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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
 Posted - 07 May 2024 : 06:11:08
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On funerary rites of dwarves in Galena Mountains/Moonsea North
Black Rabbit (coinín dubh) — 11/29/2023 11:36 PM
@Ed Greenwood a somber request: in our last session, a young Shield Dwarf NPC bystander died and the Paladin in the group wants to make a side quest to return the young dwarf’s body to her family. I have looked online and briefly in the Candlekeep forums with no consensus answer. Would you know what the shield dwarves of the Galena Mountains/Moonsea North do for their funerary rites or point to a source to find this information?
Ed Greenwood — 11/30/2023 12:01 AM
See my sourcebook FR11 DWARVES DEEP (pages 11 and 29) for some details. When a body can't be recovered, a weapon or tool used by the fallen is interred, with a runestone marker briefly telling their tale (e.g. "Faelra, daughter of Jundra and Ilbromm, fair of hair and kind speech, slayer of orcs, staunch shieldmaiden, fell protecting her kin [date]. A good [clan] dwarf.") A body goes into a stone sarcophagus with the same sort of inscribed runestone set into a recess in the top (just resting there, it can be freely lifted out and put back). The funeral service itself varies with family wishes, the clan customs, and the officiating clergy (which deity), but always includes a mourners' chant as the body processes to its burial, and a presiding priest standing over the body telling of the death and of the importance of the dwarf in life, ere the body is put into the sarcophagus (by family members, if any are available and willing; they arrange the body with any funeral goods such as favourite weapons or tools or art objects the fallen made, e.g. paintings or statuettes). After the interment, clergy sing a dirge, then everyone goes to where the clan (or family, only if no clan is involved) has prepared a feast, which usually turns into a wake. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2024 : 06:26:46
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On free will in predetermined fate
gdallison — 11/29/2023 6:36 PM
Hi @Ed Greenwood , a question about prophecies if you will.
One of my assumptions is that mortals have free will. It is the basis for the soul economy of the outer planes (mortals choose to believe and that generates power, also fiends bargain and corrupt souls which again provides power or currency and all requires free will and for fate to be undetermined).
Yet we have prophecies that predict certain events. Sometimes these prophecies are vague and could be met by any number of events, and yet sometimes (the bhaalspawn saga and the threat from the sea prophecies) the prophecy is quite specific.
How does free will work with an almost predetermined fate. And how do prophecies and a predetermined event work.
My own personal theory revolves around belief. If enough people believe something is going to happen then it is more likely to happen, although those key individuals involved in the event can choose not to take part in which case the prophecy / event has to change to include new people or occur later.
So as an example, in threat from the sea we have a lot of prophecies about iakhovas return (which I believe he created and spread to make events turn out a certain way). The belief in that prophecy caused things to turn out the way they did, especially because iakhovas was willing to take part. Jherek however also had a part in the prophecy and while he chose not to believe then iakhovas would survive. Once he used his free will to believe then the event changed to cause iakhovas death (I believe eldath and oghma and lathander spread this part of the prophecy and altered the original prophecy iakhovas spread).
Am I close? Do prophecies and free will work differently. Do certain mortals not have free will and their fates are predetermined. Or are we just not meant to think about these things too hard.
Ed Greenwood — 11/30/2023 12:07 AM
I've written about this many times. Prophecies (and curse warnings) in the Realms tend to be propaganda spread by clergies (or guilds, or wizards) to sway the behaviour of others, including well into the future. No Realms deity is infallible, all-seeing, and having absolute power, so prophecies CANNOT be iron-clad destiny for anyone. Clergy also "edit" the pronouncements they've heard (presumably from "their" deity) in altars and at prayer, to leave out lots of "unless this" branches (and this is where the deeds and decisions of free-willed mortals come in: they can, however unwittingly, "sort through the branches" to decide outcomes). So, yes, free will prevails, prophecies are more guidance than reliable prediction, and many prophecies are cryptic or more warning than prescription. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2024 : 07:00:09
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On how various faiths go about proselytizing people
Melody — 12/10/2023 12:54 AM
Hey @Ed Greenwood! I've always been curious about how priests, divine champions, and the general faithful of various faiths go about proselytizing people. Since my understanding is they don't really have "Bibles" complete with various stories, wisdoms, etc, how do they convince people to join?
