Source for an NPC name.

[RangerWickett]

I just saw a commercial for Black Swan wine, called 'Shiraz.' I don't know if anyone recalls, but back in the 2nd edition mega-module "Night Below," there was a swanmay character named Shiraz. Does anyone know what the connection between these two is?

 

[ruleslawyer]

Shiraz (Syrah) is the name of a grape varietal used to make (typically medium-bodied, though Australians have pioneered a heavier style) red wines. It is also the name of a city of Persia/Iran. I imagine that Carl Sargent (the writer of Night Below, IIRC) could have come up with that name for any number of reasons (a bottle of wine close to hand, a general knowledge of wine, a fondness for the Arabian Nights, a trip to Iran, etc.).