(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

Dude. Amn is soooooo not Spain.
Its clearly the Ottoman Empire. It is? News to me, and I created it. ;}
Seriously, I've never had close real-world analogues in my Realms.
Amn isn't a thinly-disguised Spain or the Ottoman Empire or any real-world place.
In the published Realms, other designers have ported some real-world cultures into FR, yes.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 14, 2021

I have been told by many that the Harpers are against technological advancement due to the effect it would have in tipping the scales of power. Is this true? I can’t seem to find that stance in writing anywhere. The Harpers are against MONOPOLISTIC tech advances where only one ruler or group has the benefit, and uses it to conquer/oppress.
The Harpers want peacetime by trying to keep folks as equal as possible (so, no successful empire builders as it causes misery for all).#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 24, 2021

How do the Red Wizards feel about Rath Modars Thayan Resurrection and betrayal?As in, an official position? They've been silent. (And an official position is about the only way by which the Red Wizards would have a monolithic, uniform view.) It's safe to conclude that Szass Tam disapproves, but it's not safe to conclude anything else.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2021

I see, but Neverwinter lore, Rath Modar joined Neverwinters along with his faction against Valindra Shadowmantle, then betrayed us for the Cult of the Dragon. "us"? ;}

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2021

The Heroes of the Sleeping Dragon. Rath Modar and his new friends tried to unleash Tiamat upon the Realms. Luckily we had some help, the legend himself Elminster Aumer.

— TYWIN LANNISTER the Chancellor of the USA. (@TywinResists) October 14, 2021

Can a DM just ignore the spellplague? Would it be a lot of work to convert the 5e Realms adventures to the 1370-1380s DR? A DM can ignore anything they like. And no, if you put STORY first (and that's really CHARACTERS first), it's never a lot of work to convert. "Reality" at your gaming table is what the PCs experience. Lorebooks different? I guess Volo lied again. He does that a lot.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2021

Hi Ed. I am commissioning a friend of mine to do another Piergeiron and Madeiron piece. I am going to have Madeiron doing something insanely and impossibly strong. Do you have any suggestions based on you memories of his exploits? Thanks!!! 1)
Sure. Madeiron standing on the rail of a Waterdhavian caravel, one arm hooked around taut bent rigging lines for support, leaning out and catching the bowsprit of a (larger) pirate caravel that was trying to ram (without…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 2, 2021

2)
…actually having a ramspike built onto it, but they were counting on superior size, weight, and velocity, running on a “fair breeze” under full sail, crunching them into the hull of their target) the caravel he (and… 3)
…Piergeiron, who was watching) were aboard.
Madeiron caught hold of the bowsprit and shoved the ramming ship away, fending it by sheer strength so the two ships ended up broadsiding each other (bump, but no ram)—and then he…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 2, 2021

4)
…SHOVED the pirate vessel away as pirates scrambled to board, so many of them fell into the sea.
The pirates fled.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 2, 2021

@TheEdVerse Hi Ed, I have another question on the Madeiron info you gave me. In discussing the commission with my friend, would he and Piegeiron be in their armor? Or would they be wearing something different on a sailing excursion? Thanks!!!

— Marvel Fan (@MarvelF89471649) September 4, 2021

1)
At sea, they’d not be wearing armor (beyond bracers and hardened leather shoulderpads). They’d be wearing surcoats emblazoned with the arms of Waterdeep on the breast, deity on the back, over leather breeches, thigh-high boots, and plain but well-made shirts… 2)
…(puff sleeves, pleated, open-front "pirate shirts"), which during cold weather or early morn or near sundown, would be replaced by heavier high-collar tunics/#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 4, 2021

So, Masked Lord of Waterdeep question.

