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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
 Posted - 23 May 2024 : 10:46:32
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On to exploit Laeral's vigil over Waterdeep
Robotwolf23 — 04/04/2024 11:22 AM
@Ed Greenwood First of all I am new here and it is quite the honor to have even a chance to speak with you regarding anything to do with the realms. I did have a question about Laeral Silverhand, my players will be visiting waterdeep in the future and part of my campaigns story involves some infiltration of the government of waterdeep by fiends of the devilish variety. In your realms lore video you described Laeral as this ever vigilant protector of the city always on the lookout for any fell powers that have machinations within its walls. So my question to you are there any blind spots in Laeral's vigil over the city that I could exploit to give my villain an in to influence the policy of the city. While I know as a dm I am capable of just coming up with reasons to why something works or not, but at the same time Laeral is such an interesting character and I want to have my portrayal of her to be true to her character. Thank you Sir Greenwood and Thank you for the wonderful world you created!
Ed Greenwood — 04/04/2024 1:59 PM
Well met, and welcome!
Laeral would likely soon spot anything fishy among the Palace staff (courtiers), but not among the Masked Lords (unless some of them started behaving VERY oddly) or the City Watch or lowlier city workers (those who clean the streets, dredge the harbor, fix cobbles and city gates, and the like), because she’s just so blamed BUSY.
And anyone clever would easily be able to distract her by subtly, through intermediaries, fomenting minor diplomatic concerns, so Laeral’s time would be taken up meeting with envoys or genuine city residents who want to, say, erect new buildings (with the clever distracters just sponsoring them or nudging the right guilds into backing them). A dispute within the Watchful Order would distract Laeral, as she would want to end it without irking Vajra the Blackstaff. So would rival noble families backing rival guilds or merchant cabals or building projects.
What would NOT work is criminal stuff, because then Elminster (Laeral’s chief of secret agents) and Mirt (one of those agents) would step in, and they can smell fiends half of Toril away.
Also, what happened recently with the Cassalanters has made Laeral VERY watchful for direct fiendish influence over Waterdhavian nobles, so…no blackmail or impersonations or direct control; if nobles are involved, they have to be manipulated through intermediaries.
And don’t forget how many shapeshifted dragons dwell in the city; duping or manipulating or even directly working with one or more of them, or goading some of them into being loose-cannon Laeral distractions, might work very well.
The key to getting past Laeral’s scrutiny is to overwork her, so she has to watch too many folk at once. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2024 : 10:50:16
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On Waterdeep fashion in 1372
Lucio — 02/17/2024 10:00 PM
@Ed Greenwood What is the fashion in Waterdeep 1372? Like the wiki suggests silk dress and jewelry but like , what colours? What are the most fashionable gems, or cut of the dress?
Ed Greenwood — 04/04/2024 2:00 PM
Ah, Lucio, you have spurred me to do a fashion video. So in our collective futures, there will be flamboyant clothing galore—or at least words about it! |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2024 : 11:04:26
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On Ott Steeltoes's prosthetics
Sundered_Ant — 02/29/2024 2:49 AM
Alright, here's a Waterdeep question that was floating around back when I wrote up most of the wiki's article on Prosthetics. We have Ott Steeltoes, a dwarf member of the Xanathar's Thieves' Guild, who is depicted in older art as having a pegleg, most famously on the cover of Waterdeep and the North. And in the book Cloak & Dagger, it's explained that "Steeltoes" is actually a nickname derived from his enchanted metal pegleg. But someone must have missed all this, since in his most recent depiction in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist he has two whole legs in what look like metal shoes. So what's the deal here - did he trade in his pegleg for a full leg prosthetic? Like one of those made by the Clockwork Wonders in Skullport (they are close by after all) or even the Gondsmen?
Ed Greenwood — 04/04/2024 2:22 PM
A video on Ott Steeltoes is forthcoming, and will Answer All (I hope). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2024 : 11:07:26
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On the proper name for Suzail's Promenade
Juniper Churlgo — 04/05/2024 1:05 AM
A short Q. What is the proper name for Suzail's Promenade? If it is "Promenade"? or "The Promenade"? also are there any nicknames or aliases for it?
