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This page collects current trivia for Template:DidYouKnow. On the first Sunday of the new year, please make sure there are 53 sections of trivia in this page (Every 5 or 6 years we get a year with 53 weeks in it. See ISO week date.) and then copy the 53 sections to  where   are the last two digits of the previous year. Then remove them from this page and add the trivia for the first week of the new year. 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".

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1/1/2023 - 8/1/2023

 * Legendmaker was a sentient longsword created by Oghma, the Lord of Knowledge. Although its purpose was to relay the adventures of its bearers, Legendmaker tended to butt in by sharing (too much) knowledge and proposing overly complicated plans.
 * Orosul's scepters were magical scepters from the time of Netheril that could heal the injured, recharge spent magic items, and fire blasts of elemental magic. Though named for the modern wizard Orosul, he had no hand in their creation.
 * Drannor was the first recorded elf to marry a dwarf. This event was considered so noteworthy by the elves of Cormanthor that they renamed their city Myth Drannor in honor of Drannor and his dwarven lass.
 * The half-elf Jax Nightsong founded the Knights of the Shadow Sword, an order of crusaders and rangers devoted to Shaundakul, the Faerûnian god of exploration. Jax and his order operated out of Shaundakul's Throne in Myth Drannor.
 * Dalanyrr was a silver dragon of the North who offered her services to adventurers, provided they could pay her for her trouble. She held great respect for the sacred burial mounds of the Uthgardt tribes, and would refuse to plunder them if prompted.
 * Wheat was an important grain to many cultures across the breadth of Toril, often valued more than rice in regions where both could be grown. Most of the wheat in Faerûn was grown in the Heartlands and the Dalelands.

8/1/2023 - 15/1/2023

 * Druid circles were loose organizations of druids formed around certain approaches to preserving nature, such as the Circle of the Land and the Circle of Dreams. The term "circle" was used as a nod to the perpetual cycles of nature.
 * Wild shape allowed druids to take on the forms of various animals but also more fantastical creatures like unicorns, shambling mounds, or dragons. Druids of the Fangshields could even wild shape into humanoids.
 * Ambral Isle in the Sea of Fallen Stars was famous for producing a number of idiots and dunderheads and was also noted as where the bracelets of the elven princess Elvandaruil washed ashore after her flying spell failed on her (she was never seen again).
 * Amorphites were specialty priests of Ghaunadaur, the Elder Eye. Most were disaffected drow males, but anyone could technically become an amorphite. They gained immunity to poison and could access exclusive spells like mists of Ghaunadaur.
 * Saru were intelligent apes native to the jungles of Malatra. They were kind and curious creatures nearly to a fault: it was not uncommon for saru to approach lions in search of conversation&mdash;and then quickly flee for their lives.

15/1/2023 - 22/1/2023

 * A water clock was a common device for telling time by allowing water to drip from one reservoir into another, with a float atop the water indicating the time. Neverwinter was renowned for its accurate mechanical water clocks.
 * The Knowledge-Hold of Baldur's Gate was among the city's finest repositories of knowledge. This made it a target of the Cult of the Absolute, who infiltrated the library and used the lore contained within to open an aberrant portal.
 * Shavinar was a short-lived realm on the Sword Coast near the Troll Hills, originally founded to protect the region from marauding trolls. Shavinar held on for exactly fifty years before the trolls (inevitably) overwhelmed the realm.
 * Andrathath's Mask was a powerful artifact that granted its wearer a selection of spells. This power came at a cost, however; the Mask would slowly influence its wearer's personality towards the chaotic.
 * The Fanged Mirrors of Yehcir-Eya once brought down an entire nation on an unknown, alien world. The rogue modron Nordom eventually found one of the Fanged Mirrors, promptly storing it in the "wayward items" section of his body.
 * Redwings were a rare species of butterfly found in the High Moor. They were said to have been hunted to near extinction by goblins, who used their crimson wings to produce red dye.
 * Rukanyrs were huge aberrations said to have been created by the kaorti by exposing monstrous scorpions to Far Realm energies. Though not common on Toril, at least one ancient sarrukh temple contained a rukanyr-themed trap.
 * Specialty priests of Selvetarm, the drow deity of warriors, were known as spiderswords. They excelled at blind-fighting, were immune to all spider venom, and could will themselves into a berserker rage.
 * Golden Dawn was the talking war horse of Queen Zaranda of Tethyr, who would frequently accompany her mistress on adventures. Despite being a horse, Golden Dawn was quite the wise-ass.
 * Madachi Jhent was a disgraced nobleman of Waterdeep who declared himself the High Minister of Ao after seeing a vision of the Overgod in his cloak (allegedly). He preached to pigs and cured his followers of illness by kicking them in the face.

22/1/2023 - 29/1/2023

 * Dara was a regular, unassuming child who became the Chosen of Ilmater, the god of suffering, after reading from the Book of Exalted Deeds. She was instrumental in protecting the citizens of Elturel when the city was pulled into Avernus.
 * Kadila adh Vitendi was raised in a harem and seemed destined to become a jhasina (harem slave). Fortunately, she was able to flee captivity during a bandit raid and found a new calling as a monk of the Sun Soul.
 * Mythanthar was an elven archmage of Cormanthyr who famously used his own life-force to help create the mythal of Myth Drannor. His extensive notes on mythal creation went missing after his death.
 * Draxalon was an enchanted sword that could only be wielded by women&mdash;men could not even lift the blade. It was forged by the wizard Eriel for her sister, the adventurer Diana, but unfortunately both Draxalon and Diana disappeared in the ruins Myth Drannor.
 * The Bitter Blade, an inn in Phlan, looked like a respectable establishment from the outside, but had a terrible reputation&mdash;largely due to its owner's tendency to double-book rooms, but also because local radicals often held meetings there.
 * The Smiling Centaur in Zazesspur was built with larger-sized creatures in mind, which was only natural considering it was owned by the centaur Berdak. The tavern was frequented by Zaranda Star and her companions during her adventuring days.
 * The Town Council of Phandalin oversaw the village's continued prosperity, the health of its mining industry, and defense of its people, which often involved hiring adventurers for for problem-solving purposes.
 * Hultail was a small port village in Cormyr that served as a "secret door" to the Forest Country for discreet travelers and smugglers from the Dalelands. The Crown mostly ignored Hultail, deeming it to be of little importance.

29/1/2023 - 5/2/2023

 * Otar was a High Forest orc who unexpectedly was named Green Regent, the Chosen of Mielikki. His selection was highly controversial, widening the rift of distrust between orcs and the people of Loudwater.
 * Umbral glooms were foul, highly intelligent masses of black tentacles whose aim was to spread as much sorrow and misery as possible. It was no surprise, then, that umbral glooms were favored by Shar.
 * The Stojanow Gate was a set of enormous, iron-bound doors protecting the Valjevo Castle of Phlan. Its towering gatehouses served as the city's prison as well as the lair of the Knights of the Black Fist.
 * Adrelgus was a Red Wizard whose body was found fused to the floor in a highly secure part of Cormyr's Royal Palace, with only one hand sticking out. The mystery left Vangerdahast feeling quite stumped.
 * The Harper bard Arrant Quill famously became imprisoned by his own allies in a demiplane that was an exact replica of his home village as they tried to find a cure for his mysterious, magical ailment.
 * White Eyebrow was a gnomish curio dealer in Zazesspur who had many contacts among Toril's spelljamming community. He was named for his single, white eyebrow&mdash;the result of a magical mishap.
 * The necromancer Cashaan left Calimshan to join the Arcane Brotherhood of Luskan, eventually rising to become leader of the Host Tower. He was interested in turning Luskan into a safer place to attract more trade.
 * The rod of Lathander was kept within the Lathanderite temple in Waterdeep, where it glowed with powerful daylight from sunrise to sunset&mdash;that is, until it was stolen, possibly down into Undermountain.
 * Monkey Balls was a type of dessert treat devised by the mother of Dradeel, an elven mage and companion of the legendary explorer Balduran. Monkey Balls were also the subject of a poem.
 * The history of Rashemen dated back to the arrival of Raumviran humans in antiquity. Rashemen remained isolated for thousands of years until it became embroiled in war between Unther and Mulhorand.