Is it simply word of mouth and personal experiences? Demonstrations of magic? Do they have any literature at all?
I'm particularly curious how, say, Milil's Harmonious Order might go about reaching people for the faith, or Tempus' Order of the Steel Fangs. Do they wander about the countryside simply doing heroic deeds? Do they even bother trying to convert people?
I'm trying to grapple with "First Principles" in the way the faiths get their points across and induct people.
This is mostly for my own edification, to be sure I'm roleplaying Melody correctly as a member of the Harmonious Order and a Mililan. But I'm curious writ large for various faiths!
Ed Greenwood — 12/10/2023 1:26 PM
Here’s a short version: all sane sentient beings in the Realms old enough to speak and understand speech around them “believe in” all the gods. No one needs to be proselytized. There’s no “joining” one faith at the expense of another.
What there is, is…competition among faiths for offerings, services to (or assistance for) a temple or shrine or traveling priest, and for attention. As in, listening to what mortal clergy preach, or tell you the deity wants, or what the church of that deity (i.e. them, the mortal clergy) want you to do, or sponsor, or participate in.
And for all of those, mortal clergy do tend to have holy books (of things the deity has said or done, or tales of how mortals were aided or guided by the god) that they read from, show, and sometimes hand out free chapbooks of extracts from.
Clergies do use magic to demonstrate the power or favour or disfavour of their deity, they do repeat holy sayings and wisdoms, they do travel and do both heroic and helpful deeds, and they do try to awe and inspire laity so the inspired will spread by word of mouth reverence of, and respect and awe for, “their” deity.
Members of the Harmonious Order will often play music, sing, and perform for entertainment, or at a funeral to soothe and comfort, or in a community in turmoil, to guide and uplift and placate, and they will often sing or chant “charms” to reassure parents that ill luck or disease/illness is being driven away from a sick child/infant, and so on.
For some folk in the Realms, they turn from one church to another on a “what have you done for me lately” fashion. Others remember lifelong—and even longer, within a family or clan, by tales told and retold and passed down—of when a particular deity “was there for us, in our moment of need.” |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2024 : 07:03:50
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On when El gets to use his secret hideout on Coliar
stormer454 — 12/11/2023 5:08 PM
@Ed Greenwood How often does El get to use his secret hideout on Coliar and at this point what would he even use it for?
Ed Greenwood — 12/12/2023 2:48 AM
It's used these days mainly to hide relices and artifacts and particular magic items for a time, taking them "off the table" on Toril to prevent their misuse. So El doesn't visit it all that often. (He's the one being who makes me look lazy.) |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2024 : 07:07:09
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On a streamed Q&A specifically about the Forest Kingdom
Brian Cortijo — 12/16/2023 12:39 AM
So, @Ed Greenwood : what are the odds of us opening up the floor to some Cormyr questions in preparation for a streamed Q&A specifically about the Forest Kingdom (which questions submitted in advance so we can provide fulsome answers and screen for NDA topics)?
Ed Greenwood — 12/16/2023 3:25 PM
Really good, I'd say. ;} Or to put in another way, let's do it: bring on thy Cormyr questions, all, here and now. My personal availability is scant this weekend and the week to come, and given the holidays and family, many of us will be under similar constraints. I'm also busy at New Year's (Toronto-area public Realms event New Year's Eve, details to be announced soon), and then unavailable again from the 10-27th of January, filming. However, we should be able to schedule around those obstacles! I've been holding off on heavy Cormy content in my lore videos for a chance at something like this... |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2024 : 07:12:15
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On wearing a hood up
Malarite — 12/19/2023 7:29 PM
In different locations of the realms including cormyr: How common is constantly wearing a hood up? What weather and situations would that behavior be suspicious to guards or the average tavern goer?
