Volothamp Geddarm

Volothamp Geddarm, or Volo for short, is a legendary traveler and storyteller, and is most famous for his guidebooks, which are canon elements of the Forgotten Realms world and Forgotten Realms sourcebooks written from Volo's point of view. The in-game versions are published by Tym Waterdeep Limited. He is oft portrayed as the quintessential "go-to guy" of the Realms even if his information is, at best, half-accurate. He was a too-curious-for-his-own-good travelling scholar and minor wizard. Always on the lookout for an exposé, he all too frequently was at odds with Elminster, who preferred some things to be kept in the dark.

While Volo's reputation is well-earned and well-kept, there are others who tend to profit from it, the most well-known being Marco Volo, as he styles himself when it suits him, also known as Marcus Wands, of the famous Wands family of wizards. A trouble-making bard, Wands gained Volothamp's moniker after he stole an artifact from a powerful wizard, and laid the blame on the far more infamous scapegoat of the real Volo.

Volo's works

 * Volo's Guide to All Things Magical(in Universe) - First notable work. Written in 1359 DR with a reprint (with the help of Elminster) published in 1367 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to the Bloodstone Lands - Unreleased. Written between 1360 - 1362 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to Calimport - Notes and a copy of an old draft can be found in Candlekeep, all final drafts destroyed by Calishite pashas or Rundeen agents. Written between 1364 - 1365 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to Cormyr - Written between 1367 - 1368 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to the Dalelands - Written between 1368 - 1369 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to the Lands of Intrigue - Written in 1369 DR with an abridged version (which was much more widely distributed) released by Elminster the next year.
 * Volo's Guide to the Moonsea - Unreleased. Extant copies suppressed by the Zhentarim. Written between 1357 - 1358 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to the North - Written between 1365 - 1366 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast - Written between 1366 - 1367 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to the Vast - Unreleased. Original owned by a resident of Raven's Bluff. Written between 1358 - 1360 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to Waterdeep - Written between 1363 - 1365 DR.
 * Volo's Guide to Westgate & the Dragon Coast - Commissioned work. Original held by a noble of Yhaunn. Written between 1362 - 1363 DR.
 * Volo's complete guide to the behaviour of Nymphs - a work mentioned briefly in Storm of Zehir. Volo reluctantly agreed not to publish it after Elminster deemed it 'too naughty'.
 * Volo's Guide to Serpent Kingdoms - Written in 1374 DR, this book talks about the events of the videogame Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir.

Appearances

 * Baldur's Gate
 * Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
 * ''Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
 * Realms of the Underdark