Otters were a species of aquatic mammal distantly related to weasels.[5]
Description[]
Otters were very fast moving creatures,[5] both in terms of running and swimming.[4] Those that inhabited oceans were typically larger than their more land-locked kin.[5]
Behavior[]
These creatures were very friendly[4] and had a very playful nature.[5] During storms, sea otters tended to come ashore or swim upriver, searching for shelter inside alcoves or small caves. Some would simply wait on the banks of rivers and wait for the storm to pass.[6]
Biology[]
Sea otters seemingly possessed an innate sense of how severe coming storms would be.[6] They could remain underwater for extended periods of time.[7]
Combat[]
Otters generally tried to avoid combat.[2] They were only known to attack other creatures when threatened, cornered,[5] or their young were threatened.[4]
History[]
Many years prior to 1492 DR,[8][note 1] the wizard Traxigor was polymorphed into an otter. He came to conclude that he preferred his new form to that of his elderly body and used the spell wish to make it permanent.[1]
Sub-Species[]
- Giant otter
- A monstrous variety of the standard otter.[9]
Rumors & Legends[]
According to weather folklore in Interior Faerûn, the farther upriver a sea otter swam and the more of them that were huddled together indicated how long and severe a storm was going to be.[6]
Ecology[]
Diet[]
Otters primarily ate fish and crustaceans.[7]
Habitats[]
An otter swims alongside aquatic elves and a dolphin.
Otters could be found in a variety of fresh and saltwater[6] aquatic environments, including rivers, lakes, and oceans. Ocean otters were typically found near shallow, coastal waters.[5]
They could be found all along the Sword Coast, the coasts of the North, and all their outer islands.[10] They also inhabited the lake Maer Dualdon,[11] the lake Moonsea,[12] and the Delimbiyr River.[13]
In Interior Faerûn they could be found in and around the Sea of Fallen Stars,[14][15] where they sometimes swam up one of its many rivers in search of food.[6] They could also be found in the Cormyr marshes of Farsea, the Marsh of Tun,[16] and The Vast.[17]
In south Faerûn they inhabited the Lake of Steam.[18] In the Unapproachable East, they could be found in the nation of Aglarond in the Tannath Gap.[19][20]
Beyond Faerûn, they could be found in the Hordelands at the lowest levels of the Katakoro Plateau.[21] In neighboring Kara-Tur, they could be found all throughout that continent's forests, jungles, and steppelands. Sea otters were particularly found in its climate climate ocean bodies.[22]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, otters could be found in the River Oceanus.[23]
Relationships[]
In Interior Faerûn, fishing communities often looked to sea otters as indicators of how severe a coming storm was going to be due to their storm-related habits.[6]
They were typically favored as pets by water genasi.[24] Some aquatic rangers were known to have them as animal companions.[25] And some elves were known to have them as familiars.[3] Among wild elves, the sea otter had long been a significant totem animal that was closely associated with the aquatic elves.[26]
Usages[]
Some creatures were known to hunt otters for their pelts.[2][5] The pelts of in-land otters typically sold for around 2 to 3 gp, while those of sea otters fetched prices of around 1,000 to 4,000 gp.[4]
Otters were often hunted down and fed upon by orpsu.[27]
Trivia[]
- In the River Quarter of Daggerford there was a tavern by the name of Otter's Run, which had the dried and stretched out pelt of one hanging beneath its sign.[13]
- The Skinwalkers of Evermeet were known to sometimes assume the form of an otter as their totem animals.[28]
- The totem-sisters of Evermeet sometimes inscribed the totemic image of an otter upon a small pendant or earring, giving their wearer that creature's skill in swimming.[29]
- Those who specialized in sea-based magic could summon a sea otter with the spell monster summoning I.[30]
- Some Ysgardian dwarves could assume the form of an otter.[31]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus is set in 1492 DR per the "Baldur's Gate Gazetteer" section (p. 159) and a clarification from the adventure's lead writer. Baldur's Gate III, which is a direct sequel to Descent into Avernus set immediately after its events, is also set in 1492 DR. In an apparent error, pages 7 and 47 of Descent into Avernus describes certain events as occurring "fifty years" after 1444 DR (1494 DR).
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
- Video Games
- Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
- Novels
- The Shattered Mask
- Referenced only
- The Fanged Crown
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- Ice Road Trackers • The Great Knucklehead Rally
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wolfgang Baur, James Jacobs, George Strayton (September 2004). Frostburn. Edited by Greg Collins. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 164–165. ISBN 0-7869-2896-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 James Wyatt (November 2000). “Unusual Suspects”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #277 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 97. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Coastal Aquatic Lands: The Sea of Fallen Stars”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Stephen Inniss (April 1984). “A cast of strange familiars”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #84 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 15–16.
- ↑ Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 77. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore, Jeffrey Ludwig, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (November 19, 2013). “Campaign Book”. Legacy of the Crystal Shard (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-6464-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and George MacDonald (April 1989). Curse of the Azure Bonds. (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 978-0880386067.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tito Leati, Matthew Sernett and Chris Sims (February 2014). Scourge of the Sword Coast. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), pp. 26–27. 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.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 98. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 118. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 115. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1993). The Complete Ranger's Handbook. Edited by Elizabeth Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 1560766344.
- ↑ Anne Gray McCready et al. (March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 26. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (November 1991). Anauroch. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 1-56076-126-1.
- ↑ Anne Gray McCready et al. (March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 110. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Anne Gray McCready et al. (March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 83. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Deborah Christian (August 1995). “Arcane Lore: Sea Magic”. In Wolfgang Baur ed. Dragon #220 (TSR, Inc.), p. 72.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur, James Jacobs, George Strayton (September 2004). Frostburn. Edited by Greg Collins. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 125. ISBN 0-7869-2896-4.