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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 03:06:25
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Hi again, all. In response to this, from Jeremy Grenemyer: “Hello THO and Ed!
A writing instructor of mine instructed us that, when we’re in the midst of writer’s block, to do something I’ve come to term “writing around the character.” That is, write about the mundane elements of a character that won’t go in the story until you find yourself getting back to writing the actual story.
A couple examples of this strategy that she gave include: writing about what’s under your character’s bed and describing what’s in his or her or its closet (if ‘it’ has one).
So I’m curious: what’s under Mirt’s bed? How about Alusair (as a child or teenager) or Awntrus “Black Glove” Malaver?
Also, do you experience writer’s block? I suppose deadlines for multiple projects might provoke a furious rush that does not permit slowdowns of any kind, but for those of us hoping to someday have at least one deadline to contend with any advice you can give would be appreciated.
Thank you both for your time and for sharing with us.”
Ed replies:
Hi, Jeremy! You’re very welcome. I love talking the Realms and spinning up Realmslore (retrieving Realmslore from three decades back, I love a little less, I must admit), so this is, as they say, “all good.”
Writers’ block, while very real, is something I haven’t had to worry about for decades. Burnout, yes, but not block.
Here’s my secret: have eight projects on the go at once. Hopefully NOT eight projects all coming to deadline at the same time, a day from now - - ideally, you stay far ahead of your deadlines, and some of those eight should be “idle putter back burner self-assigned projects.” (For me, taking a peek at past kings and queens of Cormyr, or writing humorous fantasy whimsies not set in the Realms. For every writer they should be different, because they should be no-pressure, specific-to-the-individual projects.)
Whenever I slow down on something, I just open the computer files (or new computer files) for another project, and keep right on writing.
So long as I avoid using this as a crutch to avoid writing “difficult bits,” and have the self-discipline to avoid getting entirely sidetracked (because I write for more than a dozen different publishers and DO have deadlines), this keeps me constantly busy. I don’t have TIME for writers’ block. Other things that help: make sure you keep your input (reading, watching film and television, attending plays, poking around unfamiliar shelves in libraries) up, or yes, you will inevitably run dry.
(Some writers don’t work that way; they need to concentrate on one project at a time, or go nuts. Me, I’m ALREADY nuts. Working on close to 200 books in 47 years plus innumerable columns and short stories and side projects, plus having a day job, plus the vicissitudes of daily life [[right now, my phone line is down for the second day in a row, for example]], will do that to you. You go nuts and learn to cope, or just go nuts. :} )
With all of that said, yes, “writing around the character works.” It, too, can become a time sink in itself, and a way of avoiding writing the narrative (believe me, I’ve had more than thirty years of contact with aspiring writers who have detailed a fantasy world but haven’t gotten going on TELLING A STORY that takes places in it!), but if you’re going to get unblocked, you either have to have a life experience that’s a real jolt (skydiving sex, for example), or far better, you have to “write your way out of it,” and “writing around the character” at least keeps all that dogged writing germane to what you’re blocked on, and not mere side-exercises.
Which brings us to your Realms under-bed queries. Let me first put on the table my usual caveat: It depends. In this case, on the time period you’re asking about, and many other things. So let me go with “on a given night, at home, it would be most likely you’d find . . .” and finally furnish some answers.
So . . . under Mirt’s bed, I know very well what’s there, because I already featured said things in a long-ago short story: a large, wicker-bound glass bottle of “klathliss,” potent amber-hued pear-and-berries liqueur from Rauvin; a spare sheathed longsword, a large black towel, and two unsheathed, pommels-foremost throwing knives. Mirt once, late at night, whipped the towel over an intruder’s head and brained the man with the bottle - - which did not break.
Under Alusair’s bed, as a child, she kept a dainty little dagger, a carved wooden warhorse toy, and an old, rusty scrap of armor (a shoulder-plate scavenged from the Palace armories).
As a tween, she’d replaced that scrap with a full-sized knight’s gauntlet (just one), and added an old metal sword ground down to take off the rust until it had no sharp edges left. Way too heavy for her, but at night, when moonlight came through her window, she’d toss her bed-furs (or in summer, the heavy overcoverlet) on the floor to dull sounds, and try to swing the sword while wearing the gauntlet, imagining she was fighting foes of the realm. Over the years, she built up her wrists, forearms, and shoulders to be stronger than most males of her age.
