(1)
I know you just recently answered this question for someone else, but I can’t seem to find it.
It was about the Realms and real world analogs. You stated along the lines, that you tried to avoid Realms cultures mimicking real world cultures?(2)
The question came up in a group chat, and people were equivilating things like Cormyr = France, or Amn = Spain.
I just seem to recall you saying at one point that you wanted to avoid these type of equivalencies when you began forming the Realms.

— Dwaine Spradling (@DwaineSpradling) November 22, 2019

1)
That’s right. The problem is, it jolts some gamers out of immersive roleplaying and into “what I learned in history class about this or that real-world culture” (e.g. “But stirrups weren’t in use in…”) rather than experiencing the Realms. 2)
The problem is, TSR's need, back in the day, for a world that would host "Oriental Adventures," 'Arabian Adventures,' jungle adventures, pirate adventures, and so on meant that some TSR designers and artists directly embraced real-world analogues, and presented…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 23, 2019

3)
…regions of the Realms that way. Resulting in some clumsiness and awkwardness that evokes such gamer questions as, “But how come we have pyramids next door to–?” and suchlike. All of which could have been avoided in favour of a richer FR world that might ECHO 4)
…some real-world elements or historical cultures, without copying them. It's not just jarring for those wanting to roleplay, it's lazy design work that heads us straight at looming consistency problems.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 23, 2019

5)
However, if emulating a real-world historical culture or even going with the "these real-world people got through a gate into the Realms and now live there" works for you and your campaign, do it! It's whatever floats YOUR boat, as a player, DM, or worldbuilder.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 23, 2019

Dear @TheEdVerse,

In Cormyr as of 1491 DR, are there any noble families you would consider “local” to Waymoot in the same way the Wyvernspurs or Cormaerils are to Immersea?

If not, might there be extinct families that were? Perhaps of Esparin stock?

Thank you Ed! 🙏

— Jeremy E. Grenemyer the bastard son of Stonekettle (@sanishiver) October 25, 2019

1)
Hi! Sure, local-to-Waymoot noble families in 1491 DR are two: House Irlingstar and House Orthwood. The extinct local noble families, from the time of Esparin, are three: House Huntwood, House Olarynd, and House Zemair 2)
The Irlingstars are stylish, sophisticated fashion-plates and dilettantes who indulge in many hobbies (collecting exotic monsters as pets, for example). They are scattered all over Cormyr, Sembia, Westgate, Berdusk, Iriaebor, …#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 26, 2019

3)
…and Athkatla, are usually local investors, adventurer sponsors (occasionally for shadywork), and landlords, but shouldn’t be confused with the non-noble Amnian and Tethyrian Irlingstar families (there are at least three, 4)
…all unrelated, who are to be found up and down the Sword coast, always in cities, usually as moderately successful local merchants).
The Orthwoods are small in numbers and wealth, and are low profile, but maintain mansions in…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 26, 2019

5)
…Waymoot and Suzail.
Please note: the Huntwoods MIGHT not be extinct, because some early younger sons and daughters fled the strife of Esparin to forge new lives in distant corners of Faerûn, and may not all have died out in 6)
…later generations. Known as hunters, their heraldic badge was a descending-to-the-right diagonal row of three face-on brown stag’s heads (overlapping antlers), on a silver field. Current heraldry: Irlingstars: on a white…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 26, 2019

7)
…field, X of lower-left-to-upper-right gray quill pen (point down, in front) over a silver dagger (point down). Orthwood: a diamond-shaped scarlet shield transfixed at the center by two black arrows, running… 8)
…diagonally to upper left and upper right (where the white fletchings are visible).#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 26, 2019

@TheEdVerse can you tell me more about the halfling metal, Dalrun? Where are the clay filled banks its dug from? I'm guessing it's the Delimbiyr =)

— stephen parlin (@smparlin) November 9, 2019

1)
{Dlarun, not Dalrun; “Dalrun” is a long-dead dwarf known for his wit and sharp tongue, about whom many apocryphal tales are told.}
Your guess is correct, but that’s not the only place (other known sources: the banks of the many… 2)
…small streams and rills in the eastern Border Kingdoms, the upper Nagaflow, the headwaters of the Ith, the Liontongue in Veldorn, and the lower River Lapendrar in Thay).
Dlarun or “icesteel” is a soft, malleable bone-white…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 9, 2019

3)
…metal that can be brought to a high polish, and shines green in candlelight or in magical radiances (in texture, think lead but not toxic or as heavy), which means it’s pretty much useless for structural applications but 4)
…great for inlays and other applications where fine details need to be graven or molded.
(After being refined, dlarun must be reheated in a secret process known to few halfling smiths, to make it hard enough for use in making…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 9, 2019

5)
…armor, weapons, or tools, and/or suited to taking enchantments, or exhibiting its natural property: in contact with a being’s skin, it allows that being to see through illusions, and confers a limited immunity to certain 6)
…psionic effects. Dlarun is unsuited to resisting fire, or carrying enchantments related to flame, but has an affinity for cold and frost {hence its nickname}).
In the past, when demand from human clients for magic items was…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 9, 2019

7)
…lower, hin who had ready access to the clay in which the white flakes of dlarun were found made many small household vessels and covers (e.g. protections for books) of dlarun, where human might use pewter or copper, 8)
…respectively. Dlarun was then relatively rare because of its few sources, but inexpensive (cheaper than most alloys and better-known metals).
Since the 1330s DR, its price has risen steadily as more and more folk have become…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 9, 2019

9)
…aware of its existence and properties, and demanded it. Dlarun is now more expensive than silver, but not quite as pricey as gold.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 9, 2019

Can Dlarun items be reformed after going through the hardening process I to a new item, e.g. can a smith who finds several Dlarun figures reforge them into sword or dagger blade?

— stephen parlin (@smparlin) November 10, 2019

Yes, but doing so takes GREAT (rare) smithing skill, AND very high heat (i.e. lava rift underground, not a bellows-driven forge). Or to put it another way: not usually.#Realmslore https://t.co/GnEmuLNzS1

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 10, 2019