5/2/2023 - 12/2/2023

 * Agents of the Emerald Enclave once killed a wizard who was attempting to calm the rumbling volcano of Mount Kolimnis. The volcano finally erupted nearly a hundred years later, killing nearly 50,000 people in nearby Gildenglade.
 * The Sword of Savras was a magical flying longsword that roamed Faerûn attacking spellcasters seemingly at random. Those who survived would find themselves with the knowledge of a brand new spell, while those who didn't, well, they died.
 * The vengeful murderer Amril Zoar used Waterdeep's secret echo gates to ambush his victims, which included Mirt, Durnan, and Lord Piergeiron himself. His spree was ended by Storm Silverhand, who promptly recruited him into the Harpers.
 * Bamboo was a versatile plant with many uses; it could be used for anything from food to a material component in spells. It was commonly used as a building material in Kara-Tur, and was also used for weapons such as the shikomi-zue.
 * The Society of Stalwart Adventurers was an exclusive club in Suzail, Cormyr, founded to bring together renowned world travelers and adventurers. The Society's membership included luminaries such as Artus Cimber and Philyra.
 * The halfling Tobiworth Hedgeblossom was head of the Social Justice League in Zazesspur. He was a capable orator who often spoke out against the wealthy in Tethyr, blaming them for the troubles affecting the realm.
 * Lord Thesp Eltorchul of Waterdeep invested a large portion of his family's fortune into establishing the Eltorchul Academy, which educated young wizards and procured rare spell components.
 * The Oghmanyte cleric Salyndra Shaern helped run the House of Knowledge in Neverwinter. She was known for her cynical attitude and brusque advice, but was nonetheless popular among travelers seeking knowledge.
 * The Bay of Mists was the natural harbor of Neverwinter, whose depth and volcanically-warmed waters allowed ship traffic year-round, helping make the city a prosperous trading hub.

12/2/2023 - 19/2/2023

 * Alana Hallwinter was the adopted daughter of Sildar Hallwinter of Phandalin, who as a teenager ventured into the Crooked Forest to find her three missing dwarven friends. Alana was captured by gnolls, but as she was dragged to the creatures' camp, she left a trail for rescuers.
 * The Celestial alphabet was the curving script used to write the Celestial language, found inscribed along the blade of paladin Xenk Yendar's weapon.
 * Clavichords were keyboard musical instruments, close relatives to the pipe organ and harpsichord. One notable clavichord was part of The Bendekar's Mercantile storehouse's collection in the city of Ravens Bluff.
 * Echo gate was a type of magic created by Ahghairon, the first Open Lord of Waterdeep, which used the gates of Undermountain to bypass teleport wards of the City of Splendors.
 * Ganather a wizard from Secomber who helped Elminster to capture the Sword of Savras in the 15 century DR.
 * The Harpers was a semi-secret organization dedicated to preserving lore, maintaining balance, and defending the innocent from evil. Heroes to some, meddlers to others, Harpers spoke a non-verbal cant, known as harpspeak.
 * Monguldarath was a fortified stone keep on Tethyr's Dragon's Neck Peninsula that served as the seat for Counts of Fyraven. Like many places in Tethyr, the keep was haunted by silent, and harmless apparitions of people who perished during the Ten Black Days of Eleint.
 * Nyadnar a powerful amethyst dragon who resided in the city of Zazesspur under a guise of a human mage who employed many agents and spies. She was mother to Chenowyn, Queen Zaranda Star's young ruby dragon companion.
 * Philter of timely invulnerability was a potion that rendered its imbiber almost invulnerable, often used by Harpers to escape captivity or to evade a group of enemies.
 * Sunnis was the good archomental of the Elemental Plane of Earth, a mortal enemy of Ogrémoch, Prince of Evil Earth, and opposed the demon lords Zuggtmoy and Urdlen.
 * Sumer was a cleric of Talos, the Storm Lord, who masqueraded as a trader. He sought to murder at least one person for his deity per visit to the City of Splendors, Waterdeep, and often targeted adventurers.
 * Thantilvur Investments was a building in Waterdeep fitted with a false wall, secretly commissioned by a Lord of Waterdeep named Braethan Cazondur, that was collapsed on Laeral Silverhand in an unsuccessful attempt to take her life in the.

19/2/2023 - 26/2/2023

 * Minauros was the capital of the third layer of the Nine Hells of the same name. Known as the Sinking City, Minauros was constantly and inexorably slipping deeper into the bog that made up the rest of the layer.
 * The ancient sarrukh were the first known practitioners of cloning on Toril. In later years, the practice was mostly common among incredibly powerful wizards and incredibly narcissistic nobles&mdash;and especially among those who hit both briefs.
 * The Helm of Dragons was forged by the elves of Myth Drannor to combat the evil Tyranthraxus. Since the Helm bestowed a number of powers over all dragonkind, it was sought after by ne'er-do-wells like Dracandros of the Crimson, who sought to unleash a flight of dragons.
 * Should he ever be bested, the spirit of the dracolich Dretchroyaster would come to rest in the magical sword Dragonslair. Dretchroyaster found the sword's name, a pun on "dragon's lair" and "dragonslayer", most clever.
 * Halangorn Forest separated the human realms of Athalantar, Elembar and Steeping Falls until it was burned down by the Magelords of Athalantar who wished to drive the local elves out of the forest.
 * Yuan-tillithids were hybrid creatures that resulted from the cross-breeding of yuan-ti and mind flayers. They were especially common in the yuan-ti city of Ss'zuraass'nee in the Underdark, which had long been allied with the illithids of Llacerellyn.
 * The spell taunt compelled a target creature to attack its caster, but could also be used in conjunction with the ventriloquism spell to trick the target into attacking another target altogether, such as one of its allies.
 * The scribe Theldrant Ornan attempted to buy his way into the Great Library of Candlekeep with an expensive copy of Maskauman's Tome of Magely Might, but his gift was rejected since the library already held twenty copies.
 * Lamia Crytrapper was the head of the influential Crytrapper family of Crimmor in Amn. She was an avid investor, especially in small businesses owned by women, and made it her business to gather the secrets of other Crimman luminaries.
 * Grigarr was the terrifying, heavily scarred man in charge of training the wyverns of Darkhold. He fancied himself an entertainer because of the reactions his stories got from the locals, but in truth they merely humored him out of outright fear.
 * Tatrina Hembreon was a royal corlann, that is, steward of the royal nursery of Tethyr, in charge of caring for the heirs of Queen Zaranda. During the Days of Terror, she was a member of the All-Friends, a cult of Ao in Zazesspur.
 * Symeera was a human mage who owned a rooming house in Menzoberranzan, having arrived in the drow city through a faulty teleport spell. Her inn was said to be among the top four places for non-drow visitors to stay.
 * Pikes were a variety of polearm popular among city guards, armies, and militias across Faerûn. The Ring-nose clan of orcs in Vaasa was known for staging shock-and-awe ambushes where they employed cruel, black pikes.
 * The Koshiva, or Boat People, were a human Nubari tribe in Malatra, the Living Jungle. All Koshiva men shaved their heads; women were not allowed to help them, so the privilege was only granted to each man's closest male friends.

26/2/2023 - 5/3/2023

 * Ma'at was the uniting principle of the Mulhorandi and Pharaonic pantheons; a standard of ethics and being to which all things were expected to conform. These religions believed that without Ma'at, the very universe would crumble.
 * In Zakhara, pearl divers dove up to 90 feet below the sea to gather pearl oysters. Pearling was dangerous work, and so half the crew on a sambuq boat consisted of attendants that could pull the divers out of the water if necessary.
 * The Cult of the Dragon sought to find the Grail of Shargrailar, a drinking horn made from one of the horns of the dracolich Shargrailar, so they could use it as a phylactery for another potential dracolich: the fang dragon Nartheling.
 * It was said that anyone who tried to open the spellbook Nchaser's Eiyromancia would immediately die. This was partially true; the book's lock was rigged to deliver a deadly dose of poison unless it was opened in a particular way.
 * Goblin sticks were polearms used by bugbears for the specific purpose of catching hidden goblins. The hooked central blade was used to pull goblins out of tight spaces, while the angled side blades were used to search around corners.
 * The Captive was a mysterious being entombed in the Spirit Vault in Chult, where local dwarves worshiped it as a god. Legends told of how the Captive was imprisoned by the ancient sarrukh after it fought an entire army of yuan-ti.
 * Although a deeply unpopular man, Jannaxil Serpentil was considered one of the best fences in Waterdeep. Operating out of Serpentil Books & Folios, he usually knew about all thefts of printed works in the city.
 * The druid Yuldar was forced to flee his native Tethyr to avoid being murdered for political reasons. He initially dressed as a druid to disguise himself, but eventually found that he had a true love for nature and became an adherent of the Oak Father.
 * Coinage within the nation of Tethyr varied greatly over the centuries as the region traded hands between dynasties and empires. In later years, the main coin of Zazesspur was the "gulder", which was worth nearly as much as the Amnian danter.

