Editing Forgotten Realms (section)

==Fictional setting==
{{main|Faerûn}}
The focus of the Forgotten Realms setting is the continent of Faerûn, the western part of a continent that was roughly modeled after the Eurasian continent on Earth.<ref name=":6" />{{rp|6}} The lands of the Forgotten Realms are not all ruled by the human race, with populations of many humanoid races and creatures ubiquitous in [[fantasy fiction]] works such as [[Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)|dwarves]], [[Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)|elves]], [[Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)|goblins]], and [[Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)|orcs]]. Technologically, the world of the Forgotten Realms resembles the [[Medieval technology|pre-industrial Earth]] in the 13th or 14th century. However, the presence of magic provides an additional element of power to the societies. There are several nation states and many independent cities, with loose alliances being formed for defense or conquest. Trade is performed by ship or [[horse-drawn vehicle]], and manufacturing is based upon [[cottage industry]].

===Geography===
{{main|Abeir-Toril}}
[[File:Forgotten Realms map.jpg|thumb|Forgotten Realms partial map]]
The Forgotten Realms is part of the fictional world of [[Abeir-Toril]] (usually just called Toril<ref name="APC"/>{{rp|91}}), an Earth-like planet with many real-world influences and consists of several large continents.<ref name="reliplay">{{cite book|title=Religions in play: games, rituals, and virtual worlds|last=Bornet|first=Philippe|year=2011|publisher=Theologischer Verlag Zürich|isbn=978-3-290-22010-5|pages=286|access-date=4 October 2020|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3X18dopUoMC&pg=PA286}}</ref> It was first detailed in the original ''[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Set]]'', published in 1987 by [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]].<ref name="FRCS1st">{{cite book | last1=Greenwood | first1=Ed | author-link1=Ed Greenwood | first2=Jeff | last2=Grubb|author-link2=Jeff Grubb | year=1987 | title=Forgotten Realms Campaign Set | publisher=[[TSR, Inc.]] | isbn=978-0-88038-472-8}}</ref> The other continents of Toril include [[Kara-Tur]], [[Zakhara]], [[Maztica]],<ref name="reliplay"/> and other yet unspecified landmasses.<ref name="FRCS3rd">{{cite book | last1=Greenwood | first1=Ed | author-link1=Ed Greenwood | first2=Sean K | last2=Reynolds | author-link2=Sean K Reynolds | first3=Skip | last3=Williams | author-link3=Skip Williams | first4=Rob | last4=Heinsoo | author-link4=Rob Heinsoo | year=2001 | title=Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | isbn=978-0-7869-1836-2}}</ref> Kara-Tur, roughly corresponding to ancient East [[Asia]], was later the focus of its own source book ''[[Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms]]'', published in 1988.<ref name="HW" />{{rp|103}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Pondsmith|first=Mike|title=Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms|author2=Jay Batista|last3=Swan|first3=Rick|publisher=[[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]|year=1988|isbn=978-0-88038-608-1|author-link=Mike Pondsmith|author-link3=Rick Swan}}</ref> There is also a vast subterranean world called the [[Underdark]] beneath the surface.<ref name="APC"/>{{rp|98,138}}<ref name="CH"/>

In early editions of the setting, The Realms shared a unified [[cosmology]] with various other [[campaign setting]]s called the Great Wheel. In this way each of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' campaign settings were linked together to form one interwoven world connected by various [[Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)|planes]] of existence. With the release of the 2001 ''Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting'', the setting was given its own distinct and separate cosmological arrangement, with unique planes not explicitly connected to those of the other settings.<ref name="FRCS3rd"/><ref name="Player's Guide 2004">{{cite book | last1=Baker | first1=Richard | author-link1=Richard Baker (game designer) | first2=James | last2=Wyatt | author-link2=James Wyatt (game designer) | year=2004 | title=Player's Guide to Faerûn | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | isbn=978-0-7869-3134-7 | title-link=Player's Guide to Faerûn}}</ref>

===Religion===