Ed Greenwood — 12/20/2023 6:27 AM
Not common, but not a red flag; it would lead most folk to conclude that the wearer was disfigured and sensitive about it, like someone who got their nose or an ear or both sliced off in battle, or someone with leprosy or another disfiguring disease. It is NOT the habit of some celebrity (like royalty) trying to go out in public in disguise, as it's hardly a subtle disguise. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 02:51:46
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On what do members of the Cult of the Dragon call their own organization
Doc Webb — 12/28/2023 12:37 AM
Happy Hogswatch, @Ed Greenwood ! A decidedly non-seasonal question, if I may: what do members of the Cult of the Dragon call their own organization? Do they really call it a cult internally? If so, does that term have different connotations in the Realms? If not, what name(s) do they prefer?
Thanks so much for everything you do!
Ed Greenwood — 12/28/2023 1:51 PM
Happy Hogswatch to you, too! They refer to themselves as The Wearers of the Purple formally, and "Scalesworn" in daily parlance. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 04:15:58
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On the mightier archmage between Elminster and Santa
Cdawg — 12/27/2023 11:35 PM
Who is the mightier archmage between Elminster and Santa? Santa displays astonishing magical speed, transportation, strength, divination, and appetite abilities. You've written nearly all of Elminster's mighty feats and know others we have never seen. They both appear to have a tailor in common.
Ed Greenwood — 12/28/2023 1:52 PM
Santa, of course. He IS a deity, on many worlds. Elminster is merely a "special" servitor of the most powerful deity of one world. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 04:18:14
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On Pink Dragons in the Forgotten Realms
Melody — 12/28/2023 7:33 AM
@Ed Greenwood Ed! I can't help it. I have to ask. Do Pink Dragons actually exist in the Forgotten Realms? :MelodyTeehee: They're so derpy I love it. And if they do, are there any named Pink Dragons that live in particular locations?
Ed Greenwood — 12/28/2023 2:25 PM
Oh, yes, but they are VERY rare; perhaps twenty in all are known to exist “now” (circa the end of the 1490s DR). When they breed, with any other sort of dragon (and they are choosy, detesting aggressive or vain wyrms), their offspring is usually that of the other sort of dragon; their innate magic has to “come alive” as they are internally producing their eggs for the hatchlings (1-3, but almost always only one) to be pink dragons.
“Pink dragon” is the colloquial name, of course; to sages, they are rosrarr dragons.
And as of 1496 DR, we know of these pink dragon individuals:
Galahlahothlor, an adult female, dwells in a series of mountain caverns high in the easternmost peaks that flank Raurin (on the south).
Meeiarrora, an ancient female, dwells under Mount Urelhond, in the mountains juest east of the southern end of Icelace Lake, in Narfell.
Sazeztlorund, a young male, lives in caves under Azrrhat, in Anauroch.
Mahront, an adult male, lives in “the Maw,” a large cavern visible in the eastern face of the Nountfang, in the Graypeak Mountains overlooking the forests that mark the northern edge of the Lonely Moor.
The folk of Sammarash have seen a “gigantic, and vigorous” pink dragon hunting over the Mhair Jungles, and its flights suggest it doesn’t lair far away, but its precise lair, and its name, aren’t certain. The sage Halvaerand Beltorn of Lushpool believes that this is the adult male known as Pelarrand, but other sages say this is mere conjecture on his part. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 04:21:04
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On Thay Rangers
Black Rabbit (coinín dubh) — 12/31/2023 2:13 AM
Hello saers @Ed Greenwood, @ericlboyd and @George Krashos :
I was recently reading Elminster’s Ecologies, particularly the Great Gray Land of Thar volume. In it, the narrator, Tylssa Strongbow, mentions they belong to the “Thay Rangers” who serve as guides, scouts, rangers and hunters “to protect and look after the interest of freelancers in the region.” Is “Thay” a misprint and it should be Thar Rangers? If not a misprint, what is their connection to Thay? Is there any more information about them outside of Elminster’s Ecologies and are they still active in late 15th century DR?
