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LWhitehead1
Learned Scribe
133 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Aug 2025 : 20:44:04
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I'm officially looking for Slavic like Nation or Nations in FR, it's for my Hexblooded character that I would like officially would like to work on and create a novel series about her.
The reason I think that all Hexblooded are Slavic is the simple fact that the official picture showing around that large kettle is very Slavic looking all was missing was flask of the water of life.
LW
Mod edit: Moving this one out of the ethers.
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 11 Aug 2025 23:10:45
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36955 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8024 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2025 : 23:49:05
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Definitely the Bloodstone Lands (Vaasa, Damara), definitely Rashemen, probably Narfell, probably Sossal, maybe Thesk, maybe other parts of the Unapproachable East.
(In theory, Damara was meant to be a representation of medieval Germany. In practice, it is very much a representation more like medieval Poland, Russia, and classic sullen-peasant Moldavia/Romania sorts of areas.)
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Bloodstone_Lands
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Vaasa
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Damara
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Rashemen
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Narfell
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sossal
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Thesk
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Unapproachable_East
The Raumtheran languages are described as being the Realms equivalent of Slavic or Proto-Slavic. Regions where those languages are spoken will have varying degrees of Slavic-like inspirations and cultures.
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Raumtheran_languages
Dragon #203 and Dragon #213 apparently had some articles about real-world ethnicities in the Realms.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Forgotten_Realms/comments/vlsoy1/here_is_my_personal_list_of_cultural_equivalents/
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Acandlekeep.com%2Fforum+%2Bslavic
"Slavic" is a generic and vague term. Slav peoples are found in Belgium and Siberia and everywhere in between, at the extremes they have as many cultural and ethnic differences as similarities. And "slavic" likely has unique meanings to each of the different writers/contributors who developed the Realms. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 12 Aug 2025 00:02:20 |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2025 : 00:00:24
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| I would say "Thay" (to an extent)...but that is only because a specific NPC from a cRPG originated from Thay and spoke with a vaguely Eastern European accent. |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8024 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2025 : 00:07:19
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I was going to put Thay on my list. It has proximity and had weather which would be ideal for "Slavic" spread in the region.
But Thay is distinctly derived from Mulhorandi origins. And the old lore seems vague about whether or not there were already people native to Thay when the Mulhorandi-Thayans arrived. (It's equally vague about whether such people were absorbed, ejected, enslaved, or destroyed by the arriving Thayans.)
So I didn't put Thay on my list. Even if it was indeed "Slavic" in the past, it would be fully "Thayan" in the present. |
[/Ayrik] |
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LWhitehead1
Learned Scribe
133 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2025 : 09:22:50
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I'm looking for Middle Age Russia for my Hexblood character, which in the hopeful novel series would lead a Heroic adventure team of races that are considered Evil but personally aren't.
Races that don't get to normal stay in inns but in stable if there lucky, only the Dark Gods are willing to give a blessing in FR.
LW |
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Delnyn
Master of Realmslore
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2025 : 20:05:47
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| Would you consider a slight detour and have the team members hail from Narfell? That way, you have a cold desolate realm near Rashemen and a land with a heavy demonic history and legacy. I don't know how strict your constraints are. |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
1020 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2025 : 15:58:47
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LWhitehead1, Ed specifically tried to avoid real world comparisons. That said, the closest thing to Slavic is definitely Rashemen, though you could branch out a bit into neighboring regions, such as the former Raumatherans as Ayrik points out.
(As an aside, I would argue there really is no analog for Thay, but I always thought of them as more Byzantine FWIW.) |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2509 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2025 : 18:31:33
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quote:
Originally posted by TomCosta
LWhitehead1, Ed specifically tried to avoid real world comparisons.
And he is, of course, entirely right about it.
IMO the hurr durr copycats are and always were a hack cancer. These are highly toxic for worldbuilding, as little more than sinks for low-quality material such as lame jokes, moldy propaganda and Hollywood grade stupid cud of "theme parks with funny hats". Once enough of that accumulates in one place, it would be hard to drag out of the bog even if someone still tried.
Unfortunately, lots of people seem to never have read much literature above trash level, as we can see from repeated questions like "Is Amn the designated hurr durr copycat in FR of Spain, or of the Hanseatic League?" etc etc.
quote:
That said, the closest thing to Slavic is definitely Rashemen, though you could branch out a bit into neighboring regions, such as the former Raumatherans as Ayrik points out.
