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Silverfin

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Silverfin was a term for varieties of fish found in the waters of Faerûn.[1]

Availability[]

Silverfin were common in the rivers and oceans of Faerûn.[2]

Central Faerûn[]

Large schools of whitefish were encountered in Sea of Fallen Stars,[3] and the waters of the Dragonmere and the Neck that lay between Cormyr, Sembia, and the Dragon Coast.[4]

Silverfin were also found in the Wyvernwater in Cormyr, and were a common catch of the 'mist fishers' of Immersea.[5][6] In Immersea's fishpacking plants, silverfin were preserved in salt or oil and stored in kegs for transport and sale both within and beyond Cormyr.[6] Silverfin and other fish were cultivated in the fishponds of the Royal Court in Suzail for meals at the Court and the Palace of the Purple Dragon,[7][8] and in the mansions of Arabel.[9]

Silverfin were also caught in the Moonsea.[10] In cities like Hulburg on the north shore, Moonsea silverfins were cured in smoking-houses and there sold to traders.[11] Moonsea silverfins would then be traded by fishmonger's wagons inland to places like Voonlar.[10]

Sea of Swords and the Sword Coast[]

Silverfin was common in the Sea of Swords.[12][13] Villages on the Sword Coast south of the Cloak Wood caught these drag-nets from small fishing boats.[12] On the island of Mintarn in the Sea of Swords, tiny whitefish were farmed in breeding pools and fed with kitchen scraps.[14]

They also caught by the fishermen of Kalathtyr, Amn, which lay at the mouth of the River Specie where it flowed into the Sea of Swords.[15][note 1]

Silverfin, both saltwater and freshwater, were the most common seafood on offer in Waterdeep's fish markets, all year around.[16] Felhaur's Fine Fish was a Waterdhavian fishmonger's that sold silverfin, among others.[17]

Western Heartlands[]

The River Chionthar was another source of silverfin, and they were fished around Berdusk[18] and Scornubel.[19]

The North[]

In the Silver Marches, silverfin were almost the species found in the River Rauvin, River Surbrin, and lesser rivers of the region. The majority of human travelers here could tell a silverfin from a bluefin or other fish, and how to net or cook one simply.[20]

Usage[]

Culinary[]

Flounder witch fish

We're floundering here.

Silverfin was the most common kind of fish served in Faerûnian cuisine,[1] particularly along the Sword Coast.[21] It was also a feature of dwarven cuisine.[22][23] It was eaten in a variety of dishes:

  • A traveler could cook a silverfin or other fish simply by putting it in a skillet over a fire.[20]
  • The namesake silverfin species was considered best cooked by pan-frying in wine, brandy, or ale, but was typically rolled in mud with butterweed or wild onion or garlic, and baked in a fire. They were also preserved in oil.[24]
  • Roast silverfin was a common feature of the eveningfeast menu in respectable inns and restaurants in coastal towns and cities.[25]
  • Bowls of pickled silverfin and other small fish were often on the eveningfeast menu in high-class eateries,[25] or might be eaten as a basic morningfeast.[26]
  • Spiced silverfin was among the spreads served on biscuits at the Elfstone Tavern in Waterdeep.[27]
  • Silverfin daggers—slivers of fish on lemon or lime slices—were served as canapés at The Gentle Mermaid in Waterdeep.[28]
  • Smoked silverfin was served in a buffet at morningfeast at the Palace of Waterdeep for Piergeiron Paladinson and guests.[29]
  • In Waterdeep, businesses sold 'coldsear silverfin', which was grilled silverfin meat frozen in ice and delivered to customers for defrosting and consumption.[30]
  • Stuffed silverfin was served at Firefall Keep, seat of the Summerstar family of Cormyr, in 1365 DR.[31]
  • Crusted silverfin cheese was a smallbite served at functions in Cormyr.[32]
  • Smoked silverfin on skewers, locally caught, were commonly served at the Axefall club in Scornubel.[19]
  • Plate of Silver was a dish of grilled silverfin drizzled with raspberry juice and vinegar served at Stargath House in Purskul, Amn.[33]
  • Lightly smoked silverfin in a cream broth with fried yellow peppers, mushrooms, and asparagus was served at Blackthorn's Brew in Velen, Tethyr.[34]
  • Barrels of silverfin in sauce were kept as provision in Shadowdark House in Daerlun.[35]
  • Butter-fried Moonsea silverfin was a seasonal treat in Voonlar.[10]

Arcane[]

An eye from a silverfin fish caught with a silver fishhook was once used as a random ingredient included in the tincture used in the shell creation stage of item enchantment in order to introduced deliberate randomness to a magic item.[36]

Species[]

Halibut

It ain't no halibut, girl.

Some particular types of fish were considered silverfin:

Silverfin
Known simply as "silverfin", this namesake species had silvery scales on their sides and silvery fins with black roots that effectively highlighted their appearance, and grew to the size of trout. They were abundant, lived in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water, and they consumed insects, worms, small eels, and frogs. Hence, they were easy to catch by even amateur fishers, even with nets or baskets. They had a taste like bass and kept well in oil.[24]
Blindfin
Blindfin were a voracious subterranean fish found in pools in Downshadow in Undermountain. These were mutated from silverfin by the Spellplague.[37][38][39][note 2]
Luslar
A blind species of fish very similar to Sword Coast silverfin that swam in Lake Thalmiir in the Underdark. These were fished by the Sschindylryn drow and preyed on by predatory eels.[13]
Trout
Some kinds of trout were considered silverfin, at least in dwarven cuisine.[22][23]

Appendix[]

Background[]

While commonly mentioned in many sources before and since, Dragon #277: "The New Adventures of Volo: Dragonwing Stew" by Ed Greenwood (2000) finally defines silverfin as "any whitefish". However, this term has multiple meanings. First, whitefish covers a variety of bottom-feeding fish with pale flesh and low oil content that live in seas and lakes. Alternatively, whitefish is the Coregoninae subfamily of lake-dwelling fish. As such, "silverfin" encompasses a range of potential fish that may be detailed more specifically elsewhere, such as cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, hake, plaice, pollock, sole, and whiting, as well as various flatfish, in the former case, and ciscoes and whitefishes in the latter case.

