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

30/12/2018 – 6/01/2019

 * Simril was a winter festival celebrated on the Sword Coast where people gathered around campfires to eat good food and gaze at the stars.
 * Liam Woodgate, a fierce gnomish fighter said to be the best in Auckney, was defeated by the barbarian Wulfgar in single combat.
 * Belierin was an obscure layer of Elysium that housed a legendary hydra as well as the Mulhorandi deity Nut.
 * Hellfire, a type of magical energy discovered by Mephistopheles, formed the basis for spells such as hellfire and hellfire storm.
 * Bannaeras Thaelok was a tanner who relocated from Athkatla to Port Llast to escape creditors following a series of bad deals.
 * Roryk, co-owner of the Wyrmworks of Silverymoon, was an expert at preparing and preserving dragon parts.
 * Lava children, unsettling creatures born from the merging of fire and earth spirits in the Fountains of Creation, procreated by laying eggs in magma.
 * Kethin Zurn, owner of Zurn's Elixirs in Proskur, was an educated man with an abundance of knowledge of Thayan history, among other subjects.
 * Grinda Garloth was a Waterdhavian treasure hunter who owned an apparatus of Kwalish and associated with the Xanathar's Thieves' Guild.
 * A Merchant's Musings was a book by Donstable Hroun of Tsurlagol, not to be confused with A Merchant's Musings by Holdryn Nalaster of Suzail.
 * Thazienne Uskevren, a daughter of the noble Sembian Uskevren family, enjoyed secretly associating with the criminal underworld of Selgaunt.
 * Merrouroboros was a supercontinent on Abeir-Toril in antiquity, ruled over by the creator races until the cataclysmic Tearfall.

6/1/2019 – 13/1/2019

 * The Aeltagarr was a sun elf seer of Siluvanede. Known to be kindly and possessing magic enough to rival Magisters, folk from all around came to Lothen of the Silver Spires to consult her.
 * The Skymbles neighborhood of Ravens Bluff was home to its working class, known for its tiny homes and row-houses, joyous street parties, and surplus of laundry lines.
 * Old Roaring Rage was the preserved and magically animated head of a red dragon kept as an attraction at the Wyrmworks in Silverymoon and available for rent as a costume.
 * A margoyle was, as the name suggested, a more horrid and even harder-to-spot breed of gargoyle that commanded their kin.
 * Dusting the rock was a spell known to the geomancers of the Ruined Kingdom of Kadar. It engulfed a target with dust and sand until they could no longer move.
 * Starharp was a rare spell known to Harper bards. It conjured a glowing harp that played music that eliminated pain, sickness, and debilitating magical effects.
 * Investiture of the pit fiend was a potent spell that bestowed on an evil wizard or diabolical cleric the aspects of the dreaded pit fiend.
 * Elminster's Hideout was a secret safehold belonging to the Old Sage near the center of the planet Coliar. It contained a store of spells, potions, a library, and portals to Toril and even Earth.
 * Agorn Fuoco of Waterdeep found no fame as a bard but was more successful in the Zhentarim, becoming involved in the hunt for the Stone of Golorr in 1492 DR.
 * Ambrose Everdawn, a veteran knight devoted to Kelemvor, patrolled the City of the Dead in Waterdeep for the City Guard.

13/1/2019 – 20/1/2019

 * Nybor was the Thayan zulkir of enchantment, and a prolific inventor of spells. She disappeared one night under mysterious circumstances.
 * Empyreans were the beautiful and statuesque offspring of upper planes deities. They could alter their surroundings to suit their mood.
 * Extension I, extension II, and extension III were closely related spells that all increased the duration of other spells.
 * Barachiel was the ruler of Lunia, the principal defender of Mount Celestia, and the leader of all trumpet archons.
 * Reduce person could reduce a person to half their size. It was considered the counter to enlarge person.
 * Victoro Cassalanter, patriarch of the Waterdhavian Cassalanter family, was secretly a devout priest of Asmodeus.
 * Aumvor's fragmented phylactery allowed liches to split their phylactery into several pieces, making it harder to kill them.
 * Nadia was a cleric of the Darkmoon temple. Together with Joril, she tried to convince visitors the temple had goodly intentions.

