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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 01:15:38
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On the internal hierarchy of the Red Wizards
Alyxx (they/them) — 02/11/2023 7:02 AM
A question for our greatest of Loremasters @Ed Greenwood:
I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the ranks of the three military arms of Thay in your recent book with Alex Kammer. Can you speak at all on the internal hierarchy of the Red Wizards themselves? I have seen a fan-made ranking system (as expounded at kismetsthay.blogspot.com/2016/09/ranks-of-red-wizards.html) but I seem to recall reading in one supplement or another that each of the schools of magic had its own ranking systems imposed by the zulkirs...any details you can offer on that most secretive of organizations would be greatly and humbly appreciated #128150; #129497; #10024;
Ed Greenwood — 02/11/2023 9:47 AM
We avoided getting into zulkirate organization and specific rank titles in the recent Thay book because can of worms. Why? Well, because (in-game) it keeps changing, with every re-organization (and every new zulkir does, and Szass Tam does as well, about every 6 to 8 months or so, year after year after year). EVERYONE is confused, and that's the whole point. Now (metagame), why did we come up with this? Because every fiction writer and in-house designer did their own thing without consulting the core in-house secret lore, so this is the only solution we could come up with. I kept complaining about the inconsistencies, and someone's small-minded solution in-house was to slap an NDA on it so we couldn't publish ranks in print, to "fix" the problem by ignoring it and walking away. So, my stickhandling to try and get around that NDA will now begin. Again. Wish me luck. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 01:46:32
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On Thauglor the Black Doom guards for his lairs
Jeremy G. — 02/11/2023 10:05 AM Good evening Ed,
Did Thauglor the Black Doom ever go about using trolls to guard any of his lairs?
Thanks, Ed!
Ed Greenwood — 02/11/2023 10:23 AM
No, he had better guardians: various bound-to-him-by-spells wyverns and flying fangs. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 01:50:29
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On almighty wizards currently active in the Realms yet to be introduced
Cdawg — 02/09/2023 8:42 PM
@Ed Greenwood Over the years, we've been introduced to a number of archmages mightier in Art than Elminster, including Shaan, Larloch, Telamont, Ioulaum, Rhaugilath, and Aumvor. Are there any other such almighty wizards currently active in the Realms in some way (indirectly or otherwise) whom you have yet to introduce? And can you share any rumors as to any of their histories and aims?
Ed Greenwood — 02/11/2023 11:08 AM
Short answer: yes. And there are some already onstage whose mighty power levels or even status as an archmage Realms fans are unaware of, because they live in disguise and don't advertise their power. One of them has been trying to control Szass Tam, another is trying to control Manshoon, and yet another contents herself with manipulating petty secular rulers. She succeeds, but those trying to control the crazed archmages have had limited success. So far. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 01:53:11
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On slang of the Realms evolved into the current "official" century
Cdawg — 02/09/2023 8:42 PM
Also, how has the slang of the Realms evolved into the current "official" century. Are the glimmer brightcoins of Waterdeep still hrasting, stlarning, and naeding their way through life?
Ed Greenwood — 02/11/2023 11:09 AM
That's a whole topic that I'll have some posts about, coming up down the road. I work a lot on language, Common Tongue and others, all the time. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 01:56:02
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On some details about Jon Irenecus
Kamuai — 02/11/2023 5:41 PM
Hello @Ed Greenwood . If you're able can you give me some details about Jon Irenecus? I know some writings say after his defeat in BG2 he went on to become a lich. He was already an absolute power house so him as a lich sounds terrifying.
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 12:56 AM
Sorry, but almost all computer game characters are NDA'd, and that character is one of them. And as a powerful lich, he's probably read this right now, so I'll say no more. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 03:43:46
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On the three worlds that Larloch has liches working for him
RPGMatch — 02/11/2023 11:37 PM
@Ed Greenwood what three worlds would that be that Larloch has liches working for him in?
