Lore Glossary

This appendix provides brief descriptions for many of the D&D game’s most
famous heroes, villains, creatures, locations, and materials. The entries are
presented in alphabetical order.

Acererak
Acererak (ah-SAIR-er-rack) is a powerful lich who travels between worlds and takes
pleasure in devouring the souls of adventurers, whom he lures into trap-ridden
dungeons to suffer horrible deaths. The most famous of such dungeons is the
Tomb of Horrors, hidden in the Vast Swamp in the Greyhawk setting (see
“Greyhawk Gazetteer” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide); another lies under the lost
city of Omu in the jungles of Chult in the Forgotten Realms setting (described in
the adventure Tomb of Annihilation).

Adamantine
Adamantine is one of the hardest substances in existence, a dark metal found in
meteorites and extraordinary mineral veins.

Alustriel Silverhand
Alustriel (ah-LOOSE-tree-ell) Silverhand is the second of seven daughters of
Mystra, a deity of magic in the Forgotten Realms. (Laeral Silverhand is Alustriel’s
younger sister.) She ruled the city of Silverymoon for centuries but stepped down
from that position a little over a century ago to promote goodness and compassion
in the multiverse. She has befriended adventurers such as Drizzt Do’Urden and
worked alongside the Harpers in pursuit of these aims.

Ashardalon
The terrible red dragon Ashardalon (ah-SHAR-duh-lawn) is legendary across the
multiverse for his rampages, which turned lush grasslands into ashen plains and
caused mighty citadels to be swallowed into the earth. As he grew aware of worlds
beyond his home, he recruited a balor demon named Ammet, the Eater of Souls, to
help him extend his reach and increase his power. When an adventurer dealt a
mortal blow to Ashardalon’s heart, the dragon replaced the injured organ with the
balor. Ashardalon’s features then took on a fiendish cast, and his eyes now glow
with demonic flame. A secretive cult of Ashardalon’s followers and spawn serves
him on the Material Plane, furthering the dragon’s schemes to attain godhood.
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga (BAH-bah YAH-gah) is an arch-hag known as the Mother of All Witches.
She is also the adoptive mother of Iggwilv. Baba Yaga is famous for her chicken-
legged hut, in which she travels across the planes of the multiverse. This
impatient, foul-tempered hag is a font of knowledge about all things magical.

Bahamut
Bahamut (ba-HA-mutt) is one of the primordial dragons who (along with Tiamat) is
said to have created the First World. For practical purposes, he is a god—ageless
and immortal—who has dwelled in Mount Celestia (see Cosmology) since the
destruction of the First World. In the Dragonlance setting, where he is called
Paladine (PAL-a-deen), he is the greatest of the gods of good. On other worlds, he
is revered as a god of justice and nobility and is favored by Paladins.

To metallic dragons, Bahamut is more like a king than a god. Individual dragons
might owe Bahamut allegiance, respect him, pay tribute to him, and strive to
emulate him, but they don’t worship him.

Baldur’s Gate
The city of Baldur’s Gate (BAWL-durz GATE), in the Forgotten Realms setting, is a
teeming metropolis haunted by the lingering influence of three evil gods (Bane,
Bhaal, and Myrkul) who refuse to stay dead. It’s a place where a sword for hire can
find a rich patron, join a secret guild, pursue killers for a bounty, or aid desperate
citizens. The city offers opportunities for good-hearted champions to fight against
corruption and bring murderers to justice, while less moral mercenaries find a good
price for their services. Baldur’s Gate hosts the most reliable and ruthless market
on the Sword Coast. Information, treasures, secrets, and souls can be bought or
sold for the right price.

Barovia
Barovia (buh-ROVE-ee-ah) is a Domain of Dread sequestered in the Shadowfell
(see Cosmology)—a sort of spiritual prison for Strahd von Zarovich in his Castle
Ravenloft. It’s also the name of a village in that domain.
Bigby
Bigby (BIG-bee) is a former apprentice of Mordenkainen. Though he began his
career determined to use magic to dominate and control others, Bigby eventually
changed his ways and has worked hard to make amends for his past villainy.
Mordenkainen welcomed Bigby into the adventuring company known as the
Citadel of Eight (which later became the Circle of Eight, described in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide). Shy and soft-spoken, Bigby was often eclipsed by his mentor, who
taught Bigby how to control his ambitions. After years of adventuring, Bigby
crafted a handful of spells that gained him widespread renown. Of these spells,
Bigby’s Hand is his undisputed magnum opus.

