Elminster's Ecologies is a 2nd-edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons boxed set for the Forgotten Realms.
“
The world is vast and varied, comprising towering mountains, dense jungles, and sprawling seas. There are regions so cold that their snow never melts, others so hot that their rain turns to steam as it touches the ground.
It is this variety of environments that accounts for the variety of life. In my travels I have noted 73 distinct types of pine trees... I estimate the number of fishes at well over five thousand. The number of insect species likely exceeds the number of grains of sand on the shores of Dragon Reach.
Every environment, no matter how hostile to humankind, is compatible with some form of life. The diversity and adaptability of organisms are staggering....”
Description[]
The boxed set contains nine 32-page booklets and is written in-character as Elminster and other characters. Each of these booklets provides a rich backdrop and detailed information on various ecosystems in the Realms.
- Explorer's Manual: Serving as a comprehensive guide, this booklet provides additional information, resources, and tools for Dungeon Masters to integrate the detailed ecological information into their campaigns effectively.
- Cormanthor: This booklet details the ancient forest of Cormanthor, describing its rich and diverse ecosystem, the creatures and beings that inhabit it, and the mystical elements that are a part of its lore.
- Anauroch: This booklet explored the vast desert of Anauroch, a harsh and unforgiving environment. It detailed the unique survival challenges, the creatures adapted to this arid landscape, and the ancient secrets buried beneath the sands.
- Coastal Aquatic Lands - The Sea of Falling Stars: As a guide to the largest inland sea in the Realms, this booklet covered aquatic environments, including the sea life, underwater hazards, and the cultures that thrive around and within this massive body of water.
- The Cormyrean Marshes: Delving into swampy and marshy terrain, this booklet described the unique flora and fauna found in such environments, along with the challenges and adventures that could arise in these treacherous wetlands.
- The Stonelands and the Goblin Marches: This booklet explored into the rugged, rocky terrain of the Stonelands and the Goblin Marches.
- The Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns: Covering two mountain ranges, this booklet covered the ecology and dangers of the Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns, detailing the creatures, climate, and geographical features unique to these towering landscapes.
- The Great Gray Land of Thar: This booklet focuses on the arid, barren region known as Thar. It explored the harsh living conditions, the unique fauna and flora adapted to this environment, and the various challenges adventurers faced here.
- The Settled Lands: This book explores the more civilized and populated areas within the Realms. It covered farmlands, villages, and the outskirts of larger cities, detailing the types of creatures and challenges adventurers might encounter in these seemingly peaceful areas.
Contents[]
- Explorer's Manual
- Introductory Remarks
- Excerpts from An Investigation into the Natural Systems of Organisms and Their Surroundings
- Encounter Tables
- Cormanthor
- Words from an Old Friend
- Part One: Trees, Trees, and More Trees
- Part Two: Monsters
- Part Three: Rumors
- Anauroch
- A Great Man's Journeys
- Part One: The Lands of Anauroch
- Part Two: Ecology of the Sword
- Part Three: Ecology of the Plain of Standing Stones
- Part Four: Ecology of the High Ice
- Part Five: The Underdark of Anauroch
- Part Six: Legends and Rumors
- Coastal Aquatic Lands - The Sea of Falling Stars
- Introduction
- The Sea of Fallen Stars
- Natural Aquatic Life
- Monsters of the Deep
- Sea Stories
- The Cormyrean Marshes
- The Journal of Brother Twick
- Part One: The Cormyrean Maarshes
- Part Two: Monsters
- Part Three: Rumors and Legends
- The Stonelands and the Goblin Marches
- A Few Notes About Me
- Part One: Regional Details
- Part Two: The Vanishing Wildlife
- Part Three: The Goblin Threat
- Part Four: The Great Beasts
- Part Five: Rumors and Events
- The Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns
- Introduction
- Part One: The Mountain Ranges
- Part Two: Common Life in the Mountains
- Part Three: Monsters of the Peaks
- Part Four: Rumor
