Deer

Deer were a species of mundane mammal.

Species

 * Elk, the largest species within the deer family.
 * Megaloceros, an ancient dire species of deer that managed to persist in some areas of the Realms.
 * Red Deer, the species of deer found in the Cormanthor area, feeding on the plentiful rye grass found there. They could also be found on the plateau of High Moor, with most living in the Misty Forest.
 * Reindeer
 * Roe deer, a species of deer found in the sub-arctic forests of Kara-Tur and in the northern forests of the Hordelands.
 * Swamp deer, a species of deer native to the swampy forests of Vaasa. They blended in well with their habitat.
 * White-tailed Deer, a species of deer found in the Delimbiyr Vale and the vicinity of Lizard Marsh, often hunted as a cheap and abundant food source.

Habitats
Deer were commonly found in the Pellamcopse Woods, north of Waterdeep.

In north Faerûn, deer could be found in the Tangled Vale and throughout the forests of the Vast.

In the Unapproachable East, deer could be found in the Tannath Gap, Rashemen, and Immil Vale.

Beyond Toril, deer inhabited the planet known as Radole. Giant black stags with red eyes that could gore an elephant with ease served the goddess Beshaba and inhabited her Abyssal realm of the Blood Tor.

Relationships
Hybsils were often on good terms with deers.

Deer were the preferred animal manifestations of Gwaeron Windstrom, Shiallia, and Silvanus. Stags in particular were favored by the gods Baervan Wildwanderer, Eldath, and Rillifane Rallathil, while white-coated celestial stags were chosen by Labelas Enoreth. A white hart in the High Forest was considered sacred to Mielikki.

Usages
Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold deer hides for 4 gold pieces a piece.

The antlers of deer could be boiled down to create a sort of glue.

Cultural Significance

 * Throughout the Realms, the words "doe" and "stag" were used as polite and rather bardic terms for one's female or male lover respectively.

Notable Deer

 * White Stag, a unique servant of Labelas Enoreth on the island of Evermeet.
 * White Stag of Dargendale: the elusive white deer from the forests of Dargendale who was killed and stuffed by a poacher but later was animated by a druid to exact revenge on his killer.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Dungeon #53: "Steelheart" • Hoard of the Dragon Queen • Curse of Strahd
 * Novels
 * Darkwalker on Moonshae • Sojourn • The Ring of Winter • Blackstaff • Cormyr: A Novel • Tymora's Luck
 * Sentinelspire
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition • Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear) • Neverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide • Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford) •
 * Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition • Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear) • Neverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide • Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford) •