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Kyrene
Senior Scribe

South Africa
757 Posts

Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:09:00  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
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  • A battle-death is a holy ending” – Common:- (devout worshippers of Tempus salute corpses, burials, and graves with murmurs of “Holy ending!”) a Tempuran homily (temple saying) that is considered a proverb of the faith (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • A cave with a hatch is only a cave; a cave with a hinged door is a home” – Common:- an old halfling saying (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • A fair fallhammer!” – Common:- a dwarven saying expressing something satisfyingly good, such as a meal, a brawl, a decision, or victorious confrontation (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • A lie spread often enough with money to attend it becomes as much truth as a coin is round” – Common:- an Amnian saying about purposely spreading rumours (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • A life lost in dreams is a life wasted” – Common:- a local Nimbran saying, referring to life in Nimbral before the Loss of Leira (on one hand the simple, necessary labour of fishing and forestry, and on the other the never-ending “dream deceptions” practiced by all Nimbrese upon each other) (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Six by Ed Greenwood)

  • A little down!” – Common:- (originally accompanied by letting a sparse handful of sand or gravel fall from one’s palm) is the dwarven expression meaning “So it goes!” (or, to modern, real-world speakers, a variant on “That’s the way the cookie crumbles!”) (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • a little sun” – Common:- the formal or bardic Silvaeren term for a gold coin (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • A person’s gotta be smarter than your average Jathrin” – Common:- a local Jathrin’s Jump saying, referring to the execution of the outlaw Jathrin who was thrown from the top of a cliff to the rocks far below (giving this backwoods Turmian settlement its name) (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • A proper Moonhunt Down” – Common:- an expression, current in the later days of Myth Drannor and preserved in old ballads and writings, that refers to a hard-fought battle or sorcerous spell-duel (Polyhedron #106)

  • a proper tarunter” – Common:- see “tarunter”

  • a real hawksnarl” – Common:- see “hawksnarl”

  • a real Zundle party” – Common:- a Cormyrean term often used to describe a disorganized or boring event, dinner, or affair (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • A reaver is a scythe gone mad” – Common:- an old Vaasan saying, referring to the whirling flash and scissoring scrape of the blades filling the air when used by labourers in the field (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • A sharp appearance is more deadly than a sharp sword” – Common:- an elven witticism (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • A wild sea calls only wild souls” – Common:- a favourite saying among Inner Sea sailors (Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • aasimon’s skin” – Common:- see “Angelar’s skin”

  • Abeiran” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Abeir, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Returned Abeir, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (So saith Ed - September 3, 2008)

  • about as bold as ditchweed” – Common:- an Amnian expression of disgust at cowardice (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • Abyssal” – Common:- a term applied to the collective creatures of the Abyss, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to anything belonging to, or resembling the Abyss

  • Accursed, the” – Common:- a term for drow used by other elves (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • adamant” – Common:- the pure metal form of the hard, jet-black ferromagnetic ore known as “adamantite,” from which the famous alloy “adamantine” is made (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • adamantine” – Common:- an Amnian term implying a self-made success’s highest rank or someone of first-generation money at highest rank; an alloy of “adamant,” silver and electrum; it can also be derived by combining steel and “mithral”–if one knows how (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend; Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • adamantite” – Common:- see “adamant”

  • Adbarrim” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Citadel Adbar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • aenar” – Common:- a gold coin of Tethyr (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • aerister” – Elven:- teacher (Another Name for Dawn by Paul S. Kemp)

  • aes” – Elven:- hunted (Another Name for Dawn by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Again” – Common:- an annoyed, curt, or sarcastic version of “Well again” (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Aglarondan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Aglarond, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • agni mani” – Common:- a black, irregularly shaped glasslike ornamental stone that has fallen from the sky in meteoritic form to crash among the sands of Anauroch and other Faerûnian deserts (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Ah, the infinite wonders of the Abyss. If there’s anything you don’t like, you’ll find it here” – Common:- a common Abyssal saying (For Duty & Deity by Dale Donovan)

  • aha’ss” – Yuan-ti:- a term for a yuan-ti’s family bloodkin (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Akadian” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Akadi (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Alae” – Common:- (a contraction of an old Elven phrase of the same meaning) a greeting (and reassurance of peaceful intentions) between travellers in the southern and eastern coastlands around the Sea of Fallen Stars, meaning: “Fortunate meeting” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Alavairthae!” – Common:- a parting used by the Red Wizards of Thay, meaning: “May your skill prevail!” (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • alestone” – Common:- a term for clinozoisite (a complex sorosilicate mineral of calcium and aluminium) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • algae” – Common:- a quartz ornamental stone that is covered with rich, dark brown, wavy patterns (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • All rogues meet in Oeble” – Common:- an old Borderer saying, warning that Oeble is not a place for the faint of heart, innocent, or unwary (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • All the boys’d be after her in Zundle” – Common:- same as “He’d cut quite a dash in Zundle”

  • allgoods shop” – Common:- a Semban term for a general store (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • aloft” – Common:- as we would use the term “upstairs” (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • alorn” – Common:- a “Warsword” rank equivalent to a lieutenant (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • alphran” – Common:- a plant with edible leaves (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • alunsree” – Elven:- a term for doppelgangers used by elves and humans (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • Aluve” – Drow:- a parting used by drow, meaning: “I/we leave you” (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Alzhedo” – Common:- the native tongue of Calishites (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Amarast!” – Common:- a parting used by sailors of the South, meaning: “Farewell until next we meet!” (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • amaratha” – Common:- (also known as “shieldstone”) a soft, greenish white or very pale green, sparkling type of jewel (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Amaunatori” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Amaunator (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • amaunauth” – Common:- (also known as “greenflower”) a hardy broadleaf ground-weed with rich green leaves, which open in a starburst close to the ground; it grows across colder areas of the North, from the Dessarin Valley north to where ice or snow always lies (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • amlakkar” – Alzhedo:- a term for Calimport’s police force (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • amlakkhan” – Alzhedo:- a garrison and armoury for amlakkar (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Amnian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Amn, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Amphailan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Amphail, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • Anaurian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Anauroch, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • andar” – Common:- a term for andalusite (an aluminium nesosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Angelar’s skin” – Common:- (also known as “aasimon’s skin”) a fine pink coral suitable for use in jewellery (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Angulutiuns, the” – Common:- part of the easternmost group of Ulutiuns inhabiting the Great Glacier (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Arabellan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Arabel, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • arambar” – Common:- the residual energy of an ancient and vastly powerful primordial, Arambar (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • arandur” – Common:- once the exclusive secret of the gnomes, this legendary metal has since been worked by elven smiths of Evereska and Evermeet (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • archon” – Common:- (also known as “Blue John”) is the name by which fluorspar in large quantities of less desirable colour and grade is known in the Realms (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • ardavanshee” – Elven:- (literally “restless young ones”) a term for young elves (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • ardrent” – Common:- a purple-brown powder derived from ground-up “leap-bugs”; it remains inert (also resisting moulds and rotting) unless combined with “osbra” and moistened (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Are ye sure ye’re not from Zundle?” – Common:- a Cormyrean phrase, meaning: “Are you crazy?” (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Arkhan” – Common:- the title of the monarchs of the great empire of Raumathar (The Grand History of the Realms by Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood, George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas Costa)

  • Arkhenfolk” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Archendale (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • armar” – Common:- a “watchman” or “Wintershield” rank equivalent to a corporal (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • armathor” – Elven:- a knighthood, with citizenship granted to reside in the elven realm in Cormanthor (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • armsman” – Common:- a guard or soldier of low rank (Crown of Fire and Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Shadows of Doom by Ed Greenwood; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • arndel” – Common:- a Semban word for a small cabin in “upcountry” Sembia (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Arntarmar!” – Common:- (in reference to a long-ago mortal war-hero who worked wondrous victories in the name of Tempus, and died willingly on a battlefield to allow wounded and children to escape while he singlehandedly held off a vastly more numerous foe in a narrow gorge) a Tempuran specific “Jesus Christ!” (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • Arrowflight, the” – Common:- the street that runs between the Northgate and the Southgate, via Dalebridge and Southgate Square, in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Art, the” – Common:- a term that means the use of arcane magic (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • arundoon” – Common:- a cold, sticky sauce (Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood)

  • As goes Waterdeep, so goes the North” – Common:- a saying, referring to the City of Splendors’s control of most of the trade in the North (The Savage Frontier by Paul Jaquays)

  • As straight as a deal in the Jump” – Common:- a common catchphrase for activities involving more than a slight degree of danger used throughout the Reach (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • As ugly as a Dragonspear orc” – Common:- a local saying in the settlements around the High Moor for anything that is very, very ugly (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • As useless as a sword in Halarahh” – Common:- a saying, describing the favourable treatment and promotions, in all walks of life, that come to those who “have the gift” and somehow elude those who lack magical aptitude in the Halruaan capital (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Ashes!” – Common:- a curse often uttered by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Athkatlan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Athkatla, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • aumrara” – Common:- a soluble amber liquid that is unaffected by alcohol and causes a harmless burning sensation on contact with flesh (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Aurilian” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Auril (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • autharch” – Common:- a Thayan bureaucrat appointed by a “tharchion” (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • auvrael” – Yuan-ti:- see “vrael olo

  • avauntance” – Common:- boasting (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Avowed, the” – Common:- a term the monks of Candlekeep refer to themselves as (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Realmslore: Trusting in Lore, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Axe high, friend. I go” – Common:- a parting used by dwarves (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Ayalt” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Kythorn (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Ayrar, the” – Common:- the head of “the Ayrorch” (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Ayrorch, the” – Common:- a council of twelve that rules Lantan (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Azuposi” – Common:- see “Maztican”

  • Azuthan” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Azuth (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)


  • Mod Edit: Applied some adhesive to this particular scroll.

    Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 01 May 2024 10:30:35

    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:11:24  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    B
  • backers” – Common:- persons sworn to conduct or wind up one’s affairs in accordance with written instructions (or, failing that, best business practices) in the event of one’s death, sudden mysterious absence, or known kidnapping or illness (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • backland” – Common:- a general term for any rural area (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Badaulder!” – Common:- the western Heartlands expression for “Bullsh*t!” or “Hogwash!” (its usage is creeping into Cormyr right now, headed for Sembia, the Dales, and the Moonsea; more jocular than deadly insulting; much used in mercantile negotiations) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • bakkal” – Alzhedo:- the title of the priest-rulers of Coramshan and First-Age Calimshan (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • baktun” – Payit:- a period of 400 years (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • baktunob” – Payit:- plural of “baktun” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • Baldurian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Baldur’s Gate, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Banite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Bane (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • banner” – Common:- a male prostitute (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • Barbarian North, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Barbaric Lands, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Barbaric North, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • barbfish” – Common:- a type of mud shark found scavenging at the bottom of the River Specie (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • barbjaws” – Common:- the local Uth term for catfish (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • barellar” – Common:- (derived from the Gnomish “bellarra”) is a hunt to kill beasts, either for food or sport (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • barrelstalk” – Common:- a large, cask-shaped fungus with tough and woody outer layers and edible inner flesh (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • battered dwarf weather” – Common:- a human term for violent electrical storms, hurricane winds, and avalanches (Polyhedron #71)

  • Battledarrans” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Battledale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Beast-Men” – Common:- a general term for ogres (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Bedine” – Common:- a term applied to the nomads of Anauroch (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • bedoar” – Common:- a silver coin of Cormanthyr (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka; Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • bedwarmer” – Common:- a Semban word for a prostitute (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • beetle palm” – Common:- a tree (named for their black bark, which looks like a beetle’s carapace) found mainly in the mid-wood of the great forest Cormanthor (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Before all the gods” – Common:- “I swear to you” (emphatic, imploring: implies strong emotion) (Polyhedron #71)

  • being an ox-haunch” – Common:- as we would say “behaving like a jackass” (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • beljuril” – Common:- (also known as “fireflash” or “fireflashil”) normally a deep, pleasant, sea water green jewel found as smooth-surfaced, asymmetrical (but roughly spherical), fist-sized stones; beljurils periodically blaze with a sparkling, winking, flashing light (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • bell” – Common:- in cities, temples, and monasteries, the equivalent of hours are so many “bells” (a bell is rung) or “candles” (which do visibly burn down) from or to a measurable event (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005)

  • bellarra” – Gnomish:- same as “barellar”

  • belpren” – Common:- a luminescent blue, acidic substance that corrodes flesh on contact but quickly becomes ineffective if exposed to air (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • Beltyn’s Last Drink” – Common:- see “lhurdas”

  • benightbite” – Common:- a glistening green poisonous jelly that is often hidden in fantastically-decorated feast desserts (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • Berduskan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Berdusk, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • berrygobbler” – Common:- a little chipmunk-like rodent (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Beshaban” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Beshaba (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Bhaalist” – Common:- a term (most favoured westward to the Sword Coast) formerly applied to the priests of Bhaal; a term also applied to the worshipers and the religion of Bhaal (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions; Faiths & Avatars by Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd)

  • bicenta” – Common:- a gold coin of Calimport (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Big Folk, the” – Common:- a term for humans (and other “big folk”) used by gnomes and halflings (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • bilberry” – Common:- a type of blueberry that grows on a shrub with many short, brittle branches and small round leaves found on the High Moor and in the Serpent Hills (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • birdpipes” – Common:- also known as “the shalm,” these are pan pipes; they are sacred to Lliira and the Free Folk, and popular with wood elven and wild elven bards (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • bison-gourd” – Common:- a plant local to Pelleor’s Prairie that spreads across large stretches of ground with runners dozens of feet long and producing large yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • bit” – Common:- the southern word for a copper coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • bitebolds” – Common:- a rude or vicious term for breasts (So saith Ed - May 23, 2004)

  • black as a black opal” – Common:- a phrase that means, effectively, not very black (or evil) at all; it is used to describe good-hearted rogues and similar individuals who would be embarrassed by praise (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy; Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • black bread” – Common:- small, round hardloaves of rich dark nutbread that fit in the hand (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Black Robe” – Common:- a term for a Waterdhavian magistrate (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd)

  • blackjack” – Common:- see “clelophane”

  • blackjaw” – Common:- a type of sullen, gliding ocean fish (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • blackslime” – Common:- a type of Zhentarim used poison (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • blackstick” – Common:- a sharpened “thordren” stick with just the sharp end charred, that works rather like a grease pencil; it can be re-sharpened and -charred easily and swiftly until all “used up” (Realmslore: Moon Doors of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - May 18, 2010)

  • blackwood” – Common:- see “zalantar”

  • blade” – Common:- the Tethyrian slang word for a paxar; (or “wastrelblade”) a young reckless, high-spirited, or pranksome youth, especially noble or wealthy (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend; So saith Ed - May 25, 2005)

  • Blade” – Common:- the lowest ranking (equivalent to a private) members of the City Watch, the Wintershield Watchmen or the Purple Dragons (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - February 8, 2019)

  • bladed tonguework” – Common:- malicious “tonguework” (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • bladesharp” – Common:- a feeling of unease (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • blandreth” – Common:- a three-legged, metal cooking pot (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • blazing proper ogurkh” – Common:- an exasperated dwarf’s straining-to-stay-polite comment on something that really upsets or irks him (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • blesséd” – Common/Elven:- (a contraction of “most-close-blesséd-kin”) immediate family (Realmslore: Dawntree, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • blethran” – Rashemi:- (translated as “sisterkin”) the term for a low-ranking hathran (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Blood of Tempus!” – Common:- see “Blood of the god!”

  • Blood of the god!” – Common:- a polite Tempuran oath (also uttered as: “Blood of Tempus!”) (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • bloodberry” – Common:- a poisonous bush with reddish-purple berries and reddish-green, heart-shaped leaves found in the region known as the Battle of Bones (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • Bloodflame!” – Common:- a curse often uttered by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • bloodflower” – Common:- a rare herb extinct everywhere else in Faerûn, is harvested in the Mhair Jungles to be made into a potent healing salve (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • bloodfruit” – Common:- see “luurden”

  • bloodlance” – Common:- the polite or formal term for an extermination expedition or killing raid, either to “put down” enough predatory beasts to make a route safer, or to slay intelligent foes in a skirmish or as part of an ongoing war (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • blood-note” – Common:- an IOU signed in blood by both (or all, if more than two) parties involved, and taken to the local Lord for the affixing of the royal seal, and sometimes used as a “letter of trade” (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • bloodpurge” – Common:- an herb, found in the depths of freshwater marshes polluted by magical and non-magical wastes, that can neutralize minor poisons (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • bloodsheet” – Common:- a street term for a “vaerance” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • bloodstaunch” – Common:- an herb, found in dry gullies in semi-arid temperate zones, it thickens blood very quickly upon direct contact, and so can be applied to open wounds to slow or stop bleeding (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • blowndown” – Common:- the local Uth term for any slate or tile, or “fragment thereof as large in any one dimension as the length of a man’s hand,” blown from the roof of any Uth building (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • blue eye” – Common:- the Cormyrean word for an electrum coin (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Blue John” – Common:- see “archon”

  • bluecap” – Common:- an inedible Underdark fungus, but its spores can be ground to make a nutritious, if bland, flour; an uncommon, mildly nutritious mushroom (if eaten raw; it has a slender white stem that curves slightly, and a pale blue cap) found growing on the High Moor (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick; Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • bluefin” – Common:- a term for tuna (Dragon Magazine #277; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • blueleaf” – Common:- a tree found north of Amn from the Sword Coast to Impiltur, although a rare few trees (“blueleafs”–not “blueleaves”) have been seen growing in Chessenta, Turmish, and the Border Kingdoms (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • bluestone” – Common:- a colloquial name for the ornamental stone sodalite (a sodium aluminium silicate mineral with chlorine; sometimes called ditroite–an igneous rock composed of orthoclase, elæolite, and sodalite) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • bluewood” – Common:- the wood of “blueleaf” trees grown with care by the Volodni, sculpted with wood shape, and then magically treated to be as hard as steel (Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • bluntquill” – Common:- a term for what we call a “hack writer” (a writer whose work indicates that quantity takes precedence over quality) (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • blurf” – Common:- “nonsense” (So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • blusterwing” – Common:- a term for grouse (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • boakhar” – Common:- a term for wulfenite (a lead molybdate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • boltran” – Common:- a wooden keg about double the size of a “smallkeg” (So saith Ed - July 31, 2010)

  • boomshroom” – Common:- a naturally occurring mushroom that explodes when disturbed (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • boots” – Common:- a traveller, usually seeking employment or good fortune; the polite term used in Cormyr and the Dales for warriors (militia, “wildblades,” and uniformed soldiers) used as cannon fodder (So saith Ed - May 25, 2005; So saith Ed - September 30, 2009)

  • Borderer” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of the Border Kingdoms (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Bow Gate” – Common:- a local Silvaeren name for the northern entry of Hunters’ Gate (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • bowshot” – Common:- a short-distance measurement (a “standard” length that an arrow can be sent, with a particular weight-draw of bow) used in Cormyr, Sembia, the Dales, and the Moonsea (So saith Ed - May 12, 2010)

  • Braeunk vhos trolkh!” – Goblin:- a parting used by hobgoblins, meaning: “If you die while I’m gone, do it quietly!” (with the unspoken addendum: “Because I wouldn’t want to miss the fun.”) (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • brandeen” – Common:- a term for stibiotantalite (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • brassla” – Common:- a traditional Luskanite dish of rice with eels, onions, fish, frogs, oysters, and mice (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • brawn” – Common:- the polite term used in Amn and Waterdeep for cannon fodder (So saith Ed - September 30, 2009)

  • Braze, The” – Common:- the official name for horn calls (clearly audible all over Uthmere) made from the walls of the Lord’s compound (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • breath or two, a” – Common:- a term used by most Faerûnian humans where we would say “a moment or two” or “a second or two” (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • breath” – Common:- a short-term wait (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005)

  • brighthead” – Common:- the Silvaeren word for a silver coin (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • brightstar” – Common:- great, exciting, pleasing, marvellous, superb (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • bring a woman to the Woodsman’s War” – Common:- a phrase local to Tasseldale that has come to mean that a situation may turn deadly (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Brittle Bones” – Common:- a term for humans used by orcs (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • broad cries” – Common:- “broadsheet” headlines (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • broadcryer” – Common:- a “broadsheet” vendor so known for their common habit of calling out “broad cries” (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • broadsheet” – Common:- a Waterdhavian term for “short scroll” (after Haumbroad “the Humble,” a now-dead tireless producer of them, who through years of sheer persistence trained Waterdhavians to seek out and trust this form of news (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • bronze” – Common:- an Amnian term implying someone of the working class or a low-ranking imposter posing as someone of higher rank (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Brownfall” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Highharvestide (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • brownfists” – Common:- a Great Dale term for potatoes (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • buckar” – Common:- a type of herd animal of the Shining Plains (Spellfire by Ed Greenwood)

  • Bucksword’s Gate” – Common:- (named after the “wildblade” who died holding the gate’s shattered mouth against forty orcs one frigid night) an older local Silvaeren name for the northern entry of Hunters’ Gate (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • bun-loaves” – Common:- currant-studded “hardbread,” sometimes sliced into fingers (So saith Ed - June 3, 2009)

  • burdolin” – Common:- a type of flat, flavourful bottom-fish (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • bureaucrat’s stone” – Common:- see “Shou Lung emerald”

  • Burn me!” – Common:- a curse often uttered by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • burns me ogurkh” – Common:- the dwarven equivalent of “sticks in my craw” (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • burslake” – Common:- (often shortened simply to “slake”) a term for trout (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • bustard” – Common:- a term for turkey; a term for the decapitated, gutted, and declawed carcass of the large ground quail of the Evermoors (Dragon Magazine #277; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • but a little while” – Common:- a dwarven term for a period up to about three minutes (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • butter cone” – Common:- an edible plant (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • buy” – Common:- (as in: “Bought it!” or “Did you buy that?”) an Amnian term used to indicate acceptance of a deal, explanation, or plan (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • by the clocks of Neverwinter” – Common:- a phrase used to swear at petty perfectionism or to solemnly swear one’s honesty (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • By the flame that dieth not” – Common:- a formal oath often used by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 05 May 2024 09:18:17
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    Kyrene
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  • cairngorm” – Common:- a term for gritty yellow to brown smoky quartz (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • calan tree” – Common:- a stout, red-barked tree with deep brown wood found south and east of Mosstone in the Forest of Tethir and in all the woodlands south and east of there as far as northern Chult and the Shaar (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • calantra” – Common:- the heartwood of the “calan tree” (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Calauntan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Calaunt, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Calaunthead” – Common:- a deliberate outlander’s insult applied to the collective folk of Calaunt, heard most often among Inner Sea sailors (Polyhedron #74)

  • Caldruin” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Eleint (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • caleph” – Alzhedo:- (literally “king”) the ruler of Calimport (Calimport by Steven E. Schend; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • Calimpanni” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Calimport (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Calishite” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of dusky brown skinned humans (a bit shorter and of slighter build than other humans, whose ancestry dates back to the slaves brought from other worlds thousands of years ago), their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Calimshan, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • camel tree” – Common:- a deciduous tree with a decidedly large bulge about halfway up its thick-barked trunk found growing on the Prairie of Pelleor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • candle” – Common:- same as “bell”

  • candleglass time” – Common:- a phrase for the half hour centred on 9 p.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • cantel” – Common:- upswept horn-like projections, fore and aft of a saddle, that cradle (and for some war-saddles, even attempt to partially shield) the rider (typically of stout, smooth-carved and polished wood, and are pierced to allow a variety of metal rings to be affixed to them; this allows for belts, baldrics, and straps to be affixed so as to attach weapon scabbards, furled cloaks, slung javelins, helms, and so on); when combatants hew each other with swords so fiercely that pieces of flesh fly off them, those pieces are “cantels” or “cantles” (So saith Ed - December 5, 2008)

  • cantle” – Common:- see “cantel

  • Captain of the Guard” – Common:- the highest ranking member of “the Cudgels” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • Captain of the Ursuman Guard” – Common:- the highest ranking member of “the Ursuman Guard” (Halflings in Chessenta: The Bard of Adder Swamp)

  • Captain of the Watch, the” – Common:- a “watchman” rank equivalent to a lieutenant general (Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • captain” – Common:- an outsider’s term for any officer controlling a patrol of “the City Watch” (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • cassil” – Common:- a small shrub similar to a mustard plant (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Castle Parchment” – Common:- a local Semban name for the House of Ravens, a central records office in Ordulin (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • catclaw” – Common:- a prostitute who likes rough sex or domination, or who will for coin try to seduce others, or act the role of a slave, spouse, conquered war-captive or former rival who is now a willing lover (in other words, benefit or enhance the status of a paying client by her acting, from wearing chains and willingly accepting abuse to pretending to have been smitten by the sexual prowess of the client) (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • cautel” – Common:- (literally means “a small bloody piece of flesh”) a word that means a triangular, flattish wedge or slice of meat in Dragon Reach cookery (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • cave creeper” – Common:- a gray-and-white fungus that flourishes near water and emits spores that cause cave terrors (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • cave flowers” – Common:- see “crystal flowers”

