Greetings @TheEdVerse, trying to channel some heaty debate into positive enlightenment. Could you tell us how other (published and unpublished) continents were discovered outside of Faerun? I'm sure an answer for this would be the best Christmas gift for many this year. 🧑‍🎄

— Questing GM (@questinggm) December 20, 2021

This one runs aground on the rocks of disagreements over what’s a continent, and what’s really an archipelago with one or two really big islands, but Alaundo put it at fourteen, and Elminster said, “That’s good enough for me.”#Realmslore https://t.co/FoTm7q06Ur

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 20, 2021

This one runs aground on the rocks of disagreements over what’s a continent, and what’s really an archipelago with one or two really big islands, but Alaundo put it at fourteen, and Elminster said, “That’s good enough for me.”#Realmslore https://t.co/FoTm7q06Ur

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 20, 2021

So you believe in fourteen continents? Good. I'll expect the fourteen sourcebooks one a year. ;}

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 21, 2021

Well played, sir! Well played!

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 21, 2021

Well, no, we actually know all of those are continents from established lore and are not islands. The only exception is Anchorome. That one is a massive archipelago, but the continent north of Maztica was mistaken for Anchorome, except it isn't.

— Luis Oyola (@Razzelmire) December 21, 2021

"So Anchorome, Laerakond, Osse, Katashaka, and Arandron, Kara-Tur, Maztica and Zakhara are argued as islands?"
Nope. Not what I said.
Luis hath the right of it.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 21, 2021

How were these 'agreed' continents discovered? Sailing expeditions? Divinations? Spelljamming? Portals? Strangers from distant lands?

— Questing GM (@questinggm) December 21, 2021

1)
“Discovered”?
People LIVE on them.
They looked down between their feet, and there the continent was. ;}
Before the rise of humans, dragons flew free. Elves had airships before spelljamming ships. And networks of gates (portals) linking various Realms continents… 2)
…predate the lands that flourish today. So SOME folk on the Realms have always known the gross/general layout of landmasses, if not every nook and cranny of even the continent they spend most time on.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 21, 2021

3)
There have been constant migrations of all sentient races and "beasts" in almost every direction, down the passing ages, but the Realms isn't historical Earth: humans did not "colonize" the globe to try to build empires.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 21, 2021

Honored sage, are there any novels set in the 5th edition time period of the Forgotten Realms. I started reading these works as a kid before I even knew D&D existed! Sure, the entire Sundering saga, my Sage of Shadowdale trilogy and Spellstorm and Death Masks, the Brimstone Angels books by @erinmevans, the more recent @r_a_salvatore novels, some of @erikscottdebie ’s books, the Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep series, and more…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 23, 2021

Here on Twitter I’ve provided Realmslore answers about the role of temples and guilds as banks several times. As you say, there’s no need to travel to Daggerford. And that doesn't even get into all the fun of moneylenders. You may have heard of one of the more famous ones: Mirt the Moneylender, a Lord of Waterdeep.
Laeral, the current Open Lord, lives in his Mansion right now.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 30, 2021

1)
In my last few novels, we saw Mirt emerge after being “away” for nigh a century, to find that Laeral had been installed in Mirt’s Mansion (the Masked Lords assumed him dead). Yes, she has rooms in the Palace (there are suites for some guests and Masked Lords to… 2)
…stay over a night or three, as well), but after Neverember, many Masked Lords were more comfortable knowing the Open Lord isn't in the Palace every instant (so she couldn't turn it into a fortress and suddenly slam the doors on them).
Mirt discovered this…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 5, 2021

Greetings, sage ! Could you share what are some of the dragons in Waterdeep in early 1500s DR? (Both being allowed by the Dragonstaff or by less..legitimate means, and if they’re aware of each other). Thank you! Have a lovely day! Sure. As I go look for my notes, check my tweets of young "deployable" nobles of these last few days: there's a steel dragon in there.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 3, 2021