20/1/2019 – 27/1/2019

 * Shamur Uskevren was a noblewoman-turned-thief who found herself transported fifty years into the future following a freak magic incident during a crypt heist.
 * Cone of earth, a spell from the Zakharan empire of Kadar, conjured a mass of earth that was hurtled at its victim, hurting or burying it.
 * Smoke ghost could be used by druids of Silvanus to create a smoky apparition capable of blinding and choking a victim.
 * San-Raal was a drow wizard whose corpse was found by the Heroes of Waterdeep in the catacombs beneath the Darkmoon temple.
 * Leomund's tiny hut created a small, magical dome that could shelter its caster from large monsters, harsh weather, and even the vacuum of space.
 * Corylus Thann, prominent vintner and Lord of Waterdeep, was blackmailed by Manshoon into covering up Zhentarim activities in the city.
 * Bloodspear allowed a cleric of Gruumsh to channel their deity's rage into a spear, making it ooze blood and become more effective in battle.
 * The Blood Tide were a ring of slavers known for their use of gargoyles. They were associated with the Night Masks, and operated out of the Sea of Fallen Stars.
 * Animate water, a spell associated with the wu jen of Kara-Tur, as well as certain druids and shamans, could animate up to 900 gallons of water.

27/1/2019 – 3/2/2019

 * Diluvial torrent was a fearsome epic evocation spell that dropped an enormous cylinder of water on its caster, causing large-scale destruction.
 * Amruthar, a city in southwestern Thay, was notable for maintaining a facade of resistance to the Red Wizard hegemony.
 * Dream sight allowed shamans and shugenja to travel incorporeally by separating their spirit from their sleeping body.
 * Battle dragons could be found on several planes, such as Ysgard and Limbo, and were descended from chromatic dragons affected by the Astral Plane.
 * Windlance caused its caster and nearby creatures to be catapulted into the sky, allowing for an easy escape when combined with shapechanging to a flying form.
 * Tharqualnaar, a merfolk settlement beneath the harbor of Waterdeep, was originally founded to help collect tithes to Umberlee.

3/2/2019 – 10/2/2019

 * The Gnoll language was lacking in complexity, necessitating a high degree of mixing with Abyssal to communicate anything beyond basic concepts.
 * Deathbolt, an oft-fatal necromancy spell from the southern magic tradition, required vampire ichor as a material component.
 * Alain was an elf who traveled to the Darkmoon temple to study bulettes, but ended up trapped by his own magical device.
 * Amorphous form could turn a creature into a boneless mass resembling an ooze, granting it many of the benefits associated with such a form.
 * Rust dragons mainly subsisted on metal. When away from their home plane of Acheron, they tended to lair underground near veins of ore.
 * The Uplands of Impiltur consisted mostly of small farming and mining communities. In antiquity, the area was claimed by the hobgoblin realm of Haekrukkha.
 * Ziraj, Master of Assassination for the Black Network in Waterdeep, befriended the elven herbalist Fala Lefaliir after he saved their life.
 * The Walker in the Mists was a golem made from mist. Equally strong as an iron golem, it watched over the Greycloak Hills.

10/2/2019 – 17/2/2019

 * Li lung were Kara-Turan dragons who preferred the solitude of a subterranean existence. When confronted, they tended to burrow into the ground until their attacker left.
 * Mlossae, a sea elven realm near Halruaa, was rumored to have looted sunken human cities for powerful magical items.
 * Eel ships were small, crude spelljammers. Though they saw use in elven fleets, eel ships were originally designed by an unknown, possibly insectoid, race.
 * Changestones could transform certain stones into artificial liths, evil magical beasts from the Underdark that resembled crude statues.
 * Ojel was a frost giant imprisoned in the Darkmoon temple. He was subjected to Dran Draggore's evil experiments, partially turning him into a tree.
 * The Crown of the Mountain was used by the gold dragon Valamaradace to control the earth mote known as the Floating Mountain.
 * Istrid Horn was Master of Trade and Coin for the Zhentarim of Waterdeep, overseeing the local operation with her former companions from the Doom Raiders.
 * The Delimbiyr Bloke was a holy relic of Gorm Gulthyn, capable of summoning ancient dwarven spirit warriors to aid its owner.