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 1:00 AM
Abeir, Oerth, and Harkaum.
RPGMatch — 02/12/2023 1:08 AM
I’m not finding anything on Harkaum - is this a new undocumented world?
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 1:33 AM
It is. ;}
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 7:10 AM
Harkaum is a world largely composed of large continents of jungles and mountains, with long strings of islands. The jungles are inhabited by elves who oppose the humans.
The humans dominate enclaves widely spaced in the jungles. They were all the slaves of dragons, for millennia, raised and trained to rear and feed livestock for the dragons to eat, vegetable crops for the dragons to eat, and so on. Yet the dragons (whom the humans came to worship, over time) slowly died out, and of course the supply of their scales and blood and fangs and brains (used by the humans to craft all manner of magic items, under instruction by the dragons) died with them.
There were no dracoliches on Harkaum, but there were a handful of human liches, the process of becoming lichnee involving dragon brains–so there are no new Harkounan liches, except visitors.
And those visitors are sent by Larloch, and serve Larloch, and have no "tamed" the Harkounan liches, so that they all now serve Larloch, and have put the humans to work making magic items, and crafting new spells, and hatching new schemes...all for the use and bvenefit of Larloch.
Monsters prowl the jungles and the islands, "Savage" elves lurk in both places, and the humans harvest and hunt in the wilds but otherwise keep to their enclaves and work, work, work for the greater glory of Larloch. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 04:53:07
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On the Purple Dragons using cover and siege machines to fight against Nethteril shadow wizards
Palant — 02/11/2023 1:05 PM
My player play dragonborn warrior which want to learn about Cormyr - Netheril War before second sundering and tactics of Purple dragons.
it is safe to say that PD used a lot of cover and siege machines to fight vs Nethteril shadow wizards?
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 1:04 AM
Cover, yes, but not siege machines. The Wizards of War (less formally, War Wizards) fight with every battlefield-ready Purple Dragon force; they use spells to lob normal and magical projectiles where they want them to go. (The Cormyrean forces weren't assaulting fortified positions in that war, so no need to construct siege machines at any battle sites.) |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 07:43:47
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On why do non-drow follow Vhaeraun's teachings
elvenlemonade — 02/11/2023 3:15 PM
Hello @Ed Greenwood I have a question regarding the followers of Vhaeraun. In previous editions it was stated that there were non-drow followers of Vhaeraun. How and why do non-drow follow him if one of Vhaeraun's teachings is "drow supremacy" (how the are okay with that? XD) ? And the second question that follows: can non-drow become priests of Vhaeraun? Thank you!
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 1:16 AM
Disaffected-with-local-rule-and-society individuals of all races COULD follow Vhaeraun, to try to bring about a local “shakeup” and change. So far, it’s mainly humans in cities who want the local rulers gone, or nobles humbled, or guilds shattered, etc. (and not many such worshippers).
Non-drow CAN become priests of Vhaeraun, but it’s very rare, as the deity is inherently suspicious of non-drow, and because many drow (holding similar suspicions) would refuse to accept (so, train and work with) such an individual. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 07:47:11
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On True Resurrection and undead
The Entire State of NJ — 02/11/2023 12:05 PM
Hello Again!
Had a question in a kinda similar vein to my last one. Since an Errata came out I think within the last year that affected True Resurrection adding the line that “If the creature was Undead, it is restored to its non-undead form. The spell can even provide a new body if the original no longer exists, in which case you must speak the creature’s name.”
So this got me thinking about two things. First, would the spell since it has the age limit of 200 years, be 200 years since the creature became undead, or since they were killed as an undead.
Second and more importantly, it states that the spell requires a creature’s soul to be free and willing which got me thinking again. What happens to Vampires and Vampire Spawn’s who are destroyed, as well as Liches whose Phylacteries were destroyed? Would this spell be able to reverse their transformations if they were not destroyed, or bring them back if they were previously destroyed? I’ve always been interested in what happens to these creatures when a party or adventurer defeats them.
