It’s interesting to note that in the original FR box set, in the rumours, there is mention of “the fueding merchant houses of the Moonshaes.” Not like the celtic feel that eventually was published. I’d love to hear the story of that @TheEdVerse
— LeroyD20 (@LeroyD20) February 16, 2019
2)
…Hi. My original Moonshaes were very like LeGuin’s Earthsea or the real-world Hebrides in physiography: a cluster of many islands of varying sizes, with independent city-states and “realms” of one island dominating or claiming at most two adjacent ones. It was a region of hardy fisherfolk, woodcutters, and miners, who over time had become master mariners sailing far up and down the Sword Coast trading, fearless faring in winter gales, among…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 18, 2019
4)
…icebergs, etc. and over time, the wealthiest Shae merchants had established trading costers on mainland Faerûn, assembled their own private armies of caravan escorts and warehouse guards, and inevitably clashed with each…#Realmslore other, rivalries rising into feuds (think the warring families of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). They were wealthy, proud, and increasingly into manipulating local politics in all the ports up and down the Sword Coast, as…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 18, 2019
5)
…far south as Tharsult, because they were always aware that, as “outsiders,” they could be shut out if local rulers ashore, or popular sentiment among mainland populaces, turned against them.
This was all set aside because 6)
…TSR designer Doug Niles had already developed an “Albion” campaign (Celtic elements, hence the castles named “Caer X” and “Caer Y,” the stallion Avalon, and so on) before TSR purchased the Realms. Jeff Grubb asked me if I…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 18, 2019
7)
…minded if “my” Moonshaes got replaced by Doug’s, and I didn’t—which suited TSR’s needs perfectly, as that meant the Realms could be “rolled out” to the gaming public even faster (hence Doug’s novel Darkwalker On Moonshae 8)
…leading the way as the first Realms product; TSR wanted to avoid at all costs my becoming a bottleneck that might slow Realms products appearing, and I agreed and still agree with that).#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 18, 2019
Besides, it’s not like it was going to change your own personal campaign 🙂 Exactly. The published Realms and the home Realms diverged from the start. We knew they would (Jeff and me), and were both fine with that. No close real-world analogues in "my" Realms, but the published ones supporting Oriental Adventures, Arabian Adventures, jungle&pirateAND…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 18, 2019