5/3/2023 - 12/3/2023

 * Cleavers were large kitchen knives, often used alongside a chopping block, as far back as the Netherese Empire, while an oversized enchanted Meat Cleaver weapon was wielded by invading orc forces of Myth Drannor in 1369 DR.
 * The Crystal Chain of Binding was a powerful Netherese artifact that cut a spellcaster off from the Weave and contained the consciousnesses of many wizards who once sought to achieve immortality.
 * Demonshields were magical shields of silver, arjale, and tantulhor that bounded powerful fiends within and granted magical powers to the wielders. They were developed by Halaster Blackcloak, then known as Hilather.
 * The Diamond Staff of Chomylla was one of the legendary adamantine lorestaves of Uvaeren, created to unlock the encrypted secrets of the ancient elven realm of Uvaeren.
 * An Elixir of the Void was a type of poison used by the Church of Shar in testing its initiates. It allowed the Church's secrets to remain concealed, as those who lost their nerve died shortly after imbibing.
 * Ghoul gauntlet was an arcane spell, found within the Book of Shadows of Zakhara, that slowly transformed its targets into ghouls.
 * Gorg was a hobgoblin prisoner of Revel's End in Icewind Dale, who shared a cell with Holga Kilgore and Edgin Darvis in the late 1490s DR.
 * A helm of hiding was an enchanted helmet that shielded the wearer from scrying magics. One was once owned by a Harper wizard named Laeral Rythkyn of Loudwater.
 * Leomund was a wizard from the world of Greyhawk responsible for the invention of such spells as Leomund's secret chest and Leomund's secure shelter, as well as many others.
 * Potions of song were magic concoctions that granted the drinker incredible singing abilities and imperviousness to all sound-based assaults, including the banshee's piercing wail and the entrancing song of a harpy.
 * Tweyar was a small village in Tethyr with adobe buildings with wooden shutters, overlooking the Sulduskoon River. It was offered military training in 1366 DR by Star Protective Services.
 * The Weeping Widow Inn was a haunted inn perched atop a cliff in Targos, overlooking Maer Dualdon, with one of its rooms occupied by the titular weeping widow, who was waiting for her beloved, long-lost in a storm of ages past.
 * The Windbreak was a massive blade-like rock that towered over the remote northern prison of Revel's End on the Sea of Moving Ice.

12/3/2023 - 19/3/2023

 * Learning how the innkeeper Grunnald of the Friendly Bat in Womford was slain by the Bandit King, Edgin Darvis volunteered his band to help stop the bandits.
 * The Battle of the Evermoors was fought between the Uthgardt Elk tribe and the Cult of the Dragon for control of the Helmet of Disjunction, a powerful magic item with the power to break all magic.
 * Dwarves were fond of eating heavily salted food that others found unpalatable, and often carried chunks of rock salt to lick. They would even lick salt residue from the walls of natural caverns.
 * Tresh Lanngolyn was a weaver, guildmaster of Waterdeep's Most Excellent Order of Weavers and Dyers, as well as matriarch of the noble Lanngolyn family.
 * Illithiderro were hybrid ceremorphs that resulted from the cross-breeding of derro and mind flayers in bizarre experiments performed beneath Gauntlgrym before the city's reclamation.
 * Castle Tethyr was once the royal palace of Tethyr before its fall during of the Ten Black Days of Eleint. After it was burned to the ground, its haunted ruins were known as the Tethyruins.
 * The highknights of Cormyr were charged with guarding the royal family, escorting envoys, and rooting out traitors. Their ranks regularly had their minds read by War Wizards to guarantee against treason.
 * Certain evil rituals to become a lich required the consumption on a lichnee potion, a ghastly mixture containing poison, the glands of giant moths, the blood of a human infant, and more.

19/3/2023 - 26/3/2023

 * Lhestyn's Court was an alleyway in Waterdeep notorious as a discreet killing ground where unscrupulous nobles could dispose of "problems"&hellip; which would explain why it was haunted by greater shadows.
 * Harpers in need of refuge in Mornbryn's Shield could find it at Caldreth's Pickles, Nuts, and Foods, which was a secret sanctuary for Those Who Harp, and which also offered nuts and pickles for the peckish.
 * Partic Thistle was Cormyr's Registrant General of Adventuring Companies, which meant he was in charge of issuing charters to adventurers, monitoring their actions, and rewarding (or penalizing) them where appropriate.
 * Baastat was a zulkir of Thay noted for his power but also for his complacency. The adventurer Zaranda Star once stole a magical brazen head head from him, which was just as well since the sentient item was willfully useless.
 * The vampire Nyressa Flass served as zulkir of necromancy in the Red Wizards until Szass Tam, then a young upstart, utterly destroyed her with a wooden stake through the heart and a liberal application of fireballs.
 * Although the frost giant Ertgard had sworn himself to Auril the Frostmaiden, she honestly had very little use for him, and so he sat around in the fortress of Grimskalle waiting for intruders that could grant him a warrior's death.
 * The green hag Drueena lived in relative comfort on her very own island, content with spreading her choking vines and snacking on passersby, until she was rudely stopped by the "adventurers" Simon, Edgin, Holga, and Forge.
 * Dusk unicorns were much like regular unicorns save for their dark coats and black horns. Some fey believed the birth of a dusk unicorn&mdash;a rarity in itself&mdash;was an auspicious omen.
 * Whenever a wizard failed to complete the transformation to lichdom, they instead became a boneclaw, a misshapen undead monstrosity enthralled by negative emotions like despair, avarice, and malice.
 * To prove their reverence to Auril, a group of self-exiled, chardalyn-huffing berserkers from the Tribe of the Bear deliberately gave themselves frostbite. The Frostmaiden took notice and granted them immortality within the confines of their lair.

26/3/2023 - 2/4/2023

 * Korinn's Keep was a stronghold of the Harpers in the Sea of Swords. It could only be accessed by a person wearing a Harper pin and contained a number of magical items taken from the foes of Those Who Harp.
 * The helmet of disjunction could disable all magical effects, much like the spell Mordenkainen's disjunction. The Elk tribe fought the Cult of the Dragon over it at the Battle of the Evermoors.
 * Aeroth of Silverymoon was an early champion of the city of Silverymoon who fought the trolls of the North with Ahghairon and Samular Caradoon. He went on to found his own city, Vlan, on the Moonshae Isles.
 * Varauna Goldfeather was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Raedra Obarskyr of Cormyr, as well as her close friend and confidant. She was noted for her sharp wit, ear for gossip, and skill with the longbow.
 * The Blue Baldric in Waterdeep's Castle Ward was a beauty shop during the day but transformed into a nightclub at night. The daylight operation offered customers "pampering" in the form of scented baths and wine.
 * Barrenstone was the underground lair of the lich Adzerak, who was obsessed with hoarding books and knowledge. No less than two thousand tomes were contained within its vast library.
 * Shimmerweave was a glossy smooth cloth fabric used for adventuring gear and clothes for Faerûn's fashionistas, like Queen Filfaeril of Cormyr, the voluptuous Phandelopae of Athkatla, and the Oghmanyte high priest Sandrew of Silverymoon.
 * Elven dishes were typically not made with onions, as the Tel-quessir considered their flavor overpowering. Instead, they mostly used onions to mask the taste of rancid food during hard times.
 * Castle Lutwill was a motte-and-bailey castle in Tethyr. It was invaded and its owner slain by Zaranda Star and Star Protective Services during the Tethyrian Interregnum.

2/4/2023 - 9/4/2023

 * Szass Tam used the horn of beckoning death to seize control of Thay in one fell swoop, turning his rivals and much of Thay's populace into his undead puppets.
 * Anyone slain by a Red Wizard blade couldn't be brought back to life by any means other than divine intervention or the use of a tablet of reawakening.
 * In a case of dubious parenting practices, Edgin Darvis allowed his daughter Kira to participate in his band's heists, robberies, and schemes.
 * The evil Baron Lutwill once threatened to behead Zaranda Star and have her head pickled and sent to her political rivals in Zazesspur. He died soon after.
 * Ilgostrogue Sstar led an exodus of thousands of dwarves out of Citadel Adbar hoping to found a new great empire. He was, unfortunately, quite mad, and perished while crossing Icewind Dale.
 * The island of Thelve off the Sword Coast near Candlekeep was home to three liches who started out as friends but soured to each other's presence over time, each retreating to their own castle.
 * During Gondegal's war against Cormyr, the village of Darkenshield was massacred by the Twilight Brigade. Outraged, the spirits of the dead villagers became trapped in the ruins.
 * On her twelfth birthday, Jesanta Beril's uncle sent her off to be tutored by a blightlord of Talona whom she later murdered. She turned out alright, in the end, just ever so slightly chaotic evil.