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 1:32 AM
To your first: 200 years since the creature became undead. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2023 : 07:51:46
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On the Exodus of the Leirans in 173DR
Hi @Ed Greenwood
Part 1 - I have a few more questions regarding this for tomorrow. #128578;
I am looking to know more about the Exodus of the Leirans in 173DR, from Halruaa, and have several questions about it.
The Exodus entry begins with the entry of, This excerpt is from the minutes of the Council of Elders, when that august body convened in the Year of Screaming Sharn to select a new Netyarch. (GHotR, p65)
Does that political process play out absent the viewership of the populace of Halruaa? It appears so when I read from FR16: The Shining South that,
When the wizard-king dies, or steps down, his successor is chosen from among the ranks of the Elders. The Elders pick the most powerful of their number to lead. A complicated system involving level of power, ranking of specialization, and opinions expressed by the Elders, is used to determine the new leader. The last three leaders have all been divination specialists. It is thought that these are the most powerful of the wizards. Knowledge is power, great knowledge is great power. (FR16: The Shining South, p4-5)
What more is known about "Delbuestur Garamond"? He is identified as a Servant of the Mists, and since a person has to be at least 16th level to be on the council, I am assuming he was a Council member. Also, for the fact that Servant Garamond of the Mist was speaking on behalf of Leirans, I am assuming he was a senior Council member. Would that be correct?
Though it is stated clearly in the quote that Servant Garamond of the Mist rises,...today to note my opposition to the election of yet another Netyarch in the grip of the Church of Mystra. (GHotR, p65) , what was going on that led to such strong and direct opposition to the selection of the Netyarch in that specific election? It is clear that,
...the stranglehold that worshipers of Mystra and Azuth have gained over the Council Elders...(GHotR, p66)
, was a symptom of the problems. They clearly must have been pushing for certain policy prescriptions, or something else, beyond merely being outnumbered.
The next line says,
Cries from the Crowd: For shame! For shame! (GHotR, p65)
Is that only the Council of Elder's, or would that have been observing citizens as well?
Servant Garamond of the Mist goes on to say,
Although the Lady of Mysteries governs the Weave, she sees fit to let other gods oversee specific schools of magic. If Mystra can abide the existence of Azuth and Leira and Savras, why should the council single out their followers as second-class citizens who are unworthy of leadership positions within our realm? (GHotR, p65)
Was there anything to demonstrate that the followers of Leira were in fact being treated as "second-class citizens", or was that hyperbola predicated upon the anger of a sense of disenfranchisement, as opposed to actual mistreatment?
It is clear from an earlier quote that followers of Mystra and Azuth dominated the Council. There is a distinct lack of acknowledgement regarding followers of Savras. Is this an implicit acknowledgement of the approximate time of Savras' loss to Azuth in the Year of the Hangman's Noose (161DR), since it is known that,
Some time in the first few centuries of the Dalereckoning calendar, Azuth came into conflict with a minor southern deity of divinations, Savras the All-Seeing. (Magic of Faerun, p6)
Thank you SO much Ed! #128578; #128578;
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 2:00 AM
Does that political process play out absent the viewership of the populace of Halruaa? Ed: Yes, the Halruaan people didn’t know at the time what was unfolding. The choice of Netyarch (originally “Nentyarch,” BTW) is usually done in private, and then the new one triumphantly announced. What more is known about "Delbuestur Garamond"? Delbuestur Garamond was a senior Council member, and the “Servant of the Mists” title refers to his rank in the service of Leira. He was a career politican sort of guy, middle-aged and stocky with a hooked nose, glib phrases always at the ready, and was a calculating manipulator who held grudges lifelong. He came to a sticky end.
Wwhat was going on that led to such strong and direct opposition to the selection of the Netyarch in that specific election? Ed: Nothing. See below.
