Filfaeril Selazair Obarskyr: Queen Fee (Free Tier) (Patreon)

Please enjoy this Realmslore post on Queen Fee. She is a figure, as well as the rest of the Obarskyr family, that we have had tragically little information on up until this point. I'm very excited to share some of my compiled notes with you.

This is a public excerpt from the unabridged, six-page lore document on Queen Fee which you will gain access to by becoming a Protector of the Realms, along with many other perks reserved for my supporters. We will continue to release new and exciting Realms content every week, so come be a part of what we're building together!

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A LORE LOOK AT QUEEN FEE

One of the most famous (and powerful) women of her time was the Dragon Queen, Queen Filfaeril Selazair Obarskyr, wife of the famous King Azoun IV.

Some folk also called her “the Ice Queen” because her sharp intellect was always in evidence; she was no shy, shrinking, or naïve consort but brilliant and insightful. She could unleash a look “that had daggers in it” (as one courtier put it) if irked, could be as forceful and regal as any confident warrior king, and as the Dowager Queen, was the true ruler of Cormyr between 1379 and 1384, between the death of her husband Azoun and the coronation of her grandson, Azoun V—for although her daughter Alusair was Regent of the Realm (“the Steel Regent”) and commanded it both militarily and officially, most daily administrative and budget decisions were made by Queen Fee and Laspeera Inthré, Warden of the Wizards of War of Cormyr (and second in command of the War Wizards, under Royal Magician of Cormyr Caladnei). Moreover, Caladnei, Laspeera, and such local “Lady Lords” as Myrmeen Lhal of Arabel and Tessaril Winter of Eveningstar were loyal to Queen Fee and sought her guidance first, with the full approval of the Steel Regent who preferred not to deal with what she once called “the daily courtesies and fripperies” in favour of seeing to the security of the realm (not just military preparations, but maintaining personal contacts with the younger nobles of the realm, to try to ensure their loyalty) and formal diplomacy with its neighbours (though Queen Fee acted as the hostess when entertaining visiting envoys, with Alusair acting as head of state).

Lifelong, Filfaeril had more patience than her younger daughter, and though Alusair inherited her father’s strength and energy, and strong emotions and lusts, her mother’s quieter ways concealed a stubborn bravery and a mind that noticed everything. Once Alusair was Regent, Filfaeril took little interest in warfare and in doings outside Cormyr, and spent most of her time sizing up folk who came to court, learning of their doings and moods so as to be of help to her daughter as Regent.

So formal diplomacy they did together—but the informal diplomacy of the realm at this time was often enacted through Queen Fee’s personal undercover agents “Queen Filfaeril’s Blades,” her Harper connections (notably through the Chosen of Mystra Dove Falconhand), and by her magical communications with the Chosen of Mystra Khelben “Blackstaff” Arunsun, Lord Mage of Waterdeep.

So before the ascent of Azoun V to the throne, Filfaeril held almost absolute daily authority—and far more influence over public and Court opinion than anyone else, even if her daughter Alusair was the dashing “popular hero.”

Before the death of her husband Azoun, Filfaeril acted as his chief confidant and advisor, and a counterbalance to the influence of the Royal Magician of Cormyr of the time, Vangerdahast Aeiulvana (“Ay-EE-ool-vanna”), who often saw himself as the realm, wiser than its king, and his desires and preferences as one and the same as “the best for Cormyr.” Elminster believes that not only was Filfaeril the strongest-willed and best actor of the three, she was the smartest—and wisest in her looking ahead at consequences and likely outcomes, and what was truly best for the realm. She consistently held clearer foresight of future events and intrigues yet hatching than anyone in the Forest Kingdom save Vangerdahast.

Azoun discussed everything with Fee, keeping no secrets at all from her (including his bedmates and whom he was interested in adding to their ranks), and once referred to her as “my better-thinking rein on my temper,” often deferring to her to make decisions because he truly believed she would make the best ones. He invariably took Fee’s advice over that of Vangerdahast, and fell into the habit of turning to her for guidance, to curb his own emotions and what he (correctly) saw as his rushed, rash judgements.

She and Azoun were far more equal partners than most ruling couples of Faerûn, and her influence helped make the court a civilized, cultural place. (In earlier times, it was all too apt to be a succession of drunken revels and duels between feuding nobles.)

Some foes of the realm were aware of Filfaeril’s true power, and competency, and sought to co-opt it with gifts, or undermine it by starting false rumours.

In the full version of this post (Audio / Video), I expand even more on Queen Fee of Cormyr. I've recorded a reading of my entire six-page document on the subject in video and audiobook formats. Ivan from ManyRealms also follows up with some questions that dig even deeper into this beloved monarch, making it even easier to apply this particular lore to your next games.

Thank you for your continued support, and I'm grateful to have such a thriving community of fans keeping the Realms alive!

Hugs,
Ed