Does anybody know of any good reference material for the elven houses of the Forgotten Realms? Specifically I'm looking for more information on house Ilbaereth. I know that it is located in Neverwinter Woods and I've seen some notable NPC's have come from or have connections to the house, but beyond that details are pretty sparse. I'm working on the backstory for a half-elf character for a future campaign that was exiled from his mother's house due to his mixed blood and illegitimate birth. One of the reasons I went with house Ilbaereth was because they have already set a precedent with this kind of behavior. However, my character will have also needed access to an immense library containing ancient lore. I know they are described as a great house, but is this something they would have had access to? Really I just don't want any contradictions in my character's backstory, that would annoy me lol. Thanks in advance!
I saw that page as well. I should have mentioned what I had found so far. It definitely was useful information, though. Most of the elven houses seem pretty obscure in the available lore, so I feel pretty good about using a little artistic license to fill in the blanks to suit my character's needs. I just didn't want any glaring contradictions in my backstory in case I missed an obvious resource. Thanks!
I hope this helps this is what I have gotten so far if you do not have it
Elves Of The Forgotten Realms
The Elves are one of the major races of the Forgotten Realms, and ruled large sections after the time of the Dragons and before the coming of men. Now the majority of these longlived beings have retreated from the onslaught of mankind, seeking quieter forests, and their numbers in the Realms are a faction of those even a thousand years ago.
The Elves of the Forgotten Realms are of human height, but much more slender. Their fingers and hands are half-again as long as men, and delicately tapered, and their bones are light and surprisingly sturdy. Elven faces are thinner and more serene, and Elven ears, as ears in half a hundred Known Worlds, are pointed.
Elves usually have hair of silver-white, black, or blue, though all reported colors normally found in men and Elves may be found in this race. Their eyes are blue, or green, and have gold flecks.
The Elves call their own race Tel-Quessir, which translates as the People. Strangers, in particular non-Elven strangers, are generally placed under the category NTel-Quess, or Not-People. Most Elves treat the not-people with respect and politeness, as a host would a stumbling child, though the drow fiercely enslave any who are not of their race, and consider the other Elven sub races NTel-Quess.
The Elves are generally ruled by noble houses, which have held control of their nations for generations (and given the nature and long life of Elves, the rule of a wise king may exceed the history of a human nation). The Elven rule is autocratic and absolute, and it is the theology and philosophy of these elves which prevent abuse of such complete power. The monarchs of the Elven Court make pronouncements rarely, preferring to remain outside the normal course of their subjects lives. Once such a decision is made, whether to declare war or retreat to Evermeet, it is followed by the bulk of the population.
The oddest phenomenon of Elvish life (to human observers) is the Retreat, which is viewed as a lemming-like drive to sail beyond the sea. In the case of the Elves of the Forgotten Realms, the reason is not some biological drive, but rather the decision of the leaders of the Elven nations to withdraw to less hostile lands.
Such a decision is made after years (mankind generations) of thought and meditation, and once made, is irrevocable. In the case of the recently-voided Elven Court, the decision to retreat was made some 500 years after deliberation began, so that while for humans the disappearance of the Elven Court is regarded as a sudden vacuum in the heart of the Realms, for the Elven Court itself it was as inevitable (and as important) as a merchant moving his shop further down the street to increase the distance from a competitor.
The Elves in retreat always make for Evermeet, and there whatever nobles led the retreat swear their fealty to Queen Amlaruil, who is that domains monarch. Long ago the Elven nation of Evermeet made the decision to tight those men who came to her shores, and as a result is both the strongest power of the sea, and a haven of the other Elves in retreat.
Those Elves on the Sword Coast and with easy access to the sea make the passage to Evermeet by boat, protected by the Navy of the Queen. How those further inland cross is not known, for none see their passage out of the world of men. The everyday Elven folk know not the method, for after they retired one evening, their leaders and mages worked great spells or appeared the gods, for they awoke in their new homes.