Cries from the Crowd: For shame! For shame! (GHotR, p65) Is that only the Council of Elder's, or would that have been observing citizens as well? Ed: That’s just the Council. There’s no audience of citizens.
Was there anything to demonstrate that the followers of Leira were in fact being treated as "second-class citizens", or was that hyperbola predicated upon the anger of a sense of disenfranchisement, as opposed to actual mistreatment? Ed: Garamond is all about hyperbole, and overblown claims to get his own way, and claiming injury and being a victim to get special treatment. That scene is political grandstanding.
Is this an implicit acknowledgement of the approximate time of Savras' loss to Azuth in the Year of the Hangman's Noose (161DR)? Ed: Yes, it is. Savras is almost a verbal afterthought, even to the Council. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 08:10:22
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On Thauglor the Black Doom enslaving any arcanists of Netheril or Magelords of Athalantar
Jeremy G. — 02/12/2023 8:15 AM Well again, Ed!
To your knowledge, did Thauglor the Black Doom ever enslave any arcanists of Netheril or Magelords of Athalantar?
Thanks!
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 9:32 AM
To my knowledge: no. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 08:22:37
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On Abeir-Toril have the same axis tilt as Earth
Ogre Jehosephatt — 02/12/2023 6:25 AM
Hi, Ed! I appreciate you taking your time to answer questions about the Forgotten Realms. My question is pretty simple:
Does Abeir-Toril have the same axis tilt as Earth?
[Everything after this is ignorable, just context for my question.]
This question has driven me mad since I started running Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus and I couldn't confidently decide when sunset would be. I assume the answer is a "yes", since the world shares many other celestial characteristics of Earth (365 days in a year, 24 hours in a day, similar mass, seasons are similar), but it's just an assumption. I'm also guessing they have a similar circumference.
I couldn't find any descriptions of latitude on any of the maps, so I ended up using one of the maps from the late, great Karen Wynn Fonstad and super imposing it onto the globe from Google Maps to estimate it. I was striken with how far north Baldur's Gate is. I decided to make Gothenburg, Sweden Baldur's Gate geographical analogue. Hopefully that seems right to you.
<https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1072136642162343986/1074093777758720030/image.png?width=1101&height=670>
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 9:56 AM
Abeir-Toril has SLIGHTLY less tilt than real-world Earth (about 20 degrees rather than 23), but is slightly larger "around" in its oblate spheroidness. ;} So it has very slightly more gravity, and slightly less severe seasons. (As that'll have a bearing on your analogues. I've been to Gothenberg a time or two, and I'd say Baldur's Gate is two or three degrees warmer, on average.) |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 08:28:45
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On battles fought on the Cold Field, which lies between Harrowdale and Scardale
FireWraith — 02/12/2023 10:09 AM
Ed, I'm curious about the Cold Field, which lies between Harrowdale and Scardale. It's described as the site of dozens of battles in the 3e Campaign Setting book, and was featured in the War of the Spider Queen novels (Extinction) as scarred by dragonbreath and is where the Crescent Blade had been lost/was found, but I can't seem to find any information on exactly what battles were fought there, and by whom.