9/4/2023 - 16/4/2023

 * Sofina was a 300-year-old Red Wizard of Thay and apprentice of Szass Tam who recruited Edgin Darvis to rob the Harper stronghold of Korinn's Keep and aided Forge Fitzwilliam's takeover of Neverwinter.
 * A hither-thither staff was stolen by Holga Kilgore from a wizard in the Greypeak Mountains and given to her husband Marlamin to use as a walking stick, little realizing its power to create portal.
 * The Tome of Blasphemous Magic was a profane and sacrilegious necromantic spellbook of malice and strife that was loaned by the Regent of Thay, Szass Tam, to the Red Wizard Arvik Zaltos in the 15 century DR.
 * The private club in Cormyr simply named the War Wizard was visited by Elminster Aumar and Presto, his would-be apprentice, circa 1369 DR, where they met travelogue writer Volothamp Geddarm.
 * The Nar demonbinder Jesanta Beril's magic tutor Gaurin was a blightlord of the Lady of Poison, Talona. He was slain by Jesanta's hand, but she remembered him as the namesake of her imp familiar, Gaurin.
 * Luko was an employee of the Taverners, Innkeepers, and Provisioners guild of Zazesspur in Tethyr, who delivered butter in pails to various inns and distributed it with butter paddles circa 1366 DR.
 * Tanalar's Fine Mounts was a horsebreeder and merchant from the town of Tilverton in the 14 century DR. The ex–Purple Dragon Brieth Tanalar sold his racehorses, riding horses, and warhorses as far south as Calimshan.
 * A trio of mages turned liches known as the The Twilight Three lorded over the isle of Thelve west of Candlekeep. The liches lived in three secluded castles built by gnome slaves that the undead wizards later exterminated.
 * Zaaman Rul was the benevolent archomental of fire in the Elemental Plane of Fire who was known to, on rare occasions, be summoned to the Prime Material plane by the cleric greater elemental summoning spell.
 * The shipwright of Waterdeep named Zabardan Barpar was the public spokesperson for the Order of Master Shipwrights working out of the Shipwrights' House circa 1357 DR.

16/4/2023 - 23/4/2023

 * The Stonelands was a desolate region that separated Cormyr from the Anauroch desert. Cormyr held a nominal claim to the territory, but it was in practice dominated by tribes of goblinoids and orcs.
 * According to gnomish legend, hot-air balloons were invented by Nebelun when he stole the tail of the lizardfolk god Semuanya, skinned it, sewed it together, and then inflated it with a massive set of bellows.
 * Magic-suppression cuffs were used to prevent their wearer from calling upon their magical abilities, including both spellcasting as well as innate powers such as wild shape.
 * Elixirs of truth would cause whoever imbibed them to tell the truth. Several varieties of such potions existed, both magical and mundane, though the non-magical versions tended to make their drinker sluggish.
 * Donning a helm of opposite alignment would flip one's entire personality. This also meant, of course, that the wearer would come to relish their new perspective and become rather disinterested in having it re-reversed.
 * The saprophytic plague spread through spores released from fungi growing on infected individuals. Symptoms included turning into a flesh-eating zombie before dissolving into a sentient ooze.
 * Melisana, daughter of the wealthy merchant Melkaras on the island of Ventris in the Moonshaes, had resolved to take over her father's business when he retired. All signs indicated she would do a good job of it.
 * The sage and midwife Kromnlor Sernar plied her trades in the Dock Ward of Waterdeep. Her remedies often involved herbs that were frowned on by the Guild of Apothecaries & Physicians.
 * Cloudspire, part of the Yehimal Mountains, was the tallest peak on Toril with a height of roughly 35,000 feet (~10,700 meters). Although its caverns once housed dragons, in later years remorhazes had taken over.
 * Boneless were undead created from corpses that lacked their original skeletons. Some boneless draped themselves over animated skeletons or zombies as a means of ambulation.
 * According to myth, the Umar Witch haunted the wilds near Imnesvale in Amn. Allegedly, three apprentice wizards searched the Umar Hills for evidence of the witch's existence but were never seen again; only their deeply unsettling journal was recovered.

23/4/2023 - 30/4/2023

 * Adherers were a strange sort of semi-intelligent humanoid monsters that bore a striking resemblance to mummies or raggamoffyns, with their bodies covered in a sour, mucilaginously-smelling resinous solvent.
 * The beloved hero and defender of the Skull Crag Keep, Arelin Starbrow, was killed in the mid-14 century DR by vampires Khulzond and Mordroka, with help from her own son, turned bloodsucking undead, Vidruand Starbrow.
 * Asheera was a woman from another world that the Hero of Neverwinter met while traversing the deminplane within the Source Stone, who appeared identical to the infamous fallen half-elven paladin of Tyr, Aribeth de Tylmarande.
 * The Heart of the Rage was a fortress within a valley in Novularond, created by elves circa ; it housed a portal to the Capstone of the Rage, until its destruction in 1373 DR.
 * Maxoris was a spice produced from the maxor plant in the town of Proskur, known for its preservative qualities greater than that of simple salt, and the musty taste it imparted onto meat.
 * The Neverwinter arena was the amphitheater built in the City of Skilled Hands, Neverwinter, in the 1490s DR; it became the site of the revived brutal and bloody High Sun Games.
 * A rod of cancellation was a powerful item that drained magic items of their enchantments with a mere touch that rendered them unreservedly mundane and stripped them from ever bearing any enchantments, even if attempted via the wish spell.
 * Sapphire dragonfly was a species of large, blue dragonfly that inhabited the Savage Frontier. A decade after the death of his wife, Edgin Darvis, a Harper-turned-thief, reminisced of his beloved every time he beheld the magnificent insect.
 * The elven City of Magic Taltempla was a peaceful place of flowing white and green marble buildings, surrounded by a clear crystal city wall. Its harmonious existence needed no governor, so its de facto leader was the city's most powerful spellcaster, the High Mage Gaelira, in the 14 century DR.
 * Tintoram's Select was a type of brandy distilled from blackberries, known for its potency and rich flavor. It was bottled by halflings of the Purple Hills in distinct long-necked purple glass flasks.
 * Wilden were inhabitants of the Feywild that settled in the Sky Riders of Chessenta, where they rode flying predators called tuuru, imitating the elite aerial warriors of the nation of Unther from ages past.
 * The Witchlight Carnival was a planes-faring carnival originating from the Feywild, a whimsical fair of dizzying sights and wondrous attractions that visited numerous planets across the Prime Material plane once every eight years.

30/4/2023 - 7/5/2023

 * Lythlyx were bizarre psionic eel-like monsters that resembled ever-spinning corkscrews and that seemed to abhor touching the ground. Their body oil was used in the manufacture of several magical inks.
 * Quanlos were flying insectoid creatures usually found in warm swamps such as the Great Swamp of Rethild in Halruaa, but also in the Marsh of Tun in Cormyr. They procreated by injecting their carnivorous larvae into living creatures.
 * The Selgauntan gang leader Avos the Fisher maintained control of the Quippers by virtue of his dueling prowess. He insisted every duel be fought with his signature weapons, the short sword and the fishing gaff.
 * The Oerthan wizard Rautheene was an apprentice of the planes-traveling archmage Mordenkainen, often accompanying him to meetings with Elminster in Ed Greenwood's house on Earth.
 * Elestam's Crusaders were an adventuring troupe based in Erlkazar specialized in fighting vampires and dragons. The group disbanded when their leader, Korox Morkann, succeeded his father to become king of Erlkazar.
 * The city of Toreus in Chessenta was known for its assertive business strategies, which included trading with marauding pirates and allowing the presence of a Red Wizard enclave, much to the chagrin of its neighbors.
 * Phandalin's Temple of the Coinmaiden was overseen by Ditch Fundi, who secretly wasn't even a member of the Church of Waukeen and who deferred all of the temple's spiritual services to the temple's acolytes, Mischka and Hesten.
 * A robe of useful items was a magical robe that contained all sorts of useful items, such as 50 feet of rope, a large mirror, a lantern filled with oil, a pair of living war dogs, a portable ram, and a 12-foot long rowboat.
 * Mischiefmakers were specialty priests of Erevan Ilesere, the Seldarine deity of rogues and mischief. Most mischiefmakers were elves or half-elves, but their numbers also included some sprites, leprechauns, and pixies.
 * Buccaneers were rogues who dedicated their lives to piracy and the high seas. Many moon elf buccaneers plied their trade on the Sea of Swords for the benefit of Evermeet.

