Cormyr: Facts and Factoids

[Sanishiver]

This being a collection of common, uncommon and not so widely known bits of canonical information about Cormyr.

BIG GIANT EDIT: the contents of this thread are being moved, bit by bit and word by word, to the Cormyr page of the brand spanking new Forgotten Realms section of the Vorpal Games wiki, hosted right here at Loremaster.org.

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Ballads, Books, Chapbooks, Plays and Poems

Broadsheets

Buildings

Courtiers

Fairs and Festivals

Gangs, Miscreants and Thieves

Marsember

The Nobility

Places Not on the Map

Purple Dragons

The Royal Court

The Royal Palace of the Purple Dragon

Suzail

Travel

Weddings

Words and Phrases Likely To Be Heard In Cormyr and Nowhere Else

[Sanishiver]

Buildings

Why yes, we do have a Buildings section on the Cormyr page of Loremaster.org's Forgotten Realms wiki.

Thank you for asking!

[Sanishiver]

Travel in Cormyr

Please see this link to the Travel in Cormyr portion of Loremaster.org's Forgotten Realms wiki.

Thank you for reading, you sexy beast.

[Sanishiver]

Weddings

Sorry, I'm taken.

But if you want to read a particularly practical fact or two about coach travel vis-a-vis weddings and funerals, follow this link to the Travel section of the Cormyr page on Loremaster.org's Forgotten Realms wiki.

I like how you take direction.

[Sanishiver]

Purple Dragons

I don't know much, but I do know the factoid that used to be here has been moved to the Purple Dragons section on the Cormyr page of the Forgotten Realms wiki here at Loremaster.org.

Am I repeating myself yet?

[Sanishiver]

The Royal Palace of the Purple Dragon

Named Rooms in the Royal Palace:

Battlebanners Passage

• Houses a seemingly endless succession of trophies.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 139]]

Blackrood Chamber

• Located on the second floor of the Royal Palace.
• Queen Ganthala's double-ended dagger (of elven make and razor sharp) was hung on display in this chamber, until it was stolen by Targrael.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 268]]

The Chamber of Wyrms Ascending

• A glossy floored, crossroads chamber dominated by a rearing stone statue of a dragon. The statue is rumored to be awash in magic of the sort that causes multicolored dragon shapes to fly out of it and up into the ceiling.
• The chamber is linked to a nearby passage that runs under the palace cellars all the way to the Old Dwarf Tavern.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 98, 101]]

Dragonskull Chamber

• Fronted by double doors with a life-sized dragon's skull made of bronze. [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 93]]
• A heavily warded spellcasting chamber. [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 80]]
• The place where Caladnei died, after succumbing to Spellplague infection.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 80]]

Dragontriumph Hall

• Located roughly three floors up in the Royal Palace, along the south wall. Double doors open into it, those doors flanked by gilded statues. [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 63]]

Duar's Retiring Room

• The resting place of a gem capable of detecting nearby magic. By 1479 DR that gem's other properties and history have been forgotten by many, but it's rumored to have been a gift of the elves.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 195]]

Hall of Justice

• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 29]]

Hall of Victories

• Contains an exit out of the Royal Palace.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 149]]

The Long Passage

• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 140]]

Loyal Maids Hall

• Two duty Dragons (two Purple Dragon soldiers) are stationed here at all times.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 140]]

Mages’ Duty Chamber

• One of possibly several such rooms to be found in the Royal Palace. Such rooms have wall rings to which captives can be secured.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 140]]

Queen Alvandira’s Bower

• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 37]]

The Room of the Red Banner

• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 96]]

The Room of the Fire Wyrm

• A chamber of state. It's most prominent feature a hanging statue of a wyrm, bedecked with hanging lamps.
• Located at the far end of a wing of the Royal Palace.
• Rarely used. Far away from the other chambers of state.
• By the Year of the Ageless One the war wizards have had possession of this room's keys for forty years.
• Decorated with a bed and draperies of matching crimson color.
• Often used for trysts, though not all may know the portrait of King Duar and his Queen fronts a secret passage by which one may view the activities in the room through the eyes of the two royals.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 358]]

The Room of the Watchful Sentinel

• The Dalestride Gate (a portal that leads to the Dalelands) is located here.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 326]]

Sunstatues Chamber

• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 317]]

Starandar's Hall

• Fourteen individuals may be found in this Hall, as it connects to the Room of the Watchful Sentinel: two Highknights, eight veteran Purple Dragons and four Wizards of War.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 11,35]]

The Warhorn Room

• Said to hold the Royal Gorget of Battle.
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2011). Bury Elminster Deep. 11,35]]

[Sanishiver]

Courtiers

Ah yes, courtiers...there are so many of them in Cormyr!