1)
Dzarlantra Tesper (CN hf Rog8): A skilled actress who plays a carefree, rather brainless young thing who loves beautiful clothes, pretty things and shopping. However, behind closed doors, she acts as a accomplished, shrewd, … 2)
….forgets-nothing (so, can read a long, complex document, memorize it, and quote it accurately from memory) envoy/go-between for many noble matriarchs and patriarchs behind closed doors, to deal with each other, guildmasters, …#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 1, 2021

3)
…senior courtiers, and others. It’s rumored she has some sort of bodyguard or family guardian angel who stalks her, watches over, and steps in to save her skin when need be. (These rumors are true: her aunt Taura, who’s… 4)
…really the steel dragon Arantaryltaura, scries “Dzarra” and steps in at the last moment to let her escape, or keep her life.
Dzarlantra is an accomplished dancer, singer, and handharpist (but she’s not a Harper, though they’ve…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 1, 2021

5)
…several times tried to recruit her). She’s perky, lithe, beautiful, and eversmiling. She adopts all the latest hairstyles, changes her wardrobe constantly, and is very much part of the “high life” social whirl of Waterdeep.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 1, 2021

@TheEdVerse what's is encompassed by the Waterdeep mythal? If the city borders are expanded, does the mythal follow? Is it a dome over the city or a pillar, perhaps the geometric dimensions of the walls? I may have broke the mythal in my game, guidance is appreciated!

— Pradlin (@BittersTweet) December 10, 2021

It's an egg-shaped sphere extending down through the 1st level of Undermountain, forming a dome high in the air above the summit of Mount Waterdeep, from the outermost breakwater along the city walls and Cliffedge (E boundary of the City of the Dead, North Ward, etc.#Realmslore https://t.co/oDCY2isvQw

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) December 10, 2021

Hi @TheEdVerse , hope this finds you well on this turkey day. I was hoping to pick your brain. Do you by chance have the complete lyrics to "Ever a Hero Be"? It was a ballad written by Thalloviir Vaundruth in 1344DR, featured in your novel The Swords of Eveningstar.

— Dwaine Spradling (@DwaineSpradling) November 26, 2021

2)
Until now, only the second verse has been seen in published Realmslore, as the header quotation of Chapter 13 of Swords of Eveningstar.
1)
SUCCESS! So, here you go…
Ever a Hero Be
This ballad was penned by Thalloviir Vaundruth, Bard of Beregost, in 1344 DR. It consists of seven verses sharing the same rhyming scheme, and separated by a five-line refrain.It was Vaundruth’s habit, shared by many traveling minstrels and bards of the time, to begin a performance by announcing the…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

3)
…name of a ballad, speaking each word slowly and deliberately, with pauses between, thus:

EVER…
A…
HERO…
Be!

(Then the performer would strike an strange, complex opening chord, usually not one or even in a key heard in the ballad itself; …listen to the… 4)
…opening of the Beatles song A Hard Day’s Night for an example of one such. This chord might seem random, but is repeated exactly at the end of the ballad, to signal to listeners unfamiliar with a tune that the song was at an end, not merely reaching a pause.)#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

5)
O hovel rude or castle tall
Empty purse or having it all
We all need heroes lest we fall
For force creeps in through every wall
To dance on bones with glee 6)

[Refrain:]
Home and hearth and loving arms
Food and friends all have their charms
But to defend and keep them you must evil see
And fight it fierce but thinkingly
To please the gods, and ever a hero be#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

7)

But deep in halls dark and haunted
Even heroes bold, high-vaunted
Twice and thrice, to end up daunted
Think of loved ones deeply wanted
And much safer places to be

[Refrain:] 8)

Way on seldom straight or bright as thought
For the truth you hear is sometimes not
And firm loyalties they can be bought
Stride once wrong and catch it hot
Die or learn right fast when to flee

[Refrain:]#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

9)