By the time Alusair was a teenager, she had a proper, sharp longsword, a dagger, and as much real armor as she could scavenge (so, all mismatched and lacking the proper underpadding), and she would dress up in it (naked and barefoot under the armor, and so taking lots of minor cuts and weals from the armor itself, as she moved in it), and shadow-fight until exhausted. Which in turn made her stronger still, took out all her frustrations and aggressions, and earned her sleep no matter how upset she might have been. (Her late-night swordplay was discovered early on, but her mother Filfaeril forbade anyone to interrupt or try to stop her.)
As for Awntrus “Black Glove” Malaver, under his bed are a candle-lantern with spare candles and a striker stowed inside it, ready to go; a baldric with two sheathed throwing-knives and a “jack-claw” (smallish crowbar); twenty feet of waxed black cord attached to a grapnel hook, and six trophies of failure.
By which I mean relics from cases he didn’t solve (or hasn’t yet solved): a torn end of a man’s cloak, found caught in a door at a murder scene; the hilt of a snapped-off dagger left behind when someone broke open a noble’s strongchest, emptied it, and made off with the contents; a burnt end of a human armbone, found in a torched house in Dock Ward where a corpse was likely hidden and burned to prevent recognition; a fist-sized, petrified dun-hued, smooth egg, possibly from a giant snake, but that was sold in Trades Ward as a “dragon egg” by someone who was murdered shortly afterwards; a severed male human finger found in a crypt in the City of the Dead, that bears an unknown enchantment that has thus far defeated attempts to magically learn more about the former owner of the digit; and a fragment of stone bearing part of what looks like a Dethek rune, that was found rammed down the throat of a dead man found floating in Waterdeep’s harbour, his face eaten away by fishes and his hands and feet severed and missing.
Awntrus takes them out some nights and handles them, thinking hard. And later, sometimes, dreaming of them.
Behind the headboard of his bed, Awntrus keeps a shapely female mannequin dressed in a high-fashion, expensive gown. (Not for any kinky purposes, but so that he can offer an unwrinkled, ready-to-go gown to anyone of the fairer sex willing to accompany him to a revel or club or other social occasion; from time to time he hires good-looking females to help him spy on persons in places and times [[the ladies’ garderobes, for instance]] when and where he can’t easily keep an eye on them himself.)
I hope this has been of help. Now, back to . . . sorry, can’t reveal that yet. Or that, either. Sigh, so many secrets, just now . . .
So there you have it. Helpful Realmslore, from Ed.
love,
THO
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Edited by - The Hooded One on 26 Jul 2012 03:06:49 |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 06:02:54
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That's really awesome. Thank you for revealing what's under their beds. 
Yours is a good point about not letting "writing around the character" turn into endless, unproductive circles. If I find myself using it as a crutch, I'll take your advice and go work on something else.
Thanks also for pointing out that it's a benefit to find good inputs. For me it's finding old, used books at antique shops and reading with an eye to how the writer writes.
Now...to write! |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 16:11:35
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Great lore - thanks for that.
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
(believe me, I’ve had more than thirty years of contact with aspiring writers who have detailed a fantasy world but haven’t gotten going on TELLING A STORY that takes places in it!)
But we haven't even met.... yet.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Cassie5squared
Acolyte
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2012 : 23:17:19
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Cassie, your timing is superb! Ed was at work on something not too far afield from the subject of your queries, and happily consented to whip up some swift answers:
Waterdeep is a cosmopolitan crossroads, with quite a few wealthy inhabitants, so almost every practical and good-tasting culinary dish or knack or new wrinkle tends to get adopted by someone, and persist somewhere in the city.
Local delicacies tend to have either largely died out over the years as the city has grown and stocks have been depleted (e.g. eel pie, gull pie, and the just-as-revolting-as-it-sounds fish sausage) or to be tavern and lower-class daily staples enjoyed by many, but celebrated by few.
These latter include:
• “melverfew,” a dish of diced eels, fleshy dark mushrooms, flounder, and harbor catish, simmered in oxen-and-onion gravy until everything is soft. All bones are then strained out, and stale bread is shredded and then stirred in, with a handful of grapes or gooseberries (or in winter, or whenever no grapes can be had) raisins added and cooked soft. Typically this is very cheap: 1 cp for a large bowl, sometimes 1 cp for a bowl AND a mug of small beer.