The former Eleven nations of the Realms include Illefarn, where Waterdeep now rises; Askaver, which is now called the Wood of Sharp Teeth: and the Elven Court, which once ruled Cormanthyr, the forest country that ran from Cormyr to the Moonsea. Current Elven nations include Evermeet its seaward seclusion and Evereska, which has just set up a colony in the Greycloak Hills. In addition, there are scattered groups of Elves found throughout the realms, including wild Elves, groups without noble rulers, the dark Elves, those who have found Evermeet not to their tastes and departed, and adventurers.
There are five known Eleven sub-races in the Forgotten Realms, and four of them live in relative harmony. Crossbreeding is possible between the subraces, but in the case of the Elves, the child will either take after the male or female parents race (there are no drow/moon Elf mongrels, and the child of such an unlikely union would either have all the traits of a dark Elf, or of a moon Elf). The sub-races are:
Gold Elves are also called sunrise Elves or high Elves, and have bronze skins and hair of copper, black, or blonde. Their eyes are golden, silver, or black. Gold Elves tend to be recognized as the most civilized of the elven subraces and the most aloof from mankind. The majority of the native Elves of Evermeet are gold elves, though they are led by a moon Elf royal family (see EVERMEET).
Moon Elves are also called silver or grey Elves, and are much paler, with faces of bleached white tinged with blue. Moon Elves usually have hair of silver-white, black, or blue, though all reported colors normally found in men and Elves may be found in this race. Their eyes are blue, or green, and have gold flecks. They tend to tolerate men the most of the Elven sub-races, and the majority of adventuring elves and half Elves are of moon elf heritage.
Wild Elves are called green Elves, forest Elves, and wood Elves, and are reclusive and distrusting of non-Elves, in particular humankind. Wild Elves of the Forgotten Realms tend to be copperish in hue, with tinctures of green, their hair tends towards browns, and blacks with occasional blondes and copper-colored natives, and their eyes green, brown, or hazel. They tend to be the least organized of the Elven peoples, and while there is no Elven nation made up entirely of wild Elves, there are wild Elves in every other elven nation and on Evermeet.
Sea Elves, also called water Elves, are further divided into two further divisions: those of the Great Sea (including all salt-water domains such as the Shining Sea and Sea of Swords), and those of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Great Sea Elves are radiant in different shades of deep greens, with irregular patches of brown striped through their bodies. Fallen Star Sea Elves are various shades of blue, with white patches and stripes. Both have the full variety of eye and hair color found in all the Elven peoples, and have webbed feet and hands, and the ability to breathe water.
Dark Elves, also called drow or night Elves, are the most sinister and evil of the Elven race, as if this sub-reacts seems to balance the tranquility and goodness of their cousins with unrepentant maliciousness and evil. Drow have black skin that resembles nothing so much as polished obsidian, and eyes and hair of stark white. The variation of the other Elven sub-races is missing here. Most of this fell race have been driven under, and are shunned by the other Elven sub-races.
Sea Elves
Dark Elves
Wild Elves
Moon Elves
Gold Elves
Star Elves (Hidden race) said to be like Moon Elves
Here is what I could find online and through game products
Elven Houses of the Forgotten Realms
Sun Elf House Holds – Ar-tel-Quessir
House Aelorothi
House Alastrarra
House Alenuath
House Auglamyr
House Dahast
House Dlardrageth### (Dead Household)
House Durothil
House Ealoeth
House Echorn
House Elestar
House Estelda
House Estilwen
House Evanara
House Goadulphyn
House Haladar
House Haevault
House Irithyl### (Dead Household)
House Llundlar (half Elven) Minor
House Miritar
House Mistrivvin
House Neirdre (half Elven) Minor
House Nimesin
House Ni'Tessine
House Nlossae
House Olortynnal
House Orbryn
House Oussea'lylth
House Raerdrimne
House Shaelara### (Dead Household)
House Starym
House Symbaern
House Vyshaan### (Dead Household)
Moon Elf House Holds – Teu-Tel-Quessir
House Ammath
House Ahmaquissar
House Amarillis
House Argentaamn
House Aunglor
House Calauth*** Braerindra Calauth was the last of this house she also turned into a baelnorn
I know this reply is more than a year later than your post but I have yet to find an answer to my question. Within your mentionings of the different elven houses, you have next to some of them a note that marks them as "dead houses". The house I'm particularly interested in is House Shaelara as I plan to have one of my characters descended from that house. With the already minimal information on elven houses in general, there's even less on House Shaelara. I'll continue to research to see if I can find anything but it would be helpful when or if you could tell me your specific source(s). Also, sorry for bothering you so much later after the fact.