- The Great Gray Land of Thar
- A-Ranging I Will Go
- Part One: The Land of Thar
- Part Two: Monsters
- Part Three: Rumors, Mysteries, and Legends
- The Settled Lands
- Don't Call Me a Crank
- Part One: Back and Around
- Part Two: Monsters
- Part Three: Rumors
Index[]
Characters[]
- Blackjackal • Bryn Ohme • Derrnog • Elminster • Fletcher Bockmann • Lyra Sunrose
Creatures[]
- adder • amphisbaena • ankheg • antelope • aratha • assassin bug • atomie • aurumvorax • azmyth • baboon • badger mouse • basilisk • bat • bear • black snake • blink dog • boalisk • boar • bombardier beetle • bonebat • boring beetle • bulette • bullywug • bumblebee • canary • carnivorous ape • centaur • cheetah • chipmunk • cockatrice • cockroach • constrictor snake • couatl • crocodile • deer • dark naga • dire wolf • dog • dragon • dryad • elf • elven cat • ettercap • eyewing • feystag • fire toad • fore beetle • forest gnomep • fyrefly • galeb duhr • gargantuan praying mantis • gelatinous cube • ghast • ghost • ghoul • giant ant • giant centipede • giant harvester termite • giant hornet • giant horsefly • giant rat • giant raven • giant slug • giant tick • giant wasp • gibberling • gnoll • gorgon • grig • hippogriff • hobgoblin • horax • horse • hydra • jackalwere • leucrotta • lichling • living web • mouse • night hunter • opossum • orc • owlbear • pernicon • pixie • polar bear • pyrolisk • pseudodragon • puff adder • rabbit • rat • rattlesnake • revenant • shambling mound • sheep • skeleton • slaad • snake • squirrel • sparrow • sprite • stag beetle • stirge • tiger • troll • umber hulk • vulture • water naga • weasel • werebat • werebear • wereboar • werefox • wereraven • werewolf • wild boar • wild dog • wolf • worg • zombie
Locations[]
- Regions
- Anauroch • Cloudlands • Cormyr • Dalelands • Dragon Reach • Great Glacier • Harrowdale • Pirate Isles • Sembia • Thar
- Settlements
- Myth Drannor • Shadowdale
- Buildings
- Flour Pot
- Bodies of Water
- Elvenflow • Lake of Dragons • Lake Sember • River Ashaba • Sea of Fallen Stars
- Forests
- Brynwood • Cormanthor • Duskwood • Hullack Forest
- Mountains
- Desertsmouth Mountains • Dragonspine Mountains • Giantspire Mountains • Mount Bandalin • Ring's Reach • Storm Horns • Thunder Peaks
- Wilderness
- Farsea Marshes • Goblin Marches • Stonelands
Organizations[]
- Bestil
Miscellaneous[]
- Food & Drink
- corn • egg • wheat
- Plants
- ash wheat • blue snowwood • butternut (tree) • chokeberry • daisy • gooseberry • locust needle • oak • pine • retch plant • snappersaw
- Materials
- diamond • silver
- Items
- book
- Works
- Elminster's Ecologies (in-universe) • Yielding Tide
- Other
- Rules of the Rabbit
Gallery[]
Back Cover
Credits[]
- Explorer's Manual
- Design: Rick Swan, Monte Cook, Eric Haddock, Anthony Pryor
- Editing: James Butler and Karen S. Boomgarden
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette and Dave Conant
- Cormanthor
- Design: Rick Swan
- Editing: James Butler
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- Anauroch
- Design: Monte J. Cook
- Editing: Jonatha Ariadne Caspian
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- Coastal Aquatic Lands - The Sea of Falling Stars
- Design: Eric Haddock
- Editing: Jean Rabe
- Proofreading: Karen S. Boomgarden, Janis Wells
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- The Cormyrean Marshes
- Design: Anthony Pryor
- Editing: Elizabeth Danforth
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- The Stonelands and the Goblin Marches
- Design: Monte J. Cook
- Editing: Jonatha Ariadne Caspian
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- The Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns
- Design: Eric Haddock
- Editing: Jean Rabe
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier, Doug Chaffee, Terry Dykstra
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- The Great Gray Land of Thar
- Design: Anthony Pryor
- Editing: Elizabeth T. Danforth
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
- The Settled Lands
- Design: Rick Swan
- Editing: James Butler
- Interior Art: Daniel Frazier
- Cartography: Dennis Kauth
- Typography: Nancy J. Kerkstra
- Production: Paul Hanchette
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Images from Elminster's Ecologies
- Elminster's Ecologies Appendix I
- Elminster's Ecologies Appendix II
Notes[]
- ↑ No date is given in the sourcebooks. The common 2nd-edition setting date of 1367 DR is assumed.