Merry Christmas, Ed. I hope you are doing well.
If you don’t mind my asking, in Waterdeep and the North, I think page 52, Hlam is mentioned. Is the White Master of Dragons a monk tournament title or a position of authority over White Dragons? It's a monk title (from the original PHB); if it included any measure of authority or influence over white dragons, nothing much about that ever appeared in published official game lore.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 25, 2020
Hey Ed, another question for you! I was just reading about Haela Brightaxe, whose portfolio is luck in battle. Though she died battling Duergar gods, I am wondering if she has any lore connection with Tymora or Beshaba? An ally, rival, or unassociated? 1)
Haela is back, like seemingly all the deities who perished in the Spellplague or before. Haela was an ally of Tymora; on rare occasions, they took tea together and discussed events in the unfolding Realms, how the way in which…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 3, 2020
2)
…they dispensed good fortune lifted morale, and such things. Haela and Beshaba despise each other, so no relationship has developed beyond sneering from afar, or more often just pointedly ignoring each other. 3)
(Beshaba is the more powerful deity, but would lose any one-on-one combat with Haela, and knows it.)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 3, 2020
1)
Vhammos
Patriarch: Jaraedren (“Jar-RAY-drenn”) Vhammos, a balding, aging but still-vigorous man who is one of the slow-to-decide-anything ditherers of life, a man of few and guarded words, no hobbies, and not much thought. He eats the same things most evenings, … 2)
…drinks himself into a near-stupor, and tells the same tales and jests of his youth that he’s told every evening. To the same bored servants, and his wife.
Matriarch: Brezmra Vhammos, a fiery-tempered, long flame-orange-haired buxom beauty who has flashing…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
3)
…brown eyes and a purring, alluring voice and manner. Brezmra is a spitfire who grew bored with being a trophy wife for Jaraedren but had no interest in carrying on any affairs with the “twisted” noblemen of her city—so, after an unfortunate incumbent got… 4)
…assassinated, or more likely killed by accident while being mugged in the street, she seized the merchant council seat for the lesser nobles, claiming she’s holding it as a member of House Sumbra, which is the lesser noble house she was born into (and which…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
5)
…now consists of herself and an impoverished aunt, Mareera Sumbra, who lives in a rented upper room paid for by Brezmra, in a bad part of Westgate), not as the matriarch of House Vhammos. This is causing much pushback from the other senior noble houses, who see.. 6)
…this as a not-so-polite fiction to let House Vhammos have two council seats, as Jaraedren currently holds the seat for Vhammos. Brezmra is doing this not because she cares about policy, or wants the power, but for her own entertainment (deliverance from…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
7)
…deepening boredom), and she’s currently hugely enjoying every cut and thrust of the conflict she’s created and is in the midst of. Suddenly, the arm candy of the most boring senior noble of Westgate is important, and everyone is paying attention to her!8)
Heiress: Paerendra (“Pair-ENN-drah”) Vhammos is a vivacious, bored, beautiful young woman desperate to escape the prison of being a pampered noble and see the wider world and have adventures in it. She knows she’s very fortunate to never want for warmth in…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
9)
…winter, cooling in summer, a comfortable bed, attentive servants, and steady, superb food—but she is seething at the boredom, and now sees her mother hugely enjoying herself; why can’t she, too, have adventures? So if any adventurers stray within reach and… 10)
…want to kidnap her, she’ll hurl herself into their arms, just so long as they get her OUT of here!
Notable Rakes/Adventurers: none living
Formerly notorious as a crooked noble house, adroit at swindling—and at poisonings, when caught—House Vhammos long ago…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
11)
…shifted direction in a bid for respectability, and their fortunes rose by doing diligent work in their new investments: they now invest with great care (and constant spying on their assets, which keeps them performing efficiently, so they’re value for money… 12)
…to those who hire them) in mercenary, bodyguard, and warehouse- and caravan-escort-guardianship.And there you have it, brief glimpses of the senior noble houses of Westgate, back in the day. Enjoy, I hope!#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
Sardior is still active in the Realms, but does he have any particular mission, other than simply knowing more? Does he have any particular foes? Does he actively oppose any specific Elder Evil or anything? @TheEdVerse #dnd
— D&D Adventure Ideas (@DnD_Ideas) December 7, 2020
1)
Oh, yes. He has always worked covertly against the Phaerimm and certain human rulers who sought to imprison and make use of psionicists, and openly against giants who seek out and try to destroy dragons, dragon eggs, and to… 2)
…occupy and hold dragon lairs.