Ed Greenwood — 04/05/2024 1:32 AM
The Promenade is its full and proper name. Long ago, when some Cormyrean kings mustered for war, it was briefly nicknamed "the March" because soldiers would march along it, in formation, as a show of strength for the populace, but the nickname didn't stick. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2024 : 11:50:06
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On what we don't know about dopplegangers
Joe Chang — 03/16/2024 8:02 AM
Patreon video suggestion: what we don't know about dopplegangers could fill a hefty sourcebook. Their society, culture and organizations must be mind-boggling. Could you show us a few individuals, the good, bad and ugly, like you did in your talk on vampires?
Ed Greenwood — 04/05/2024 12:37 PM
Video forthcoming! Great idea! Changelings later, as there are two NDAs I must skate around, first… |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2024 : 11:53:11
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On how to manage it all
FatherFantastix — 04/12/2024 9:20 PM
Hello @Ed Greenwood, question not about the lore per se, but how do you manage it all? Is it all up in the noggin or do you have a vault full of notebooks containing all the existing knowledge of the Realms? What do you want to happen to the Realms and the Lore when it's time to join Mystra on a more permanent basis?
Ed Greenwood — 04/13/2024 10:23 AM
It's all in the noggin...and the noggins of Eric Boyd, George Krashos, Brian Cortijo, Jeff Grubb, Steven Schend, Erik Scott de Bie, Erin Evans, and many others who love the Realms. I have plans, so my trustee (executrix) legally gets it all but also gets a letter from me telling her who to contact...so no one gets it (my literal shipping containers full of stuff) thrust upon them if they don't want it, but gets it if they do.
AJA — 04/13/2024 3:39 PM
Ed, I adore the first part (and totally agree). I am happy (from someone who has previously been tasked with similar things) of the second part. And, considering the depth of unpublished lore IP Corporate Control involved in this day and age...words fail,
...well, except for a few: Long Live The Realms
Ed Greenwood — 04/14/2024 11:03 AM
Indeed! Long Live The Realms! I still work on it every day of my life. Today saw the creation of a new spell, a new substance, new magic items, and we just might get to a new monster before I hit the sack in the wee hours of the morning. Or not; can't tell yet. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 03:38:18
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On hockey or Maple Leaf Easter eggs in FR lore
Black Rabbit (coinín dubh) — 04/17/2024 9:17 PM
Saer @Ed Greenwood I believe you have mentioned in the past that you are a Maple Leafs fan. (?) Congrats on them making the playoffs and hope they make a deep run in the coming weeks. Hope you aren’t so busy and can catch watching a few games. As the only original six Canadian team, I’ll be rooting for them as long as they do not face my Caps (Washington Capitals), I know it’s been a long wait to hoist the Stanley Cup but you all have good fast, young core and Austion Matthews is a generational talent.
Curious if any hockey or Maple Leaf Easter eggs have made it into FR lore?
Ed Greenwood — 04/18/2024 10:33 AM
No, aside from the saying “keep your stick on the ice” put into an early Realms short story (set up with an in-Realms meaning, of course) and my mentally casting certain guards in the Realms by putting Maple Leafs of the time (Bob Pulford, Johnny Bower, Dave Keon, Ron Ellis) into those characters as I was writing about them.
Black Rabbit (coinín dubh) — 04/19/2024 7:16 AM
Thank you, Mr. Greenwood! Those are some pretty legendary names in the game and it’s cool you had the opportunity of seeing them play. & as regular “beer league” rec hockey myself, I’ve heard “Keep your stick on the ice” far too often. I know you have a very busy schedule but would be curious to hear one day what the Realms meaning of “Keep your stick on the ice” that you mentioned above. Thank you again!
Ed Greenwood — 04/21/2024 3:43 PM
Heh. I didn't just see them play. They were all neighbors, growing up in Don Mills. Johnny Bower taught me to poke check (in street hockey; I was the goalie as he came walking past). And Ron Ellis had a cottage just along the shore from my best friend's cottage.
Black Rabbit (coinín dubh) — 04/22/2024 1:08 AM
All I can say is wow! Wasn’t Johnny Bower the ones who popularized the poke cheek at the NHL level?