A recent misadventure led to Bigby’s untimely demise. After he was crushed to

death by a frost giant’s boulder, Bigby was the target of a Reincarnate spell. The
spell transformed Bigby from a human into a gnome. Before setting off on his next
adventure, Bigby was overheard saying how curious he was to experience the
multiverse from a gnome’s perspective.

Boo
Boo is a hamster. More precisely, he is a miniature giant space hamster, a species
native to Wildspace (see Cosmology) that is both sapient and telepathic. Boo’s
adventures with Minsc, as well as the hamster’s ferocity, have given Boo legendary
status, particularly in the city of Baldur’s Gate.

Castle Ravenloft
Castle Ravenloft (RAY-ven-loft) is the heart of the domain of Barovia and the home
of the vampire Strahd von Zarovich. Ravenloft is also one of the most famous
dungeon adventures in the history of the D&D game, providing a horror-themed
experience that inspired the creation of the Ravenloft setting and the adventure
Curse of Strahd.

Companions of the Hall, The

Named for the dwarf stronghold of Mithral Hall in the Forgotten Realms setting, the
Companions of the Hall is a group of heroic adventurers whose exploits have
spanned centuries and even crossed the bounds of death. Drizzt Do’Urden is the
central figure in this party; all his companions have died and been reincarnated in
new forms in recent years. These other companions are Drizzt’s wife, Cattie-Brie;
his adoptive father, Bruenor Battlehammer; and his friends Wulfgar and Regis.
Company of Seven, The
The Company of Seven was a group of adventurers active hundreds of years ago in
the Greyhawk setting. Its members included Heward, Keoghtom, Murlynd, Nolzur,
Quaal, Tasha (see Iggwilv), and Zagig (see Zagyg). Some of these adventurers
achieved near-divine status, and most of them are remembered for magic items
that carry their names. The group inspired the formation of the Circle of Eight
(described in the Dungeon Master’s Guide).

Corellon
At the dawn of the multiverse, Corellon (core-ELL-on or CORE-eh-lawn) danced
from world to world and plane to plane. A being of consummate mutability and
infinite grace, Corellon is a whimsical shape-shifter, able to take the form of a
chuckling stream, a teasing breeze, an incandescent beam, a school of fish, or a
flock of birds. Corellon’s flamboyant, mercurial personality infuses every form the
god adopts. Corellon loves wholeheartedly and takes pleasure from every
encounter with other divine beings of the multiverse.

According to legend, the first elves emerged from Corellon’s shed blood, and they
shared the god’s changeable and audacious nature. Many elves, along with
members of other species, worship Corellon.

Delina
Delina (dell-EEN-ah) is a young elf Sorcerer who wields the unpredictable power of
wild magic. Finding herself in trouble in the city of Baldur’s Gate, she accidentally
reawakened the ancient hero of the city, Minsc, and got thrown into further
adventures pursuing her lost twin brother.

Diancastra
Diancastra (DIE-ann-CAST-rah) is a demigod and a daughter of the divine ancestor
of giants, Annam. She is a trickster, an adventurer, and a scholar of magic who
enjoys wandering the Material Plane in search of new curiosities and spells to
learn. She longs to see the descendants of Annam—storm, cloud, fire, frost, stone,
and hill giants—restored to the position of honor and respect they held in ancient
times.

Drizzt Do’Urden
Drizzt Do’Urden (DRIZT doh-UR-den) is a drow exile from the city of
Menzoberranzan and a fugitive from the wrath of Lolth (see Cosmology) and her
priests. He wandered the surface world and gathered a circle of friends who
became known as the Companions of the Hall.

Elder Evils
The Elder Evils are a variety of entities whose existence dates to the beginnings of
the multiverse—or possibly predates it. Some Elder Evils are creatures of the Far
Realm (see Cosmology), while others are akin to gods or primordial beings of the
Elemental Planes. Some are thought to be imprisoned, while others are said to be
slumbering until they awaken in some apocalyptic cataclysm.

The names given to these terrible entities include such strange descriptions as
Atropus, the World Born Dead; Dendar, the Night Serpent; Hadar, the Dark Hunger;
Haemnathuun, the Blood Lord; Ityak-Ortheel, the Elf-Eater; Kezef, the Chaos
Hound; Kyuss, the Worm That Walks; the Queen of Chaos; Tharizdun, the Chained
God; Tyranthraxus, the Flamed One; and Zargon, the Returner. They are all forces
of corruption and evil. Nothing good can come from their influence. Bargains made
with them end in catastrophe or death.

