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* [[Corrupt Church]] - Selûne's church in Memnon.
* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] - Merchants band together all the time, openly or secretly, and as often as not don't care much whether they act decently, or even legally. So merchant cabals include mafia-like ones like Men of the Basilisk, or Rundeen who set pirates against their rivals and dabble in slave-trade.
{{quote| '''[http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x{{=}}dnd/dueotr/20101203 Ed Greenwood]''': It has been said that most merchants die not of lawbreaking or lack of coin but of running afoul of a cabal--one they belong to, two or more they belong to that end up having conflicting aims or activities, or just one they happen to be in the way of.}}
** There are groups such as Iron Throne or Knights of The Shield that outwardly (even for their own low-ranking members) look like "yet another strong merchant group", but on the inside are more fiendish. Sometimes, literally.
* [[The Corruption]]: [[Averted Trope|Averted]] with the Spellplague. It's just [[Toxic Phlebotinum]] that can be used for good or evil.
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* [[Gambit Pileup]] - whole organizations like the Cult of the Dragon, Zhentarim, Red Wizards and suchlike all try to snake or claw their way to top via large-scale schemes, which practically ensures they clash with each other when least expected. [[Word of God]] states that sometimes Zhents rolled their [[Idiot Ball]] due to being used as [[Unwitting Pawn|Unwitting Pawns]] by Thay and Malaugrim.
* [[Gender Bender]]: There are spells for that. Also, Mystra had [[The Elminster Series (Literature)|young Elminster]] walk as "Elmara" for some years and
{{quote| '''[http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID{{=}}5812&whichpage{{=}}67#159733 Ed Greenwood]''': "One cannot truly feel the Divine Dance of Eilistraee PROPERLY except as a female, and so her (still very rare, few, and generally secretive about it) male priests must spend some time as a female (not just for the duration of a ritual, but they must do some everyday living as a female)."}}
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]] - There sure were a lot of brothe--er, ''festhalls'', filled with pretty prosti--er, ''dancing girls'' in the 2nd Edition Realms.
** "Festhalls" is a catch-all category covering a wide range of entertainment. Typical ones combine "escorts" with dancing scene and restaurant, i.e. more like a "night club", but variations range up to "somewhat decadent high-ish society club", [[The Matchmaker]] agency and/or the main concert hall.
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** According to some authors, [[Executive Meddling]] trend was [http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1888&whichpage=7#36407 in favour of making of new characters instead of development of existing ones], with few obvious exclusions -- which explains a lot. At least sometimes it's justified: Galaeron Nihmedu after being a protagonist in his own [http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Return_of_the_Archwizards trilogy] was [[Put On a Bus]] to Vaasa for at least [[Happily Ever After|two]] [[All of the Other Reindeer|reasons]] -- he's unlikely to reappear until there will be either some novel about this hell-hole or Evereska nearly doomed again.
** According to the [[Word of God|Lady Herald of Realmslore]], it was Ed's own guideline keeping the [[Shared Universe]] from turning into the stage of limited stories:
{{quote| "[http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID{{=}}11313&whichpage{{=}}1#229210 For every one of my loose ends you tie up or explain, create three new ones and weave them into the Realms]".}}
* [[The Library of Babel]] - Candlekeep, a repository of all human knowledge. It has ''at least'' one backup in a pocket dimension that's closer to this trope.
* [[Literary Agent Hypothesis]] - It's a classic part of [[Canon]]. [[Played for Laughs]] time and again, e.g. in ''[[Side-Story Bonus Art|The Wizards Three]]'' articles where El rebukes ("Ye have dirty mind..."), threatens and mildly abuses Ed. Leads to [[Fourth Wall Mail Slot]].
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{{quote| '''[[Eldritch Abomination|Ilsensine]]:''' There are so many gods worshiped in that world it's hard to keep track of them all. We wouldn't be surprised to find they have a god there with dominion over the tableware and ale mugs. (''Finder's Bane'')}}
** Especially since...
{{quote| '''[http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID{{=}}5812&whichpage{{=}}79#166235 Ed Greenwood]''': ALWAYS remember that except for fanatics, clergy, or the oppressed (such as, many drow in cities dominated by Lolth-worship), all intelligent beings in the Realms worship -- if only in appeasement -- many deities.}}
* [[Oh My Gods]] - "By Mystra's Lost Spell!". ''"Mask and mother-bitching Tymora, [[Nightmare Fuel|they]] ARE [[For Halloween I Am Going As Myself|real]]!"''. Time of Troubles added "By the first Mystra and the second".
* [[Only the Chosen May Wield]] - meets [[Comes Great Responsibility]] in [http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Blade-rite blade-rite], most notably Elfblades and Moonblades.
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* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] - Guilds (and Knights of the Shield) overthrew the monarchy in Tethyr. And then things quickly rolled downhill, for everyone. Including themselves (in the long run, smoldering civil war isn't good for business).
* [[Crossover]] - Sometimes happens (it's a [[Kudzu Plot|well-interwoven]] world), sometimes is [[Hilarity Ensues|hilariously]] averted with two characters ''from the same city'':
{{quote| '''Elaine Cunningham''': ...something I wrote in response to the perennial question, "What would happen if Drizzt and Liriel met?" For those who might be interested in my take on the matter, [http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID{{=}}1888&whichpage{{=}}6#36209 here 'tis].}}
** [http://www.elfwood.com/~meiyin3/When-Drizzt-meets-Liriel.3030110.html There]'s even fanart -- sadly, only the first half of their supposed "dialog" is depicted.