Ed Greenwood — 04/22/2024 12:24 PM
Yep. He was a very small man, by today's standards, so he was the sort of goalie that rushed out of the net to cut down angles for shooters. So when they deked around him, he had to poke check them, or easy goal. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 03:42:32
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On a creative choice made playing Elminster in the first Imaria stream
Cdawg — 04/18/2024 8:39 AM
Hi Ed! I was wondering about a creative choice you made playing Elminster in the first Imaria stream. At some point Elminster encounters an illusion of Undarl torturing his very long departed friend, Farl. He didn't waste any time, just casually psionically bashed Undarl away like a mote and went about his business. Did the scene affect Elminster in any way? Considering his many enemies and long lifespan, has this, or similar psychological attacks been deployed on him so often that he is untroubled? Has he simply moved on so much, considering the vast stretchs of time that the visage of Undarl and Farl are inconsequential to him now? Or was Elminster just concealing his emotional reaction.
Ed Greenwood — 04/18/2024 10:37 AM
He was concealing his emotional reaction, in case someone else was scrying him, and saw this vulnerability and intended to exploit it later. He's hardened himself centuries ago, and had all that time to become a very good actor–when he sees the need to be. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 03:47:00
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On the people who worked with Neverember to purchase titles in order to be ennobled in Waterdeep
The Kobold Bard — 04/22/2024 1:09 PM
Howdy @Ed Greenwood, my fellow Canuck. I just joined so I'm not 100% on the rules for inquiry but I thought I'd ask about something I've been digging into lately without a decisive answer.
What happened to the people who worked with Neverember to purchase titles in order to be ennobled in Waterdeep? Hypothetical here based off of character concept from my table: Say there was an elven family who lived there for a few centuries and fit the criteria but couldn't get it because they were elven and the titles were specifically for humans. So when Neverember is in charge they take advantage of the opportunity presented and buy the title from a struggling noble family.
What happened to those newly ennobled noblepeople when Laeral comes in and revokes that edict?
Does the newly minted noble keep the title? Get a refund? Lose both their money and the title? Could they take that decision to court (where they'd presumably lose)?
Ed Greenwood — 04/23/2024 3:58 AM
Well met, and welcome! Unless a "new" (purchased title) title holder does something that gives the Open Lord (or Masked Lords, in a majority vote) a pretext for exiling them and stripping them of the title, they get to keep it, and all rights and privileges. Otherwise, chaos (of the sedition and treason variety) would ensue. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 03:50:09
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On aquatic vampires that are rumored to dwell in Sembia
The Donut Wizard of Shadowdale — 04/23/2024 7:54 AM
Hail @Ed Greenwood, as with the The Kobold Bard above I’m new and not totally sure what the rules for lore requests are, but I’m looking for some lore on Sembia, Selgaunt in particular. I’d especially love to know more about the aquatic vampires that are rumored to dwell in the sewers, are they veyla, or do they have different origins? What are they up to in 1497 DR? That being said, any and all interesting happenings in and around Selgaunt around that time frame are appreciated.
Ed Greenwood — 04/24/2024 2:13 AM
There's a video upcoming that should really help with your lore requests. In the meantime, I'll delve into some more lore... |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 03:53:24
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On Midnight Mystra and mortals' memories
Cdawg — 04/23/2024 8:39 PM
Hi Ed! In Cloak of Shadows, you showed Midnight 'downloading' memories from Elminster to get a grasp on her powers as the rising goddess of magic. Elminster freely shared with her, but when she became a full goddess, would she need permission or could she simply see all of a mortal's memories? Similarly, when she ascended as the goddess of magic, would she then have been able to locate objects with stored memories (like selu'kiira) and simply 'download' the collected memories and lore therein?
Ed Greenwood — 04/24/2024 2:17 AM
As a full goddess, Mystra has the power to read thoughts, and send visions and thoughts so as to goad a mind into remembering things (e.g. send thoughts of a past battle, and the mind pulls up its own memories). However, doing so into a hostile, deliberately resisting mind can wreck that mind, so there's an ethical matter here. As a "novice" goddess, Mystra would very much be in the "overwhelmed, unable to remember certain small things in the big Rush To Do Important Foreground Things Right Now" state, which wrecks weak minds (such as the mind of Cyric). So she might not recall, if she ever knew, or know where to go look, for specific memories and magical knowledge, in all of the millions upon millions of mortal minds whose magic-related thoughts and castings and experiences under active enchantments create a constant "wall of noise" in Mystra's mind. It truly is a needle in a haystack situation. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 03:55:59
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On Zulkir Baastat
Juniper Churlgo — 05/02/2024 4:12 AM
Zulkir Baastat that was mentioned in War in Tethyr - 1366 DR, Ed, do you have his dates of office and the school?