Elminster
Elminster (el-MIN-ster) is a powerful and ancient archmage in the Forgotten
Realms setting. As one of Mystra’s Chosen, divinely called and empowered by a
deity of magic, Elminster fosters magic and protects the fabric of magic in the
world. Though this responsibility demands a certain amount of neutrality and
dispassionate judgment, Elminster has a fundamentally kind and compassionate
heart.

Euryale
One card in the Deck of Many Things (see Magic Items A–Z) bears a person’s
proper name, and the card’s namesake, Euryale (YUR-ee-ale or yur-EYE-a-lee), is
the subject of much speculation. Often assumed to be a fearsome demigod
(perhaps the first medusa) or the wielder of a destructive curse, Euryale is actually
a key part of the story of the magical deck’s creation. After befriending a princess
named Asteria and spending many years in her dear friend’s company, Euryale
was captured and sentenced to death by Asteria’s father. Asteria pleaded with the
gods to save her friend, and Istus (a god from the Greyhawk setting; see the
Dungeon Master’s Guide) intervened to help the pair rewrite their story, creating
the Deck of Many Things. The magic of the deck helped the two escape, and they
adventured together across the multiverse. Eventually, Euryale—having become
an ancient, wise, and powerful Druid—settled in the Outlands (see Cosmology),
where she still sometimes acts as a patron, mentor, or ally for adventurers.
Fallbacks, The
Tessalynde is a young elf Rogue who dreams of leading the foremost adventuring
party of the Forgotten Realms setting. While the crew she’s gathered isn’t the stuff
of legend yet, she’s confident her guidance can get them there. Called the
Fallbacks, the team includes Anson, a human Fighter too stubborn to stay down;
Cazrin, a self-taught, human Wizard determined to test her theoretical mettle
against the real world; Baldric, a dwarf Cleric who refuses to tie himself to a single
deity when he can trade favors with them all; Lark, a tiefling Bard with as many
secrets as songs; and Uggie, a pet otyugh.

First World, The

Scholars speak of a primordial state, a single reality they call the First World, which
preceded the Material Plane. Many of the peoples and monsters that inhabit the
worlds on the Material Plane originated there. After the First World was shattered
by a great cataclysm—giving birth to the worlds that came in its wake—the
progeny of the first elves, dwarves, beholders, and other iconic creatures took root
on world after world, like seeds scattered by a cosmic wind. If the musings of these
great sages are true, every world of the Material Plane is a reflection—or, in some
cases, a distortion—of the First World.

Fizban
In the Dragonlance setting, Bahamut—who is known there as Paladine—dwelled
among mortals in human guise for a time, aiding the forces of good against
Takhisis (see Tiamat). He appeared as a bumbling old mage named Fizban (FIZZ-
ban) the Fabulous.

Great Modron March, The

When the gears of the plane of Mechanus (see Cosmology) complete seventeen
cycles—once every 289 years—the modron (MOE-dron) leader, Primus, sends a
vast army of modrons across the Outer Planes. The purpose of this march is
unclear. Most believe it to be a data-gathering mission meant to ascertain the
current state of the cosmos, but some see it as reconnaissance aimed at some
future act of conquest. The march is long and dangerous, and only a small number
of modrons returns to Mechanus.
Gruumsh
Gruumsh (GROOMSH) is a warring god who is often described as the creator or
patron of the orc people. Some orcs attribute their tenacity and toughness to
Gruumsh’s lingering influence. Some myths describe a primeval conflict between
Gruumsh and Corellon, which resulted in Gruumsh losing one eye and Corellon’s
spilled blood becoming the first elves.

Hadar
Hadar (HAY-dar or ha-DARR), the Dark Hunger, is an ancient stellar entity
originating from the Far Realm (see Cosmology). It appears as a cinder-red dying
star, barely visible in the night sky, and it siphons life from its minions to avert its
own demise. Two widely used Warlock spells invoke Hadar’s power (see the Arms
of Hadar and Hunger of Hadar spells in the Player’s Handbook), and a few Warlocks
claim this Elder Evil as their Great Old One patron.

Harpers, The
The Harpers is a scattered network of spellcasters and spies in the Forgotten
Realms setting. Its members advocate equality and covertly oppose the abuse of
power, magical or otherwise.

