Oaks were a type of deciduous tree found in the Realms.[5]
Abilities[]
Oak trees that were large and 50 years of age or older were occasionally known to have a mystical ability to form their powerful auras into animate shapes, which typically took the form of a dryad.[6]
Varieties[]
Chime oaks were specific to the northern sections of the east starwood, a portion of the forest of Cormanthor. They were like regular oaks, but appeared as though they were made of glass. Their leaves froze easily in autumn and winter, and did not fall off the tree, instead making a tinkling noise in the wind, which gave the tree its name. This noise attracted basilisks.[7] Beyond the starwood, a pair of chime oaks stood in DeVillars Park in Ravens Bluff, protected by strong magical wards.[8]
Marsh oak grew in the Farsea Marshes[9] and gall oak and black oak grew in the Vast Swamp.[10]
Red oak was a species of oak trees found in the Delimbiyr Vale and used to craft furniture and other mundane wooden items.[11]
Thayan oak was from Thay, and had a dark-colored wood.[12]
White oak was a varietal found in Aglarond.[13]
Habitats[]
- Oaks grew in the starwood area of the forest of Cormanthor, where they could grow up to 400 ft (120 m) tall.[14][15]
- In interior Faerûn, oaks could occasionally be found throughout the lowlands of the Cormyr countryside,[16]
- In West Faerûn they grew in the Reaching Woods.[17]
- Gnarled oaks grew around the fringe of the Vast Swamp.[18]
- Oaks were known to grown in the forests of the lowlands of the Moonshae Isles,[5] such as the Myrloch Vale.[19]
- In South Faerûn, they could be found in the forest of Neth Stand[20] and the Long Forest.[21][22]
- In the Unapproachable East, white oaks were common across the nation of Aglarond, especially near the rivers and marshlands of the Yuirwood.[13] Oaks in this region also grew along the banks of the River Umber.[23] A dark-wood varietal was also found in neighboring Thay.[12]
- In the Vast, oaks stood in the forested land surrounding the Blackwood Manor.[24]
- In the Western Heartlands, oaks were known to grow in the Forgotten Forest.[25]
Beyond Faerûn[]
- In the Hordelands, oaks grew around the shores of the Lake of Mists.[26]
Beyond Toril[]
- In the Abyss, abyssal oak trees that looked diseased and twisted grew in the Deathroot Woods of Hollow's Heart.[27]
- On the plane of Arborea, oak forests could be found in the layer of Arvandor,[1] as well as in the areas around the Gilded Hall, Fermata, and Brightwater.[28]
- These trees were known to grow in the forests of the Beastlands.[2] Such as on its layer Krigala, where those that had been blasted by lightning ocasionally acted as portals.[3]
- In the plane of Theros.[29]
Notable Oaks[]
- The Great Oak was a massive, magical oak tree in the northern reaches of the Spine of the World mountains which the settlement of Kuldahar was built around.[30]
- The For-Rest Inn in Ravens Bluff was an 80 feet (24 meters) tall oak tree whose interior was refurbished by its dryad, Thistledew Vine, into an inn.[31]
- The Moontouch Oak was a gargantuan oak in the heart of Tangled Trees, spanning 300 feet (91 meters) tall, that doubled as a temple of Rillifane Rallathil.[32]
- The Sacred Oak was a highly respected ancient oak tree in Leuthilspar on the island of Evermeet. The wood and wild elves believed that it was the first tree on Evermeet, while it was more generally believed that the tree came from Arvandor.[33]
- A huge oak tree formed each of the four corners of the Elfstone Tavern in Waterdeep.[34]
- A large oak tree that grew from a branch cut off the Grandfather Tree stood in the center of Stone Stand.[35]
- A stake made of oak was famously used to kill Nyressa Flass, the "Vampire Zulkir" of Thay.