17/2/2019 – 24/2/2019

 * House Orogoth was an extended family of black dragons and their half-kin based in the High Moor. Led by the dracolich Calathanorgoth, they sought ancient Netherese magic.
 * Cavvekans resembled hairless dogs with bat faces. They hunted and scavenged the Underdark in packs using their exceptional hearing.
 * A smokestick was an alchemical item that could produce a large volume of vision-obscuring smoke in a few seconds.
 * Tee-a-nicknick was a half-qullan pirate and master of the blowpipe. He was manipulated into an assassination attempt on Captain Deudermont of the Sea Sprite.
 * Tun mi lung or "typhoon dragons" inhabited the oceans of Kara-Tur. They had an evil disposition and were known to create hurricanes without permission from the Celestial Bureaucracy.
 * A Camellia of the Black Lady was a large magical blossom that allowed the user to completely dominate an individual, especially followers of Selûne, and then poison them afterwards, but only once.
 * Yevenwood was a forest in Battledale where the edible relshar mushrooms were found.
 * Alcedor Kolat was a powerful wizard who crafted magic items and researched Netherese magic in Waterdeep until he disappeared sometime after 1367 DR.
 * Narbeth was an ancient kingdom of gold elves in the Shalhoond. Their primary pastimes were hunting on foot in the forest and drinking berry wine.

24/2/2019 – 3/3/2019

 * Nindrol was a sea elven kingdom in the Sea of Swords. Its princesses occasionally traveled on land, inspiring several ballads in their honor.
 * Flaerivus Grevauldyn was a Magister of Mystra who founded an academy of wizardry. Both Flaerivus and his school were destroyed when he tried to cast mantle.
 * Accuracy, a spell used primarily by the wu jen of Kara-Tur, could cause a fired missile to travel further and more accurately.
 * Purnia was a Netherese arcanist known for creating the spell fool's gold at the height of Netheril's Golden Age.
 * The Uglib was a remarkably ugly, yet strong and hardy breed of donkeys favored by dwarven and gnomish miners.
 * Nyungy was famed as the greatest half-orc bard in the Bloodstone Lands. He was very familiar with the deeds of the Witch-King Zhengyi.
 * A staff of portals could be used to manipulate portals in a number of ways, granting access to analyze portal and portal view, among other spells.
 * Chamada, second layer of Gehenna, was a volcanic landscape of magma, ash, and intense heat. Deities such as Iyachtu Xvim made their home here.
 * Charvekkanathor, a mighty red dragon in the Lands of Intrigue, was so fond of eating orcs that they never became a problem in the region.

3/3/2019 – 10/3/2019

 * Geishas were female entertainers from Kara-Tur. Although they could seem harmless, many geishas were trained as spies or ninjas.
 * The Lost Princess Road was a network of portals connecting several sites in Faerûn. It was named for Princess Darseera, a suspected unwitting victim.
 * Aartuks were sentient, tribal, and evil plants found in wildspace. Dried aartuk tongues were considered a savory delicacy among the githyanki.
 * Falaeve was a Highlord of the sun elven land of Siluvanede. He was dismissive of "lesser" races, going so far as to ban all non–sun elves from his realm.
 * Tunnel swallow was a conjuration spell that caused a tunnel to convulse, crushing anyone inside while pushing them in a given direction.
 * Wyrmwizz was a vile ale brewed at Gyudd's Brewery in Skullport. It was sold in several local establishments, but could also be found in Undermountain.
 * Eshcaz was a massive red dragon on the isle of Tan. His constant smoke emissions caused the locals to mistake his mountaintop lair for a volcano.
 * Pyrite was a mineral often mistaken for gold. It was commonly bought and used by wizards, as it was a required component in many spells.
 * Skulltrap transformed a creature's skull into a type of ward that violently exploded when brought into contact with living matter.
 * Lord Helimbraun served on Impiltur's ruling council, the Lords of Imphras II. Outspoken and zealous, he sought to eradicate all evil in the kingdom.
 * Delzorin Street was a major thoroughfare in Waterdeep, running from the Sea Ward to the North Ward. Several noble families owned villas along the street.