Ed Greenwood — 02/12/2023 11:28 AM
In the earliest days, ogres fought each other there, and ogres fought (and defeated) hobgoblin and orc tribes, on various occasions. Some giants dueled each other there. When humans came along, there were many fights between petty lordlings and bandit-barons there, then between early dales, and then between dales and Sembia trying to swallow them up, a dale trying to prevent Hillsfar swallowing it up, and then between Hillsfar and Sembia, and then between expansionist Sembia and adjacent dales (again; this was after Sembia had occupied Scardale to use as a base from which to conquer all the dales, a doomed venture, particularly after the nearby elves attacked the Sembians to make sure they lost). Then attempts at conquest from Calaunt and later Mulmaster were defeated on the Cold Field by cobbled-together forces of the Dales reinforced unofficially by the elves and by Cormyr. And I may have missed a few battles. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 08:33:40
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On the Great Dale Campaign Guide
RPGMatch — 02/13/2023 12:20 AM
@Ed Greenwood have you read the Great Dale Campaign Guide? If so, what do you think about it? https://www.dmsguild.com/product/288755/The-Great-Dale-Campaign-Guide
Ed Greenwood — 02/13/2023 2:29 AM
I have! (Joe sent me an e-copy)...and I like it very much and consider it canon for the "Realms of now." |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 11:32:56
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On description of shadowtop trees in Volo's Guide to All Things Magical
Sheepy — 02/13/2023 12:08 AM
Hello, @Ed Greenwood! I recently noted that the description of shadowtop trees in Volo's Guide to All Things Magical describes everything aside from what the wood looks like. As I've decided to create a magical staff for a character, using the wood from a shadowtop tree, I'm curious what it would look like.
Ed Greenwood — 02/13/2023 2:44 AM
Hi! Okay, have you ever seen grained wood that’s been burned with a blowtorch for ornamental reasons? So that it’s all browned, but parallel “grain lines” throughout it are darker than the rest? That’s what shadowtop wood looks like: a rich mahogany brown with much darker (almost black) grain lines running through it, parallel but usually wavy. The wood is dense (so, heavy), durable, and very strong. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 11:37:17
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On temple in Waterdeep that assists transgender people with a magical transition
Abby - littol creture — 02/13/2023 10:17 AM
@Ed Greenwood With things like true polymorph or Eilistraee’s changesong, I know that there are confirmed ways in the realms of changing one’s gender. In my own home game, a player created a small temple in Waterdeep that assists transgender people with a magical transition- do you think that such places might appear throughout the realms? And if so, how common might they be, and what gods may they follow?
Also if this is an odd question I do apologize #128517; nearly all my players are trans and I just love to see the world they interact with having supportive outlets that they might not see in our world
Ed Greenwood — 02/13/2023 10:38 AM
Although I can see that a city as large as Waterdeep might have enough traffic to need a dedicated temple building, it’s just “one more temple service” in most of the rest of Faerûn.
The gods respond to prayers at inner temple altars from priests for body transformations (including lesser things like “remove my excess weight” or “change my hair color” or even “I’ll pay you a LOT to change my appearance completely so I can escape a deadly fate at the hands of my foes”) in return for sufficient offerings (and for most faiths, it would be a sliding scale of offerings depending on how devout the worshipper has been, or what services they’ve provided for the temple in the past). Folk in the Realms look to the gods for such aid (it would be a desperate or foolish person who turned first to a wizard, warlock, or hag, unless they just wanted a body-cloaking illusion, and not a physical transformation).
Such services are provided at the temples of just about all deities, as it's one way of really strengthening the bond between a particular mortal worshipper and the god: your worship enabled you to change yourself to gain "a better life." |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 11:49:19
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On Angelar trying to become a wereshark
Sheepy — 02/13/2023 6:58 AM
@Ed Greenwood Thank you for the swift answer, friend Ed! I've another question, from my recent perusal of the same source: Why was Angelar trying to become a wereshark, and can you tell us more about him?
Ed Greenwood — 02/13/2023 1:31 PM
Angelar was a sorceror who came from a small, now-long-vanished coastal fishing village that suffered the loss of many of its small, open fishing boats thanks to sahuagin sinking them from beneath, and murdering the fisherfolk before they could drown. The victims included Angelar’s father Farendor and Angelar’s older brothers Berinduar and Kloast. Angelar vowed to avenge them, and years later, when powerful enough and having worked hard to gain colleagues he could trust (firm, deep friendships, born in part from going adventuring together), he managed to become a wereshark, and did just that. He hunted the sahuagin of that particular undersea village to extinction, ruthlessly and patiently. When the priest of that village sent his sharks against Angelar, he slew all of them, too, and then ate—and spat out—the priest. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 11:56:50
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On crossing a border
Marco Volo — 02/13/2023 6:15 PM
@Ed Greenwood I wanted to ask you about borders (and crossing them) in the Realms. It probably depends on the country, but is it easy to cross a border? For example, Battlerise in Cormyr seems pretty unarmed for a village near the border of Sembia. Can you help us with that?
