Albinism was a rare congenital condition that caused a creature to have an absence of pigmentation in both their skin and eyes, causing them to take on white and pink hues, respectively.[1]
Effects[]
Those who expressed albinism often had poor vision due to the lack of pigmentation in their eyes.[2]
Notable Albino Creatures[]
Creatures in the Realms that were known to be capable of expressing this condition included the following:
- Bats[3]
- Bears[4]
- Bugbears[5]
- Cattle[6]
- Chultan dwarves were an entirely albino offshoot of shield dwarves.[7]
- Dragons had instances of albinism occur in no more than 1 in 1000 births.[2] Additionally, when dragons of different types mated and produced offspring, on very rare occurrences the child's biology favored neither parent's type and as a result could be born with albinism.[8] In general, for dragons this condition was associated with an assortment of physical problems that varied between individuals.[2]
- Dragonborn[9]
- Drow born with albinism were known as szarkai. This condition occurred in only 0.01% of the population, though they were relatively more common among the noble houses than among lower castes. It was unknown if this was due to inbreeding or meddling by the goddess Lolth.[10]
- Flumphs[11]
- Flying monkeys[12]
- Giant octopi[13]
- Giant albino cave crickets could be found in the Underdark near Mantol-Derith.[14]
- Halflings[15]
- Humans
- Nightmares[16]
- Peacocks[17]
- Penguins[18]
- Remorhazes
- Sarrukhs[19]
- Saurials[20]
- Yikarians[21]
- Zakharan krakens were collectively considered an albino species.[22]
Notable Albinos[]
- Avarice was an albino tiefling wizard.
- Draevyn Thornbolt was an albino Illuskan wizard.[23]
- The Coral Princess was an albino yikarian.[21]
- Elistan Thistlebuck was an albino halfling.[15]
- Feg, an albino bat-winged flying monkey in the service of Kaverin Ebonhand, leader of the Cult of Frost in the mid-14th century DR.[12]
- Ghost, an albino bat in Marigold's Menagerie.[3]
- Heldel Thasstan was an albino Illuskan cleric of Tymora.[24]
- Kanjentellequor Biri was an albino dragonborn.[9]
- Kingsport was an awakened albino penguin.[18]
- Luuthgar Zev and Ulan Zev were twin albino Red Wizards.[25]
- Magdon
- Ophelia
- Pil'it'ith was an albino sarrukh.[19]
- Steam, an albino nightmare.[16]
- A giant slug left to guard the underground vaults of al-Asirr grew and mutated into an albino over time due to the magical radiation given off by mists within the vault.[26]
History[]
During the mid–14th century DR, pirates and Sembian merchants were known to sell exotic animals like albino peacocks to the noblemen and wealthy merchants of Ravens Bluff.[17]
Circa 1486 DR, a wizard known as Olon was killed by an albino giant octopus.[13]
In 1491 DR, rumors circulated in Waterdeep that a large, albino sewerm was the haunting the deepest and darkest reaches of the city's sewers.[27]
Rumors & Legends[]
Among halflings in the Sword Coast, there was an old folk tale that claimed those who were born with albinism were touched by the goddess Auril. Because of this, halfling communities in this region sometimes ostracized those with the condition.[28]
Trivia[]
The White Bull tavern and Court of the White Bull in Waterdeep were both named for an albino bull that was born on their spot.[6]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Dungeon #32, "Changeling" • Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle • Storm King's Thunder • Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden Dice & Miscellany
Novels & Short Stories
Referenced only
City of the Dead
City of the Dead
Video Games
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Roger E. Moore ed. (August 1989). “Forum”. Dragon #148 (TSR, Inc.), p. 58.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 R. Nathaniel Waldbauer (November/December 1991). “Changeling”. In Barbara G. Young ed. Dungeon #32 (TSR, Inc.) (32)., p. 27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nicky Rea (July 1994). “The Living City: The Hand of Mercy and Marigold's Menagerie”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #97 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.
- ↑ Codename Entertainment (September 2017). Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms. Codename Entertainment.
- ↑ Robert J. Schwalb and James Wyatt (2012). Reclaiming Blingdenstone. (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 32.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 116. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
- ↑ James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 5. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2019-10-09). Dragon Crossbreeding in the Realms (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2019-10-09. Retrieved on 2021-07-15.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Richard Lee Byers (2010). Whisper of Venom. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 207. ISBN 0786955619.
- ↑ Ari Marmell, Anthony Pryor, Robert J. Schwalb, Greg A. Vaughan (May 2007). Drow of the Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 118–120. ISBN 978-0-7869-4151-3.
- ↑ Johnathan M. Richards (April 1998). “The Ecology of the Flumph”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #246 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 80–81.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 James Lowder (November 1992). The Ring of Winter. (TSR, Inc), chap. 4, p. 75. ISBN 978-1560763307.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cole Kronewitter (2015-11-01). The Waydown (DDEX3-09) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Rage of Demons (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Adventurer's Guide to the City”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Wolfgang Baur (1993). Secrets of the Lamp (Adventure Book). (TSR, Inc.), p. 17. ISBN 1-56076-647-6.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Christopher Perkins (September 2020). Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 242. ISBN 978-0786966981.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
- ↑ Jon Pickens ed. (November 1996). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 90–92. ISBN 0786904496.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wolfgang Baur (November 1997). “Campaign Classics: The Roof of the World”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #241 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 88–95.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (October 1993). “Campaign Journal: Scimitars against the Dark”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #198 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 65–71.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 157. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 95. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (August 2013). Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 256. ISBN 978-0786965311.
- ↑ Steve Kurtz (1994). Al-Qadim: Ruined Kingdoms: Adventure Book. (TSR, Inc), p. 49. ISBN 1-56076-815-0.
- ↑ Rosemary Jones (June 2009). City of the Dead. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 91–92. ISBN 078695129X.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Secrets of the City”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.