Religion plays a large part in the Forgotten Realms, with deities and their followers being an integral part of the world. Deities interact directly in mortal affairs, answer prayers, and have their own personal agendas. All deities must have worshipers to survive, and all mortals must worship a patron deity to secure a good afterlife. A huge number of diverse deities exist within several [[polytheism|polytheistic]] pantheons; a large number of supplements have documented many of them, some in more detail than others.<ref>{{cite book | last=Boyd | first=Eric L. | year=1998 | title=Demihuman Deities | publisher=[[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] | isbn=978-0-7869-1239-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1=Boyd | first1=Eric L. | author-link1=Eric L. Boyd | last2=Mona | first2=Erik | author-link2=Erik Mona | year=2002 | title=Faiths and Pantheons | publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] | isbn=978-0-7869-2759-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/faithspantheons00boyd}}</ref> Greenwood created a pantheon of gods for his home ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game, in his Forgotten Realms world, which were introduced in his article "Down-to-earth divinity" from ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #54 (October 1981).<!-- According to the article, these consisted at the time of: Auril, goddess of cold; Azuth, patron of magic users; Bane, god of strife, hatred, and tyranny; Beshaba, goddess of mischief, misfortune, ill luck, and accidents; Bhaal, god of death; Chauntea, goddess of agriculture; Deneir, god of literature and art; Eldath, goddess of waterfalls, springs, streams, pools, stillness, peace, quiet places, and guardian of druids' groves; Gond, god of blacksmiths, artificers, crafts, and construction; Helm, god of guardians; Ilmater, god of endurance, suffering, martyrdom, and perseverance; Lathander, god of spring, dawn, conception, vitality, eternal youth, renewal, self-perfection, and beginnings; Leira, goddess of deception and illusion; Lliira, goddess of joy, carefree feeling, contentment, release, hospitality, happiness, dance, and patron of festivals; Loviatar, goddess of pain, hurt, and patron of torturers; Malar, god of wild, marauding beasts, bloodlust, and hunting; Mask, god of thieves and intrigue; Mielikki, goddess of forests, dryads, and patron of rangers; Milil, god of poetry, eloquence, and song; Myrkul, god of the dead,<ref name=Carbonell/> wasting, decay, corruption, parasites, old age, dusk, fall, and exhaustion; Mystra, goddess of magic;<ref name=Carbonell/> Oghma, god of knowledge, invention, and patron of bards; Selune, goddess of the moon, stars, and navigation; Shar, goddess of darkness, night, loss, and forgetfulness; Silvanus, god of nature, and patron of druids; Sune, goddess of love, beauty, charisma, and passion; Talona, goddess of disease and poisoning; Talos, god of storms and destruction; Tempus, god of war; Torm, god of duty, loyalty, obedience, and those who face danger to further the cause of good, Tyche, god of good fortune, luck, victory, skill, and patron of adventurers and warriors; Tyr, god of justice, Umberlee, goddess of oceans, waves and winds at sea, and currents; Greenwood also used the [[Melniboné]]an deities Grome, Kakatal, Misha, and Straasha as his elemental lords.--><ref name="Dragon 54">[[Ed Greenwood]], Dragon magazine #54 - "Down-to-earth divinity" (October 1981)</ref>

When the Forgotten Realms was published as a setting in 1987, the pantheon added Waukeen, the goddess of trade, money, and wealth, who was created by one of [[Jeff Grubb]]'s players, and added to the Forgotten Realms by Grubb.{{cn|date=March 2024}} Tyche was replaced with Tymora, and the elemental lords from Melniboné were replaced by Akadi, Grumbar, Istishia, and Kossuth.<ref name="FRCS1E">{{cite book | isbn =0-88038-472-7 | title = Forgotten Realms Campaign Set | author = [[Ed Greenwood]], [[Jeff Grubb]] and Karen S. Martin | year = 1987 | publisher = [[TSR, Inc.]]}}</ref>

Much of the history of the Forgotten Realms detailed in novels and source books concerns the actions of various deities and The Chosen (mortal representatives with a portion of their deities' power) such as [[Elminster]], Fzoul Chembryl, Midnight (who later became the new embodiment of the goddess of magic, [[Mystra (Forgotten Realms)|Mystra]]<ref name="APC"/>{{rp|140}}), and the Seven Sisters. Above all other deities is Ao, the Overlord, who does not sanction worshipers and distances himself from mortals. He is single-handedly responsible for the Time of Troubles, or Godswar, as seen in ''[[The Avatar Trilogy]]''.<ref>{{cite book | title=Shadowdale | last=Ciencin | first=Scott | author-link=Scott Ciencin | year=1989 | title-link=The Avatar Series}}</ref><ref name=Carbonell>{{cite book |last=Carbonell |first=Curtis D. |date=2019 |title=Dread Trident - Tabletop Role-playing Games and the Modern Fantastic |publisher=[[Liverpool University Press]] |pages=102-107 |chapter=Forgotten Realms |isbn=9781789620573}}</ref>

===Characters===
The setting is home to several noteworthy recurring characters that have gained wider reception, including:
