Paper was a writing surface and material used alongside a pen and ink.[1]
Description[]
Rolls of paper in front of Baldur's Mouth, ready for printing.
Paper was a thin sheet of pressed wood pulp or cloth fibers, and was a popular writing surface sold by the sheet or in long rolls.[5][3] That said, it was not the only writing surface available in the Realms, as there existed vellum and parchment derived from the hides of animals. Other surfaces included paper made from bamboo, papyrus, rice, and pieces of flat slate stone.[2]
- Rag paper was a common cheap paper made from pressed cotton fibers.[6]
- Joss-paper was a valuable bamboo paper.[7]
- In the Underdark, paper would be woven out of Spidersilk.[8]
Properties[]
Paper was extremely fragile and flammable compared to most other materials.[9]
Production & Trade[]
“
Everyone wants to make history, but few are willing to write it. Aurora's Catalogue therefore hails the downtrodden and ill-used class of scribes, and provides them the equipment they need to set history to paper.
”
— Advertisement from Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue[1]
- Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold paper in various formats, from single sheets to books. They made paper from trees of the High Forest, after which they were bound in Waterdeep by the Scriveners, Scribes, and Clerk's Guild. Candlekeep were known to import books in large amounts from this catalogue.[1]
- Serpentil Books & Folios in Waterdeep sold all kinds of ink and paper, including rare paper made from Sussur trees.[10]
- Ustiligator Paper Mill was a paper mill that produced white-woven paper that was highly valued among scribes and wizards alike.[11]
Usages[]
A sheet of rag paper.
- The paper used for the Edu'sascar cards was made from flax and silk fibers, which was mixed with bamboo pulp, dried flowers of the dogwood tree, and a tuber known as tocara. It was rolled flat and cut using a holy blade kept in the S'tung Monastery.[12]
Magic Items[]
- Paper of forms could be used to create origami creatures that would come alive after a command word was spoken. However, these origami creatures were very susceptible to fire, like the paper they were made of.[5]
- Paper of writing magically transcribed the user's words and thoughts onto the paper.[5]
Spell Components[]
Paper was a common spell component for spells.
- Wind blast required a paper fan.[13]
- Instant regeneration used a piece of yellow paper.[14]
- Know school used a small tube of paper or vellum.[15]
- Summon fire dragons required a strip of paper soaked with saltpeter, coal oil, and sulfur.[16][17]
- Wall of paper used a piece of folded origami paper with a sliding joint.[18]
- Waterbane used some wax and paper.[19][20]
Paper money was used in some places across the Realms, especially in ancient Kara-Tur.[21]
History[]
In the 14th century DR, Ito-jo of Kara-Tur was filled with paper creatures, such as paper mantises[22] and even the origami-master shukenja known as the Paper Warrior.[23] If the Paper Warrior were to fall, he would crumple up into a ball, like a crunched piece of paper.[23]
Magic[]
- The erase spell could remove magical or mundane writing from paper or a similar surface.[24]
- The illusory script spell could imbue a writing surface with a magical command.[25]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 67. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 70. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 127–128. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 slade et al. (February 1995). Encyclopedia Magica Volume II. (TSR, Inc.), p. 803.
- ↑ Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ Rick Swan (July 1990). Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 33. ISBN 0-88038-851-X.
- ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 166, 207. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Travis Woodall (2018). Dock Ward Double-Cross (DDAL08-03) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Waterdeep (Wizards of the Coast), p. 6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 63. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (January 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 462. ISBN 978-0786906642.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 44. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-1560766476.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (September 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four. (TSR, Inc), p. 895. ISBN 978-0786912094.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (September 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four. (TSR, Inc), p. 989. ISBN 978-0786912094.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 117. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (September 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four. (TSR, Inc), p. 1002. ISBN 978-0786912094.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (1987). Ochimo: The Spirit Warrior. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 0-88038-393-3.
- ↑ Jon Pickens, et al. (December 1986). Night of the Seven Swords. Edited by Karen S. Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-88038-327-5.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Jon Pickens, et al. (December 1986). Night of the Seven Swords. Edited by Karen S. Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 17. ISBN 0-88038-327-5.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 227. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 243. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.