Table Of Content(cid:147)These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten(cid:151)and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding.(cid:148)
(cid:151)Alaundo of Candlekeep
Cyclopedia of the Realms
Table of Contents
Introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About this Product ..............................................................5
Time in the Realms ..............................................................6
Names in the Realms .............................................................7
Languages of the Realms .........................................................8
Currency in the Realms ..........................................................9
Religion in the Realms ...........................................................10
Cyclopedia Entries ..............................................................19
Anauroch Map ..................................................................23
Arabel Map ....................................................................24
Cormyr Map ...................................................................33
Cormyr Royal Lineage ...........................................................34
DalelandsMap ..................................................................36
Immersea Map ..................................................................53
Mages(cid:146) Sigils .................................................................58,59
Merchant Company Banners ......................................................63
Myth Drannor Maps ..........................................................66,67
Scornubel Map .................................................................75
Old Skull Inn Map ...............................................................76
Shadowdale Map ................................................................78
Suzail Map ..................................................................82,83
Westgate Map ...............................................................90,91
Zhentil Keep Network. ...........................................................93
Appendix: The Shadowdale Census .................................................94
Credits Graphic Design: Stephanie Tabat
Calligraphy (Runes, Sigils, Languages): Paula M. Holz
Design: Ed Greenwood Deity/Faith Symbols: David E. Martin
Design and Development: Jeff Grubb Typography: Betty Elmore
Editing: Karen S. Martin
Cover Art: Keith Parkinson
Interior Art: Jeff Easley, Keith Parkinson, Tim Conrad Printed in the U.S.A.
Cartography: Diesel, Dave Sutherland, Dennis & Ron Kauth ISBN 0-88038-472-7
1031
TSR, Inc. TSR UK Ltd.
POB 756 The Mill, Rathmore Road
Lake Geneva, WI Cambridge CB1 4AD
53147 United Kingdom
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, FORGOTTEN REALMS, PRODUCTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION, and the TSR logo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.
Distributed to the book trade in the United States by Random House Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distribu-
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©1987 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Introduction
T
hat which follows is a brief intro- cal energies, allowing them to perform
duction to the world of the Forgot- mighty tasks. Others receive such abili-
ten Realms, with hopes to entertain, ties with the blessing of extra-planar
illuminate, and provide information in beings known as Powers. These magic-
campaigns using the ADVANCED users and clerics can reshape the face
DUNGEONS & DRAGONSfi system. This of the world, and indeed have done so
tome and the cyclopedia it contains, over the millennia. Hills and forests
with its companion volume, the DM(cid:146)s may appear where there have been
Sourcebook of the Realms, should allow none before, and mountains may move
the creation of an individual campaign several miles. A great sandy waste has
setting using this world. been moving further south in the heart
The Forgotten Realms are a world of the Realms, matched by a sheet of
very similar to the Earth of the 13th and ice, equally relentless, to its east. Nei-
14th centuries. Most of the area under ther of these may be the fault of nature
discussion here has until recently been alone, but the meddling of spell-casters,
covered by wild forests and unsettled human and otherwise.
grasslands. Civilization is still a novelty Finally, the Realms are a land of
in much of this world, even the oldest adventure, and therefore adventurers.
of cities on the Inland Sea, or the found- It is the time of heroes, when one man
ing of Waterdeep, the greatest City of of pure heart (or with a powerful arti-
the North, are within the memory of fact) may hold his own against enemy
the oldest living elves of Evermeet. hordes, where legions of evil forces
The people of these realms (including may muster and be destroyed by the
man, dwarf, elf, gnome, and halfling) actions of a few, where the nations rise
are similar in mindset and advance- and fall on magical tides which mere
ment to the men of the 13th century. men can control. It is a time when the
City-states are common, and nations on bold and the lucky may make their for-
the increase as more of the wild lands tunes and gain great power over their
are pushed back and gathered under a worlds.
single king or government. Skills such The information presented herein is
as metalworking, farming, and craft- as known to myself, those about me in
industry are common in the civilized the lands north and west of the Sea of
lands, so that swords and heavy metal Fallen Stars, and those I have encoun-
armor are all-too available to the war- tered in my travels. On my word as a
rior. Literacy and the quest for knowl- sage nothing within these pages is false,
edge in on the rise, with the recent but not all of it may prove to be true. All
introduction of printed hand-bills in stories presented are as I have heard
Waterdeep. The merchants-class is them and had them recorded, all infor-
increasing in both wealth and power as mation is checked as best as possible
more markets and resources open up. given the limited resources of an old
Faith, while not as dominant as in man in a small town (even if that old
Europe of this period, is a major force man has the power to flatten moun-
in the lives of the people. tains, mind you). As you adventure in
There are great differences between this fantasy world, be warned that not
that world and this as well. Great beasts all things are as they appear, and trust
and evil humanoids wander the wild (and to your wits, your weapons, and your
not-so-wild) country of the Forgotten common sense in surviving and profit-
Realms. Ruins of ancient cities and tow- ing from the Forgotten Realms.
