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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Sep 2024 : 06:48:58
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On Half-Giants
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1832889031236939932
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1832956804759801892
Sep 9, 2024
@CanyonGlac94388
@TheEdVerse In Races of Faerûn (2003), a feat called 'Jotunbrud' is introduced, which makes your character a size larger because of Giant ancestry. Can we surmise from it that Half-Giants are or at least were a thing? If so, why have were they never given a race template?
@TheEdVerse
Yes, half-giants ARE a thing.
Never having been a TSR or Wizards staffer, I don’t know why they were never given a race template.
In previous lore replies about mixed-race “half-people” I’ve mentioned that most such individuals genetically favour one parent, so a lot of, say, human-giant half-giants are just REALLY BIG (big boned, big organs, big strength) humans, like Madeiron Sunderstone in the Realms, so that may be one reason.
@CanyonGlac94388
Can they also inherit other traits from their giant side, like a Fire Giant's red skin? Thank you for your reply, sir!
@TheEdVerse
You're welcome, and yes, they can. Half-anythings are mixing enough genes that they can "breed others of their half-kind." Which means recessive genes may "come out" in their offspring, or grandchildren. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2024 : 06:53:02
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On drow wizards gaining favor of Mystra and Azuth
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1832957393702879529
Sep 9, 2024
@thekolbitar
@TheEdVerse Is there any possibility that a drow wizard rebelling against Lolth could gain favor from Mystra and Azuth?
@TheEdVerse
Oh, yes. Most of the gods of Toril will help mortals work against Lolth, because she's a constant pain to them and endlessly ambitious, so they think she must be curbed and thwarted at every turn. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2024 : 03:49:41
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On the Taol coin of Waterdeep
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1838684285190181321
Sep 25, 2024
@WyattHAnderson1
@TheEdVerse My Players have been asking about the Taol coin of Waterdeep. Do you have insight as to its purpose, and specifically why it is named such? The rest of the coins in Dragon Heist seemed self explanatory but we are hung up on this one. Thanks!
@TheEdVerse
Sure. The coin came into existence, long ago, to pay the harbor entry toll of the time (a Realms example of "exact fare") without any currency exchange hassles. A ship captain could use their own coin/barter goods to get a certain number of these coins from city booths in Dock Ward.
Over time, the toll changed, Waterdeep accepted far more outland currencies, and the coin's name ("toll token" or just "toll") got corrupted into "taol" (thanks to the lilting way it was pronounced by folk from Tharsult and the Tashalar). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2024 : 03:51:52
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On body hair on elves and half-elves
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1838685669260169710
Sep 25, 2024
@Lrbearclaw
The amusing part is that usually Half-Elves have very little body hair and pure elves have none. (Which implies Halsin has human blood somewhere in his family tree.)
But yep, we are a weird bunch. (Not a modder myself, if I was I would focus on 5e subclasses.)
@TheEdVerse
Elves and half-elves of Toril have body hair, but it's so fine, and translucent in hue, that it can be felt rather than seen unless you're looking past a surface of elven or half-elven flesh at a light source, so the hair is highlighted. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 03:50:46
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On offspring of polymorphed dragons
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1841519681959526445
Oct 3, 2024
RetttteR
@TheEdVerse Ok so if two dragons were shape changed or polymorphed would their offspring be full dragon? Or something else?
@TheEdVerse
Full dragon. If the two dragons were different species, the offspring would favour one or the other, but show signs of the "less favoured" parent genes, too. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 04:39:23
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On friers in the Realms
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1841524764046983404
Oct 3, 2024
@Artie_Pavlov
Would they use a frier to make them in the realms?
@TheEdVerse
Yes: metal pan of oil over coals, two or three heavy metal spoons (bowl about the size of your face but straight-sided, and bowl made of metal strips with gaps between them) are rested in it and then lifted out. So, akin to the fryer baskets in a McDonald's. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2024 : 05:52:08
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On history of Imbrar II
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1842680845905039641
Oct 6, 2024
@RidianG
@TheEdVerse So i was researching the History of Impiltur and after Imbrar II, who's known as the last king of his nation, the history just...ends. What happened next? Why did he die, what or who caused it? Anything you can tell us about this relatively ignored area?
@TheEdVerse
I recommend you consult the writings of George Krashos, the reigning expert on Impiltur. You can find his lore on the DM's Guild, and chat with the man himself about Impiltur on Greenwood's Grotto, on Discord. There's a lot of juicy lore ahead for you!!! |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2024 : 06:10:03
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On how a mindflayer taste
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1842681450547782062
Oct 6, 2024
@Umizaki__
@TheEdVerse Would a mindflayer taste like a squid or a human?
Need to know for my calamari recipe.