7/5/2023 - 14/5/2023

 * Siege engines in the Realms took all manner of forms, from the rather traditional catapult and ballista to the more creative Greek fire projector and the magical Kezefbane, the latter of which was used to end the Second Troll War.
 * When Ythryn crashed and became entombed within the Reghed Glacier, the lich Iriolarthas lost his phylactery. Since he could no longer feed it with souls, his undead form eventually turned to dust and he became a demilich.
 * Mattis was a young tiefling "entrepreneur" (read: thief/merchant) who plied his trade in the Emerald Grove after his kind were banished from Elturel. He sold various knicknacks of varying usefulness and picked the pockets of his customers.
 * Brawn McGable was sentenced to hard labor for having been part of the Redbrands, a criminal gang in Phandalin. He mostly did odd jobs around town, and his affable nature soon made him popular with the locals despite his checkered past.
 * The dwarven warrior Caulgrith Narueto spent so much time working in his jewelry and metalworking shop in Suldolphor in Calimshan that some believed he had a twin brother who stood in for him when he rested.
 * The Cadorna family of Phlan rose to prominence when Magnus Cadorna became the sole survivor of a successful red dragon hunt. The Cadorna family sword was forged to commemorate this event.
 * Methild's harp was a magical harp from Myth Drannor with the power to part all webs, open all locks, and untie all knots&mdash;in effect, it could break any sort of bond except for certain magical barriers.
 * Spelldancers were a unique kind of mage that used a form of magic based on song and dance. They cast spells by entering a trance state and dancing wildly. This allowed a group of spelldancers to cast significantly more powerful magic than they strictly should be able to alone.
 * Zythars were demons who cared nothing for what cause they served, so long as they had ample opportunities to light other creatures on fire. While one could certainly question their morals, their burning commitment to their passion was beyond reproach.
 * The Mausoleum was a tomb in Loudwater filled with skeletal fighters, zombies, ghouls, wights, and wraiths. These would sneak out at night to terrorize the surrounding streets until a group of adventurers put an end to them.
 * When the Netherese Empire expanded south into the Windy Plains, it came into conflict with the goblins and orcs inhabiting the region. After Netheril's fall, the goblin nation of Hlundadim prospered in the area.

14/5/2023 - 21/5/2023

 * Chock was an ogre mercenary who formed a band along with Fank and Lump the Enlightened; together, they were hired by the cultists of the Absolute holding the ruins of Moonhaven in the late 15 century DR.
 * Halfling merchants of Luiren traveled to the Five Shires, a lush and tranquil hin nation on the world of Mystara, accessible via a gate in northeastern Luiren.
 * The Heartlands of Cormyr consisted of the King's Forest and the surrounding lands, home to the oldest cities in the realm and innumerable smaller settlements, as well as the capital city of Suzail.
 * Kluennh Tzarr was a wizard from Calimshan who owned a citadel staffed with numerous slaves and dragons in the 14 century DR. He famously dueled Algarzel Halfcloak in Baldur's Gate in 1345 DR.
 * The wizard Loathren of Phlan sought to erect a tower where the archmage Maskyr One-Eye in the Vast had once had his. But faced rocks began flying on their own in a whirlwind that rained on his camp and ended Loathren's life.
 * Sind, or "marshwiggles" were a species of reclusive web-fingered swamp-dwelling humanoids who appreciated alcohol and tobacco and survived via fishing in the wetlands of of Luiren and Veldorn.
 * Stuuzant was a female ogre who befriended and traveled alongside two dire wolves, terrorizing the town of Phandalin in the late 15 century DR by stealing livestock under cover of the night.
 * Suldolphor the Golden was a metropolis found in far eastern Calimshan, inhabited by eccentrics with expensive tastes who enjoyed all of the latest fashions and other fanciful indulgences.
 * ﻿﻿Thessarelle's Platter was one of the most high-class restaurants in Suzail in the late 15 century DR, known to serve fried hocks-and-tongues, boar, and various potato dishes, as well as offering a fine selection of wines.
 * Zunzalor's harp was an enchanted instrument originally created in the city of Myth Drannor and later used by the Harpers for its ability to conjure a globe of continual light and dispel illusions and invisibility.

21/5/2023 - 28/5/2023

 * The East Reaches of Cormyr were an expansive frontier often regarded as the future of the Forest Kingdom, provided the region could be tamed and settled. Until such a time, monsters and bandits were an all-too-common problem in the area.
 * The Hero of Daggerford was a caravan guard-turned-adventurer who foiled a Zhentarim plot to install a puppet leader in Daggerford, and then later stopped the Cult of the Crippled Fang from destabilizing the Moonsea region,
 * Pact blades were weapons suffused with the power of a warlock's patron, conferring greater potency to their spells and invocations, as well as allowing them to curse others. Failing that, they could always use it for stabbing.
 * The gate-town of Sylvania connected the Outlands to the plane of Arborea. It was populated by humans, elves, and bariaur, and was located in the midst of a forest of abnormally large flora.
 * A phase potion temporarily gave its imbiber a phase spider's ability to shift their bodies between the Prime Material and the Ethereal plane. The Cult of the White Bat used these potions to kidnap a large number of slaves.
 * The capricious wizard Kulshond traveled Toril while imposing his magical antics on others at a whim, including polymorphing various creatures into other creatures, dispatching watchskull spies, and straight up vanishing people.
 * Elven cats were magic-infused felines favored as pets by elves, which no doubt made them even haughtier than regular cats. They could cast a number of spells, leap great lengths, and some were even conversant in the elven language.
 * Ilyn Toth was a Red Wizard of Thay who posed as a healer to conduct macabre necromantic experiments on the people of Moonhaven, all in the pursuit of raising a single woman back to life.
 * Golordin Maerthringul was one of the two High Swords in charge of the Flame Guard, an elite group of mercenaries charged with protecting the olanger (ruler) of Suldolphor in Calimshan.

28/5/2023 - 4/6/2023

 * A strange creature referred to only as "the Demon" emerged from a gate (along with Simon Weems, a man from Wisconsin) to wreak havoc on the Cormyrean countryside with its immense magical powers.
 * When they captured the warlock adventurer Wyll in the Shattered Sanctum, the goblins Crub, Nik-Nuk, and Plagg fantasized about how they should kill him in the name of The Absolute.
 * Rulthaven, a botanist sage in the town of Easting, once saw a "star-spore" fall from the sky. He theorized it came from the planet Coliar, and developed an antidote to counter its deleterious effects on Torilian life.
 * Lord Kalthas was a nobleman of Zhentil Keep who led its armies north of the Moonsea. He boastfully announced the defeat of the lich Arkhigoul in Thar, but his braggadocio won him no friends.
 * Daeranatha Dorluu ruled the city of Suldolphor in Calimshan for nearly a century, but her health started failing when the goddess to whom she was a high priestess, Waukeen, disappeared during the Time of Troubles.
 * Khulzond was an ancient vampire who, along with his partner, Mordroka, terrorized Cormyr from Skull Crag Keep. The two vampires were eventually evicted by the Purple Dragons, but they persistently tried to take back the Keep.
 * A gorget was a piece of armor designed to protect the neck and throat, having been used for this purpose since the time of Netheril. Manshoon developed a magical variant that he, rather unimaginatively, called a battle gorget.
 * Blue mist fever (also known as "mad monkey fever") was a magical disease found in the jungles of Chult that caused its victims to see vivid hallucinations involving blue monkeys.
 * Redspawn arcanisses were a variety of dragonspawn that reveled in pain and destruction, primarily the sort inflicted by fire. They had an intense hatred for the servants of good dragons and would recklessly charge at any they encountered.

4/6/2023 - 11/6/2023

 * Khonduil Ammargath was Keeper of the shrine of Tymora in the village of Maskyr's Eye, having retired from his previous career as an acrobatic thief after breaking his leg in a daring robbery in Iriaebor.
 * Soraevora Aeravand was a divine soul of Angharradh who traveled from Evermeet to Faerûn at her goddess's instruction to aid a group of adventurers that opposed a yuan-ti plot to unleash the snake-god Zehir on Toril.
 * Elvauna Larethra was the Matriarch of Song, Milil's chief representative on Toril. She rose to this position when the Lord of Song appeared before her, kissing her in a full embrace.
 * Ferostil was a merry mercenary in the Company of the Bright Spear. When his shield was stolen by the inn-maid Shandril Shessair, the Company promptly hired her as their new thief.
 * Barelder was a noble house of Cormyr that oversaw the Tun Shores from their estate, Windcrag House. They also kept a small urban mansion in Suzail known as Heldartowers.
 * Montror Barelder was patriarch of the noble Barelder family until his unfortunate demise at the hands of a blueflame ghost. In life, he was a traditionalist who dutifully tended to his domain.
 * Grymmon Borlethgar was leader of the Stone Spears, the armed forces of Tulmon in the Land of the Lions. Although an elderly man, his body was remarkably youthful&mdash;a side-effect from his magical suit of plate mail.
 * Gaudle's rod of rings was a peculiar magic item used by Harpers. A ghostly hand could manifest at one end of the rod, which could then be affixed with a ring on each finger&mdash;a neat trick for anyone with a vast magical ring collection.
 * Chaos shards were chaotic elementals that materialized at the boundary between the Abyss and the Elemental Chaos. They were semi-intelligent and tended to be quite malevolent and destructive.
 * Whitewasting, or leprosy, was a well-known disease in Faerûn. Halaster Blackcloak once faked his death by creating a clone, infecting it with leprosy, and leaving it to die where patrols from Waterdeep would find it.

