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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 16:59:32
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I was just wondering, if there exists a list of names being commonly used in the Realms? Any links on that?
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 18:33:48
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| Pg 12 of the 3e FRCS gives a list of male names, female names, and surnames common among various species and geographical locale. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 18:59:23
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Thanks! 
Apart from that, does anyone know of more sources (maybe in the web) where someone made an effort on the names topic?
And another question that just comes to my mind: has anyone heard of people naming their kids after FR personalities?
A former IT-customer (and open source fan) of mine named his kid Linus, so I thought there may be FR fanatics as well applying something similar?  |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 19:15:50
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The closest I've come to doing that is naming my cats after Greek mythological figures (Apollo and Athena, in this case). Though I believe the Sage has a story to tell . . .
Cheers
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Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 19:27:12
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Well, I haven't considered naming our future children after FR things (though Fzoul Chembryl Mickelson would be kinda badass...). But Raith and I have talked about naming any kids we have after Officers in the Empire.
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"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 19:57:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
The closest I've come to doing that is naming my cats after Greek mythological figures (Apollo and Athena, in this case). Though I believe the Sage has a story to tell . . .
I am looking forward to that story! 
Erik, just out of interest: how do you invent names of characters for you books? Any particular source of inspiration?
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"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:24:10
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I'm going to recopy this into my CoS thread as well:
quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
Erik, just out of interest: how do you invent names of characters for you books? Any particular source of inspiration?
I think every author has a different way of doing it (and I'd be interested to hear other strategies!), but mine . . .
A lot of names just jump into my mind, which is the easiest way. Usually they're not well formed and need a little tweaking (Ilira was like that, Gargan), but sometimes they're exactly what I want (Kalen, Myrin, Yldar, Rhyn, Dharan).
Sometimes I pick a word I think describes the character, then tweak it into a name (feign = Fayne, aria = Arya, lilt = Lilten, never = Neveren, bar = Bars, gestalt = Gestal) or just leave it as-is (Twilight, Walker), which I think imbues a character with the sort of underlying concept I want them to have (whether subtle or overt). Sometimes (rarely) I borrow names from other works and sometimes modify them slightly, like Cellica (which is not the car, BTW) or Meris (if anyone wants to guess where those came from, go for it; it may be obscure).
I have also been known to name characters after real people, either as a nod to a loyal reader--or as a way of eviscerating someone in fiction (not naming any names).
Some I have no idea where they came from, but just loved them anyway: Cythara, Derst, Rylatarralahtyma, Rukkthalmuramaxamin.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:24:10
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| My wife and I plan on naming our first daughter (way off in the future when we have one) Ce'Nedra (from The Belgariad and The Malloreon). And we have a friend who named her daughter Hermione. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:30:26
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yeah, got a friend who called his daughter Hermione, Potter names are popular atm.
For names its probably easier to work from older european/english names, as that's usually where most fantasy names or forms come from.
If i did a kid naming i'd probably choose a name that wasn't obviously from a source. Say something like Adon or Midnight. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:41:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
<snip> Meris (if anyone wants to guess where those came from, go for it; it may be obscure)
Heh... I'm thinking it's from Frasier. Niles' ex-wife. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:42:17
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skychrome,
Although there are names that are common or traditional in particular areas, TSR and Wizards have always tried to avoid duplicating names at all, to avoid confusion.
The FRCS sample names might be taken as 'common', but are probably just intended as examples.
Kuje and I have both collected Realms names at different times. What's your pleasure? |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:48:03
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That's a really good guess. Though I don't think I've ever seen more than 5 minutes of half a dozen Frazier episodes.
Meris is actually an adaptation of the name of a character in an old practice-novel of mine I wrote when I was fifteen, which in turn was based on Merrick, which is the name of an Anne Rice novel. Not that I read the novel or have any idea what it's about--I just liked the name.
See? Sometimes it just kinda happens.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 20:55:01
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Faraer, I am particularly interested in male names from FR.
Once I saw a name generator for LotR in the web that was actually pretty good.
Furthermore my wife and me have dificulties to agree on a male name for a kid. Maybe there is something useful in the Realms (that sounds good and neutral) without having Fzoul or Thlork attending the kindergarden...  |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:05:49
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quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
My wife and I plan on naming our first daughter (way off in the future when we have one) Ce'Nedra (from The Belgariad and The Malloreon). And we have a friend who named her daughter Hermione.
fantastic fantasy series.if only david eddings could write for the realms. |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:11:27
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| If you give me a email addy, I can send you my FR NPC list. :) But it's a Excel file. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:16:47
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| Sage and the Lady K named their daughter Narnra, after the main character in Elminster's Daughter. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:22:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Tyr
yeah, got a friend who called his daughter Hermione, Potter names are popular atm.