* The Companions of the Hall, a group of adventurers that were created by [[R. A. Salvatore]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Maher|first=John|date=2018-09-04|title=R. A. Salvatore reflects on 30 years of writing Drizzt and an ever-changing fandom|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/4/17819182/ra-salvatore-timeless-new-drizzt-novel-interview|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2020-06-18|title=D&D's new action RPG, Dark Alliance, is about what happens after players roll for initiative|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/18/21294867/dark-alliance-action-rpg-r-a-salvatore-dungeons-and-dragons|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref> and introduced in ''[[The Crystal Shard]]'' (1988).<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Bricken|first=Rob|date=June 26, 2020|title=Dungeons & Dragons & Novels: Revisiting The Crystal Shard|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-novels-revisiting-the-crystal-sha-1844083723|access-date=2020-12-28|website=io9|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Jacob|first=Merle|title=To Be Continued: An Annotated Guide to Sequels|author2=Apple, Hope|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2000|isbn=157356155X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34974363|title=Magill's Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: Dream|publisher=Salem Press|others=Shippey, T. A., Sobczak, A. J.|year=1996|isbn=0-89356-906-2|volume=2|location=Pasadena, Calif.|pages=461|oclc=34974363}}</ref> Each of these characters "fit into an RPG [[archetype]]".<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|last=Hohl|first=Nate|date=December 23, 2019|title=Understanding the history behind Dark Alliance's cast of Forgotten Realms characters|url=https://gamecrate.com/understanding-history-behind-dark-alliance-s-cast-forgotten-realms-characters/24912|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Gamecrate|language=en}}</ref> They include:
** [[Drizzt Do'Urden]], a [[drow]], or dark elf, ranger who is the main character of 34 novels.<ref name=":7" /> Drizzt is noted for his commitment to friendship and peace, which is contrary to the stereotype of his people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/sojourn-the-legend-of-drizzt-book-3|title=Sojourn: The Legend of Drizzt Book 3|last=Welsh|first=Andrew|date=March 2006|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=2009-01-08}}</ref> Drizzt as a character is often used to represent issues of racial prejudice, particularly in ''The Dark Elf Trilogy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22501259_ITM|title=Salvatore, R. A. The Thousand Orcs|date=February 1, 2003|publisher=School Library Journal|access-date=2009-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Battis |first=Jes |date=2007 |title=Queer Spellings: Magic an Melancholy in Fantasy-Fiction |type=PhD |url=http://summit.sfu.ca/item/8288 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |page=46}}</ref> Drizzt is also troubled by the lifespan discrepancy between himself and his human romantic interest Catti-Brie.<ref name="PW">{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-24369568_ITM|title=The Lone Drow: the Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book II|date=September 1, 2003|publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]]|access-date=2009-01-09}}</ref>
** [[Wulfgar (Forgotten Realms)|Wulfgar]], a massive human barbarian;<ref name="TMBG">{{cite book|last=Bruske-Guth|first=Tanja Monique|title=Fantasy-Rollenspiele als Medienverbundangebote: 'Das Schwarze Auge' und 'Advanced Dungeons and Dragons'|date=2015|publisher=Diplomica|isbn=978-3-95934-799-0|location=Hamburg|pages=66, 69–70}}</ref> in ''The Crystal Shard'', Wulfgar's combat prowess is significant enough that along with Drizzt and his magic panther Guenhwyvar, they manage to "beat 25 giants by themselves".<ref name=":7" /> As a character, Wulfgar exemplifies "the strong, honest, hot-headed young warrior hero type common to adventure stories and similar to Howard's creation [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]]".<ref name=":02">{{cite thesis|last=Canavan|first=Aidan-Paul|date=April 2011|title=Looting the Dungeon: The Quest for the Genre Fantasy Mega-Text|url=http://fantasyliterature.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/99772099/looting%20the%20dungeon%20-%20canavan.pdf|pages=94–95|degree=|publisher=University of Liverpool|doi=}}</ref>
** Bruenor Battlehammer, a dwarven [[Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)|fighter]] who retakes Mithral Hall with the help of the other Companions<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 1, 2015|title=Developer Blog: Who's Who in Underdark? {{!