Ed Greenwood — 05/04/2024 1:51 AM
George Krashos is our reigning expert on zulkirs, and provided me this lore: Baastat Thalamarn, the 15th zulkir of abjuration, was born in 1222 DR, attained the zulkirate in 1343 DR, and died in office (of old age/natural causes) in 1367 DR.
Lucio — 05/05/2024 9:50 PM
@George Krashos Since Ed himself considers you the zulkir expert can you provide some information about the first zulkirs, more importantly the Zulkir of Abjuration?
George Krashos — 05/07/2024 9:35 PM
The first Zulkir of Abjuration was Hahlomede Teeos, who was in office from 1030 DR to 1056 DR. He was succeeded by Inarthar Borolt, who was in office from 1056 DR to 1068 DR. After Inarthar's death at the hands of the assassins of the White Hawk, Balanar Ithrilin took office until his death in 1079 DR, strangled by his most favored concubine. A list of the first zulkirs to hold office can be found in my "Tyrants in Scarlet" article at the DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/253571/Tyrants-in-Scarlet-the-Founding-History-of-the-Zulkirs-of-Thay |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 04:00:30
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On a Knights of Myth Drannor story on Patreon
Joe Chang — 05/06/2024 7:29 PM
Hi @Ed Greenwood what are our chances of a Knights of Myth Drannor story on Patreon in our near future?
Ed Greenwood — 05/07/2024 7:17 AM
Near future? Zero. Not only are there legal problems with my writing something like that, I am still BURIED under promised writing assignments this month. CRAZY busy. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 04:22:23
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On the Shadovar after their city crashed and burned
The Donut Wizard of Shadowdale — 05/07/2024 9:58 PM
Hey @Ed Greenwood! My question is about the Shadovar. I'm aware that their city crashed and burned, but are there any left now? Where could you find them or their remnants? Who might be in charge? Did they go back to the shadowfell?
Ed Greenwood — 05/08/2024 8:51 AM
The same novel of mine that covers the fate of Thultanthar has a scene with the young rebels among them, who departed the city and so weren't there at the destruction. So, yes, there are some left now. Whereabouts and doings To Be Revealed. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 04:39:08
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On calling the sun Amaunator or Lathander
Faust — 05/09/2024 3:28 AM
Well met @Ed Greenwood!
So, as far as I understand it, most people in the Realms refer to the celestial body of "the moon" as Selune. Is the same thing true for "the sun"? Do they call it Amaunator or Lathander or something like that?
Ed Greenwood — 05/11/2024 2:17 AM
This has varied from time to time and place to place, but in the post-Spellplague 1300s DR, “Amaunator’s Eye” was a commonplace term for the sun, used in full only by clergy, bards, and sages, and shortened by nigh everyone else to “the Eye.”
Before that, most folk called it “the Smile,” as in “Lathander’s Smile” (again, used in full only by clergy, bards, and sages). The origin of such sayings as “the warmth of Lathander’s Smile” and “When the waxing rosy Glow becomes the full light of His Smile.” |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 05:04:17
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On name given to the bay of Luskan
Juniper Churlgo — 05/10/2024 1:47 AM
Is there a name given to the bay of Luskan?
Ed Greenwood — 05/11/2024 2:22 AM
Mirar Bay (shortened from Mirarmouth Bay, which of course is derived from the River Mirar, that flows into the Trackless Sea through Luskan). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 05:58:35
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On bladesingers of Eilsitraeen drow
CaptainRelyk the Brass Dragon — 05/09/2024 4:45 AM
@Ed Greenwood so there are deathsinger which are the evil drow sect of bladesingers
But what about eilsitraeen drow? Do they have their own bladesingers sect or practice?
Ed Greenwood — 05/11/2024 2:24 AM
Yes. The Dancers of the Sword (colloquially "swordswingers"). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 06:22:59
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On Patreon lore for Selgaunt
Juniper Churlgo — 05/11/2024 11:53 AM
Patreon lore dump suggestion - Selgaunt! look how scantly covered this city is! https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Map:Selgaunt More yummy yummy lore!