Does anybody know of any good reference material for the elven houses of the Forgotten Realms? Specifically I'm looking for more information on house Ilbaereth. I know that it is located in Neverwinter Woods and I've seen some notable NPC's have come from or have connections to the house, but beyond that details are pretty sparse. I'm working on the backstory for a half-elf character for a future campaign that was exiled from his mother's house due to his mixed blood and illegitimate birth. One of the reasons I went with house Ilbaereth was because they have already set a precedent with this kind of behavior. However, my character will have also needed access to an immense library containing ancient lore. I know they are described as a great house, but is this something they would have had access to? Really I just don't want any contradictions in my character's backstory, that would annoy me lol. Thanks in advance!
Does this link help?
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Ilbaereth
I saw that page as well. I should have mentioned what I had found so far. It definitely was useful information, though. Most of the elven houses seem pretty obscure in the available lore, so I feel pretty good about using a little artistic license to fill in the blanks to suit my character's needs. I just didn't want any glaring contradictions in my backstory in case I missed an obvious resource. Thanks!
I hope this helps this is what I have gotten so far if you do not have it
Elves Of The Forgotten Realms
The Elves are one of the major races of the Forgotten Realms, and ruled large sections after the time of the Dragons and before the coming of men. Now the majority of these longlived beings have retreated from the onslaught of mankind, seeking quieter forests, and their numbers in the Realms are a faction of those even a thousand years ago.
The Elves of the Forgotten Realms are of human height, but much more slender. Their fingers and hands are half-again as long as men, and delicately tapered, and their bones are light and surprisingly sturdy. Elven faces are thinner and more serene, and Elven ears, as ears in half a hundred Known Worlds, are pointed.
Elves usually have hair of silver-white, black, or blue, though all reported colors normally found in men and Elves may be found in this race. Their eyes are blue, or green, and have gold flecks.
The Elves call their own race Tel-Quessir, which translates as the People. Strangers, in particular non-Elven strangers, are generally placed under the category NTel-Quess, or Not-People. Most Elves treat the not-people with respect and politeness, as a host would a stumbling child, though the drow fiercely enslave any who are not of their race, and consider the other Elven sub races NTel-Quess.
The Elves are generally ruled by noble houses, which have held control of their nations for generations (and given the nature and long life of Elves, the rule of a wise king may exceed the history of a human nation). The Elven rule is autocratic and absolute, and it is the theology and philosophy of these elves which prevent abuse of such complete power. The monarchs of the Elven Court make pronouncements rarely, preferring to remain outside the normal course of their subjects lives. Once such a decision is made, whether to declare war or retreat to Evermeet, it is followed by the bulk of the population.
The oddest phenomenon of Elvish life (to human observers) is the Retreat, which is viewed as a lemming-like drive to sail beyond the sea. In the case of the Elves of the Forgotten Realms, the reason is not some biological drive, but rather the decision of the leaders of the Elven nations to withdraw to less hostile lands.
Such a decision is made after years (mankind generations) of thought and meditation, and once made, is irrevocable. In the case of the recently-voided Elven Court, the decision to retreat was made some 500 years after deliberation began, so that while for humans the disappearance of the Elven Court is regarded as a sudden vacuum in the heart of the Realms, for the Elven Court itself it was as inevitable (and as important) as a merchant moving his shop further down the street to increase the distance from a competitor.
The Elves in retreat always make for Evermeet, and there whatever nobles led the retreat swear their fealty to Queen Amlaruil, who is that domains monarch. Long ago the Elven nation of Evermeet made the decision to tight those men who came to her shores, and as a result is both the strongest power of the sea, and a haven of the other Elves in retreat.