Some of what he’s up to are among “the” Great Secrets of the Realms (still NDA), but I can share that he works to manipulate unions in all sentient races that will increase the number of…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 7, 2020
3)
…individuals who have psionics (in other words, Sardior is trying to “breed” widespread psionics into existence, deeming this better for the world than users of arcane and divine magic coercing or ruling beings who lack… 4)
…access to these magics, without widespread psionics to ‘balance out things’).
And I'll add just this: why do you think the likes of Xanathar keep a low profile, rather than encouraging daily strife in the streets?#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 7, 2020
What sort of ‘manipulation’ does he perform? Are we talking divine genetic intervention, or more like sending agents to help foster psionic communities? Is this a eugenics sort of deal or a fostering knowledge OF psionics sort of deal. 😬 Like all dragons, Sardior thinks long term. He seeks to nudge, by circumstances, males and females who have strong psionic bloodlines into marrying and having offspring. Not coercing, just trying to get them together so they have a chance to fall for each other.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 8, 2020
So for instance, Sardior might send two clerics out on the same quest, where they are destined to meet and become blood brothers, and their respective children might end up together as a result, and thus their grandchild will receive psionic power as part of some divine destiny? Exactly. It's a patient, behind-the-scenes, "pushing psionically-gifted mortals into contact with each other and letting what happens, happen" strategy. No destiny, no "you must," and no Sardior-direct-contact.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 8, 2020
Sardior is creating opportunities, not forcing anything to happen.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 8, 2020
@TheEdVerse , what kind of cuss would a frustrated Waukeenian swear, both to no one in particular and directed towards someone frustrating.
— Nicholas Netzel (@NickelNinety7) November 15, 2020
1)
Aside from the ‘general’ cusswords and phrases, the following:
“Tarnish!” or “Tarnished!” (referring to the visible surface besmirchment of coins, and equivalent to real-world “Darn!” or “Blast!”) and of a person: “Tarnisher!” 2)
A step stronger (so, equivalent to “Damn!” or “Damn it!”):
“Diminisher!” (more polite) or “Wastrel!” (less polite)
Another step stronger (so, equivalent to “Sh*t!” or “G*d DAMN it!”):
“Beswindled!” and of a person: “Swindler!”#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 16, 2020
3)
Stronger still:
“Ruination!” and of a person: “Jaeleth!” (the name of a long-ago but still-bitterly-remembered female moneylender of Amn who ruined not just families, but cities and duchies with her thefts)4)
REALLY strong:
“Ontagon!” (the name of an ancient archwizard who had a spell that melted gemstones into magical energy, consuming them forever, so the word means utter and irreversible, wanton destruction of wealth)…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 16, 2020
5)
…and of a person: “Hurkfist!” (“Hurk” is all that survives of a fragmentary name from Jhaamdath, of someone whose thefts ruined an entire district, AND himself, so a recklessly foolish thief)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 16, 2020
Hi master! Do you have an Orcish dictionary? I’m in need to translate “white demon” or “white devil” related to a female PC in my table. She earned orc admiration and that nickname after demonstrating powerful skills of defeating strong opponents. Courtesy of Realms loremaster @gkrashos I have the beginnings of one.
So that nickname would likely be “Kalarauk,” from Kala = white + Rauk = devil
(Glaur = demon, and Raukyn = fiend {summoned fell being, type unknown})#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 23, 2020
1)
Urdo
Patriarch: Scirkas Urdo, a cold-voiced, lidded-eyed autocrat who considers himself the smartest man in Westgate and perhaps anywhere in Toril, save the monks of Candlekeep and archwizards. He prides himself on outthinking and outmaneuvering his fellow nobles.. 2)
…of Westgate, and ignores the Night Masks and wealthy commoners and outlanders alike as beneath his interest; all that matters to him is besting his fellow senior nobles. He just might be the richest man in Westgate, and the Night Masks long ago decided to…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
3)
…leave him (and his spies) alone, as they are such handy scapegoats, dupes, and ways of feeding misinformation from the Night Masks to desired ears. Scirkas firmly believes that he has earned his “rightful” place at the top of society in Westgate, and further…4)
…believes that the city must become a well-run center of daily law and order both to safeguard his position atop the heap and to enable Westgate to grow and flourish as a trusted trading center, not a feared, notoriously corrupt shadyhole. So he has embraced… #Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
5)
…the faith of Tyr, and sponsored local clergy of Tyr in expanding their temple and recruiting new novices and extending their reach and holy resources (freely feeding the homeless of the back alleys daily, for example, and giving out one free useful item—a… 6)
…bowl, a mallet, a handaxe—each tenday).
