in their dreams “see” new magics, and something of how to unleash them, that they remember when they awaken—so if they try what they recall, it works, and for most, attempting these new things they try is the greatest thrill they can feel.
For warlocks, they gain the ability to see and use more of their magics their patrons wield, through the pacts they’ve made with those patrons. They may have seen other beings, perhaps even their patrons, cast specific magics before, but now they suddenly “see” how to cast those magics themselves, whereas before, if they watched another warlock unleash a particular magic and copied them exactly, nothing happened. Now, suddenly, it does.
It’s VERY rare for an otherworldly patron to appear to a warlock in person or in their dreams and say the equivalent of: “Hey, I’ll be needing you to cast THIS soon, and now it’s apparent to me that you can handle such castings, so here you go, this is how it’s done!”...but this HAS happened.
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 1/10/2025 11:24 PM
Speaking of patrons, I wonder if you have any named powerful Efreeti that might serve as good genie patrons? What would such a powerful patron want? It seems that the vast amount of wealth in the City of Brass makes gold and most magic items moot. Anything besides political intrigue and chasing down a macguffin?
Ed Greenwood — 2/10/2025 12:42 AM
Zarramakru is a monstrously-fat, often guffawing, jovial mountain of an efreet who craves loyalty: the diligent and unswerving service of humans, elves, dwarves, and halflings of exceptional skills. He wants the real doers and accomplishers, not the famous and high-ranking, and approves of low-profile “quiet experts.” He’s forever building a network of such folk, so he can use them to nudge world events and attitudes of rulers in small ways, to “steer” the world to be more as he wants it to be. The tasks he sets his Loyal to do can sometimes seem to be empty or trivial whimsies, but they’re always part of a grand tapestry he sees in his mind, of what he wants Toril to be, and become.
Hullaharu is an evil efreet, who seeks to steer the world in accordance with his own vision of what it should be through mortal servants who perform assassinations to “prune the weak and those of improper aims and vision.”
So, a patron only for evil characters, but I mention him here because of his sister, Aunululistar, who opposes him and can herself be a patron for good individuals. A curvaceous efreet who usually veils her lower face and wears a gown of flickering flames (illusory, not real flames, though her skin often gives off flames due to her efreet nature), she maintains a shadowy webwork of mortal spies and agents to try to prevent the assassinations Hullaharu orders. He hates her, and she fondly sneers at him. |
| questing gm |
Posted - 04 Oct 2025 : 18:03:24
On food culture of giants
Spellslamzer — 20/6/2025 3:37 AM
@Ed Greenwood We’ve heard a lot about the various races and cultures of the Realms, but I’m curious if you could give us any food culture of giants? And how does their food culture vary between giant type and culture? And how can giants produce enough food to sustain themselves?
Ed Greenwood — 30/9/2025 10:05 AM
Giants long ago discovered what deep gnomes and drow did: that certain fungi can be grown in caverns (both in the Underdark and within mountains) that is not just edible, it can be flavoured to be very pleasant by adding various mixes of minerals (literally, adding rocks to the cavern walls and floor the fungi is in contact with), and under the right conditions it grows with astonishing speed: enough to keep up with the input needs of many large and active giant bodies.
Giant cuisine developing from this fungi base became a matter of preparation of the fungi (slicing and frying, rather than boiling, and fermenting in contact with just the right fluid mixtures) to achieve the right textures, so that the fungi on a dining platter resembled in texture the roasted rothé and other herd animals that giants had been used to hunting (or penning in alpine valleys and then rearing as captive food-herds) before discovering how much they could rely on the fungi.
Three sorts of fungi they dine on are most popular with Giants:
Bulavurr is a deep brown, heavy, “meaty” fungi that usually tastes like very well-done roast beef when enjoyed by giants.
Lawthoum is a light yellow-brown to amber, soft fungi that resembles lightly-roasted calf-liver in texture, but has a sharp taste like aged cheeses.
Royslarrve is a blue-purple-gray, very dense (and so, chewy) fungi that tastes like moose or venison or other “gamey” meat like antelope. If poached in wines, it can take on the taste of the wine almost exclusively.
Other fungi can be distilled into wines and stronger liquors, notably alazavvur, which can if imbibed too heavily cause long-lasting blindness in non-dwarves, non-gnomes, and non-giants.
Zonesylvania — 2/10/2025 2:26 AM
Can other races, especially surface-dwelling ones, eat these fungi to similar effect, or would they be inedible/poisonous? I saw that you mentioned other deep-dwelling races also use these as food sources/grow them in certain ways as gourmet comestibles, but a little clarification would be helpful.
Ed Greenwood — 3/10/2025 3:31 AM
Yes, other races can consume these fungi as beneficial edibles, IF properly prepared. They are "acquired tastes" (like highly spiced food is, to a palate accustomed to bland), some individuals are allergic to certain fungi, and note the warning about blindness: distillates of these fungi are particularly dangerous to some races unless diluted sufficiently (just as the real-world drink absinthe is a poison, and must be ingested with care for amounts and strength). So incautious consumption of raw fungi in particular, can end in disaster (agonizing cramps, uncontrolled vomiting and defecation, writhing and near-helplessness, or even long comas), but when properly prepared, the fungi can be a steady "staple" foodstuff.
- Edited on 5/10/2025 to add new replies |
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