Opossums, also known as possums,[7] were small marsupials that lived in forests.[1][2]
Description[]
The fur of an opossum was coarse and oily.[7]
Abilities[]
Opossums had keen senses of smell[3] and hearing.[1][2]
History[]
In the ancient Netherese enclave of Eileanar, magically altered opossums known as sniffers acted as the noses of spider golems.[8]
Ecology[]
Opossums were arboreal creatures. They hunted poisonous snakes.[3]
Habitats[]
Opossums could be found in Cormanthor,[9] Thar,[10] the Tannath Gap,[11][12] Semberholme,[13] and the Mere of Dead Men.[14] Intelligent opossums capable of speech were found on the Steaming Isles, where they acted as chamberlains and household servants to the animal pashas.[15] Due to the influence of Citadel Umbra, opossums of the Winterglen operated as spies for Unseelie creatures in the forest.[16]
Relationships[]
Opossums were sometimes taken as familiars by wizards,[3][17] and rangers that dwelt in urban environments took them as animal companions.[18]
Some were known to act as servants of the deity Thoth.[19]
Subspecies[]
Copper Opossum[]
The copper opossum was a native to Cormyr, living on its hills. Its diet mainly consisted of weeds and sprouts. The shy creature rolled itself into a ball at the least provocation; if attacked past that point, it could lash with the venomous spikes just above its feet.[6]
Though some long-lived locals related it causing paralysis, the poison was known to actually induce an effect all but indistinguishable from temporal stasis, except that neutralize poison could break it as well. A competent metalworker could also extract up to five pounds of metal from the pelt of a copper opossum, which incidentally, contained actual copper.[6]
Giant Opossum[]
Giant opossums were known to live west of Urmlaspyr, where the largest game reserve for the species in Toril was.[5]
Notable Opossums[]
Trivia[]
- In the church of Baervan Wildwanderer, "Opossum" was one of the titles for confirmed priests, ranking directly above "Squirrel" and below "Hedgehog".[20]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Novels
- Realms of Infamy: "And Wringing of Hands"
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 244. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 86. ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 David Howery (December 1993). “Familiar Faces”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #200 (TSR, Inc.), p. 32.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 14. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jane Cooper Hong (December 1994). “And Wringing of Hands”. In James Lowder ed. Realms of Infamy (TSR, Inc.), pp. 247–272. ISBN 1-56076-911-4.
- ↑ Clayton Emery (November 1996). Dangerous Games. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-0524-7.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 28. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 98. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), p. 87. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
- ↑ Steve Johnson (November/December 1998). “Dreadful Vestiges”. In Christopher Perkins ed. Dungeon #71 (Wizards of the Coast) (71)., p. 49.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “The Steaming Isles”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 7. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ Stephen Inniss (April 1984). “A cast of strange familiars”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #84 (TSR, Inc.), p. 16.
- ↑ Jerry Holkins, Elyssa Grant, Scott Fitzgerald Gray (June 18, 2019). Acquisitions Incorporated. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 978-0786966905.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 130. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 138. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.