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Minstrelwish was one of the most famous and numerous of hin clans as of the 14th century DR,[6] generously spread out across the entirety of Faerûn.[7]

Where one coin becomes three.
— The Minstrelwish family motto[4]

Organization[]

The Minstrelwish family held a noble title in the city of Ravens Bluff. The family was led by a Baron (traditional hin title – Auldoan),[3] its members were numerous, and the family counted at least nine active family branches as of the 14th century DR. The clan had a reputation cheerful, happy-go-lucky, but tieless and industrious workers. Many Minstrelwishes thought the noble status nothing more than a joke, considering themselves simple folk. Their wealth was built through hard work and wise business diversification.[4]

Unlike many other noble families, the Minstrelwish clan had no mercenary armies, no council seats, or major land holdings. Most of the family wealth was invested into restoring and rebuilding homes, renting them out for fair prices with live-in Minstrelwish landlords,[4] various shipping and courier services, employing other halflings, gnomes, and humans, art dealerships, foods, and selling everyday necessities. Low-profile landlords and real estate merchants of the Minstrelwish clan inhabited Arrabar, Baldur's Gate, Beluir, Berdusk, Crimmor, Derlusk, Everlund, Luthcheq, Saerloon, Scornubel, Sheirtalar, Shoun, Silverymoon, Tarmalune, Tharsult, Waterdeep, Yhaunn, and Zazesspur.[5]

Apart from mercantile activities, the Minstrelwish clan was considered the most influential hin family in regards of art, music, fiction writing, and even in the lucrative windchime industry. They existed for several thousands of years as of the 14th century DR.[5]

Base of Operations[]

As of the late 14th century DR, the Minstrelwish family was the only noble halfling clan in Ravens Bluff. There, the clan owned numerous cobbler shops, laundry, and cleaning services.[8] The family's estate – Whitegates, stood on the crossing of the Moorland Ride and Dragonscale Street in Ravens Bluff.[1]

The Moon Mountain Brewery on the Unicorn Run was run and served as home to two prominent hin families: Borulglar and the Minstrelwish. Together, both clans numbered 18 adults and 7 kids who operated the business in the late 14th century DR. The families collected lumber from the High Forest to craft barrels, farmed brewing fruit, grains, and vegetables, all resulted in rum and moonslake.[9]

The volcanic ice of Arnrock a the center of the Lake of Steam was home to members of Minstrelwish, Brolluck, and Rauligar halfling clans, collectively known as the Arn. They used volcanic heat to produce copper.[10]

Beyond the world of Toril, Minstrelwishes were present on the worlds of Mystara and even Earth.[5]

History[]

Over the centuries, Minstrelwish halflings showed interest in planal travel and used it to trade across many worlds. This use of magic attracted the attention of various Chosen of Mystra. By the 14th century DR, wizardly Minstrelwishes were considered useful allies to the Seven Sisters, Elminster, and Khelben Arunsun.[5]

By the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR, the family's patriarch was at least 121-year-old Baron Obelarth "Oldwrinkles" Minstrelwish of Ravens Bluff. He built his wealth via the business of making spectacles, spyglasses, and other lenses. His elected successor was Lady Kassandra Minstrelwish, a member of the Knights of the Hawk and the Deputy Guildmaster of the Silent Network. She was wed to Harold Pierre, the owner of the Crescent Moon Inn shortly before 1370 DR.[8]

By the late 15th century DR, the most renowned far-traveling Minstrelwishes were Anathraea, Claretta, Nintarra, and Yaunsae Minstrelwish, while the clan's Auldoan of the time was Duroavran Minstrelwish, who, in turn, was guided by his older Matriarch cousins Breteenra, Maevurla, and Zarettara.[5]

Members[]

  • Altho Minstrelwish, a world-hopping hin trader and explorer who visited Earth circa 12 DR.[11]
  • Amaranda Minstrelwish a child sorceress who had a gift of knowing things about items through touch from Ravens Bluff circa 1370 DR.[8]
  • Jaeko Minstrelwish, hin adventurer who fell under magical charm of darktentacles in the Undermountain circa 1358 DR.[12]
  • Joser Minstrelwish, the proprietor of Minstrelwish Chains, Belts, and Scabbards of Arabel in the late 14th century DR.[13]
  • Kassandra Minstrelwish, the Deputy Guildmaster of the Silent Network guild of Ravens Bluff in the 14th century DR.[8]
  • Kelter Minstrelwish, one of the clan members who worked at he Moon Mountain Brewery in the 14th century DR.[9]
  • Melver Minstrelwish and his identical twin brother Amandar Minstrelwish, infamous paramours and seducers from Waterdeep active in the mid-to-late 14th century DR.[7]
  • Nundle Minstrelwish and his brother Noblar Minstrelwish were prominent plumbers in Ravens Bluff circa 1370 DR.[8]
  • Nurvala Minstrelwish, or "Old Chin", one of the Minstrelwish members who worked at the Moon Mountain Brewery in the 14th century DR.[9]
  • Obelarth "Oldwrinkles" Minstrelwish, the family's Baron patriarch and lenses-maker circa 1370 DR.[4]
  • Obslin Minstrelwish, a Harper bard of the Twilight Hall.[14]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures
Coils in the Dark
Novels
Referenced only
All Shadows FledThe Meaning of Lore

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 117. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
  2. Template:Cite book/Gazetteer: The Five Shires
  3. 3.0 3.1 So Saith Ed Jan – Mar 2005. (25-11-2021). Retrieved on 25-11-2021.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Ed Greenwood (2020-02-26). The Minstrelwish Family (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved on 2021-05-16.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ed Greenwood (March 2000). “The New Adventures of Volo: Hin Nobody Knows”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #269 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2009-12-21). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2009). Candlekeep Forum. Retrieved on 2023-06-11.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Ed Greenwood (September 2002). “Elminster's Guide to the Realms: Moon Mountain Brewery”. In Jesse Decker ed. Dragon #299 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), pp. 80–81.
  10. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 140. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  11. Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2016-01-02). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2016). Candlekeep Forum. Retrieved on 2016-04-02.
  12. Ed Greenwood (1991). “Undermountain Adventures”. In Steven E. Schend ed. The Ruins of Undermountain (TSR, Inc.), p. 13. ISBN 1-5607-6061-3.
  13. Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  14. Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 1-56076-644-1.

Connections[]

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