The Harpers has risen, been shattered, and risen again several times. The faction’s
longevity and resilience are largely due to its decentralized, grassroots, secretive
nature and the autonomy of its members. It has small cells and lone operatives
throughout the Forgotten Realms, although they interact and share information
with one another as the need arises. The Harpers’ ideology is noble, and members
pride themselves on their ingenuity and incorruptibility. Harpers don’t seek power
or glory, only fair treatment for all.

Heroes of the Lance, The

The adventurers known as the Heroes of the Lance, whose deeds helped prevent
Takhisis (see Tiamat) and her evil dragons from conquering the world of the
Dragonlance setting, began as a small group of young adventurers and their aging
dwarf mentor. This original group (known as the Innfellows) consisted of Tanis Half-
Elven, the brothers Raistlin and Caramon Majere, Sturm Brightblade, a kender
(similar to a halfling) named Tasslehoff Burrfoot, the dwarf Flint Fireforge, and
Kitiara Uth Matar, Raistlin and Caramon’s older half-sister. While Kitiara eventually
joined Takhisis’s service, the heroes were joined by others: Riverwind and
Goldmoon, from the nomadic peoples of the plains; Gilthanas and Laurana, elf
friends from Tanis’s childhood; and Tika Waylan, a young barmaid whom the
original Innfellows remembered as just a kid.

Heroes of the Realm, The

The so-called “heroes of the Realm” are a group of young adventurers—Bobby,
Diana, Eric, Hank, Presto, and Sheila—who traveled from Earth in the 1980s into a
world in the D&D multiverse. Equipped with powerful magic items, they foiled the
schemes of foes such as Venger and Tiamat while seeking some means to return
home. Eventually, as the heroes’ mastery of adventuring skills increased, they
discovered the secrets of traveling between worlds, though they still haven’t found
a way home.

The heroes of the Realm weren’t the only kids transported from Earth to the worlds
of D&D. Other young adventurers, including Niko the Cleric, are still exploring the
vast D&D multiverse.

Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale is the northernmost settled region of the Forgotten Realms setting.
Freezing wind sweeps across the tundra, finding its way through every crack and
draining any hint of warmth. Between the ice cliffs of the eastern glacier, the
snowcapped peaks of the mountains to the south, and the Sea of Moving Ice to the
north and west, ten small towns cluster around three icy lakes.

Iggwilv
Before she changed her name and conquered enough of Eastern Oerik (the
Greyhawk setting) to rightfully call herself the Witch Queen of Perrenland, Iggwilv
(IGG-wilv) was known as Tasha, a human mage who began her career as the
apprentice of Zagig Yragerne (see Zagyg). Later, as an adventurer, she created
several new spells, including Tasha’s Hideous Laughter and Tasha’s Bubbling
Cauldron, leaning on the teachings of her adoptive mother, the arch-hag Baba
Yaga. As Tasha grew in power and made powerful enemies, she changed her name
to Iggwilv. In this guise, she became enchanted with the power of the Abyss and
wrote the definitive treatise on demonkind: the Demonomicon of Iggwilv (see the
Dungeon Master’s Guide). She also bound and trapped the demon lord Graz’zt (see
Cosmology).

Iggwilv ruled Perrenland as a tyrant. When Graz’zt escaped his magical prison,
Iggwilv went into hiding. Iggwilv’s current location is unknown, but she left behind
a cambion son (Iuz), who has his mother’s tyrannical bent, and a daughter
(Drelnza), who is now a vampire and lairs in the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (see
“Greyhawk Gazetteer” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide), not far from her mother’s
old haunts.
Iuz
Iuz (EYE-ooze or eye-OOZE) is a cambion and the son of Iggwilv and Graz’zt (see
Cosmology). He is every bit as evil as his father and as bent on conquest as his
mother at her very worst. He rules a significant portion of Eastern Oerik (in the
Greyhawk setting), and some fear that he aspires to conquer even more territory.
See “Greyhawk’s Premise” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

Jallarzi Sallavarian
The youngest and most recently appointed member of the Circle of Eight (see the
Dungeon Master’s Guide), Jallarzi Sallavarian (juh-LAR-zee sal-ah-VAIR-ee-en) is a
Warlock with a celestial patron. She is more inclined toward good than the more
neutral members of the Circle of Eight and enjoys wandering the Free City of
Greyhawk (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide) in disguise, monitoring sinister
elements of society there.

Kas the Betrayer

Kas (KOSS) is a vampire, legendary swordfighter, and ruthless warlord. He once
served as the leader of Vecna’s armies and the lich’s most trusted lieutenant, and
he wielded a sword made for him (the Sword of Kas, described in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide) by his liege. But the evil sword convinced Kas to betray Vecna, and
now Kas is driven primarily by his hatred for his former lord.