11/6/2023 - 18/6/2023

 * The malaugrym Architrave searched far and wide for a source of spellfire, posing as both a Cultist of the Dragon and a priest of Bane in its pursuit, but all he achieved was getting incinerated by a dracolich.
 * The fiercely entrepreneurial Estann Rabruin established the settlement of Rabruin's Tor in Cormyr, but his ambitions reached a swift end when the king himself banned woodcutting in the area where Estann tried to build a connecting road.
 * Yrre the Sparkstruck was an eccentric gnome inventor who was obsessed with the power of lightning storms. He created numerous lightning-themed items such as the Joltshooter and the Protecty Sparkswall set of clothing.
 * A wand of weapons summoned an envisioned weapon into the hands of either oneself or an ally. Failure to envision any weapon would lead to the wielder being encircled by an array of floating weaponry.
 * Pigskin, that is, the skin of pigs, was popular for two purposes. First, as a material for pouches, including spell component pouches, and secondly, fried to be enjoyed as either pork cracklings or imitation wyvern meat.
 * Illithid mucous was naturally secreted by mind flayers and smelled faintly of onions, garlic, or vanilla. It had numerous psionic properties, and was used in the production of potions of ESP.
 * Candlesticks were popular both among the clergy of the Realms, as well as your everyday light enjoyers. Some candlesticks held but one candle, while others could handle multitudes.
 * G'varok's anvil was an anvil used by the renowned dwarven smith G'varok, enchanted as to make everything created using it a marvelous masterpiece. Unfortunately, a rival frost giant smith smashed it to pieces.
 * The Song of One Harp was a manifesto written by Storm Silverhand in which she mused that the "heart of a realm" could be found in the "eyes and toil-scarred hands of the farmers and yeomen who work the land".

18/6/2023 - 25/6/2023

 * Kinslayers were drow specialized in "exacting vengeance" on their surface kin&mdash;that is, regular elves. Many kinslayers learned to adapt to the light of the surface, all the better to hunt surface elves.
 * Tower shields were so large and heavy they usually had to be fastened to their wearer's forearm, who then also had to grip the shield firmly. They were ideal for those adventurers who needed to feel as armored as possible at all times.
 * Bellows were frequently used by both smiths and wizards alike to increase the heat of a furnace. They were also used for producing sound, such as in gnomish variants of the instrument shawm, which sounded like migrating geese.
 * Crownpost, a fortified outpost of Cormyr's Purple Dragons, was destroyed when a hidden, underground wizard's lair went haywire, creating a sudden lightning storm and summoning forth hordes of monsters through a network of gates.
 * Blackhair was a horse breed originating in the village of Maskyr's Eye in the Vast. They resembled ponies but were far larger, nearly as big as warhorses. Uniquely, blackhairs had bony growths shielding their hooves from loose stones.
 * The book Secret Societies of the Sword Coast: Exposed gave an overview of several clandestine organizations on the Sword Coast, such as the Harpers, the Shadow Druids, and the slightly-less-infamous Order of Klurd.
 * The coinage of Myth Drannor was, at one point, themed around the various races allowed within the city&mdash;naturally, platinum pieces were minted with an image of an elf.
 * The kingdom of Akanûl was governed by its monarch, who in turn was advised by the Four Stewards. Each Steward oversaw a specialized branch of the government; for example, one of them was in charge of "understanding the landscape" (read: they were a spymaster).

25/6/2023 - 2/7/2023

 * Foodomancy was a school of magic focusing on the powers contained within food ingredients that, when brought together in just the right fashion, produced wondrous dishes with potent magical effects.
 * The Church of Gwaeron Windstrom venerated the demigod of tracking, Gwaeron Windstrom. It was less of an organized faith and more of an order of rangers drawn from the related Church of Mielikki.
 * Spidersilk could be used for anything from clothing to spell components. The drow were, naturally, big proponents of spidersilk usage, with reports of dark elves having even used the material to create hot-air balloons.
 * Tongs were used by both smiths and wizards alike for handling burning-hot objects. The best craftsmen of ancient Myth Drannor used tongs of the armorer that drastically increased the quality of the wielder's metalwork.
 * Ferrengrove was a small village of green elves in Semberholme during the glory days of Cormanthyr. It was known for the exquisite craftsmanship of its bowyers, which made weapons created here much sought-after among other elves.
 * Shyr was the ancestral homeland of the genasi of Akanûl. Originally located on the world of Abeir, parts of Shyr exchanged places with eastern Chondath and western Chessenta in the wake of the Spellplague.
 * Eylea was a small city somewhere in Faerûn that once served as a base for the Avante Guard adventuring band. It was eventually attacked by an obscure cult, prompting one of the defenders, Black Dugal, to retire and open a music shop in Ravens Bluff.
 * Na N'buso, or "the Great King", was a golden statue in Port Nyanzaru's harbor depicting a mythical Chultan king in full regalia. Although it seemed ancient, it was actually built shortly after the Port was liberated from Amnian rule.
 * Prudence Tarkwold was a Zhentarim agent stationed in the town of Easthaven in Icewind Dale, where she posed as a simple clerk in service to Speaker Danneth Waylen. She spent her time collecting information for the Black Network.
 * Chandri was the chief healer of the Selûnite temple of Moonshadow Hall in Yhaunn, Sembia. When the temple's leader, Dhauna Myritar, willingly infected herself with lycanthropy, Chandri tried and failed to counteract the curse.
 * Molecular rearrangement was an extremely rare psionic science that allowed for the transmutation of minute amounts of matter. For example, it could be used to create diamonds from coal, glass from metal, ruby from wood, and so on.

2/7/2023 - 9/7/2023

 * Another Dart in the Minstrel's Heart was a play that told a story of a minstrel and his beloved, performed in the to benefit The Hand of Mercy Childrens Hospital and Orphanage of Raven's Bluff.
 * Brassune was a genasi city of western Akanûl, ruined in the by the Abolethic Sovereignty with the survivors fleeing to the ruins of then abandoned Chessentan city of Airspur.
 * Insect sight was a very rare arcane spell that granted a creature insect-like all-around eyesight for a limited time, recorded in at least two tomes penned by Prismal the Outrageous: Prismal's Pocket Library, Vol.IV and If They Can Do It, Prismal Can Do It Two.
 * Ithal Pass was a fortified town in the southern region of County Surkazar in Tethyr that began as a crossroads settlement of dairy farmers that grew with the influx of soldiers from the duke of Suretmarch's army in the 1370s DR.
 * The Oathbreaker Knight was once a living knight who was called to become a supernatural figure manifesting himself to paladins who tarnished, broke, or even completely abandoned the oaths.
 * The path of the storm herald was a path taken by barbarians who chose to channel the primal magic of nature into their bodies during a rage, becoming surrounded by a tempest that swirled around their body in a dramatic display or nature's wrath.
 * Phosphorus was an alchemical substance that received wide use as a material component for many spells that mainly dealt with fire, including Flamsterd's flamestrike, teleport fireball, Darsson's fiery cube, and many others.
 * The warlock and artificer named Rokh Manti of Neverwinter constructed a vehicle to travel to the Positive Energy plane in order to investigate the flow of positive energy to Toril during the early days of the death curse in the late 15 century DR.
 * Ssuntyr was a member of the Elder of the Council of Maskyr's Eye who became disgraced after his dealings with the drow were uncovered; he became a mercenary mage and subsequently returned to Maskyr's Eye with an act of murderous vengeance.
 * Tofu was a type of food produced from soybeans that originated in the lands of Kara-Tur and islands of Kozakura; by the late 15 century DR, it was popularized in Baldur's Gate and served in vegetable broth.
 * The Waxing Crescent was an enchanted ceremonial blade that became engulfed in silver flame upon command, wielded by the clergy of Selûne at Moonshadow Hall in the Sembian city of Yhaunn.
 * Zinc was a type of metal known to be in use as early as the ancient empire of Netheril and used as a material component in such spells as Bigby's clenched fist and Mordenkainen's sword.

