I’ve a halfling question, now… The Minstrelwish family has popped up more than once in Realmslore, and seems to be far-traveled (even coming to Earth!). How long as this family been around? What is their origin? And is there other Minstrelwish lore you can share?
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
1)
The Minstrelwish family is EVERYWHERE (Mystara as well as the Realms and Earth), and has been one of the most creative (art, music, innovations in how things are done, fiction, even windchimes) hin clans for thousands of years. 2)
Yet they are widely scattered, keep a low profile, and largely hide their immense wealth (some of which comes from being landlords and selling real estate, as they’ve been embedded in bustling human cities from early on, …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
4)
…cities, they become landlords, renting out properties they buy and sell, also get involved in warehousing and local shipping and delivery (providing employment for many halflings, gnomes, and humans (especially aging folk who…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
5)
…are local experts). The Minstrelwishes make and sell paintings and statuary, but for their daily coin tend to deal in food, tools, household necessities like bowls, pots, pans, and ladles, and repairs (locks, hinges, doors 6)
…and windows, and replacement cart and coach wheels and axles). They invest in new businesses they like, which tend to be creative or innovative (as that’s what they favor), and they also collect lore on gates (portals), as…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
7)
…they’re intensely interested in planar travel that can be used as part of trade (importing cheap goods in one place that are rare and expensive in another). As such, they’ve come to the attention of the Chosen of Mystra and 8)
…others, down the years, and have taken care to ingratiate themselves with Elminster, Khelben, and the Seven, so as not to be hampered in their trading activities. As a result, El and the Sisters now treat them as useful allies.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
9)
Any Minstrelwish encountered will always have hobbies and creative pursuits, and will always invest in farms, urban properties, and innovative businesses. The most far-traveled and adventuresome Minstrelwishes, in the 10)
…1490s DR, are the young males Barandan, Kaulith, and Rhauligaer, and the young females Anathraea, Claretta, Nintarra, and Yaunsae. The patriarch of the Minstrelwishes right now is the jovial, garrulous, much-scarred…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
11)
…Duroavran, but he bows to the three older and far more iron-willed matriarchs: the cousins Breteenra, Maevurla, and Zarettara.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
If I may? I take it ‘hin’ is what halflings call themselves? What of other races, have they words distinctly different for themselves than we commonly call them? Have the half-races ever had a preferred term for themselves? Is there much variation by game era Netherese thru 5e?
— 🌈Jaye🦄Em🌹Edgecliff🏳️🌈 (@jayeedgecliff) February 26, 2020
2)
…for them (no dwarf calls dwarves 'the Stout Folk'). Little change over time. Metagame: I coined "hin" for halflings when writing THE FIVE SHIRES, as inventing a short collective word let me include THREE PAGES MORE of text when pouring words into the template.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 26, 2020