Quite a concentration of courtiers can be found in the Royal Palace and the Royal Court buildings that front the Promenade in Suzail, but not all courtiers reside in these places. They can be found throughout the Forest Kingdom.

Some few of the nigh endless list of courtiers and their duties can be found below. Note that this list is not presented in order of authority. Any name listed with a position will, where possible, include at least one year wherein the named person held the post.


Cellarer
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 184]]


Chamberjack

• Fetch and carry messages. Guide visitors through the chambers of state. Announce guests entering a chamber. Move furniture and deliver messages as needed.
• Senior palace chamberjacks (head of a duty of eight chamberjacks) can be identified by their uniform sleeve.
• Halance Dustrin Talandar (1479 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 106]]

Clerk of the Shield
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 184]]


Clerk of Vigilance
Sir Talonar Winter (1479 DR)


Court Alchemist
Menziphur (1479 DR)


Dragonfang Lord Investigator

• Wizard of War Jalanus Westerbotham, Dragonfang Lord Investigator for Northbank, Starwater and the Western Coast (1368 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed. The Grinning Ghost of Taverton Hall. Realms of Mystery. Renton: TSR, Inc., June 1998. 319]]

Gentleman Usher
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 184]]


High Chatelaine
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 184]]


Horse Marshal to the Crown of Cormyr

• Writes the orders that confer court ranks to nobles.
• Assigns nobles standing garrisons of Purple Dragons, which the nobles feed with their own coin.
• Lord Eskult Paertrover, Baron of Starwater (1368 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed. The Grinning Ghost of Taverton Hall. Realms of Mystery. Renton: TSR, Inc., June 1998. 308]]

Keeper of the Royal Purse

• A position at court created (approximately) in 1479 DR.
• Responsible for signing employment contracts (known as Crown writs) for all individuals on the Crown payroll (e.g. Crown officials and the military).
• The responsibilities of this office were previously held by the Royal Overscribe (see below).
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 26 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412923>]]

Lady of Graces
Palace protocol.
Jalessa Windstone (1479 DR)


Master of Revels
Khaladan Mallowfaer (1479 DR)
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 146]]


Master Chirurgeon of the Realm

• The senior Court chirurgeon.
• Andor Velantur. Year?
• Andor holds a life peerage (i.e. a title that dies when he dies; he may not pass it on) and is addressed as Lord.
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 18 May 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=21#421837>]]

Master of the Rolls

• "Rolls" refers to official lists, of which there are two: one for citizens and the other for tax payments made by citizens.
• The first list includes a citizen's name, their address or location, property they own, their job(s), their affiliations (past or present military service, membership in guilds, pledges made to the Crown, Crown employment) and notations of who they're related to and how.
• The second list is self-describing: it's a record of tax payments made by citizens of Cormyr.
• Their is one Master of the Rolls for each list. Each list's upkeep and maintenance is that person's responsibility. The Master of the Rolls is aided by an Undermaster, who is both second-in-command and understudy.
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 24 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412658>]]

Palace Servant


Palace Steward

• Full title for this post: Lord High Steward
• Rorstil Hallowdant (1479 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 357]]

Palace Understeward
Corleth Fentable (1479 DR)
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 152]]


Privy Amaneunsis To The Queen

• The Queen's personal letter writer.
• Prepares her documents and decrees.
• Facilitates her correspondence and archives her writings.
• The Privy Amaneunsis to Queen Filfaeril is currently Lathlan (the same Lathlan who is also a Scribe Royal, mentioned below).
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 24 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412658>]]

