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

1/01/2017 – 8/01/2017

 * Gundren Rockseeker was one of three dwarf brothers who discovered Wave Echo Cave before he was captured by the Cragmaws.
 * The Book of Bats was a spellbook of vile magic known to be owned by wicked mages. Its covers were stamped with real bat wings.
 * Vokkrzyr Rualfren, a drow cleric of Vhaeraun in Ultoksamrin, called for cooperation with surface elves against Lolth-worshipers.
 * Dumathoin's Wrath was a magic warhammer that was devastating in dwarf hands. It was crafted by the archlich Bandaerl.
 * King Alemander II of Tethyr was pressured by his nobles to execute his own vizera for accusations she had consorted with a lich.
 * Sea spawn, humanoid beings transformed into hybrid sea creatures, were the result of dark pacts from powerful marine entities.
 * Ghelryn Foehammer was named Royal Armorer of Citadel Felbarr in 1485 DR for the fine armors he made for the king and queen.
 * Zenobia was a dwarf adventuress from the world of Oerth who became marooned on the world of Toril after angering a mage.
 * The City Bastion was the upper level of the pyramidal dragonborn city of Djerad Thymar, and was home to the clan enclaves.

8/01/2017 – 15/01/2017

 * The Hungtse River was one of the longest rivers on Toril, crossing much of the Hordelands and the provinces of Shou Lung.
 * The Dang Caverns of Koryo were big enough to house armies or whole clans, but evil monsters and dark spirits lurked there.
 * Kayalithica was a stone giant thane who sought divine guidance from Skoraeus and to destroy the settlements of small folk.
 * Create jungle minions allowed a priest of Ragarra to transform crocodiles, alligators, and even people into savage servants.
 * Spirit annihilation allowed a priest of Bane to obliterate the soul of a dying foe, stopping it from being resurrected or questioned.
 * Thogaf learned magic from fellow prisoner Yrlamar while held captive in the Fortress of the Five Vultures of Calaunt.
 * The First Tymanther–Unther War broke out when the realm of Unther returned to Toril where the realm of Tymanther now lay.

15/01/2017 – 22/01/2017

 * A Zakharan coffee ceremony was a key custom showing a host's manners. It was practiced by both nomads and city-dwellers.
 * Zallara was a quintessential drow priestess of Eilistraee of good heart who sought to aid her people's return to the surface.
 * Alak Abaeir was a drow assassin serving the church of Vhaeraun who made himself as nondescript and forgettable as possible.
 * Castle Hartwick was the seat of power in Hartsvale. It held a high gate allowing very tall giants to meet with the monarch.
 * Ustilagor, the larval stage of intellect devourers, were a delicacy for the mind flayers of Oryndoll, whether raw, pickled, or seasoned.
 * Caiphon was an elder evil dwelling in a purple star, with whom some warlocks made pacts and to whom some folk pleaded for aid.
 * In −2374 DR, the spell cloudkill, which conjured a toxic cloud, was first developed by the Netherese arcanist Tolodine.
 * Khaspere Drylund, a noble of Yartar and member of the Kraken Society, owned the Golden Goose, a riverboat gambling hall.
 * Swords Meet was an inn in Voonlar that catered to Zhentarim and their allies, but had excellent service for regular patrons.
 * Taiku Fountain bestowed invulnerability on any who bathed in its waters, so it was well guarded against those who would misuse it.

22/01/2017 – 29/01/2017

 * Ziss al-Waran was a lizardfolk purveyor of trained monkeys—who could perform tricks or even pickpocket—in the markets of Huzuz.
 * Dwarf prince Bapar Ghalmrin fought a tavern brawl with the Shields of the Highland after disturbing a dirge for their fallen comrades.
 * A jungle avatar spell transformed a Ragarran priest into a crocodile-headed, even bat-winged monster compelled to devour the slain.
 * Golden Creek, part of the Esmelflow in Amn, was considered good for fishing and for panning for gold by the people of Keczulla.
 * Night ale was a unique beverage, brewed only in Voonlar for sale at the Swords Meet inn. Its name derived from its dark color.
 * Jadethread was a thief who stole difficult treasures and left a single green thread as his calling card, hence his nickname.
 * Yrjixtilex Kallan, a dragonborn mercenary and interim Vanquisher of Tymanther, was seen as handsome by even human standards.
 * Tomphael Arkenrret, a drow-dragon leader of the Jaezred Chaulssin, was cautious and pragmatic, preferring to pool his strength.

29/01/2017 – 5/02/2017

 * Essembramaerytha was a song dragon adventuress famed for performing many great exploits while in the guise of a human.
 * Gontal City, capital of the Abeiran realm of Gontal, was a mandatory trade stop for merchants crossing the Elkannath Mountains.
 * Fasruil was a halfling city in northern Luiren. It was famous for its tasty red rhubarb, which was traded across the Shining South.
 * Vhaemas the Elder was the merfolk king of Eadraal, but was defeated in battle by the wereshark Iakhovas and left in a coma.
 * Aldamair Galashar was a former thief who served as steward of a hunting lodge and surrounding lands for Gormstadd of Voonlar.
 * Winthrop was an innkeeper at Candlekeep who was good friends with both Bhaalspawn there, Imoen and Gorion's Ward.
 * A yeth hound was a predatory, dog-like outsider that would never step foot in sunlight, even if its life depended on it.
 * In −2319 DR, the Netherese arcanist Noanar created the first of his many fire-related spells, which would later be called fire trap.
 * The Mulani languages group of the Rauric languages family was found in east Faerûn, and encompassed Mulhorandi and Muhjuri.