• Whelks in butter (the yellow-brown-shelled edible marine snails still plentiful along the shore of the Sea of Swords from about Port Llast down to Baldur’s Gate; these are unshelled by shattering their shells with a wooden peg or maul, dropping them in water (the shell fragments rise or float, and can be skimmed off, then steamed or boiled in water or old soap leavings, then drained and served in a dish with melted butter and a garnish of fresh parsley and/or chives). This is a dish children can prepare, and tends to go for 1 to 3 cp a platter, depending on the size of the platter and the hauteur of the establishment.
• Tharval-and-dleem (tharval are hand-length or smaller, silver, smelt-like fish much used for bait, or mashed into a paste and eaten on toast as many enjoy real-world sardines or kippers, their bones being so small and soft that they can readily be chewed and eaten without discomfort; dleem is a olive-green, stringy seaweed that grows in starfish-shaped clumps, partly clinging to rocks and partly “adrift” in the passing water; if dleem is boiled long and hard, it looses its tough, chewy consistency AND takes on the flavor of whatever it was boiled with, and so is used to bulk up many soups, stews, and other dishes; if mated with mashed tharval, the result has an incredibly rich, “full” taste and texture, so diners feel even ravenous hunger has been thoroughly sated). This is low-end to shopkeeper-class fare, and a daily staple at 3 cp a dish. Garnished with a few oysters and redubbed “Harbor Favor” or “Harbor Fancy,” it goes for 1 sp in middling to higher end establishments, for a generous dish plus handrolls of bread and usually a wedge of sharp cheese to provide a contrasting taste.
• Sarrulk Stag (Imbram Sarrulk was a glutton of astonishing obesity who died of a surfeit of boar, suffering a fatal rupture after singlemouthedly devouring no less than five whole spit-roasted boar back in 1312 DR; he is credited with devising this recipe, which took High Forest venison and divers rodents [city rats and mice], oxen, old mules, and whatever other handy cheap meat could be had, marinating them for two days and nights and then roasting them, all in the recipe’s long list of herbs and sauces, plus drippings and beer - - and somehow making it all taste like the venison; so only nobles and the very wealthy ever have actual stag in their Sarrulk Stag, but everyone can dine hearty . . . hopefully not quite as heart as Sarrulk did). The time needed for preparation and the popularity have always made this stew pricey, so a bowl, garnished with fresh greens, typically costs 2 sp in a cheap eatery, and climbs up to 8 sp in a haughty club (with most places charging 4 sp or so). Outside the city, cut these prices in half.
Yes, it’s reasonable to have raw fish (never served whole, but always filleted/deboned and washed in fresh water that’s been “minted” with a few sprigs of fresh mint) available in a decent, respectable “middling” tavern.
By the way, high-end Sword Coast elven fish fare would include:
• rare delicacies of the seadeeps (giant spearfish, rock reef crab) served raw (but of course “gleaned,” that is: just the flesh, washed in steaming-hot spring water) but with berry- and sherry- and zzar-based “laving sauces” (we might call them “dipping sauces”) on the side.
• Bluehulk (giant tuna) poached in blended wines
And lower-end but respectable Sword Coast elven fish fare would include:
• oysters steamed in beer but served in a cream sauce (dill, leek, chives, but not onions or garlic, because most elven palates find these two overpoweringly strong - - and in fact they are elven “wayfaring staples” for use with rancid/bad food in emergencies, to entirely cover the taste).
• Dlarkult, which is diced small shrimp and crab, simmered in a mixture of melted butter and a light white wine (almost like a real-world risotto)
Hope these tidbits of lore have been of help.
Ed
And there you have it. Largely mouth-watering Realsmlore from the Master.
Think I’ll go prepare something to eat now!
love,
THO
This is a wonderful collection of dishes for me to add to the menu of my inn!
Apologies for taking so long to acknowledge this; work has made me epically distracted for days. But thank you very much for it all, Lady THO and Sir Ed! 