Ed Greenwood — 12/31/2023 10:25 AM
It is a misprint. "Thar Rangers" it should be. Unfortunately, they were wiped out as an organization in 1394 DR; a few scattered individuals survive, and have trained replacements (often their children), but in the 1490s DR they are a handful, not a formidable fighting force. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 04:26:56
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On an Abeir map
Gustavo Tortato — 12/29/2023 9:07 AM
Hello @Ed Greenwood! We've had this awesome map done by @Kalontas based on your description of Abeir in a recent video.
Would you say it's accurate? Any major improvements that would need to be done?
<https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1072136642162343986/1190098651834495067/Abeir-2.png?ex=6642b93d&is=664167bd&hm=e57c0e0d7fc70d61d4025fc832bee0267ba17dd1977b1390220df850e02037e8&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1277&height=668>
Ed Greenwood — 12/31/2023 12:53 PM
I like this map very much. To make it "perfect" (ha) I would make the following changes: 1. in the sea just viewer's right of the central meridian (between the lowest latitude mark-like and the one above it), an arc like a flattened "C" of islands, with a few scattered either side of it, and three big islands along the center of the arc = The Ranthram chain/2. The Ice Run needs more islands to the uppermost right (i.e. thicken the line of islands into a belt)/ and lastly, 3. Marranth needs to look SLIGHTLY less like a drooping pizza slice, by "bumping it out" westwards in a bulge shaped a little like Senegal and Guinea and the coastal countries (The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Liberia) of real-world Africa, located along the west coast of Marranth from the second red squiggly line south of the legend "Marranth" down to the fourth squiggly line south of that word. Then I'd be REALLY happy with the map. :} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 04:30:21
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On Elminster communing with his mother and father’s spirits
Cdawg — 12/31/2023 1:36 PM
Rereading Making of a Mage for the umpteenth time and wondered, did Elminster have an opportunity to commune with his mother and father’s spirits after he became a Chosen? That he survived, avenged them, and thrived?
Ed Greenwood — 12/31/2023 1:42 PM
The short answer is: yes. A longer answer is NDA, as TSR retains a short story I wrote about that in 1995. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 08:27:51
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On Elminster becoming aware of Qilue's existence
ericlboyd — 01/04/2024 12:29 PM
Hi @Ed Greenwood! When did Elminster become aware of Qilue's existence? Birth? 1350s or 1360s? Somewhere in between? Specifically, I'm trying to figure out if he knew she existed prior to 1171 DR. (Hoping he did, but I'll make it work either way.)
Ed Greenwood — 01/05/2024 2:05 PM
Within moments of her birth. :} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 09:02:32
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On a god of half-elves
stormer454 — 01/05/2024 4:30 AM
hey howdy hey@Ed Greenwood sir, is there a god of half-elves in the realms? if there is, I'd find it rather funny if they got along with the would be god of half-orcs (if there exist one of them too)
Ed Greenwood — 01/05/2024 2:07 PM
No. Half-elves, like nigh everyone sentient and sane in the Realms, actively worship many deities, and no one deity is "theirs." The same goes for half-orcs. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 09:09:10
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On how purple is the Plains of Purple Dust and Raurin
The Director — 01/05/2024 9:51 AM
@Ed Greenwood If I were to stand on one of Selune's Tears and look down on Toril how purple would the Plains of Purple Dust and Raurin actually be?
Ed Greenwood — 01/05/2024 2:10 PM
Very. As in, royal purple. Temporarily lightening to ruby-red in full "high" sun. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 09:21:24
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On how wealthy are Waterdivian nobles
Xeroe — 01/08/2024 12:59 AM
@Ed Greenwood How wealthy are Waterdivian nobles, when looking at their total fortune? The city of splendors book mentions "resource limits" in the range up to 60k but i guess thats not their actual wealth but rather "spendable income"?
