@TheEdVerse Sorry for bombarding you with Qs

What are younger folk who help the clergy in temples called/what is their title? I imagine they'd separate them and their duties by hopeful clergy and laypeople?

I envision they hopeful clergy being paiges/clerks to the clergy.

— stephen parlin (@smparlin) December 30, 2021

1)
The formal titles vary by church, but a “novice” is someone recognized as on the path to priesthood, whereas a “lay brother” or “lay sister” (collectively, “Lay devout”) are temple/abbey/monastery/shrine workers not priests or on a path to priesthood. 2)
In many faiths, the lay devout are actually addressed as "Devout" (as in, "Devout Brandor" or "Devout Aslanna" if Brandor or Aslanna was their given name…whereas a novice would be "Faithful X," with "X" being the name of a saint or historical distinguished-service cleric.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 31, 2021

This might seem like a strange question out of the blue @TheEdVerse but in a discussion with my jimmy rustling wife, the topic of of when specifically Baldurs Gate was created came up. Would you happen to have an approximate date for that?

— Renezuo (Summer Arc) (@RenezuoArt) March 26, 2022

1)
The problem is that the good natural harbour around which Baldur’s Gate developed was a pirate and smuggler’s haven, and supported a tiny settlement of fisherfolk, for many years before Balduran first set sail from it. 2)
It was a known port of call for ships on the Sword Coast by 204 DR (i.e. by then it had “visitors wharves” and a shipyard, and could replace masts and sails). It was known as Baldur’s Gate, and considered a city, by 446 DR. #Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 26, 2022

3)
So, sometime “earlier” (before 0 DR) was when it was founded, and it was likely known as Baldur’s Gate before 300 DR. The designation “city” in the Realms is based neither on the presence of cathedrals nor on precise population… 4)
…totals/thresholds or legal incorporation, but on importance/domination of interland and rough size, and for the Gate likely came earlier rather than later due to the absence of large nearby settlements to provide competition.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 26, 2022

This is great Ed and very useful. After that 204 DR date, was it – for a time – incorporated or controlled by the brief realm of Shavinar, which existed from 227 DR to 277 DR? I see it as nominally being part of Shavinar, but very much, on a daily "on-the-cobbles" basis, doing its own thing: only some citizens paid taxes (the rest never registered), they obeyed laws and enforcers of them only when under the eye of said authorities, etc.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 27, 2022

Hi Ed. I commissioned a friend to do this based on Piergeiron battling the Dracolich Kistarianth with Madeiron on Halaster’s Highharvestide. I love these characters. What do you think? I hope you like it! I do. Great composition, and both characters "look right" to me. So, thumbs up!!!

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 2, 2022

Heya, Ed – is tapdancing a thing in the Realms? If so, what culture does it come from and where is it popular circa 1300s DR? Not that I’ve ever heard of. The closest thing: gnome and korred slap-dancing; in which the dancers (and a ring of watchers) slap their own upper front thighs repeatedly between steps, in a syncopated rhythm.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 23, 2021

I don't think it's been covered in print, but has been mentioned in several Milwaukee-era GenCon Realms seminars, by me with staff designers and editors on the panel. It's well SW of Faerûn.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 28, 2021

No. That map's rather fanciful. Notice it doesn't specify WHICH Scholar's view? It's more accurate than some maps, yet is still closer to "Dragonnes Be Herre" than reality.
Rule of thumb: trust no map that has Anchorôme as a continent, or Osse as a big continent.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 30, 2021

I’ve been told you know a lot about DnD and the Forgotten Realms. 3 hours ago I started a quest searching for some information about Horizkaul which has 3 spells with his name on them. After some more searching, I found a book called Magic of Faerûn but that (1/2) Didn't have anything either, do you know anything about this Horizkaul guy? I'm really curious to know.
They also told me he might have a similar story to that of Mordenkainen (Idk who that is) and that's it… Thank you! (2/2)

— Broccolo (@PepperBroccolo) January 17, 2022

1)
Well met! Metagame: I THINK Horizikaul is the creation of Sean K. Reynolds, but I may be wrong about that, and the name (plus the fact that he was obviously a creator of sonic-related spells) is about all we know of him in published Realmslore. 2)
To that, I can extrapolate this much: his name suggests that he’s from Halruaa but of Tashlutan or Calishite heritage. Sonic spells are a chancy—and so, mistrusted in Halruaa—field of magic, which suggests Horizikaul is an independent, perhaps even defiant…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 17, 2022