No one’s supposed to know their identity, right? What about their spouses? How do they not find out?I feel like I should tag Ed Greenwood himself but I (a) don't wanna bug him and (b) he's probably answered this. But… you know what they say about curiosity. @TheEdVerse

— boo does art (Swindle Sisters now live @DMsGuild!) (@BrassikArts) August 20, 2021

Masked Lord "secret identities" are for their own protection: so they don't get intimidated, mugged or assassinated, or just pestered/lobbied constantly. So if their families know, it shouldn't be a problem (though, if a marriage goes really bad…). Custom, not law.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

Think of how much of a hassle it would be to be lobbied or spied on constantly. Especially if you're trying to run a business. Secret identities also lessen the temptation to assassinate or maim Lords to remove their votes…or just delay them so they miss a vote.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

Followup – and thank you again for your clarifications!: What’s the protocol for electing someone to the role? Secret vote given a small pool of candidates? The second part of making it hard to sway all the Lords, and lessen the temptation to go after one or two or more of them, is that the public doesn't know how many of them there really are, so you don't know "how far you have to go" to be effective in influencing them or…

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

…wiping them out in order to get rid of Lords with views you don’t like, or to get your desired replacements in, etc.
The Lords are chosen by vote among the Lords (majority of the entire roster), with most Lords having just one veto they can use, once ever, to blackball a… …candidate. So the Lords nominate possible candidates (secretly) to all the Lords, there's discussion of who would be best or who shouldn't be asked (without a vote or veto), then when a slate of possibles is hammered out, the Lords, still secretly, vote to accept that…

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

…slate, then the Open Lord (in private) asks every candidate if they’d be interested in being a Lord of Waterdeep (many refuse, for various good reasons), and reports back to the Masked Lords, in secret, and they then discuss, in light of that, who to “put to the vote” to be……made Lords. Then the (secret) vote is taken, and a successful result means the Open Lord then informs the new Lord. In the time of Laeral, this is done by someone Laeral asks privately who would normally have business dealings or social contact with the Lord-to-be to…

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

..to invite them to dinner, or a business meeting, or a gathering on some other pretext…at which Laeral quietly shows up, takes them to her home (Mirt’s Mansion) for a private dinner at which she makes sure they don’t want to withdraw. If not, she then shows and tells them…"the ropes," gives them their Mask (it's actually a full-head helm), and will arrange a meeting-place at which other Masked Lords will rendezvous with the new Lord to escort them to their first Lords' meeting (council).#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

I’m so sorry for the follow-ups, but – what about in the time of Piergeron Paladinson? Our campaign (a modified Dragon Heist) is set in 1370-71.

Also, thank you- I imagined something more akin to “candidate gets unmarked package containing THE mask”. This is far more civil! Don't be sorry, I love talking Realmslore!
So Piergeiron had an easier time of making contact, and more influence within the Masked Lords. As a paladin, tirelessly working on social projects large and small (like nudging guilds to provide toys and food aid and "things to do"…

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

…for street children), and having Madeiron as his personal envoy as well as bodyguard and servant of Waterdeep, he had more social pretexts for meeting people without the city at large saying, “OHO! Guess who’s a new Masked Lord!” and more of a say in drawing up slates of….candidates. And he used it during his long lordship to make sure the Masked Lords reflected all walks of life, ages, social classes, genders, etc. rather than being "this old boys network selects only old boys to join it." Which really means that ANYONE can be a Masked Lord.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 20, 2021

Lap-all-LEE-ah.
Unless you're from Var the Golden or Ulgarth, who render it: Lap-all-LEE-yah.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 16, 2021

Would you mind lending realms knowledge to clarify something published in Dragon #232? What would Balagos, be doing in present day Faerûn? Knowing that his territory is extensive, going all the way to the Lake of Steam, could he ever bother the Border Kingdoms?Among his lairs, would he have spent more time in the main or the secondary one in Wyrmwell?

— Luís Ricardo (@LusRicardoSilv5) July 13, 2021

Yes, Balagos could hunt the northernmost Border Kingdoms (Lake of Steam shore) but VERY rarely; he'd far more often be marauding on the far (northern) shore. Balagos doesn't like settlement and crowding, so as the years pass, Wyrmwell would be increasingly attractive.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 14, 2021