Template:DidYouKnow/current

This page collects old trivia from Template:DidYouKnow. Please make sure there are 53 sections of trivia in each archive year (every 5 or 6 years we get a year with 53 weeks in it. See ISO week date). The DidYouKnow template will select additional trivia from a random previous year for the current week. Archives should be named for the year they were created because the template looks for pages in the archive directory that start with "2".

Archives of previous years:
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2013
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2014
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2015
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2016
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2017
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2018
 * Template:DidYouKnow/archive/2019

29/12/2019 – 5/1/2020

 * Icewolf, an Ice Hunter village on the island of Ice Peak, was visited by the Heroes of Ascore on their quest to defeat the white dragon Freezefire.
 * Moon dogs were large, canine celestials from the plane of Elysium. One moon dog, Cooeu, led a pack of wolves in the vicinity of Shadowdale.
 * Northfurrow's End was an inn in Goldenfields operated by Miros Xelbrin, a hirsute Emerald Enclave sympathizer. The inn offered comfortable lodgings and local cuisine.
 * Warning shout was a spell known to the clergy of Arvoreen that amplified a single spoken word, making it audible up to half a mile away from the caster.
 * General of undeath, a divine necromancy spell associated with Velsharoon, allowed its caster to command a greater number of undead minions.
 * Burn path was a path magic spell that could burn away knowledge of a single path of magic known to its target. It was considered a spell of the dreaded Path of Paths.

5/1/2020 – 12/1/2020

 * Raziel was a member of the Celestial Hebdomad and the leader of Mertion, a layer of Mount Celestia. He channeled his righteous fury to fight tyranny and protect the innocent.
 * A wand of defoliation could be used to kill all plant life in an area. These wands were effective weapons against plant creatures such as shambling mounds.
 * The kensai Chien Jang Liang studied martial arts at the Wang Ho School in Cham Fau. He almost killed his master while practicing a secret technique.
 * Shimmermantle was an abjuration spell that shrouded its caster in a shimmering aura, shielding them from a number of physical and magical attacks.
 * Lonafin was a cleric and hierophant of Velsharoon who learned animate dead to further his goal of raising undead wherever he went.
 * Azuth's alteration mantle allowed its caster to absorb a spell thrown at him or her, then redirect the magical energy either for healing or to fuel another spell.
 * Theldrin Rallyhorn served as advisor to several kings of early Cormyr. He hid away a substantial fortune, the Rallyhorn Riches, deep within Castle Obarskyr.
 * Poison vines was a druid spell that created rapid-growing poisonous vines. The vines could be used for a variety of purposes, including binding enemies similar to entangle.
 * Adarus were millipede-like tanar'ri who specialized in manipulating lesser demons. They were fascinated by non-adaru body parts and often collected them.

12/1/2020 – 19/1/2020

 * Gloom golems were horrifying golems from the bleak plane of Hades. They constantly emitted a terrible howl that induced despair in all who heard it.
 * Gwynharwyf was a bralani princess of the eladrin Court of Stars. As Queen Morwel's champion she waged an endless crusade against evil.
 * The Rallyhorn Riches was a treasure of stupefying value amassed by Theldrin Rallyhorn that vanished from a hidden room in Castle Obarskyr without a trace.
 * Goblin rats were cowardly and evil shapechangers from Kara-Tur. Local superstition maintained that boiled goblin rat whiskers could cure baldness.
 * Bright Nydra was a demigod said to be the daughter of Selûne and Shaundakul. During the Time of Troubles she defeated an avatar of Bhaal.
 * The korobokuru bushi Hsiao Nan Tzu Wen accompanied Kuang Ming Ling, his boss's daughter, on a pilgrimage to a distant monastery.
 * Bluespawn stormlizards were massive dragonspawn of Tiamat resembling wingless blue dragons. They were sometimes used as mounts by other dragonspawn.
 * Gretchen Titchwillow was a wandering druid guided by a grove of willow trees. She was instructed to travel to Baldur's Gate and stop a growing evil.