ers may be found among the under-
brush, old lands and names that are lost
to memory and the past. And there is As recorded by Lhaeo, Scribe to the
magic. Sage ELMINSTER OF SHADOWDALE,
Some individuals of the Forgotten 30th and last day of Nightal, Year of the
Realms have the ability to channel magi- Prince, 1357 Dalereckoning
4
About this Product
T
he FORGOTTEN REALMS(cid:153) Boxed which are of interest or influence in the from the texts of the Sage of Sha-
set contains two books, four maps, area (such as the land of Red Wizards, dowdale, this section includes all
and two sets of plastic overlays. The Thay) are included as well, as are local manner of details, notes, gossip,
plastic overlays are used to determine legends and stories that might easily be legends, tales, and other general
distances in the realms without need of known to those living in these times. information on the area or indi-
overlaying hexes or other grids on the The second book, The DM(cid:146)s Source- viduals encountered.
surfaces of the maps themselves. Two book of the Realms, is written to
GAME INFORMATION: Often,
of the maps are drawn to provide a gen- emphasize the use of the Realms for the l
something will be mentioned in
eral overview of the Realms, running AD&Dfi game system, including tables
the section of Elminster(cid:146)s Notes
from the Moonshae Isles in the west to and information necessary for running
which may require further expla-
the land of Thay in the east, and from a campaign, advice on the different
nation for the AD&D game player,
the Spine of The World Mountains in types or styles of campaigns, some sam-
such as suspected levels of a ruler
the North to the Jungles of Chult in the ple adventures, and items specially
or guard-captain, the numbers of
south. These maps have been drawn geared to the FORGOTTEN REALMS
a patrol or armed force, or stats
with that information available to our setting.
for ships or types of alcohol. Rath-
representative in the Realms, Elminster This book is divided in two portions:
er than digress in the text, or refer
the Sage, and represents what is known the first a general overview on the
the curious game-player to
of those lands from the mindset of the Realms and those things common to
another section, those topics are
Dalelands and Cormyr. most of the Realms (Currency, Calen-
covered under this heading.
The other two maps are detailed dar, major gods, and language), the sec-
blow-ups of sections of the former ond being a Cyclopedia section, which Also provided within this text are var-
maps, covering that region from the is an alphabetical description of the ious and sundry maps of cities and
Sword Coast to The Dragon Reach in major regions of the Realms, their towns within the Realms, ranging from
great detail, for use in adventuring races, and the power groups which Scornubel the Trade-city to Suzail, capi-
through the Realms. As more of the influence the world. tal of Cormyr, to Shadowdale(cid:151)a very
world is fully explored, more maps of The Cyclopedia entries are further small town with some very powerful
this and scale will be made available for split into three sections. They are: protectors. The City of Splendors,
use in Realms-related products. AT A GLANCE: This is information Waterdeep, is mentioned in passing,
l
The book you are reading, The Cyclo- readily available to individuals in and a full description of the largest city
pedia of the Realms, is intended as a the Realms, such as how a town in the North is left to a project which
general overview of life in the Forgot- looks when riding into it (is it can do justice to the space required to
ten Realms, concentrating on those walled or open? Are there trading discuss it. Also included here is the Cen-
areas best-known to our source. That is companies? Any large temples?). It sus of the town of Shadowdale, taken
to say, this book concentrates primarily is a brief summary of information from its (cid:147)Book Of Days,(cid:148) on the eve of a
on those areas detailed in the large- with a minimum of detail. recent battle, to note the typical inhab-
scale maps. Areas beyond their borders itants of such an area.
ELMINSTER(cid:146)S NOTES: Culled
l
5
TIME IN THE REALMS
3. Ches of the Sunsets. March often continues for the length of the
harvest, so that there is always food for
The calendar and roll of 4. Tarsakh of the Storms. April
those coming in from the fields. There
years
Special Day: Greengrass is much traveling about on the heels of
the feast, as merchants, court emis-
The following calendar is specifically 5. Mirtul; The Melting. May
saries, and pilgrims make speed ere the
tailored for the kingdom of Cormyr.