Ed Greenwood — 05/12/2024 8:18 AM
Heh. Just you wait! |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2024 : 11:12:21
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On current "hot" pies in Waterdeep in the 1490s DR
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 05/14/2024 8:09 AM
Esteemed Saer @Ed Greenwood, I understand that tarts, fingertarts and hand pies are a staple food in cities across Faerun. I'm wondering if you can provide us with any insight from Elminster on what the current "hot" pies (haha get it?) are in Waterdeep in the 1490s DR. Is there a trend on what goes well with all the Kaethe that seems to be making its way to the Sword Coast again?
Along those lines, I'm wondering if there's a particular name or difference for buttery biscuits and croissant equivalents? Since we know there's pastry dough, I imagine similar techniques have found their way into other baked goods?
Steven E Schend — 05/16/2024 12:13 AM
Any entrepreneurial baker in Waterdeep will tell you “all pies are hand pies if you’ve bravery enow…”
Ed Greenwood — 05/16/2024 8:21 AM
Ahem. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2024 : 02:49:09
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On recent contradiction of drow prosthetics
Kokopelli — 05/23/2024 7:43 AM
Friend @Ed Greenwood, I find myself a bit confused. The Drow Mechanicals lore drop says "they don’t make use of adamantite" but the earlier Drow of the Underdark book says "These wonders are almost all fashioned of adamantine alloy"
Is this apparent contradiction some recent change in how drow do things, or a regional thing?
Ed Greenwood — 05/23/2024 11:14 PM
It's a recent change due to friction with dwarves (to get adamantite ore, you have to deal with the dwarves who mine it, and if you frequently make war on them, getting them to sell you metal ores that can be made into weapons won't go well) and to advances in the skills of drow smiths (alternative alloys now possible). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2024 : 02:48:56
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On using scrolls in the "Trifane" ritual
Lucio — 05/29/2024 1:21 AM
@Ed Greenwood I just watched the latest episode of "Realms of Gabbin" abotu the Ritual "Trifane" can the caster use spells from scrolls in the ritual?
Ed Greenwood — 05/29/2024 9:53 PM
Yes, if they are of a class and level to successfully cast the scroll spell(s). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2024 : 02:52:08
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On the Eminence of Araunt in Abeir
Nyluenatha#10024; #127767;#10024; Stareyes — 05/29/2024 3:38 AM
Hello @Ed Greenwood I have a query regarding the Eminence of Araunt - they are noted as being ascendant in Abeir. Would it be safe to assume they are present across all the continents of Toril’s twin world? Understandable if this is NDA tied info tho!
Ed Greenwood — 05/29/2024 9:55 PM
It would be safe to assume that, yes. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2024 : 00:34:10
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On the final fates of the Rangers Three
Cdawg — 05/30/2024 9:11 PM
Hi Ed! Are you able to share the final fates of the Rangers Three? Also, in Shadows of Doom, you wrote briefly about a young girl named Jhaleen who begged Elminster to conjure a little dragon. Elminster foresaw she would one day truly ride a dragon. Do you recall if you ever wove lore regarding her life’s tale and final fate?
Ed Greenwood — 05/31/2024 10:51 PM
There's written but unreleased lore regarding the Rangers Three; I will start the process of dodging NDAs so I can share it here or in vids. Jhaleen's lore is three paragraphs jotted on a page; when I find it, I'll share it!
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2024 : 05:18:14
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On song dragons' alter form to female
Watersmith — 06/05/2024 7:32 AM
@Ed Greenwood why is it that song dragons alter form only female?
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 9:00 AM
Song dragons can adopt a handful of creature forms, and when trying to pass as human can appear as male or female. The "in-game" reason for the original magazine writeup was that my Realms informant was only familiar with human-female-appearing song dragons, so thought they all were.
Watersmith — 06/06/2024 10:44 AM
My group was thinking of running a campaign with pc dragons and I was wondering why that was so thank you for this info my DM was on the verge of hand waving that part out cause it didn't make since to him. Is that the only thing that was wrong about Song Dragons?
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 12:39 PM
Some song dragons are sorcerers, and some are wizards. No song dragon will make a pact and become a warlock; they view that as corruptive slavery. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2024 : 05:28:25
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On Millians getting married
Melody — 06/03/2024 12:51 PM
Hey @Ed Greenwood!
