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DrMbutu
Acolyte

4 Posts

Posted - 25 Sep 2014 :  04:34:43  Show Profile Send DrMbutu a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
I'm looking for sources of information about the culture of the Realms. Things like music, literature, festivals (books about religion have religious holidays, but not secular), and cultural practices. Region is not too important, and can be high or low culture, and any race.

I'm not interested in novels right now, more sourcebooks, Dragon and internet articles, and so on. And if you know any tidbits yourself that caught your attention, or general facts, share them right here.

Edit: might be a stretch, but if philosophers have been mentioned, that would be great too.

Edited by - DrMbutu on 25 Sep 2014 05:28:57

eeorey
Seeker

Bulgaria
96 Posts

Posted - 25 Sep 2014 :  07:44:44  Show Profile Send eeorey a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Elminster's Forgotten Realms sourcebook is what you are looking for all in one it talks about the things you mentioned - music. literature, festivals as well as the food, monetary and economic systems, social standing, and a lot more of this kind of stuff. If there is one book to check for what you are looking for, it's this one.

Races of Faerun is another one that is simply amazing describing in detail not just different races, but also the different human ethnicities and provides you with information about things unique to each different group of people as well as their outlooks, relations with others and a great deal of other details. It goes on to describe the clothes that are being worn and favorite practices.

Volo's guides are a blast to read IMHO, they describe different places incharacter and very well. These are some of my favorite sourcebooks out there and provide incredible amounts of information on things that would be considered minor details for most other sourcebooks.
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore

USA
1272 Posts

Posted - 25 Sep 2014 :  13:11:27  Show Profile  Visit Delwa's Homepage Send Delwa a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by eeorey

Elminster's Forgotten Realms sourcebook is what you are looking for all in one it talks about the things you mentioned - music. literature, festivals as well as the food, monetary and economic systems, social standing, and a lot more of this kind of stuff. If there is one book to check for what you are looking for, it's this one.

Races of Faerun is another one that is simply amazing describing in detail not just different races, but also the different human ethnicities and provides you with information about things unique to each different group of people as well as their outlooks, relations with others and a great deal of other details. It goes on to describe the clothes that are being worn and favorite practices.

Volo's guides are a blast to read IMHO, they describe different places incharacter and very well. These are some of my favorite sourcebooks out there and provide incredible amounts of information on things that would be considered minor details for most other sourcebooks.


I'll second this. Those three sets will be your best sources for that kind of information.

Philosophers of the Realms is interesting. I can't think of any (definitely doesn't mean there aren't any,) Sages of Arcane knowledge, yes, and some of them might double as philosophers. You might consider some of Drizzt's journals (within the novels) to be philosophic in nature

- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!

"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore

Brazil
1602 Posts

Posted - 25 Sep 2014 :  13:55:13  Show Profile Send Barastir a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Delwa
You might consider some of Drizzt's journals (within the novels) to be philosophic in nature


The journals of the first books are also in the 2e Menzoberranzan boxed set.

"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)
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 26 Sep 2014 :  05:08:44  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I'll have to bookmark this scroll for now, since I don't have a lot of time right at this moment. But I can definitely help you with all-things-musically-related with respect to Realmslore. Folk around here know that my near-decade long effort to compile practically every tidbit of published lore concerning music and song in the Realms has been my one overriding passion above all else that I wish to accomplish for this site.

So I'll definitely have more to say on this... in Sage-Time.

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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore

1965 Posts

Posted - 26 Sep 2014 :  05:26:49  Show Profile Send Fellfire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That means never

Misanthorpe

Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.

"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises

Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out

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DrMbutu
Acolyte

4 Posts

Posted - 26 Sep 2014 :  13:00:33  Show Profile Send DrMbutu a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by eeorey

Elminster's Forgotten Realms sourcebook is what you are looking for all in one it talks about the things you mentioned - music. literature, festivals as well as the food, monetary and economic systems, social standing, and a lot more of this kind of stuff. If there is one book to check for what you are looking for, it's this one.

Races of Faerun is another one that is simply amazing describing in detail not just different races, but also the different human ethnicities and provides you with information about things unique to each different group of people as well as their outlooks, relations with others and a great deal of other details. It goes on to describe the clothes that are being worn and favorite practices.

Volo's guides are a blast to read IMHO, they describe different places incharacter and very well. These are some of my favorite sourcebooks out there and provide incredible amounts of information on things that would be considered minor details for most other sourcebooks.



I managed to track down a copy of the first one. It really is as good as you say. The slang/commonly used terms and words feel a little forced; I doubt I'll use those. But I really love absolutely everything else in the book. Thanks! The others I'll wait to get until the next payday.

quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
So I'll definitely have more to say on this... in Sage-Time.



Good, I'll look forward to it, then.
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore

Australia
6680 Posts

Posted - 26 Sep 2014 :  14:15:53  Show Profile Send George Krashos a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Material that you are after is scattered throughout the Ed Greenwood threads in the Chamber of Sages. It won't be a quick process to find the information you need, but it will be a worthwhile one.

-- George Krashos

"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus
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