6. Kythorn; The Time of Flowers. worst of the mud arrives and the rain
The year consists of 365 days: 12
June freezes in the snow.
months of exactly 30 days each (due to
the single moon and its followers), plus 7. Flamerule; Summertide. July The Feast of the Moon is the last great
festival of the year. It marks the arrival
5 days that fall between months. These Special Day: Midsummer
of winter, and is also the day when the
days are special occasions. Leap year is
8. Eleasias; Highsun. August dead are honored. Graves are blessed,
retained purely for social convenience,
the Ritual of Remembrance performed,
and provides a sixth special day that is 9. Eleint; The Fading. September
and tales of the doing of those now gone
used as the basis for long-term agree-
Special Day: Higharvestide are told far into the night. Much is said
ments and such.
of heroes and treasure and lost cities
Months are subdivided into three ten- 10. Marpenoth; Leafall. October
underground.
day periods. These are known various-
11. Uktar; The Rotting. November Once every four years, another day is
ly as (cid:147)eves,(cid:148) (cid:147)tendays,(cid:148) (cid:147)domen,(cid:148) (cid:147)hyrar,(cid:148)
added to the year in the manner of Feb-
or (cid:147)rides(cid:148) throughout the Forgotten Special Day: The Feast of the Moon
ruary 29 in the Gregorian calendar.
Realms. Rides is the standard term used
12. Nightal; The Drawing Down. This day is part of no month, and fol-
in Cormyr and the Dalelands, and is
December lows Midsummer Night. It is known as
used for reference in these texts.
the Shieldmeet. It is a day of open coun-
Although the months themselves are Special Calendar Days
cil between nobles and people; a day for
standardized, the system of dating var-
the making and renewing of pacts,
ies from place to place. Usually, years Midwinter is known officially as the
oaths, and agreements; tournaments,
are numbered from an event of great High Festival of Winter. It is a feast
tests and trials for those wishing to
political or religious significance; each where, traditionally, the lords of the
advance in battle fame or clerical stand-
nation or region has cultures with land plan the year ahead, make and
ing; for entertainment of all types, par-
unique histories, and thus different renew alliances, and send gifts of good-
ticularly theatrical; and for dueling.
reckonings. The system in naming the will. To the commonfolk, this is
Wars, by the way, are often but not
months is named for its inventor, the Deadwinter Day, the midpoint of the
always fought after the harvest is done,
long-dead wizard Harptos of Kaalinth, worst of the cold.
continuing as late as the weather per-
and is in use throughout the North. Greengrass is the official beginning of
mits. The bulk of the fighting takes
spring, a day of relaxation. Flowers that
The Calendar Of Harptos have been carefully grown in inner place in the month of Uktar, and the
ironic practicality of the Feast of the
rooms of the keeps and temples during
The name of each month in the Calen- Moon is readily apparent.
the winter are blessed and cast out
dar of Harptos is listed below, from the Years ((cid:147)winters(cid:148)) are referred to by
upon the snow, to bring rich growth in
beginning of a calendar year to the end. names, each one consistent across the
the season ahead.
Each month(cid:146)s name is followed by a col- Realms, because each kingdom or city-
Midsummer, called Midsummer Night
loquial description of that month, plus state numbers years differently, usually
or the Long Night, is a time of feasting
the corresponding month of the Grego- to measure the reign of a dynasty or the
and music and love. In a ceremony per-
rian calendar in parentheses. current monarch, or since the founding
formed in some lands, unwed maidens
Special days are listed when they of the country. The current year is 1332
are set free in the woods and (cid:147)hunted(cid:148)
occur between months and appear in in Cormyr, and 1357 in the Dales
by their would-be suitors throughout
italic type. Each special day is described (Dalereckoning, or DR). The Cormyr
the night. Betrothals are traditionally
in a paragraph following the calendar Reckoning derives from the foundation
made upon this night. It is very rare
itself. of House Obarskyr, the dynasty which
indeed for the weather to be bad dur-
still rules that land. Dalereckoning is
ing the night(cid:151)such is considered a very
1. Hammer; Deepwinter. January taken from the year that men were first
bad omen, usually thought to foretell
permitted by the Elven Court to settle
Special Day: Midwinter famine or plague.
in the more open regions of the forests.
Higharvestide heralds the coming of
2. Alturiak; The Claw of Winter, or The Dates given within this tome are in
fall and the harvest. It is a feast that
Claws of the Cold. February Dalereckoning for the sake of conven-
6
ience, though other regions will have event. (There are a large number of depending on where they were raised,
their own methods of reckoning the (cid:147)trollkillers(cid:148) in the Realms, more a and change back and forth several
passage of the years. credit to the numbers of the monsters times.