Some hurr durr copycats can be more salvageable than the others, of course. More so when a writer on the level of Elaine Cunningham helps.
...and then there's The Horde. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2509 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2025 : 15:07:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Azar
It is difficult to take him seriously, considering he wrote Anauroch.
Er... What do you mean? |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
1020 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2025 : 15:53:05
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| FWIW and IIRC (and I'm pretty sure I do), Ed's Anauroch didn't have the Bedine, which means that TSR gave him guidance to add in real world analog to the setting, just as they did when they add the Moonshaes and the Old Empires, both of which are very different from Ed's Realms. Thus, the weird bit of history added later that the Bedine were from Zakhara and came through a portal. |
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EltonRobb
Learned Scribe
USA
227 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2025 : 17:50:46
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| I think Rashemen is the closest to a Slavic culture analog in Faerun. So I agree with most posters here. Although, I also agree with Ed, as he tried to avoid real world comparisons to his Realms. Although, @TomCosta, I like the Moonshaes as they are now. They are my favorite part of the Realms. |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2025 : 19:52:57
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
quote:
Originally posted by Azar
It is difficult to take him seriously, considering he wrote Anauroch.
Er... What do you mean?
Unless Ed Greenwood was being held at gunpoint or quillpoint (i.e., a formidable contract whose violation would have substantially impacted his well-being), he willingly contributed to the clarification and/or expansion of the Bedine; the Bedine are - as you so eloquently described - a "hurr durr copycat" of the Bedouin people (i.e., a real-world people). |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2509 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2025 : 08:09:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Azar
Unless Ed Greenwood was being held at gunpoint or quillpoint (i.e., a formidable contract whose violation would have substantially impacted his well-being), he willingly contributed to the clarification and/or expansion of the Bedine; the Bedine are - as you so eloquently described - a "hurr durr copycat" of the Bedouin people (i.e., a real-world people).
See above, by TomCosta.
But also, were you imprisoned and denied internet for about 20 years, did a foot-and-kayak circumnavigation, or something?
Ed Greenwood "willingly contributed" to everything the IP-holders tried. Including 4e stuff, which quite obviously was exactly the same thing as Disney treatment of Star Wars and all other such cases: degenerate, petty, envious noblesse de la robe deliberately mooning the original authors and consumers alike (only somewhat less overt and gleeful about it). And then in 5e he "willingly contributed" to indecisive reasserting of all this nonsense instead of a reboot. 
For all his brilliance in the relevant areas, Good Ol' Ed seems both susceptible to Sunk Costs and pretty much a stereotypical Nice Canadian Man ("Sorry!"). Which obviously is bound to aid and abet the problems created by less decent people, such as Realms being used by TSR/Wizards/Hasbro as a dumpster for all sorts of random half-baked things from early on (which is brand parasitism). |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8024 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2025 : 11:08:31
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
... Good Ol' Ed seems both susceptible to Sunk Costs and pretty much a stereotypical Nice Canadian Man ("Sorry!") ...
I understand the rant against Ed, against the blind ideation and celebrity and acclaim he receives even for instances when it's undeserved, against 4E, against WotC, against Disney, against corporations abusing/vandalizing their "properties" (along with the creators of those properties, along with the fans who love those properties), about ideated celebrities vacillating their positions and endorsements as a matter of fickle convenience, about brand parasitism, etc.
I don't understand why you gotta drag Nice Canadian Men into all this complaint. |
[/Ayrik] |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12187 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2025 : 12:41:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
... Good Ol' Ed seems both susceptible to Sunk Costs and pretty much a stereotypical Nice Canadian Man ("Sorry!") ...
I understand the rant against Ed, against the blind ideation and celebrity and acclaim he receives even for instances when it's undeserved, against 4E, against WotC, against Disney, against corporations abusing/vandalizing their "properties" (along with the creators of those properties, along with the fans who love those properties), about ideated celebrities vacillating their positions and endorsements as a matter of fickle convenience, about brand parasitism, etc.
I don't understand why you gotta drag Nice Canadian Men into all this complaint.
