| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 26 Jan 2015 : 23:48:22
Hail, fellow scribes,
I'm compiling a list of some Forgotten Realms (so Faerun, Kara-tur, Maztica, wherever) treasures/items/knick-knacks that you might find in the treasure hoard of a well-traveled nobleman in a fairly large city in Faerun, say, on the southern edge of the Sea of Fallen Stars.
(And no, I can't say exactly why.)
Preferences:
1) Item is pre-existing/canonical, as in a thing you remember from FR/D&D video games, reading about in novels, or saw in sourcebooks, etc. Please cite sources.
2) Item has visual representation in sourcebooks and/or online (i.e. I can look at it, rather than just go by a description).
3) Item is fairly expensive or exotic, but not SUPREMELY so. King's Tears, for example, are probably a little too pricey for this particular noble.
4) Damaged/depowered magical items are fine.
So. What are your favorite Realmsy items? What iconic treasures scream "FR!" to you?
I really appreciate the help. 
Cheers |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BenN |
Posted - 29 Jan 2015 : 02:01:38
While not specifically 'Realmsian' per se, you might want to have a look at RL museum collections for inspiration; there are lots of awe-inspiring, beautiful objects that could be the inspiration for treasure a well-travelled noble in Faerun might have.
For example, objects found in RL treasure hoards can be pretty amazing: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/h/helmet_from_sutton_hoo.aspx
Enchanted helmet of Moonshae Northlander raider chieftan, perhaps? |
| Seravin |
Posted - 29 Jan 2015 : 01:41:58
Neverwinter Water Clock?
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| Delwa |
Posted - 28 Jan 2015 : 15:51:46
A couple of mundane trinkets I always found a neat Realms addition, "Drow Swimwear" (Aurora's p 93) and the Light Splitter in DaRoni's workshop in the same source (p150.) I can totally see a shadow puppet show being a form of entertainment for such a noble. |
| hashimashadoo |
Posted - 28 Jan 2015 : 08:34:39
I think I might go for a Lantanese clockwork squirrel (Aurora's Catalogue p109); an extremely high quality fake turmish beard from an old masterwork disguise kit (p33 of Vilhon Reach for an example); a stuffed and mounted wingless wonder (Secrets of the Magister p28); and an amulet of Laeral's Tears (which would just be a string threaded with several lightly enchanted cut beryllonite stones (one of which can be seen here: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/forgottenrealms/images/4/40/Laerals-tears-cut-and-natural.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110912034812 )
If you're feeling mean, your nobleman may have The Scalamagdrion in his possession (the book is detailed on p92 of Pages from the Mages with a picture of it open. A picture of it closed can be found on p38 of Dragon #92 and a really good picture of Ningulfim is in the Monstrous Compendium Annual 3 p93).
I had other ideas but it's tricky finding images. |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 20:32:29
A dwarven "treasure" runestone with a gem in the center of it. [Dwarves Deep, has a runestone picture too]
Furniture crafted from Thayan blackwood that sometimes has a dark red grain. [Spellbound]
A foot tall silver tankard, chased and worked into a scene of flying birds and leaping dolphins. It bears and everbright dweomer, and does not corrode or react with any substance. [Undermountain page 59.]
Tharsult Statues: Far to the south, the nation of Tharsult uses small art objects in trade. These statues of ivory, jade, and serpentine are used as coinage in that region, and have reached the heartlands of the Realms as curios. Typical statues are worth 15 gp each in the North, but only 5 gp each in their native land. [Forgotten Realms Adventures]
Shaar Rings: The plainsmen of the Shaar use rings made of sliced and bored ivory, hung on long strings. Rings will be found in bundles, and each ring will be worth 3 gp each. [Forgotten Realms Adventures]
Blood Notes: Scrolls, letters, or other carvings representing IOUs and promissory notes from the listed person (probably merchants or sponsored adventuring bands if he's noble) to the holder of the note. [Forgotten Realms Adventures]
There's a type of yellow Mulhorandi wine that I can't remember where I read it in. One of Ed's books I'm sure, but it's never been featured elsehwere as far as I know. |
| Maglubiyet |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 19:53:06
(editing to keep this in one post)
There's an article in Dragon Magazine 179 called Seven Enlightening Lanterns by Stephen Giles, p. 26, about magical lanterns from the Realms. Each of the 7 entries has a history of the object, its last known sighting, as well as its own picture. Malthrox's Shadowcaster is interesting -- it creates a mentally-controlled shadowclone of a person that the light hits when activated. Goldmane's Dazzler is in the shape of a lion and when activated it projects a Cone of Force. (Ironically I just pulled this magazine out to sell on eBay. You are welcome to it if you can't find a copy.)