Ed Greenwood — 01/08/2024 3:35 AM
That is indeed "spendable income" (liquid assets). The wealthy of Waterdhavian nobility varies VERY widely, from struggling to feed selves and servants to stupendous; most own very valuable city property and extensive "upcountry" holdings (mainly country places up the Amphail road) that they usually don't rent out through hauteur...but starvation tends to overcome pride in a hurry. Many nobles who must be "careful" with their daily coins are worth scores of millions if you liquidate all their property judiciously, over time, not in a "fire sale." The city at large does tend to equate nobility with wealth. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 09:26:04
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On flavor of Shoodra sauce
Juniper Churlgo — 01/07/2024 2:09 PM
Hi Ed. Finishing up Shoodra sauce tonight. Any recommendatiosn on the flavor?
Ed Greenwood — 01/08/2024 4:01 AM
Pears to the fore, but ALMOST roast almond or cinammon base flavor, without the excessive sweetness (i.e. NOT like vanilla). It’s a chutney. Hint of mixed spices (of the nutmeg and cloves mix sort). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 09:47:03
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On how well seasoned adventurers stay warm and keep their trails hidden
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 01/07/2024 5:40 AM
Well met @Ed Greenwood, I hope your holiday break was restful and you got some lovely presents (perhaps some mead?).
I was wondering about how folks of varying levels of ability manage their trails in the wilderness. With so much danger in forests, plains, etc... Your average traveler that leaves a footprint but more importantly a campfire smoke trail is very likely to be targeted. Just coming back from the mountains myself, I know that if there's enough people with fires the smoke kind of blends in and sits there but with the right conditions it can act like a beacon letting everyone know exactly where you are.
I imagine well seasoned adventurers know better and of course of magic to help them but for average folk of the realms... What kind of adaptations have they come up with to stay warm and keep their trails hidden from orcs, goblins, trolls and all manners of flying monstrosities?
Ed Greenwood — 01/08/2024 4:09 AM
Most folk, and game, follow game trails (mingling their prints witg everyone else). For one thing, if you keep alert for ambushes, established trails usually follow the best footing/gradients. If you know you’re being followed and the water or its temperature aren’t dangerous, step into a stream and backtrack for a bit to discourage pursuit. Most fires, warmth or cooking, are banked with turf or rocks in the wild so they won’t be beacons (and the hot rocks can share sleeping-cloaks for warmth). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 14:18:41
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On resolving Elminster's and Sammaster's relationship in Cult of the Dragon
ericlboyd — 01/08/2024 7:53 PM
Hi @Ed Greenwood! Missed in the hasty rewriting I did in Cult of the Dragon is a passage detailing the cantankerous relationship between Elminster and Sammaster. (See Cult of the Dragon, page 9.) Unfortunately, it refers to Sammaster visiting Elminster in his tower in Shadowdale. This apparent error is continued in Grand History of the Realms, page 105, where the date of that Elminster/Sammaster collaboration is given as 851 DR and Elminster is called "The Sage of Shadowdale." On the face of it, this can't be true, as Elminster doesn't move to Shadowdale and build his tower until 1350 DR. (GHotR, page 140.)
However, it is possible this still works if the tower in question was a different tower in Shadowdale. This is complicated by the fact that the drow rule Shadowdale in 851 DR, and have since 194 DR and do until 906 DR. One idea is that Elminster and Sammaster were actually hanging out in Castle Grimstead (not necessarily a tower) along with the Glittering Band. Another idea is that Elminster and Sammaster were hanging out in the Twisted Tower in the guise of drow. There are almost certainly other explanations as well.
Any thoughts on resolving this conundrum?
Ed Greenwood — 01/09/2024 1:53 AM
Hanging out in the Twisted Tower as drow. As Castle Grimstead was also a drow stronghold, guarding the main wagon-caravan entrance to their part of the Underdark. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 14:21:07
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On "Harpstars War" or "Harpstar Wars"
ericlboyd — 01/13/2024 7:26 AM
@Ed Greenwood Hi Ed! Is it supposed to be "Harpstars War" (as used in Code of the Harpers) or "Harpstar Wars" (as used in FRCS - 2e, FRCS - 3e, and GHotR)?