Ed Greenwood — 02/13/2023 11:33 PM
This is another of those “it depends” answers. On: peacetime or wartime? WHICH border? (Some countries dislike each other, or have frequent border raid or smuggling problems.) Who’s crossing? Peddler with three mules roped together, or lots of armored and armed warriors on horseback? In general, all countries watch their borders (not just a checkpoint on every road, but concealed spies watching over good crossing areas AND all of those checkpoints, to run back and give advance warning). In some cases, border patrols also collected tolls or taxes. However, the overall answer to you is “pretty easy” (unless it’s a river border and you can’t swim). The modern real world has a more “hard border” view of things than the Realms. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2023 : 12:03:48
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On Ed's Forgotten Realms movie
5eForechecker (Ruf) — 02/13/2023 11:11 PM
Good morning @Ed Greenwood ! I was curious: if you could write the next Forgotten Realms movie, which story would you want to depict on the big screen?
Ed Greenwood — 02/13/2023 11:37 PM
I have SO many, but...first I'd want to see every moment of the first movie, then list the facets of the Realms we DIDN'T see in it, to make sure they're in the second one. I'd want a tale close-in on characters (rather than everyone swept up in a huge battle or war, such as Troy and I wrote about in DEATH OF A DRAGON) and likely lots of gritty urban scenes in a big city like Waterdeep, to make viewers SEE that so much is going on that has NOTHING to do with the characters and plot we're watching, to drive home how much is going on in the setting. I'm a little hampered in what I say here due to NDAs, so...let's just say I have a list. ;} |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 00:00:27
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On dragons dying during the transformation to dracoliches, and what does the Cult do when it does happen
Sheepy — 02/14/2023 12:40 AM
@Ed Greenwood
Friend Ed, I was reading about the creation of dracoliches one day when one detail jumped out at me: the 10% chance that a would-be dracolich keels over dead without bouncing back up as an undead.
I imagine this isn't something the Cult advertises too heavily; I would expect them to deny it indignantly if asked. My question is: how often do dragons die like this during the transformation, and what does the Cult do when it does happen?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 6:01 AM
No, the Cult says not a word about it, beforehand. The death rate has actually been low (probably around 4 percent), and what the Cult does is make the dragon another (lesser) sort of undead (usually an "urhulk" or zombie dragon). In at least one case, the dead dragon was dismembered and its blood, organs, talons, scales, etc. all sold off (in Athkatla, Zazesspur, Baldur's Gate, Calimport, and other Sword Coast ports nearby) quietly and slowly for maximum gp yield, to gain that local arm of the Cult a huge "operations" bankroll. One of them even marketed "dragonblood" wine, which was just cheap local wine with ONE drop of dragon's blood added to each wineskin. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 00:15:59
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On auctions with magic items in Faerun
Lucio — 02/14/2023 1:55 AM
Thanks! Another question for a different part of my campaign, was thinking of doing an auction . Are auctions with magic items something usually done in Faerun? Are there any regulations? How would they work?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 6:07 AM
Magic item "auctions" with large public audiences bidding openly are nigh-unheard-of in the Realms; too dangerous (thieves could ride dragons and pounce, or the thief could BE a dragon). Magic item auctions are almost always matters of discreetly informing very wealthy local potential bidders, and then using errand-runners or go-betweens to negotiate. Like real-world modern house bidding wars, this allows unscrupulous sellers to exaggerate competing bids and interest, to try to drive bids up. If there's a local guild (e.g. the Watchful Order in Waterdeep), they almost always want to be involved, "or else." The good thing is: everyone trusts that Azuth or Mystra will punish anyone who is utterly deceitful in auction magic items (bait-and-switch, or an item isn't magical at all)...and they're right. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 00:30:50
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On a non mortal being/outsider casting Wish, and suffering wish sickness
The Entire State of NJ — 02/14/2023 6:09 AM
Been enjoying reading this channel @Ed Greenwood . I like the idea of Mystra being angry at a scam magic item option. I had something I wanted to add to this. If a non mortal being/outsider casts wish, do they suffer wish sickness the same way a mortal wound?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 6:10 AM
Yes. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 01:00:09
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On Kossuth and the Crimson Pillar
Kamuai — 02/13/2023 1:53 PM
Hey @Ed Greenwood. I was wondering if you had some information about Kossuth and the Crimson Pillar that many might not know?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 6:15 AM
The Crimson Pillar gets its name, despite being a globe of fire, because Kossuth so structured it that its interior takes the form of many vertical, cylindrical shafts linking horizontal levels of rooms (no passages, just rooms joined to rooms). These are the pillars.