Royal Cook of the Low Kitchen

• Nestur Laklantur (1479 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 199]]

Royal High Scribe of the Realm

• Responsible for coordinating all written documents, except for Dark and Privy documents.
• Does not sign Crown writs. See Keeper of the Royal Purse.
• In prior years (such as the reign of Azoun IV), this position was known as the Royal Overscribe (see below).
• Aldegrand Tallfyre (1479 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Eye on the Realms: Xraunrarr Shall Triumph." Dragon #406 December 2011]]

Royal Overscribe

• Responsible for coordinating all written documents, except for Dark and Privy documents.
• Signs employment contracts (known as Crown writs) for all individuals on the Crown payroll.
• May be referred to formally as the "royal high scribe of the realm"--this phrase would eventually become the official title for the office by 1479 DR.
• Dlara Highshield (13??) -- a bastard child of Rhigaerd II.
• Two other individuals would hold this position after Dlara, before Aldegrand Tallfyre (see above) takes over.
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 24 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412658>]]

Scepter of Justice

• Wizard of War Jalanus Westerbotham (1368 DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed. The Grinning Ghost of Taverton Hall. Realms of Mystery. Renton: TSR, Inc., June 1998. 319]]

Scribe Royal

• Writing adventuring charters.
• The "Royal" refers to a scribe who has pledged in writing to serve the Crown for the entirety of his or her life.
• Scribes Royal (addressed as "royal scribe" by any citizen, envoy or visitor they deal with) handle a variety of documents, some of a sensitive or secret nature.
• Ortharryn Khantlow (1304 DR)
• Blaunel; Lathlan (13?? DR)
• [[Greenwood, Ed (August 2006). Swords of Eveningstar. 99,198]]
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 24 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412658>]]

Senior Hostler

• Responsible for all coaches, horses and tack in the stables.
• Neld (1479 DR)

Steward of the Regalia
Langreth Ironhorn (1479 DR)


Underclerk of Protocol
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 184]]


Undercook
[[Greenwood, Ed (August 2010). Elminster Must Die. 199]]


Undermaster of the Rolls

• See Master of the Rolls above for a description of the "Rolls."
• "Undermaster" refers to the second in command. Should the Master of the Rolls fall ill, be called away or die, the Undermaster takes over.
• Blaunel (13?? DR) maintains the citizens Roll.
• Amaundra Duthwood (13?? DR) maintains the taxes Roll.
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 24 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412658>]]

Underscribe

• A scribe who is employed temporarily or on a probationary basis and assigned work of a non-sensitive nature.
• [[Greenwood, Ed. "Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)" forum.candlekeep.com. 24 January 2013. Candlekeep. <http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&whichpage=7#412658>]]

[Matt James]

This is an excellent thread. Brian Cortijo would be great to bring in on this. He's from NYC and is recovering from Sandy. Hopefully we can get him in on this.

[Markustay]

Sandy spanked us. Thank god all I lost was cable/internet/phone for a few days. I had to loan my generator out to my bro-in-law who is still without power. Gas lines suck. What can you do... life goes on. Hope Brian and his family are okay.

MY ex is named Sandy... I've been having a lot of fun with that.

Anyhow, isn't there an "all about Cormyr" thread already over at CK? I'm just wondering what this one would have that that one wouldn't.

[Sanishiver]

This is an excellent thread. Brian Cortijo would be great to bring in on this. He's from NYC and is recovering from Sandy. Hopefully we can get him in on this.

That would be exceedingly awesome.

Anyhow, isn't there an "all about Cormyr" thread already over at CK? I'm just wondering what this one would have that that one wouldn't.

Pretty much everything posted to this point in this thread.

It's quite possible there will (eventually) be overlap, but the way I see it it's a good thing to have more than one major web-based source of fan-compiled information about Cormyr.

I personally want people who explore the Realms, like the Realms or are just curious about the Realms to keep running into Cormyr online. If I can snag a few people and get them interested in Cormyr, I've done my job.

That and Candlekeep's Cormyr thread isn't indexed very well. Hopefully this thread can be arranged a little bit better so people can find interesting things quickly.