Ed Greenwood — 01/13/2024 7:56 AM
Harpstars War. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 14:25:00
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On how to pronounce 'Malaugrym'
cuddlypooface — 01/17/2024 10:30 PM
Hey @Ed Greenwood how do you pronounce 'Malaugrym' ? In my head its 'Mal-aw-grim' or 'Mal-ow-grim'?
Ed Greenwood — 01/28/2024 4:15 PM
"Muh-LAW-grim" ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 14:30:26
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On Cyric's first course of action if madness left him
Ninjanurse29 — 01/29/2024 1:15 AM
@Ed Greenwood If Cyric's madness left him and he was freed, what would his first corse of action be?
Ed Greenwood — 01/29/2024 6:19 AM
To run (through the planes, to some "relatively safe" place with conditions that would hamper anyone seeking to trace him, even if the seeker is a deity) and hide (in an assumed form), to buy himself time to think. He would be assessing whatever he could recall of his own actions, and interactions with other deities and their senior servitors, to consider what their views on him would be. He doesn't want to be seen as an out-and-out villain, mistrusted/hated/feared, as it would hamper all of his future activities, so he'd be thinking of diplomatic strategies to salvage his reputation/give himself a new one.
Cdawg — 01/29/2024 7:45 AM
I see him as too malignant a narcissist to take such reasonable measures.
Ed Greenwood — 01/30/2024 2:34 AM
Yes, but how much of that is his "madness"? |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2024 : 14:37:17
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On current attitude of the svirfneblin of Blingdenstone toward drow in general
Dudeling — 01/31/2024 9:49 AM
@Ed Greenwood I'm very interested to better understand the current attitude of the svirfneblin of Blingdenstone toward drow in general. Given the current trending towards there not being any "any completely evil races", I would personally see the deep gnomes of Blingdenstone, not having really had any experience with any drow other than those of Menzoberranzan, and the horrors the drow of that city have enacted upon them, would very possibly have a borderline racist attitude towards drow from anywhere, excepting, possible, one singular drow, that the currently-living gnomes of Blingdenstone would only have potentially legends about.
Ed Greenwood — 02/02/2024 2:11 AM
Pretty much "yes." To Blingdenstone, drow are THE enemy (aside from illithids who have locally in the Underdark far more been lurking in the background/attention elsewhere, as opposed to the expansionist, far-patrolling drow). The sight of a drow means "war" to most of those deep gnomes, the exceptions being the trade envoys who travel far and see much.
Dudeling — 02/02/2024 3:02 AM
And I take it they would likely not even get into the possibilty that "this drow might be from Callidae" or anything. Stab first, ask questions later?
Ed Greenwood — 02/02/2024 3:02 AM
War footing first; they'll be READY to stab, but wary of provoking a trap (drow magic). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2024 : 03:33:46
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On lore about these three individuals
Juniper Churlgo — 02/02/2024 9:32 PM
Hi Ed. I have some old lore-less cards from Spellfire. Do you have some lore about these three handsome named individuals?
Arden Glimrock
Malleyahl
Borin Moradinson
Ed Greenwood — 02/03/2024 9:07 AM
Arden Glimrock: This was the “professional name” (pseudonym, as a mercenary for hire) for a berserker war-leader dwarf by the name of Thult Oldstone, who flourished in the 1200s and 1300s DR in the Underdark beneath Sembia, the Dragonreach, and the Vast. The “Oldstones” were a traveling band of outcast dwarves from many clans who won acceptance by other dwarves by showing up when dwarves were beset by drow attacks, and attacking the drow savagely, striking tirelessly and using explosives of their own making to collapse caverns atop any drow whose magic they couldn’t handle. Thult was their spearhead, the dwarf who led every charge, and his long career is a testament to his toughness, his swift healing, and his skill in battle. He defied the odds for two centuries, but then vanished in 1377 DR, fate unknown. The Oldstones dwindled, with battle-losses outstripping new outcasts joining them for the second half of the 1300s DR, and were heard of no more after 1420 DR.