@TheEdVerse
Neither. They taste a little like turtle, a little like abalone, and a little like portabello mushrooms. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2024 : 05:10:56
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On predilections that set Alhoons apart from standard liches
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1843011752239452579
Oct 7, 2024
@BaroqueGustave
@TheEdVerse Do Alhoons have any predilections that set them apart from standard liches in typical behavior? Do illithid wizards in general have a unique relationship with or approach to the Weave/Mystra?
@TheEdVerse
Yes. Alhoon want to devour brains of mages to gain memories (especially of spell creation experiments), but know each brain “gone” is another Weave access point lost to them. So many instead use spells to dominate and control captive wizards as thralls. Azuth frowns. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2024 : 02:00:22
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On FR equivalent of the Kamasutra
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1843851097359921212 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844920048219193746 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844921528179126632
Oct 9, 2024
@LittleBadDragon
@TheEdVerse Hello Ed, I hope you're fine on this beautiful day.
My wife is too shy to ask such a question on public twitter, but I have no shame so I will go ahead and ask for purely research purposes (cough).
Is there an equivalent of Kamasutra in FR? If yes, who penned it?
@TheEdVerse
The clergy of Sharess sell Duth Lavarranka (“On Living Well”), a small tome that covers the sensual life, from bathing and grooming to caressing to relax and bring slumber or to arouse and bring orgasm, and even “Ressa” (prolonged orgasm leading to an altered state of consciousness: “goddess-rapture”). It has far fewer illustrations of sex positions than the Kama Sutra, but addresses the nature of love in the same way. The priests of Sharess will tell laity it was penned by the goddess herself, but cloistered temple lore ascribes it to priestess Raethra Nuenna, who wrote it in 799 DR, inspired by Sharess, and as her reward altar-ascended to become a servitor of the goddess at the end of that year.
@gkrashos
What language is that Ed? Or is it a “holy language” of the faith?
@TheEdVerse
It’s archaic Calant, the Sword Coast dialect of the Common Tongue (“Duth” = well or good, “Lavarran” is life and living, and the “ka” suffix = of or pertaining to). If Reaethra were writing today and not in 740 DR, she’d have written “On Living Well.”
@joechang2015
Wow. Where did Raethra reside?
@TheEdVerse
She dwelt in Beregost in 740 DR. There was a shrine to Sharess there from 732 DR through the 760s DR, before it was repeatedly raided by brigands, and ultimately abandoned.
- Edited on 12/10/24 to add new tweets |
Edited by - questing gm on 12 Oct 2024 09:28:12 |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2024 : 09:30:52
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On Ed's Beastmaster class in Dragon magazine
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844838884846555598 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844917668815548672
Oct 12, 2024
@DyslexicKnight
The Beast Master class in Dragon mag came out shortly after this film did. Do you think the film inspired the class?
@KevinLamb74
Very cool. #128077; Well let's ask @TheEdVerse and see if he responds! Hey Ed, did the 1982 film of the same name inspire the creation of this class that you published in Dragon Magazine?
@TheEdVerse
No, "my" Beastmaster was in the pipeline long before that fun movie came out. I WAS inspired by an Andre Norton 1959 sf novel, Beast Master, but more by the name than the content.
@CatalogFantasy
Where are any Beastmasters, if any, are operating today and what deities would they worship?
@TheEdVerse
I'm away from my notes right now, but here are a few:
Aerhoyn Thultran (“AIR-oh-hin THULL-tran”), a Chondathan male human in his thirties, formerly a cobbler in Amn, now (1500 DR) operates in both the Cloak Wood and the Wood of Sharp Teeth, seeking to curb the influences there of evil and harmful-to-the-wilds beasts and factions. He primarily worships Eldath.
Chanszellra Ormult (“Chan-SZELL-rah OAR-mult,” with the ‘t’ ALMOST silent) is an Illuskan female human in her mid-twenties. She grew up in Everlund, and is now active in the northeastern High Forest (the verges), and east into the Far Forest. She primarily worships Mielikki.
Orblan Hethennor is a Tethryian male human in his sixties. Formerly of Scornubel, he now roves the High Forest along the Heartblood River, and sometimes ventures into the Greypeaks. He venerates Silvanus more than others.
Rarlvarn Telgor is a Damaran male human in his thirties, who dwells in the Dalakharr (Methwood) in Unther. He primarily worships Nobanion. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2024 : 09:40:36
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On big tobacco growing regions in Faerun
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844925306307592200 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1845651222033846474 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1845652592505831647 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1845652980793504169 https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1845654684045881375
Oct 12, 2024
@Lyrewulf
@TheEdVerse Hail and well met! I was very much a pipe tobacco nerd in college, knowing far too much about various varieties and blends. I know tobacco originates across the sea, but are there any big tobacco growing regions in Faerun? I can't imagine wizards without a pipe!
@TheEdVerse
“Big” is a relative term, but there are several small pipeweed growing areas in Faerûn. You need sandy (or gravel) soil and a temperate climate. Here are a few: coastal southern Ulgarth, Durpar on the west bank of the Heldar, the shores of the Great Sea in Konigheim (the Utter East), near the northern headwaters of the River of Spears in Mulhorand (north of Klondor), just south of the Firward Mountains in Ashanath, and just west of the Tsurlar Forest in the Vast (east of the Stormcrest Trail).
