quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Including Candlekeep.
love,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Garen Thal

For example, what differentiates a Cormyrean table at the Feast of the Moon (or similar, Realms-wide celebration) from a Turmian or Rashemi one?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Hi again, fellow scribes. This time Ed tackles another question from RodOdom: “Dear Ed and Lady THO, Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our (merciless?) barrage of questions. Here's another for your consideration:
What's the geologic age of Toril? The earliest date mentioned in the Serpent Kingdoms sourcebook -35000 DR, the start of the Age of Thunder. Were there billions of years of unrecorded history before that period?”
Ed replies:

You’re very welcome. Whenever I have time to actually sit down and deal with e-mail, I love sharing Realmslore with everyone who’s become a fan of my world. Warm fuzzy pleasure for me, so thank YOU. As for the geological age of Toril, we don’t know for sure. However, I can say that the eldest elves and dragons who’ve considered the matter, and the best-informed human sages ditto, all tend to hold opinions that suggest Toril is twice as old as the Age of Thunder . . . or perhaps a LITTLE less.

So saith Ed. Hmm. That’s a LOT more Realmslore to write, big boy . . . you are planning to live forever, aren’t you?

(snip)

love to all,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Hello again, fellow scribes. Ed herewith makes reply to MaskedOne’s recent “semi-related questions,” to whit: “What would probably have occurred if the Karsus Avatar spell had been permitted to reach completion rather than Mystril suiciding to counter-act it?
What did Mystril believe would occur if the spell was permitted to go on?”
Dagnirion posted a suggestion, but Ed’s reply differs:



Ascension to godhood under those circumstances would have stolen power from all of the gods (to achieve the ascension and make Karsus a god, and to give him divine power), in a surge that Mystril was very much afraid (and probably rightly) that Karsus would have been unable to handle, mentally and physically, so he’d have promptly been ruined and the magic would have “surged” back and forth around Toril, doing great damage and spawning many wild magic “storms.”
She was also afraid that if Karsus succeeded in any way (survived, no matter how damaged), all of the other Netherese archwizards would have tried it too - - and collectively torn the fabric of the Prime Material asunder, destroying Realmspace and everything in it, or at least twisting it beyond all recognition and smashing all life cycles and ecosystems, dooming uncounted millions of living things to slow extinction. And all so one demonstrably proud, foolish, and cruel madman could have the shining toy he wanted, but couldn’t understand.



So saith Ed. Who after all, knows more about all of this than anyone else.
love to all,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Hail once again, fellow scribes of the Realms. Ed this time tackles RodOdom’s recent questions: “Dear Ed and Lady THO,
I must apologize for not thanking you both for the last few answers. I never take for granted what a privilege it is to be able to ask the creator of the Realms any question at all, and receive such generous, informative replies!
Have the sages and bards of the Realms heard of any romantic relationships between the civilized races and full-blooded orc or goblinkind? Of the perhaps thousands of such individuals out there, could a few of them come from, er, voluntary unions?”
I replied in the simple, unvarnished affirmative, and promised a more extensive reply from Ed. And here it is:



RodOdom, I echo dearest THO: you’re very welcome. I owe the life of the Realms (and certainly its continued existence as a published setting) to the love and attention of its fans, and intend to continue spinning lore for all of you as long as you want it. Now, I do have to eat, and the workload of paying writing jobs often forces me into short- (or even longer-) term hiatuses from lore-replying, but rest assured I’m not going to abandon the helm for good. Until death or mental incapacity stills my hands at the keyboard forever, that is.

(snip)

Dathanae Oumrau, a CG female human Wiz16 of Everlund (formerly of Neverwinter) ... and ... Aeriskul ....

(snip)

So saith Ed. In a VERY interesting and extensive answer. That for obvious reasons, would probably never appear in an official WotC Realms publication. As always: ask for Realmslore, and ye shall receive.
love to all,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

Hello again, fellow scribes. This time Ed responds swiftly to The Sage: “Now, recalling what few tidbits we've been told about "specific" chapbooks previously in the Realmslore, and through some of your earlier replies here at Candlekeep -- like the chapbooks dealing with social and court life in Suzail... I was wondering whether you could provide me with a brief synopsis of two-or-three other "city-specific" chapbooks that may be in circulation in two-or-three other well-populated cities throughout the Realms. In other words... chapbooks other than those that have already been mentioned both here and in existing Realmslore.”
Ed replies:



With pleasure! I can’t remember which of the many “city newspaper” -equivalent chapbooks (as opposed to broadsheets) I’ve mentioned in print, so I may occasionally duplicate something you’ve read elsewhere.

(snip)

So saith Ed, presenting another bright platter of Realmslore for us all.
love,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

Actually Ed, I'd like to add on to Kuje's earlier question. About domesticated birds and bird types in the Realms.

I know you've shared a couple of tidbits regarding seabirds and the like in previous replies. And there's the odd reference to birds and various types scattered through the Realmslore. However I was just wondering what more you could tell us about domesticated birds and perhaps some of the various Realms-specific birds which live in either urban areas and/or wilderness regions?

---

quote:

---

(snip)the Realms has lyrewings and good old familiar nightingales as "beautiful singers" amongst birds.

(snip)

Hi, Wooly, here's a reply from Ed:


Hi, Wooly! Lyrewings haven't yet appeared in published Realmslore. They are long, slender, mist-gray birds with gray-blue wings and pinkish-gray underbellies, and they get their name for their calls, which sound like descending runs (slow chords) being played on a lyre. Very pleasant, laid-back melodic.
When these calls are answered by another lyrewing, a lyrewing switches from them into a liquid warbling that sounds like a high-pitched human or half-elven soprano singing wordlessly, in a liquid, always-have-breath-enough manner (think the female vocal from Pink Floyd's "Great Gig In The Sky" from the classic DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, only about an octave higher and with no rough or "panting" passages). Lyrewings are highly intelligent (and emotional), and can converse in this language for long stretches of communicating quite complex ideas, statements, arguments, and responses.
Sages know this, and have communicated it centuries ago to bards, wherefore bards see lyrewings as transformed human lovers, or able to witness human love and report or even advise humans on love, and so on (or at least, they depict lyrewings thus in many ballads and laments).
The approval or befriending of a lyrewing is said to betoken near-future success in love; meeting a sad lyrewing presages doom or bad times for one's relationship or lovers or loved ones, and so on.


Hope this helps.
Love,
THO

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

“In Cormyr, do Blue Dragons wear uniforms or badges that are blue?”

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Asgetrion

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hooded One

“In Cormyr, do Blue Dragons wear uniforms or badges that are blue?”

---

Blueblade, what/who in sweet Faerûn are Blue Dragons?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rolindin

Thank you Hooded one for that short answer on the things made by Mr5. Greenwood.

Mr Greenwood could you please answer or think about my earler question I asked months ago.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Neriandal Freit

Sorta/Basically like those fishes that follow/attach to Whales and Sharks?

---