The name Hermione actually comes from Greek mythology. Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy and her husband King Melelaus. I shan't argue that Harry Potter didn't make the name more popular, but it does have a pre-JK Rowling source. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:27:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
The closest I've come to doing that is naming my cats after Greek mythological figures (Apollo and Athena, in this case). Though I believe the Sage has a story to tell . . .
Cheers
Very nice. For a long while I've wanted to get a female cat and name her Artemis, after my favorite goddess from Greek myth. It seems fitting, somehow.  |
Telethian Phoenix
Pathfinder Reference Document |
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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:28:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Penknight
Very nice. For a long while I've wanted to get a female cat and name her Artemis, after my favorite goddess from Greek myth. It seems fitting, somehow.
People will take you for a Sailormoon fan!  |
"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
Edited by - Rabiesbunny on 20 Apr 2009 21:28:54 |
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:32:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Rabiesbunny
quote:
Originally posted by Penknight
Very nice. For a long while I've wanted to get a female cat and name her Artemis, after my favorite goddess from Greek myth. It seems fitting, somehow.
People will take you for a Sailormoon fan!
What? Are you serious? Why? |
Telethian Phoenix
Pathfinder Reference Document |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 21:39:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
That's the name of her cat!
Jeez. It figures. And here I thought it would be something truly unique and all that. Stupid cartoon, ruining my naming method. And should I ever have a daughter (if I ever get married again), I think I'd go for something like 'Arella' myself. I've always liked that name and use it for my female aasimar paladin NPC/PC in 3.5E. She's really sweet and almost an innocent at times. My players really seem to like her quite a bit. And I just think that the name is rather lovely. |
Telethian Phoenix
Pathfinder Reference Document |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 22:13:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Sage and the Lady K named their daughter Narnra, after the main character in Elminster's Daughter.
So...they named their daughter Elminster? 
I named a stray kitten that adopted me in December Kid after the Tiefling in Crypt of the Moaning Diamond. Boy is he a kid. 
Ashe why do you know the name of Sailor Moon's cat? 
BRIMSTONE |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 22:18:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
Ashe why do you know the name of Sailor Moon's cat?
BRIMSTONE
Probably for the same reason I do, she/he knows someone watched it or she/he watched it. In my case, it's both. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3243 Posts |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 22:52:21
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quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
Faraer, I am particularly interested in male names from FR.
Once I saw a name generator for LotR in the web that was actually pretty good.
Hie thee then to EBoN and its Forgotten Realms chapter. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2009 : 00:00:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
'Grand Moff' Tarkin Mickeson... Hmm...
That great man's first name was Wilhuff. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2009 : 00:57:08
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One of my favourite names is Elfinster, from Zakhara. It's said that he left Shadowdale because he kept being confused with Elminster.
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Name patterns vary with region, social class, era and other factors, and you get to intuit the patterns, but they're too complex to easily spell out, in the main. [Though we can say that the rich, the self-important and mages have longer names than farmers and labourers.]
I'd also check out Ed's novels. They're a great source for specific Realmslore-based names. Some even feel [or sound] as though they are period-specific to past eras of the Realms... which is just grand if you're looking to base your campaign prior to current events in the Realms. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2009 : 00:58:33
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And here's some bits from Ed, on popular/celebrity names in the Realms:-
"March 11, 2004: Hi, Damian! Fangs awfully (sorry) for your questions. Herewith responses: in the original Realms campaign, I had a lot of NPCs with the same name (just as in real life) for maximum confusion = realism = force engaged roleplaying reasons. Obviously, when the Realms was to be published for a wider audience, TSR wanted to eliminate these confusions, so we have just one: Torm the thief sharing his name with a god (which of course is actually very common in the Realms, which has some gods risen from mortal status recently enough that there are peoples still around in which the god's name(s) are still in popular use, and even more often because devout parents often name children after the gods (particularly if the babe is sickly, because they hope the favour of the god will result in the child surviving its early years).
And THO said on June 23rd, 2006: Ah, I can answer this one.
One touch of realism that Ed had in the original Realms, that TSR largely expunged for the sake of clarity and simplicity, was lots of characters with the same first names (how many "Johns" do you know?), a demon and a devil with the same name (Astaroth, if I recall correctly) so those making the SLIGHTEST mistake in the ritual for one could end up with the other arriving, not under their control at all (!), and, of course, lots of children named after gods (Torm the thief being one of those - - and, yes, his personal character, as played by Victor Selby, tending to make this a mockery of what the god stands for). So in the "home" Realms there are LOTS of name confusion incidents; it all makes for more and better roleplaying."
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Names from the Realms