}} Neverwinter|url=https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/9577473-developer-blog:-who%27s-who-in-underdark|access-date=2021-01-15|website=www.arcgames.com|language=en}}</ref> and becomes its king.<ref name=AA/>{{rp|202}} He was one of the first friends Drizzt made upon leaving the Underdark and both Catti-Brie and Wulfgar are his adopted children.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shippey|first=T. A.|url=https://archive.org/details/magillsguidetosc0000unse|title=Magill's Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature|publisher=Salem Press|year=1996|isbn=0-89356-906-2|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> Rob Bricken for ''[[io9]]'' highlighted Bruenor as "a dwarf that hits pretty much every fantasy stereotype, including his desire to reclaim an ancestral home that his people were chased out of after they dug too far and awakened a monster".<ref name=":7" />
** [[Catti-brie]], a human archer who would later develop abilities as a spellcaster;<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/33200976|title=What Do I Read Next?|publisher=Gale Research|others=Barron, Neil|year=1995|isbn=0-8103-9146-5|edition=6|location=Detroit, MI|pages=286|oclc=33200976}}</ref> in ''The Crystal Shard'', Drizzt referred to her as his soulmate.<ref name=":7" /> Catti-Brie is favored by Mielikki, a goddess associated with forests and nature spirits, and she bears the deity's mark. Bricken argued that her characterization in ''[[The Icewind Dale Trilogy]]'' is limited,<ref name=":7"/> while Aidan-Paul Canavan maintained that she becomes a "hero" only in later novels.<ref>{{cite thesis|last=Canavan|first=Aidan-Paul|date=April 2011|title=Looting the Dungeon: The Quest for the Genre Fantasy Mega-Text|url=http://fantasyliterature.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/99772099/looting%20the%20dungeon%20-%20canavan.pdf|pages=134–135|degree=|publisher=University of Liverpool}}</ref>
** Regis, a [[halfling]] member of the Companions, who behaves in the stereotypical manner of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[hobbit]]s. Bricken noted that Regis is a [[Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)|rogue]] who "set himself apart a bit by carrying a crystal pendant he can use to charm people", though he is sometimes forced into dangerous situations and "ends up saving the day, [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo-style]]", such as in the final battle of ''The Crystal Shard''.<ref name=":7" />
* [[Elminster]], a wizard also known as the Sage of Shadowdale;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2016-10-19|title=Dungeons & Dragons is changing how it makes books|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2016/10/19/13321200/dungeons-and-dragons-volos-guide-to-monsters-monster-manual-beholder-mind-flayer|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref> he is "a founding member of the Harpers and one of the oldest surviving and most powerful Chosen of Mystra".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heroes -- Elminster|url=https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/what-dd/heroes/elminster|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020064628/http://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/what-dd/heroes/elminster|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2014|access-date=2021-01-15|website=[[Wizards of the Coast]]}}</ref> The Harpers are a semi-secret organization; Jonathan Palmer, for ''Arcane'' magazine, called them "Laudable" and commented that they are "fighters for freedom and justice".<ref name="Arcane3">{{cite journal|last=Palmer|first=Jonathan|date=February 1996|title=The Great Library|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=3|pages=88}}</ref> Bricken described Elminster as "the most powerful, important, and smartest wizard in the Forgotten Realms, and one of the setting's most important characters [...] more [[Merlin]] than [[Gandalf]], which makes him less enigmatic and prone to tomfoolery than other major fantasy wizards, which I count as a good thing".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bricken|first=Rob|date=July 28, 2020|title=Dungeons & Dragons & Novels: Revisiting Azure Bonds|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-novels-revisiting-azure-bonds-1844460389|access-date=2020-12-28|website=io9|language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[Volothamp Geddarm]], a human adventurer who is famed within the setting [[Faerûn]] for the number of guidebooks he writes about the various regions within the Realms. The character's name is often attributed in real-world D&D publications as the in-universe narrator of said works.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/10/volos-guide-to-monsters.html|title=An Exclusive Preview of the New Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual Volo's Guide to Monsters|website=pastemagazine.com|date=24 October 2016|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref> Paul Pettengale from ''Arcane'' described him as "one of those characters that everyone's heard about, and one that just about every Dungeon Master must have been tempted to introduce to their campaign at some point or another".<ref name="Arcane13">{{cite journal|last= Pettengale|first=Paul|date= December 1996 |title=Games Reviews|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=13|pages=72}}</ref>
* Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, developed by Greenwood and game designer [[Steven Schend]], is a character noted for his appearances in several novels set in the Forgotten Realms,<ref name="APC"/><ref name="AS"/> as well as the 2004 [[video game]] ''[[Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone]]''.<ref name="Gamer">{{cite web | url=https://www.thegamer.com/sir-patrick-stewart-best-game-roles-ranked/ | author=Patrick Tierney | title=Sir Patrick Stewart's 10 Best Video Game Roles, Ranked | work=TheGamer | date=October 31, 2009 | access-date=March 21, 2021}}</ref> A powerful wizard renowned for his namesake staff, in earlier editions he is the Archmage of Waterdeep, leading member of the Harpers, and one of [[Mystra (Forgotten Realms)|Mystra]]'s Chosen.<ref name="APC"/> Prior to his death, Khelben passes the Blackstaff to his apprentice Tsarra,<ref name="AS"/> who takes up residence at Blackstaff Tower in Waterdeep and inherits his memories and legacy. Writer Aubrey Sherman said he is an example for the importance of a wand or staff behind the conception of a wizard archetype and listed the character among D&D's notable wizards.<ref name="Note">{{cite book |last=Sherman |first=Aubrey |date=2014-10-03 |title=Wizards: The Myths, Legends, and Lore |location=[[Avon, Massachusetts|Avon]] |publisher=[[Adams Media]] |chapter=Notable D&D Wizards |isbn=978-1440582882}}</ref><ref name="AS">{{cite book |last=Sherman |first=Aubrey |date=2014-10-03 |title=Wizards: The Myths, Legends, and Lore |location=[[Avon, Massachusetts|Avon]] |publisher=[[Adams Media]] |chapter=The Wand or Staff |isbn=978-1440582882}}</ref>
* {{vanchor|Jarlaxle}}, also a character by R. A. Salvatore, was introduced in the 1990 novel ''[[Exile (Forgotten Realms novel)|Exile]]''. He also appears in ''[[Promise of the Witch King]], [[Road of the Patriarch]]'' and ''[[The Pirate King]]'', as well as ''[[The Sellswords]]'' and the ''[[Paths of Darkness]]'' trilogies. Described by Christian Hoffer from ''Comicbook.com'' as a popular and intriguing supporting character,<ref name=Comic>{{Cite web|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=September 12, 2018|title=Dungeons & Dragons Hid Another Sean Connery Easter Egg in Latest Adventure |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-and-dragons-scarlet-marpenoth-red-october/|access-date=March 5, 2021|website=Comicbook.com|language=en-us}}</ref> Jarlaxle is the charismatic and opportunistic drow leader of the mercenary band [[Bregan D'aerthe]]. Anglistics scholar Caroline de Launay characterized Jarlaxle as an independent character inclined to "subtle manoeuvres",<ref name="CdL">{{cite thesis|last=de Launay|first=Caroline|date=April 2006|title=The Symbolical Functions of Space in Fantasy: Towards a Topography of the Genre|type=PhD|chapter=The Chessboard World: Alternations and Alternatives|pages=112–114|chapter-url=https://papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1866/17590/Launay_Caroline_de_2006_these.pdf?sequence=1|access-date=2021-01-27}}</ref> while Hoffer explained that he is an amoral villain who has "plenty of contingencies and secret plots".<ref name=Comic/> When comparing the plot of ''[[The Dark Elf Trilogy]]'' to a game of [[chess]], de Launay assigned Jarlaxle the role of the [[Knight (chess)|knight]].<ref name="CdL"/> Theo Kogod, for ''[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]'', wrote that Jarlaxle is "in many ways [...] a dark reflection of the heroic and honorable Drizzt. He used lies, manipulation and cunning to rise as high as a male Drow could within his culture, but in the end, he also left his home behind. [...] In ''[[Waterdeep: Dragon Heist]]'', Jarlaxle is trying to leverage himself to become accepted as a legitimate member of the Lords' Alliance. He is one of four possible main villains in the campaign".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kogod|first=Theo|date=2021-04-23|title=Dungeons & Dragons: How Drizzt Do'Urden's Greatest Enemy Made a Safe Community for LGBTQ+ Drow|url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-drizzt-dourden-jarlaxle-lgbtq-drow/|access-date=2021-04-23|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Artemis Entreri, a human assassin described by Bricken as "cold-blooded" and Drizzt's "equal in fighting and opposite in morality", a mirror image of how Drizzt would have ended up if he had remained part of the universally evil drow society instead of forsaking it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bricken|first=Rob|date=November 4, 2020|title=Dungeons & Dragons & Novels: Revisiting Streams of Silver|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-novels-revisiting-streams-of-silv-1845544031|access-date=2020-12-28|website=io9|language=en-us}}</ref>