  • cave moss” – Common:- an inedible moss found only in faerzress-rich regions, but is a favourite grazing food of some giant vermin, as well as rothé (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • Caztul!” – Common:- a Tempuran specific “F*ck!” expressing profane shock or disgust (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • cetay” – Payit:- a great well used as a cistern (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • chain” – Common:- a linear measurement (using a surveyor’s chain; chains rather than rigid “ruler”-like measures are used so as to be able to handle irregular shapes) used officially for measuring most properties in Cormyr (So saith Ed - May 10, 2010)

  • chainsquare” – Common:- a square area measurement consisting of one “chain” per side used officially for measuring most properties in Cormyr (So saith Ed - May 10, 2010)

  • chaka” – Common:- a Durpari term for a merchant house (Darkvision by Bruce R. Cordell; Shining South by Thomas M. Reid; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • chance snatch” – Common:- a term for what we call a “grab bag” (Realmslore: Villainous Lures, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • changelands” – Common:- a generic term for a piece of terrain that clearly does not fit in with the surrounding terrain, likely due to the Spellplague (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • chapbook” – Common:- a pamphlet about two human hand widths across by three hand widths high, consisting of parchments sewn into hide covers (sometimes stiffened with very thin “reject” ceramic tiles or metal plates); apt to contain about anything from poetry to furious arguments against guilds, governing policy, or methods of tiling roofs, but are most often devoted to memoirs and to romantic tales of either the tearful (for “goodwives”) or bawdy (for “jacks” old and young) variety (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • charorin” – Thorass:- revenge (Dawn of Night by Paul S. Kemp)

  • chase the sun” – Common:- a Turmian term for pursuing personal interests such as learning the harp, practicing spells, spending time with the family, or other pursuits (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • Chauntean” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Chauntea (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Chessentan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Chessenta, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • chime oak” – Common:- a very rare type of tree that thrives in the northern sections of the east Starwood, a section of the great forest Cormanthor (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Chondathan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of tall, slender, tawny-skinned humans (with brown hair ranging from almost blond to almost black and green or brown eyes), their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Chondath, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • chopforest” – Common:- a mixed green salad, heavy on the sprouts and cabbages (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • chororin” – Thorass:- justice (Dawn of Night by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Chultan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of tall, ebony-skinned humans, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of the Jungles of Chult, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Citadel-helms” – Common:- a reference to Ravenar garrison soldiers (Polyhedron #74)

  • Cities of the Seabreeze, the” – Common:- a term that refers to the city-states along the south-eastern shore of the Shining Sea and includes Ormpur, the city-states of Lapaliiya and the Tashtan Coast, and the ruins of Procalith (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood; Shining South by Thomas M. Reid)

  • City Guard, the” – Common:- a term for Waterdeep’s standing army; a term sometimes used by the “lordlain” for “The Watchful Arms of the Lord’s Justice” (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • City of Blades, the” – Common:- a term for Gracklstugh (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • City of Glory, the” – Common:- a term for Calimport (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • City of Serpents, the” – Common:- a term for Hlondeth (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • City of Slaves, the” – Common:- a term for Calimport (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • City of Slithering Vines, the” – Common:- a term for Tashluta (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • City of Splendors, the” – Common:- a term for Waterdeep (City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd)

  • City Watch, the” – Common:- a term for Waterdeep’s police force (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd)

  • civilar” – Common:- a term applied to all “watchman” ranks from “swordcaptains” up through “orsar” (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • clack” – Common:- a Dalesfolk word for gossip or the major topics of the day’s talk; the current “hot topics” of everyday local conversations (Polyhedron #54; Polyhedron #71)

  • claw coral” – Common:- (also known as “hydra’s stone”) a green-gray coral with seven, sharply edged collective offshoots that grew from its centre (Under Fallen Stars by Mel Odom)

  • Claws, the” – Common:- an affectionate Semban name for government tax officials (we might call them bailiffs) (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • clean book,” “other books” and “true book” – Common:- these Amnian terms refer to a corrupt business practice in which embezzlers keep a second set of account books containing unaltered, actual figures; in conversation, such references can express astonishment and disbelief (“True book?”), derision (“Yeah, what’s your clean book say?”), an accusation of lying (“Right–now read from your other books!”), or a request for the truth (“Give me the true book!”), depending on phrasing and tone; a grievous insult is to ask if one’s “true book” is written in “red ink” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • clearfin” – Common:- a type of moon-faced ocean fish (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • clelophane” – Common:- the exceptionally beautiful pale green variety of sphalerite (a rock called zincblende or “blackjack”) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • cloak wall” – Common:- a term for a wind-break (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • cloudberry” – Common:- a yellowish raspberry that grows on a plant with long, whip-like, wiry branches found on the High Moor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • codloose winker” – Common:- a lecher (derivation: a winking man with a loose or often-removed codpiece) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004)

  • coin skimming” – Common:- a popular Waterdhavian term for small acts of swindling (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • coin” – Common:- money, in any form of currency (Polyhedron #71)

  • Coincall” – Common:- levy or tax law in Suzail (Realmslore: The Rise and Fall of the Window Tax by Ed Greenwood)

  • Coinmasters, the” – Common:- a sub-council within a laern responsible for tithes, policing pricing, membership entry fees (which vary) and submissions to the crown on matters affecting trade and commerce (So saith George Krashos - September 11, 2010)

  • coin-raker” – Common:- a Great Dale term for a grasping, ambitious person (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • coinring” – Common:- a small and usually secretive cabal of investors (we might say “syndicate” or “holding company”) working together (in terms governed by detailed written contracts) to pool coins they can spare to purchase cargoes or properties they cannot individually afford (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • cointossing” – Common:- quietly making informal short-term loans (without paperwork, at interest typically as high as one-quarter of the principal); shopkeepers with cash-flow troubles often have no choice but to try to find someone to lend them coins for a few days, to get goods (particularly perishables such as food) they could not otherwise afford, that they must buy right now; borrowers accept such terms because they can largely conceal how desperate their personal finances are, and because such interest rates might be as little as half what licensed “grudgecoins” charge for short-term, high-risk loans (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Six by Ed Greenwood)

  • Cold Run, the” – Common:- a term for the icy reaches of the northernmost Sword Coast (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Commander” – Common:- an outsider’s term for any officer of higher rank than Captain; also the ranking watchman officer of the shift (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood); a former watchman rank equivalent to a colonel (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd) a rank equivalent to a lieutenant general in the Watch or any police force in the cities of Amn (Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • Common” – Common:- the trade language of the Realms Above (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • copper” – Common:- an Amnian term implying someone that is a good worker or of low but “pure” status, or a potential for business (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Corellon’s Cradle” – Common:- a local nickname for the Turmian city Xorhun (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • Cormanthor” – Elvish:- (with stress on the last syllable, meaning: “the King’s Vow Forest”) the name of the forest in which the Cormanthyr Empire was located; (with stress on the middle syllable, meaning: “Place of Great Promise”) the name of the empire’s capital before the raising of its mythal and the oldest sector of Myth Drannor; (with stress on the first syllable, as: “King of the Oathlands” or “Ruler of the Forest True”) a reference to the ruler of the realm (Lost Empires of Faerûn by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout; Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • Cormanthyr” – Elven:- (translated as both “the Fulfilment of Promise” and “Culmination of Hope and Faith”) the name of the predominantly elven empire that arose in the forest of Cormanthor in –4000 DR (Lost Empires of Faerûn by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout; Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • Cormanthyran” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Cormanthyr, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • Cormyrean” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Cormyr, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Cormyrian” – Common:- same as “Cormyrean”

  • Cormyte” – Common:- a more slang, familiar term for Cormyrean; originally a Semban insult, but was proudly and defiantly adopted by folk of Cormyr who lived near the Sembian border (Polyhedron #74)

  • corner tongue” – Common:- see “tongue”

  • Corpse of Lolth, the” – Common:- the Dambrathan name for the post-Spellplague ruins of the capital city, Cathyr (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • corstal” – Common:- a term for petalite (also known as castorite; a lithium aluminium tecto-silicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • coster” – Common:- an alliance of small, independent companies formed into a travelling caravan group for safety (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • counting like a halfling” – Common:- a phrase that means that someone is being different just to be difficult (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • crazed-wits” – Common:- a madman (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • creak-saddle” – Common:- an adjective used to describe any journey that involved harsh conditions or that tired or injured (or slew) mounts, pack animals, or riders/walkers; it is usually extended to describe bad routes, dangerous passes or trails, and so on (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • crimson ink” – Common:- an Amnian term for the worst possible luck (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • crown of silver” – Common:- a colloquial name for psilomelane chalcedony (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Crown-kissers” – Common:- same as “fancy noses”

  • crystal flowers” – Common:- (also called “cave flowers”) crystalline formations valued by several Underdark races for their aesthetic beauty and their commercial value (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • Cudgel fines” – Common:- any fineable offence, like “blowndowns,” levied by “the Cudgels”; these are payable on the spot, without trial (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Cudgels, the” – Common:- the everyday name for “The Watchful Arms of the Lord’s Justice” used even by the “lordlain” and the law enforcement folk themselves; the term is not considered insulting (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Culmination of Hope and Faith” – Common:- see “Cormanthyr”

  • cup” – Common:- the Tethyrian slang word for a “daublar” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Curious happenstances abound–and all burning Hell breaks loose!” – Common:- a phrase (originally said by Aldolphus of Arabel about troubled times) that has caught on and can now be heard in talk from Mirabar to the Great Desert of Raurin (DM’s Sourcebook of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • curlbeard” – Common:- a dwarven word for something bitter or disgusting in taste or smell, or something nauseating (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • cut a buckle” – Common:- as one might say “make (or “cut”) a sweet deal” (Realmslore: The Matchmaker of Sembia, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Cyricist” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Cyric (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 24 May 2024 08:24:11
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    Kyrene
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    South Africa
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    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:14:05  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    D
  • dadacky” – Common:- decayed; rotten (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • dael” – Chondathan:- a year (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • daelarth” – Chondathan:- a term used in the ancient realm of Jhaamdath to signify the four year grouping of three daelin and an ildael (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Daelen” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of the Great Dale that is becoming increasingly popular and widespread in daily use east of the Dragon Reach (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • daelin” – Chondathan:- plural of “dael” (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Daerlunian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Daerlun, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Daggerdalesmen” – Common:- same as “Daggerfolk” (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Daggerfolk” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Daggerdale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • dajemma” – Rashemi:- a year-long journey wherein youthful Rashemi become adults and see the world as a coming-of-age ritual (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • Dalefolk” – Common:- a slightly more colloquial term for Dalesfolk (Polyhedron #74; So saith Ed - March 16, 2010)

  • Daler” – Common:- a term for Dalesfolk sometimes heard in Sembia, Westgate, and the Vilhon Reach, where folk of the Dales are thought of as backwards bumpkins; it corresponds to “dung-carter” or “hayseed” (Polyhedron #74)

  • Dales, the” – Common:- eleven separate broad forest vales in the Dalelands with rolling farmlands, linked by narrow trade roads running through beautiful woods (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Dalesfolk” – Common:- a slightly more scholarly term applied to the collective folk of the Dales (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; So saith Ed - March 16, 2010)

  • Damaran” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of tawny to fair-skinned humans (a relatively new ethnic group of moderate height and build, with straight brown or black hair), their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Damara, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Dambrathan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Dambrath, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Dance, all!” – Common:- “Let the battle/contest/argument/duel begin!” (Polyhedron #71)

  • Dancing Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for korreds (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • dandaggers” – Common:- a Great Dale term for parsnips (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • danter” – Common:- a gold coin of Amn (City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Dapplans” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Dapplegate (Polyhedron #117)

  • darburl” – Common:- angry (a socially polite way of signalling displeasure) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Dare–and beware!” – Common:- a Moonsea battle cry (Mysteries of the Moonsea by Wil Upchurch, Sean K. Reynolds, Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid)

  • Dark and Empty!” – Common:- (in reference to how terrible a thing it is to a Sembite/Semmite of today’s generation, where money is king and everyone is greedy to get more and to splash it around, to find an empty chest that was expected to be full of coins) a Semban epithet expressing awe or dismay (So saith Ed - March 20, 2004)

  • Dark Elves, the” – Common:- a general term for drow (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Dark!” – Common:- (a contraction of “Dark and Empty!”) a Semban epithet expressing profane shock or disgust (So saith Ed - March 20, 2004)

  • darkberry” – Common:- a bush of small, purple berries that grows in hidden clumps deep in the many forests surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • darkblade” – Common:- a “hiresword” demonstrably lacking in principles or loyalty to those who hired him (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • darkheart” – Common:- a term used by the Thunderbeast tribe to mean other Uthgardt folk who harbour ill will against the Thunderbeasts (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • darkmorning” – Common:- pre-dawn; the period between midnight and dawn (The House of Serpents trilogy by Lisa Smedman)

  • darksteel” – Common:- the composition of this alloy is (or was) a secret of the possibly extinct Ironstar dwarf clan, but has been recently rediscovered thanks to some ancient dwarven texts (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • darmar” – Common:- plural of “darmeth” (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005)

  • darmeth” – Common:- regional (Tashluta and the Tashalar, Tharsult, and in some ports nearby) version of “bell” (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005)

  • darrown” – Common:- a dwarven word for something noble, superb, supremely dwarf-like and praiseworthy (even an act or the speech of a non-dwarf, such as an elf risking his life to save a dwarf in battle) (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • darth” – Common:- a Semban word for a neighbourhood in a Sembian city (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • datchas” – Common:- a common name for the semiprecious stone datolite (a calcium boron hydroxide nesosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Datharathi crystal” – Common:- same as “plangent crystal”

  • daublar” – Common:- a platinum coin of Tethyr (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • dawnfry” – Common:- the more colloquial, or specific, term for breakfast (often a camp meal at dawn; literally a skillet fry-up of some sort using fish or leftovers from the day before, eggs, sliced meat cooked in its own juices, the ubiquitous trail-food sausages, etc.) (So saith Ed - March 9, 2010; Spellfire by Ed Greenwood)

  • daybreak-swallow” – Common:- a swift “morningfeast” snack (So saith Ed - June 3, 2009)

  • deathdance” – Common:- see “huld”

  • Deed, not Blood” – Common:- a Nar (who believe that all people are judged by their actions) motto showing their disregard for those who expect deference because of “noble” birth (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • deed-claim” – Common:- a written agreement to pay a set sum within so many days after a service is rendered; the agreement stipulates that the service-renderer is entitled to take possession of specific property if payment is not made; most authorities frown severely on persons who try to refuse or become unavailable to receive payment so that they can instead seize property they want (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Deep Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for svirfneblin (deep gnomes) (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Deeping Braze” – Common:- “The Braze” when the sun is low or the daylight is noticeably fading, but before dusk (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Deepingfolk” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Deepingdale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • deepnight” – Common:- (also “midnight”) midnight (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • deeproot” – Common:- see “sussur”

  • Delimbiyr Vale, the” – Common:- a term that refers to the upper reaches of the River Delimbiyr and its tributaries (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • delivered by pearl” – Common:- an Amnian phrase for something gained by chance (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Deneirrath” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers, priests and the religion of Deneir (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions; Faiths & Avatars by Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd)

  • dhaeraow” – Elvish:- same as “dhaerow”
  • (Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)
  • dhaerow” – Elven:- (depending upon the intonation, inflection, and context, it could be translated as “face of shadow,” “heart of night,” “traitor,” or a host of other, even less complimentary terms) an epithet used to describe the dark elves of Ilythiir and the drow (Lost Empires of Faerûn by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout)

  • diamond cure, the” – Common:- a plant growing on the prairieland surrounding the Hill of Lost Souls that looks like clover, except that the leaves are more diamond in shape (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • dinar” – Common:- the southern word for a gold coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • dining-house” – Common:- restaurant (So saith Ed - July 15, 2004)

  • dirham” – Common:- the southern word for a silver coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • dista’ssara” – Common:- (a nuanced term loosely translated as “hands of the embodiment”) a naga term for members of lesser races (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • dlarun” – Common:- (sometimes known as “icesteel”) a bone-white metal that can take a high polish and is often mistaken for ivory when seen in finished items; it is a little-known metal of the halflings, who take care to keep word of it as paltry and as inaccurate as possible (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Dog People, the” – Common:- see “Maztican”

  • Dolnoth” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Hammer (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • domen” – Common:- same as “tenday”

  • Don’t think too much about your orders, a Harper may hear what you’re thinking” – Common:- Zhent military advice (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • donsar” – Common:- a copper coin of Tethyr (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • doom pit” – Common:- an invisible pool of magic quicksand that occurs in any type of landscape, even solid rock (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • doom” – Common:- a term for a lich’s domain used by liches (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • doorjack” – Common:- a male servant tasked with opening and closing doors (So saith Ed - January 25, 2010)

  • Douse all!” – Common:- a curse often uttered by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • down below” – Common:- a Waterdhavian term for Skullport (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • Down to dining on tanglemoss soup” – Common:- an old Moonsea North saying, referring to someone in poverty (So saith Ed - July 28, 2010)

  • down” – Common:- a Semban term for a rich, palatial compound in “upcountry” Sembia (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • downcastle” – Common:- a Waterdhavian term for locations south of the Market in Waterdeep (Realmslore: Small Presses of Waterdeep, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • downspout barrel” – Common:- a barrel to collect water from a “downspout” or “tongue” (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • downspout” – Common:- a term for a metal “rain gutter pipe” or drainpipe (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • dragon” – Common:- the Neveren or Waterdhavian word for a gold coin; (as in: “She’s a dragon, isn’t she?” or “He spends like a dragon”) an Amnian term for a rich miser who spends money rarely but well (though used with a modicum of respect, it carries a subtle hint that the person is not showing enough wealth to maintain his or her current status, and thus lacks spirit or is uncooperative) (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - September 2, 2019)

  • dragon-rest” – Common:- (as in: “Even a dragon has to rest”) the Cormyrean name for the tenth day of the “tenday,” taken by some as a non-holiday day of rest (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Draw, the” – Common:- a local Silvaeren name for the northern throat of the Market, running from Hunters’ Gate and widening to the real chaos of stalls and pens closer to the river (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • dreamhappy” – Common:- a state of being clumsy and slow-witted, often brought on by using a powerful painquench (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • dreamstalking” – Common:- a term for sleeping (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • drops” – Common:- a Silvaeren term for deliveries of packages, written messages (including payments, bills, and civic notices), and even fresh milk (Realmslore: Moon Doors of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • drudach” – Alzhedo:- the smallest areas or precincts recognized by the city leaders of Calimport and other cities in Calimshan (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • druuth” – Common:- a term for small groups of doppelgangers led by mindflayers; these groups are common in the lands south of the Shaar and the Dustwall, though still rare elsewhere (Polyhedron #127)

  • druzir” – Alzhedo:- a precinct (drudach) official or leader (Calimport by Steven E. Schend; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • dung-flea bit” – Common:- see “talon”

  • dung-piece” – Common:- see “fang”

  • dunroot” – Common:- a type of vegetable cooked with strong spiced rice, buttered snails and sliced nuts (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • Durgdurg” – Common:- (derived from the orcs’ “Durgreos” and means the same) an orc, half-orc (and now Luskanite, too) nonsense phrase used in place of “um” (So saith Ed - May 5, 2008)

  • Durgos” – Common:- (a corruption of the orcs’ “Durgreos”) a responsive greeting and parting used by mongrelmen and some human slavers, meaning: “Peace” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Durgreos” – Orc:- a long-standing, formal responsive greeting and parting used by orcs of the North, meaning: “No quarrel, no quarrel” (So saith Ed - May 5, 2008; Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Durpari” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of relatively short, dark-skinned humans, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Durpar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • duskwood” – Common:- a tree that grows widely all over Faerûn, named for the dark, eerie appearance of the closely clustered stands they grow in (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • duthrael” – Yuan-ti:- see “vrael olo

  • dwarfbane” – Common:- a rare, gummy poisonous oil that causes pain “like blazing skewers” (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)[/*]

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 26 May 2024 09:23:08
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:15:01  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    E
  • earthmote” – Common:- a free-floating mass of landscape that defies gravity to hover in the sky, most common along the edges of regions where portions of Abeir replaced Toril’s landscape (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • eavestrough” – Common:- a term for a metal “rain gutter” (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • echo” – Common:- a drink produced from “thrusk” sediment (saved and later drenched with hot water) that is a weak echo of real brewed “thrusk” (So saith Ed - June 3, 2009)

  • eclipsed moon” – Common:- a round coin made by stamping the shining blue crescent of an electrum moon together with a darker silver wedge, worth five electrum pieces in Silverymoon and two electrum pieces elsewhere (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • eisliesen” – Elven:- killing (Another Name for Dawn by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Eldathyn” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Eldath (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • electrum moon” – Common:- a crescent-shaped, shining blue coin minted in Silverymoon, worth two electrum pieces throughout the Marches and one electrum piece elsewhere (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • elf day” – Common:- the name for the tenth day of the “tenday,” taken by some as a non-holiday day of rest, used in the Dalelands (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Elturian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Elturel, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Forgotten Realms Adventures by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood)

  • Elversian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Elversult, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Elversultian” – Common:- a term much used in Calimshan, and considered an insult by Elversians (Polyhedron #74)

  • embramaph” – Common:- (also known as “fairflower”) a tall flowering plant with irregular petals of rich purple, it grows in sunny soil (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • Empires of the Sands, the” – Common:- a collective term for the nations of Amn, Calimshan, and Tethyr (Warriors and Priests of the Realms by John Terra)

  • emptyheads” – Common:- one of the less polite terms common in Sembia, Amn, Tethyr, and the Heartlands caravan routes for cannon fodder (So saith Ed - September 30, 2009)

  • end-moot” – Common:- a term for any type of 3-way junction (or 3-way intersection) (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • erevis” – Thorass:- hunted (Another Name for Dawn by Paul S. Kemp)

  • escape from Wheloon” – Common:- a euphemism for accomplishing a difficult task (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • ethran” – Rashemi:- (translated as “untried”) the term for one initiated into the secrets of the wychlaran (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Player’s Guide to Faerûn by Richard Baker, Travis Stout, James Wyatt; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • eve” – Common:- same as “tenday”

  • evenfeast” – Common:- a very popular variant for “eveningfeast,” also known or pronounced as “evenfest” (So saith Ed - May 15, 2006; Realmslore: The Matchmaker of Sembia, Part Three by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • evenfest” – Common:- see “evenfeast”

  • eveningfeast” – Common:- the formal term for dinner, also known or pronounced as “eveningfest” (So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • eveningfest” – Common:- see “eveningfeast”

  • Evenor” – Common:- an archaic, little-used, formal term applied to the collective folk of Eveningstar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • evenspire” – Common:- a Semban word for a small pavilion (gazebo) (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Every realm has a frontier, no matter how crowded or civilized” – Common:- an ancient Faerûnian saying (probably Netherese in origin, as folk in Halruaa use it but cannot remember who coined it) (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • eye stone” – Common:- see “sarbossa”

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 10 May 2024 09:50:28
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    Kyrene
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    South Africa
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    F
  • factor” – Common:- a trade agent who buys, sells, and sees to the safe storage, delivery, and transport of cargoes; a family business agent who travels to receive reports on investments and to deliver the latest orders from their masters; also any of the independent groups of warriors who patrol Ravilar’s Cloak in Turmish (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Elminster Speaks, Part Thirty-One by Ed Greenwood; The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • Faergaunt” – Elven:- the wizardly military leader and chief High Mage of Vedrymmell (So saith George Krashos - March 8, 2009)

  • faerie time” – Common:- a Deepingfolk term for when mist lies like a ghostly shroud low over the land (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Faerûnian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Faerûn, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • faerzress” – Drow:- an intense magical radiation left behind by the mysterious magic that created much of the Underdark; travel or teleport magic is usually useless over long distances in the Underdark because it is warped into deadly failure by faerzress (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Fair Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for elves (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • fair unbearded” – Common:- a dwarven term for something that is reckless or dangerous (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • fairflower” – Common:- see “embramaph”

  • falaerkyn” – Common:- same as “boltran”

  • falcon” – Common:- the Cormyrean word for a silver coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Falconturret” – Common:- (named after a distinctive mansion once owned by a falconer) the local Silvaeren name for the neighbourhood in Silverymoon south of “Hollowhar” and Lavarpard Street (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Fallen Kingdom, the” – Common:- a term that refers to the rolling “wilderlands” due east of Waterdeep (present day remnants include Ardeep Forest, Castle Zundbridge, the ruins of The Stone House, and the predecessor to the town of Secomber) (The Savage Frontier by Paul Jaquays)

  • false topaz” – Common:- a term for citrine (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • fancy noses” – Common:- a Marsembian term of derision for those who admire court fads and things Suzailan too much (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • fancy-tale” – Common:- a fanciful story; a “fairy tale” (Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • fandar” – Common:- a copper coin of Amn (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • fang” – Common:- the Zhent and Dalesfolk word for a square Zhentish copper coated iron coin used in place of copper, deemed worthless by most folk outside Zhentil Keep; known as “dung-pieces” elsewhere (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Far Land, the” – Common:- a term used by merchants from the Sword Coast for Rashemen (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Farisan” – Alzhedo:- a term for Calimshan’s elite troops (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • farscry” – Common:- magical surveillance from beyond sight limits (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • fastmud” – Common:- a term for cement (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • Fat Sty, the” – Common:- see “Sty of Fat Merchants, the”