Although "and in fact they are elven "wayfaring staples" for use with rancid/bad food in emergencies, to entirely cover the taste)." Is this referring to onion and garlic? I presume it is, but would like to make sure. |
"Why do any of us get up in the morning? Why, for the joy and fun the day might bring us, if we're awake to see it! Up, then, and find ye fun!" - Elminster of Shadowdale
"And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged will come into light~" - Blind Guardian, "The Soulforged" |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2012 : 23:59:08
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Hi, Cassie5squared,
Yes, Ed did indeed mean onions and garlic are elven wayfaring staples used to cover the taste of bad or rancid foods. The gentler-flavored chives and leeks are preferred by most elven palates for food seasonings when they're not trying to mask unpleasant tastes.
I have cooked with Ed a few times, and discussed food with him a lot, down the years. He makes a great potato-and-leek soup, by the way.
love to all,
THO |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2012 : 12:48:57
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I found this question on Shieldmeet floating in the ethers:
quote:
Originally posted by vorpalanvil
To the Sage of Shadowdale: Having read the bulk of 1st, 2ed and 3rd ed games products, I can only find minor reference to the the Olympicly scheduled meeting. The 3rd ed campaign setting is the most concise source I have, but is certainly lacking in detail. Any background would be of great help. Also, I used to be an anthropology major so there's no such thing as to much info. Thank you.
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2012 : 13:20:06
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hi, Cassie5squared,
Yes, Ed did indeed mean onions and garlic are elven wayfaring staples used to cover the taste of bad or rancid foods. The gentler-flavored chives and leeks are preferred by most elven palates for food seasonings when they're not trying to mask unpleasant tastes.
I have cooked with Ed a few times, and discussed food with him a lot, down the years. He makes a great potato-and-leek soup, by the way.
love to all,
THO
Which has only now, just raised several questions I'd be interested in hearing either Ed or yourself answer, milady...
Has Ed ever prepared a special dish for any of his home Realms campaigns? Perhaps a dish that you have all had the opportunity to enjoy either before or after the adventure sessions? And, if so, what was the meal he had cooked up for the group? |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 28 Jul 2012 13:21:54 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2012 : 17:58:45
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Hi again, all.
Sage, it has been our decades-long-standing custom to have a break in the middle of a game session in which we drink green tea and eat potato chips and chip dip (Ed's artery-hardening recipe for chip dip is cream cheese whipped into sour cream, along with leek soup mix, ketchup, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce). Jeem sometimes made curry chip dip and other exotic chip dips, nicer than Ed's industrial-strength original.
Black tea before and after.
The special meals tend to happen at our cottage get-togethers. Wherein EVERYthing goes (several of the guys worked at breweries, then ran their own breweries, and/or made wine, over the years, great fishing is available right off the cottage dock, and all manner of plain foods or exotic foods were brought and prepared, from crabmeat sandwiches and moose or venison burgers to special steak preparations and do-your-own dim sum . . .
Oh, I'm getting hungry...
love,
THO |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2012 : 22:33:10
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A cook and a DM... I think Ed must be my 'brother from another mother'. 
Not a day goes by where I'm not 'inventing' in the kitchen. Most creations turn out pretty good, but I hit the 'inedible' mark almost as often as the "oh my god... I have to try to remember how I made this!" Regardless, most of my meals are... memorable... (ask my kids).
Oh, and dips are my favorite. Try putting water chestnuts in vegetable/spinach dip - YUM!
And I've made homemade Rangoon (crab & cream cheese wontons) as well. I'm no longer sure of what Id rather do now - play with Ed, or cook with him.
Never had leeks (AFAIK)... I'm an Onion Soup man m'self. And this finally brings me to a question - has Ed ever tried Outback restaurant? (not sure if they have them in Canada) I'm only asking because they have something called Walkabout soup, which sounds like it might taste similar to Ed's leek soup (although I remember there being potato in it, I just looked it up online, and either they've changed the recipe in the past few years, or I am remembering the soup wrong). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Blueblade
Senior Scribe
USA
804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2012 : 23:42:11
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Yep, the Outback chain has made it into Canada. Southern Ontario (where Ed and I both are) at least . . .
BB |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2012 : 23:44:25
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Oh, Markustay, that one's easy. Play with him.
And if he wasn't married (purrrrrr), PLAY with him. 
love,
THO |
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2012 : 21:04:45
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I don't really want to change the subject away from this illuminating topic... but I has a quexchun. Please feel free to include recipes and innuendos in any response.
In the 2e Waterdeep box, in the Who's Who book, under the Amcathra family, I see that Challas has a wife Jhynn of a most impressive 72 years. He also apparently has a "consort" (which I understand to be a term of many/varied usages, some different than those of 21st century Earth) named Miri. In the City of Splendors book, the note about Mourngrym on page 61 identifies Miri as his mother and makes no mention of Jhynn.
