Volo’s guides – my favorite @TheEdVerse products from the TSR era

— Artie Pavlov is vaccinating, and so should you! (@Artie_Pavlov) November 10, 2022

And I'm working on new Volo's Guides right now!

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 10, 2022

I believe I’ve purchased every Forgotton Realms print on demand books from dms guild that you’ve produced. Can we get some more? More are on the way.
Don't miss Volo's Guide to Ormpur, later this year. Others may take longer; I am beyond busy.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 25, 2022

Grimgates, Arlathan, (volo’s guide to BG2) and Spellhold (baldur’s gate 2 game) – same location, or nah? @TheEdVerse #dungeonsanddragons #ForgottenRealms No. Two different places. And I hid a few more of them in the vicinity that lore writers haven't noticed yet. ;}#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 1, 2022

You’ve kindly introduced a couple of Hethcanters via your Twitter replies. These are Lady Brunzarra Hethcanter, the second person to hold the office of Lady of Graces, and Ildra Hethcanter, matriarch of the Hethcanter farm in Immersea. 2/2
There's also Hethcanter, first to write of the Scalamagdrion, whom you introduced in Pages from the Mages III in Dragon #92.

Was Brunzarra the holder of a unique title that died with her? Were the Hethcanters ennobled? Is she or Ildra related the mage Hethcanter?

Thanks!

— Commonplace Publishing (@CommonplacePub1) November 3, 2022

1)
The Hethcanters are what in our real world might be called “landed gentry.” They don’t have hereditary noble titles, but they are locally powerful, wealthy, “always there” families who often have members holding local civic… 2)
…posts or Court posts in Suzail (as Brunzarra did), and a few family members earn their own titles, and/or knighthoods. The Hethcanters are indeed descended from the mage Hethcanter, and both Brunzarra and Ildra are members of…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 4, 2022

3)
…“those Hethcanters” (there are some unrelated Hethcanters in Sembia, Tsurlagol, and Telflamm). During the reign of Azoun IV, there were three Sir Hethcanters (knights who rode with the Purple Dragons, of various ages), and… 4)
…Lord Oratham Hethcanter was garrison commander of High Horn in the reign of Rhigaerd II (he died fighting bandits in the Stonelands). Young and handsome adventurer Paresper Hethcanter, formerly of Immersea, is currently one…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 4, 2022

5)
…of the six partners who own the Nightgate Inn (just outside Suzail); he owns the smallest share. His father Rharvuld is a superb furniture maker whose wardrobes are much sought-after by wealthy ladies of Suzail. He has some… 6)
…connection to the War Wizards that he doesn’t talk about.
And lastly, Lyrele Hethcanter is said to currently serve the Crown (of Cormyr) in some undercover fashion; some believe she may be a Highknight, as of old.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 4, 2022

Did he get the share in the late 15th century? Yes. He made a pile adventuring, didn't know where to park it, and hit upon the idea of buying out the aging, ailing smallest partner (Shaluta Drennan, a retired widow of a ship captain from Marsember) among the inn's owners.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 4, 2022

Any chance of Elminster asking Tymora for a sliver of luck for the next Powerball drawing? Certainly, but beware: as the old Realms saying hath it, "Asking Lady Luck for luck can betimes backfire."#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2022

@TheEdVerse Greetings! How do potential young mages from impoverished families in the realms afford the costs of training to become wizards? Does this differ from region to region?

— Elfsong Tavern Regular (@MythicalSong) October 31, 2022

Mostly, they don’t. One reason why wizards are so rare.
The others become apprentices (drudges to mages) or try to demonstrate their Gift to Cormyr’s Wizards of War or similar organizations.#Realmslore https://t.co/HDUZK6dhy5

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 1, 2022

The Harpers mayhaps? Do they seek out potential wizards or sorcerers in a covert fashion? I wonder of they are doing such work after the Spellplague? Indeed. The Harpers have always covertly sought out individuals with the Gift, who have world-views that might make them join Those Who Harp.
And yes, they do so after the Spellplague.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 2, 2022

Good evening, @TheEdVerse! I'm starting to think about the ending of Dungeon of the Mad Mage. In your Realms, what would happen if Halaster were destroyed by adventurers?

— Scroll for Initiative 📜🇺🇦 (@scrollforinit) November 7, 2022

1)
A lot of Undermountain magic tied to him would briefly go wild, and Chosen and other servitors of Mystra (weaveghosts, etc.) would be “sent in” to stabilize matters. Gates/portals would open in Undermountain and certain monsters would flood in (e.g. some dragons…
#Realmslore2)
…who covet the place for a lair). Some of Halaster's experimental spells would "run wild" without him, and some apprentices who were hiding from him would be emboldened and "go public," and so on.
Lots of "and so on." ;}#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 8, 2022

On a serious note
Wouldve it mean that amount of her Chosen would increase? Or is it already many to seal such “leaks in Weave”. No increase, she has lots of servitors and time would be of the essence (no time to recruit and train).#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 8, 2022

Mystra doesn't see things that way; she's all about providing magic to all sentients and letting them use it creatively (hence her not stopping Karsus). She didn't tie Halaster to Undermountain; he did that.
Was “tying” Halaster to the Undermountain a mistake in the eyes of Mystra? She likely thinks most mortal actions are mistakes. ;}#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 8, 2022

That sounds suitably epic. And Halaster himself: CAN he, in fact, be destroyed? Or is he almost trapped in the Weave at this point, doomed to come back again and again? He will survive as a (mad) voice in the Weave, and may well come back (being given other bodies to possess and inhabit, with Mystra's aid).#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 8, 2022

@TheEdVerse Hi Ed. Would Madeiron Sunderstone have known the identities of any of the Masked Lords? Thanks!

— Marvel Fan (@MarvelF89471649) May 18, 2022

1)
Oh, yes. “People watching” is Madeiron’s hobby. Keeping track of potential threats is his duty/part of being Piergeiron’s bodyguard. Any Masked Lord who speaks against the Open Lord’s decrees, makes a disparaging comment about Piergeiron, or disagrees with him, … 2)
…Madeiron takes notice of. And sets the street urchin and other spies working for him to following and eavesdropping on. It seldom takes him long to identify who each Masked Lord is.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 18, 2022