  • Fear the knights of Leilon” – Common:- a joking phrase about country bumpkins (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • Featherdalesmen” – Common:- a ‘Sembian’ term for Featherdarrans (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Featherdarrans” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Featherdale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Feddleah!” – Common:- a recent and rapidly spreading (already heard in trade route communities in Tethyr, the Vilhon Reach, and Amn) Calishite and Tashalaran nonsense word used by traders in place of “um” (So saith Ed - May 5, 2008)

  • felsul” – Common:- a tree that seems to favour cold and poor soil, and in many rocky places in the North and in those parts of northern Anauroch not cloaked in ice, they provide the only tree cover to be seen (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl; Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • festhall” – Common:- essentially a brothel where minstrelsy and feasting occurs, but also used as a house for bathing, clothes-washing and repair, or relaxing (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • fever iron” – Common:- a dwarven term for the metal that forms when pools of semisolid metal attract the raw energy of the Weave and are transformed (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • few little forgotten things” – Common:- secret business dealings, often illegal (and very profitable) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • fey mound” – Common:- an adventurer’s term for any magical burial ground used exclusively by fey creatures (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Fflarren” – Elven:- a name once used for any prominent student of the School of Arms in the abandoned elven city of Semberholme (Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • Ffolk” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of the Moonshae Isles (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • fiddle-head” – Common:- an edible plant (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • fielding” – Common:- a term for vegetable; in the North, these are potatoes, parsnips, leeks, cabbage, carrots, onions, radishes, “knuckles,” and “spears” (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • filidar” – Common:- dainty food; a feast or picnic (as in: “a fine filidar it was too...”, after a gluttonous prince of long-ago Turmish, Filidar the Fat, also known as Filidar the Fool and Filidar the Fop) (Polyhedron #71)

  • find the masked fox” – Common:- see “whisper-secrets”

  • finesmith” – Common:- a smith with knowledge of the properties and the working of gold and other rare and precious metals, how to securely bond a plating or coating of one metal over another, which metals will interact through electrolysis, and how all “finework” can be designed and treated for maximum strength and weather resistance (Dragon Magazine #70; The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • finework” – Common:- metal goods such as ornate, silver-plated coffers, plates, cutlery, lockets, bolts, hasps, and hinges (Elminster Speaks, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • fire bond” – Common:- “surety” against building fires; guarantors must fight fire or, more often, pay value of lost goods (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • fire flume” – Common:- as we would use the term “safety valve” (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • fire fungus” – Common:- a fungal growth that sheds much appreciated warmth, but explodes near any open flame (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • fire lichen” – Common:- a pale orange-white lichen that thrives on warmth and grows in regions of geothermal heat (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • fire marble” – Common:- a term for lumachella (a rare, dark brown fossil marble variety containing small, iridescent, opal-like snails) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • fire rock” – Common:- see “sarbossa”

  • fireberries” – Common:- the greenish peppers of the “firebush” (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • firebush” – Common:- a red-leaved bush growing in the region known as the Battle of Bones (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • fireflash” – Common:- see “beljuril”

  • fireflashil” – Common:- see “beljuril”

  • Firelord forfend” – Common:- a formal oath often used by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • fireslake” – Common:- a strong, sour wine of poor quality but great potency (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • firespiced” – Common:- a term for seared (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • fireswallow” – Common:- colloquial: coffee (So saith Ed - March 6, 2005)

  • First Braze” – Common:- “The Braze” about two hours after dawn (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • fishsimmer” – Common:- boiled-to-sludge fish scales and other leavings, used in Uth sauces (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • flame society” – Common:- the preferred Semban high society term referring to Sembite high society (Realmslore: The Matchmaker of Sembia, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • flamedance” – Common:- a term for rhodizite (a rare potassium cesium beryllium aluminium borate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • flamegem” – Common:- see “hyacinth”

  • flea-bit” – Common:- see “talon”

  • fleshwort” – Common:- a gray, celery-like vegetable found only on recent battlefields, where corpses are buried near the surface or left to rot above ground (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • fluffgrass, purple” – Common:- a variety of grass that grows two or three feet tall in most places on the High Moor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • fluffgrass, white” – Common:- a variety of grass that grows two or three feet tall in most places on the High Moor and up to four feet tall in some places in the Serpent Hills (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • flunderwing” – Common:- a type of game bird found on the High Moor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach; The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • fog rock” – Common:- a type of rock that washes up periodically on the shores of the Nelanther Isles and westernmost shores of the Moonshae Isles (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Folk of Summer, the” – Common:- a Nimbran term referring to the Nimbrese (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Following one’s weird” – Common:- a Neveren saying for odd or reckless behaviour (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Following your own stars” – Common:- a Marches saying meaning “going your own way” (Realmslore: Alustriel’s Latest Consort, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • fool’s water” – Common:- an acid producing slime that looks like a small spring of water (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • footwarmer” – Common:- an utterly neutral term for a paid companion of the opposite sex, who is willing to sleep with clients; usually sex is implied, but the term literally means to provide companionship in bed for the lonely, so that they have a warm body to warm their feet against; increasingly, this term is applied to aging, less athletic or adventurous prostitutes (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • Fordorn” – Common:- the local Silvaeren term for a shop that sells fresh greens among other foodstuffs (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • foreclose” – Common:- one of the most overused words in Amn, depending on its context can mean to stop, rule out, take over, take from someone else, steal, or hijack, but can also refer to killing (the now-dead deity Myrkul was once known in this country us the Black Forecloser, though never in jest) (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • foredawn” – Common:- a term for the half hour centred on 5 a.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • forestmote” – Common:- an “earthmote” covered with forest (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • Forges warm, friend” – Common:- a parting used by gnomes (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Forgotten Kingdom, the” – Common:- a term for Impiltur (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Fornoth” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Nightal (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • found the pearl” – Common:- an Amnian euphemism for good luck (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • four petal white flower” – Common:- (also known as “joker’s kiss” or “spitting ivy”) a poisonous bush growing on the prairieland surrounding the Hill of Lost Souls that looks very similar to a closely-related but innocuous shrub known as the “white heart” (due to the white, heart-shaped flowers) except with only four petals (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • Free Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for satyrs (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • freesword” – Common:- any “hiresword” not under contract (Forgotten Realms Campaign Set by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Frontier, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • frost stone” – Common:- a term for frost agate (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • frozen tear” – Common:- see “king’s tear”

  • Frozenfar, the” – Common:- a Waterdhavian term used to describe places that are so far north that people can freeze solid as they walk; a term used in Amn and the Inner Sea lands (and heard in the Shining South) to describe Mirabar, and the mines and frozen mountains north of it (it traditionally includes Icewind Dale and the Howling Ice Plain beyond) (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • fruit” – Common:- a gently racy term for breasts (So saith Ed - May 23, 2004)

  • Fulfilment of Promise, the” – Common:- see “Cormanthyr”

  • full swords court” – Common:- a Cormyrean term for any fancy, formal, or very important and solemn occasion (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • full-unbearded” – Common:- a dwarven word for a mad dwarf (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • fylbor” – Common:- a term for a particular spice mix created in the village of Fylbor and still used in cooking throughout the Easting Reach (So saith George Krashos - December 16, 2008)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 07 Jun 2024 11:30:36
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:16:36  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    G
  • Galad!” – Common:- the current Heartlands replacement for “Zooks!” or “Zounds!” or any nonsense word used as an “I’m astonished” or “I’m impressed” expression (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • galakkur” – Common:- a dwarven word applied to anything messy, untidy, or sloppy (derived from the name of a legendary dwarf who did everything fast but in slapdash manner, heedless of even obvious consequences) (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • gallant” – Common:- the polite, formal, upper-class term for a noble lady’s male bed-mate of at least a season’s standing where he is legally married to someone else in the same realm, or when he and the lady both have other frequent companions; a herald or well-trained servant would use the term whenever an escort is someone not seen before (So saith Ed - May 26, 2007)

  • Gap folk” – Common:- a term Tilverian locals refer to themselves as, and will say, “I’m from the Gap” (Polyhedron #74)

  • gargoyle” – Common:- an ornate stone spout that projects water out from the building like a “tongue,” or ‘spits’ water directly into a drainpipe (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Garn it” – Common:- (or just “Garn”) a nonsense phrase used in place of “um” surfacing around the Sea of Fallen Stars and along the Heartlands trade routes (through Berdusk and Iriaebor) (So saith Ed - May 5, 2008)

  • Garn” – Common:- see “Garn it”

  • garshell” – Common:- a type of fruit from the Tashalar and the lands around the Lake of Steam (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • gate” – Common:- an inter-dimensional connection between one plane of existence and another, allowing travel between those two planes in either direction (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Gategauntlet” – Common:- a “Cudgel” rank equivalent to a captain (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • gelgulder” – Common:- the handler of a “gelguld-wagon” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • gelguld-wagon” – Common:- the local Uth term for a “night soil wagon” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Gelkor!” – Common:- a Tempuran specific “Sh*t!” (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • Gem of the North, the” – Common:- a term for Silverymoon (Realmslore: Alustriel’s Latest Consort, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • gentles” – Common:- a “watchman’s” customary address to a mixed-gender group of Waterdhavian folk that includes known nobles (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • gentlesir” – Common:- a “watchman’s” customary address to a male of Waterdhavian nobility (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • get too highnosed” – Common:- [folk who] presume to speak out against Lord Uthlain or request special “rights” because of [their] wealth and power (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • ghost hold” – Common:- one of numerous ruined Sembian estates overgrown by the forest of Battledale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • giant sundew” – Common:- (also known locally as “tangler”) a pale green, intelligent plant with pink splotches and stripes (it looks like a pile of sticky ropes and rags about three feet in height and diameter) often found in marshes and bogs on the High Moor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • glass stone” – Common:- see “ophealine”

  • glaur” – Common:- a short, curved horn resembling a cornucopia; fitted with valves, it sounds like a trumpet played in a high wind; sun elves use them, halflings love them, humans either like them or hate them (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • glim” – Common:- beautiful in an eye-catching way; flashy (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • glimmer” – Common:- the common Silvaeren word for a gold coin (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • glimmersheath” – Common:- a strikingly beautiful prostitute, or a male cross-dressing prostitute; in either case, the term refers to “glim” willingly receiving the ‘dagger’ of the male physique (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • gloon” – Common:- a “glaur” that lacks valves; it sounds like melancholy horns echoing in fog (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • glory” – Common:- the Zhent word for a square Zhentish (slightly reddish) gold coin; known as a “weeping wolf” elsewhere (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • gloryhole slab” – Common:- a two-seater toilet seat (Interview with Ed Greenwood - September 22, 2009)

  • glowmoss” – Common:- a once-common, but now increasingly rare due to over-harvesting, moss that absorbs heat and light energy, and glows softly in dim or dark conditions (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 28, 2010)

  • gnarlbones” – Common:- misshapen (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • goblinberry” – Common:- a bush with reddish-purple berries and narrow, blackish-green leaves with a silvery underside local to the Battle of Bones (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • goblinkin” – Common:- a term that includes all goblins and orcs, and also ogres and kobolds (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • Gods smile [upon you]!” – Common:- a parting used by halflings when speaking to non-halflings (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Godsfrown Shield” – Common:- a type of “fire bond” or “surety” for valuable cargo; guarantors undertake to intercede with the gods for an agreed upon period and pay value of lost goods if the cargo goes missing or the building burns during that period (Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood)

  • godslaves” – Common:- a universal term for all other races used by kir-lanans (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • gold sheen” – Common:- a rare variety of obsidian that is golden in colour and flecked with minute spangles (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • gold” – Common:- an Amnian term implying someone with inherited money or of higher rank with little business sense (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • golden lion” – Common:- the Cormyrean word for a gold coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • goldenpanned” – Common:- a term for sautéed (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • goldline” – Common:- a term for cacoxenite (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • goldnose” – Common:- haughty (dwarven equivalent of “highnose”; dwarves find such behaviour contemptible in elves and amusingly silly when practiced by humans) (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • golhyrrl’fhaazht” – Drow:- refers to nightmares sent to the minds of sentient creatures by Araumycos, meaning: “the Dream Trap” (Tallfolk Tales by Lisa Smedman; Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • Gond bell” – Common:- a small brass bell worth ten gold pieces in trade, or twenty gold pieces to a temple of Gond (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Gondar” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Gond (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Gondian” – Common:- an old term sometimes applied to Gondar temples, vestments, and other items (Polyhedron #74)

  • Gondryr” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Gond, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • gone to Daggerford” – Common:- an expression in Waterdeep taken to mean “lying low outside the city” (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Good business!” – Common:- a general greeting and parting (sometimes in abrupt dismissal) used by Amnians; an Amnian phrase for congratulations or approval, meaning: “That’s nice” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Good morning, and good day after that! Don’t let anything curl your hair!” – Common:- (to which is sometimes added: “Ware the Big Folk, and mind the goblins too!”) a parting used by halflings when speaking to each other (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • good trader” – Common:- the Semban term for anyone with a head for business (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • goodlass” – Common:- a “watchman’s” customary address to a younger female Waterdhavian citizen (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • goodly breath or three, a” – Common:- a term used by most humans in the Realms for a minute (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • goodsir” – Common:- a “watchman’s” customary address to an older male Waterdhavian citizen (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • goodwife” – Common:- a “watchman’s” customary address to an older female Waterdhavian citizen (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • gorcraw feed” – Common:- (as in: soon-to-be-carrion that vultures, “gorcraws” or buzzards, or the equivalent would feed on) cannon fodder (So saith Ed - May 12, 2010)

  • gorcraw” – Common:- a noisy, rapacious, aggressive but slow and lazy raptor and carrion bird similar to a sparrow-sized black crow but some can grow as large as a buzzard or turkey vulture (So saith Ed - February 25, 2009; Elminster’s Daughter by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - February 12, 2024; How Wisdom Came to the Maimed Wizard" by Ed Greenwood)

  • grandsir” – Common:- a male member of “flame society” (Realmslore: The Matchmaker of Sembia, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • graveyawn” – Common:- (presumably derived from “the grave yawns for them”) a term used in Waterdeep for “hireswords” being sent to certain death (cannon fodder) (So saith Ed - May 12, 2010)

  • Gray Hands, the” – Common:- a term for Waterdeep’s elite company of high-powered “wildblades” who answer directly to the Lords of Waterdeep (City of Splendors: Waterdeep by Eric L. Boyd)

  • Grayskies” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for the Feast of the Moon (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • great blandreth” – Common:- a larger blandreth that can also be hung by chains from a tripod or on a frame (for example, if it is not “standing” over a dug-down fire pit) (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • Great Highland Glade, the” – Common:- a local Tethyrian human term for the Forest of Mir north of the Marching Mountains, not the rest of the forest in Calimshan (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Great Silver Hearth, the” – Common:- a term for Silverymoon (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Green Folk, the” – Common:- see “Maztican”

  • greenback” – Common:- a type of freshwater fish (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Greenbloom” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Greengrass (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • greenfin” – Common:- a type of freshwater fish (Elminster’s Daughter by Ed Greenwood)

  • greenflower” – Common:- see “amaunauth”

  • greengrass” – Common:- a local Bedorn name for moss (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • greenstone” – Common:- a common name for chlorastrolite (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • greenwalk” – Common:- a Semban word for a turf path (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Greyvale” – Common:- a term that refers to the grasslands drained by the Greyflow and the Loagrann (the three-branched river that joins the Greyflow at Orlbar, northwest of Llorkh) (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • grim and magical South, the” – Common:- see “South, the”

  • groundpine” – Common:- a stunted, many-armed shrub, they cloak many hilltops or moors down slope in the North, flourishing where biting winds blow and less hardy species struggle (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • grudgecoins” – Common:- a colloquial Semban name for a moneylender (could be fairly applied to most ‘Sembians’ when asked to lend money, even by family and close friends) or moneylenders (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Grumbarryn” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Grumbar (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Guard gold coins well until they are in the keeping of a Dead Dragon, or they’ll turn into silver harps” – Common:- a Cult of the Dragon saying (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • guardsword” – Common:- the duty head for “watchmen” shifts patrolling the city docks and gates; a “watchman” or “Wintershield” rank equivalent to a major (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • gulletfire” – Common:- bad beer or wine (watery, bad-tasting, or nausea inducing) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Gur” – Common:- a term applied to the nomads of the Western Heartlands (also known as “Selûne’s Children” or “the people of the highway”) (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • gurgle-pipe” – Common:- a term for a pipe down from a roof rain-cistern (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 15 May 2024 11:29:58
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:17:25  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    H
  • ha’srammass” – Yuan-ti:- a term for the members of a yuan-ti’s greater tribe (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • haddrum” – Common:- an elixir, distilled from dragon blood and other “less savoury” ingredients that can cause wild and destructive rages (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • haedrar” – Common:- a glistening, translucent gray salve that causes slumber (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • haethindel” – Common:- a tough, soft, moss-like grass (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • halavan” – Common:- a type of nut often roasted (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • half an evening” – Common:- a quant measure equal to about two bells (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Halruaan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of olive-skinned humans (with dark hair and black, brown or green eyes), their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Halruaa, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, et al; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • halvalondur” – Common:- a once-common, now uncommon and increasing in rarity (due to over picking) little clover-like groundcover plant found in most Northern grasslands; it is used by harvesting the blossoms, and females then eat them raw to try to increase chances of pregnancy (So saith Ed - July 29, 2010)

  • hambergyle” – Common:- a term for hambergite (a rare pegmatite mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Hammerlock” – Common:- see “saisha”

  • hand drum” – Common:- a double-headed drum, often played at high speed by warriors who wish to demonstrate their prowess without having to beat someone up (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • handfast” – Common:- a term for being engaged to be married (Spellfire by Ed Greenwood)

  • handful of years, a” – Common:- a term used in the North to mean five seasons, one per digit of a human hand (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • Hands of the Crown, the” – Common:- see “Houndhands, the”

  • handsun” – Common:- a term for mango (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • hansrae” – Common:- a Nimbran word for a fat many-finned fish that tastes like beef and has a body the shape and size of the head of an axe (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • harbor moon” – Common:- a flat crescent of platinum with a central hole and an electrum inlay, worth fifty “dragons” in Waterdeep and thirty gold pieces elsewhere (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Harcrimmitor!” – Common:- akin to shouting: “Die, motherf*cker!” specific to Tempurans (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • hardbread” – Common:- a type of cracker somewhat like a rye cracker, or Scandinavian crisp-bread (Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • hardride” – Common:- (old human word, retained into Common) is any longish journey in wild or lawless or unfamiliar to the speaker terrain, often for trade purposes (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • hardstone” – Common:- a collective term for natural substances valued for their appearance that are found in large quantities and lend themselves readily to carving (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • hardtar” – Common:- trade goods that are difficult to sell or, by their nature, hard to store (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • harhand” – Common:- a term for a casual, unskilled labourer (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • harhoon” – Common:- (derived long ago from a misheard Goblin word that is curiously close to the Gnomish word “larahoun”) means a kidnapping (or beast-capturing) expedition, and these days is used when one is expecting trouble and perfectly prepared to kill without hesitation, if need be, to achieve the goal of the trip; is never a “sword-see” (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • harjakes” – Common:- chamber pots slid into a row of niches inside a bench-like wooden frame (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • harm price” – Common:- compensation payable to the injured party where a “blowndown” strikes an Uthmaar (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Harpers live–and die–to keep the Balance” – Common:- an anonymous Harper saying (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • Harpers never forget” – Common:- a folk saying (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • Harran” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Harrowdale, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, et al; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - May 25, 2004)

  • hasssar” – Yuan-ti:- a term for creatures currently being influenced or conquered (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • hathran” – Rashemi:- (translated as “learned sisterhood” or “learned sister”) the formal term for a member of the wychlaran (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • Haularake!” – Common:- the all-faiths, acceptable in polite society equivalent of “God d*mn it!” (or perhaps “God d*mn it all, anyway!”) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004)

  • have the gift” – Common:- a Halruaan term for those who are capable of casting wizard spells (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Having the sand” – Common:- a saying of the Shining South to denote courage or tough posturing (as we would say “having the b*lls”) (Depths of Madness by Erik Scott de Bie)

  • hawksnarl” – Common:- (more strongly: “a real hawksnarl”) a man who is always yelling or blustering, or is nastier or more aggressive than prudent or necessary (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • hayar” – Common:- a quarter-inch diameter yellow pearl used as currency in and around the Sea of Fallen Stars, worth one silver piece undersea and averages two gold pieces ashore (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • He’d cut quite a dash in Zundle” – Common:- a Cormyrean phrase used to describe someone very dirty, dishevelled, or dressed in ridiculous costume (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • healing bond” – Common:- (commonly known as “healshield”) a prepayment with a local temple for the casting of spells on the bond purchaser or designate for healing, poison- and disease-quelling, or raising from the dead; most bond purchasers pay the entire sum for lesser spells, and post “deed-claims” with temples for more expensive magic (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • healshield” – Common:- see “healing bond”

  • heartburst” – Common:- a term for a heart attack used in the Dales, Moonsea and Easting Reach (So saith George Krashos - March 8, 2009; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • heartstop” – Common:- a term for a heart attack used in the Sword Coast, Heartlands and North (So saith Ed - October 26, 2004; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • heath” – Common:- (also known as “heather”) a low-growing shrub with small, needle-like evergreen leaves found growing on the High Moor and in the Serpent Hills (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • heather” – Common:- see “heath”

  • Helm” – Common:- a “Cudgel” rank one higher than “Vigilant Shield” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • Helmite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Helm (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • helmthorn” – Common:- a vine-like ground shrub that sometimes cloaks other bushes and dead trees, it has dark, waxy green leaves and bristling black thorns (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Helvar” – Common:- an old, scholarly term for Hillfarian also sometimes heard (Polyhedron #74)

  • Herethil” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Flamerule (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • hidestone” – Common:- a stone in a wall (usually of a cellar or other subterranean room, but more rarely in interior walls of above-ground structures such as keeps) deliberately left un-mortared so it can be removed by those who know about it to access a hiding-place (cavity) behind it (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 31, 2010)

  • hiexel” – Common:- a tree very common in the Dales, growing in thickets in ravines and on hillsides (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • High Braze” – Common:- “The Braze” sometime around the estimated middle of that day’s daylight period (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • High Factor, the” – Common:- the titular head of a laern (So saith George Krashos - September 11, 2010)

  • high meal” – Common:- a term for what we call a main meal (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • high morn” – Common:- a term for the half hour centred on 11 a.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • High Netheril” – Common:- a term that refers to the Netherese civilization of floating cities (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • highbite” – Common:- the most popular equivalent term for “highsunfeast” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • highcoin” – Common:- expensive (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • high-coin” – Common:- same as “highcoin” (Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • Highdalefolk” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of High Dale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Highdalesmen” – Common:- same as “Highdalefolk” (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • highnose” – Common:- haughty (behaviour so called by any human in the Realms not a member of, or trying to pretend membership in, the upper classes); a deliberately rude term for nobles or relating to nobility (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood; Swords of Eveningstar and Swords of Dragonfire by Ed Greenwood; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • highsnows deer” – Common:- a term for caribou (So saith Ed - August 29, 2010)

  • Highsun” – Common:- colloquial description for Eleasias (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • highsun” – Common:- midday or noon (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005)

  • highsunfeast” – Common:- the formal term for lunch, also known or pronounced as “highsunfest” (So saith Ed - May 26, 2007; Realmslore: Small Presses of Waterdeep, Part Four by Ed Greenwood; Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part Three by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • highsunfest” – Common:- see “highsunfeast”

  • hightowers” – Common:- a term for the tallest, grandest private buildings in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Hillfarian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Hillsfar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Hin” – Common:- a term for themselves used by halflings (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid)

  • hiresword” – Common:- a mercenary; also known as “sellswords” though this term is more for individuals and impromptu bands, rather than the well organized—with ranks, insignias, or even uniforms—chartered companies (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Polyhedron #71; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • hizagkuur” – Common:- (named for its long-ago dwarf discoverer) an extremely rare white or pale silvery gray metal that is found only in scattered, but very rich, deposits deep in the Underdark as a soft, greenish-gray claylike ore or a flaky mud; once appropriately processed it reflects back all magic cast at it (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy; Dwarves Deep by Ed Greenwood)

  • hloar” – Common:- a warm savoury broth fortified with the dregs of all drinkables served earlier, served in taverns in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Hlondite” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Hlondath, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (So saith George Krashos - November 4, 2008)

  • Ho! That one had teeth in it!” – Common:- a dwarven expression used in commentary on anything large and uncomfortable such as a belch, breaking wind, a blow to the head, or a fall (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • hold” – Common:- a ranch with subsistence crop planting (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Hollowhar” – Common:- the local Silvaeren name for a little neighbourhood in Silverymoon around Nutting Lane and Druinwood Way, west of “the Draw” and north of Lavarpard Street (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Holy ending!” – Common:- see “A battle-death is a holy ending”