There are many more small local “pockets” of pipeweed growing, as it’s now (in 1500 DR) a companion plant grown to protect some food crops.
@McCarthy_JT
Just to be clear, is Toril pipe weed more like tobacco or more like marijuana?
@TheEdVerse
Pipeweed grown on Toril is the equivalent of tobacco. Calming and SLIGHTLY deadens nausea and pain. NO hallucinogenic effects unless things have been added to it. So, tobacco, not marijuana.
@DecryptedTech
Didn't Elminster have a patch he grew near him home in Shadowdale?
@TheEdVerse
It wasn't Elminster's patch; the local old lady who grew it just let him harvest some, in return for occasional cantrips cast (mending, usually) when she needed them. But yes, there were several private patches around Shadowdale.
@FarrarN57854
Ahhh, Konigheim, how many times did I lie & say I went there & got it there, instead of discussing my supply chain.
@TheEdVerse
Heh. Pipeweed is tobacco, not marijuana. ;}
@FarrarN57854
Right, but historically, tobacco sources were a high conflict trade market, close to the big police corruption scandals, which would turn into poisoning farms -so confidential sources laws often started with tobacco industry.
@TheEdVerse
Pipeweed in the Realms isn't as addictive as real-world tobacco, and many rural folk smoke local leaves and shoots (not pipeweed), so the markets are different in volume and nature (not illicit in the Realms, not "sin" taxed) than in our historical real world.
- Edited on 14/10/24 to add new tweets |
Edited by - questing gm on 14 Oct 2024 04:16:44 |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2024 : 09:46:47
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On other families joining the cult of Asmodeus
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844932441544245362
Oct 12, 2024
@TheAnonDM
Good day to Saer @TheEdVerse (Steven E Schend appears to have vanished!).
The Cassalanters reinvigorated Asmodeus worship in the early 1490’s. Are there any other families who featured prominently in their new cult?
@TheEdVerse
Not “prominently,” no. Behind closed doors and undercover, YES, but…they were ambitious wannabe-noble rising wealthy merchant families, like the Dzunborns and Ilindravvars of Sea Ward and the Jarandurs, Maendreths, and Sourntrils of North Ward.
Among the ranks of Waterdeep’s nobles, aside from the Cassalanters, worshippers tended to be wastrel “black sheep” uncles and aunts, the disaffected and usually unwed and debauched elder brothers and sisters not in line to head their house.
Such individuals included Gastorn Brokengulf (NE hm R3); Szelruena Agundar (CE hf Sor6); Ilmur Artemel (CE hm F4), and Naranta Sultlue (CE hf R7). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2024 : 09:57:33
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On description of Farl
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1844935628800020897
Oct 12, 2024
@galaxyfighter27
@TheEdVerse Hello Ed!! I’ve been infatuated with the forgotten realms since forever, and I’ve just recently started reading the Elminster books. I’ve noticed that Farl doesn’t seem to have a description. Does he have one that you know of? I’d love to draw him, he’s my favorite!!
@TheEdVerse
Farl was slim, wiry and strong, had very dark brown hair (looked nigh black), brown eyes, and tawny skin; he was Damaran. Thin-line moustache, close-cropped razor-edged "daggerboard" sideburns, and back-of-neck length hair. Handsome, lithe. Fast grin, likeable. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2024 : 04:13:09
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On Lords of Waterdeep wearing masks
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1845656864874188995
Oct 14, 2024
@gopro_audio
@TheEdVerse can you explain to non-gamers why the Lords of Waterdeep wear masks?
@TheEdVerse
Sure. They don't want to be recognized in public, and threatened or badgered to vote this way or that.
Especially after DEATH MASKS, when Lords were being murdered so they could be replaced by a hand-picked roster of "vote my way" stooges. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2024 : 01:36:43
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On chubby elves
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1848852990435987508
Oct 23, 2024
@Escalith
@TheEdVerse Can chubby elves exist if they don't exercise/eat lots of pastries?
@TheEdVerse
Of course. If they eat or imbibe or get subjected to anything that shifts their metabolic rate, they either get VERY "hyper" or they gain weight (depending on which way the metabolism gets shifted). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1430 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2024 : 02:07:03
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On Strahd as the first vampire
https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1848853369143562244
Oct 23, 2024
@halfwhitebigode
@TheEdVerse so I was doing a quick search and couldn't find a definitive answer. Is Strahd the first vampire ever? Or were the vampires created by Orcus before him? Ravenloft timeline is weird, because Strahd would be just a couple of centuries old and there are older vampires.
@TheEdVerse
No, there were and are thousands of vampires who are older than Strahd. |
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Ed Greenwood on Twitter