Keraptis
According to legend, Keraptis (kuh-RAP-tiss) was an evil archmage who long ago
seized power as a petty tyrant somewhere in the northern mountains of the
Greyhawk setting. When his demands on the local populace became too extreme,
a revolt drove him into hiding. He disappeared into the tunnels beneath White
Plume Mountain (see “Greyhawk’s Premise” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide). It’s
conceivable that he became a lich as the grim climax of his magical research.

Kyuss
Variously identified as an Elder Evil, as a demigod, or as a mortal priest of the
demon lord Orcus (see Cosmology), Kyuss (KYE-uss) is a mysterious figure best
known as the Worm That Walks. Kyuss manifests on the Material Plane as a
colossal mass of maggots and worms animated by a single evil will.
Laeral Silverhand
Laeral (LAIR-ull) Silverhand is the fifth of seven daughters of Mystra, a deity of
magic in the Forgotten Realms setting. (Alustriel Silverhand is Laeral’s older sister.)
She is over 700 years old, and after a period of withdrawal from public life, she
now serves as the Open Lord of Waterdeep—the only one of the twenty or so Lords
of Waterdeep whose identity is publicly known. Though her power has waxed and
waned depending on Mystra’s involvement with the world and has declined
significantly in recent years, Laeral remains one of the most formidable
spellcasters in a world known for powerful spellcasters.

League of Malevolence, The

The League of Malevolence is an odious assemblage of villains united in one
purpose: the accumulation of power. Its founding member, Kelek the Sorcerer,
expects his confederates to work together for their mutual benefit, but he also
encourages them to pursue their own evil schemes. Other members include the
remorseless killer for hire Warduke, the assassin Zarak, and the evil Zargash, a
servant of Orcus. Skylla, a Warlock whose power derives from a pact with Baba
Yaga, maintains a tenuous alliance with the league but despises Kelek.

Lord Soth
Lord Soth is a death knight in the Dragonlance setting—a former Paladin who
allowed his pride to lead him into evil. Offered an opportunity to redeem himself by
averting a cataclysmic event, his pride again led him to abandon his quest and
allow the devastation of his world. His mortal life ended in that cataclysm, but he
rose from the ashes into undeath and retreated to his cursed castle, Dargaard
Keep. He ignored the outside world for many centuries until the Dragon Queen
Takhisis (see Tiamat) called him forth to serve her in the War of the Lance.

Menzoberranzan
The Underdark city of Menzoberranzan (men-zoh-buh-RAN-zan), lying far beneath
the Sword Coast region of the Forgotten Realms, is ruled by tyrannical priests of
the Demon Queen of Spiders, Lolth (see Cosmology). Most of its people are drow,
whose noble houses are locked in a constant struggle for Lolth’s favor and the
power that comes with it.

Minsc
Minsc (MINSK) is a heroic Ranger from the land of Rashemen in the Forgotten
Realms setting. Known for his good cheer, his hearty optimism, and his pet
miniature giant space hamster, Boo, Minsc is particularly adored in the city of
Baldur’s Gate.
Mithral
Mithral (MITH-ral) is a light, flexible metal that resembles silver but is much more
durable. Its most common use is for crafting lightweight armor that provides
excellent protection without bulk or burden.

Moradin
Myths told on many worlds describe Moradin (MORE-ah-din) crafting all the peoples
of the Material Plane in his great workshop in Mount Celestia (see Cosmology),
causing them to spring to life from inert metal when he cooled the heated castings
with his breath. These myths are the source of Moradin’s appellation, “All-Father.”
Many peoples across the multiverse, including many dwarves, worship Moradin.

Mordenkainen
Mordenkainen (mor-den-KIGH-nen or mor-den-KAY-nen) is a human archmage who
maintains a residence in the Free City of Greyhawk and another hidden
somewhere in the Yatil Mountains between Perrenland and Ket (see the Dungeon
Master’s Guide). He is the founder and leader of the Circle of Eight, which he
created to implement his philosophy of balance in the world. Among
Mordenkainen’s celebrated accomplishments are several name-branded spells,
including ones that create extradimensional mansions, swords of spectral force,
and phantom watchdogs (detailed in the Player’s Handbook).