19/1/2020 – 26/1/2020

 * The gargantua of Kara-Tur were among the largest creatures to walk the surface of Toril. Several varieties existed, such as humanoid, insectoid, and reptilian gargantua.
 * Killmoulis were tiny fey known for their prominent proboscises. Although generally mild-mannered, many killmoulis enjoyed playing practical jokes on others.
 * Gulguthydrae were aberrant and exceptionally rare hybrids of hydras and gulguthras found in places such as the Farsea Marshes and the sewers of Waterdeep.
 * Vorr were hyena-like bloodhounds native to the Abyss. Because of their exceptional tracking skills they were often used by greater demons to track down prey.
 * Haraevor were dragonspawn that resembled four-headed crocodiles. They traveled underground through solid stone and were referred to as "crashing death from earth".
 * House Irlingstar was a noble family of Waterdeep known for their investments in shipbuilding and banking. They also secretly provided funding for the sinister Unseen.
 * The Solemn Order of Recognized Furriers and Woolmen in Waterdeep saw its revenues soar while its membership decreased under the leadership of Master Thoss Balein.

26/1/2020 – 2/2/2020

 * Greenspawn razorfiends were the sentries of Tiamat's armies. With wings sharp as knives, they hunted Chondalwood and other temperate forests.
 * Günvald Halraggson was a Chieftain of the Bear Tribe of Reghedmen. After the death of fellow Chieftain Wolvig Barrundson at the hand of the Ice Witch, he took the title of Bear King.
 * The Iceflow was a river born in the Spine of the World that coursed southwest to the Trackless Sea so swiftly that it was unnavigable.
 * Gendruwo were a type of memedi found in Kara-Tur. The pranks they pulled on humans were usually good-natured, but could turn malicious if they were in a bad mood.
 * A deep crow was a huge insect that resembled a bird except for it mandibles, multiple eyes, and four-toed claws. They were aggressive and deadly, but their eggs were a delicacy.
 * Emmantiensien, the Treant-King, was the sage of the Seelie Court. Grave and quiet, he spent many long hours in deep conversation with fellow nature gods Rillifane Rallathil and Silvanus.
 * Bartholomew Tidfigit was the proud and haughty proprietor of The Royal Arms inn in Luskan. He made it a point to disregard "smelly ruffians" who could not afford his rates.
 * Nightshades were evil and poisonous elemental nature spirits. They resembled fey dwarves and were hostile to treants, druids, and other goodly servants of nature.
 * The monk Hua Li Te was the abbot of the Pure Thought Monastery in Shou Lung. He remained the most powerful monk of his order well into his old age.

2/2/2020 – 9/2/2020

 * Deep crows were monstrous avians found in the deep, dark places of Toril. Their malign presence could veil a region in shadow, filled with the dark echoes of alien caws.
 * Smiler the Defiler was a vile and somewhat insane eladrin warlord whose gang, Smiler's Defilers, roamed the wastes of Avernus in their infernal war machines.
 * Chult's Valley of Embers was a barren lowland covered in lava flows from the Peaks of Flame, inhabited only by mud and steam mephits who found the harsh environment agreeable.
 * Asp was the naga assistant of Maligor, Thay's zulkir of alteration. Like her master, she was thoroughly evil and enjoyed leisurely pursuits such as torture and murder.
 * Celestian the Far Wanderer was a deity of Oerth worshiped by many wanderers of the planes and wildspace. Consequently, he had a gaggle of adherents on the Rock of Bral.
 * Lady Jhanthyl Lagarr became Queen of Cormyr when she married King Duar, who had previously defeated her first husband, Kuthor Lagarr, in battle.
 * Hkum yeng were nats found in Kara-Tur. They watched over entire villages of humans, protecting them from threats (provided the humans did not offend them in some way).
 * Redspawn firebelchers were brutish and vicious dragonspawn with an appetite for destruction. They congregated in volcanic areas and could swim in lava.
 * Alamion, or "Frost Daddy", was one of two magic longswords forged by the wizard Obren the Left-Handed. Its counterpart was Malamion, also known as "Frost Baby".