So maybe it's actually a couple of related questions. Who are Jhynn and Miri, and where are they from, and... well, who are they? I don't get the impression that Challas is a player (in Earth terms) so what is the nature of his relationships? Also, we know that three of his nine children are Arilos, Regnet, and Mourngrym... who are the others, and do they all have the same mother?
This is all assuming that Jhynn wasn't a misprint, because where's the fun in that?
This has the feel of something that's probably been asked before, but a quick search didn't yield any fruit. My bad if I missed something. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2012 : 22:04:37
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Hi again, all. xaeyruudh, I’ll be happy to include recipes and innuendo, whenever I can. Let’s see about answering your question, though.
According to Ed, from my notes (we Knights were curious about Mourngrym’s family, past, and loyalties, and questioned him from time to time, and I took copious notes):
At the time the 2nd Edition Waterdeep box was current, Lord Challas Amcathra was 97 years old, and his wife Miri was 92. They had been married for 72 years. Miri IS “Jhynn” (her full name is Mirilel Parelle Jhynnanther Ommurth, and she’s from the oldcoin, nearly-extinct Tethyrian noble family of Ommurth; she hates her full first name and her second name, because they were also the names of a hated, bullying great-aunt, and so is known as “Miri” formally and “Jhynn” to her family).
In the 2nd Edition Waterdeep box, the head of a noble family is noted as “Matriarch” or more often “Patriarch,” and “Consort” is the term given to their partner, married or not (so it shouldn’t be read as having the implications it might have in our modern real world). In the instances where someone other than the titular head of a family controls the family (as for the Eirontalars, on page 13), that’s noted.
Yes, Miri is the mother of all nine children Challas sired, and in order from eldest to youngest, they are:
Arilos (son, heir)
Brantavran (son)
Faraele (daughter)
Clathyldra (daughter)
Hulgrym (son)
Dourdarra (daughter)
Dannath (son)
Ildark (son)
Mourngrym (youngest son)
(Note that Regnet is the second son of Arilos; i.e. one of the 19 grandchildren, whose roster we’ll have to ask Ed about, because it’s not in my notes; all I have is that Arilos has - - or then had - - four children, and one of them is Regnet’s elder sister Syndrove).
love,
THO
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2012 : 22:59:35
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Miri IS “Jhynn”
Brilliant! Thank you! I wish everyone (including and especially me) had your knacks for taking and keeping track of notes.
Also, reading comprehension would have probably helped me remember that Regnet was Arilos' son rather than Challas'. Thanks very much for all the details. |
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Cassie5squared
Acolyte
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2012 : 23:04:14
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Hello Ed and THO!
Completely leaping topics from my previous enquiry, how do Faerunians deal with rust and general maintenance of their travel equipment? I'm aware of everbright and similar things which resist tarnish and rust, but my main curiosity is for those who can't afford them, or don't want to waste time finding them.
My personal example is my Tyrran cleric Russell, who is quite conscientious about taking care of his equipment. He doesn't have anything on his weapon or armour specifically to avert rust, it's just good steel with some performance-enhancing enchantments. (+1 stuff, basically.) How exactly would he maintain this stuff without magicking it perfect? Are there any Realmsian materials or techniques that are commonly used?
Thanking you in advance!
PS: I have to confess here that a lot of Russell's personality is inspired by David Eddings' Elenium and Tamuli books, which feature rather a lot of armoured holy warriors and some of the ways they maintain their things on their travels. So my interest is piqued. |
"Why do any of us get up in the morning? Why, for the joy and fun the day might bring us, if we're awake to see it! Up, then, and find ye fun!" - Elminster of Shadowdale
"And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged will come into light~" - Blind Guardian, "The Soulforged" |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2012 : 07:37:06
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Hello THO,
When adventuring in Cormyr, did your party ever visit Aunkspear?
If yes, do you recall ever seeing hints or obvious signs of dwarves or gnomes being active, or having been active, in the cluster of hills the village sits on?
If no, would you please forward this query to Ed so that he might tell us if such is or was going on?
I've got an idea for how King Pryntaler might have gotten in and out of the village unseen, along with a fun little dungeon right underfoot.