5/02/2017 – 12/02/2017

 * The Faith of the Nine Travelers, common to the lower classes of Shou Lung and Wa, held that anyone could rise to great power.
 * Wessalen Arturia, a Chessentan nobleman, sailed the Pirate Isles in search of an artifact, but didn't even know what it was.
 * Sargh'elgg was a drow martial style for low-class soldiers that exploited their natural dexterity and focused on a single weapon.
 * Nasr-uddin the Lame seemed to be a Muhjari prophet wandering the Hordelands, but was in fact an assassin who followed Cyric.
 * Vast, ancient, and strange, the ruined fortress of Glaur in Gontal on Abeir was home to a quicksilver lake and a desert of rust.
 * Nhar-del the Black was a Zhentarim necromancer who was tricked into putting on a cursed ring by a neglected lover.

12/02/2017 – 19/02/2017

 * The Ardeep River flowed from Ardeep Forest into the Sea of Swords and served as a moat for the island village of Nightstone.
 * The Dusk Ports were five trade cities on Returned Abeir, operating as independent and uncooperative rival city-states.
 * Sharna was a proselytizing paladin of Helm who possessed great strength despite her small stature.
 * Weldrarn Orblin held the coveted position of Magister for less than a year in 242 DR, and spent his time fending off challengers.
 * Quaervaxthanus was a blinded beholder Magister who gave some elven wizards new spells but slew all who sought him out.
 * In −2311 DR, the Netherese arcanist and Fire Warden Noanar created another fire-related spell, which would be called wall of fire.
 * The Giants in Gray were mysterious creatures of Shou Lung legend. Their visitations were said to presage immense tragedies.
 * Ziran, or "bloodfast", was an addictive drug produced by the drow. It boosted agility and reflexes, but left one sick and detached.

19/02/2017 – 26/02/2017

 * Melabrauth, the Jungle Empire, was a dragon realm on Abeir. The few humans and dragonborn existed to entertain their masters.
 * Onsilur Maerdrathom, Magister from 321 DR, tried to persuade the Tashalar government to give legal protection to mages.
 * The Fields of Mythal—inventive, mentalism, and variation—were the three schools of magic known to the arcanists of Netheril.
 * Kishiria, a warrior in service to the Red Wizards of Thay, notably beheaded three foes with a single stroke of her claymore.
 * The Cliffs of Tanghai in Shou Lung were inscribed with the words of the Path of Enlightenment by red lightning from Heaven.
 * Born into slavery in Mulhorand, Nekiset was freed for her evil nature and devotion to Set, becoming his highest-ranked priest.
 * A lesser son of a well-to-do Sembian family, Meirgin Windtalon was a cleric of Cyric and a scribe and record-keeper in Voonlar.

26/02/2017 – 5/03/2017

 * Dwarfbane was a poison potent against dwarves and mostly used by poison-immune gray dwarves against the other dwarf races.
 * The magic mouth spell typically required jade dust to cast, but this could sometimes be substituted with amethyst dust.
 * Theras was the half-elf bastard son of a prince turned druid who was drawn into conflict with his legitimate half-brother.
 * House Karanok of Luthcheq began persecuting arcane magic users after blaming the wizard spies of Mordulkin for their defeat.
 * Tae kwon do, also called "Foot and Fist", was a martial art common in Koryo and taught at the Do Jang of Won Kwang.
 * Bastabar Yulgont, a cleric of Cyric in Voonlar, knew the secret of controlling wands remotely. This he stole from a priest of Bane.
 * Fimbrul was a realm of giants in the north of Returned Abeir, comprising self-sufficient independent trademoots and strongholds.

5/03/2017 – 12/03/2017

 * The Adordabe were the largest Nar tribe in Narfell. More willing to trade with outsiders, they oversaw the annual Trade Fair.
 * Tortillas were baked in Maztica and shipped from the Temple of Helm at Ulatos. The funds went to native healing and education.
 * The priest Wesclodat the Aged was rumored to have been traded by his god to the service of Deneir, whom he then followed.
 * Lefeber's mark, a spell developed by inventor Lefeber in −2134 DR, was a possible precursor to wizard mark.
 * Dashard Devlin became Duke of Carmarthan, Damara, after Zhengyi slaughtered his entire family and made him their heir.
 * Wizard's Quaff was a cheap small beer brewed in Voonlar offered as a complimentary beverage at the Whistling Wizard inn.
 * Scions of Amber were a rebel group in the Dusk Ports of Returned Abeir who sought dragonbane amber to thwart dragon rule.
 * The Maraloi were an ancient and mysterious race of Kara-Tur's Northern Wastes. The touch of iron was poison to them.

12/03/2017 – 19/03/2017

 * King Mhoaran the Tusk-Bearded of 10th-century Tethyr had three wives and over forty children but lost many to assassins.
 * Kara-Turan noodles, considered superior to Faerûnian recipes, came in many types, such as the dried, easy-to-cook ramen.
 * Trader Bob was an adventurer who got out early and instead found profit selling equipment, with shops across the world.
 * Bezoldur Thornhand was a dwarf cook at the Whistling Wizard, Voonlar, known for his bad language and bad temper.
 * Bosturo, the Master of Muradi Lighthouse in Koryo and noted scholar, had braided hair so long it swept the floor behind him.
 * Some members of the Dag Nost, a large and civilized tribe in Narfell, regularly went to Impiltur to hone their skills in trade.
 * The Twilight Riders worked to right wrongs in Damara. They rode seven magical steeds created from the last light of day.