9/2/2020 – 16/2/2020

 * The South Wood in the Savage Frontier was home to a tribe of goblins, a wild hunt of ghosts chasing spectral boars, and an enterprising treant.
 * The Lagarr Legacy was a treasure amassed by the warlord Kuthor Lagarr. The caravan transporting the hoard to Cormyr was mysteriously lost with nary a trace.
 * Go-zu oni were large, bull-headed oni found in Kara-Tur. They served the Celestial Emperor as soldiers and as escorts for the recently deceased.
 * Brogan was a Harper agent in the Sunset Mountains who uncovered a drow, gnoll, and ogre conspiracy to exterminate the local dwarven population.
 * The Thayan herb sindari was highly poisonous. The poison took a full day to affect its victims, after which they would fall into violent convulsions and die within minutes.
 * Mudwort was a gnoll soldier in the army of the Thayan zulkir Maligor. He secretly sold information to the Harpers, but was killed by their agent in a dispute over payment.
 * Marchion was the hereditary title used by the ruler of Mirabar, as well as by Cormyrian lords who ruled border territories. The feminine form was "marchioness".
 * The Wizard of Wines was a vineyard in Barovia owned and operated by the Martikov family. The vineyard was once briefly visited by the Heroes of Baldur's Gate.

16/2/2020 – 23/2/2020

 * The Laughing Hollow was home to the fey beings of the Delimbiyr Vale. A great, treasure-laden dwarf-hold was rumored to lie buried deep beneath the area.
 * Me-zu oni were large horse-headed oni who served as commanders in the armies of the Celestial Emperor. They were only rarely encountered on the material plane.
 * Ilivarra was a drow priestess of Lolth who sought to expel a dwarven clan from the Sunset Mountains. Her plan was foiled by the adventurers Adrianna, Kromlech, and Vahn.
 * The Jathiman Dagger appeared to be an ordinary dagger, but was in actuality an extraordinarily powerful weapon crafted by the Cult of Jathiman to slay the gods.
 * The cauldron of doom was a necromantic item that could re-animate human corpses as zombie-like undead creatures. It was created by a blacksmith in the service of Kazgaroth.
 * Elwin traded his career as a pirate on the Sword Coast for an easy life guarding a citrus orchard in Thay. He died after being charmed into aiding a group of Harpers.
 * The Selgryn tribe of kobolds were known for their extensive use of traps. The tribe very nearly wiped out the Uthgardt who had settled near their territory in the Ice Lakes.
 * The Abbey of Everard was home to a group of Oghman monks. Although the monks' quarters were rather spartan, the abbey was richly ornamented and well stocked with books.
 * Tanglefoot bags could be thrown at other creatures to cover them in thick goo and hinder their movement. They were often used by devils to ground flying angels and archons.
 * The four friends Lareth Huntsilver, Gardrath Roaringhorn, Aubleth Crownsilver, and Aiken Wyvernspur discovered the Harp of Healing when walking home from a night of drinking.
 * The highwayman Pandar of Scardale avoided elven justice by hiding in the Cormanthor forest, and avoided injury by wearing the Elves' Bane girdle.

23/2/2020 – 1/3/2020

 * The Harp of Healing was a mysterious magical harp with reputed healing powers that haunted Cormyr in 1018 DR. Thereafter, pranksters and thieves would play harps in the wood to lure people into mischief.
 * The Cult of Ragarra was devoted to the savage jungle goddess Ragarra. Active in Zakhara's Cities of the Ancients, they increased crocodile populations in the rivers and canals.
 * The Sign of the Dreaming Dragon was an inn and tavern in Iriaebor owned by a former member of the Fellowship of the Dreaming Dragon. Extending over the edge of the Tor, it had a great view.
 * Great King Mandoul ruled an ancient kingdom on the Sword Coast North. In time, all the realm was lost bar its caverns and Mandoul's voice still warning travelers passing its gates near Waterdeep.
 * Kaeira was a caravan guard who survived an ambush by bandits. Tracking the thieves to Baldur's Gate, she stayed at the Elfsong Tavern, where she was aided by adventurers Adrianna, Kromlech, and Vahn.
 * A robe of the archmagi bolstered the wearer's physical and magical defenses, as well as their arcane prowess. One could only be worn by an archmage of the correct ethical code.
 * A black sickle, also called a blightbringer, was an evil weapon of the Moonshae Isles that withered vegetation and could slay or drive away plant creatures.
 * The Sighing Valley in the southern Sumber Hills was named for the sound the winds made as they passed its rocky features. It was home to gnolls, aarakocra, and the Feathergale Knights.
 * Naityan rakshasas were very rare cousins of rakshasas with an inherent talent for blade magic and swift shapeshifting, which they blended with their martial arts. They drank blood, purely for the taste.
 * The Great Gazib was a circus mage who performed in the Carnival outside of Nashkel. In his show, he magically made an ogre partner seem to explode in front of an audience.
 * Chunming was a city in Shou Lung and one of the largest spelljamming ports on Toril. Although highly taxed, spelljammer crews were respected and envied by the populace.
 * Shou-town was a district on the Rock of Bral that was home to Shou artisans and craftsmen who'd migrated on spelljammers. It was largely controlled by yakuza.
 * Flameskulls were made from the heads of dead mages and used as intelligent guardians capable of spellcasting and hurling fire. Undying and utterly bored, they mostly only wanted entertainment.