** Despite this, it's alluded in the text and later [[Word of God|confirmed]] that the guy who "deflowers Liriel and teaches her to throw knives, both at her request, and not necessarily in that order" was {{spoiler|Jarlaxle}}.
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* [[Handsome Lech]] - Obarskyrs tend to be very charismatic and a bit too... passionate. Azoun IV was quite outstanding in both regards, so Cormyr got ''lots'' of [[Royal Bastard|Royal Bastards]]. His daughter Alusair is a well-known heart reaper too, though in her case consequences are prevented by magic.
** Volo's indiscretions are not limited to gathering and dispensing information. For one:
{{quote| '''[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x{{=}}dnd/wn/20030827a Elminster]''': If Lord Laerlos Silmerhelve ever reads this, there won't be a fortress strong enough or distant enough in all Toril to save the skin of Volothamp Geddarm from the vengeance of the Silmerhelves. I hear Ravithara wants the father of her baby to return to her side, too.}}
* [[The Hat Makes the Man]] - The Horn of Crowns makes its wearer crazed and violent.
* [[Heel Faith Turn]] - Something like this implied to be a part of the past Shield of Innocence (''orog paladin'') was reluctant to talk about. Since Thamdarl "the Wizard Unseen" named his memoirs ''Tyrant's Throne to the Arms of a Goddess: My Road To Mystra'', this seems to be his case too.
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* [[Razor Wings]]: The 'Sharpwings' spell. It gives a dragon's wing buffet double the damage of a claw attack while keeping its knockdown efect. Without any visual changes.
* [[Rebellious Princess]] - [[Meganekko|Miliana]] Da Sumbria (''The Council of Blades''). Liriel Baenre, technically, counts too. Alusair "[[Lady of War|The Steel Princess]]" of Cormyr had a loud dish-breaking disputes with her father just about every time she returned to the palace.
{{quote| '''Queen Filfaeril''': [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x{{=}}dnd/rl/20060614a Vangerdahast could be busily marrying both our daughters right now, and declaring himself Emperor-Wizard of all Cormyr.]<br />
'''King Azoun''': (snorting) If he tries, he'd better lash up Tana's tongue and Luse's sword hand, first, or he'll have the shortest reign of any --<br />
'''Queen Filfaeril''': (giggling) Hold that thought, my lord. That's a mind-view I can savor. }}
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* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] - Paladin orders have unfortunate tendency to go over the top. Knights of Samular (see [[What the Hell, Hero?]]) proved themselves as [[Lawful Stupid Chaotic Stupid|Lawful Anal]].
** Golden elf Kymil Nimesin formed "Elite Guard" conspiracy, they planned a coup and managed to kill the king of Evermeet -- which fact most gold elves consider their collective shame. Why? Out of oblivious utopism.
{{quote| '''[http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID{{=}}1888&whichpage{{=}}5 Elaine Cunningham]:''' He sees himself as a revolutionary who wishes to overthrow the monarchy in favor of a republic. He is further incensed by the fact that that royal family are moon elves, who he sees as less worthy than--[[Fantastic Racism|indeed, inferior to]]--the gold elf race. For much of the history of Faerûn's elves, power has resided in the hands of the gold elves. Kymil seeks a return to past glories.}}
** Khelben Arunsun ''is'' a great and mighty hero when there's some or other immense threat. When there are none, he will find something anyway. Blackstaff shows signs of this in most novels by Elaine Cunningham, but it's not a [[Armed With Canon|disagreement on board]]: according to Ed Greenwood, [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/wn/20021218a seeing a polymorphed steel dragon on a revel] is enough for him to "casually toss a ''wyrmbane'' spell her way". Or his old obsession with smoke powder. He usually balances on the border of this, slipping back and forth, with Laeral [[Morality Pet|holding him back]].
* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?]] - Once a group of adventures including a ''very'' easy on the eye [[Lady of War|female human fighter]] entered a monsters-infested castle. Pretty typical? She has two exotic assets: a [[Whip Sword]] and a [[Psychic Powers|wild talent]]. Not ''[[Brainwashed|Domination]]'', not ''[[Stuff Blowing Up|Detonation]]'', not even ''[[Palantir Ploy|Clairvoyance]]''. ''[[Telepathy|Mindlink]]'' -- ability to ''talk'' mind-to-mind with just about anything. Typical adventurers leave a ruin a few days later, with a lot more of personal property and [[Overdrawn At the Blood Bank|serious blood loss]]. Gayrlana "Lady Bloodsword" was ''not'' [[We Could Have Avoided All This|typical]]. By the time she left the Mindulgulph Castle she was the leader of a little, but strong --and mostly non-humanoid-- [[Private Military Contractors|mercenary company]]. And it was ''[[All Your Base Are Belong to Us|her]]'' castle. And this was just the beginning. Some suspect that the Mindulgulph Company is led by [[Half-Human Hybrid|part]]-[[Magnificent Bastard|drow]] not just because she's [[Dark-Skinned Blond]].
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