9/7/2023 - 16/7/2023

 * The mindwitness Gavmogon broke free from his mind flayer masters using the artifact hollow of dominion, which he then used to spread madness among the illithids as well as others in the area around Phandalin.
 * Well-Adjusted Al was a shopkeep in Baldur's Gate. He used to be known as "Crazy Al" until therapy convinced him that selling plate armor for three gold pieces and a small duck was no way to get ahead in business.
 * Burlane led the Company of the Bright Spear on an expedition to Myth Drannor alongside their newly-recruited thief, Shandril Shessair. Unfortunately for Burlane, who carried the company's eponymous spear, he was melted by a green dragon's breath.
 * Myconid sovereigns could reanimate corpses as spore servants, non-undead automatons fully under the myconid's control. When the demon lord Zuggtmoy "married" the great fungus Araumycos, she celebrated by casting spore servant spores all across the Underdark.
 * Glarleer's, a high-class tavern in the town of Loudwater, offered music, dancing, and light snacks for patrons. Fences could be found here, alongside other types of middlemen and coinlasses of a sophisticated sort.
 * A sode garami was a weapon used for capturing and ensnaring someone without inflicting significant harm. Unique to the continent of Kara-Tur, it consisted of a long shaft attached to a crossbar adorned with spikes and hooks.
 * On the world of Athas, where water was rare, the role of potions was taken up by potion fruits which were essentially just enchanted fruits. Though unheard of on Toril, a group of wayward Malatrans were once offered to buy some in a half-dwarf village on Athas.
 * The High History of the Drow, written by the sage Shahaerynus of Myth Drannor, detailed the major beats of dark elf history as well modern drow society. Susprina Arkhenneld, a drow apprentice of Elminster, hoped to pen a sequel.
 * A number of substances in the Realms could be used as glue, beyond the traditional version made from boiled animal remains, such as the saliva of tangler beetles, aartuk slime, kuo-toa oil, and the milky substance secreted by zygoms.

16/7/2023 - 23/7/2023

 * Starfishes were known to be mostly harmless to humanoids, but the Lathanderite cleric Muragh Brilstagg somehow managed to have his brain sucked out by a starfish, leaving him a talking undead skull that was stuck in Undermountain.
 * The Grand Souk was the largest and most impressive marketplace in Port Nyanzaru in Chult. Most everything was sold here, including various treasures of the jungle, such as tropical fruits, live animals, dinosaur meat, tiger pelts, and Batiri masks.
 * Olostin was a bandit lord who became a rallying force for the disaffected citizens of Netheril. He betrayed many secrets of the arcanists to the phaerimm and plagued the Netherese Empire for decades until he was disposed of with a well-thrown spell of fireball.
 * The Senshi Islands of Kozakura were renowned as one of the finest fishing grounds in the island realm. Each island in the chain sported natural inlets where fishing boats could safely harvest oysters and precious pearls.
 * The Whispering Depths was a cave system beneath the village of Moonhaven that was connected to the Underdark. It was filled with various spiders, including a massive phase spider and a person who had transformed themselves into a spider in Lolth's name.
 * Dryad dust induced a form of madness when ingested, making creatures attack both friend and foe in a wild frenzy. Dwarven operations in the mines of Tethyamar were once disrupted by a Zhentarim plot to poison their water supply with dryad dust.
 * Vinegar was used for everything from pickling foodstuffs (such as pickled squid) to material components for spells (such as death fog). It was also great for cleaning out skunk smell from clothes, and could be used as a non-lethal weapon in a pinch.
 * Sherry was a type of fortified wine popular in many places in the Realms, with many regional variants such as the zzar of Waterdeep, Zazesspur's dragonfire, and tripleshroom sherry from Myth Drannor. Sherry was a key ingredient in beef tea.
 * Shield was the horse ridden by the spellfire wielder named Shandril Shessair on her journey away from Shadowdale in the ; Shield's journey ended in the dracolich Shargrailar's breath of fire.
 * Talmost Keep was once the seat of power for the Waterdhavian House Talmost, located in the Ardeep Forest and long-ruined by the late 14 century DR, it periodically spilled swarms of fiendish spiders from its depths to threaten the environs.

23/7/2023 - 30/7/2023

 * Ellandra Tolbert was a famous anatomist necromancer from Neverwinter who specialized in surgery and healing magic. She developed the spell false face which allowed her to copy the face of another humanoid.
 * Jonah the Unlucky was King of the Urgh (whatever that may be). He nearly conquered the North but died before he could finish the job. The cause of his death: shock after winning the state lottery. He was remembered with a statue in Undermountain.
 * Skickpit of Clan Ironhand was a deep gnome slave of the duergar of Grymforge. He had to endure both ridicule and degradation doled out by his keepers, but responded with some choice nicknames right back at them.
 * Ghereg was an ogre who lived in the Kuldahar Pass in the Spine of the World. He suffered from horrendous headaches that spurred him to perform unthinkable acts such as beseeching passing adventurers for medical aid.
 * The Memory Spire was a mysterious silver tower known to appear and disappear irregularly throughout the Anauroch. The Spire held an entire phaerimm hive in stasis, thus saving the race from destruction at the hands of the returned Netherese Empire.
 * The bandit keeps of Alarangh and Tossril, both just east of the Thunder Gap in the Thunder Peaks, were taken over by the Zhentarim. Forces from these keeps were then roused to aid in the Zhents' hunt for Shandril Shessair.
 * The heavily guarded island of Yarujima was used as a place of confinement for political prisoners in Kozakura. Access to the isle was severely restricted, except by express permission from the emperor or shogun.
 * Fowl stew was one of the dishes served at the Singing Sprite inn in Secomber. It consisted of roasted bird meat, minced onions, fruit, and wine, and was flavored with sage, thyme, cinnamon, and garlic. And it didn't taste foul at all.
 * The Mul were a race of human-dwarf hybrids from the world of Athas. Mul were virtually unheard of on Toril, but a group of stray adventurers from Malatra once ran across a Mul village, mistaking them for stocky Nubari.

30/7/2023 - 6/8/2023

 * Deaf people could struggle to communicate and express their needs. Luckily, Toril had no shortage of sign languages, including drow and draconic variants, or thieves' cant for the more criminally-inclined deaf.
 * Silver pieces from Memnon in Calimshan, all of whom were dyed with red ochre, were referred to as "red worms". Coins with their coating rubbed off were known as "skinned worms".
 * Kozakura's only active volcano, Gensuyama, was said to contain an entrance to the underworld. The area around the volcano was rife with malevolent spirits such as con-tinh, kuei, and p'oh.
 * Alorth Bloodshoulder was part of a Zhentarim group sent to capture Shandril Shessair. He actually managed to catch one of Shandril's companions, the dwarf Delg Ironstar, but had to let him go when Shandril threatened to roast him with spellfire.
 * Totemists drew their powers from the excess raw magic left over from the creation of magical beasts. They were not common on Toril, but could be found among the Uthgardt, various beast cults, and among wild elves and dwarves.
 * The Ministry of Art oversaw all things magical in the city of Ravens Bluff. It was often confused with the Wizards Guild, which consisted of independent mages not affiliated with the city government, and the two organizations did not get along.
 * Athasian halflings, that is, halflings from the world of Athas, were much like the hin of Toril: short, brave, and fond of food. They differed in their dietary preferences, however, having few qualms about eating intelligent and sentient creatures alive.

7/8/2023 - 13/8/2023

 * Frankincense trees grew in the desert regions of Anauroch and Zakhara where they were harvested to produce an aromatic substance called frankincense used in perfume-making, incense, and medicine.
 * Jousting was a type of mounted combat sport in the Realms where a great deal of traditions and pageantry accompanied many jousting tournaments, from Waterdeep to Ravens Bluff.
 * Lady Duskreene of Tethgard was an ancient Netherese woman turned a watchghost, who befriended Elminster Aumar and her descendant, Mirt the Moneylender.
 * The unique throwing dagger called Lamia's Tongue once belonged Suhailah el Khaba of Calimshan, better known as the Black Lamia, who mysteriously disappeared, prompting many rumors of her fate, including being imprisoned by a vengeful mage.
 * Lasher zombies were creatures who died of starvation and were turned into undead by necromantic magics. Their most distinct features were writhing, pulsating intestines hanging from their lower torsos.
 * Shahaerynus was a drow sage who took on the difficult task of documenting the history of his people, despite Lolth-worshiping drow custom of "rewriting history" by pretending traitors to the Spider Queen never existed.
 * The Mountain of Iron was a mountain found on Kozakura's island of Shinkoku, known for its abandoned iron mines haunted by some mysterious sinister beings.
 * Volo's Guide to the Bloodstone Lands was a travelogue about the realms of Damara and Vaasa, known collectively as the Bloodstone Lands, penned by Volothamp Geddarm sometime between 1360 DR and 1362 DR.