1/3/2020 – 8/3/2020

 * The Thayvian gold mines were vital to the economy of Thay. The discovery of rich new gold veins led to a conflict between tharchion Lionson and zulkir Maligor.
 * Lae'zel was a githyanki warrior from Stardock. She was captured by mind flayers and subjected to ceremorphosis, which she desperately sought to stave off.
 * Lesser and greater segarrans were servants of Ragarra, the Zakharan deity of nature. They could shift between human and reptilian form at will.
 * Karasuthra was a layer of the Beastlands perpetually shrouded in night. It was inhabited by nocturnal beasts, the mortai, and the giant deity Stronmaus.
 * The Shields of Yartar were charged with the defense of Yartar. They were commanded by the city's Waterbaron and operated out of the Shield Tower.
 * Nematodes of the Northdark was a rare book on subterranean worms thought lost forever in the Underdark until tracked down by librarian Wendolyn Shoosh.
 * Chunming was a city in T'u Lung ruled by the Shin clan and known for its pepper wine. It was not to be confused with Chunming, a city in Shou Lung.
 * Blood warriors were evil undead fighters in the service of Kazgaroth. They could gain the power of haste through ritual human sacrifice.
 * In spite of Odin having no apparent presence in Realmspace, the Temple of Odin on the Rock of Bral boasted a community of roughly a hundred worshipers.
 * Blackstone was the manor of the noble Theresparin family of Cormyr. The building burned to the ground shortly after the mysterious disappearance of the Theresparins.

8/3/2020 – 15/3/2020

 * Creating a blood golem was a less than sanguine affair involving the blood of at least sixteen people. Once operational, the golem required a constant supply of blood to keep moving.
 * Abriymoch was the principal city on Phlegethos, third layer of the Nine Hells. Built into an active volcano, it was a center of vice and entertainment in the Hells.
 * The Second Dragonspear War was fought to banish the infernal Hordes of Dragonspear back to Avernus through the gate beneath Dragonspear Castle.
 * The Crystal Spire was the divine realm of the deities Kelemvor and Jergal. It was previously called the Bone Castle under its previous ruler, Myrkul.
 * Myrmyxicuses were aquatic demons found on the fiendish plane of Fated Depths. They had elongated, eel-like bodies, with multiple arms, tentacles, and other appendages.
 * Torilians enjoyed milk from a variety of creatures, from goats and cows to catoblepas and chimeras. Milk was also religiously significant to worshipers of Selûne and Hathor.
 * Yau-mor were evil spirits from Kara-Tur resembling freakish crosses between humans and dragons. They had an intense dislike of all magic users.
 * The alteration spell threestones allowed a wizard to make three small stones slightly larger. These could then be hurled at an opponent, and would always strike true.
 * Blackland Ironhoof was the centaur owner of the Agri Plantation in northern Thay. His plantation was largely run by slaves purchased in Eltabbar.
 * Yggdrasil's Child was an enormous tree whose roots connected the asteroids of Garden. It was named for the planar tree Yggdrasil and was said to have a life span of 2,000 years.
 * Despite its name, demon fever had little to do with demons, and was instead spread by abyssal ghouls and night hags. The disease slowly drained the vitality of its victims.
 * The Fairheight Mountains of Alaron in the Moonshaes were infested with trolls, orcs, and goblins who occasionally raided the mining towns situated in the mountain foothills.
 * Weaveghosts were spirits of deceased people who had merged with the Weave, typically the Chosen of Mystra. Weaveghosts could be resurrected into new, physical bodies by Mystra.
 * The Rus were a tribe of Illuskan humans who raided the coasts and rivers of Faerûn. A group of Rus settled in Rashemen, integrating with the local Rashemi people.

