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Clam

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Clams were a common type of mollusk[1] found across Faerûn from the Sword Coast North[3] to the Unapproachable East.[4]

Description[]

Clams were simple marine creatures. Like most mollusks, they had soft bodies protected by hard shells.[1] They were a source of pearls.[5]

Some clams could grow to monstrous proportions, becoming giant clams.[6]

Uses[]

Clams were a staple food in places such as Calaunt in The Vast,[7] Yeshpek in the Land of the Lions,[2] Skullport beneath Waterdeep,[8] Urbryur in Altumbel,[4] Port Kir in Tethyr,[9] and the Dusk Port of Tarsith.[10] They were also commonly eaten across much of western and central Faerûn in places like Baldur's Gate,[11] Cormyr,[12] Daggerford,[13] Elturel,[14][15] Immurk's Hold,[16] Luskan,[17] Neverwinter,[3] Ravens Bluff,[18][19] Scornubel,[20] Tulmene,[21] and Ten Towns.[22] Clams were thus also an important trade good in locations where they could be harvested readily. They were a major export out of Yeshpek,[2] Port Kir,[9] and Dawngleam,[23] and their sale was heavily regulated in Raven's Bluff such that they (along with several other forms of seafood) could not be sold within the city unless the transaction involved a member of the Fishmonger Association.[19]

Aquatic races used live clams kept in mesh bags as convenient rations.[24] Clamshells were sometimes used by the undersea peoples of Serôs to store potions and medicines.[25]

Ecology[]

Clams were filter-feeders. In the presence of plentiful food, they could grow enormous.[6]

Habitats[]

Clams were common in the mud or sand of beaches, seabeds, and rivers across Abeir and Toril.[7][10][26][27] Freshwater clams could be found in the rivers of the Sword Coast and Heartlands[14][20][12] and were plentiful in the deltas of the River Esmur in Laerakond,[10] the River Specie in Tethyr,[28] the Starwater River in Cormyr,[12] and the River Vesper in the Eastern Heartlands.[7] Saltwater clams could be found in the Sea of Swords,[13][17] the Sea of Fallen Stars,[4][26][29] Firedrake Bay,[9] the Dragonmere,[23] and in abundance in the western reaches of the Lake of Steam.[2] Some clams also dwelt in less hospitable environments, such as the Underdark (for example, at the mouth of the River Sargauth at Skullport),[8] at the bottom of the deep sea,[26] and in frigid Icewind Dale, where the shores of Lac Dinneshere were home to so-called "cold clams."[22][30] Clams could further be found outside the Material Plane, such as in the Elemental Plane of Water, at locations like the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls,[31] and in the depths of Ossa, the oceanic second layer of Arborea.[32]

Clams were sometimes viewed as a nuisance by undersea races, who had to clear them from their buildings and construction sites.[33]

Predators[]

Among many other kinds of seafood, clams were a favorite meal of deep dragons.[34][35] Clams were natural prey of animals such as starfish and feeblestars—who used their limbs to break open clams' hard shells[26]—as well as certain types of fish[36] and octopuses.[37] Vodyanoi were able to bite straight through a clam's shell to eat them.[38]

Of course, humanoids also ate clams, including most aquatic races.[39] Some rangers were skilled at finding them along coastlines,[27] and clam diggers hunted for them in waterside mud.[7][29] Slithermorphs were known to cultivate "herds" of clams,[40] while sahuagin would plant them and other mollusks much like crops.[41] Freshwater clams were farmed by the lizardfolk that dwelt in an unnamed swamp on the island of Raerest off the coast of Candlekeep.[42]

History[]

Brymmyn Thorl, a magister who lived during the 3rd century DR, was fond of killing his foes by polymorphing them into clams and leaving them to helplessly suffocate outside of water.[43]

In the late 1360s DR, massive clam beds were constructed off the coast of Dawngleam by a joint venture among the merfolk of the Dragonmere and the humans of Cormyr as part of Dawngleam’s rapid expansion into an economic center.[23]