Further complicating the question of 'what is a silverfin?', in a 2019 tweet, Ed Greenwood described the silverfin in terms that implied a particular species of fish, rather than a grouping. For the purposes of this article, this is presumed to be a common, representative, or namesake species of the group. In a 2022 tweet and 2025 Patreon/YouTube video on dwarven cuisine, he named silverfin a trout instead; this is presumed to be a type of silverfin under the earlier definition as per our understandng of canon, though on Earth trout is not considered a whitefish. Maybe dwarves don't know any better.

Notes[]

  1. ↑ It is unclear whether these whitefish are caught from the river or the sea, and therefore whether they are freshwater or saltwater.
  2. ↑ Undermountain: Halaster's Lost Apprentice p. 16 features a hazardous fish as "silverfin" and refers to Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide p. 199, which actually discusses a fish called "blindfin". It's possible the blindfin was intended but misnamed, but The God Catcher discusses blindfin being mutated silverfin.

Appearances[]

Adventures

Undermountain: Halaster's Lost Apprentice

Novels & Short Stories

Stormlight • Realms of the Deep: "Messenger to Serôs", "The Place Where Guards Snore at Their Posts" • The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel • Blackstaff • Swords of Eveningstar • Swords of Dragonfire • Swordmage
Referenced only
Elminster in Hell • Elminster Must Die • The God Catcher

Film & Television

"A Mirt Glimpse: One Old Lord Too Many"

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ed Greenwood (November 2000). “The New Adventures of Volo: Dragonwing Stew”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #277 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93.
  2. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  3. ↑ Peter Archer (March 2000). “Messenger to Serôs”. In Philip Athans ed. Realms of the Deep (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-1568-4.
  4. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2019-06-02). Dragonmere and the Neck. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2022-11-25. Retrieved on 2025-04-17.
  5. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 152. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ed Greenwood (2023-10-06). "The port of Immersea". Greenwood's Grotto (Discord).
  7. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  8. ↑ Ed Greenwood (August 2010). Elminster Must Die (Hardcover). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 19, p. ?. ISBN 978-0786951932.
  9. ↑ Ed Greenwood (June 2007). Swords of Eveningstar. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 26, p. 395. ISBN 9978-0-7869-4272-5.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Ed Greenwood (2001-05-02). Part #17: A Place to Stay. Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-17.
  11. ↑ Richard Baker (December 2008). Swordmage (Massmarket Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 19, p. 242. ISBN 978-0-7869-5022-5.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2005-01-01). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2005). Candlekeep Forum. Retrieved on 2025-04-16.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ed Greenwood (2024-09-09). Purewaters: An Underdark Landmark. Ed Greenwood's Patreon. Retrieved on 2024-09-13.
  14. ↑ Ed Greenwood (March 2000). “The Place Where Guards Snore at Their Posts”. In Philip Athans ed. Realms of the Deep (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-1568-4.
  15. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
  16. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2019-07-31). Waterdeep fish markets. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-05-24. Retrieved on 2025-04-17.
  17. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2021-09-21). Felhaur's Fine Fish (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved on 2021-10-11.
  18. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2024-07-01). Jewel Gleaming Bright: What's Afoot in the City of Berdusk in 1499 DR. Ed Greenwood's Patreon. Retrieved on 2024-07-05.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ed Greenwood (2014-01-14). The House of the Falling Axe. Forging the Realms. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017-08-27. Retrieved on 2017-08-27.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 41. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
  21. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2021-01-23). Waterdeep fish markets. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved on 2025-04-17.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Ed Greenwood (2022-11-03). “Dwarven Cuisine” (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2022-11-03. Retrieved on 2022-11-03.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Ed Greenwood (2025-03-04). Dwarflore. Ed Greenwood's Patreon. Retrieved on 2025-03-04.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Ed Greenwood (2019-08-30). Silverfin. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved on 2025-04-17.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Ed Greenwood (2019-10-06). Four-course meals of the Realms (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2019-10-17. Retrieved on 2021-05-16.
  26. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2024-02-22). A Mirt Glimpse: One Old Lord Too Many. Ed Greenwood's Patreon. Retrieved on 2024-02-29.
  27. ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
  28. ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 84–85. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
  29. ↑ Ed Greenwood & Elaine Cunningham (May 2006). The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 8, p. 148. ISBN 0-7869-4004-2.
  30. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2020-02-01). Refrigeration. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved on 2025-04-17.
  31. ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1996). Stormlight. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 8, p. 133. ISBN 0-7869-0520-4.
  32. ↑ Ed Greenwood (June 2007). Swords of Dragonfire. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 28, p. 313. ISBN 0-7869-4022-0.
  33. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
  34. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
  35. ↑ Ed Greenwood (September 2001). “Elminster's Guide to the Realms: Shadowdark House”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #287 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 72.
  36. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  37. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 199. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  38. ↑ Erin Evans (February 2010). The God Catcher. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 15, p. ?. ISBN 978-0-7869-5486-5.
  39. ↑ Erik Scott de Bie (Spring 2010). Undermountain: Halaster's Lost Apprentice. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51.
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