Those Elves on the Sword Coast and with easy access to the sea make the passage to Evermeet by boat, protected by the Navy of the Queen. How those further inland cross is not known, for none see their passage out of the world of men. The everyday Elven folk know not the method, for after they retired one evening, their leaders and mages worked great spells or appeared the gods, for they awoke in their new homes.
The former Eleven nations of the Realms include Illefarn, where Waterdeep now rises; Askaver, which is now called the Wood of Sharp Teeth: and the Elven Court, which once ruled Cormanthyr, the forest country that ran from Cormyr to the Moonsea. Current Elven nations include Evermeet its seaward seclusion and Evereska, which has just set up a colony in the Greycloak Hills. In addition, there are scattered groups of Elves found throughout the realms, including wild Elves, groups without noble rulers, the dark Elves, those who have found Evermeet not to their tastes and departed, and adventurers.
There are five known Eleven sub-races in the Forgotten Realms, and four of them live in relative harmony. Crossbreeding is possible between the subraces, but in the case of the Elves, the child will either take after the male or female parents race (there are no drow/moon Elf mongrels, and the child of such an unlikely union would either have all the traits of a dark Elf, or of a moon Elf).
The sub-races are:
Gold Elves are also called sunrise Elves or high Elves, and have bronze skins and hair of copper, black, or blonde. Their eyes are golden, silver, or black. Gold Elves tend to be recognized as the most civilized of the elven subraces and the most aloof from mankind.
The majority of the native Elves of Evermeet are gold elves, though they are led by a moon Elf royal family (see EVERMEET).
Moon Elves are also called silver or grey Elves, and are much paler, with faces of bleached white tinged with blue. Moon Elves usually have hair of silver-white, black, or blue, though all reported colors normally found in men and Elves may be found in this race.
Their eyes are blue, or green, and have gold flecks. They tend to tolerate men the most of the Elven sub-races, and the majority of adventuring elves and half Elves are of moon elf heritage.
Wild Elves are called green Elves, forest Elves, and wood Elves, and are reclusive and distrusting of non-Elves, in particular humankind. Wild Elves of the Forgotten Realms tend to be copperish in hue, with tinctures of green, their hair tends towards browns, and blacks with occasional blondes and copper-colored natives, and their eyes green, brown, or hazel. They tend to be
the least organized of the Elven peoples, and while there is no Elven nation made up entirely of wild Elves, there are wild Elves in every other elven nation and on Evermeet.
Sea Elves, also called water Elves, are further divided into two further divisions: those of the Great Sea (including all salt-water domains such as the Shining Sea and Sea of Swords), and those of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Great Sea Elves are radiant in different shades of deep greens, with irregular patches of brown striped through their bodies.
Fallen Star Sea Elves are various shades of blue, with white patches and stripes. Both have the full variety of eye and hair color found in all the Elven peoples, and have webbed feet and hands, and the ability to breathe water.
Dark Elves, also called drow or night Elves, are the most sinister and evil of the Elven race, as if this sub-reacts seems to balance the tranquility and goodness of their cousins with unrepentant maliciousness and evil. Drow have black skin that resembles nothing so much as polished obsidian, and eyes and hair of stark white. The variation of the other Elven sub-races is missing here. Most of
this fell race have been driven under, and are shunned by the other Elven sub-races.
Here is what I could find online and through game products
Elven Houses of the Forgotten Realms
Sun Elf House Holds – Ar-tel-Quessir
Moon Elf House Holds – Teu-Tel-Quessir
Green Elf House Holds – Sy-Tel-Quessir
Unknown Elven Houses:
I hope this helps everyone
I know this reply is more than a year later than your post but I have yet to find an answer to my question. Within your mentionings of the different elven houses, you have next to some of them a note that marks them as "dead houses". The house I'm particularly interested in is House Shaelara as I plan to have one of my characters descended from that house. With the already minimal information on elven houses in general, there's even less on House Shaelara. I'll continue to research to see if I can find anything but it would be helpful when or if you could tell me your specific source(s). Also, sorry for bothering you so much later after the fact.
Here’s an (old) but great resource. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17550/Cormanthyr-Empire-of-the-Elves-2e?term=Cormanth