@TheEdVerse re: #Realmslore… is there any reason, please, a "Church Of Azuth, Returned" wouldn't try to set up a Mission of wizards, clerics and artificers in the heavily hammered Neverwinter 'tween the Chasm and the river overlooking the Cloaktower? My thanks again…

— Pataphor (@Pataphor1) February 21, 2020

1)@ZeromaruX is quite right in saying that Dagult Neverember would try to forbid or stamp out a Church of Azuth mission to establish a presence in Neverwinter UNLESS he could control it; i.e. have spies set on it to know… )
…EXACTLY what its members do, and meet with them regularly to establish policies, and steer them into paying taxes and drawing ambitious but novice wielders of the Art into the city to learn—and then leave. For example, he’d…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 22, 2020

3)
…want the clergy to have a strict rule that if we tutor you in magic, you have to depart Neverwinter and go out into the wider world to use that magic, not stay in the city and try to make a living. Dagult sees competent 4)
…practitioners of the Art, particularly those with a clear line of communications with a deity of spellcasting, to be a potential threat to his authority. Even if the clergy of Azuth agreed to obey him and work closely with…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 22, 2020

5)
…him, he’d be suspicious of them.
None of which means you can’t have a campaign where the establishment of a mission isn’t attempted, and Neverember reacts, unfolding in roleplaying as play proceeds. That sort of 6)
…‘interesting times’ is ideal for making the Realms come alive and be an interesting, immersive setting, not just a backdrop.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 22, 2020

Is the Xanathar in Death Masks the same beholder in Dragon Heist? Oh, yes. The holder of the office did not change. DEATH MASKS takes place in 1491 DR, and DRAGON HEIST in 1492 DR; not all that much time passes between the two (and I included quite a few things in MASKS to "set up" Wizards game releases).#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 4, 2020

What is the best Realms Lore book/books to start with if I’m interested in the Forgotten Realms and Faerun history? Timelines of great events etc. Your first stop: The Grand History of the Realms (THE book of timelines), then Lost Empires Of Faerûn for background on the past (both 3e releases but still available). For broader coverage I'd then go to the 3e Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Update with SCAG.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 9, 2020

Necessitarian @necessitarian12@TheEdVerse
For the entrance gift at Candlekeep, does a visitor have to provide one with each visit, or is it only required on the first visit?

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2020

1)
The first visit only. If a visitor returns with someone else who hasn’t gifted before, the “someone else” must gift Candlekeep with their own acceptable writing. 2)
There have been exceptions to the “gift required for admittance” rule: certain rulers, high priests, sages, dragons, a handful of senior Harpers, divine servitors of Oghma and Deneir, and the Chosen of Mystra.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 30, 2020

Dragons? Dragons. Dragons?! Dragons. ;}
Also: some eminent WRITERS have been allowed in without a gift, for research…and after having published the tome that resulted, have gifted an annotated copy to Candlekeep.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 31, 2020

@TheEdVerse I have a #Realmslore question! Moanderites aren't really depicted as being likeable or forging alliances. Was there ever a time when this wasn't the case, and if so, who held strong alliances with the Rot Lord and his faithful? Was he ever inclined to take human form?

— Matthew Dawkins (@clackclickbang) August 23, 2020

1)
There was a time (not long before Dalereckoning began, so before “Year Zero” DR) when Moander took humanoid form, rising up to fill a cowled robe but dripping out of it disgustingly (rather like a Worm That Walks). 2)
At this time, Moander was trying to persuade mortal worshippers and his fellow gods alike that he was the equal of Chauntea and Silvanus, and rightfully so, as part of a natural cycle of all life, and that he shouldn’t be seen…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020

3)
…as evil, but inevitable and necessary. Only a few gullible mortals believed him, and only briefly, thanks to his corruption of everything he touched; the decay horrified both his clergy and lay worshippers, save a handful who… 4)
…maliciously enjoyed spreading it. So, no strong alliances. The logical alliance would have been with Shar, but she saw him as an upstart rival, to be spurned, and his behavior towards her did nothing to soften that view.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 24, 2020