  • holy hands” – Common:- an everyday slang term for temple guards (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • honeystone” – Common:- see “orblen”

  • hooded monk” – Common:- a poisonous brown plant local to the prairieland surrounding the Hill of Lost Souls that grows about a foot and a half tall and seems to be comprised of only one tubular leaf that folds across at the top (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • Hooves!” – Common:- a Tempuran oath in reference to the mounts Tempus rides or stands on, Deiros and Veiros; it is usually extended to mean the god at work (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • horn coral” – Common:- (also called “night coral”) a deep black coral similar to “Angelar’s skin” save for its solid colour (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • hornbill ivory” – Common:- a material from the beak of the hornbill bird (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Houndhands, the” – Common:- a Suzailan term for a proposed force of armed and uniformed levy collectors (“the Hands of the Crown”) tasked with collecting the mistakenly passed “Coincall” (“Upon Skylights and Viewing-Panes”; known as “the window tax”) repealed forever two days after its proclamation (Realmslore: The Rise and Fall of the Window Tax by Ed Greenwood)

  • house storming” – Common:- as we would use the term “home invasion” robbery (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • househar” – Common:- the local Uth term for a homeowner (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • houseman” – Common:- a male servant who acts as gardener, door guard, errand runner, coachman or conveyance hirer, or handyman (So saith Ed - February 28, 2007)

  • Hrammar!” and “Hrammared!” – Common:- southern version of “Hrast!” and “Hrasted!” (So saith Ed - May 17, 2004)

  • Hrast!” and “Hrasted!” – Common:- non-deity-specific “D*mn!” and “D*mned!” (So saith Ed - May 17, 2004)

  • huld” – Common:- (also known as “leap” or “deathdance”) an odourless poisonous oil that causes loss of motor control, balance and speech (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • hunt” – Common:- a Semban term for a walled and gated country estate in “upcountry” Sembia (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Hurbryn” – Halfling/Sylvan:- a term for humans used by brownies, halflings, korreds and satyrs, meaning: “heavy-footed ones” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • hyacinth” – Common:- (also called “flamegem”) a term for jacinth (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • hydra’s stone” – Common:- a surface dwellers’ term for “claw coral” (Under Fallen Stars by Mel Odom)

  • Hykyath!” – Elven:- a parting used by satyrs, meaning: “Prance!”; it has been picked up by some poets among the elves and half-elves, and even orcs have been heard, in battle, derisively telling their foes and underlings to “look lively” in the few breaths left before they die (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • hyrar” – Common:- same as “tenday”

  • Edited by - Kyrene on 07 Jun 2024 11:31:28
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:18:05  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    I
  • I go” – Common:- (from the Dwarven) a terse parting used by merchants of all races (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Ibrandulin” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers, priests and the religion of Ibrandul (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions; Faiths & Avatars by Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Ice Hunters, the” – Common:- the westernmost group of Ulutiuns inhabiting the Sea of Moving Ice, the Ice Peak, and the Cold Run (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • icesteel” – Common:- see “dlarun”

  • If a Arkhen man dies, no one cries” – Common:- a saying known across the Realms reflecting on how Archendale’s actions in Sessrendale and in the Dales Council have left it without allies among the Dales (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • If you think it’s impossible, it happens in the Lowerdark” – Common:- an old adage referring to peculiar and unexpected oddities (Underdark Web Enhancement: Underdark Dungeons by Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel)

  • ildael” – Chondathan:- a leap-year (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Illuskan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of tall, fair-skinned humans (with eyes of blue or steely gray), their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Ilmatari” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Ilmater (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Imaskari” – Common:- a term applied to the legendary inhabitants of the lands now swallowed by the Raurin Desert and the Plains of the Purple Dust, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Lost Empires of Faerûn by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout)

  • Immerian” – Common:- a term for Immersean also sometimes heard, but is frowned on locally, because it was used in the past to refer to smugglers, slavers, and pirates (Polyhedron #74)

  • Immersean” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Immersea, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Impilturan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Impiltur (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Impilturian” – Common:- a term applied to Impilturan work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • indulwood” – Common:- a leafy tree found in Shadowdale (Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood)

  • Infernal” – Common:- a term applied to the collective creatures of the Nine Hells, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to anything belonging to, or resembling the Nine Hells

  • Inner Sea, the” – Common:- a term for the Sea of Fallen Stars (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Invisible Art, the” – Common:- a term that means the use of psionics (Cult of the Dragon by Dale Donovan; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • iol” – Common:- (also called “violet stone”) a term for iolite (gemmology) or cordierite (mineralogy; a magnesium iron aluminium cyclosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Iriaeban” – Common:- same as “Iriaeben”

  • Iriaeben” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Iriaebor, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • irinal” – Elven:- (translated as “forsaken”) a term for drow used by other elves (Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • irndar” – Common:- a tree found in the great forest Cormanthor (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • iron” – Common:- a large block of base metal fashioned with a handle, used by Uth-folk to drive off damp and chill (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • ironvine” – Common:- a type of hanging vine that has the hardness of iron when interwoven (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • irtios” – Common:- a term for danburite (a crystalline mineral similar to topaz) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Irzenath” – Elvish:- a lower caste in Vedrymmell’s society made up predominately of half-elves and used by that elven realm for most of their dealings with the N’Tel’Quess of the surrounding region (So saith George Krashos - March 8, 2009)

  • Istishian” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Istishia (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • It is better to have a bad knife than a good dwarf” – Common:- an old elven saying in praise of knives (considered by some as an insult to dwarves) (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • It is deep in Orosul’s Tower” – Common:- a smug local Archendale saying meaning “It is where you will never find it” (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • It’s a long way from Uthmere to Kront” – Common:- a saying among the people of the Great Dale who do not consider the “big city” part of their homeland at all (Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • It’s better to leave some stones unturned” – Common:- a local Aglarondan saying, where folk believe that poking around in ancient ruins can only lead to trouble (Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • It’s not who you are, it’s what you know” – Common:- a saying of those who live on the planes (For Duty & Deity by Dale Donovan)

  • itchy” – Common:- (as in: “itching to prove themselves” or “itching for a fight”) a professional assassin’s name for an adventurer (Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Iulutiuns, the” – Common:- part of the easternmost group of Ulutiuns inhabiting the Great Glacier (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 21 May 2024 07:18:26
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
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    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:18:44  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    J
  • jack, my” – Common:- a “watchman’s” customary address to a younger male Waterdhavian citizen (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • jack” – Common:- a horn or horn-shaped metal or ceramic container, the latter sorts often fashioned with “feet” to let it stand upright; same as “houseman”; same as “jack, my” (So saith Ed - May 25, 2007; So saith Ed - May 25, 2005; Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • jakes” – Common:- a term for an outhouse or privy; a less formal term for a garderobe (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood; Spellfire by Ed Greenwood; Swords of Eveningstar by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - January 23, 2006; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - April 12, 2020)

  • jasmal” – Common:- a durable, very hard gem found in small veins or, very rarely, larger seam deposits in the Thunder Peaks and the Spine of the World mountains (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Jesseret” – Common:- (named for the lady thief who concocted it centuries ago) a well known purple, prickly-peppery (tongue numbing) powder (Dragon Magazine #277; So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • jeteye” – Common:- a glossy, black poisonous liquid that causes the pupils of the eyes to go black, and has a bitter, black walnut flavour (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • Jewel of the Vale, the” – Common:- a term for Berdusk (Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • jhasin” – Alzhedo:- a male concubine (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • jhasina” – Alzhedo:- a female concubine (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • jhasinar” – Alzhedo:- a harem (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • jhuild” – Rashemi:- firewine–a powerful draught that boosts strength and dulls the senses (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • joker’s kiss” – Common:- see “four petal white flower”

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 07 May 2024 10:50:36
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    Kyrene
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    South Africa
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    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:20:20  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    K
  • kael” – Damaran:- a fort (So saith George Krashos - January 9, 2009)

  • kaeth” – Common:- formal: coffee (So saith Ed - March 6, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • kala kinob” – Payit:- (literally “count of days”) a Maztican calendar (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • katun” – Payit:- a period of twenty years (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • katunob” – Payit:- plural of “katun” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • kavvar” – Common:- formal: small palm-sized bowls with out-flaring tops and ‘drinking spouts’ (looking rather like a small real-life china Victorian cream jug, only one drinks coffee from the narrow shovel-spout rather than pouring the cream out of it) favoured in the south (So saith Ed - March 6, 2005)

  • Kelemvorite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Kelemvor (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • kell” – Common:- means “try,” but is only used when whatever is being tried is unfinished, nigh-impossible, tricky or dangerous, or there is some doubt as to whether whoever is trying it will ever accomplish it (and “kell” is used unchanged regardless of tense, and sometimes also in place of the word “done”; polite speech sticks to “try” and “tried” and “done,” leaving “kell” for cynical, disbelieving, or openly derisive speech) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004)

  • Kelstyn!” – Common:- a Tempuran specific “Blast!” (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • kgrench” – Common:- a dangerous type of ocean fish (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • khazark” – Common:- the leader of a Thayan enclave (Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds; Mysteries of the Moonsea by Wil Upchurch, Sean K. Reynolds, Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid)

  • Kill anything you see” – Common:- a saying used by orcs regarding the importance of light (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • kin” – Payit:- a day (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • King of the Oathlands” – Common:- see “Cormanthor”

  • king’s tear” – Common:- (also called “frozen tear” or “lich weeping”) a clear, teardrop-shaped, smooth-surfaced, and awesomely hard jewel (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • King’s Vow Forest, the” – Common:- see “Cormanthor”

  • kinob” – Payit:- plural of “kin” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • knife, a” – Common:- a cookery term for an amount that stays on the blade of a knife (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • Knowledge is power, thus great knowledge is great power” – Common:- a common saying in Halruaan social circles, referring to divination being the key to hidden information (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid)

  • knuckles” – Common:- a term for Brussels sprouts (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • kobold” – Common:- (as in: “What a kobold!” or “He has a kobold’s heart”) an Amnian term for a miser who hoards money, spending little or none of it; a derogatory Amnian term implying stupidity (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Korvikoum” – Dwarven:- the necessary consequences of previous choices (Resurrection and Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Kossuthan” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Kossuth (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • kuldalagh” – Dwarven:- (translates as “valorous axe”) a clan champion (So saith George Krashos - June 13, 2009)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 07 Apr 2024 17:05:35
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:21:37  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
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  • lacerunning” – Common:- a Semban term for the hunting of companions for amorous activities (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • lackcoin” – Common:- a poor person; this everyday, non-derogatory term is usually used to denote long-lasting poverty rather than a temporary lack of funds (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 31, 2010)

  • lack-lore” – Common:- same as “lackspell” (Spellfire by Ed Greenwood)

  • lackspell” – Common:- a derogatory term for a weak, novice, or sloppy wizard (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood; Elminster’s Daughter by Ed Greenwood)

  • lackwit” – Common:- a dull or witless person; a fool (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend; Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Laeral’s tear” – Common:- (named for the famous sorceress Laeral) a soft, brittle, colourless fancy stone crystal (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • laern” – Damaran:- the term for a guild (singular and plural) in Impiltur and the Easting Reach (So saith George Krashos - September 11, 2010; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • lajauva” – Common:- a type of bird (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • lalandath” – Common:- agile; sleek; lithe (often said of dancers or women whose beauty is accentuated by their movements) (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004)

  • Lammath Drios” – Common:- a parting used in Essembra and in the country-side south of it as far as the seacoast, and west as far as the Thunder Peaks, meaning: “Fortune find you”; it is not favoured within the proud cities of Sembia, where only “bumpkins” and “country dung-carters” are thought to speak so (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Lancer” – Common:- a “Cudgel” rank one higher than “Gategauntlet” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • Land of Fat Rich Merchants, the” – Common:- a Westhavian term for Sembia (Realmslore: The Matchmaker of Sembia, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Land of Fate, the” – Common:- a term for Zakhara (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Land of Rich Fat Merchants, the” – Common:- a more common term for Sembia (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Land of the Summer Seas, the” – Common:- the very formal or poetic Nimbran term referring to Nimbral (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lantanese” – Common:- the native tongue of the Lantanna (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Lantanna” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of humans known for their large green eyes, copper hair, and parchment-coloured skin; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Lantan, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Polyhedron #74)

  • Lantar, the” – Common:- the travelling envoy of “the Ayrorch” to other lands (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • lantern lasses” – Common:- a term for fetch-and-carry boys or girls, who, for a copper, can lead outlanders through the streets to desired destinations in Silverymoon (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • larahoun” – Gnomish:- same as “harhoon”

  • larlyn” – Common:- the local Cormyrean term for dryad or treant blood or “sap” (So saith Ed - September 30, 2009)

  • lash” – Common:- the Tethyrian slang word for a “donsar” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • laspar” – Common:- an evergreen tree growing everywhere north of mid-Tethyr and west of Thay and has a distinctive olive-green to copper hue (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • latebite” – Common:- a popular equivalent (for informal meals) term for “eveningfeast” (So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • Lathanderian” – Common:- a term applied to the religion of Lathander (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Lathanderite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers of Lathander (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Latulatul!” – Halfling:- (literally being the vocalization of a tongue stuck out, drawn in, then stuck out and drawn in again) a nonsense word used in place of “um” (So saith Ed - May 5, 2008)

  • Laws are but words until blood is shed for them” – Common:- a Tempuran homily (temple saying) that is considered a proverb of the faith (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • lay down coin” – Common:- pay for something, in any form of currency (Polyhedron #71)

  • lay down good coin” – Common:- pay a lot for something, in any form of currency (Polyhedron #71)

  • leap” – Common:- see “huld”

  • leap-bug” – Common:- a locust-like hopping insect all too common in lands around the Shining Sea (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Leiran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Leira (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • less” – Common:- (short for “less-than-human”) same as “outlander dogs”

  • less-than-human” – Common:- see “less”

  • lhurdas” – Common:- (referred to as “the Yellow Death” and “Beltyn’s Last Drink” for its most famous victim) a poison with a sharp, dry white-grape flavour (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • license-triads” – Common:- trios of Sembite/Semmite government officials chosen to represent different professions and levels of wealth, and for their personal dislike of each other, established to oversee sales of property deeds (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • lich weeping” – Common:- see “king’s tear”

  • Lifeblood Falls” – Common:- same as “Corellon’s Cradle”

  • light stone” – Common:- a stone bearing a continual light enchantment, sometimes sold in a sheath (Dragon Magazine #287)

  • lightplatter” – Common:- an appetizer (So saith Ed - August 23, 2010)

  • lion” – Common:- same as “golden lion” (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • lithoxyle” – Common:- same as “xylopal”

  • little man” – Common:- a nasty insult to any dwarf (also “little” or “human”) (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Dwarves Deep by Ed Greenwood)

  • little pearl” – Common:- the Amnian slang term for a “danter” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • living metal” – Common:- a gray-green metal that is created when powerful sources of life energy, such as druid circles or sites holy to Chauntea, leach energy into the soil, changing the properties of the natural deposits of iron buried nearby (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Lliiran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Lliira (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • lodging house” – Common:- the local Uth term for a rooming house; a three- or four-story building entirely given over to rooms rented by the month (or for longer periods) (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • long hard arms” – Common:- thugs hired by both guilds and noble families to “silence” printers who publish damaging things (true or false) against their patrons (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • long song, a” – Common:- a halfling term for a period up to about three minutes (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • longbeard” – Common:- a dwarven word for a wise, elderly dwarf with standing or who commands respect in a dwarven clan or community; a complimentary name for a wise or experienced, or a dependable veteran dwarf (So saith George Krashos - June 13, 2009; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010; Dwarves Deep by Ed Greenwood)

  • longears” – Common:- a colloquial term for an elf (Realmslore: Villainous Lures, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • longfingers” – Common:- tar-soaked-ended long thorns, straws, or split “fingers” of wood used to light “thurls” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • longhorn” – Common:- a Faerûnian flute, common only in civilized areas and among the elves (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • longtable” – Common:- a popular equivalent (for formal meals) term for “eveningfeast” (So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • longtongue” – Common:- a Semban term for what we would call either a referral service or a private investigator (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • lordlain” – Common:- a term for Uthmere’s city officials, meaning: “servants of the lord” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lorgal” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Mirtul (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Loross” – Common:- the language of the nobles of High Netheril (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Lost and Hapless” – Common:- (from the title of a once-famous Dragon Reach ballad) is a Faerûnwide expression for hopelessly wandering in the trackless wilds (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • lost the pearl” – Common:- an Amnian euphemism for bad luck (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • lothleaf” – Common:- a thick, endive-like lettuce-leaf plant, with dark green, jagged leaves (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • lout” – Common:- a type of small brown fish found in the chilly waters of the Dessarin (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • love stone” – Common:- a term for aventurine (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Loviatan” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Loviatar (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • low meal” – Common:- a term for what we call an appetizer before the main meal (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Low Netheril” – Common:- a term that refers to the Netherese cities of the Narrow Sea, a body of water now lost beneath the sands of Anauroch (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • low-coin” – Common:- cheap/tawdry; poor; inexpensive (sometimes with the inference that the goods are a bargain, and sometimes that they are Spartan/“bare basics”/“no frills”) (So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • Lowerdark, the” – Common:- the lower Underdark, extending from the Middledark to unfathomable depths beneath the surface of Faerûn (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • lowgown” – Common:- a debauched or lewd person, given to public flirtations and displays of intimate areas of their own flesh; the term suggests females, but is applied to both genders: a “lowgown” woman is one who displays herself, and a “lowgown” man is one who tries to “get down the gowns” of women, or who cross-dresses or readily dons costumes for wanton purposes (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 31, 2010)

  • luriyl” – Common:- a term for apatite (a group of phosphate minerals) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Luskanite” – Common:- a term formerly applied only to Luskar work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (its use as a replacement for the term “Luskar” has become steadily more prevalent) (So saith Ed - March 4, 2010)

  • Luskar” – Common:- a term formerly applied to the collective folk of Luskan (the darkness of the High Captains and the Hosttower of the Arcane has given Luskan a certain fell reputation, and the term, being associated with this, fell out of fashion) (So saith Ed - March 4, 2010, although some sources also cite Polyhedron #74)

  • luspeel” – Common:- a term for magnetite (a ferromagnetic mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • luth” – Yuan-ti:- (this term literally translates as “where the teeth are”) head (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Luthbaernar” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Luthbaern (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Luthland” – Common:- a term applied to the verdant farms surrounding Luthbaern, and to items of Luthlander making (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Luthlander” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Luthland (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • luurden” – Common:- (or “bloodfruit”) a rare, pale, gnarled tree that grows only in areas of strong faerzress (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • lynx eye” – Common:- a term for a specific type of labradorite (a feldspar mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 04 May 2024 10:33:36
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:22:30  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    M
  • maca” – Payit:- a stone-edged club (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • maeraede oil” – Common:- a brownish-orange, translucent, odourless distillate (usually sold as a purgative) of the leaves of a swamp-weed found in the coastlands of the Inner Sea; it remains inert unless combined with “thaebra” (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • maern” – Common:- a Nimbran word for mountain (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • maethe” – Common/Elven:- (from the modern Elven slang, a word now creeping into Common) perhaps (Realmslore: Dawntree, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • mage of power” – Common:- a senior, powerful or experienced mage (Spellfire and Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • MageFair” – Common:- an event that draws primarily wizards, but also sorcerers and sometimes bards, from across Faerûn; it occurs annually at a location (usually in remote meadows or valleys, ruins, abandoned castles, and similar places where few folk dwell) determined by a council of senior wizards, reputedly with the participation of the Magister; only those who can prove their ability to cast arcane spells are admitted, though each attendee is allowed one non-spellcasting guest (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy; Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • mageling” – Common:- a condescending or descriptive term for a junior, inexperienced or relatively weak mage (Spellfire, Crown of Fire and Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood; Cult of the Dragon by Dale Donovan)

  • malacon” – Common:- a glassy brown variety of zircon is found in crystals and provides large faceted gemstones (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Malagard!” – Common:- a Tempuran specific “Well, d*mn!” expressing mild surprise or dismay (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • Malarite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Malar (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • manyhanded, the” – Common:- (in reference to “the Manyhanded Curse,” an old elven insult) a term for humans used by halflings and elves (Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • mardarl” – Common:- a dwarven word meaning an effort to hide something, either physically or by withholding information (or twisting a conversation onto another topic, right now); an example would be a false name, particularly when used to conceal gender (for instance, a female dwarf using a name such as Brokh or Garlfang to make non-dwarves think they are dealing with a male) (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • Mark of the god!” – Common:- a curse often uttered by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • marrado” – Common:- a blood-red bean, peppery in taste (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • Marsemban” – Common:- a rarer term for Marsembian (Polyhedron #74)

  • Marsembian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Marsember, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Maskarran” – Common:- a term applied to the clergy, the worshipers, and the religion of Mask (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions; Faiths & Avatars by Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd)

  • master builder” – Common:- a term for what we would call either an engineer or architect (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • May your harp be unstrung, your dreams die, and all your songs be unsung” – Common:- a Harper curse of unknown origin (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • Maztican” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Maztica (the Azuposi, the Dog People, the Green Folk, the Metahel, the Nahopaca, the Nexalans, and the Payits), their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • meat” – Common:- a term for all intelligent prey used by orcs (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • meddlers of the Realms, the” – Common:- a favourite Zhent phrase for the Harpers (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • meerschaum” – Common:- a term for sepiolite (a complex magnesium silicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • mellochrysos” – Common:- a vivid yellow variety of zircon found in large crystals (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Melvauntian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Melvaunt, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Men fall, but Tempus rides on!” – Common:- see “Men fall, but Tempus rises!”