Names for the years are known as the rather than the prowess of their slay- Dwarves. Dwarves have a very
Roll of Years, as they are drawn from ers.) In the course of a lifetime, an aver- strong sense of their past and the
predictions written down under that age human can take and discard several heroes in their families. They carry
title by the famous Lost Sage, Augathra surnames, keeping his (cid:147)given(cid:148) name only a first name, followed by the quali-
the Mad, with a few additions by the throughout. fier of heritage. The lowest dwarves
seer Alaundo (for further information Human Nobles and Gentry. These attach themselves to their state, such as
on Alaundo see entry under Candle- individuals tend to retain the (cid:147)family (cid:147)Mongor of the Iron House.(cid:148) Dwarves
keep). The Roll is a long one; here is the name,(cid:148) a name usually derived from the with a hero or dwarf of renown in their
relevant portion of it. individual who established the family(cid:146)s heritage may use the appellation (cid:147)son
fame, position, or prowess. Such names of(cid:148) or (cid:147)grandson of(cid:148) such as (cid:147)Thelarn,
YEAR OF THE DRAGON (1352 DR)
are retained even after the nobility has son of Mongoth.(cid:148) Beyond two genera-
YEAR OF THE ARCH (1353 DR)
fallen from grace or power. For exam- tions, the phrase (cid:147)blood of(cid:148) is used, but
YEAR OF THE BOW (1354 DR)
ple, the Wyvernspurs of Cormyr, while only for the greatest dwarven leaders,
YEAR OF THE HARP (1355 DR)
still well off, are significantly less pow- as in (cid:147)Nor, blood of Ghellin, king-in-exile
YEAR OF THE WORM (1356 DR)
erful than the days when they were of the Iron House.(cid:148)
YEAR OF THE PRINCE (1357 DR(cid:151)
advisors to the king. Again, special Gnomes. These quiet people use both
year just ending).
names for events or appearances are given and surnames, and maintain long-
YEAR OF THE SHADOWS (1358 DR)
common. standing family ties, such that a third
YEAR OF THE SERPENT (1359 DR)
Human Magic-users. Magic-users name, for location, may be necessary.
YEAR OF THE TURRENT (1360 DR)
tend to eschew long titles and names, For example, outside of his home land,
YEAR OF THE MAIDENS (1361 DR)
and the general feeling is that a mage(cid:146)s Wysdor Sandminer may have to be
YEAR OF THE HELM (1362 DR)
fame should precede him, such that a known as (cid:147)Wysdor Sandminer, of the
YEAR OF THE WYVERN (1363 DR)
single mention of the name is sufficient, Sandminers of Arabel,(cid:148) to avoid con-
YEAR OF THE WAVE (1364 DR)
and no one would doubt the speaker stant discussions with other gnomes
YEAR OF THE SWORD (1365 DR)
was refering to anyone else but the gen- that may or may not be close relations.
YEAR OF THE STAFF (1366 DR)
uine article. For example, there may Halfings. Halflings are similar to the
YEAR OF THE SHIELD (1367 DR)
well be an Elminster the Barber, or gnomes in the fact that they both given
YEAR OF THE BANNER (1368 DR)
Elminster of Waterdeep, but the refer- and surnames, but both those names
ence of (cid:147)Elminster(cid:148) (or even the more may change over time, and be over-
NAMES IN THE REALMS
modest (cid:147)Elminster the Sage(cid:148)) refers to lapped with nicknames for adventures,
The system of naming is wide and var- the advisor without peer who resides in physical abilities, and pet or diminutive
ied in the realms, with many local cus- Shadowdale. names, and in addition, may be lost
toms common. Player characters may Human Clerics. Identifications of the behind a maze of pseudonyms and false
carry one- or two-part names, nick- faiths of the realms are usually included backgrounds. For example, the halfling
names, titles, or pseudonyms in their in a name, supplanting any family or Corkitron Allinamuck chose both first
career. General guidelines on naming noble names. Amaster, Cleric of and last names (his parents were
are as follows. Tymora can be referred to as (cid:147)Amaster named Burrows), and goes by the dimi-
Common Humanity. The greater bulk of Tymora(cid:148) without incident. In higher nuitive (cid:147)Gorky(cid:148) and the nickname (cid:147)High
of humanity takes a single name, such church circles, involving leaders of par- Roll.(cid:148) The last comes from his penchant
as (cid:147)Doust(cid:148) or (cid:147)Mourngrym,(cid:148) with a sec- ticular temples or faiths, the full title is for dicing for treasure, saying (cid:147)High
ondary name added if there is confu- important, such as (cid:147)Asgaorth of Tem- Roll gets it!(cid:148) If the others agree to such a
sion, either from profession ((cid:147)Doust the pus, Patriarch of Baldur(cid:146)s Gate.(cid:148) deal, the halfling feels no qualm,
Fighter(cid:148)), location ((cid:147)Doust of Shadow- Elves. (cid:147)The People(cid:148) have family regardless of the dice, taking his (cid:147)right-
dale(cid:148)), or lineage (the latter in particular names, which they tend to translate ful property(cid:148) from the others. (After all,
back into common as nicknames, so they did agree that (cid:147)High Roll(cid:148) would
if some legendary figure was in the
family line, such as (cid:147)Doust, Grandson of that there will be families of get it.)