Malleyahl: I have no lore on her (not my creation), so I’ll defer to Eric.
Ed Greenwood — 02/03/2024 9:07 AM
Borin Moradinson: Borin is not a son (or any sort of direct descendant) of Moradin, but believes he is, because of what he misunderstood of what a Hammer of Moradin (a fighting cleric of that elite order) told him. However, he’s one of seven dwarves (widely scattered, and not knowing their own status or the status of any of their fellows) whom Moradin favors, and works through (by subtly feeding them power) when the Soul Forger thinks neither a manifestation nor a personal avatar are “right” for a particular situation. As one of these seven champions (or “pets,” as the deity Gruumsh once sneeringly called them), Borin is watched over by Moradin, who will rescue him from death but not defeat (which is why he seems to live on through lost battles where all other dwarves fall, or return from certain death. Borin is a loner, is shy around she-dwarves, and considers himself unworthy of family life or fatherhood, as he “belongs to Moradin” and must, he believes, inevitably sadden any mate he takes by his own death—so he seeks no mate. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2024 : 04:34:09
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On three questions about bombards
Sundered_Ant — 02/04/2024 12:20 AM
Hey there Ed, long time editor on the Forgotten Realms Wiki here. During the last two to three years I wrote the wiki's articles on the Church of Gond, gunpowder, firearms, including individual articles for all of the firearms presented in 2nd edition's Forgotten Realms Adventures, and the "gunpowder wand" that was only mentioned in Volo's Guide to Cormyr (to which I once asked you about on Twitter).
As we speak, I am in the process of writing a much needed article on "bombards" and have three questions regarding them. Technically I could ask more, but these seem the most pressing.
#1. The book The Code of the Harpers states that light bombards are also known as "firesticks", so what is the Realmsian term for heavy bombards?
#2. We know the exact (recorded) year that the Lantanna first used bombards, 1246 DR, but what year did the Red Wizards develop their Thayan/Thayvian Bombard? The accompanying prose in Grand History of the Realms has Elminster and Storm Silverhand both concerned by their development, which leads me to believe the Red Wizards developed theirs later.
#3. If they in fact were developed later, were the Thayan bombards inspired by the Lantanna developments or were their inspirations more from the stars above (spelljammers).
Oh and I guess a 4th question, if you choose not to answer the 3rd one, as it really is the least important of the three -
When did the Thayans move on from their simple "huge hollow stone balls filled with [fire]-fluid", as described in the first Campaign Setting box-set and later almost verbatim in Pirates of the Fallen Stars, and onto the wide variety of glass bombs described in Unapproachable East that mimic various spell effects? That's a period of 1359 DR and 1372 DR between the two books.
Ed Greenwood — 02/06/2024 8:57 AM
1. Heavy bombards are colloquially “hurlpits,” because they hurl things (often rounded stones) that create pits when they (crushingly) land. A little more formally, they are “farhurlers.”
2. First experiments were in 1312 DR and were disastrous (explosions that made shredded bits of Red Wizards fly far), and first successful ones were in 1314 DR. First “in anger” uses were in 1316 DR, against targets that the Red Wizards had surrounded and were confident they could exterminate so no word could get out of their “new secret.” The same “there must be NO survivors of any deployment” thinking kept their battlefield uses sparse until the 1360s DR.
3. Thayan bombards were inspired by Thayan spies seeing bombards of Lantan in action (far from Thay), and reporting back what they did to Red Wizards who determined that Thay must command such armaments.