Kossuth created the Crimson Pillar out of his own body, and he can draw on it (temporarily “peeling off” the outer layer) to swiftly replenish himself if he’s harmed. So beware attacking Kossuth near the Pillar, in the Elemental Plane of Fire.
Gustavo Tortato — 02/14/2023 6:50 AM
Hey @Ed Greenwood, since we are on the subject of Kossuth, I aways wanted to know more about his relationship with The Grand Sultan of All the Efreet. Do they communicate with each other about the happenings in the plane of fire? Is the Grand Sultan after Kossuth's power and influence? Do Kossuth even care about the leader of the Efreet?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 7:02 AM
There’s little to no communication, as Kossuth regards the Grand Sultan as an immature dolt (on the one hand a tyrant, and on the other an uncaring ruler who leaves everything to his vizier while he concentrates on gambling), at the same time as Marrake thinks Kossuth is a being of “limited wits” who’s “all power,” so ruled by the destructive and rushing nature of fire that Kossuth can’t be reasoned with, trusted to remember pacts and so stick to them, and so on. Marrake’s more mistaken about Kossuth than the other way around, but unless something happens to change the way they see each other, this is how matters will stand. No, the Grand Sultan isn’t after Kossuth’s power and influence, as he doesn’t seen any way to gain the power, and doesn’t think Kossuth really has any influence. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 03:22:59
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On the environment of the Kryptgarden forest
JacobJ — 02/14/2023 8:01 AM
@Ed Greenwood How would you describe the environment of the Kryptgarden forest? I've seen it described as having lots of vines and almost jungle-like, which always struck me as a little weird for its location on the Sword Coast.
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 8:22 AM
Don't think "hot jungle," think: lots of vines and undergrowth, the way all temperate North American forests that weren't "giant redwood canopy shadow" woodlands were, before humans cut and cleared and set fires and all the rest of it. Kryptgarden is tangled and choked and damp...but not HOT damp. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 04:02:03
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On colony-metropolis relations in the Realms
Augustoc, Femboy Warlock — 02/14/2023 10:24 AM
@Ed Greenwood Has there ever been/will there ever be colony-metropolis relations in the Realms?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 12:01 PM
Among elves and dwarves, there have (quietly) been many. Human colony-metropolis relations will have to wait until the next time a human realm tries to establish a colony (as opposed to malcontents or outlaws departing a realm to start their own new settlement that tries to hide from the “mother” land. Some sages think the Amnian toehold in Maztica deliberately “went silent” to avoid control and exploitation from afar. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 04:06:38
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On the logistics of magically maintaining pleasant weather in the parts of Thay that have it
Alyxx (they/them) — 02/14/2023 12:07 PM
@Ed Greenwood, just watched your first Realmslore video–wonderful stuff! I thoroughly enjoyed your insights into Thay. #128516; Might I ask: what are the logistics of magically maintaining pleasant weather in the parts of Thay that have it? Are teams of Red Wizards assigned to wander the major roads casting their spells, assigned at the level of the major cities or tharches or somesuch? Might Johnny Arcanist wake up griping that today he's stuck hoofing it along High Road staving off winter's chill? #128514; Or is this a case where Circle Magic might come into play?