Miniber the Sage(cid:148)). In addition, an name (cid:147)Strongbows(cid:148) or (cid:147)Starglows(cid:148) in the Other Races. Most of the other races
may be added for a physical condition, world. Such family names are impor- make do with a single name, and fur-
such as (cid:147)Blackmane(cid:148) or (cid:147)Firehair,(cid:148) of for tant in that elvish siblings can be hun- ther clarification as need be (a centaur
some legendary or extraordinary dreds of years apart in age. Half-elves named Aldophus may be called
take Elvish or Human naming fashions, Aldophus the Roan, for example). Orcs
7
and goblins tend to use proper names Thieves, druids, and illusionists also rune-symbols that are universally rec-
only when they need to, the rest of time have their own special languages, in ognized. They are as follows.
using a native word that translates as addition to (cid:147)the High Tongue(cid:148) in which
(cid:147)Hey You!(cid:148) in everyday speech (a true runes of power (i.e. (cid:147)magic,(cid:148) as magic (cid:147)MODERN COMMON(cid:148)
speaker of the orcish tongue can put a users know it) are set down. Almost all
The written common tongue, which is
great deal of venom behind the word, intelligent creatures you might
presented in these writing as English, is
such that fights can start in bars at its encounter can understand and speak
a descendent of Thorass, the original
mention). (cid:147)common(cid:148) (the trade-tongue of men,
trade-language. Literacy in this tongue
spoken with little variance all across the
is rare (and taken as a separate lan-
LANGUAGES OF THE known Realms), although they may pre-
guage), as most individuals use runes
tend not to.
REALMS for conveying information.
From region to region of the Realms
Most people north and east of the Sea of Common may have different accents RUATHLEK
Fallen Stars are literate, at least to some and slightly different vocabularies,
degree. This is not the case, travelers influenced by other local human and The (cid:147)secret language(cid:148) or magical script
and tutors have intimated, throughout nonhuman tongues. While a native of of illusionists is rarely found in the
the Realms. Westgate, southern Sem- Thay will be able to communicate with Realms. Illusionists themselves are fair-
bia, and perhaps Hillsfar are the pre- a denizen of Baldur(cid:146)s Gate, each will be ly rare in the North(cid:151)but Waterdeep is
dominantly literate areas in the vicinity, aware of the other(cid:146)s ridiculous accent. known to hold at least one library of
and Waterdeep on the Sword Coast; In a similar fashion, non-human books in that dweomer-guarded
elsewhere (cid:147)trust to your tongue,(cid:148) as tongues each belong to the same lin- tongue. It has been surmised that this
wayfarers say. guistic tree, so that elves native to written (cid:147)secret language(cid:148) of the illu-
Note that every alignment has its own Evereska, Evermeet, and the Elven sionists is derived from the use of magi-
special tongue, understandable usually Court may understand each other (bar- cal runes.
only to those of like alignment. Such ring again local dialects and accent). To
tongues are very basic, able to commu- humans, an (cid:147)elvish common(cid:148) is THORASS (Auld Common)
nicate acceptance or disagreement, referred to simply as elvish, and the Thorass, or the written trade-tongue
emotions, and favored concepts or (cid:147)dwarvish common(cid:148) as dwarvish. and universal language of the long-ago
beliefs (for example, (cid:147)lawful(cid:148) beings Realms (often found in tombs, under-
Written languages
could discuss (cid:147)justice(cid:148) and its adminis- ground ways and habitations, and
tration). Alignment tongues are not Written tongues are much rarer than even(cid:151)still in current use(cid:151)in certain
used with strangers, and so are viewed spoken languages, for most races have southern areas of the Realms) is the
as offensive (in the least) and hostile (at no use for them beyond the standard ancestor of the Common Tongue. Trou-
worst). bled times across North (when the
8
Description:Paperback copy of complete Cyclopedia of the Realms
