Butterfly was a collective name given to a vast number of harmless winged insects, often notable for their colorful wings, and being related to moths,[1] found across Toril.[2][3][4][5]
Description[]
Butterflies varied in color, size and physical features. Some of the butterflies collected by Dhamari Exchelsor of Halruaa included species of dazzling bright gem-like colors, enormous butterflies with mosquito-like proboscis, sharp feet ending in talons, huge jungle species of greens and scarlets, and dull butterflies grey as a rock and plain as sand.[2]
Species of Butterflies[]
- The athrogony, a species of large colorful nocturnal butterflied that could be found in wildflower meadows of the Vast. They were attracted to magic, enchantments, and wondrous items. The species could only breed near magic and began absorbing it immediately after landing on the said items.[6]
- The giant butterfly of Chult, a species used by the Mezroan as flying mounts.[3]
- The Morgan's redwing, the most beautiful butterfly of the High Moor, colored crimson red and named after the man who saved the species from extinction.[7]
Ecology[]
Butterflies were a food source for larger carnivorous insects, birds, as well as some more exotic creatures, including lesser spirits of Kara-Tur, shikki-gaki.[8]
Habitats[]
An especially aggressive species of butterflies could be found in central Amn. These sickly-white insects were heinous in appearance, with stumpy wings and long black tongues extruding from almost human-like lips. Despite their appearance and harassment of passing creatures, crawling into their clothes and under their armor, these butterflies caused no wound.[9]
Butterflies were abundant on the isle of Moray of the Moonshae Isles in the Shannyth Valley,[10] the forest of Cormanthor,[11] the Black Plain in the Eastern Heartlands,[12] the Forest of Tethir,[13] and in the verdant forest of Yuirwood in Aglarond.[14] Hawk-sized butterflies were known to inhabit the High Forest in Faerûn.[15]
The nation of Rashemen saw very few butterflies most of the year, apart from springtime.[16]
A species of small crimson butterflies could be found in the Utter East, swarming near the plum trees that grew there.[17] The Panjuis fortress in the Ama Basin was home to a beautiful species of butterfly that looks like a bejeweled piece of jewelry, but was a living insect.[18] Sentinelspires in the Hordelands were home to a species of tiny blue butterflies used by local lizards as a food source.[19] At least one species of small and harmless butterflies inhabited the jungles of the Malatran Plateau.[4]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, gold-specked butterflies inhabited the Golden Hills where the deity Garl Glittergold welcomed his petitioners.[20]
Usages[]
Butterfly cocoons were in demand among wizards, sold for five sp per ten cocoons through Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue.[21]
Morgan's redwing butterflies were boiled to produce a red dye by the goblins of the High Moor.[7]
Through magic, a swarm of butterflies could be used to create a butterfly golem, sometimes assembled through magic and given out during certain summer festivals in North Faerûn.[1]
A living butterfly was the material component of the force shapechange abjuration spell.[22]
Relationships[]
Butterflies of all types were considered be the easiest types of creatures summoned through magic.[2]
Butterflies were creatures important so several deities. Sheela Peryroyl, Lathander, and Lliira counted butterflies among their servants and favorite animals.[23] Qotal, a Maztican deity also known as the Butterfly God, accepted "sacrifice" of butterflies that were released out of cages on the god's altars, in place of blood sacrifices practiced by Zaltec's clergy.[5][24]
History[]
A painting depicting a butterfly perched atop a skull.
In the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the village of Dark Hollow in the Vast experienced a chain of strange events, including an appearance of beautiful giant glowing butterflies, born from mage Telemon's medical experiments and incompetence of his apprentice.[25]
In the winter of Year of the Serpent, 1359 DR, faerie dragon Zyx of Chult bravely stopped a wayward invasion of butterflies who lost their way in the annual migration.[26]
Cultural Relevance[]
Butterflys were a somewhat common inspiration behind names of establishments, like Bronze Buckler and Butterfly Dance and Gambling Club of Emrys in the Border Kingdoms.[27]
Some weapons found in Kara-Tur were inspired by butterflies, including butterfly blades[28] and butterfly-tipped swords of Shou Lung.[29]
Butterflied inspired a number of things in various cultures. Certain spelljamming ships were designed in the shape of butterflies, including the armada[30] and flitter.[31]
Halflings had a superstition that if one stepped on a butterfly, they were ought to stay at home for three days or face misfortune.[32]
In the late 15th century DR, dusty grey butterflies were seen occasionally flying out of the well at the center of the Yawning Portal in Waterdeep.[33]
Rumors & Legends[]
Some claimed that during the elvish Retreat, some Fair Folk nobles were seen carried by great butterflies to the isle of Evermeet in 1344 DR.[34]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
The Parched Sea • Feathered Dragon • Curse of the Shadowmage • The Veiled Dragon • The Simbul's Gift • Queen of the Depths • Six of Swords • Faerie Ire or, How Zyx Thwarted a Human Invasion • The Shield of Weeping Ghosts • Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter
Video Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Elaine Cunningham (April 2001). The Floodgate. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 19. ISBN 0-7869-1818-7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 James Lowder (November 1992). The Ring of Winter. (TSR, Inc), chap. 15. ISBN 978-1560763307.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Cite organized play/LJ/Lion!
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Daniel S. Donnelly (May 1997). The Stars and Moon Above. Living City (RPGA), p. 7.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tim Beach (October 1995). “The High Moor”. In Julia Martin ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix II (TSR, Inc), pp. 20–21. ISBN 0786901713.
- ↑ Rick Swan (July 1990). Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 19. ISBN 0-88038-851-X.
- ↑ Doug Stewart (November 1997). Castle Spulzeer. (TSR, Inc), p. 39. ISBN 978-0786906697.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 41. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 2. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (January 2001). Silver Shadows (1996). (TSR, Inc.), chap. 1. ISBN 0-7869-0498-4.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 57. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 57. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
- ↑ James P. Davis (May 2008). The Shield of Weeping Ghosts. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 15. ISBN 978-0-7869-4877-2.
- ↑ Troy Denning (November 1998). Faces of Deception. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 13. ISBN 0-7869-1183-2.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 92. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Mark Sehestedt (August 2012). Sentinelspire. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 18. ISBN 978-0-7869-6377-5.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 49. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 69. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 12–14. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “Gods & Battles”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Template:Cite organized play/LC/Something in the Water
- ↑ Erin Tettensor (May 2005). “Faerie Ire”. In Philip Athans ed. Realms of the Dragons II (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 1–20. ISBN 978-0-7869-3808-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (May 1996). “Elminster's Everwinking Eye: The Throat of Talduth Vale”. In Scott Douglas ed. Polyhedron #119 (TSR, Inc.), p. 9.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), pp. 6, 16, 19. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (March 1992). “Ship Recognition Manual”. In Jon Pickens ed. War Captain's Companion (TSR, Inc.), p. 7. ISBN 1-56076-343-4.
- ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (March 1992). “Ship Recognition Manual”. In Jon Pickens ed. War Captain's Companion (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 1-56076-343-4.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. ISBN 978-0786966240.
- ↑ Will Doyle (2018). Once in Waterdeep (DDEP08-00) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Waterdeep (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.