10/3/2019 – 17/3/2019

 * A deck of many things could grant riches, wisdom, wishes, and more, but it could also cause disastrous effects, like being challenged by an avatar of death.
 * The Dusty Rat portal led from an Athkatlan bar to a vampire's lair. The bar owner, Baldy Spryth, made a business tricking people into walking through it.
 * A tentacle rod was a magical rod associated with the drow. The rod's tentacles could wrap around a creature's body, severely limiting its mobility.
 * Liono Marlot and Gendi were crewmen of the spelljammer Probe, serving as tactician and gunner, respectively. Both perished in a battle with a neogi deathspider.
 * Entombment, a spell from the ancient Zakharan empire of Kadar, caused the ground to open up and swallow a victim, suffocating them in the process.
 * Amilektrevitrioelis was a blue dragon favored by the draconic deity Task. When Amilek was slain, Task raised his spirit as a hoarder dragon.
 * Handfire could be used by clerics of Sune and Selûne (and certain others) to enshroud their hands in sparkling energy.
 * Silavene's was a Waterdhavian festhall located on the Cliffride. Its mysterious owner, Setara bint Aasim, was said to command genie servants.
 * Ghoul touch was a necromancy spell capable of paralyzing a single victim. It required a minor item associated with ghouls as a material component.
 * Kolat Towers was a building in Waterdeep consisting of two magically merged towers. After killing the last remaining owner, the evil wizard Manshoon used it as a base.
 * Muiral's Gauntlet, the tenth level of Undermountain, was ruled over by Muiral the Misshapen, a former apprentice of Halaster Blackcloak.
 * Umberguard, a county in the Northern Polarate of the planet Anadia, was largely inhabited by Anadian halflings.

17/3/2019 – 24/3/2019

 * Wroth was a deck of cards used both for games and fortune-telling. Originating in Netheril, the cards were ascribed a mystical connection to the gods.
 * Waukeentide was a Waterdhavian holiday consisting of many smaller celebrations, such as Caravance, Goldenight, Guildsmeet, and Leiruin.
 * Delmyr was a halfling kingdom in the Hordelands. Although its people led a largely pastoral existence, they were fiercely protective of their borders.
 * A dragontooth of Lareth was a magical dagger made from the fangs of the gold dragon Lareth, who was once King of Justice.
 * The Troglodyte Warrens was a network of caves and tunnels in Undermountain, aptly named for the many troglodytes that could be found there.
 * Wall of moonlight, known only to adherents of Selûne, formed a barrier of magical moonlight that was harmful to evil and undead beings.
 * Zz'Pzora was a mutated deep dragon with two heads, possibly due to exposure to faerzress. Each head had its own distinct personality.
 * Cloud ladder was a spell used by wu jen that could form a usable, self-supporting ladder out of smoke.
 * Jackals were desert canines considered symbols of wisdom and cunning in folklore. However, they were also known to not be the bravest of creatures.
 * Spirit armor allowed a wizard to draw upon their own life force to magically protect themselves from attacks.

24/3/2019 – 31/3/2019

 * The Raven Queen was a mysterious deity whose shadar-kai servants roamed the multiverse to collect mementos and memories of tragic events.
 * The Chapel of the Sericeous Sargh, a temple to Selvetarm located in Undermountain, was founded by drow religious exiles from Eryndlyn.
 * Spirit was a term that could apply to a number of different phenomena and creatures, from the kami of Kara-Tur to the primal spirits of the Moonshae Isles.
 * Chaos was an enchantment spell that caused several creatures to exhibit chaotic behavior, such as wandering off or attacking anyone nearby.
 * Anga Vled, a gnomish village in the Fields of the Dead, was known for being the home of the artisan wagonwright Gudelmer Wheelwright.
 * The Vonindod ("titan of death" in Giant), was a huge adamantine construct built by giants for the purpose of fighting dragons.
 * Creeping darkness created a movable black cloud, within which all sound was absorbed. The cloud could only be seen through by magical means.
 * Denderida was one of House Hunzrin's best surface traders. She helped her House organize a meeting with a cult of spriggan Malcanthet worshipers in Damara.
 * Wyllow's Tower was the tree-shaped dwelling of Wyllow on the Wyllowwood level of Undermountain. Visitors were politely greeted by an awakened tree named Halastree.