  • Men fall, but Tempus rises!” – Common:- (in older times, this saying was always rendered: “Men fall, but Tempus rides on!”) a Tempuran homily (temple saying) that is considered a proverb of the faith (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • mend-ever” – Common:- a sealant for kegs, ship planking, and canvas (Realmslore: The Coinkind, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • menthe” – Common:- an elven-made alcoholic beverage (Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood)

  • merchant company” – Common:- a partnership of three or more merchants (usually six or so) who jointly own and operate a business together; most merchant companies are based in several cities and were formed by the merchants currently leading the company (few merchant companies survive the deaths of the majority of original partners); most merchant companies specialize in the production and sale of certain types of items, finding efficiency (and hence profits) by working together to acquire the base resources, create a finished good, and bring it to market (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • merchant house” – Common:- a family-run business spanning multiple generations with a broad range of investments and a narrow range of specialized activities; most “merchant houses” are led by a single matriarch or patriarch who controls the family purse strings and might be titled (in places such as Amn, Sembia, and Waterdeep); some family members contribute significantly to the family business, while others live on a monthly allowance (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Merchants’ Domain, the” – Common:- a widely used term for Amn (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • merenthe” – Common:- a purple-black, opaque watery liquid that tastes something like raw avocados or eggplant, and when ingested or insinuated, is a potent sleep-inducing (soporific) drug that can bring “easy slumber” regardless of pain or nausea (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 28, 2010)

  • Merithian sauce” – Common:- a sauce equivalent to a strongly spiced steak sauce (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • Metahel” – Common:- see “Maztican”

  • metal enough” – Common:- (from a line in an old, largely forgotten play, Morlos the Mad Merchant: “There’s metal enough in his bottom for him to hold down that throne.”) the swiftly spreading Semban term for “street credit” (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • meynd” – Common:- mixed; mingled (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Midani” – Common:- the native tongue of the Bedine (Uloushinn dialect) and Zakharans (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • middark” – Common:- same as “deepnight” (most of the Sembia books and also The House of Serpents trilogy by Lisa Smedman)

  • midden” – Common:- as we would use the terms “dump” or “tip,” though it is dominated by what has been dug out of “jakes,” not by discarded items (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Middledark, the” – Common:- the middle Underdark, extending from the Upperdark to a depth of about ten miles beneath the surface of Faerûn (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • midmorn” – Common:- a term for the half hour centred on 10 a.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • midnight” – Common:- see “deepnight” (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • Mielikkian” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Mielikki (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • mierngras” – Common:- (also known as “nature’s waterclocks” by the denizens of Chondalwood) a flowery shrub of violet and gold that blooms once during the spring (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • Mighty, the” – Common:- a term for themselves used by orcs (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • minth” – Common:- a rare poison hailing from the Tashalar that causes blindness and can cripple its victim (So saith George Krashos - September 18, 2010)

  • Mirabarran” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Mirabar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • missed top coin” – Common:- failed to learn about or take advantage of an opportunity to make wealth (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • mist runner” – Common:- the local Immersean term for a smuggling ship (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Mistrans” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Mistledale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • mithral” – Common:- an Amnian term implying someone of highest rank or “old money” with great talent, or something of highest quality, or that is untarnished, pure or perfect; a silvery-blue, shining metal derived from soft, glittering, silvery-black ore found in rare veins and pockets all over Faerûn–from the depths of the Underdark to surface rocks, particularly in the easternmost Sword Coast North lands (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend; Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Moanderite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Moander (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • moon door” – Common:- a local Silvaeren name for a hatch or “cat door” set inside a larger, regular (human-sized) door used for “drops” as well as pet traffic (Realmslore: Moon Doors of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • moon wine” – Common:- a spiced local blending of dregs of this and that, plus juniper and other forest berries, fermented in local Silverymoon cellars (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • moon, the” – Common:- a shining gold crescent minted in Silverymoon, worth two gold pieces throughout the Marches (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • moonbar” – Common:- a pearly white, opaque gem found in desert and tropical areas of Toril (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • moondark” – Common:- the period between “middark” and “night’s end,” also known as “night’s heart”; also a term for new moon (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • moonflower” – Common:- a plant which grows only atop deep snow (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • moonglow” – Common:- see “varathar”

  • moontouch” – Common:- a plant with edible blooms that sprouts in handfuls among the trees (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • moon-witted” – Common:- same as “crazed-wits” (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • moorland topaz” – Common:- same as “cairngorm”

  • More than one Dale just isn’t there” – Common:- one of the most famous of arrogant ‘Sembian’ sayings about the back-country bumpkins who dwell to the north of them is a snide comment about Featherdale (unlike most of the other Dales, Featherdale is not a distinct valley, but is formed from the basin of the lower Ashaba between Blackfeather Bridge and Feather Falls); most folk today take this saying to mean that a ‘Sembian’ cannot even see a settlement when passing through the poor, rustic Dales or think it a boastful reference to the fact that the richest Dale of all, Moondale, was swallowed by Sembia; others see it as an allusion to vanished Dales such as Sessrendale and Tarkhaldale (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • morion” – Common:- a term for black smoky quartz (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • mornbright” – Common:- a minstrels’ term for the half hour centred on 8 a.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • mornfeast” – Common:- a variant for “morningfeast” (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • morningfeast” – Common:- the formal term for breakfast (often a later in the morning, indoors, more expansive “first household meal of the day” meal; usually centred around something fried, but also including fruits, vegetables, and side-dishes), also known or pronounced as “morningfest” (So saith Ed - January 24, 2008; Waterdeep News: Monster-Man Found Murdered by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - March 9, 2010)

  • morningfest” – Common:- see “morningfeast”

  • Morym” – Common:- a term for the mayor (an elder drow of patience and tolerance) of Tel Verinal (So saith Ed - August 23, 2010)

  • Morymdar” – Common:- a term for the Morym’s police force (So saith Ed - August 23, 2010)

  • most-close-blesséd-kin” – Common/Elven:- see “blesséd”

  • Mother’s Bane” – Common:- see “prespra”

  • Mulan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of tall, slim, and sallow-skinned humans (with eyes of hazel or brown), their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • mule pollen” – Common:- a bright yellow flower, of the daisy variety, that blooms in early spring upon the High Moor and in the grassy foothills of some mountain ranges (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Mulhorandi” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Mulhorand, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; ; the term is also applied to the language of Mulhorand, Murghôm, Semphar, and Thay (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Mulman” – Common:- a term applied to items of Mulmasterite making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Mulmasterite” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Mulmaster, their work, study, beliefs, and customs (Polyhedron #74)

  • mykaro” – Common:- a term for smithsonite (a zinc carbonate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • mynteer” – Common:- a name for phenakite (a fairly rare nesosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Myrkulyte” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Myrkul (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • mystic maelstrom” – Common:- (also called a “mystic whirlpool”; the opposite of a “spark”) the name for any place that drains magic that comes within its range of influence (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • mystic whirlpool” – Common:- see “mystic maelstrom”

  • Mystran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Mystra (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Myth Drannan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Myth Drannor, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Myth Drannor” – Elven:- the name given to Cormanthor (the city) after its mythal was raised (Lost Empires of Faerûn by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout)

  • mythal” – Common:- a living web of magical energy created by elven high magic to protect a location such as an elven city or holy place (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 07 Jun 2024 11:32:43
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:23:29  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    N
  • naal” – Common:- (probably a distortion of the word “nail”) same as “talon” (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • Naed!” – Common:- same as “Naeth!”

  • Naeth!” – Common:- “Sh*t!” (also uttered as: “Naed!”) (So saith Ed - May 17, 2004)

  • nagara” – Common:- a naga term for young nagas of any kind; the ruling dark naga caste of Najara (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Nahopaca” – Common:- see “Maztican”

  • naja’se’ssynsa” – Common:- (a nuanced term loosely translated as “eternal shadows of the ideal”) a naga term for bone nagas and rarer undead nagas (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • naja’ssara” – Common:- (a nuanced term loosely translated as “embodiments of the ideal”) a naga term for members of its own sub-race (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • naja’ssynsa” – Common:- (a nuanced term loosely translated as “shadows of the ideal”) a naga term for members of other naga sub-races (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Nakulutiuns, the” – Common:- part of the easternmost group of Ulutiuns inhabiting the Great Glacier (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Nallojal” – Alzhedo:- a term for Calimshan’s navy; also a term for sailors or marines in Calimshan’s navy (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • nandra” – Common:- means “could be better” or “looks mediocre to me”; also used when dickering over prices of goods, especially perishables, to mean that they are not of the best quality or are close to spoiling (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Nar” – Common:- a term applied to the founders and descendents of the great empire of Narfell, a sub-race of short and stocky humans (with darkly tanned skin tones and straight, raven black hair, usually worn to the shoulders) consisting of twenty or more nomadic tribes that inhabit the dry grasslands east of the Giantspire Mountains and north of the Rawlinswood, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • nararoot” – Common:- a black, woody tuber with a liquorice-like flavour (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Narfelli” – Common:- a term applied to the inhabitants of the great empire of Narfell, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to a forgotten tongue of Narfelli, strongly influenced by Abyssal, once spoken by the Nars (Champions of Ruin by Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, Eric L. Boyd; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • narnath” – Damaran:- plural of “narnoth” (So saith George Krashos - September 11, 2010)

  • narnoth” – Damaran:- a trade (or grouping of various trades) which has voting status within a laern (So saith George Krashos - September 11, 2010; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • nature’s waterclocks” – Common:- see “mierngras”

  • navalar” – Common:- a term for catfish (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • Neck, The” – Common:- the entrance to the Dragonmere (So saith George Krashos - November 7, 2008)

  • need of Saerloon” – Common:- a state of official shortage declared in Saerloon (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Eight by Ed Greenwood)

  • nelvine” – Common:- a common name for albite (a plagioclase feldspar mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Netherese” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of dark-haired, fair-skinned humans of ancient Netheril, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the language of Low Netheril, and the commoners of High Netheril (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Never undress in a room with a window, a Harper may be near!” – Common:- a warning of Waterdhavian noble matrons (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • Neveren” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Neverwinter, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • never-goyle” – Common:- a term for a grotesquely cute gargoyle-like creature one will never see in nature (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Neverwintian” – Common:- a term for Neveren rarely heard outside of poetry, pedantic speech, or among the arrogant Calishites (Polyhedron #74)

  • new glint” – Common:- a term for new currency (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • new-coins” – Common:- an Abeiran term for the trendy, young, newly wealthy of Tarmalune (Dragon Magazine #372; Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • Nexalan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of relatively tall humans (reddish-bronze of hue with long, lean physiques and beardless, angular faces), and their language (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • nib” – Common:- the Waterdhavian word for a copper coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • night coral” – Common:- see “horn coral”

  • night’s end” – Common:- the period between “moondark” and dawn (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • night’s heart” – Common:- same as “moondark”

  • nightcap” – Common:- an edible mushroom similar to morels (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • Nilnam” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Alturiak (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Nimbran” – Common:- a term applied to Nimbrese work, study, beliefs, and customs (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part One by Ed Greenwood, although some sources also cite Polyhedron #74)

  • Nimbrese” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Nimbral (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Nimbrian” – Common:- a term applied to items of Nimbrese making (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part One by Ed Greenwood, although some sources also cite Polyhedron #74)

  • nine secrets” – Common:- a term for the types of gemstones that can be transformed into ioun stones by the proper spells (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • No kicking under the table; it annoys the Harpers there” – Common:- a Thayan saying of the wealthy and powerful (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • No one bothers you in the Helm” – Common:- a local motto in Red Larch about the Helm at Highsun tavern (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • No sword is ever sharp enough” – Common:- a dwarven saying (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • noble” – Common:- the Sembite/Semmite word for a gold coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • North, the” – Common:- a term Cormyreans and Dalesfolk use to refer to the lands west of Anauroch and north of the High Moor (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Northern Barbarian Territory, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Northmen” – Common:- a term that refers to one of several seagoing, warlike people found on the coast north of Waterdeep and the western islands, including Tuern, Gundarlun, and Ruathym in the Trackless Sea and Norheim and Norland in the Moonshaes (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; The Savage Frontier by Paul Jaquays)

  • Nothing is truth that has not been tested in battle” – Common:- a Tempuran homily (temple saying) that is considered a proverb of the faith (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • novlik” – Dwarven:- killing (Another Name for Dawn by Paul S. Kemp)

  • nune” – Common:- a term for staurolite (a red brown to black, mostly opaque, nesosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • nuyar” – Common:- a quarter-inch diameter blue pearl used as currency in and around the Sea of Fallen Stars, worth five gold pieces ‘wet’ and 100 gold pieces ‘dry’ (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 17 Apr 2024 18:04:56
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:24:21  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    O
  • octel” – Common:- a term for scheelite (a calcium tungstate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Oeblaun” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Oeble, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Oghmanyte” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Oghma (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • ogurkh” – Common:- a dwarven word referring to something unbelievable, insane, monumentally stupid, or the result of crazed, dunderheaded, or scarcely-to-be-believed actions (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • olaramomdin” – Dwarven:- (translates as “magical peaks”) refers to rock crystals (“omlars”) found within the hills and mountains of the Omlarandin Mountains (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • old boot” – Common:- a Cormyrean term where we would say “old fogey” (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Old Empires, the” – Common:- an outsiders’ term to link three distinct but geographically-linked countries, each with a history far more ancient than many lands west of the Sea of Fallen Stars; they consist of Chessenta, Mulhorand, and Unther, the three oldest surviving nations in all of Faerûn (Warriors and Priests of the Realms by John Terra)

  • Old Vangey” – Common:- a colloquial term for the mint mark on the obverse of modern Cormyrean coins (a full-on bearded, hatless wizard’s face) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • oldbeard” – Common:- a dwarven word for an elderly dwarf used in the context of youg dwarves who appear mature beyond their years (So saith George Krashos - May 9, 2009; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • oldsword” – Common:- a wounded or down-on-his-luck “wildblade” (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • olmar” – Common:- the seven-inch-long, three-inch-wide diamond-shaped olive pearl of a great clam, worth 500 gold pieces among the aquatic races and over 2,000 gold pieces ashore (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Oloré” – Common:- a universal greeting and parting used around the Sea of Fallen Stars, meaning: “Well met” or “Good day” (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • omlar” – Common:- see “olaramomdin”

  • Omlarandin” – Common:- (a corruption of the Dwarven “olaramomdin”) a pidgin Tethyrian word that means, depending on context, sparkling, mysterious, or magical (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Ommsur” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Marpenoth (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • on the Lord’s ledger” – Common:- the census rolls of Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • on the ninth day” – Common:- (most Turmians set aside one day out of every nine to “chase the sun”) a Turmian phrase that typically means “when there is time” (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • on top of Mount Waterdeep” – Common:- Waterdhavian expression which means commanding a view of current events, politics, trade activity, and near-future business opportunities (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • One who lights a candle awakens a small sun” – Common:- an elven saying speaking to the importance of light (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • Only the most desperate try to rob the dead of Illusk” – Common:- a Luskanite saying about the loss rate among grave robbers of the Ruins of Illusk (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • ool stone” – Common:- an Inner Sea term for oolite (a limestone composed of minute rounded concretions resembling fish roe) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • ophealine” – Common:- (also known as “glass stone”) a term for axinite (a group of isostructural minerals) or (if violet) yanolite (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Orbal!” – Common:- southern version of “Naeth!” (So saith Ed - May 17, 2004)

  • orbaline” – Common:- a term for benitoite (a rare blue barium titanium silicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • orblen” – Common:- (nicknamed “honeystone”) a mineral unique to the Realms, “orblen” crystals yield deep golden gems of large size (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Ordulan” – Common:- a rarely-heard term for Ordulian goods, companies, animals, and items, but not people (Polyhedron #74)

  • Ordulian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Ordulin, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • ore” – Common:- an Amnian term implying someone of lowest rank, or something of worst quality, or that is unrefined, filthy or criminal (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • orl” – Common:- a gem believed unique to the northern half of Faerûn, orls are found only in “blue caves” such as those at Wheloon (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Ormath on the warpath” – Common:- (in reference to how of the three cities of the Shining Plains, Ormath is the one most likely to go to war over the slightest insult) is a phrase used to indicate taking offense at the smallest transgression (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • ornabra” – Common:- a goat, beef and potato stew, drained and then wrapped in a flatbread the size of a small warrior’s shield and served as a walking meal (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • Oroosh” – Treant:- a term for humans used by treants, meaning: “never-stopping talkers” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • orosk” – Common:- a cold-climate, golden citrus fruit, akin in tart flavour and delicacy to a mandarin orange, or perhaps a tangerine (Dragon Magazine #267)

  • orprase” – Common:- a common name in the Realms for pollucite (a zeolite mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • orsar” – Common:- a “watchman” envoy to guilds, citizen groups or noble families; also “watchmen” who serve as prisoner escorts and in honour guards; a “watchman” rank equivalent to a captain (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • Orthgalass” – Dwarven/Elven/Gnomish:- the name for Churning Bay, the narrow, tide-scoured inlet that lies between Hlondeth and the open waters of the Reach (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • oruighen” – Common:- a rare cacti found in the alkaline sands of Azulduth, the Lake of Salt (Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • orvas” – Common:- a translucent liquid with a green cast and a bittersweet taste, this poison was once a favourite of assassins from the land of Thay (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • osbra” – Common:- the dried, powdered form of “tlardra,” sometimes used as a long-lasting, “fast” mauve dye in garment-making; it remains inert unless combined with “ardrent” and moistened (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • osssra” – Yuan-ti:- the creations of yuan-ti spellcasters, these oils are mixtures of substances that produce pungent, colourful smoke when burned; the smoke confers benefits on all Scaled Ones but functions as an inhaled poison for all other creatures (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • othlor” – Rashemi:- (translated as “true ones”) the term for the wisest and most experienced hathrans (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • outlander dogs” – Common:- a less polite equivalent of “outlander” (So saith Ed - December 19, 2005)

  • outlander” – Common:- a Calishite (of higher status) term for all who are visibly “outlanders”; also a term used by the lordlain for any “outlanders” dwelling in Uthmere either under false pretences or not “on the Lord’s ledger,” and therefore not paying taxes; also a Delzemaer term used for all visitors to the city (So saith Ed - December 19, 2005; Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Elminster Speaks, Part Thirty-Six by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 15 May 2024 11:33:35
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    Kyrene
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    South Africa
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    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:25:06  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    P
  • Paerth!” – Common:- the disgusted dwarven equivalent of “Balderdash!”, “Piffle!”, “Not bloody likely!”, or “Fat chance!” (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • painquench” – Common:- formerly a term for a specific spell applied to quell pain; later also a term for a particular enchanted herbal ointment that quells pain; now also a term for a small handful of such (analgesic) ointments and unguents (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • Paldari” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Ches (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • palmgold” – Common:- a term for peach (Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood)

  • panaeolo” – Common:- an herb well known in the time of Netheril found in small amounts from oases in Anauroch (Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • pasha” – Alzhedo:- the leader or “lord” of a guild (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • patroljan” – Common:- an outsider’s term for a female “watchman” in Waterdeep (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • patrolman” – Common:- an outsider’s term for a male “watchman” in Waterdeep (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • paxar” – Common:- a silver coin of Tethyr (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Payit” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of relatively short humans (beardless with muscular builds and intense black eyes), and their language (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • Peace stands on a sharp sword” – Common:- a Tempuran homily (temple saying) that is considered a proverb of the faith (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • pearl” – Common:- the Amnian slang word for a “roldon” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Pelleor’s Prairie” – Common:- a local term for the prairieland surrounding the Hill of Lost Souls and between the Hill of Lost Souls, the Marsh of Chelimber and the Battle of Bones (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis; Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn by James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo)

  • people of the highway, the” – Common:- see “Gur”

  • people of Uthmere” – Common:- a term used by the “lordlain,” when speaking or writing, to include Uthmaar and “outlanders” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • People, the” – Common:- a collective term for themselves used by elves (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • phaelder” – Common:- a rare flower whose leaves, when smoked, improves memory retention and retrieval (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Answers from the Old Sage)

  • phandar” – Common:- a tree that seldom grows north of about the midpoint of the High Forest and is now rare all across Faerûn due to heavy cutting (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • phenalope” – Common:- a term for rhodonite (a manganese inosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • pillows” – Common:- a term used when joking about breasts in polite company (So saith Ed - May 23, 2004)

  • pipefall” – Common:- a type of sculpture that brings roof-cistern water down through metal, glass, or wood tubing to make pleasant sounds and plays of light (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • pipestone” – Common:- a term for catlinite (a type of argillite–metamorphosed mudstone) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Place of Great Promise” – Common:- see “Cormanthor”

  • plaguechanged” – Common:- the term for creatures touched by the first wave of the Spellplague; usually horrible monsters (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • plagueland” – Common:- a generic term describing anyplace where active Spellplague yet burns (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • Plaguewrought Land, the” – Common:- the largest “plagueland” in Faerûn, an area southwest of Chondalwood (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • plangent crystal” – Common:- a magically animate, violet-hued mineral mined and controlled by Datharathi Minerals of Datharathi “chaka” (Darkvision by Bruce R. Cordell; Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • plangents” – Common:- a Durpari term for those who replace their natural limbs with “plangent crystal” (Darkvision by Bruce R. Cordell; Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • platinum” – Common:- an Amnian term implying a head of a mercantile house, or something of consistently fine quality (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • plounce” – Common:- a term for squab (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • pluckers” – Common:- a really raw term for breasts (So saith Ed - May 23, 2004)

  • plungepour” – Common:- a pond dug where a roof drains off to, to collect water from a “downspout” or “tongue” (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • point” – Common:- the Silvaeren word for a copper coin (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • portal” – Common:- a permanent magic device that instantaneously transports those who know its secrets from one locale to another (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • pot meal” – Common:- casserole (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • pour, a” – Common:- a cookery measure achieved by tipping a shaken bottle upside down and then immediately upright again (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • Power, the” – Common:- a term that means the use of divine magic (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Prairie of Pelleor, the” – Common:- same as “Pelleor’s Prairie”

  • prairiemote” – Common:- an “earthmote” covered in tall grass (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • prespra” – Common:- (colloquially known as “Mother’s Bane”) an odourless, colourless poisonous liquid (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • priakos” – Common:- a large caravan company, usually created by the permanent amalgamation of smaller caravan companies in several geographical areas, which controls a trade route or strategic area (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Procampan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Procampur, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Proud Peoples, the” – Common:- a collective term for dwarves and elves used by humans (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • psaedros” – Common:- the more common name for lepidolite (a lilac-gray or rose-coloured phyllosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • pursespy” – Common:- a less polite Semban term for a “scrutaar” (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 31 Jul 2021 08:56:58
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:25:56  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Q
  • qahwa” – Uloushinn:- (or just “qaw”) coffee or coffee beans; Anaurian beans are small, hard, and such a dark brown that they look black (So saith Ed - March 6, 2005; Anauroch by Ed Greenwood; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • qayadin” – Alzhedo:- a rank of general of the Sadimmin or Qysaghanni (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • queen” – Common:- the Tethyrian slang word for an “aenar” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Quench!” – Common:- a curse often uttered by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Quick Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for halflings (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Quiet Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for gnomes (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Qysaghanni” – Alzhedo:- a term for the syl-pasha’s guardians (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Qysanallojal” – Alzhedo:- a term for the Imperial Navy of Calimshan (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 07 Apr 2024 17:12:43
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:26:47  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    R
  • raethmoots” – Common:- the local Uth term for meetings of clubs, societies, or just friends (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • raindrop” – Common:- the common name given to cassiterite (specifically the flawless, colourless crystals or areas in larger, “woodtine” crystals) in the Realms (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • rainspout” – Common:- a local Amphailan large-brimmed, shapeless hat (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • Raise not thy voice in anger, lest the sleeping dragon wake” – Common:- an old saying of Faerûn (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • ralbahr” – Alzhedo:- a naval rank equivalent to an admiral of the Nallojal (Calimport by Steven E. Schend; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • Ralimralar!” – Common:- a delighted: “Son of a b*tch!” specific to Tempurans (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • Rashemi” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of dusky-skinned, and dark-eyed humans (with stout and muscular builds and thick black hair), their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Rashemen, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Rattlebones Ride, the” – Common:- a local Semban name for the road joining Mulhessen and Saerb (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Raumathari” – Common:- a term applied to the inhabitants of the great empire of Raumathar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Lost Empires of Faerûn by Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • Raumvira” – Common:- the native tongue of Raumvirans (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Raumviran” – Common:- a term applied to the founders and descendents of the great empire of Raumathar, a sub-race of stout and muscular humans (with dark eyes, thick black hair and generally of lighter hue than the Rashemi) concentrated along the shores of the Lake of Mists and the city of Almorel, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • raven” – Common:- the Sembite/Semmite word for a silver coin; a regional name for a silver coin used in Selgaunt (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; The Halls of Stormweather by Various edited by Philip Athans)

  • Ravenar” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Citadel of the Raven, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • ravenar” – Common:- a term for a glossy, black variety of tourmaline (also called schorl) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • razor grass” – Common:- a sturdy deep-rooted grass found too often in the Battle of Bones and in patches throughout Pelleor’s Prairie (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • razra” – Alzhedo:- a publicly-known strike force of “wildblades” employed by a pasha, yshah, ynamalik, sultan, caleph, or satrap (So saith Ed - December 19, 2005)

  • Reach, the” – Common:- a term for either the Dragon Reach, or the Vilhon Reach (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • readykettle” – Common:- a Semban term for an establishment offering one or two persons a hot meal, a ready bed without intimacy, and small-items storage with utter discretion (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Realm of the Flying Hunt, the” – Common:- the mainland term for Nimbral, also known as “the Sea Haven” (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Realms Above, the” – Common:- a term for the surface world of Faerûn (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Realms Below, the” – Common:- a term for the Underdark (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • red ink” – Common:- an Amnian term for bad luck; the Amnian slang term for a “fandar” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • red tear” – Common:- (also known as “Tempus’s weeping”) teardrop-shaped, glossy crystals of vivid cherry-red, blood-crimson, or fiery orange hue (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Redblaze” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Midsummer (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • redeyes” – Common:- a Great Dale term for radishes (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • redflower” – Common:- a tiny red bog flower native to Cormyr, Sembia, and the Dragon Coast (Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • redruck” – Common:- a sharp tasting cheese (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • resmer” – Common:- a type of fruit somewhat like a ruby-hued, giant Concord grape (Dragon Magazine #267)

  • Resourceful as a bard” – Common:- an old saying (Halflings in Chessenta: The Bard of Adder Swamp)

  • Returned Abeir” – Common:- an entire Abeiran continent that was fused to Toril west of the Trackless Sea (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • Rhambukkya” – Common:- a greeting and parting used by the nomads of the Shaar, meaning: “Ride high” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • ride” – Common:- the standard term used for “tenday” in Cormyr and the Dalelands (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • ripplebark” – Common:- a nut-flavored, shelf-like, woody fungus that resembles nothing so much as a mass of rotting flesh and grows naturally in living caves (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick; Wyrms of the North: Zundaerazylym, the "Laughing Wyrm" by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • riqysar” – Alzhedo:- a regent emperor (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • rivvim” – Common:- lust; lusty (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004)

  • roadship” – Common:- a peddler’s cart (a sturdy wooden box on four wheels with rotating slats built into the sides); goods are stored for travel inside the walk-in main compartment, accessible from a narrow door in the back; when turned down and locked into place, the slats serve as display shelves (Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • roaringsun productions” – Common:- plays depicting tales of dalliance, wartime scenes, and broad comedy (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Rods, the” – Common:- the local Silvaeren nickname for Silverymoon’s police force (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • rogue stone” – Common:- an extremely rare small jewel of a shifting, rainbow-coloured, iridescent hue (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • roldon” – Common:- a platinum coin of Amn (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • rorden” – Common:- a “watchman” in charge of a watch post or barracks, or either five or six patrols; a “watchman” rank equivalent to a lieutenant (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • rosaline” – Common:- (also known as “unionite”) a term for thulite (an opaque, massive pink manganese bearing variety of zoisite–a calcium aluminium hydroxy sorosilicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • roseneedle pine” – Common:- a miniature evergreen tree growing in Faerûn’s temperate forests along riverbanks and are most plentiful in Cormanthor, where they thrive along the banks of the Ashaba, growing there the year round (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • roszel” – Common:- a thorny plant that grows as a small bush (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood)