I just saw your Twitter/X post about marriages in the Realms and thought I'd take a shot. :MelodyTeehee: The post is here if anyone wants to see it: https://x.com/TheEdVerse/status/1797489395857236181?t=5AdORjwUQG6wrrSfoxem4w&s=19
Are there any special ceremonies or revelries that Mililans enjoy when getting married? Any sayings, actions, or special bonds? :MelodySing:
Hope you're having a great time with life, and don't forget to Revel yourself!
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 9:14 AM
Sure!
To folk who venerate Milil strongly, life is a song, and a union (time together in life) is an embellishment to that song that both partners contribute a musical motif to (a theme tune or at least a riff that stands for them and their love).
So the heart of a wedding ceremony is both partners singing, and putting their motifs together in lyrics that are their vows to each other.
If a priest of Milil is officiating, the wedding couple make (sung) promises to the god, and the priest will add to the wedding song a sung “call and response” tune, wherein they sing questions to the gathered witnesses to the ceremony (congregation), who are led in chanted responses by family elders or veteran singers.
Note that no participant in such rituals have to be good singers. If you can croak out the lyrics, that’s good enough. (If you check out Walter Huston or many other non-singing actors wading through the vocal of SEPTEMBER SONG, you’ll be hearing how many non-singers sound.)
After the formal wedding is done (it ends, if Mililan clergy are officiating, with a sung charge to the couple, to love each other “true and steadfast, no matter what befalls”), revelry follows (dancing and feasting), usually with good hired musicians, or friends of the couple performing for free, that often lasts until the next dawn.
Reedhalloran Duskfellow — 06/04/2024 12:42 AM
Ooo. I'd like to tack onto this question changelings as well! Rituals are typically predicated in creating stability, connection and consistency for a group. For a race that experiences so much hostility and thus relies on secrecy I bet the traditions are really interesting.
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 9:25 AM
The central and most important tradition in a changeling marriage is that the participants (and changelings can have as many as six members wedded, not just two, though two is by far the most common “size of union”) all adopt a shared form, kept hidden from the outside world (during the ceremony, by a tent or circle of hangings or cloud of smoke created with smokepots, or in a pinch by going behind a waterfall to be hidden by its spray), that they can all adopt, that is as identical as they can make it, and that has small details to try to enable wedding participants to be SURE no other shapeshifter is counterfeiting membership, that they use in private to reassure each other of their identity and their continued dedication to the union. Not fidelity, for changelings (and dopplegangers, and some lycanthropes) have a different attitude towards intimacy than non-shapeshifters: they typically consider sex with outsiders in one or more forms to be fine, but sex with outsiders in their shared form, or other particular forms, to be “cheating.”
Moreover, a changeling wedding always involves trading drops of shed blood between the wedded participants, usually by putting blood-smeared fingers into the mouth of one’s beloved, as part of the vows part of the ceremony—and those vows include an exhange of truenames, too.
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2024 : 05:31:18
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On Thayan lobster cookery
Juniper Churlgo — 06/01/2024 8:22 AM
Undead novel mentioned lobsters being served at a red wizard event. Is there anything special about thayan lobster cookery?
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 9:35 AM
Yes. Thayans always crack open all of the lobster during preparation, not at the table, using thin rods to “bone out” all of the meat. The result (a pile of shard-like lobster internals) is carefully picked over to remove all but the soft edibles, and the edible remainder is steamed on mesh, above what we would call a red, mild curry that’s more akin to a yellow curry (sans chilies) than to any hot curry, and that Thayans call skaeramp.
Steamed-soft shoots of leek, bamboo, and/or saranna (daikon) are cut on the diagonal into finger-length sticks, covered with the skaeramp, and the steamed lobster placed stop that, where its sweetness can shine when eaten. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2024 : 05:35:19
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On lore of spell thief rogues
benbattersby — 05/31/2024 7:03 AM
Hello there @Ed Greenwood I was just curious on what the lore is of how spell thief rogues come to exist. I read about them in the Darkhold: Secrets of the Zhentarhim PDF, which I have really enjoyed. But I have some questions about how the spell thief rogues come to be? They aren't INT casters so it seems safe to say it isn't a skill they learn through traditional means, but rather Charisma casters, suggesting something more innate like a sorcerer, or some sort of external power like a warlock? Does the Zhentarim have some sort of increased control on how they came to be which is why this very useful form of mage hunting rogue exists primarily within their ranks?