31/3/2019 – 7/4/2019

 * Moon path created a stair or bridge out of pure moonlight. Anyone walking on the path benefited from a number of magical protections.
 * Howlers were pack-oriented predators from Pandemonium. They were occasionally domesticated by fiends to serve as war hounds.
 * The Twin Crowns of Myrmoran, created in Uthtower, was a set of magical crowns that formed an emphatic link between their wearers.
 * The sword Tearulai was thrust into the skull of the dragon Valdemar, becoming stuck there and changing his evil disposition.
 * Deepen shadows, a spell used by the ninja of Kara-Tur, carefully darkened an entire room to allow a ninja to hide in the shadows.
 * Beldenshyn was a gnomish village known for raising smelly, long-haired goats, earning it nicknames such as "Goatstink" and "Goatreek".
 * Teleport object could transport a small item anywhere on the same plane. It was a less powerful version of the similarly named teleport object.
 * Egalavin Zauvirr was one of the only survivors of House Zauvirr's destruction at the hands of Bregan D'aerthe, which he subsequently joined.
 * Harrower, a magical longsword, was wielded by the paladin Ariabel as she fought and was defeated by the vampire Zerafex.

7/4/2019 – 14/4/2019

 * The Spelljammer was an enormous, sentient spelljammer that roamed the crystal spheres. It reproduced by creating smalljammers.
 * Weresharks could take the form of a shark, a human, or a hybrid between the two. They were only vulnerable to magic and silver weapons.
 * Tagarath was a small village in Tethyr, situated along a major trade route. The local police force, the Riders, kept malicious merchants away.
 * Faithful mount was a charm spell that allowed a cleric to use a lump of sugar to create an instant bond of loyalty with a chosen mount.
 * House Eltorchul of Waterdeep made their fortune importing spice, but later branched out into magical research, even founding a wizardly academy.
 * Drowsy insects was used by wu jen to summon a cloud of aggressive insects whose stings could mildly poison victims into a light sleep.
 * Saurogh was a solitary orc bandit in Undermountain. He lurked near the Temple of Gulkulath, waiting for victims he could rob and eat.
 * Barakmordin was a fortified abbey of the Triad in Tethyr. It received several donations from Tethyr's monarchs over the centuries.
 * The Unquenchable was a sidewheeler from Krynn. It looked ridiculous to human eyes, as if stitched together from unlikely and incongruent parts.

14/4/2019 – 21/4/2019

 * The planet Radole had a split climate, with one half extremely warm and the other extremely cold. Most life subsisted on the border between the two climates.
 * Fryndul was a gnomish village in the Shaar, famous for producing high-quality cut gems. The gems were acquired through trade with the svirfneblin.
 * The moon knights were a group of Selûne worshipers who opposed Shar. They should not be confused with the Moon Knights, a group devoted to Sehanine Moonbow.
 * Benelaius, a retired War Wizard of Cormyr, teamed up with the burglar-turned-servant Jasper to solve a murder mystery.
 * The shadow dragon Umbraxakar was once a noble bronze dragon but was corrupted by Shar during a mission to Undermountain.
 * Werepanthers were reclusive and arrogant lycanthropes. In his life as a mortal, the deity Kelemvor was cursed with werepanther powers.
 * The Delryn family shield was an heirloom of the noble Delryn family of Amn. It was enchanted with an aura protecting its wielder from the elements.
 * Esthetics were gargantuan beings that floated through wildspace. They had a symbiotic relationship with the reigar, who used esthetics as their ships and homes.

21/4/2019 – 28/4/2019

 * Seawolves were wolf-seal-humanoid hybrid lycanthropes, able to assume either form at will. They were typically evil creatures who preyed upon others.
 * Urbryur was a village in Altumbel known for producing chalk. The villagers also consorted with pirates, helping to dispose of corpses and hide treasure.
 * Nabassus were evil demons from the Abyss. Young nabassu traveled to the Material plane to feast on mortals, only returning to the Abyss upon reaching maturity.
 * Winterspace was a crystal sphere connected to Realmspace through a "river" in the phlogiston. It was home to the worlds of Radole and Armistice.
 * The Academy of Stargazers in the Mere of Dead Men taught magic to its all-female student body. It was operated by the penanggalan Adele Astrolara.
 * Duvon Tr'arach was the drow weapon master of House Tr'arach. When his House attacked House Simfray, Duvon was easily defeated by Zaknafein.