  • roundskull” – Common:- a dullard; a person who thinks shallowly, or prefers not to think much at all (often applied to local folk who sit drinking in their tavern displaying prejudices and repeating the words of their parents and grandparents, rather than making their own judgements about changing conditions around them, and new concepts, items, and customs) (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 31, 2010)

  • Roushoum” – Common:- the native tongue of the Imaskari (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • rowan” – Common:- a tree, producing white flowers at the tips of comb-like branch formations as well as a red fruit in season, found growing on the High Moor and in some places in the Serpent Hills; “rowan” can grow as tall as ten to twenty feet in some places, but the vicious winds of the moors stunt these trees and prevent them from ever achieving their full potential height (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • Ruathen” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Ruathym, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • ruendil” – Common:- a platinum coin of Cormanthyr (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • Ruler of the Forest True” – Common:- see “Cormanthor”

  • running from the Claws” – Common:- a Semban phrase for using the “until the morrow” delay to flee “the Claws” (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • rusteen” – Common:- a term for microlite (a sodium calcium tantalum oxide mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • ruukha” – Elven:- a term for hobgoblins (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 27 Apr 2024 10:49:00
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:27:46  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    S
  • sabbalad” – Alzhedo:- the ruler or “mayor” or local governing official of a sabban (Calimport by Steven E. Schend; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • sabban” – Alzhedo:- an area encompassing an average of three to five drudachs in Calimport and other cities in Calimshan (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Sabbas” – Sylvan:- a parting used by centaurs, meaning: “Run free” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • Sabruin!” – Common:- “F*ck you!” or “F*ck off!” (So saith Ed - May 17, 2004)

  • saceddar” – Common:- a sea elven musical instrument mounted on a chest plate that hangs over the player’s neck and shoulders with thirty crystals of various sizes and thicknesses across it (Under Fallen Stars by Mel Odom)

  • sadidah” – Alzhedo:- a garrison and armoury for Sadimmin, Nallojal or Farisan (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Sadimmin” – Alzhedo:- a term for Calimshan’s army; also a term for soldiers in Calimshan’s army (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Saer” – Common:- a general title for nobility of uncertain rank; this term also applies to children of nobility too young or low-ranking to have been awarded titles of their own (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Saerloonian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Saerloon, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Saerlunan” – Common:- an older, less often heard term for Saerloonian (Polyhedron #74)

  • Sah-haul” – Common:- a Chessentan nonsense word or phrase used in place of “um” (now heard in Turmish, the Vilhon Reach, and Mulhorand, too) (So saith Ed - May 5, 2008)

  • saisha” – Common:- (known as “Hammerlock” for the rigid immobility it causes) a flavourless, reddish liquid made from ever-rarer Tashlutan herbs (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • Sakros!” – Common:- an astonished, not necessarily bad: “Holy cr*p!” specific to Tempurans (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • sallar” – Common:- typhus (So saith Ed - October 26, 2004)

  • Sand!” – Common:- an occasionally used oath among the folk of the Shining South equivalent to “B*lls!” or “Bollocks!” (Depths of Madness by Erik Scott de Bie)

  • sandberry” – Common:- a bush with straw-yellow berries found in the region known as the Battle of Bones (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • Santar, the” – Common:- (from an ancient Lantanese word meaning “others”) the other members of “the Ayrorch” (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • sarbossa” – Common:- (also named “eye stone” or “fire rock”) a term for thomsonite (a series of tecto-silicate minerals of the zeolite group), lintonite (an agate-like variety of thomsonite), comptonite, or ozakite (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • sard” – Common:- a term for carnelian (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • sardal” – Damaran:- a year (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • sardalar” – Damaran:- plural of “sardal” (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • sardrant” – Common:- a slow-moving, shaggy, and semi-armoured, armadillo-like herbivore, with edible meat (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Sarenestar” – Common:- a local term for the Forest of Mir used by the elves of Tethir (the Wealdath) and Shilmista (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • saress” – Alzhedo:- (literally means “Silent Hand”) a little-known dirty-work group of “wildblades” employed by a pasha, yshah, ynamalik, sultan, caleph, or satrap (So saith Ed - December 19, 2005)

  • sarn” – Nar:- a year (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • sarnar” – Nar:- plural of “sarn” (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • sarsae” – Common:- a tough-skinned, hardy tomato-like savoury fruit of the North (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • sarsson” – Common:- a common, little-known herb with broad, short yellow leaves that grows very close to the ground, as a “carpet” ground cover, in wet tropical regions (jungle, riverbanks, marshes, or bogs) aboveground, and damp warm (near volcanic) caverns underground; it “enlivens” un-coagulated blood on contact to bring forth a vivid, strong taste that some creatures (such as giant striders and certain carrion birds, like “gorcraws”) find irresistible (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 28, 2010)

  • Sarthdew” – Common:- an expensive, golden alcoholic beverage (Elminster’s Daughter by Ed Greenwood)

  • satrap” – Alzhedo:- an archaic term for the lawful or legitimate governor or ruler of a province or area in Calimshan; a Calishite term for a frontier bandit lord (what those in northerly areas would call a “robber baron”) since such individuals almost always style themselves as, or try to claim or proclaim themselves as the legitimate version of the term (So saith Ed - December 19, 2005; So saith Ed - May 23, 2010; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • Savage Coast North, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Savage Frontier, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Savage North, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Scaled Ones” – Common:- a term that includes all scalykind (reptilian humanoids, monstrous humanoids and native outsiders; excludes serpentfolk), lizards (reptilian animals and magical beasts; excludes serpents), serpent constructs, serpents (snakelike animals and magical beasts) and serpentfolk (snakelike monstrous humanoids and aberrations) (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Scaleless Ones” – Common:- a term used by the Scaled Ones that includes all other humanoids and monstrous humanoids (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • scalykind” – Common:- see “Scaled Ones”

  • scapra” – Common:- a name given to the finest scapolite (a group of rock-forming silicate minerals composed of aluminium, calcium and sodium silicate with chlorine, carbonate and sulphate) stones (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Scardalefolk” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Scardale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • scorched news” – Common:- a Suzailan expression referring to advertising “broadsheets,” notices about new or seasonal wares, or menus, and lost-and-found and items-wanted postings printed and posted on walls and posts (originating from the practice of owners of stone buildings coming out with torches and burning off such unwanted notices; as in: “Have you heard about Thaeral the butcher? All over town they’re saying it–’tis the latest scorched!”) (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • scorchkettle” – Common:- a woman who delivers impressively blistering words to someone in public (usually because she is quick-tempered); someone of either gender who engages in too many tiresome histrionics when negotiating a purchase or sale (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Scornubian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Scornubel, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Scornubrian” – Common:- a little used term for Scornubian (Polyhedron #74)

  • scravey” – Common:- a term for a “herd” of hippogriffs (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • scrip trading” – Common:- buying and selling paper documents rather than real goods: ship captains, fleet owners, or trading “coster” officials sell redeemable “scrips” (written notes) for amounts of specific goods (describing origin, construction, and quality, and stating a season or a month for their arrival); if a merchant no longer wants (or can no longer afford to wait for) this incoming ship or caravan cargo, he sells the “scrip” for ready money (less than he paid for it); the buyer of the “scrip” can resell it for a higher amount, or gather it with other “scrips” in hopes of cornering a market in a specific good so as to arrange “shortages” and drive up prices; some traders make a living just on the difference between what they pay for a “scrip” and what they sell it for, without ever actually handling any goods; “scrip trading” is the daily grease that keeps Semban commerce running, and thus substantial profits can be made there (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • scrip” – Common:- a pouch or satchel depending from the belt, used like a purse to hold various items; usually a “scrap” or piece of irregular size of parchment, but sometimes also linen or boiled tree bark or other substances (like rag pulp “paper”) used as a writing surface; a formal contract setting out the precise terms of all “coinring”-member investments in “coinring” activities which must be filed with a “scrutaar” (Realmslore: Moon Doors of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - May 18, 2010; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • scrutaar” – Common:- an official Semban term for a Sembite/Semmite tax official (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Sea Haven, the” – Common:- same as “Realm of the Flying Hunt, the”

  • seamaster” – Common:- a ship’s captain who owns his/her ship, or who is a part owner of the ship or of the shipping line (Prayers from the Faithful by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • sea-slake” – Common:- a Nimbran word for a hand-length, tasty, strong-smelling brown fish sometimes called “smelt” in Sword Coast lands (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Second Braze” – Common:- “The Braze” about twenty minutes after “First Braze” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Seeing is believing” – Common:- an ancient human proverb speaking to the importance of light (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • Seek out gems under wyvern’s claw; silver waits by dragon’s maw” – Common:- an old saying (whose origin has been forgotten) about mistaken rumours about riches (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • sell” – Common:- (as in: “Sold!”, “You’ve sold me on your plans!”, or “Anyone can be sold”) an Amnian term used instead of “convince” or “influence” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • selpurt” – Common:- a vegetable, like something between bok choy and celery (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Selûne’s Children” – Common:- see “Gur”

  • Selûne’s Smiles” – Common:- a local term for the all-too-brief periods of time that Orthgalass becomes frustratingly placid (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Selûnite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Selûne (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Semban” – Common:- a term applied to Sembite/Semmite work, study, beliefs, and customs (Polyhedron #74)

  • Sembian” – Common:- a term applied to items of Sembite/Semmite making; a term outlanders often incorrectly use for citizens of Sembia and that the citizens usually do not bother to correct (Polyhedron #74)

  • Sembite” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Sembia, used most often in the north and in the Dragon Reach lands (Polyhedron #74)

  • Semmite” – Common:- same as “Sembite,” used more in the south

  • senthissa’ssa” – Common:- (a nuanced term loosely translated as “teachers worthy of emulating”) a naga term for more powerful creatures (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Serôs” – Common:- a term for the undersea world in the region known as the Sea of Fallen Stars (Under Fallen Stars by Mel Odom; The Grand History of the Realms by Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood, George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas Costa)

  • Serôsian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective races of Serôs, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Under Fallen Stars and The Sea Devil’s Eye by Mel Odom; The Grand History of the Realms by Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood, George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas Costa)

  • serpentfolk” – Common:- see “Scaled Ones”

  • serrus” – Common:- a term for “great general” in a local Amnian dialect (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Serusan” – Common:- the trade language of the marine peoples of the Inner Sea (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Seventh Below, the” – Common:- a Mirabarran term referring to the near reaches of the Underdark, patrolled by the dwarves of the city; this has led to expressions such as “he’s sunk beneath the Seventh Below” to denote a depressed, unlucky, depraved, or penniless person (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • seyar” – Common:- a quarter-inch diameter white pearl used as currency in and around the Sea of Fallen Stars, worth one copper piece “below the wave” and averages two silver pieces in value ashore (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • sezarad” – Common:- a broad, vivid flower with a short, brittle root (Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • Shaar ring” – Common:- pierced and polished slices of ivory threaded onto a string by the nomads of the Shaar, worth three gold pieces per slice (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Shaaran” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of long-faced, yellow-skinned humans, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the humanoids, monstrous humanoids and animals of the Shaar (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; The Grand History of the Realms by Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood, George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas Costa; Champions of Valor by Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • Shaaryan” – Common:- a term applied to the nomads of the Shaar, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid)

  • Shadowstreets, the” – Common:- the local Uth name for a small, dilapidated neighbourhood in the south-eastern corner of Southshore Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • shadowtop” – Common:- a tree that can exist in all except arctic climates and are the soaring giants of the forests of Faerûn (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • shadywork” – Common:- someone hired for work such as forgery, intimidation, or arranged delays to befall rivals, and even hired thieves, vandals, sea pirates, and arsonists (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Eight by Ed Greenwood)

  • shaelings” – Common:- a term for all sorts of tiny silver minnows (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • shalass” – Common:- a type of brown or silver, trout-like fish of the Delimbiyr and Unicorn Run, and the Three Rivers (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • shalm, the” – Common:- same as “birdpipes”

  • shandon” – Common:- a term for natrolite (a hydrated sodium and aluminium silicate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • shanut” – Common:- a dark wood from trees logged in the western Lurkwood (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • shard” – Common:- the Waterdhavian word for a silver coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Shards!” – Common:- a gentle dwarven oath derived from the loss of a gemstone or good building-stone that breaks into fragments; it is the equivalent of a real-world speaker saying, “Darn it all!” or a similarly mild expletive (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • share beds” – Common:- a Semban term for hiring or making use of a “bedwarmer” (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • sharpsair” – Common:- a white, crumbly Luthland cheese, as fiery as hot mustard or radishes (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • sharpstone” – Common:- another name for novaculite (a form of chert or flint) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Sharran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Shar (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • shaum” – Common:- a double-reed instrument, a sort of primitive oboe or bassoon, most popular with gnomes (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Shaundakun” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Shaundakul (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • shaurrak” – Common:- a Nimbran word for a squawking slate-hued diving seabird (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • sheelie” – Common:- a term for bass (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • sheen” – Common:- a variety of obsidian that has many minute, spangly inclusions ranging in colour from mahogany to russet to silver and gold; see also “gold sheen” (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • shieldstone” – Common:- see “amaratha”

  • shieldwall” – Common:- a term for a stockade of logs (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • shilmaer” – Common:- a gold coin of Cormanthyr (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • short name” – Common:- a short form of a personal name, used as a nickname (The Temptation of Elminster by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • short scroll” – Common:- what we call “newspaper”; usually strips of parchment no longer than a human is tall and of widely varying widths, from “chapbook” width to thrice as broad, printed by mechanical means on both sides (Realmslore: Broadcryers of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • short song, a” – Common:- a colloquial measure meaning one or two minutes (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • Shou Lung amethyst” – Common:- a corundum mineral closer in compositions to ruby and sapphire than it is to the Faerûnian amethyst (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Shou Lung emerald” – Common:- (called the “bureaucrat’s stone” in the fabled lands of Kara-Tur) a much harder and more lustrous variation of the western (Faerûnian) emerald (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Shou Lung topaz” – Common:- a fiery yellow corundum mineral (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Shou” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of yellowish-bronze humans (with black hair and broad, flat features; one of many human ethnic groups in far-off Kara-Tur), their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • shraehouse” – Common:- a term for a place that would be called a tavern if it were larger (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • shragga” – Common:- a type of leaf lettuce grown in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • shull” – Common:- a Nimbran word for a flavourful, slow, soft-shelled sea-turtle (or “basking turtle”) (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • shyk” – Alzhedo:- a rank equivalent to a major (Calimport by Steven E. Schend; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • silkstone” – Common:- a quartz ornamental stone, “silkstone” is a special, fibrous variety of tiger eye which has a faint sparkle (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • silktail” – Common:- a type of small fish kept as pets by the elves of Cormanthyr (Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • Silvaeren” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Silverymoon (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • Silvanite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Silvanus (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • silver” – Common:- an Amnian term implying an up-and-coming merchant, or the potential for greatness (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • silverbark” – Common:- a slender tree that flourishes in wet ground throughout Faerûn, generally near bogs and swamps, but sometimes in deep, flooded ravines in the depths of large forests (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl; Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • silvereye” – Common:- a Nimbran word for a large blue-and-silver sharp-nosed fish with flesh so salty that it keeps for days without needing smoking or salting (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • silverfin” – Common:- a term for any type of whitefish (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to Baldur’s Gate II by Ed Greenwood; Dragon Magazine #277)

  • silverling” – Common:- a type of tiny river fish that gets scooped up along with the larger fish; in taste rather like the sardines known along the Sword Coast, only with an added smoky or mushroom-like hint (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • sir” – Common:- a “watchman’s” all-purpose formal address to an officer of superior rank (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • sjorl” – Rashemi:- a heavy, smoky-flavoured cheese that outlanders find horrible (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • skaether” – Common:- (from the Chondathan word “skaethar” that has crept into Common) a formal term for a restaurant (Dragon Magazine #277; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • skald” – Common:- the Uthgardt and Illuskan term for a bard; they play important roles as lorekeepers and poets, giving inspiration to Illuskan warbands (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • skradda” – Common:- a darting, sticky-tongued lizard that eats insects and small frogs (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • sky” – Common:- a word for the “field” (or background) of the shield element of a coat of arms (Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • skydrop” – Common:- the common name given in the Realms to clear or lightly coloured tektite (a meteoritic silica glass) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • slake” – Common:- see “burslake”; also a Waterdhavian term for a mid-morning break (Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • slapthighs” – Common:- a low-rate or coarse or willing-to-be-abused prostitute; the term is descriptive, not pejorative (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • slather” – Common:- a term for stucco made of mud or mud mixed with pebbles (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Slaugh” – Elven:- (this term literally translates as “mud-wallowing dogs”) a term for orcs used by some elves, and is beginning to be heard in use by half-elves, dryads, and some other forest-dwelling folk, meaning: “pigs” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • slayknife” – Common:- a killer-for-hire (So saith Ed - July 4, 2010)

  • sleepweed” – Common:- a plant with pods which appear similar to those of milkweed plants, containing a sleep-inducing mould within them (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • slink” – Common:- a very swift black-furred “berrygobbler” (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • slipping” – Common:- (as in: “slipping a feast”) a Waterdhavian term for “crashing” (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • sliver tree” – Common:- a tree found exclusively on Pelleor’s Prairie and resembling an oak with bark lined with long, narrow cracks that channel moisture toward the roots (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • sloeberry” – Common:- a type of berry used to make fruit jelly (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • sloegreen wine” – Common:- a thick, sweet, green wine local to Beldabar’s Rest in Yartar (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • sloshtomach” – Common:- a dwarven term for a bloated, faintly nauseous condition of long-term and cumulative water retention, wherein repeated drinking of water makes the stomach increasingly distended; the condition is caused by tiny mould spores in some water sources that affect no creature native to the area (they grow up “used to them”), no one who drinks boiled water or water that has been carried in leather skins or oaken barrels for long (the spores react with wood and hide enough to neutralize these effects), and no one who consumes oils of any sort (including those still in raw vegetables) at the same occasion of consumption; even among those who are not protected by any of these factors, “sloshtomach” occurs rarely, but dwarves and gnomes are more susceptible to it than other races, and consuming certain alcoholic drinkables seem to exacerbate it, so lots of dwarves “fear” it more than they really should, and tend to avoid drinking water whenever they can have treated water (ale) or stronger liquor instead; it should be noted that this is almost never debilitating or seriously damaging (it affects mood more than anything else, as a dwarf who feels vaguely ill also tends to be more than vaguely irritated with the world around) (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend; So saith Ed - March 31, 2010)

  • Sly Folk, the” – Common:- a term for halflings used by humans and dwarves (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • slyblade” – Common:- a prostitute who dresses as a man, to woo female clients or as protection against the disapproving or law keepers, when meeting male clients (who know her true identity and profession very well, or are “tipped off” by prearrangement plus a card, message, or signal) (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • Small Folk, the” – Common:- a general term sometimes used for halflings (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid)

  • smallkeg” – Common:- a smallish (about the size of the keg carried by the legendary St. Bernard around its neck), easily-handled wooden keg used for the transportation and storage of spirits, wines, oils, and other liquids (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 31, 2010)

  • smallmerchant” – Common:- a worker employed by someone else, who buys and sells items “on the side,” and so typically trades hand-to-mouth, in small amounts and for few coins (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • smelt” – Common:- same as “sea-slake”

  • smur” – Common:- light misty rain (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • snakeheads, the” – Common:- a general term for yuan-ti (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • snapper” – Common:- an uncommon, puffy ball-shaped mushroom (it can grow as large as a foot in diameter and is light orange in colour with brownish splotches) found growing on the High Moor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • snow-blade” – Common:- used (in rows standing up from the slates) on Arabellan roofs to cut thick snow loads into slices, so that an entire roof-face of deep snow can never fall into the street below when melts come (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • snowflower” – Common:- an edible plant that tumbles about in the icy winds of the Great Glacier (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • songhorn” – Common:- a recorder, popular everywhere, unless someone has a hangover (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • sorn” – Common:- a “watchman’s” added term of respect, somewhere between “trusted” and “worthy” in meaning, when addressing an officer of superior rank; a “watchman’s” address to another “watchman” of lower rank; a term for salmon (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part Two by Ed Greenwood; Dragon Magazine #277)

  • sorn” – Elven:- a term for drow used by other elves, half-elves, and drow themselves (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • Sossar” – Common:- a term applied to items of Sossrim making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Sossrim” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of human inhabitants (with skin as pallid as snow and hair with the fine, silver tint of an icicle) of distant Sossal (a frozen land that lies between the Great Glacier and the Great Ice Sea), their work, study, beliefs, and customs (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Polyhedron #74)

  • Soul-forging weather” – Common:- a dwarven term for violent electrical storms, hurricane winds, and avalanches (Polyhedron #71)

  • sourbelly” – Common:- a cantankerous person (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • South, the” – Common:- (also “the grim and magical South”) a term that refers to the lands of “the Old Empires”; a phrase often invoked when explaining some unknown event (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • space of a good sword-sharpening, the” – Common:- a cookery phrase for a measure of time of about an hour (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • spark” – Common:- (the opposite of a “mystic maelstrom”) the name for any place that augments all magical effects triggered or active inside its range of influence (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • spears” – Common:- a term for asparagus (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • spelldoom” – Common:- an unleashing of magic intended to bring about the deaths of multiple entities; usually this term is used when the magics are both deadly and dangerous to handle (and so would normally not be unleashed in this manner, or so profusely, or in such a reckless way), and their wielder either does not care/expect to survive their unleashing (So saith Ed - July 11, 2010)

  • spell-hurler” – Common:- same as “spellslinger” (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • Spellplague, the” – Common:- the event resulting from Mystra’s death; also used to refer to the effects of, or substance left behind in places where the event occurred (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • spellscar” – Common:- a brand of blue fire that grants an ability, usually beneficial but with some negative aspect (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • spellscarred” – Common:- the term for creatures touched by later, less virulent strains of the Spellplague and possessing a “spellscar” (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • spellslay” – Common:- slay with spells (So saith George Krashos - August 2, 2010; So saith George Krashos - October 10, 2010)

  • spellslinger” – Common:- a slang term for a mage (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • spellwork” – Common:- the result of, or something requiring, the use of magic (Silverfall by Ed Greenwood; Rising Tide by Mel Odom; Champions of Valor by Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds; Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • spidergrass” – Common:- a variety of grass that grows in tiny cracks on rock walls and spreads tendrils over several feet, found in the Serpent Hills (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • Spider-kissers” – Common:- a catchall for Lolth-worshiping drow who splintered off the other groups of drow who have moved into Cormanthor (the Vhaeraun-worshiping Auzkovyn Clan and House Jaelre) or came into Cormanthor through other Underdark ways; the “Ssinssriggorbb” prefer to cluster around entrances to the Underdark, even if that does make them vulnerable to raiders from the Underdark cities (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • spiderstone” – Common:- a drow term for obsidian (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • Spines of the Serpent, the” – Common:- a local Shining Plains term for the Spines of Surkh mountain range (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • spirit moss” – Common:- a poisonous, wispy gray moss that grows about a half inch high, in a soft pile like a delicate sponge and found on Pelleor’s Prairie (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • spitting ivy” – Common:- see “four petal white flower”

  • splar” – Common:- a winged eel that can leap but not really fly (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • sprendle” – Common:- a dwarven word for a trick, prank, or deliberate misdirection, especially if light-hearted and harmless or meant to prevent a confrontation (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • spurnarmor” – Common:- either a woman with a spectacular figure, or a well-endowed man; also used to describe a trade deal that’s too good to be true–even if it is true (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • square as a Turmian beard, [as]” – Common:- a phrase that signifies anything well or carefully done; a phrase used to indicate a fair deal throughout the Reach (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • squid jail” – Common:- a plant with flat, foot-wide, tentacle-like leaves (that grow below other vegetation in the area) and benefits from rooting near stands of “razor grass” found on the prairieland surrounding the Hill of Lost Souls (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • sreen” – Common:- the local Uth term for large black rats numerous in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • srindym” – Common:- an iridescent, silver poisonous liquid (Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood; So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • Ssa’Naja” – Common:- (a nuanced term loosely translated as “we the ideal”) a naga term when referring to itself (the “royal we”) (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Ssinssriggorbb” – Drow:- (this term literally translates as “love spider”) see “Spider-kissers”

  • sslin” – Yuan-ti:- a term for controlled servitors or slaves (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • ssrath” – Yuan-ti:- a term for the individuals a yuan-ti dwells and works with (lesser tribe) (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • sssrath” – Yuan-ti:- to get wet; to be submerged; to bathe (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Sssrathluth” – Yuan-ti:- (this term literally translates as “Wet-heads”) a ragtag group of rivals who have come to the docks of Hlondeth in hopes of salvaging riches from the sunken wrecks that line the bottom of Churning Bay (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • staeradder” – Common:- a deadly type of poison; resistance can be built up over a period of years by exposure to killing doses (Elminster’s Daughter by Ed Greenwood)

  • star metal” – Common:- another name for metallic meteorites (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • stareye” – Common:- the polite term for someone who is naive (So saith George Krashos - September 18, 2010)