Imaskarcana: Faces of Magic on p. 87 of Dragon Magazine 281 lists 7 magical masks from the Realms with associated pictures. This is from 3e so the backstories are presented as potential "hooks" and not hard-and-fast canon material. Dhonas's Shroud grants some illusion abilities and looks neat. The Mask of Aberration is a twisted horror and probably wouldn't be in a respectable nobleman's collection, but it's got some great abilities (Passwall, Spider Climb, Polymorph, etc.)
Dragon Magazine 173 also has an article about several lesser staves of power in the Realms (A Wizard's Staff is to Lean On, by Ed Greenwood, p.30). The Staff of Spheres and Staff of the Moonglow are pretty cool. The Staff of Spheres creates bubbles around objects or people to transport them, not as a prison. It acts as a Feather Fall spell on a falling person. Staff of the Moonglow was created in Silverymoon and has a number of minor druid-like powers like Find the Path, Pass Without Trace, Faerie Fire, as well as being a +4 weapon when wielded in moonlight and has bonuses vs undead. Unfortunately the only picture in this article is a generic wizard with a staff next to the title.
As far as "iconic" Forgotten Realms items, I would go with:
Cormyrean Purple Knights sword, which has a picture on p.142 of the Magic of Faerun 3.5 edition.
Harper Pin - I can't find a picture yet, but I think I've seen them on the cover art of an old FR novel (the one where the Harpers battle a lich) |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 18:26:55
On page 224 of Volo's Guide to Cormyr, the entry for TSHARLURA of Blackthorne notes she's working on "a chest that drinks energy in a remote spot and emits it as heat and light."
I imagine a well-traveled noble not wanting to rely on the variable nature of lodgings for his personal comfort (read: ability to stay warm) would keep something like this, especially if Tsharlura or someone else perfected her magic and passed the knowledge down to others, who've either collected warming chests like these or made some of their own. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 17:57:12
Just thought of an actual canon knick-knack. It's a joke reference to Clyde Caldwell and his artistic style.
From page 113 of The Wyvern's Spur, by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb:
quote:
Giogi unwound the velvet cloth carefully, revealing a gleaming black statue of a beautiful woman. Her lithe and scantily clad formed was slightly arched, and her shapely arms were swept up over her head in a circle. Her face was round and pretty. Her lips were parted slightly, and her eyes were closed, like a woman waiting to be be surprised. The rest of her physical features Uncle Drone had once described as ample, though Aunt Dorath had argued they were scandalous.
Later on the same page it names the statue as being of Selūne, and done by Cledwyll, who gave it as a gift to Paton Wyvernspur, the family founder.
I later used that as inspiration for one of my Hooks, and had an artist whom I decided was an inspiration for Cledwyll.
That is, thus far, the only canon, non-generic, non-magical knick-knack I've been able to recall. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 16:27:52
Thank you for the sources, though I'm asking for specific suggestions. It's a chance to have particular input on . . . well this thing I'm doing.
Cheers |
| Barastir |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 10:36:35
"Forgotten Realms Adventures" and the "Ruins of Myth Drannor" boxed set also have nice lists of non-magical items that are fine to add in a treasure trove. As some materials found in "Volo's Guide to All Things Magical". Maybe something built with one of these special dwarven metals from "Dwarves Deep". |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 00:27:40
That would be an example of what I mean.
What's your favorite stuff from Aurora's?
Cheers |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 00:22:49
Bit of a tall order... It's magic and spellbooks that get all the attention.
About the only thing I can think of, for knick-knacks, is some of the stuff in Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog. |
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