| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
TheSword
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Apr 2025 : 12:44:47
|
I’ve seen the period in Menzoberranzan history after the birth of Drizzt referred to several times as the Sable Years.
Does anyone know why?
The only use of sable I can think of is the luxurious fur used in some coats and regalia. So it might just mean a time of luxury but considering the upheaval over the period it seems odd.
|
|
|
sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11999 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2025 : 12:52:31
|
sable is another term for black often used in heraldry, so in effect they're saying "The Black Years".
As an aside, it is worth it to do a minor study on heraldry if you're going to be doing realms study. A quick focus on names for colors can maybe reveal a lot that a lot of the writers take for granted that people will catch. By that, I mean that Azure is blue, tawny is brown/orange, argent is silver/white, and gules is red (scarlet is more often used in gaming vocabulary though). Link below has some notes (and I just learned something... the "vair" fur pattern is from squirrel furs being used to line cloaks of nobles)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tincture_(heraldry)#:~:text=The%20five%20common%20colours%20in,;%20and%20purpure%2C%20or%20purple.
and some meanings for the colors, black is associated with grief and constancy
https://www.warrenmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Heraldic-Colors-and-Meanings.pdf |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 30 Apr 2025 13:12:06 |
 |
|
|
TheSword
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2025 : 14:46:40
|
That is very helpful, thank you!
I know most of them, vert & azure. Though didn’t know gules or sable - I always assumed sable was named after the fur not the colour.
Come to think of it, dark years or black years wouldn’t really work for Drow as neither would be seen as particularly bad. Sable it is. |
|
|
|
Kentinal
Great Reader
4693 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2025 : 16:00:55
|
| Or maybe "The Drow Years" if you see the years as a good period for them. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Why the Sable Years?