  • Stars shining right through their eyes” – Common:- an elven saying that most closely translates as “stars in their eyes” (Realmslore: Dawntree, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • starstride” – Common:- (from a human bardic translation of an elven saying) meaning to leave on a journey that one wants to make, or because one has the itch to travel (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • stay behind” – Common:- the local Uth term for any nonhuman sailor who tries to leave the crew and settle in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Stay out of the wilderness’s way, and the wilderness will stay out of your way” – Common:- a fondly used Dambrathan saying, referring to every other major geographic feature apart from the coastline around the Bay of Dancing Dolphins and the inland plains north of the Gnollwatch Mountains being perceived as little more than inconvenient wasteland (Shining South by Thomas M. Reid)

  • stead” – Common:- a Semban term for a tiny, poorly built compound in “upcountry” Sembia; a term for a log dwelling (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • steading” – Common:- a general term for an isolated farmhouse and its outbuildings, gardens, and other cleared land (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Steel within and flame the shroud” – Common:- a formal oath often used by members of the Order of the Black Flame (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Steel!” – Common:- (short for “Thirsty steel!”) a Tempuran oath expressing an eager desire to take part in battle (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • steel” – Common:- an Amnian term implying the highest rank for someone of the working class (used in reference to elite military units), or something that is reliable or tough (“solid as steel”) (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • steelpence” – Common:- the Sembite/Semmite word for a square Sembian iron coin used in place of copper (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • steelsky” – Common:- an Abeiran term for the metallic-hued sky on Abeir and over Returned Abeir due to “arambar” (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • stelk” – Common:- a cabbage-like shrub grown in Hilp (a bustling town at the meeting of Calantar’s Way and the Way of the Manticore in Cormyr), on the shores of the Lake of the Long Arm and at a few other locales around Faerûn as fish bait since all aquatic life seems to love its taste (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Stettar voh” – Common:- a formal, peaceful greeting and parting among merchants in the Shining South, meaning: “Godspower [keep you] well” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • stlarn,” “stlarned” and “stlarning” – Common:- are fairly polite equivalents for “tluin,” of about the blasphemous strength of “Darn!” and see use where we might say “screw” or “bloody” (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004)

  • stone debt” – Common:- [a Nimbran custom where] an IOU is scratched on a flat stone and taken to a Herald for witnessing by both parties to a debt (the Herald makes a paper record of the debt and scratches his or her own sign on the obverse face of the stone; when the debt is paid, the Herald shatters the stone in the presence of both parties or their inheritors) (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • stonedelve” – Common:- a term for one of many similar small, simple tombs, dwellings, or guard shelters cut into the rocks all over Faerûn (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • stone-heads” – Common:- a less polite reference to Ravenar garrison soldiers (Polyhedron #74)

  • stone-shouldered” – Common:- a dwarven word to describe a rogue dwarf or dwarven group/clan (So saith George Krashos - June 13, 2009)

  • stonesinger” – Common:- the dwarven term for a bard (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • stormfront roof” – Common:- the Aglarondan term for a strongfront roof; also called a stormfront roof in some other places around the Inner Sea (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • stormrock” – Common:- a Cormyrean term for chrysoprase (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • stormshield” – Common:- a term for a berm of sheltering earth (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Stout Folk, the” – Common:- a general term for dwarves (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • strange critters” – Common:- the local Uth term for those that are “wilder” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Stride, The” – Common:- a local Saerloonian name for Sevilandar Stride (the street that links Dolphin Market and North Market) (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Eight by Ed Greenwood)

  • strongarm” – Common:- same as “hiresword” (Polyhedron #71)

  • strongfront roof” – Common:- the local Uth term for what is known as a “mansard roof” in our real world (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • Sty of Fat Merchants, the” – Common:- a Borderer term for Luthbaern (also uttered as: “the Fat Sty”; as in: “Oh, yer a Fat Styer, eh?”) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • sulabra” – Common:- a term for argillite (a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed predominantly of indurated clay particles) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • sultan” – Alzhedo:- (literally “prince”) the ruler or “mayor” of a “ward” in Calimport (Calimport by Steven E. Schend; Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • Summer Land, the” – Common:- an informal Nimbran term referring to Nimbral (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • sun” – Common:- the Waterdhavian word for a platinum coin; a regional name for a platinum coin used in Selgaunt (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; The Halls of Stormweather by Various edited by Philip Athans)

  • sundries” – Common:- relatively non-perishable, everyday Faerûnian items and supplies (such as lanterns, blank ledger books, inks, decorative locks and latches, windowpanes, and “weatherpouches”) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • sunflower moss” – Common:- a rich, green foliage named for its buttercup-like spring flowers (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Sunite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Sune (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • sunsigh” – Common:- the moment after “highsun” when the sun has clearly passed its highest point (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • surety” – Common:- a written, filed-with-government agreement compelling its guarantors to act (insurance) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Surprises seldom grow more welcome as one gets older” – Common:- an old saying of Faerûn (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • sussur” – Common:- (so-called “deeproot”) a rare and magical tree found only in the largest of caverns and has long and gnarled branches, with banyan-like aerial roots (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • suth” – Common:- (may be a corruption of the word “south”) a tangled tree with olive-green leaves found along the edges of the Shaar, in the woods of Chondath, and farther south in Faerûn (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Suzailan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Suzail, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Sweet water and light laughter until next we meet” – Common:- (from the Elven) a parting used by human nobles (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Swift and fine” – Common:- a Luthbaernar saying, in reference to producing goods (requests for custom-made wares are seen as welcome challenges) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • swingsword” – Common:- a person who has had training in “swordwork” and rudimentary tactics (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • Sword and stars!” – Common:- a Tempuran saying derived from the belief that stars flash to mark the god’s approval when a favoured attack is made or a champion draws his or her sword for purposes of battle (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • sword” – Common:- same as “armar”

  • sword-arm” – Common:- same as “armsman” (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Swordarm” – Common:- formerly the lowest “Zhentilar” rank (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • swordcaptain” – Common:- a patrol leader of “the City Watch”; a “watchman” or “Wintershield” rank equivalent to a sergeant (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • swords out” – Common:- (or “swords-out”) a fight or armed brawl, or an angry dispute (as a noun or descriptive phrase, as in: “It was a good swords out the lads had that night.”) (Polyhedron #71)

  • Swords out” – Common:- “Arm yourselves, danger” (as a warning) (Polyhedron #71)

  • Swords speak, but they do not listen” – Common:- an old saying (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • sword-sag” – Common:- as we would use the term “split-rail” (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • sword-see” – Common:- a regular military patrol (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • sword-she” – Common:- a female mercenary; this term is generally applied to individuals who make their living as “hireswords” and advertise this fact, and tends to be most often used by humans, when speaking of good-looking female humans, or females of forceful personality (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Eight by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 28, 2010)

  • swords-out” – Common:- see “swords out”

  • sword-swinger” – Common:- same as “swingsword” (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • swordswinger” – Common:- same as “swingsword” (Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • swordwork” – Common:- fighting with a sword; the handling of a sword for combat purposes (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; The Seven Sisters by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast by Ed Greenwood)

  • Syl” – Common:- a general title for nobility of uncertain rank in Calimshan (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • syl-pasha” – Alzhedo:- the ruler of Calimshan (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 19 May 2024 10:09:15
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    Kyrene
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  • t’iss’tess” – Yuan-ti:- (translated as a fondly spoken “dear” or “dear one”) the usual term of endearment; this address is reserved for a yuan-ti’s intimates–other vrael olo a yuan-ti feels especially close to (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • taerath” – Common:- a large basin hollowed out of the stone floor in most households, or a portable wooden, copper-lined bath in the more expensive inns in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • take delivery” – Common:- an Amnian term meaning to gain, receive, or acquire by skill or work (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • take the Tour” – Common:- a Nimbran term referring to the practice of wandering and adventuring (usually a journey to the mainland in a Nimbrese’s youth, to taste what the rest of Faerûn has to offer) (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Talandor!” – Common:- a Tempuran specific “Bloody hell!” (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • Talassan” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Talos (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Talegathering” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Shieldmeet (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • Talfir” – Common:- a term applied to a dark-haired, fair-skinned human tribe in the heart of the great forest of Shantel Othreier during the Crown Wars; the Talfir were the original human inhabitants of the Chionthar river valley in the Western Heartlands (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Talfirian” – Common:- a term applied to Talfir work, study, beliefs, and customs (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Talfiric” – Common:- the native tongue of the Talfir (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • tallglass” – Common:- a drinking-vessel made of blown glass looking something like a champagne flute with a deep bowl and short stem, or rather like a flared-from-the-base (no stem) champagne flute (So saith Ed - May 25, 2007; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - September 10, 2021; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - December 3, 2021)

  • tallhouse” – Common:- any Sembian structure with tall (three to as many as six aboveground floors, the average being four), narrow (usually only one-room-and-a-passage wide) proportions (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • tallies” – Common:- palm-sized electrum plaques marked with hard-to-counterfeit magical seals, issued by the government of Sembia as official notes of indebtedness; “tallies” can only be redeemed by the person to whom they were issued, in the presence of any government banker, anywhere in Sembia, and so are worthless if stolen; when large debts are to be paid (particularly if the debtor wants witnesses to the payment being made), debtors often take a “tally” for the correct amount to a government banker with the creditor, and the banker cancels the first “tally” and issues a second one to the creditor; “tallies” make possible the transfers of large monetary sums without the need for assembling chests of coins (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Six by Ed Greenwood)

  • talltankard” – Common:- a drinking-vessel with a lid made of pewter that holds about twice what a normal tankard does (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • talon” – Common:- the Zhent and Dalesfolk word for a triangular Zhentish silver coated iron coin used in place of silver, deemed worthless by most folk outside Zhentil Keep; known as a “dung-flea bit” or just a “flea-bit” elsewhere (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Talonite” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Talona (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • tammar” – Common:- a Calishite fruit somewhat like a tangerine or clementine, but with a red ‘peel’ or inedible skin (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Tamram” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Tarsakh (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • tangle” – Common:- a local “upcountry” Semban word for a thicket (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • tanglemoss” – Common:- a lush, soft, green ground-covering moss that resembles miniature pine boughs in configuration (needles sprouting from a stem), but is soft and delicate, sometimes being visually mistaken for dill and other “lacy frond” herbs and plants (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin; Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - July 28, 2010)

  • tangler” – Common:- see “giant sundew”

  • tankard toss” – Common:- the Suzailan slang term for a tavern (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Tantam” – Common:- a peaceful way-greeting among merchants of the North (as we would say “Hello”) (“Secrets of the Sages” - Summer, 1988; Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • tantan” – Common:- the tambourine, popular with halflings and humans south of the Dalelands, and disliked by dwarves, who prefer more honest percussion (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Tantran” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Tantras, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • taran” – Common:- a silver coin of Amn (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Tarnian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Mintarn, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • tarsark” – Common:- (derived from the Gnomish “tarsurk” or the Halfling “tassark,” or both) is the more casual, less polite equivalent of “bloodlance” (So saith Ed - August 31, 2008)

  • tarsurk” – Gnomish:- same as “tarsark”

  • tarunter” – Common:- (sometimes: “a proper tarunter”) a dwarven word to describe anything pretentious or fussy (such as elven dancing and most human festival celebrations or “goldnose” etiquette); dwarves never apply this word to religious customs, dress, or rituals, even of a human faith they barely understand or that seems fussy at first glance (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • Tashalan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of black-haired, olive-skinned humans, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Tashalar, the” – Common:- a term that broadly refers to the Tashtan Coast, which stretches from Narubel to Sheirtalar; a specific term for the Tashalar Basin, which is encircled by the peaks of the Hazur Mountains (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Tashalaran” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of the Tashalar Basin, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Tashlutan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Tashluta (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Tashlutar” – Common:- a term applied to Tashlutan work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Tassadrans” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Tasseldale (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • tassark” – Halfling:- same as “tarsark”

  • tattercoats” – Common:- (the original meaning of the word was “beggar or habitual lying-in-the-street drunk”; all beggars are automatically “tattercoats”) a term that refers to all “ne’er-do-wells” or undesirables; it is also a polite way of referring to what a slightly tipsy, and therefore loose-tongued, Uth might call “strange critters” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • tayar” – Common:- a quarter-inch diameter green pearl used as currency in and around the Sea of Fallen Stars, worth one gold piece undersea and twenty gold pieces ashore (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • tchazar” – Common:- a term for aragonite (a calcium carbonate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • teeled” – Common:- buried (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • tekkil” – Common:- a succulent swamp plant with fat red leaves (Lords of Darkness by Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • telbront” – Common:- a Lantanna entertainer (The Grand History of the Realms by Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood, George Krashos, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas Costa)

  • Tellings, the” – Common:- the laws of Nimbral (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • telstang” – Common:- an alloy of copper, “mithral,” platinum, and silver (originally a gnomish secret) that has been adopted by the halflings and by certain elven and orc peoples in the Sword Coast North; its making remains known to few (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Tempuran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Tempus (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Tempus’s weeping” – Common:- see “red tear”

  • tenday” – Common:- months are subdivided into three ten-day periods, known variously as “domen,” “eves,” “hyrar,” “rides,” or “tendays” throughout the Forgotten Realms (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • tenemo” – Nexalan:- a sacred place (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • Tesharan” – Common:- see “Vaasan”

  • Tethyrian” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of multi-ethnic humans (a relatively new ethnic group of medium build and height), their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Tethyr, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • thaebra” – Common:- a dark blue (despite its colour, it does not leave a stain and is sometimes sold as a cosmetic), sticky paste (made by boiling the roots of certain plants found in the Shaar and adjoining lands) that glistens when smeared onto a surface, but soon dries and hardens; if smeared on skin, left for the better part of a day, and then removed, it takes most dyes and stains with it; it can also bleach to white any known hair, of any hue, when washed in water that contains enough of it; it remains inert (heat, flame, and impacts do nothing to ignite it) unless combined with “maeraede oil” (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • thael” – Common:- glad; pleasant; heart-lifting (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • thaelkiira” – Elven:- (translated as either “ward gems” or “warding gems”) an enchanted gemstone (appearing as an unremarkable gemstone of any type) attuned to a particular individual and containing spells that form a mantle (So saith George Krashos - November 4, 2008; So saith George Krashos - December 2, 2008)

  • thaevor” – Common:- a type of cheese somewhat like parmesan cheese (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • thalander” – Common:- a plant whose leaves, when smoked, eases joint pain and muscle aches (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Answers from the Old Sage)

  • thalver” – Common:- a copper coin of Cormanthyr (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka; Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • thammarch” – Common:- an electrum coin of Cormanthyr (Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka; Elminster in Myth Drannor by Ed Greenwood)

  • tharch” – Common:- a province of Thay; the Red Wizards have divided Thay into eleven “tharchs,” each ruled by a “tharchion” (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • tharchion” – Common:- a Thayan civil governor who manages the mundane affairs of the realm and serves at the pleasure of the Red Wizards (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • thargur” – Common:- a dessert syrup of walnuts and diced apples embedded in molasses (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • tharguth” – Common:- a term for abishai devils (Elminster in Hell by Ed Greenwood)

  • tharlar” – Common:- a Great Dale term for onions (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • Tharran” – Common:- see “Vaasan”

  • Thayan” – Common:- a far more popular term applied to the collective folk of Thay, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74; So saith Ed - February 16, 2010)

  • Thayvian” – Common:- an older term for Thayan still heard today, especially among scholars and pedants (So saith Ed - February 16, 2010)

  • The blade is faster than the Art” – Common:- a popular saying in the Realms (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • The bones and thrones of lost lands” – Common:- (borrowed from a long forgotten ballad) a favourite phrase for the ruins of lost, long-fallen kingdoms (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • The hordes of Turmish are as numerous as the waves upon the Inner Sea” – Common:- a popular Starmantle saying (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • The ink couldn’t get redder” – Common:- an Amnian expression meaning “Things can’t get any worse” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • the jade towers of Wheloon” – Common:- a phrase describing the green-roofed houses (the result of using a native slate for shingles) of Wheloon (A Grand Tour of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • The man who goes not looking for trouble does not find it–it finds him” – Common:- an old Faerûnian saying about rulers needing protection against traitors (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • The measure of a man’s worth can be seen in the cut of his beard” – Common:- an old Turmish saying (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • The oars in me lifeboat’s worth their weights in gold” – Common:- an old saying from the Pirate Isles (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • The only thing that separates a man from a yeti is his sword” – Common:- an old Vaasan expression (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • The platter or the sword?” – Common:- a saying that most closely translates as “the carrot or the stick?” (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • The purifiers hatch the plots, and the swords carry them out” – Common:- a common saying around the Moonsea and the Dalelands, referring to purifiers and the swords of Cyric (Warriors and Priests of the Realms by John Terra)

  • The Serpent Never Sleeps” – Common:- a phrase local to Battledale that has come to mean “the forces of evil never rest” (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood)

  • The sun rises out of blood and sets into blood, and all the time between belongs to the Lord of Battles” – Common:- a Tempuran homily (temple saying) that is considered a proverb of the faith (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • The unadvised throne-lord is a fool” – Common:- a very old saying in Faerûn referring to a ruler’s need for advisors (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • thelarr” – Common:- a simple reed instrument also called a “whistlecane”; an easy instrument to teach and so cheap that some bards give them away as gifts to children (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Thirsty steel!” – Common:- see “Steel!”

  • thordren” – Common:- a juniper-like ground shrub with very resinous or “oily” wood (So saith Ed - May 18, 2010)

  • thorl” – Common:- a Nimbran word for rock (usually applied to offshore rocks that endanger Nimbran fishing boats, or the sea-lashed coastal rocks where shellfish many be found) (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • thornslinger” – Common:- a pale, almost white plant that shoots thorns at animals that approach too close, most often seen growing in rocky gorges on the High Moor (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • thorra” – Common:- a general term for purely medical-use drinks that are not primarily sustaining or pleasant to the taste (So saith Ed - July 29, 2010)

  • three long songs” – Common:- a halfling term for ten minutes (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • Three Rivers, the” – Common:- a local term for the Surbrin, the Dessarin, and the Laughingflow (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • throatslake” – Common:- any drinkable that takes care of thirst and does not cause illness in doing so, but is not particularly pleasant to drink (So saith Ed - May 9, 2004; Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • thronemote” – Common:- a term for the four small “earthmotes” of the Stewards of Akanûl (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • thrusk” – Common:- a very tough wild grass that grows in tufts from long underground roots (somewhat like ferns do), and can therefore survive long droughts and hot sun; a tan-brown brewed drink made by boiling the roots and leaves of thrusk, with a hot-chocolate-like “muck” sediment that precipitates out of the liquid at the bottom of every mug or tankard (Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; So saith Ed - June 3, 2009)

  • thrust” – Common:- (as in: “You catch my thrust?”) the general meaning, as we would use the term “drift” (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • thumb” – Common:- the Cormyrean word for a copper coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • thumberry” – Common:- a globe-shaped shrub of lime-green, ragged leaves that is studded year-round with white berries the size and shape of human thumbs (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • thuparlial” – Common:- a term for prehnite (a phyllosilicate mineral of calcium and aluminium) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • thurl” – Common:- a small metal tripod brazier, capped with a conical metal hood pierced with a ring of small apertures to let air in and warmth out, and whose affixed legs holds it about six inches off the large, flat safe-stone it stands on; they are used by Uth-folk to burn perfumed charcoal and small handfuls of kindling (sometimes scented with dried handfuls of fragrant Great Dale grasses) (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Tilverian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Tilverton, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Timbemerald, the” – Common:- a local term for the Forest of Mir used by the gnomes who live under its boughs (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • Timbervaults” – Common:- the local Silvaeren name for the oldest and most ramshackle warehouse district of Silverymoon, hard west of “Hollowhar” (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • time of summer sunset, the” – Common:- a phrase for the half hour centred on 5 p.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Time spent deceiving could better be spent achieving” – Common:- same as “A life lost in dreams is a life wasted”

  • tlardra” – Common:- a bitter, swift-to-rot, mauve-skinned, “crooked sausage”-shaped shallow growing wild tuber found in lands south of the Lake of Steam (Realmslore: The Black Mysteries, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Tluin!”, “Tluined!” and “Tluining!” – Common:- “F*ck!”, “F*cked!” and “F*cking!” (So saith Ed - May 17, 2004)

  • toal” – Common:- a square brass Waterdhavian trading-coin pierced with a central hole, worth two “dragons” in the city and nothing outside Waterdeep (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • tocken” – Common:- a set of carved, oval, open-ended bells, played like a glockenspiel, particularly in underground civilizations and others whose buildings can maximize the resonant tones (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • tomb jade” – Common:- jade that has turned red or brown through being buried for great lengths of time (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • tome” – Common:- (named for the large books they resemble) a term for two pieces of wood, one hollowed out with chisels to form a cavity before the second piece is fastened over it to form a pocket, used for carrying panes of glass (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • tonalli” – Nexalan:- a soul (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • tonalpalli” – Nexalan:- same as “zolkin” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • tongue” – Common:- (usually called a “corner tongue” because of its location) a projecting wooden log with shallow channels carved down its upper surface, that serves to carry water away from a building, in an attempt to prevent flooding inside (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Three by Ed Greenwood)

  • tonguefoul” – Common:- what we would call “morning breath” (So saith Ed - June 3, 2009)

  • tonguework” – Common:- gossip (Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • Torilian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Toril, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (For Duty & Deity by Dale Donovan; So saith Ed - June 30, 2005; So saith Ed - July 8, 2005)

  • Tormish” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Torm (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Tormtar” – Common:- a term applied to the clerics of Torm (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • town guard, the” – Common:- a term sometimes used by housewives, outland scribes, and other careful folk for “The Watchful Arms of the Lord’s Justice” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • traders’ clubs” – Common:- establishments in Sembian cities, Westgate, Scornubel, and Amn where merchants can make deals in privacy; all have door guards and entry rules, and they seek to keep government officials and spies out; many serve food and provide entertainment or “hiding places for hire”; “traders’ clubs” replaced the less private and safe taverns used by merchants for such purposes elsewhere (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • traveler’s dust” – Common:- a potent drug from Impiltur that inexorably leads to horrific death (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • travelling factor” – Common:- a “factor” who habitually moves from city to city while acting for clients (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • trazaethe” – Elven:- (sometimes rendered as “trazaith”) a word that refers to family-sized dwellings that consist of linked chambers formed by the cradling, living upper boughs of large trees, meaning: “living tree homes” (Realmslore: Semberholme, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • trazaith” – Elven:- see “trazaethe

  • tremair” – Common:- a term for hexagonite (a pink variety of tremolite–a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • tricrown” – Common:- the Cormyrean word for a platinum coin (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • truemetal” – Common:- a dwarven term for “mithral” (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • truename” – Common:- an innate, unchangeable, unique name that defines a creature from birth or creation; it is often also a private name known to few (Spellfire by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • truesilver” – Common:- a term used in many writings to mean “telstang” (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Trust in the Steelsword–and even more the hand that wields it” – Common:- a saying (in reference to a grim lone man of great height and strength, called variously “Steeleye” or “Steelsword,” famous across the North for his tireless work as a wandering judge and law keeper) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Trusted Hand” – Common:- the lowest ranking members of “the Cudgels” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • trusty metal, the” – Common:- a phrase used in many writings to mean “telstang” often misunderstood by human sages to mean steel or perhaps bronze (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • tsaa olo” – Yuan-ti:- a term for potential slaves (usually human, though this term can be applied to any Scaleless One–and sometimes even to other Scaled Ones, as a term of contempt) (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • Tugging at our slave-leashes” – Common:- an old Calishite saying, referring to a ruler that cares nothing for a populace’s daily needs, but only about the power to change things (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Tuigan” – Common:- a general term applied to the nomadic tribes of the Endless Wastes and the Quoya Desert; the specific name for one of fifteen major tribes who wander the wasteland between Faerûn and Kara-Tur, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • tumble” – Common:- an intransitive verb (“Care for a tumble in the hay?”) or more rarely a transitive verb (“He tumbled her in the hayloft.”), used as a euphemism for love-making or sexual intercourse (A Body in a Bag by Erik Scott de Bie)

  • tumbledown surety” – Common:- (also known as “windstorm surety”) this “surety” compels guarantors to pay for the raising of a new building, and compensate for lost contents, if a “covered” building collapses (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • tun” – Payit:- the Maztican solar calendar; a year (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • tune, a” – Common:- a halfling term for a minute (So saith Ed - March 22, 2005; Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood)

  • tunob” – Payit:- plural of “tun” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • Turami” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of generally tall and muscular humans (with dark mahogany skin, flat faces, and curly hair) (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Turmian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Turmish, their work, study, beliefs, and customs (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Turmic” – Common:- the native tongue of the Turami (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • turning of the waterclocks, the” – Common:- see “waterclock”

  • turnride” – Common:- a term for once a “ride” (or “tenday”), as we would use the term “weekly” (So saith George Krashos - December 16, 2008)

  • turnshield” – Common:- the polite Cormyrean term for a bastard offspring of a noble of Cormyr (Eye on the Realms: Tarmel Drouth, Outcast Noble by Ed Greenwood)