Once young and eager, restless, I
Did yearn for gold and feasts to be my
Daily lot as my name soared high
’Til I had all the castles I yearned to buy
I think I’d want at least three

[Refrain:] 10)

Wiser then I grew thanks to the gods
And many a kick square in the cods
Yet slowly won the approving nods
And learned to smell the subtle frauds
Well, enough to stay alive and free

[Refrain:]#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

11)

So, now I’m old, no longer bold
My flame it sinks, to soon grow cold
My face no more here to behold
My tale’s end it shall be told
And the gods shall come for me

[Refrain:] 12)

O, after many flashy things I have yearned
And many of my desires have me spurned
My share of bridges behind me burned
This hard lesson I have learned
But now share with thee for free:

[Refrain, but sung loudly and at half speed; the audience knows that…#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

13)
…the custom is that they can join in if they want to, chanting if they can’t carry a tune]

And there you have it. :}
Enjoy, I hope!
Ed Oh, and the tune is pretty close to this:https://t.co/HEczcuJR1n
(from the carol See Amid the Winter Snow, but a performance in the Realms would be much closer in sung style to this)#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

Thank you so very much sir! That was a much faster response that I was expecting or could have hoped for. You must have felled that pesky tree with some kind of mighty magic. No, I used my trusty axe. ;} Then a bow saw to cut the trunk into three lengths light enough to hoist on my shoulder (I'm getting old, my deadlift capacity is fading) to carry to the scrubpile for drying (in spring, I'll cut to woodstove firebox length). I have 4 acres of forest.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 27, 2021

Ed Greenwood @TheEdVerse
1)
Volo’s latest favourite delight in Waterdeep is…

SteamCelt Resists While Vaccinated @WyrdhavenArts
Ok…but what would El consider a "must try"? I'd rather hear that.
1:53 PM · Nov 9, 2021

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 12, 2021

1)
Right now in Waterdeep, El would most likely recommend someone try a tatha, visit the City of the Dead, and seek out Old Naecza to talk to.
A tatha is the latest widespread street food of the city, originating with sailors wanting to eat cheap, quickly-served… 2)
…food found in other ports and so supporting one of their own setting up a Dock Ward shopfront, and swiftly spreading. Similar to the “bunny chow” of real-world South Africa, a tatha consists of a hot bread load hollowed out and stuffed with a hotspice fry-mix..#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 12, 2021

3)
…(rather like a curry) of diced mutton, spring onion or onion or leek, roast fowl (chicken or pigeon) and cooked beans (lima or kidney or chickpeas), using eggs, a seasoning sauce or two, that’s been mashed into little pieces and then formed into a patty before.. 4)
…being put into the loaf.
Elminster wants folk to visit the City of the Dead (by day, of course!) to experience a green, pleasant park in the middle of a crowded city that folk use to snack, stroll and chat, tryst, and honour their dead kin or forebearers in a..#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 12, 2021

5)
…guild or skill or endeavour. As well as overhear the sometimes-fascinating converse of others as they make deals, gossip, and take a break from their working day.
Old Naecza (pronounced “NAY-sah”) is a wizened old woman who sits on rocks on that spur of Mount… 6)
…Waterdeep that juts out into Castle Ward on most non-harsh-weather days, surrounded by opportunistic seabirds that she doesn’t feed, watching the bustle of the city, humming to herself, and chatting with anyone who happens by. She’s a retired household servant..#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 12, 2021

7)
…to nobles, Naeczavalla Hintur by name, a masterful cook and a veteran chambermaid, launderer, and seamstress who can make a bed and mend, wash, and iron all the bedlinens at top speed.
However, El doesn’t recommend her for that; he points folk to her for her… 8)
…wide and deep knowledge of the city—not its gossip, rumors, and politics, but shrewdly taking her measure of many, many citizens, high and low, so she knows what interests and goads them, and how they’ll most likely react.#Realmslore

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 12, 2021