Matriarch: Lhindra Urdo, a tall, stiff, coldly polite mountain of a woman who is constantly attended by a trio of maids and dressers, as she’s changing her garments and jewelry dozens of times a day. She believes in…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
7)
…wearing the great wealth of the Urdo family on her person, to show all of Westgate just how successful they are—so stupendously wealthy that they can buy and sell all of Westgate, including every other noble house—several times over. No one else is really… 8)
…needed; House Urdo is the coin-vault that enables Westgate and this entire end of the Sea of Fallen Stars to run; Forget This NOT. Being first, and getting respect from all others, is what matters in Lhindra’s world. She came from back alley poverty in…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
9)
…Westgate, passed herself off as visiting nobility to get into a revel, caught the eye of a young and randy Scirkas Urdo, and is determined never to be hungry or needy again. There are many in Westgate who are so sick of her hauteur and rudeness that they…10)
…heartily wish she’ll die rich—two breaths hence.
Heiress: Szuldra (“SULL-drah”) Urdo, a fat, sulky, unhappy young woman who is beautiful but simply can’t avoid being plump, and is embarrassed by the size of her bosom and behind, no matter how richly and…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
11)
…flatteringly clad. So she largely keeps to her rooms (from which all mirrors have been banished) and eats sweets as she cuddles her pet cats. She wants nothing to do with the social whirl, or the unwashed of Westgate’s streets, and her only escape is reading… 12)
…lurid chapbooks about gorgeous—and THIN—young women being passionately wooed by handsome young princes.
Notable Rakes/Adventurers: none living
House Urdo is indeed the richest noble house in Westgate, by far, and this wealth has been built on moneylending (at..#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
13)
…ruinous rates), wise investments in urban real estate in Amn, and in shrewdly handling two newer, sideline businesses: spying for hire in Westgate and coastal Cormyr and Sembia, and sponsoring adventurers to find and retrieve old magic and then taking profits.. 14)
…from the sale and use of those magics. The money comes in almost faster than Scirkas Urdo’s well-trained, and very well paid, advisors and factors can invest it.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2020
@TheEdVerse Sorry if this has been asked before. Is the suffix -pur in city names analogous to Greek -pol? What language family is this from? And are there equivalent suffixes for towns, villages, hamlets?
— Observant Oliphaunt (@zoozeki) December 16, 2020
1)
In Thorass (Old Common), “pur” means “great settlement” (=large settlement=city).
In Thorass, a market-moot was the closest term to a town, and had a “-ubel” suffix (which survives in the name of Scornubel). A fast-growing…2)
…settlement of any size might get a “-bor” suffix (as in Iriaebor), and a good harbor’s name might end with “-gaunt” (Selgaunt). However, these suffixes were seldom used, and often vanished when growing places got renamed.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 17, 2020
and Thorass is based on the Italic languages, not Greek(according to the Forgotten Realms Wiki).
When I read this answer, I thought of Triboar, but realized it used “boar”, along with an obvious name origin referencing an event with “Three Boars”. Nope, Thorass isn't based on any real-world language. When I create the Realms, I (gasp) MAKE THINGS UP. ;}#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 17, 2020
Check the references; the language lore is from “Speaking in Tongues” by Thomas Costa, Dragon Annual #4. It offers “similar real world” groups to the Realms languages, e.g., “à la Italic: Latin, Italian, French” for Thorass. These are the usual inspirations for names and things. They may be the usual inspirations, but they've never been mine. Sorry.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 18, 2020
Interestingly, a classmate of mine, years ago at university, tried to "fit" some of my invented Realms words to real-world language groups, and our linguistics prof (not knowing where they came from, BTW) showed him how they didn't "map." Good; I was trying for "new."#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 18, 2020