Thank you very much. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Foxhelm
Senior Scribe
Canada
592 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2012 : 19:28:27
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Not sure if you answered these questions but I hope it doesn't hurt to ask again.
You said you would reveal, possibly, the new name and location of the Tsornyl clan of Moon Elves. Can you do that now or is it NDA?
Also if it's not NDA, what do the Tsornyl Clan and those elves who have been hurt by Moander think of Finder Wyvernspur?
I hope I have not annoyed or bother you.
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Ed Greenwood! The Solution... and Cause of all the Realms Problems! |
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Foxhelm
Senior Scribe
Canada
592 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jul 2012 : 22:26:04
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Questions from TV watching:
How popular are fortune tellers, both magical and non-magical, in the realms/areas in the realms? How good a financial mark can they make?
Are there any Sun and Moon Eladrin/Elves who have a mix of the two mindsets of their parent subraces? (Perhaps sun elves raised by moon elves or vice versa... or raised in a Moon/Sun Elf parent homes). Could or has the term electrum elves be used to nickname them or is that term already used for some elven subrace? |
Ed Greenwood! The Solution... and Cause of all the Realms Problems! |
Edited by - Foxhelm on 30 Jul 2012 22:29:24 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2012 : 00:24:09
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Hi again, all.
Foxhelm, Ed and I happen to have discussed this on several occasions, so I can tell you that the popularity of fortune-tellers across the Realms varies, because:
Some (many, if they have the coin for offerings) people prefer to consult priests for divination about their lives.
Some prefer to consult local "wise women" (or traveling ones), and some prefer to do their own (personal prayer, or using the Realmsian equivalents of tarot decks, or other methods of divination often involving local sites and superstitions of the "dance twice widdershins around the Old Gnarl Tree, then rush home; what you next dream of will be..." sort).
Everyone: all of your queries have been sped along to Ed, who is deep in writing projects right now, and we'll see how soon he surfaces to reply...but of course, keep them coming!
love to all,
THO |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2012 : 06:57:36
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| I could have sworn I saw the Star Elves referred to as 'Electrum Elves', but I could just be getting something mixed up. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1600 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2012 : 11:40:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I could have sworn I saw the Star Elves referred to as 'Electrum Elves', but I could just be getting something mixed up.
I think they are called "Mithral Elves"... |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
Edited by - Barastir on 31 Jul 2012 11:41:36 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2012 : 18:30:58
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Quite right - I knew it sounded just a little off.
Thanks.
Question: (Inspired by the current train-of-though) Are their any elves known as 'Adamantium Elves'? |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 31 Jul 2012 18:32:37 |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2012 : 20:16:48
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Hi, all.
Well, Markustay, there were the two elves whose bodies were dip-coated in adamantium by dwarves for return to their kin after a little disagreement in the Rat Hills, in 1356 DR . . . but I haven't heard of a race, subrace, or even "style" elves known as adamantium elves, no...
love,
THO |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2012 : 23:23:06
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What a waste of perfectly good Adamantium.
Thanks for the quick response. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 01 Aug 2012 : 19:15:57
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Hi again, all.
A while back (page 19 of this thread, I think) scribe Eilserus asked: "Hi Ed and THO,
I was reading through the 2E Dwarves Deep book and I was wondering if there is anything more you could tell us about the dwarven High Moot held northeast of Waterdeep or the Deep Moot held in the Great Rift? Are these trademoots of the stout folk or something more? I would love to know more about these if possible as I haven't been able to find any more information on them. Thank you both. :)"
Ed now finally replies:
Hi, Eilserus. "The High Moot is a trademoot, but it's something more - - primarily something more. It's a get-together for dwarves of different clans to exchange information, discuss issues of importance to all (common threats, appropriate justice for dwarven fugitives or non-dwarf offenders against several clans, etc.), formulate common policy/shared laws or how to make clan rules in one place jibe with those in another [or if not, to let traveling dwarves know how they differ], and getting to know each other better (so, for one thing, dwarves have some hope of finding mates they're not already closely blood-related to . . . but also so dwarves of different clans can establish friendships/working relationships with dwarves of other clans, for purposes of trade, working together on security or information-sharing over great distances, keeping each other informed of changing conditions in the Underdark, and so on). Yes, there's also a trade component [[I have purer copper but you have beter flints, so...]]. It's also where treaties, alliances, and agreements are actually made/sealed/signed. Hope this is of help.