* Gromph Baenre is [[Archmage]] of the city of [[Menzoberranzan]], the City of Spiders. Gromph is a rival in power to the other archmages of the Forgotten Realms, such as [[Elminster]] and Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun. In a review of the 1995 novel ''[[Daughter of the Drow]]'', Gideon Kibblewhite for ''Arcane'', called Gromph the "only interesting character" in the book, describing him as "the bitter and twisted archmage", and lamented that "he rarely makes an appearance after the opening".<ref name="Arcane1">{{cite journal|last=Kibblewhite|first=Gideon|date=December 1995|title=The Great Library|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=1|pages=80}}</ref>
* Liriel Baenre is the daughter of Gromph Baenre; she originally belonged to House Vandree before her talent for arcane spellcasting was discovered by Gromph.<ref>Colohan, Nick (2 April 2007). "'Daughter of the Drow' is a worthy read", ''[[The Capital]]'', p. C1.</ref> After being sent away to hone her magical talent rather than study as a priestess, Liriel uses a book given by her father to travel to the surface lands, where she encounters followers of the goddess [[Eilistraee]], the Dark Maiden of benevolent drow, comes to possess the magical artifact known as the Windwalker, and eventually settle down on the surface world permanently. Liriel was created by [[Elaine Cunningham]] for ''Daughter of the Drow'', and is described by Trenton Webb of ''Arcane'' as "the oddest Drow" due to her lack of traits deemed as stereotypical of her people.<ref name="Arcane9">{{cite journal|last= Webb|first= Trenton|date=August 1996|title=Games Reviews|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=9|pages=81}}</ref>
* Erevis Cale, first introduced in the short story "Another Name For Dawn" published in issue 277 of [[Dragon (magazine)|''Dragon'' magazine]], is a pivotal character in  novels by [[Paul S. Kemp]], including ''The Halls of Stormweather'', ''Shadows Witness'', the ''Erevis Cale Trilogy'', and ''The Twilight War'' trilogy. Originally a normal human, he accepts the gift of the Fane of Shadows in ''[[Twilight Falling]]'' and becomes a [[Shade (Dungeons & Dragons)|shade]]; being imbued with the essence of matter integral to the Plane of Shadow brings about drastic changes to his appearance and physiology. [[Don D'Ammassa]] described Erevis Cale as "a man tormented by questions of right and wrong".<ref name=Chronicle>D'Ammassa, Don (September 2006). "Whisper of Waves/Midnight's Mask/The Emerald Scepter/Guardian: Saviors of Kamizawa", ''[[DNA Publications|Chronicle]]'' '''28''' (3): 66.</ref>
* Alustriel Silverhand is the ruler of the city of Silverymoon in [[Faerûn#Northern regions|"The North"]] of the setting. Writing in 2000, ''Envoyer'' magazine reviewer Stylo counted her among the most prominent Forgotten Realms characters thanks to R.A. Salvatore's novels.<ref name=Envoyer41>{{cite journal |author=Stylo |date=March 2000 |title=Der Norden |journal=Envoyer |issue=41 |pages=11–13 |publisher=FZ Werbung Hannover |issn=1433-2892}}</ref>
* [[Szass Tam]] is a [[Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)|lich]] and leader of the [[Red Wizards of Thay]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2023-01-23 |title=D&D movie villain revealed and, no, it's not Vecna |url=https://www.polygon.com/23567509/dungeons-dragons-dnd-movie-villain-vecna-szass-tam |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucard |first=Alex |date=August 18, 2011 |title=Neverwinter Campaign Setting: New Monsters and NPCs |url=https://diehardgamefan.com/2011/08/18/neverwinter-campaign-setting-new-monsters-and-npcs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008020702/https://diehardgamefan.com/2011/08/18/neverwinter-campaign-setting-new-monsters-and-npcs/ |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Diehard GameFAN |language=en-US |quote=I love it now that my favorite Zulkir, Szass Tam has risen up, committed a massive genocide and turned the empire into a Necromantic dictatorship where the people have been replaced by the undead, both sentient and otherwise.}}</ref>