  • tuskers” – Common:- a regional name for orcs commonly employed in the Moonlands and the lands of Old Delzoun (Mintiper’s Chapbook, Part One by Eric L. Boyd)

  • twilight” – Common:- a phrase for the half hour centred on 6 p.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Tymoran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Tymora (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Tyrran” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Tyr (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 07 Jun 2024 11:34:16
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
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    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:29:31  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    U
  • Udrik” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Eleasias (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • ugrukh” – Orc:- a term used (of all creatures) by orcs for wounded, defeated, slaves or those too weak to defend themselves or to be worthy of attention, meaning: “broken bones” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • ulcrun” – Common:- a milky-white, viscous poisonous liquid which is a favourite of orcs and ogres (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • Uluik” – Common:- the native tongue of Ulutiuns (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Ulutiun” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of short, dark-haired, broad-faced humans (with light-brown skin) that inhabit the polar reaches of Faerûn (including the Ice Hunters, the Iulutiuns, the Angulutiuns, and the Nakulutiuns) (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Uluvathae” – Elven:- a friendly, informal greeting and parting used by elves and half-elves to others (of any race) they welcome the company of, meaning: “[May your] fortune bring you joy”; between close friends, its use is an insult, or a neutral “say-nothing-we’re-being-listened-to” warning (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • ulvaen” – Common:- a term for amblygonite (a fluorophosphate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Umberlant” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers and the religion of Umberlee (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Umberlee’s Delight” – Common:- same as “Umberlee’s Fingers”

  • Umberlee’s Fingers” – Common:- a local name by which two particular, intersecting “standing waves” that develop under certain conditions and wrestle together in Churning Bay is known by (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • unal” – Payit:- a month consisting of twenty days (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • unalob” – Payit:- plural of “unal” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • unbearded one” – Common:- a dwarven term for a fool (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • unbearded” – Common:- a dwarven word for foolish talk or deeds; dwarves never apply this word to non-dwarves (because, as the old dwarf joke goes, all non-dwarves can safely be assumed to be fools until proven otherwise, and such proof appears for only a handful of individuals once or twice a century) (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • under a vaerance” – Common:- owing anything due to any unpaid “vaerances” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • under the tongue” – Common:- a Realms term for “the topic at hand” (Polyhedron #54)

  • Undercommon” – Common:- the trade tongue of the Realms Below (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Underdark, the” – Common:- the subterranean world, encompassing tunnel systems and the extended caverns, vaults, cavities, gaps, and nodes that riddle the earth beneath Faerûn (Player’s Guide to Faerûn by Richard Baker, Travis Stout, James Wyatt; Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • underpriest” – Common:- a low ranking priest in a temple; the term is based on perception, not necessarily correct reality (Spellfire and Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl; Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to the Dalelands by Ed Greenwood; Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep by Ed Greenwood)

  • unionite” – Common:- see “rosaline”

  • unseen boots” – Common:- a Semban term for absent tenants (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • Untheric” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Unther, their language, work, study, beliefs, and customs (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Until next, may your sword be ever wet, and your bottom dry” – Common:- a parting used by the pirates of the Inner Sea (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Until Swords part” – Common:- a parting used by warriors throughout the Realms (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • until the morrow” – Common:- a Semban phrase for the period between when the Semban authorities issue a demand for payment and it becoming due (by “highsun” of the day following the demand) (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • upcastle” – Common:- a Waterdhavian term for locations north of the Market in Waterdeep (Realmslore: Small Presses of Waterdeep, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • upcountry” – Common:- a Semban term for rural [Sembia]; same as “backland” (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood; Swords of Eveningstar and Swords of Dragonfire by Ed Greenwood)

  • Upperdark, the” – Common:- the upper Underdark, extending from the surface to a depth of about three miles beneath the surface of Faerûn (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • upperpriest” – Common:- a high ranking priest in a temple; the term is based on perception, not necessarily correct reality (Spellfire, Crown of Fire and Hand of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • Upvale, the” – Common:- a term that refers to the open grasslands between Tall Trees and the Far Forests, now controlled by Hellgate Keep (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • urlog” – Common:- a sealant for kegs, ship planking, and canvas (Realmslore: The Coinkind, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Urmlaspian” – Common:- a term snobs from Selgaunt use, which is resented in Urmlaspyr (Polyhedron #74)

  • Urmlassan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Urmlaspyr, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Ursuma pepper powder” – Common:- a powder ground from very hot peppers imported from Chondath and mixed with a secret alchemical substance; it is painfully hot in a person’s mouth, but outright caustic when it gets in someone’s eyes (Halflings in Chessenta: The Bard of Adder Swamp)

  • Ursuman Guard, the” – Common:- a term for Baron Ursuma’s police force (currently comprising of an individual werecrocodile) (Halflings in Chessenta: The Bard of Adder Swamp)

  • Uth” – Common:- a daily usage term applied to the collective folk of Uthmere, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • Uth-folk” – Common:- an outsider’s term applied to the collective folk of Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Uthmaar” – Common:- a formal term applied only to the citizens of Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 12 May 2024 10:47:11
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:30:56  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    V
  • Vaasan” – Common:- a term applied to the descendants of two waves of humanity who settled the Moonsea region (sometimes referred to as Tesharans, Tharrans, or Yûls; typically fair to olive-skinned with dark hair and thick beards), their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making; the term is also applied to the collective folk of Vaasa, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • Vaendaan-naes” – Elven:- reborn in life’s bright struggles (Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Vaendin-thiil” – Elven:- fatigued by life’s dark trials (Twilight Falling by Paul S. Kemp)

  • vaerance” – Common:- the official term for a “written up” document that is a statement of the fine, date, and reason, handed to any person who cannot readily pay a “Cudgel fine” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • vampire moss” – Common:- a stringy green plant (it hangs, beardlike, from the branches of trees or shrubs) found in marshes on the High Moor; it is typically a dull green in colour, but becomes a brighter green as it feeds (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II by Tim Beach)

  • varathar” – Common:- (also known as “moonglow” for the pale silver-blue radiance it shows in moonlight) an unattractive, rare ground cover that looks like shredded, rotting brown mushrooms (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • Vargax” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Uktar (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • varrakas” – Common:- a black, thick poisonous syrup that has a slightly oily taste but no strong flavour (So saith George Krashos - November 27, 2008)

  • vasark” – Common:- a term for horse meat (Dragon Magazine #277)

  • vellamorn” – Common:- a dwarven word for treasure, valuables, or hidden wealth (originally a silly euphemism for gold used in dwarf rhymes and jests, derived from the name of a fictitious dwarf maiden in a ballad who wore only gowns made of linked gold coins); this has become a code-word for dwarves wanting to discuss (for example) gold coins without saying “gold coins” where others might overhear (Realmslore: Daily Dwarf Common by Ed Greenwood)

  • Verinden” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Tel Verinal (So saith Ed - August 23, 2010)

  • Vicecaptain of the Guard” – Common:- the second highest ranking member of “the Cudgels” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • Vigilant Shield” – Common:- a “Cudgel” rank one higher than “Lancer” (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • vikrik” – Dwarven:- hunted (Another Name for Dawn by Paul S. Kemp)

  • Vilhonese” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of the Vilhon Reach (Polyhedron #109)

  • Vilhonna” – Common:- same as “Vilhonese”

  • Vilksmaarg” – Common:- a pungent, salty, herbal goat cheese popular in Sword Coast taverns (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • villendem” – Chondathan:- soul (Dawn of Night by Paul S. Kemp)

  • violet stone” – Common:- see “iol”

  • violine” – Common:- a purple variety of volcanic gemstone found in patches mixed with other minerals (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • vizar” – Alzhedo:- a high-ranking advisor to a sultan, caleph, or syl-pasha and often the ruler of a “ward” by proxy (Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • Vlandranna” – Common:- (an old, corrupted Dwarven word from the region that is today the Vast and Impiltur) a saying now used by all trading races in the Sea of Fallen Stars, meaning: “Gods grant [approval]” or “Gods grant [that what is spoken of occurs by their will]” (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • vrael olo” – Yuan-ti:- (translated as “favoured ones”) a phrase for themselves; this phrase is usually shortened in daily use to “vrael” and can be modified to “auvrael” (friendly or known yuan-ti) and “duthrael” (unfriendly or unfamiliar yuan-ti) (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • vrael” – Yuan-ti:- see “vrael olo

  • vremyonni” – Rashemi:- (translated as “Old Ones”) the term for male Rashemi arcane spellcasters who specialize in the creation of magic items (Champions of Valor by Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • vundwood” – Common:- a short and scrubby tree that thrives on poor ground and grows in small stands in the Tunland and in even more profusion south of Iriaebor in the rolling, seemingly endless hills and plains that separate the Sword Coast from the Dragon Reach lands (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • vyshaan” – Elvish:- a curse word and insult nearly as potent as calling an elf “dhaeraow!” (Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves by Steven E. Schend, Kevin Melka)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 26 May 2024 09:21:20
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
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    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:32:16  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    W
  • Waelo” – Common:- a greeting with the connotation of “Hey there, I want to make a deal!” or “I’m interested in your wares!” or “Anyone want to do a little business?” (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • warblade” – Common:- a “Warsword” rank equivalent to a private (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • ward” – Common:- a field of guarding magic; an area containing two, three, or four sabbans in Calimport (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Calimport by Steven E. Schend)

  • wargong” – Common:- a gong constructed of one or many shields, frequently those of defeated enemies; it is played with mallets, or in extreme cases, with war hammers; goblins and dwarves make much of alternately constructing huge “wargongs” or attempting to liberate such shields taken by their foes (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Warhorn forlorn!” – Common:- see “Warhorn!”

  • Warhorn!” – Common:- (short for “Warhorn forlorn!”, a line from a Tempuran temple hymn about aid arriving too late to save the lives of heroes dying heroically in a last stand because they upheld their duty rather than departing and so saving their lives) is an oath expressing regret at a battle defeat or at poor tactics that resulted in losses because allies or sword-comrades came too late, or went in the wrong direction, or chose opponents or terrain poorly (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • warmflanks” – Common:- a very ‘polite’ way of referring to prostitutes; can be said in polite social conversations by or in the hearing of anyone, including disapproving old matrons and children (So saith Ed - June 28, 2007)

  • warming fees” – Common:- a Semban term for the payment required to “share beds” (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • warmshoulders” – Common:- a Semban term for what we might call hostess-offered prostitution (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • warpoint” – Common:- a “Warsword” force of 100 “warblades,” five “warswords,” and an “alorn” leader (So saith George Krashos - December 16, 2008)

  • warsword” – Common:- a “Warsword” rank equivalent to a sergeant (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Warswords, the” – Common:- a term for Impiltur’s militia army (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • wasting disease” – Common:- same as “whitewasting” (Crown of Fire by Ed Greenwood)

  • watcher” – Common:- a commonly used Semban term for a “scrutaar” (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Watchful Arms of the Lord’s Justice, The” – Common:- a term for Lord Uthlain’s police force (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Watchful Eye” – Common:- a “Cudgel” rank equivalent to a sergeant (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Nine by Ed Greenwood)

  • watchlord” – Common:- the administrative and disciplinary heads of “the City Watch”; a rank equivalent to a major general in “the City Watch” or “the Wintershield Watchmen” or police force in the cities of Amn (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - November 4, 2019)

  • watchman” – Common:- a term that some use for both genders serving in “the City Watch” (Realmslore: The City Watch of Waterdeep, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • watch-money” – Common:- fees paid to hire business spies (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • water globe” – Common:- a vine growing on Pelleor’s Prairie that looks much like common ivy (to which it is distantly related) except that the underside of the leaves are milk-white, without any green (Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix I by Donald J. Bingle, Scott Davis)

  • waterclock” – Common:- (born of the phrase “the turning of the waterclocks”) an old term for the half hour centred on 2 p.m. (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Waterdhavian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Waterdeep, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • watermote” – Common:- an “earthmote” that contains a large water feature (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims)

  • waterorb” – Common:- a bulbous fungus that grows in boulder-like patches underwater wherever the water deposits detritus (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • waterstar” – Common:- a term for achroite (a clear, fibrous variety of tourmaline) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Waukeenar” – Common:- a term applied to the clergy members, the worshipers, and the religion of Waukeen (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions; Faiths & Avatars by Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd)

  • wavefarers” – Common:- a Nimbran word for fisher folk (Realmslore: The Realm of Nimbral, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • wavegrass” – Common:- a horribly salty (inedible to humans) and tough marine plant that looks like tall tufts of grass clinging to rock fissures (Realmslore: Laughing Lass, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • wayhamlet” – Common:- a Semban term for a cluster of cottages with perhaps a smithy, “allgoods shop,” and tavern in “upcountry” Sembia (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • Waymoot come calling” – Common:- a Cormyrean phrase for a mounted charge or thunder of approaching hooves (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • waymoot” – Common:- a term for a crossroad or intersection out in the wilderlands (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood; Ed Greenwood on Twitter - October 4, 2021)

  • waystop” – Common:- a term for an inn (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • We only have one lake in Cormyr, but it’s a big one” – Common:- a saying in the east reaches of Cormyr in reference to the huge Wyvernwater (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • weatherpouch” – Common:- a leather satchel made with toggle-thong-fastening over-flaps to keep carried items (usually documents) as dry as possible (Realmslore: The Flourishing Career of Melvos Hammerstars, Part Seven by Ed Greenwood)

  • Weave, the” – Common:- an aspect of Mystra it acts as both a barrier and a gate between raw magic and the world (Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • webstone” – Common:- a common name for spider-web obsidian (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • weeping wolf” – Common:- same as “glory”

  • weirwood” – Common:- a rare and highly prized tree that resemble an oak, and survives deep in the larger forests of Faerûn and are actively protected by dryads, treants, druids, and rangers (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Well again” – Common:- a greeting between business associates or acquaintances (people that have already met or greeted before) (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb)

  • Well enough” – Common:- “Fine with me,” or “I accept,” or “That’ll do” (Polyhedron #71)

  • Well met” – Common:- a universal greeting and parting, particularly between strangers of a different race or those of whom one is unsure (Cyclopedia of the Realms by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Westar” – Common:- same as “Westhavian”

  • Western Heartlands” – Common:- something of a catchall for a broad swath of land between Amn and the North, stretching from the Sword Coast to the Dragon Coast of the Inner Sea (its arbitrary borders are subject to debate) (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Westhavian” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Westgate, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • Westwatch, the” – Common:- the local Silvaeren name for Westwatch Tower, the westernmost of the two gate-towers at Hunters’ Gate (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • westwood” – Common:- a general term, used throughout the North to describe the western edges of a forest (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • When you can see the Spines of the Serpent, then you’ve crossed into a new land” – Common:- a popular saying to travellers of the Shining Plains (The Vilhon Reach by Jim Butler, Ed Greenwood)

  • While local heralds study and draw and fuss, court heralds go and do” – Common:- an old saying contrasting the duties of local and court heralds (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • whirlchain” – Common:- a long chain with knobs at each end (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Eight by Ed Greenwood)

  • Whisper something in a Harper ear, and all Faerûn’ll know it before the moon passes” – Common:- a folk saying (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • whisper-secrets” – Common:- a local Silvaeren term that means, depending on context, elaborate pranks, initiations, swindles of rich and gullible merchants, lovers’ trysts, or games that consist of what Waterdhavians might scornfully call “scavenger hunts,” or “find the masked fox” or “follow the cryptic clues” across the city (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • whistlecane” – Common:- same as “thelarr”

  • white heart” – Common:- see “four petal white flower”

  • whitecurds” – Common:- a term for cottage cheese (Volo’s Guide to the North by Ed Greenwood)

  • whitewasting” – Common:- leprosy (So saith Ed - October 26, 2004)

  • Whitewind” – Common:- the old Impilturian calendar name for Midwinter (So saith George Krashos - November 14, 2008)

  • wildblade” – Common:- a general term for an adventurer (Serpent Kingdoms by Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader, Ed Greenwood)

  • wilder” – Common:- the local Uth term for “more exotic” [races]; the term refers to races other than a few gnomes and halflings, plus no more than a dozen each of dwarves, elves, and half-elves, who have settled in Uthmere (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part One by Ed Greenwood)

  • wilderland” – Common:- a general term for wild areas, often mountainous or at least hilly, and heavily wooded (Realmslore: Rural Realms Architecture, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Wildlands, the” – Common:- same as “North, the” (The North by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend, Paul Jaquays, Steve Perrin)

  • window-shop” – Common:- a store that has serving windows opening directly onto the street (Realmslore: Uthmere, Part Five by Ed Greenwood)

  • windstorm surety” – Common:- see “tumbledown surety”

  • winterberry” – Common:- a tangled vine, dusty brown in hue and constantly shedding ragged strips of bark; they customarily form spherical coils that bulk as large as bushes, and are often overgrown by lesser creepers so as to look quite substantial (Silver Marches by Ed Greenwood, Jason Carl)

  • winterchill fever” – Common:- pneumonia (So saith Ed - October 26, 2004)

  • wisp lichen” – Common:- a white lichen that clings to the ceilings of high caverns and poses a threat primarily to flying creatures which are caught in and paralyzed by its sticky strands (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • Witches of Rashemen” – Common:- see “wychlaran, the”

  • With a shovel I can dig a grave; give me a lantern too, and I’ll dig a home” – Common:- an old dwarven expression about the importance of light (Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue by Tim Beach, Karen S. Boomgarden, Anne Brown, David “Zeb” Cook, Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Colin McComb, Thomas M. Reid, Steven E. Schend)

  • Wizards? Avoid ‘em. Life’s better when ye’re not a frog” – Common:- an anonymous trail saying of the Sword Coast lands (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • wood tin” – Common:- see “woodtine” (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • woodtine” – Common:- (a corruption of the odd term “wood tin”) a colloquial term for a dark brown variety of cassiterite (a tin oxide mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • worms” – Common:- a term for lesser “goblinkin” used by orcs (Polyhedron #74; also collated in Lore from the Sages)

  • wosrel” – Common:- a fleshy edible tuber, something like a Jerusalem artichoke, that grows along the banks of coldwater northern rivers and is easily found by its small but distinctive blue, long-stalked flowers (My Slice of Silverymoon, Part Four by Ed Greenwood)

  • Would that it rained animals!” – Common:- a grim joke in Rashemen referring to the wish that the Red Wizards would forget to bring their darkenbeasts back to the Underdark before morning (Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn by James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Wound a Herald and ye’ll find a bleeding Harper” – Common:- a folk saying (The Code of the Harpers by Ed Greenwood)

  • wrathstop” – Common:- a glue that fixes crumbling “mend-ever” (Realmslore: The Coinkind, Part Two by Ed Greenwood)

  • wychlaran, the” – Rashemi:- (translated as “wise old women”) the term for a secret sisterhood commonly known as the “Witches of Rashemen,” formed in the dying days of Raumathar to preserve that empire’s magical lore (Champions of Valor by Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds; Player’s Guide to Faerûn by Richard Baker, Travis Stout, James Wyatt; Unapproachable East by Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 04 May 2024 10:40:33
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:33:41  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    X
  • xipalli” – Nexalan:- same as “tun” (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • Xvimlar” – Common:- a term applied to the worshipers, priests and the religion of Iyachtu Xvim (The Forgotten Realms Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions; Faiths & Avatars by Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd)

  • xylopal” – Common:- a term for opalized wood (wood opal) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 11 Aug 2021 12:20:27
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:35:14  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Y
  • yarting” – Common:- a guitar, growing in popularity through Faerûn after coming out of Amn and Calimshan some time in the past forty or fifty years (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • Ye’ve as much brass as all Hillmarch” – Common:- an old Cormyrean expression, reflecting the town’s chief product (Volo’s Guide to Cormyr by Ed Greenwood)

  • Yellow Death, the” – Common:- see “lhurdas”

  • Yhauntan” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Yhaunn, their work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • ynamalik” – Alzhedo:- (literally “lesser prince”) the wealthy landed nobility of rural Calimshan (Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • You’ll be sorry when the Steelsword gets here!” – Common:- a saying (in reference to a grim lone man of great height and strength, called variously “Steeleye” or “Steelsword,” famous across the North for his tireless work as a wandering judge and law keeper) (Power of Faerûn by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • You’re only as tall as your last deal” – Common:- an Amnian phrase that loosely translates as “what have you done for me lately” (Lands of Intrigue by Steven E. Schend)

  • yshah” – Alzhedo:- (literally “duke”) the subordinate of an ynamalik (Empires of the Shining Sea by Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan)

  • Yûl” – Common:- see “Vaasan”

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 31 Jul 2021 09:01:35
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 17 Mar 2010 :  08:36:41  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Z
  • Zakharan” – Common:- a term applied to a sub-race of relatively short, brown-skinned, dark-haired humans of the Land of Fate, their work, study, beliefs, and customs (Races of Faerûn by Eric L. Boyd, James Jacobs, Matt Forbeck)

  • zalantar” – Common:- (often called “blackwood” in the North because of its jet-black wood and bark) a subtropical tree rarely seen north of the Shaar, but plentiful along the shores of Chult and the southern coasts of Faerûn and seems to grow in any terrain short of mountainous (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • zarbrina” – Common:- a term for cerussite (a lead carbonate mineral) (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • zardazil” – Common:- a rare, durable, amber-to-red ferromagnetic metal that is (thus far, at least) found only in mountains and delves around the Lake of Steam and in certain sand-scoured fissures in the heart of Raurin (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • Zelzing!” – Common:- (a word from an old, now-lost battle song of Tempus, that poetically described the sound of ringing swords in battle) is an oath used triumphantly to mark a blow struck, or battle joined, or a foe struck down (So saith Ed - April 12, 2004)

  • zendalure” – Common:- a mottled blue-white gem presently unknown outside of Faerûn (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd; Magic of Faerûn by Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy)

  • Zhent” – Common:- a term applied to the collective folk of Zhentil Keep (Polyhedron #74)

  • Zhentarian” – Common:- an archaic term used mainly for Zhentish artefacts and other olden-work (Polyhedron #74)

  • Zhentarim” – Common:- a term that refers only to the mages, priests, and agents of the evil organization that currently controls Zhentil Keep (Polyhedron #74)

  • Zhentil Keep? Hillsfar? Who can tell which is the lesser of two evils?” – Common:- a Moonsea saying (Mysteries of the Moonsea by Wil Upchurch, Sean K. Reynolds, Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid)

  • Zhentilar” – Common:- a term that refers only to Zhentil Keep’s soldiers (Polyhedron #74)

  • Zhentish” – Common:- a term applied to Zhent work, study, beliefs, and customs, and to items of their making (Polyhedron #74)

  • ziose” – Common:- a term for particular facet-grade variety of ziosite (Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical by Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd)

  • zizimime” – Nexalan:- the monsters of twilight (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • zolkin” – Payit:- a divinatory Maztican calendar (Maztica Campaign Set by Douglas Niles)

  • Zor” – Common:- a general title for a male highborn of uncertain rank in Mulmaster (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, et al; Forgotten Realms Adventures by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood)

  • Zora” – Common:- a general title for a female highborn of uncertain rank in Mulmaster (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, et al; Forgotten Realms Adventures by Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood)

  • zulkir” – Common:- a Thayan wizard representing a school of magical specialization; each “zulkir” is elected by Red Wizards prominent in that magical school (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • zulkoon” – Common:- a complex and semi-portable pump organ, associated in many minds with the “zulkirs” of Thay, whose slaves carry such organs in wagons in order to provide the proper music for their masters’ spells (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting by Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo)

  • zurkhwood” – Common:- a giant mushroom with large edible spores and hard and woody stalks used for timber (Underdark by Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick)

  • Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms

    Edited by - Kyrene on 10 May 2024 10:15:29
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    George Krashos
    Master of Realmslore

    Australia
    6666 Posts

    Posted - 18 Mar 2010 :  13:40:29  Show Profile Send George Krashos a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    This is magnificently done Kyrene - and long needed. It'll certainly help me kick-start my glossary (which is just in list form and not yet alphabetised). Great job!

    -- George Krashos

    "Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus
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    Daviot
    Senior Scribe

    USA
    372 Posts

    Posted - 21 Mar 2010 :  02:24:20  Show Profile  Visit Daviot's Homepage Send Daviot a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Indeed. Bravo, sir.

    One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
    My Tabletop Writing CV.
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    Dart Ambermoon
    Learned Scribe

    Germany
    253 Posts

    Posted - 02 Apr 2010 :  13:25:06  Show Profile  Visit Dart Ambermoon's Homepage Send Dart Ambermoon a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Late to comment, but that´s awesome and thank you very, very much.

    ~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~
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    arry
    Learned Scribe

    United Kingdom
    317 Posts

    Posted - 02 Apr 2010 :  16:52:55  Show Profile Send arry a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Likewise. Thanks for the very hard work
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    Kyrene
    Senior Scribe

    South Africa
    757 Posts

    Posted - 08 Apr 2010 :  07:38:05  Show Profile  Visit Kyrene's Homepage Send Kyrene a Private Message  Reply with Quote
    Thank you all, but it is by no means finished (if it ever will be). However, after the last edit the list is now over 1K long. That makes me very happy.

    Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms
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