28/4/2019 – 5/5/2019

 * Armistice was an ice world in Winterspace. It was home to many tribes of subterranean white-skinned goblins, orcs, and ogres, who were constantly waging war on each other.
 * A sun blade was a magical sword made from pure sunlight. The blade could be deactivated by its wielder, leaving only a hilt.
 * The Green Glade of Ardeep Forest was considered an exceptionally tranquil place by elves. In truth, it was the site of a mythal that provided a hallow effect.
 * Blood leech was a slow invocation spell favored by yak folk, that allowed its caster to steal a portion of the power in a target person's bloodline.
 * Malaxer was a town in Lapaliiya near the edge of the Mhair Jungles. Owing to its location, it was often used as a starting point for expeditions into the Jungles.
 * Scaladar were mechanical constructs that resembled giant scorpions. They were created by the wizard Trobriand, who used them as his minions in Undermountain.
 * Alvilda Margaster was a daughter of the noble Waterdhavian House Margaster. She once met the halfling rogue Regis during a dance party in Neverwinter.

5/5/2019 – 12/5/2019

 * Ilyaport was a small town in Lapaliiya dedicated to the worship of Umberlee, Queen of the Depths. Adventurers sometimes came to Ilyaport in hopes of recovering lost treasure.
 * Gyudd's Distillery was located within the underground city of Skullport. Owned by a shield dwarf named Gyudd, the place was notorious for a cheap brew known as wyrmwizz.
 * Schlith Darkscale was a lizardman of Coliar famous planet-over for his knowledge of spelljamming and his foul breath. Ironically, he didn't know how spelljamming worked.
 * The Crypts of the Deepening Moon were catacombs of ancient Ardeep below the forest of the same name. Looters had never escaped the guard of its baelnorns and green warders.
 * Bird maidens of Zakhara, cousins of the swanmays, could change into a variety of avians. Only kahina could become bird maidens, by an induced lycanthropy involving a magic token.
 * Fiery eyes was a spell of the wu jen of Kara-Tur. When cast, a wu jen's eyes glowed and could be used for illumination, to hypnotize opponents, or to start small fires.
 * Damselflies were small, versatile spelljammers with no open decks and designed for a minimal crew. For this reason, they were a favorite of smugglers and folks who didn't like light.
 * Inkeri Margaster was a human noblewoman of Waterdeep in the late 15 century DR. She allied herself with drow to manage a business of demonic phylacteries.

12/5/2019 – 19/5/2019

 * Arcturiadoom, the fourteenth level of Undermountain, was named for the lich Arcturia. It was populated by twisted, mutated creatures, the remnants of Arcturia's magical experiments.
 * Harria Valashtar was a failed actor who became co-leader of a bandit gang in Undermountain, the Undertakers. She sought to kill her colleague and fiancé, Uktarl Krannoc.
 * Seadeeps was a deep level of Undermountain, home to a colony of mind flayers. The illithids were at war with a group of githyanki from the Crystal Labyrinth.
 * The Green Priests were an Umberlant order whose rites revolved around the holy relic The Orglara. The town of Ilyaport grew around their temple, the Shell House.
 * Orion was a Calishite pirate captain based out of the world of Garden. He sought to quell the increasing neogi presence in Realmspace, which he described as "bad for business".
 * Rundkrist Tolstone was a retired gnome adventurer who became famous in his second career as a painter/plasterer in Secomber.
 * The skin of Malar granted a number of protections to its wearer. Only true followers of Malar could benefit from these; non-believers had their abilities reduced instead.
 * The Trollbark Forest was an overgrown woodland dotted with bogs and mires. Located on the Sword Coast, it was home to multitudes of unpleasant trolls and snakes.
 * Quintons were ranked fourth in modron society. They were tasked with maintaining records and overseeing bureaus and had a number of lesser modrons in their service.