As of the mid-to-late 14th century DR, clams were sold at the Flying Fish market in Daggerford[13] and Gelgur's Feast of Plenty south of Neverwinter.[3] They were also considered specialties of several taverns and restaurants across Faerûn. In Baldur's Gate, clams were served in heaping piles at the Blushing Mermaid.[11] In Hultail, clams were served roasted alongside other seafood at the Plate of Eels.[44] In Raven's Bluff, clam chowder was served at the Painted Boat Restaurant,[18] sauced clams were roasted at Lonster's stall in the Harbor District, and raw clams (unless otherwise specified) were served in the underwater restaurant of Sharkey's Bar and Grill.[45] In Elturel, salted freshwater clams were served at A Pair of Black Antlers[14] while saltwater clams imported up the River Chionthar were made into stew at Gallowgar's Inn.[15] In Luskan, clams were stir-fried with spices at the Cutlass.[17] In Marsember, clam juices were a secret ingredient in a signature stew at the Platter of Plenty.[46] In Scornubel, clams were fried in butter at the Far Anchor.[20] In Tulmene, they were baked into tarts at the Fast Sails.[21]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Referenced only
Wyrmskull Throne • Legacy of the Crystal Shard

Novels & Short Stories

Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter
Referenced only
The Sea Devil's Eye • Wrath of the Blue Lady

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Keith Francis Strohm (September 1997). Of Ships and the Sea. (TSR, Inc), p. 120. ISBN 0786907061.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 167–168. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ed Greenwood (November 2000). “The New Adventures of Volo: Dragonwing Stew”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #277 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ed Greenwood (March 2000). “The New Adventures of Volo: Hin Nobody Knows”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #269 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87.
  5. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 91. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bryan K. Bernstein (February 1993). “Deep Beneath the Waves”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #190 (TSR, Inc.), p. 19.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 80. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), pp. 13, 26, 30. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 slade, et al. (April 1996). “Daggerford”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 96. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 99. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
  16. ↑ Mel Odom (May 2000). The Sea Devil's Eye. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 2. ISBN 978-0-7869-1638-2.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), pp. 126–127. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Terence Kemper and Eric Kemper (January 1993). “The Living City: The Painted Boat Restaurant”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #79 (TSR, Inc.), p. 15.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 111. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 151. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  24. ↑ Skip Williams (July 1997). The Sea Devils. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-0643-X.
  25. ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Steven E. Schend, Thomas M. Reid (1999). Wyrmskull Throne. (TSR, Inc), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-1405-X.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 James A. Yates (February 1986). “More Range for Rangers”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #106 (TSR, Inc.), p. 28.
  28. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 137. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
  30. ↑ R.A. Salvatore, Jeffrey Ludwig, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (November 19, 2013). “Campaign Book”. Legacy of the Crystal Shard (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7869-6464-2.
  31. ↑ Monte Cook (1996). The Planewalker's Handbook. Edited by Michele Carter. (TSR), p. 28. ISBN 978-0786904600.
  32. ↑ Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Book of Chaos”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 51. ISBN 1560768746.
  33. ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 173. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
  34. ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 41. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  35. ↑ James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. Edited by Judy Bauer, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 197. ISBN 978-0-7869-6729-2.
  36. ↑  (1998). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four. (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
  37. ↑ Bryan K. Bernstein (February 1993). “Deep Beneath the Waves”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #190 (TSR, Inc.), p. 22.
  38. ↑ James Wyatt (August 1998). “Heroes of the Sea”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #250 (TSR, Inc.), p. 34.
  39. ↑ Phillip A. Dyer, et al. (August 1991). Port of Ravens Bluff. Edited by Jean Rabe, Skip Williams, David Wise. (TSR, Inc.), p. 57. ISBN 1-56076-120-2.
  40. ↑ Ed Greenwood (1991). “Monstrous Compendium sheets”. In Steven E. Schend ed. The Ruins of Undermountain (TSR, Inc.), p. 12. ISBN 1-5607-6061-3.
  41. ↑ Skip Williams (July 1997). The Sea Devils. Edited by Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-0643-X.
  42. ↑ So Saith Ed Jan – Mar 2005. (25-11-2021). Retrieved on 25-11-2021.
  43. ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 2000). Secrets of the Magister. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 978-0786914302.
  44. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 190. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  45. ↑ Phillip A. Dyer, et al. (August 1991). Port of Ravens Bluff. Edited by Jean Rabe, Skip Williams, David Wise. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 58–60. ISBN 1-56076-120-2.
  46. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
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