Ed Greenwood — 02/14/2023 12:10 PM
Weather control is coordinated through the local tharchions (because they receive, via their courtiers, all the "reports from the fields" [=farm fields], but commanded by zulkirs, to prevent any Red Wizard "freelancing" for under-the-table coin, because the moment you have freelancers, you get weather chaos. So teams of Red Wizards are deployed, but wandering the roads, no. SENT along a road to a specific, assigned spot, yes. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 04:10:14
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On best place to look for everything Netherese in Ed's published works
Kamuai — 02/14/2023 1:40 PM
@Ed Greenwood Thank you for the answers! If I wanted to learn everything about the Netherese where would be the best place to look for that in your published works?
Ed Greenwood — 02/15/2023 8:50 AM
In published Realmslore I've penned, Netheril very seldom appears. I've written LOTS of Netheril lore, but it was handed to other designers, for products they wrote. Don't miss the 3e sourcebook LOST EMPIRES OF FAERUN. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 04:15:08
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On Tharsult and Urbeth
Kailan — 02/14/2023 7:53 PM
@Ed Greenwood So my players are based out of Sheirtalar and spend most of their time in the Border Kingdoms (the newest book is FANTASTIC by the way, my players fell in love with Gallard and the polite war between the Amcorths and Meldrists). They recently looked at a map and pointed to Tharsult, and said "Hey we want to go here!". "Sure," I said, stupidly, "let me do some research on what kind of place it is, and get back to you!" Of course, I soon found out that information on the island is pretty sparse. While I don't mind coming up with my own spin on the island, I'd love it if you had some insight into what kind of place Tharsult and Urbeth are so I can add in some fun touches for my players!
Ed Greenwood — 02/15/2023 8:53 AM
I've already summarized all of the Tharsult lore and put it into a forthcoming Patreon entry. Not sure when it will appear. Papat0k? |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 04:19:05
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On northern halflings and bananas
Juniper Churlgo — 02/14/2023 10:47 PM
Bananas in halfling cuisine. i know there are fried bananans, but are there any other more exotic uses of the fruit among southern halflings. Do halflings in the north share that love? And if so, do they preserve bananas for trade or make something like jam to move it north?
Ed Greenwood — 02/15/2023 8:59 AM
Among southern halflings, bananas are an ingredient in certain liqueurs. Halflings in the north love bananas, and get them shipped from southern halflings in candied form. Yes, candied bananas. |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1450 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2023 : 06:34:25
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On requirements for how women should dress in Sword coast region
elvenlemonade — 02/15/2023 12:25 AM
Hi @Ed Greenwood Are there any requirements for how women should dress in Sword coast region? Are there any taboos (like, don't show your ankle)? How much can ye reveal without being harassed? As far as I understood from "7 Sisters" Waterdeep citizens are okay with revealing clothes, but I would like to hear about other cities too. Also, I would love to hear about fashion in Forgotten realms. Thanks #128517;
Ed Greenwood — 02/15/2023 9:03 AM
There's a glimpse of Sword Coast fashion (some of my original turnover notes, with drawings) in the ED GREENWOOD PRESENT'S ELMINSTER'S FORGOTTEN REALMS "editionless" (but 4e and 5e era) sourcebook (I do NOT craft these titles, BTW). Women can dress as they like, just as men can; most dress practically for whatever they're doing, or expect to be doing. The only taboos arise within particular faiths, within temple (or shrine) grounds, and they tend to focus on hues and symbols (or not using particular hues or symbols), not on the amount of skin that's showing. |
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Ed Greenwood from Greenwood's Grotto