Thank you in advance
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 9:40 AM
I’ve talked with some of the designers of Darkhold, and the consensus is that spell thief rogues develop because of an innate talent (what I’ve always called a “wild talent”) that the Zhents have a secret internal training program that can guide individuals into becoming this class, once their talent is recognized (they get recruited, rewarded, trained, and then they’re part of the Zhent Brotherhood). |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2024 : 05:38:32
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On the ‘Masters of Absolute Accord’
Hawakhuri Imaskar Lord Artificer — 05/30/2024 12:00 AM
Hello Mr. @Ed Greenwood, I would like to know more about the ‘Masters of Absolute Accord’ it seems to be a sharn-like monster and highly dangerous.
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 9:43 AM
Let me prepare a video. Lore upcoming. This may take a while...
Hawakhuri Imaskar Lord Artificer — 06/06/2024 12:03 PM
You have made my day Mr. Ed, I look forward to that lore video. Thank you very much
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 12:41 PM
You're very welcome. I'll get to it when I can. There are a LOT of videos still to be released before I will next get the chance to record new ones.
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2024 : 05:42:23
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On religious culture of Thay in 1490s DR
Genghis Sean — 05/30/2024 2:53 AM
Hello @Ed Greenwood, I am going to run a campaign set in Thay soon and I've been loving Thay, Land of the Red Wizards. I was wondering what religion is like there in the current 1490s DR. I know Bane was the only god allowed to be worshipped after the Spellplague, but that this was recently lifted after the Second Sundering (according to the wiki). I know Eltabbar and Bezantur are both very religious cities with many temples and clergies, however the only temples that get described in the book are temples to Bane. Eight temples to Bane are named and all are described as "the temple to be seen in", yet I couldn't find any references to temples to other gods (Spellbound has plenty in its section on Bezantur). I assume there are still plenty of temples to other gods but that Bane is the most popular among the wealthy and powerful of Thay, that in order to mingle with the tharchions, tharchionesses, autharches, and Red Wizards one would need to be involved in worship of Bane to some degree. Is my assumption correct and could you elaborate on their religious culture? Also, what caused Szass Tam to allow worship of other deities?
Ed Greenwood — 06/06/2024 10:16 AM
Your assumption is correct; the worship of Bane is akin to a “state religion” in the 1490s in Thay. Among the Red Wizards, nobility, and social climbers, being publicly seen to be devout followers of Bane is socially necessary. That’s why our tour guide, a successful and far-traveled merchant, speaks of temples of Bane as the local temple to be seen in.
In south and southwestern Thay (Bezantur in particular, but notably also Nethjet and Nethantir), local temples to other gods may be larger, wealthier, and openly more popular than the local holy houses of Bane. Everyone “believes in” all of the gods and privately murmurs prayers to any of them who would seem most personally useful, when in their own homes before going to bed and just after arising in the morning.
Szass Tam’s confidence and world-view were rocked by the Second Sundering, and he walked the Paths of the Doomed alone, pondering if he was going about things in the right way (having suffered so many reverses, such as the Dread Ring affair, and discovering he could not even exterminate his Red Wizard rivals outside Thay) with his policies of replacing slaves and soldiers with undead, and Zulkirs with undead he controlled—and at some point during his wanderings, he received visions that told him to “let all the temples breathe, and be open, for when the tyrant grip is too tight, all that can be seen is the way of Bane, and one may miss other thought, other plans, and other troubles brewing.” So he now allows worship of all deities, and has forbade Red Wizards or his governors or soldiery to interfere with such veneration, or other-than-Bane temple activities such as fundraising. However, this isn’t utter freedom, it only seems to be utter freedom for now; Szass Tam is on the watch for what threats to his rule or the supremacy of Thay may arise.
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1452 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2024 : 12:06:01
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On the fate of Narm Tamaraith
SWOLTOR — 06/07/2024 1:58 AM
Hey there @Ed Greenwood! I was wondering if you could discuss the fate of Narm Tamaraith? Did he follow Shandril's wishes and love again? Where did he go after the events of the novel? Did he continue to grow as a wielder of the art? Did he pass on or is he over 100 years old and still wizarding?
Ed Greenwood — 06/07/2024 11:36 AM
Narm's fate is partially NDA'd because of no-doubt-forever-defunct novel plans. Let me see what I can say, and get back to you. Hmmm, maybe in a future video...
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Ed Greenwood from Greenwood's Grotto