13/8/2023 - 20/8/2023

 * Alatha Korduis was a bard who became a High Herald in training in the town of Waymoot in Cormyr after retiring from her adventuring career after suffering a severe leg injury.
 * The Grand Coliseum of Port Nyanzaru, situated atop the Yklwazi Hill, was renowned for its dinosaur races as well as bloody animal and gladiatorial battles; however, during the events of the death curse, dinosaurs were trained not to kill the participants.
 * The Hidden House was an expansive and everchanging labyrinthine safehold accessible from the village of Eveningstar, created by Phaeryl, a Netherese sorceress and later, used by Lady Lord Tessaril Winter.
 * Kalib Goldweaver was a well-respected dwarvish priest of Muamman Duathal who, after a sea-fairing life, committed his life to restore the glory of an ancient Brightsword Clan and aided its time-displaced refugees who ended up in the city of Ravens Bluff the late 14 century DR.
 * Rangers that specialized in the fields of secrecy, stealth, and information gathering were known as stalkers, who often took on the roles of informants, spies, or interrogators.
 * The Targe was a popular book of uplifting romantic fiction penned by Lady Sarandra Shaelewinter of Waterdeep, which was a pseudonym used by a noblewoman of a certain renown.
 * Volo's Guide to the Lands of Intrigue was yet another book written by Volothamp Geddarm, Master Travelers of the Realms. Its incomplete copy was shared by Elminster with the world of Earth, where it was published as Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II.

20/8/2023 - 27/8/2023

 * Mhai Prittee was a wizard from Hillsfar lured into an adventuring career by the mysterious noblewoman Diane. After numerous cryptic and convoluted quests, he managed to save the girl, get the reward, and elope to Tilverton.
 * Brigganocks were mouse-sized fey who spent their time mining the Feywild for wish stones&mdash;stones containing echoes of wishes made by mortals. Peculiarly, brigganocks kept their spirits outside their own bodies, and this spirit-light shone brightly at all hours of the day.
 * Delphons, or songsharks, were found in the planar river Oceanus. They had a profound understanding of the multidimensional nature of the river, and were even capable of using its properties to shift into other planes. And they could carry a tune.
 * Sarevok's horned helmet belonged to the Bhaalspawn Sarevok Anchev, who once attempted a coup in the city of Baldur's Gate. The helmet afforded him several types of protection against magic and boosted his combat prowess.
 * Blackweed was an incredibly potent poison that was virtually undetectable when dissolved in water. The Iron Throne once tried to have the leaders of Cormyr's Merchants' Guild killed by poisoning the water supply of Ghars, which incidentally would have also killed the town's entire population.
 * Tar pits were a naturally occurring sinking hazard formed when petroleum welled up from underground, creating deep pools. When Mystra was killed, the resulting magical disaster caused a great number of tar pits to form in the Helmlands of Cormyr.
 * The term lich lord referred to liches that deviated from the standard in some way. Iliph Thraun was classified as a lich lord because his undead form, little more than a floating skull, was achieved through a flawed process that left him reliant on spells to survive.

27/8/2023 - 3/9/2023

 * Starshadow Vale was an isolated valley in the Delimbiyr Vale filled with ruins. Any attempts at settlement were thwarted either by orcs outraged at the desecration of their burial mounds, demonic invasions, incineration by a mad red dragon, or falling prey to the Vale's many undead.
 * Gnome vampires differed from your standard, run-of-the-mill vampires in several ways. They could spider-climb across sheer surfaces, cripple foes with a touch, and take the form of a cluster of will-o'-wisps. They were, if possible, even more evil than regular gnomes.
 * Abyssal giants were a hateful, violent, and thankfully rare species of giant that lived in the Abyss. They enjoyed hurling exploding rocks at others and were invariably smug, arrogant, and disdainful of anyone smaller than them.
 * Silver dogs were extraordinarily rare and elegant canines that sometimes served as messengers for deities like Eilistraee and Sehanine Moonbow. They were thought to subsist on nothing but moonlight and clean water, and as such, produced no droppings.
 * Energons were incorporeal concentrations of energy inhabited by mysterious sentience. Energons from the Positive Energy plane were known as xag-ya, while those from the Negative were called xeg-yi.
 * Erzoured Obarskyr was a bastard son of Prince Emvar Obarskyr of Cormyr who managed to secure a place in the royal succession, which in turn made him a threat to the crown. He feigned loyalty to King Foril while secretly seeking allies in Sembia and Thay.
 * Luck medallions of Tymora were blessed to grant respite to their wearers when affected by certain spells. For instance, casting invisibility on a medallion would create a sphere that rendered anyone inside undetectable by both mundane and magical means.
 * The Hammer of Lucerne was a strange enchanted pole arm commissioned by the cleric Lodur Iron-Bollocks after hearing tales of similar weapons from a place called Lucerne in a land called Swizaria, or Switzlund, or "something of that nature, I am most certain".
 * An old Cormyrean lullaby went "The mouse smiled brightly/It outfoxed the cat!/Then down came the claw,/And that, Love, was that."

3/9/2023 - 10/9/2023

 * Changelings were a race related to dopplegangers who had a natural ability for shapeshifting, making them effective as actors, spies, and criminals. Orin the Red, a devoted follower of Bhaal, was a prominent changeling.
 * Dwarven vampires were notably introverted, preferring to keep to themselves rather than seeking power like many other vampires. They were reluctant to turn other dwarves into vampires, possibly because undead were reviled in dwarven culture.
 * Vikhrumn Coll, nicknamed "100 Gold", was a deranged beholder who worked as a low-rent hitman in the Underdark. He believed that wearing a trench coat and hat allowed him to perfectly blend in with humanoid society. It didn't.
 * Dammasae was an incantatrix of the Sorority of the Silver Fire and an opponent of the Cult of the Dragon. She was perhaps most notable for being the mother of Shandril Shessair, who inherited her ability for spellfire.
 * Hidden Hollow grew from a simple stockade to a town of 500 people in a matter of months. The town's founder, the retired gnomish adventurer Heather Dragonsnap, sought to keep Hidden Hollow independent even though it was nominally located in the Kingdom of Earthenmore.
 * You could, of course, get a slice of pizza in Baldur's Gate, complete with tomato sauce, cheese, and topped with sausage. If that didn't sate you, you could grab a serving of poutine as well.

10/9/2023 - 17/9/2023

 * The Forgotten Island was a small, volcanic island in the Shining Sea off the coast of Chult, completely uninhabited save the many dinosaurs who lived there. Adventurers from Ravens Bluff once tried colonizing the island and turning it into a tourist destination.
 * Parsley was a common herb both in Faerûn and Zakhara, and was a staple of elven cuisine. Wizards who found themselves in dire need of parsley could cast the spell spice to conjure up a bundle.
 * The aasimar Aylin was a daughter of the goddess Selûne herself. She was imprisoned in the Shadowfell by Ketheric Thorm, Chosen of Myrkul, as a prize for his former deity Shar&mdash;a mortal enemy of Selûne.
 * The Scornubian criminal Tornar was one of several ne'er-do-wells involved in the hunt for Shandril Shessair and her spellfire. He poisoned Sharantyr, a Knight of Myth Drannor who was also searching for Shandril, but later helped her heal and recover.
 * Jarbos were tiny rodents known for their ability to sense the presence of water. They could be found in deserts such as the Anauroch, and were constantly on the move to avoid their many natural predators.

17/9/2023 - 24/9/2023

 * Heimdall was the Norse deity of guardians and loyalty. One of his proxies, Reglin, once volunteered a band of adventurers from Ravens Bluff to participate in contests of eating, drinking, running, and wrestling for the amusement of Queen Titania of the Feywild.
 * Sir Elliot of Kness was a paladin private investigator in Waterdeep with a near-maniacal focus on taking down gangsters. His obsession led him to bend many of the laws and standards he otherwise would uphold.
 * The triceratops Zongo was a companion of the hapless jungle guides Faroul and Gondolo in Port Nyanzaru. The two originally bought Zongo to compete in the city's dinosaur races, but they soon realized Zongo was hopelessly slow and flatulent.
 * Lureene, the foster mother of Shandril Shessair, helped run the Rising Moon inn in Highmoon with Gorstag, who she later married. Her cooking was excellent, with Volo himself calling her butter tarts "amazing".
 * Shortshanks was a surly dwarf who ran the Bold Bard tavern in Ghars, Cormyr. Although most things seemed to annoy him, he was especially angry at the Swamp Rat, a rivaling tavern, which he felt served poor, watered-down drinks.
 * Samovars were vessels used for serving tea in Rashemen and Zakhara. The demon lord Graz'zt once used a marilith-shaped samovar to spread his particular brand of madness throughout the Deep Wastes.
 * Bellflowers were known for how they faintly tinkled in the wind. The elves of Evermeet used bellflower gardens as an alarm system; the plants would change melodies according to disruptions in the air flow, alerting elven ears to any intruders.
 * Rautym were hairless, psionic monkeys found in caverns beneath the Savage Frontier. They could perform dance magic, a form of communal, dance-powered magic dance that, given enough time and rautym involved, could allow them to cast spells of astonishing power.