Usage[]
- Oak wood was used for crafting countless items, such as strong doors and tables,[36] as well as weapons and tools such as crossbows, buckets, shields, snowskis, and the hafts and handles of hammers, axes, and sickles.[37][38] Oak was a popular choice for small but sturdy wooden containers such as scroll cases, map cases, and tinderboxes.[39] Some items such as mallets used oak for almost the entire construction, though usually reinforced with steel and weighted with lead.[40]
- Druids were generally known to consider oak trees as being sacred plants.[6] Because of this, those in the Moonshae Isles were often known to have them as the primary tree within their grove.[41] They were also known to use their wood to craft a Druid's cudgel, druid staves, and runesticks.[42]
- The Church of Rillifane would repurpose particularly large oak trees as temples, building platforms among their branches that were connected by vine bridges.[32]
- The ranger spell towering oak required one of these trees to be nearby in order for the spell to function.[43]
- The sap of an oak tree was one of the ingredients of the steel dragon Zundaerazylym's magical mixture longbite.[44]
- Rods of beguiling were beautifully-crafted oaken magic rods.[45]
- Oak leaves and bark were common reagents used for rituals and other processes by wizards, priests, and druids.[4][46]
- Talassan enchanted quarterstaves, the Strikers were created out of oak trees downed by Talos' storms.[47]
- Thayan oak was used by the Red Wizards in the crafting of Thayan golems.[12]
Heraldry[]
- An oak tree in summer and a green living oak leaf were symbols of the deity Silvanus.[48]
- An oak tree was also the symbol of the elven deity Rillifane Rallathil,[49] who was sometimes depicted by his followers as being an oak.[50]
- A tiny brilliant white star balanced on an open lush green oak leaf was an old symbol of the goddess Mielikki.[51]
Trivia[]
- A common expression among druids from Sossal when making a promise was, "Swear by the oak and the unicorn's horn."[52]
- An inn and tavern in Marsember carried the name The Old Oak.[53]
- Countess Zaranda Star's bed in Morninggold Keep was built from oak.[54]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Poison oak, a type of woody vine or shrub that was related to poison ivy and sumac.
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
External Links[]
- Oak Lumber article at the Neverwinter Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons and Dragons: Neverwinter MMORPG.
- Oak article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 144. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 91. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 17. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shaun Wilson (July 1984). “The Ecology of the Dryad”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #87 (TSR, Inc.), p. 18.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 116. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Cormyrean Marshes”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 5. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Cormyrean Marshes”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 56. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 3. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2007-07-14). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2007). Candlekeep Forum. Retrieved on 2020-11-10.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 124, 125. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (March 2007). Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7869-4119-3.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Rand Sharpsword (November 2001). More Lake of Steam and Dragon Coast! (HTML). Rand's Travelogue. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2015-09-20. Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
- ↑ Tom Prusa (1993). The Shining South. (TSR, Inc), p. 49. ISBN 1-56076-595-X.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Jean Rabe (December 1991). Red Magic. (TSR, Inc.), p. 66. ISBN 1-56076-118-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ James Jacobs (July 2007). “The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Demogorgon: Prince of Demons”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #357 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 36.
- ↑ Kate Novak, Jeff Grubb (December 1997). Tymora's Luck. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-7869-0726-6.
- ↑ F. Wesley Schneider, James Wyatt (July 2020). Mythic Odysseys of Theros. Edited by Misty Bourne, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 67. ISBN 978-0786967018.
- ↑ Black Isle Studios (June 2000). Designed by Matt Norton. Icewind Dale. Interplay.
- ↑ Mike Selinker (September 1989). “The Living City: The For-Rest Inn”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #49 (TSR, Inc.), p. 28.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 123. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Anne Gray McCready et al. (March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 44. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (July 2006). Blackstaff. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 56. ISBN 978-0786940165.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (March 2007). Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 7, 12, 15. ISBN 978-0-7869-4119-3.
- ↑ Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), pp. 54, 141. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), pp. 68, 69, 70, 107. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 52. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 7. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 61–62. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (May 1999). “Wyrms of the North: Zundaerazylym”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #259 (TSR, Inc.), p. 72.
- ↑ BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 145. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 120. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Carl Sargent (March 1993). “The Elven Pantheon-Completed!”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #191 (TSR, Inc.), p. 23.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 112. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (May 2006). The Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 238. ISBN 0-7869-4003-4.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.