Hey, I've watched south park.... I know what Canadians are like.... though why they all have severe cases of flatulence eludes me. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 28 Aug 2025 20:50:56 |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
1020 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2025 : 20:32:10
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| I'll just note that Ed worked to spec when given the opportunity. This isn't a get rich industry and consequently it's not one where you readily give up a paying gig even if you don't necessarily love every direction it takes. He gave up his baby for a pittance to see it spread among all the fans because he thought it was worthwhile (and I think still does), and by virtue of us all being here, so did we, but it didn't make him rich. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4253 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2025 : 21:43:37
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Nope, not rich.
Ed loves the Forgotten Realms because he created them. Even if I sold something I created, I too would want to still work with what I had created and not be sidelined permanently. Ed working in the Realms is awesome...even if he doesn't always like everything that has been done 100%, he is awesome for sharing with everyone and still doing what is fun. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
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Delnyn
Master of Realmslore
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2025 : 23:09:06
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| Does the Hexblooded character need to be Slavic? If you want, no problem at all. I view the reason for "All Hexblooded characters should be Slavic" comes from an artists's picture, I announce extreme skepticism to the logic chain. Is the constraint necessary? |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
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Delnyn
Master of Realmslore
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2025 : 20:04:23
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| I definitely love the Slavic perspective. As long as it is really wanted (which I celebrate) and not imposed for a non-existent "reason'. |
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nblanton
Seeker
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2025 : 03:58:14
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IIRC, regarding Thay, Ed has said it was a stand-in for REH-esq Stygia, or at least that was the closest thing that could be used as a basis for it.
Bedine are one thing, the D'tarig are Bob Salvatore level crime-against-naming-fantasy-race.
As for Slavic, well, that question was fairly well answered it seemed. |
It is the spirit of the game, not the letter of the rules, which is important. Never hold to the letter written, nor allow some barracks room lawyer to force quotations from the rule book upon you, if it goes against the obvious intent of the game.
Afterword, DMG pg 230. |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1463 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2025 : 04:24:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Delnyn
I definitely love the Slavic perspective. As long as it is really wanted (which I celebrate) and not imposed for a non-existent "reason'.
The ultimate goal is entertainment; "I like this thing." is as good a reason as any. |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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Scots Dragon
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
114 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2025 : 16:34:52
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quote:
Originally posted by nblanton
Bedine are one thing, the D'tarig are Bob Salvatore level crime-against-naming-fantasy-race.
I must confess I don't understand the reference for the D'tarig. |
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nblanton
Seeker
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2025 : 04:14:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Scots Dragon
quote:
Originally posted by nblanton
Bedine are one thing, the D'tarig are Bob Salvatore level crime-against-naming-fantasy-race.
I must confess I don't understand the reference for the D'tarig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg_people
They didn't even bother to file off the serial numbers. Its right there along with Vistani as "not-Roma." |
It is the spirit of the game, not the letter of the rules, which is important. Never hold to the letter written, nor allow some barracks room lawyer to force quotations from the rule book upon you, if it goes against the obvious intent of the game.
Afterword, DMG pg 230. |
Edited by - nblanton on 07 Oct 2025 04:16:06 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8024 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2025 : 01:13:04
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quote:
Originally posted by nblanton
quote:
Originally posted by Scots Dragon
quote:
Originally posted by nblanton
Bedine are one thing, the D'tarig are Bob Salvatore level crime-against-naming-fantasy-race.
I must confess I don't understand the reference for the D'tarig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg_people
They didn't even bother to file off the serial numbers. Its right there along with Vistani as "not-Roma."
I think Bedine are Bedouin, not Taureg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin |
[/Ayrik] |
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EltonRobb
Learned Scribe
USA
227 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2025 : 01:22:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
quote:
Originally posted by nblanton
quote:
Originally posted by Scots Dragon
quote:
Originally posted by nblanton
Bedine are one thing, the D'tarig are Bob Salvatore level crime-against-naming-fantasy-race.
I must confess I don't understand the reference for the D'tarig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg_people
They didn't even bother to file off the serial numbers. Its right there along with Vistani as "not-Roma."
I think Bedine are Bedouin, not Taureg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin
I have to agree with Ayrik. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8024 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2025 : 21:30:22
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That being said ... it just double-affirms the argument being made by those quoted above.
The names and ethnicities of these Realms populations are truly uninspired. Inexcusably bad writing. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Topic |
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Slavic nations in FR