4. That would be two decades of experiments (on inanimate internal Thayan targets and later on targets, such as brigands, along Thay’s border with Mulhorand) beginning in 1349 DR that culminated in the closest thing to assembly-line manufacture that Thay could manage (on the plateau of Thaymount, where outlanders could not reach) of the wide variety of enchanted-effects glass projectiles. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2024 : 04:59:28
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On appropriate terms of venery for silver dragons and bronze dragons
Eric L. Boyd — 02/06/2024 1:51 AM
@Ed Greenwood Hi Ed! In some long-buried lore, you worked out terms of venery for 8 of the 10 common species of dragons. What are the appropriate terms of venery for silver dragons and bronze dragons? Any other terms of venery you care to share for other species of dragons (brown? deep? fang? song? steel? rattelyr?)
Ed Greenwood — 02/06/2024 9:05 AM
A shield of silver dragons
A curiosity of bronze dragons
A sandburst of brown dragons
A lurk of deep dragons
A fury of fang dragons
A harmony of song dragons
A spark of steel dragons
A liveliness of rattelyr dragons |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2024 : 05:04:34
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On psychedelics in the Realms
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 02/09/2024 1:03 AM
@Ed Greenwood could you share any information about mind altering substances in the vein of psychedelics in the realms? Particularly plant medicines that might be available in Waterdeep (illicit or otherwise).
Ed Greenwood — 02/09/2024 3:39 AM
This may take a while, as there are NDAs (yes, this was a TSR-suppressed topic). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 20 May 2024 : 03:37:02
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On variety of small settlements, buildings and villages that are connected economically to the City of Splendors
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 02/17/2024 5:07 AM
@Ed Greenwood as I understand it there's a variety of small settlements, buildings and villages that surround the area of Waterdeep that are connected economically to the City of Splendors. Would you happen to have any info on these various hamlets and their inhabitants? Or if nothing specific just generally how should we think about these areas?
Ed Greenwood — 02/17/2024 8:36 AM
See my "Environs of Waterdeep" DRAGON article and the later Eric Boyd-penned "Environs of Waterdeep" web enhancement (that went with the 3e City of Splendors sourcebook). The latter is easily found online, the former with a few steps of digging.
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 02/20/2024 4:03 AM
Thank you Ed! These are very helpful resources that flesh out a lot of what I'm looking for. It is quite helpful to think about the Dessarin Valley as connected to Waterdeep agriculturally/economically. If I was a citizen of the valley but not living in Waterdeep proper and were traveling to say Baldur's Gate...how far north could I get away with saying I'm "from Waterdeep" before Waterdhavians would take issue? Akin to the I'm "from SF Bay" when really I'm from Modesto as opposed to Fremont (yeah still technically SF bay but not what people generally think of SF Bay when you SF). Rassalanter, Amphail, Red Larch?
Ed Greenwood — 02/20/2024 4:25 AM
The answer to that is: it depends. On the Waterdhavian, in this case. Some don't even consider Field Ward to be "Waterdeep proper," and many distinguish between living within the walls and living in the environs. Most folk of Red Larch would answer, "I'm from Red Larch. Within sight of the walls of Waterdeep" (despite that NOT being literally true). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 20 May 2024 : 03:47:55
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On Realms terms for “snacks and appetizers” and for “desserts”
Juniper Churlgo — 02/19/2024 3:27 AM
I think I’ll need to add categories to my recipes. Ed, what are realms terms for “snacks and appetizers” and for “desserts?”
Ed Greenwood — 02/19/2024 3:33 AM
There are several, but "smallbites" is a widespread one for appetitzers, and "last kiss" is the haughty-menu term for desserts. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 20 May 2024 : 03:53:53
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On marking the start of season in the Dales/Cormyr
rweston_DnD — 02/19/2024 3:49 AM
Hi Ed, hope you are doing well! #128578;
I was wondering when folks in the reals mark the start of season in the Dales/Cormyr. The Greengrass festival has been noted as the start of Spring, with Midsummer 3 month later... are Spring/fall short seasons, or is "Midsummer" the first day of summer, or are the festivals disconnected from the seasons?
Thanks!
Ed Greenwood — 02/19/2024 6:18 AM
Spring and fall are indeed short seasons in most of Faerûn. In the Dales, Flamerule and Elesias are the hot heart of summer. |
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Ed Greenwood from Greenwood's Grotto
