ellis_thule @EllisThule
Replying to @TheEdVerse
Fascinating! "Draconic pride" seems like such an incredible understatement, then 🙂
Have you any other notable taboos to look out for (for the casual character-builder)?— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 13, 2019
1)
Sure. Dragons can involve their servants and lair guardians in battles against other dragons, but it’s ‘not done’ to make alliances with non-dragons (such as orc tribes) for the purpose of warring against other dragons. 2)
More than this, dragons shun giants of all sorts. They don’t talk with them directly, they don’t make deals with them, and they certainly don’t make alliances with them or trade with them. Giants are FOES, to be…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 13, 2019
3)
bested if one can or is in the mood, and otherwise ignored.
And another taboo: treasure is never to be destroyed or ruined (e.g. breathing fire on gems, but not melting gold coins) 4)
…to keep it from falling into the hands of someone else. Treasure is TREASURE, not to be diminished for any reason.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 13, 2019
Oh dear … in my game a group of hominids are attempting to tame the Stonelands by diplomacy with the orcs, goblins, dragons, and giants.
Being allied with us wouldn’t count as being allied with the giants, would it?— 🌈Jaye🦄Em🌹Edgecliff🏳️🌈 (@jayeedgecliff) October 14, 2019
1)
Here’s how I see it for elves in the Realms: from a human POV, any elf they meet, regardless of age, will seem expert in the natural ways of the world, and learned in human history/culture. So, yes, elves are competent in 2)
…several fields of study and expert in at least one (beyond basics like archery and the care and maintenance of metal weapons and tools) at 120 years. “Sophisticated” is how many humans might describe even an adolescent elf.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2019
3)
Whereas to another elf, that same elf is an irresponsible teenager because they’re still whimsical dabblers, ‘flighty’ and inclined to plunge into something new or tired of something and move on without feeling the need to 4)
…shoulder responsibilities, or caring overmuch about consequences…which elves increasingly do as they get older. In other words, an adolescent elf is still trying new things ‘like mad’ and is an ideal adventurer because they…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2019
5)
…have a strong dash of ‘what the heck, why not?’ recklessness and an eagerness to see the world, dare danger, and so on, whereas an older elf is more mindful of their responsibilities/family ties/what will be harmed if they 6)
…get killed.
And in comparison to Ents, who cogitate slowly and make decisions even more slowly, elves have minds that race along, but try to take into consideration all sides and nuances and down-the-road consequences.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2019
7)
Not just for themselves or their kin, and not just for a few generations (as more humans consider), but for the entire world and all creatures/ecosystems in it. I’m not saying their world-view is complete, detailed, and 8)
…unflawed, I’m saying that’s the broad scope of their instinctive thinking. With many qualifiers (“we’ll have to see how things look after the first hard winter, and if this, then revise like so, but if that, then…”).#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 14, 2019