15/3/2020 – 22/3/2020

 * The Shining Crusade was formed by Caelar Argent to invade Avernus with the aim of liberating the souls of those lost in the First and Second Dragonspear Wars.
 * The Wyvernstones of Hullack marked the location of the Elfhold, an ancient elven crypt housing the dead of House Amaratharr as well as the druid Hullack.
 * Storm's swordfire was a spell created by Storm Silverhand that caused blades touched by the caster to ignite with fire that was especially harmful to undead.
 * The Master Mariners' Guild of Waterdeep represented the interests of the city's maritime merchants and ship captains. They were at odds with the Order of Master Shipwrights.
 * Toril was home to a multitude of different fish, from the deadly quipper to the ivory-boned knucklehead trout, and from the tiny jewelfish to the monstrous afanc.
 * The Chessentan village of Oslin was once defended by the Magical Chessmen of Ultham-Urre, which allowed its citizens to fend off two invading forces from Maerduuth.
 * Yuan-ti anathemas were horrifying yuan-ti monstrosities with multiple snake heads, created through subjecting abominations to a cruel ritual involving blood sacrifice.
 * At the end of the Era of Skyfire, the genie rulers of Schamedar in Calimshan cursed their citizens to remain bound to the city, even after death. Millennia later, their ghosts still haunted Schamedar.

22/3/2020 – 29/3/2020

 * A philosopher's stone could turn lead into gold, cure the sick, and bring the dead back to life. These rare artifacts were coveted by famous archmages such as Azurax Silverhawk.
 * The First Dragonspear War was fought between a coalition of forces from Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep, and a horde of devils and goblinoids occupying Dragonspear Castle.
 * The Ice Lakes of northwest Faerûn were home to a large kobold community, including the Selgryn tribe. The Waterdhavian noble house Majarra owned a tract of land in the area.
 * The alteration spell Laeral's disrobement could be used to infuse an item, typically clothing, with another spell to be activated when the garment was removed or damaged.
 * Jheldarr Boaldegg was the leader of Waterdeep's Master Mariners' Guild. He once attempted to have Piergeiron the Paladinson assassinated at the Open Lord's own wedding.
 * Baphitaurs were were the product of Netherese experiments to combine human, demon, and minotaur blood through sorcery. They were usually found in the Labyrinth in the Northdark.
 * Beldarm Truesilver was a Cormyrian lord suspected by some of being the true identity of the Hullack Hawk, a brigand who terrorized and stole from Sembian nobles.
 * Jewel Talondim was a crime lord in Iriaebor who headed the Talondim Clan, an independent thieves' guild. She was an effective leader who avoided conflict with larger guilds.
 * Heucuva were terrifying undead beings created from the damned souls of clerics, paladins, druids, and monks. They were mostly found in deep, dark environs such as Undermountain.
 * The Dock Ward of Calimport was known for its vibrant nightlife, roughly divided across its sabbans: inns were found in the Ylar sabban, festhalls in the Jarûz sabban, and taverns in the Aktorral sabban.

29/3/2020 – 5/4/2020

 * The Magical Chessmen of Ultham-Urre were a magical set of chess pieces enchanted with a vast array of sorcerous properties, including a strange quirk causing them to jump between owners.
 * The world of Athas was nigh impossible to access from Realmspace because of the relative isolation of its crystal sphere. Nevertheless, its existence was known to certain learned few on Toril.
 * Ilinvur, a mining town near the Moonsea, was at one point governed by a wizard installed by the cities of Melvaunt and Thentia in partnership. In return, Ilinvur was protected by both cities.
 * The Black Chronology of Augathra the Mad was a dark alternative to her Roll of Years prophecy, based on nightmare visions received while sleeping that she believed were granted by Shar.
 * Sieronius Dethick, a drow priest of Vhaeraun, was imprisoned and cursed with vampirism by the wizard Sunder Halyndliam. He sought an undead bride to help him break Sunder's curse.
 * The alteration spell Melisander's harp created an illusion of a floating, shadowy harp. The music from this harp caused effects similar to the slow, sleep, and feather fall spells.
 * The Prince of Frost was a cruel archfey who occasionally made pacts with Torilian warlocks. He was once called the Sun Prince, but lost his sunny disposition when his betrothed left him for a mortal man.
 * The Caravan Quarter of Daggerford was the city's center of commerce. Many establishments catering to traveling merchants, traders, and other visitors were found here.
 * Calimport's Quill Ward was known for its many libraries, both private and public. The Ward was protected by a potent magical ward created by the wizardess Nureh yr Catahra el Namor.