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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jul 2005 : 04:58:48
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I was just perusing Stefan's Floriligeum (a God-send for harried folks who want to learn about all things Medieval and Renaissance for historical re-enacting, but also a great boon to gamemasters and players, too) and I happened across the page on ear-rings (http://www.florilegium.org/files/ACCESS/ear-rings-msg.html). The DMG doesn't make allowances for wearing ear-rings when assigning limits to the number of magic items which may be worn, but I was wondering in which lands on Toril ear-rings are de riguer, anyway? I don't recall seeing any illustrations of men or women of the Realms wearing ear-rings. Would those with knowledge about this subject please share?
I would imagine that somewhere south of Maztica there is a Mayan-type country in which enormous earlobe plugs are worn, but what about lands on the "main" continent (Faerun-Zakhara-Kara Tur)? I have a Waterdhavian character who has Craft (Jeweler), so the matter of crafting a pair (or a singlet) might actually come up at some point, particularly given that it was European sailors who made fancied them originally.
The discussion at Stefan's Florilegium mentions a fascinating custom in which sailors would wear gold coins as ear-rings so that if they were wrecked at sea and washed ashore they could posthumously pay for a "good Christian burial" for themselves. That seems to me to be a custom which might easily be reflected in the Realms, given Umberlee's temper. It might also make for an interesting adventure hook: body is washed ashore, greedy locals don't use its ear-ring coin to pay for a proper burial, dead sailor comes back as vengeful ghost or undead.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2005 : 06:21:18
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- 'Korbus's Jewels and Fine Ornaments' in Daggerford is said to handle many of the latest fashions, including earrings.
- Members of the Emerald Enclave are known to wear green earrings which symbolise their connection to that particular order of druids.
- The Tabaxi Clans of Chult adorn themselves with many different types of earrings in order to identify themselves.
- The Kiam of the Iulutiuns wear tiny earrings which are believed to be made from the skulls of immature fish. They are known as "uwa".
- Earrings were fashionable during the days of Netheril. 'Karmandon's Finery' was a shop with a well-earned reputation for fantastic and exotic accessories.
- The Maztica boxed set lists earrings on the equipment tables contained with the expansion.
- Jade is often used to craft earrings in Shou Lung.
- Southern dwarves are known to wear gold earrings, as well as toerings.
- Wild dwarves carve the earrings they wear from bone.
- Wild elves also decorate themselves with earrings made from a variety of materials.
- The priesthoods of Hanali regularly adorn themselves with fine and exotic earrings.
- The giiraegisir (brooches of guardianship) of the noblewomen of Cormanthyr can be fashioned into earrings.
- Earrings are a standard fashion accessory among both males and females in Calimport.
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Edited by - The Sage on 03 Jul 2005 07:59:23 |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2005 : 11:25:09
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| Hokey smokes! Thanks. Keep those references coming, folks! |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe
169 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2005 : 17:29:59
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| Since Mulhorand is modeled after ancient Egypt, and ancient Egyptians were known to wear earings, I would imagine that the inhabitants of Mulhorand would wear earings, the higher your social class, the larger the earings. |
Goblins? *Slash* *Scream* *Thunk* What goblins? |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2005 : 02:32:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Thureen Buroch
Since Mulhorand is modeled after ancient Egypt, and ancient Egyptians were known to wear earings, I would imagine that the inhabitants of Mulhorand would wear earings, the higher your social class, the larger the earings.
That's a fair assumption.
And to some degree, mostly as the result of the extensive trade network at play across Faerun, we can assume that at some point, travelling merchants (in search of the new and the exotic) have recognised the potential value of these curious accessories in regions were they are sold extensively. They've most likely made efforts to procure such items, with the intention of taking them to markets in regions of the Realms which don't usually display such a level of personal dress.
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2005 : 15:34:53
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Well met!
I have always assumed that it is not "exotic" for the both sexes in FR to wear earrings, and thus several of my characters and NPCs of all races have worn them in our campaigns.
In fact, I vaguely recall that Miklos Selkirk wears golden earrings in the illustration in FRCS? It would imply that it may be a common habit in Sembia, if not elsewhere. |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36797 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2005 : 17:53:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Well met!
I have always assumed that it is not "exotic" for the both sexes in FR to wear earrings, and thus several of my characters and NPCs of all races have worn them in our campaigns.
In fact, I vaguely recall that Miklos Selkirk wears golden earrings in the illustration in FRCS? It would imply that it may be a common habit in Sembia, if not elsewhere.
I don't think that illustrations are a good basis for assuming anything... After all, the illustrations have a very bad habit of not being anything like the description.  |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2005 : 02:23:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I don't think that illustrations are a good basis for assuming anything... After all, the illustrations have a very bad habit of not being anything like the description.
Indeed.
If nothing else, some of the new illustrations in the now released City of Splendors tome make Wooly's comment more than evident.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31726 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2005 : 02:30:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Well met!
I have always assumed that it is not "exotic" for the both sexes in FR to wear earrings, and thus several of my characters and NPCs of all races have worn them in our campaigns.
In fact, I vaguely recall that Miklos Selkirk wears golden earrings in the illustration in FRCS? It would imply that it may be a common habit in Sembia, if not elsewhere.
While I do agree that some FR illustrations are not completely accurate, I do also believe that your comment about the wearing of earrings in Sembia is a valid one.
I look to the relative geographical position of Sembia, and the important position it maintains in most cross-Faerun trade routes. The Land of Merchants will likely see a greater deal of foreign objects and trinkets, as well as odd customs and strange cultural practices pass through its cities and ports every hour of every day.
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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 |
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Jindael
Senior Scribe
USA
357 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2005 : 12:42:59
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quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
For the creation of Earrings, I just give them the cost modifier for not taking up a magic item slot (x2).
I do the exact same thing. And since the cost is doubled, I allow as many ear rings (or other piercings) as the character wants to shove through their flesh. |
"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
-- C.S. Lewis |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2005 : 01:47:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Jindael
quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
For the creation of Earrings, I just give them the cost modifier for not taking up a magic item slot (x2).
I do the exact same thing. And since the cost is doubled, I allow as many ear rings (or other piercings) as the character wants to shove through their flesh.
Yep |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2005 : 10:10:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Well met!
I have always assumed that it is not "exotic" for the both sexes in FR to wear earrings, and thus several of my characters and NPCs of all races have worn them in our campaigns.
In fact, I vaguely recall that Miklos Selkirk wears golden earrings in the illustration in FRCS? It would imply that it may be a common habit in Sembia, if not elsewhere.
Ah, yes! You are quite right. Smack in the middle of Faerūn, the Sembians could inspire people from all over Faerūn with the earring fashion, if they didn't already have it.
I consider my question well and truly answered. Thank ye, sages and scholars! |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2005 : 03:10:29
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| I add a specific instance: in the novel Tantras, Mikkel, fisherman of Shadowdale (the guy who fails his saving throw on Blackfeather Bridge), wears a single, prism-shaped earring. |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Ear-rings (earrings)