So saith Ed. Tireless font of Realmslore . . .
love,
THO
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Eilserus
Master of Realmslore
USA
1446 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 02:40:40
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hi again, all.
A while back (page 19 of this thread, I think) scribe Eilserus asked: "Hi Ed and THO,
I was reading through the 2E Dwarves Deep book and I was wondering if there is anything more you could tell us about the dwarven High Moot held northeast of Waterdeep or the Deep Moot held in the Great Rift? Are these trademoots of the stout folk or something more? I would love to know more about these if possible as I haven't been able to find any more information on them. Thank you both. :)"
Ed now finally replies:
Hi, Eilserus. "The High Moot is a trademoot, but it's something more - - primarily something more. It's a get-together for dwarves of different clans to exchange information, discuss issues of importance to all (common threats, appropriate justice for dwarven fugitives or non-dwarf offenders against several clans, etc.), formulate common policy/shared laws or how to make clan rules in one place jibe with those in another [or if not, to let traveling dwarves know how they differ], and getting to know each other better (so, for one thing, dwarves have some hope of finding mates they're not already closely blood-related to . . . but also so dwarves of different clans can establish friendships/working relationships with dwarves of other clans, for purposes of trade, working together on security or information-sharing over great distances, keeping each other informed of changing conditions in the Underdark, and so on). Yes, there's also a trade component [[I have purer copper but you have beter flints, so...]]. It's also where treaties, alliances, and agreements are actually made/sealed/signed. Hope this is of help.
So saith Ed. Tireless font of Realmslore . . .
love,
THO
Very nice. Thank you both. These moots seem like they'd make a nice backdrop article for Dragon as they seem like they could be a very interesting adventuring hub while they are happening. I'll have to detail one of these out for the dwarves of the Far Hills/Storm Horns area. Seems like a perfect place to kick-start our upcoming all dwarven Tethyamar campaign. :) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 05:25:00
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Am I to infer that males tend to stay with their clans, but females are (usually) expected to go to another clan? (to prevent inbreeding - even apes do something along these lines).
And considering the size of many dwarvish and elven settlements (and maybe even gnome and halfling), is inbreeding even as big a problem for demi-humans as it is for humans? I mean, Elves must have some very different standards then us, considering their long life-spans. You could wind-up dating someone your grandfather also dated. Heck, with magic time-travel, you could even be your own grandpa. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 02 Aug 2012 05:25:58 |
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edappel
Learned Scribe
Brazil
211 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 17:19:37
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Hello THO and Ed.
I know that's a bit hard to answer questions regarding the new itineration of Dungeons & Dragons, but one things simply doesn't leaves my mind...
This information was published at EnWorld at the release of D&D Next: "A video game art studio from China has been hired to fully detail the Realms". Could you share anything else with us? At least a "Yes, they are still doing it and it's going to be perfect" or "No, it won't have anymore"...
Sorry for bothering you with this, but I need some rest to my mind. |
--- Ed Appel
*** I'm a brazilian FR fan. So, feel free to correct my writing mistakes to improve my english. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 18:17:52
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Hi again, all.
edappel, Ed says:
Sorry, but this is something I really can't talk about. Yet. However, the keynote speech at GenCon, and the two Sundering seminars later in the convention, plus some other moments at the convention, should reveal a lot more (some of this always shows up on YouTube).
The man to watch for is the art director at Wizards, Jon Schindehette. He will reveal what can be revealed, when it can be revealed.
As for me, let's just say I'm very pleased with what's happening. :}
There. So saith ED. As much as he can say, yet.
love,
THO |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 19:42:40
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Don't jump to conclusions about a VG - thats the same kind of company one would hire if one wanted to create a fully functional, 'moddable' interface to use a computer to run D&D on the internet. It could merely be a 'set of tools'.
And they just cancelled the game table. Or at least... their old plans for it.
I don't know anything, BTW - I am just pointing out that that info doesn't necessarily mean a video game. We've had those before, and from what I've been told (and by their popularity) some of them were damn good. To me, this 'smells' a bit different - that is not a game-development company like Bioware - they create art designed to be used by others (yes, for games, but as I said, that may not be whats going on here).
Regardless - a happy Ed means a happy us. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Questions for Ed Greenwood (2012)
Topic Locked
