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Silver was a precious metal that was used all across Toril for a vast variety of purposes.

Properties[]

Shapechangers (most notably lycanthropes[9][10][11]) were vulnerable to silver.[12] Vampires,[13] devils,[14][15] wraiths,[16][17] and wights[18][19] were also vulnerable to silver. Wizards from Aglarond never wore silver and were rumored to be vulnerable to silver.[20]

Applications[]

Silver was widely used in currency, weapons, armor, jewelry and magical items. It was sought after for its purity and beauty.[12]

Currency[]

Silver copper coins 5e-SGAsG

A selection of silver and copper coins from the Realms.

Silver was commonly used in the form of coins all across the realm. The shape, size, and value of these coins varied depending on the time and place that they were from.[21]

Weapons & Armor[]

To create a silver weapon, the silver was often bonded to a steel weapon. This was a complicated process combining both alchemy and metallurgy known as alchemical silvering; this form of silver was known as alchemical silver and such a weapon was said to be "silvered". It could not be performed with non-metal items, nor with exotic metals like adamantine, cold iron, and mithral. However, while a silvered weapon would harm lycanthropes and other creatures vulnerable to silver, it was more fragile and a little less injurious. Silvering also cost extra, from an additional 2 gp for a projectile, 20 gp for a small weapon, 90 gp for a one-handed weapon, and 180 gp for a two-handed weapon.[22] Temporary silvering could be applied for an hour with a vial of silversheen.[23]

The soldiers who protected the High Palace of Silverymoon wore suits of silver plate mail.[24]

Magic Items[]

Silver was often used in the production of items that related to light and moon magic.[12] During the Shoon Imperium, pure silver was used in the crafting of magic rings that enhanced the wearer's spellcasting ability.[25]

Treatment[]

Maintaining the shine on silver required polishing with a non-abrasive cloth. Scalewater Carp were known to be particularly good at polishing silver with their mouths. These rare fish could only be found in one pond, called Scalewater, on the southern edge of the Thunder Peaks.[26]

Enchanting[]

If treated magically, silver weighed as much as steel. Magically treated silver also gained a level of resistance to electricity.[12]

History[]

Following the conquest of Maztica by Amn in the Year of the Helm, 1362 DR, treasures of the shattered Maztican Empire were melted into bars and transported back to Faerûn as trade ingots. By the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, Maztican silver ingots were commonly encountered along the Sword Coast and the Nelanther Islands.[27]

Notable Mines[]

Silver ore was mined all across the realm, often in mountains or deep underground.

Galena Mountains
As of 1359 DR, the iron and silver mines in the Galena Mountains were some of the richest in Toril. [28]
Lustrum
Not long before 1360 DR, the drow House Xorlarrin discovered rich silver seams outside of Menzoberranzan.[5]
Glitterdelve
Glitterdelve was home to the some of the richest silver, iron, and copper mines of the Deep Realm.[6]
Tannath Mountains
The Tannath mountains were once full of numerous silver mines. By 1479 DR, they were all abandoned.[29]
Fireshear
The copper and silver ores of Fireshear were exposed by a volcanic eruption or meteorite. The entire town was made up of miners.[30]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Appearances[]

Video Games

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. Nicky Rea (1994). Corsairs of the Great Sea (Campaign Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 978-1560768678.
  2. David "Zeb" Cook (1987). Blood of the Yakuza (Encounter Construction Booklet). (TSR, Inc), pp. 7–9. ISBN 0-88038-401-8.
  3. Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
  4. R.A. Salvatore (1989). The Bloodstone Lands. Edited by Elizabeth T. Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 0-88038-771-8.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 67–68. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1990). Dwarves Deep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 49. ISBN 0-88038-880-3.
  7. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 143, 148. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  8. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  9. James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 91. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  10. Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 180–181. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  11. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 208–211. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 180. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  13. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 251. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  14. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 52. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  15. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 70–78. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  16. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Cormyrean Marshes”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  17. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 302. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  18. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Cormyrean Marshes”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 28. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  19. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 300. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  20. William W. Connors (November 1995). Wizards and Rogues of the Realms. Edited by Anne Gray McCready. (TSR, Inc), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-0190-X.
  21. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0786960345.
  22. Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 284–285. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
  23. Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 247, 266. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
  24. Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  25. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 192. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  26. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  27. BioWare (June 2005). Designed by Keith Hayward, Rob Bartel. Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast. Atari.
  28. R.A. Salvatore (1989). The Bloodstone Lands. Edited by Elizabeth T. Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 0-88038-771-8.
  29. Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
  30. Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
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