I guess naming spells on the abilities of animals was a thing in D&D 3E. The Blackmoor design team really seemed to want to follow up on this trend and created tons of spells using this naming convention. It is interesting because some of the animals (Rhino, Camel, Cheeta hetc) don't really feel like they fit at home in a setting often referred to as "The North". On the other hand, the animals can of course be known to characters in the setting (especially scholarly Wizards, Clerics etc.) even if they only live in other parts of the world. Still, I wonder if this information can tell us something about the world of Blackmoor?
Note, that in the Blackmoor Player's Guide, they included a lot of variants of the same spell, like "Greater" and "Mass". I have not included more than one variant of each spell per book.
Blackmoor Campaign Setting Core Book D20 Coyote - Coyote's Dirge Dolphin - Dolphin's Leap Otter - Otter's Claw Raven - Raven's Glide Snake - Snake's Strike Wolf - Wolf's sight
Blackmoor Player's Guide Bager - Badger's Burrow etc Bat - Bat's Siight Bear - Bear's Endurance Beaver - Beaver's Bite Bison - Bison's Stampede (Note: Seems like a missed opportunity to reference Grazers from the DA modules) Boar - Boar's Ferocity Bull - Bull's Strength Camel - Camel's Stamina (Camels feel more at home in the south of Thonia) Canine - Canine's Scent Cat - Cat's Grace, Greater Cheetah - Cheeta's Sprint (Cheetah's might come from the Jungle Realm?) Coyote - Coyote's Dirge, Greater Crocodile - Crocodile's Breath Dolphin - Dolphin's Leap, Greater Donkey - Donkey's Stability etc Eagle - Eagle's Spendor, Greater Elephant - Elephant's Trample (Elephant's might come from the Jungle Realm?) Fish - Fish's Fins Fox - Fox' Cunning, Greater Giraffe - Giraffe's Reach (Giraffes might come from the Jungle Realm?) Hawk - Hawk's Eye, Greater Hummingbird Hummingbird's Flight Lion - Lion's Pounce (Lions might come from the Jungle Realm?) Monkey - Monkey's Grip (Monkey's might come from the Jungle Realm?) Mustang - Mustang's Speed (Mustangs have a history that is tied to that of North America, as they are not really wild horses. I wonder if something similar happened to horses in Blackmoor?) Otter - Otter's Claw, Greater Owl - Owl's Wisdom, Greater Raccoon - Raccoon's Mask Raven - Raven's Glide, Greater Rhino - Rhino's Charge Shark - Shark's Scent Snake - Snake's Strike, Greater Songbird, Songbird's Tune Toad - Toad's Coloration Turtle - Turtle's Shell Vulture - Vulture's Diet Weasel - Weasel's Grasp Wolf - Wolf's Sight, Greater Wolverine, Wolverine's Rage
-Havard
_________________ Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
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