3)
…sort, and is likely not a respected “establishment” Halruaan. That plus the nature of the spells leads me to think he’s an adventurer, wandering the Realms, but either not successful or very much not an attention-seeker (as he hasn’t established himself as a… 4)
…local fixture anywhere).
So he’s another of our many loose ends that you can do what you like with. :}
If it were me, I’d have him living quietly in his own tower either in a rural area or in a small town, semi-retired from a successful adventuring career…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 17, 2022

5)
…and devoting himself to his researches. Which could either be a dastardly, dangerous-to-the-world plot, or helpful and business-related (someone has to turn out all those useful enchanted weapons, tools, and doodads, you know) 6)
Either way, he’d likely have some powerful automatons as guardians, to deter thieves and would-be Horizikaul-slayers.
(And Mordenkainen is a very different sort of character: he’s one of the most important and powerful wizards of Greyhawk, the founder of the…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 17, 2022

7)
…Circle of Eight, and was recently nursed back to sanity by Elminster.)#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 17, 2022

I was tempted to tweet a long fake backstory about them being an NPC in my FR home campaign, but … nah, I made up the name. Feel free to create whatever lore you want for this character. 😀

— Sean K Reynolds • MCG 10th Anniversary 2022! (@seankreynolds) January 17, 2022

Guy @SirWiseGuy@TheEdVerse
It is nearly at the holiday and Christmas season here, in the Realms it must be getting near Midwinter Festival, say that gifts are exchanged, what would Elminster and your other favourite Realms characters like to receive?

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 28, 2021

1)
Hoo, boy.
Elminster: quite a few less “addled mages trying to rule the world through idiot means that will mar it,” such as Szass Tam. The Sage of Shadowdale would like a holiday from all the extra work. 2)
Mirt: to be young and strong again, and carrying a lot less weight around. No more wheezing! Oh, and Asper back alive, and many other old friends. Loneliness is a gnawing curse.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 28, 2021

3)
Storm: to have more Harpers visiting her and leave happily without her having to watch them go and think they’re hastening to their deaths, and instead may survive to visit again. 4)
Laeral: to have certain Waterdhavians be a lot less selfish and greedy and shortsighted, and think of their fellow beings and future consequences and generosity and understanding. “Certain” as in ALL OF THEM.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 28, 2021

5)
Alustriel: to have the Silver Marches back and peace across the North, so folk everywhere can get back to planting and irrigating and tending the land, instead of sharpening swords and digging war-graves. 6)
The Srinshee: to get back to Toril full-bodied and hale, as there’s a lot more work to do restoring the land, the forests in particular. Myth Drannor undestroyed would be nice, too.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 28, 2021

Thank you, as always, for your wonderful words,@TheEdVerse.It is nearly at the holiday and Christmas season here, in the Realms it must be getting near Midwinter Festival, say that gifts are exchanged, what would Elminster and your other favourite Realms characters like to receive? One quick question, what do you, @TheEdVerse, master chronicler, enjoy receiving as a wintertime gift? Happy holidays to you, may your paths be safe, your company merry and your health be hearty.

— Guy (@SirWiseGuy) November 28, 2021

Heh. I enjoy most receiving a few moments to relax with my wife Jen, reading and sipping tea in peace. With full-choir carols on very quietly in the background.
Material gifts? Several million dollars, in small, unmarked bills. The ones I have seem to go away all too easily. Seriously? Like all gamers, I enjoy weird dice. Odd shapes and sizes in particular (spindle-shaped geometrics, things like that). And painted fantasy minis.
The only things that beat those are new friends, and getting to spend time with them. THEY are the best treasures.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 28, 2021

2)
…place," particularly if such skirmishes are fought by proxies (hired mercenaries and bands of adventurers [HINT HINT]).
Both sides can benefit from any gains, but avoid the costs of full mobilization and trade barriers/sanctions. Beware targeted assassinations.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 4, 2022

1)
My judgment would be that both places are too concerned with making coin and dealing with local troubles/problems for an “overall war.” But both places would look the other way if merchants or merchant cabals started “unofficial wars” with elements “in the other… 2)
…place," particularly if such skirmishes are fought by proxies (hired mercenaries and bands of adventurers [HINT HINT]).
Both sides can benefit from any gains, but avoid the costs of full mobilization and trade barriers/sanctions. Beware targeted assassinations.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 4, 2022