Mordenkainen has visited numerous worlds and planes of existence, making

friends and fomenting rivalries on many of them. He maintains a close friendship
with his former apprentice Bigby and the famous archmage Elminster of
Shadowdale. Mordenkainen’s greatest rival is Iggwilv, a former adventuring
companion.

Neverwinter
Once known in the Forgotten Realms setting as the Jewel of the North, the city of
Neverwinter was badly damaged when a nearby volcano erupted about fifty years
ago. Now, its people work furiously to rebuild. Some of its outer walls still lie in
ruins, and several of its neighborhoods remain abandoned.

Dagult Neverember is the Lord Protector of Neverwinter, ruling in the absence of a

true heir to the crown. His dream is to see Neverwinter eclipse nearby Waterdeep
in wealth and prosperity.
Otiluke
Otiluke (AW-teh-luke) is an impulsive, aggressive Wizard who is the main agent of
the Circle of Eight in the Free City of Greyhawk (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
He holds a position of political power and keeps his membership in the Circle of
Eight secret. He is best known for his spells that create magical spheres (detailed
in the Player’s Handbook).

Otto
Otto (AW-toe) is an affable dwarf Bard with a taste for fine food, good music, and
expensively tailored clothes. His sociable and outgoing personality masks the fact
that he’s also a member of the Circle of Eight (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide)
and committed to the goals of that organization. He is well-known across the
multiverse for his creation of the Otto’s Irresistible Dance spell.

Phandalin
The frontier town of Phandalin (FAN-duh-lin or fan-DAY-lin) in the Sword Coast
region of the Forgotten Realms setting is built on the ruins of a much older
settlement. Hundreds of years ago, old Phandalin was a thriving town until it was
sacked by bandits and lay abandoned for centuries.

In the past few years, hardy folk from the cities of Neverwinter and Waterdeep
have begun settling atop the ruins of old Phandalin. It’s now home to farmers,
woodcutters, fur traders, and prospectors drawn by stories of gold and platinum in
the foothills of the Sword Mountains—as well as more than a few ruffians and
bandits.

Prince of Frost, The

The Prince of Frost is a son of Titania, the Summer Queen. He was once known as
the Sun Prince, but his heart grew cold when he was spurned by the fey noble he
loved. He is now a creature of wrath and winter, ruling from his Fortress of Frozen
Tears in the Vale of Long Night in the Feywild (see Cosmology). He detests mortals
of the Material Plane and dreams of covering their many worlds with perpetual
winter.
Queen of Air and Darkness, The
The mysterious Queen of Air and Darkness is the archfey ruler of the Gloaming
Court in the Feywild (see Cosmology). Though she is often described as malicious
and evil, her motivations are as obscure and whimsical as any other archfey’s. She
gives supernatural boons and terrible curses with equal whimsy, with little regard
for the elaborate customs surrounding gifts and favors in other courts of the
Feywild. Though she is said to have a spectral form resembling a terrifying elf, to
the unaided eye she appears as a strange, black diamond, hovering in the air like
the slitted pupil of an unseen cat.

Raven Queen, The

The Raven Queen is a being of mystery. Those who claim to have encountered her
have described an array of disturbing images: a terrible shadow that clawed at
their innermost thoughts, a pale and regal elf who exploded into an untold number
of ravens, a shambling tangle of slick roots and sticks that overwhelmed them with
dread, or an unknown presence that pulled them screaming into the gloom.

Despite all attempts to demystify her, the Raven Queen has remained enigmatic
and aloof. She rules from her Raven Throne within the Fortress of Memories, a
mazelike castle deep within the bleakness of the Shadowfell (see Cosmology).
From there she sends out her raven servants to find interesting souls she can pluck
from the planes of existence. Once these souls are in the Shadowfell, she watches
as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their being.

Rock of Bral, The

Bral is a city built on an asteroid that drifts through Wildspace (see Cosmology). Its
inhabitants, who hail from many worlds across the Material Plane, typically refer to
Bral as the Rock. There is no other place quite like it in Wildspace—a teeming hive
of business that spans the breadth of the Astral Sea.

Bral is populated by an outlandish collection of traders, scoundrels, mercenaries,

pirates, nobles, and entrepreneurs. Generally, law enforcement is sporadic, which
means that order is elusive. Most folks who call the Rock home adhere to two
principles: mind your own business whenever possible, and enough gold can fix
anything.
Rudolph van Richten
A scholar and monster hunter, Rudolph van Richten has traveled to dozens of
Domains of Dread in the Shadowfell (see Cosmology), investigating reports of
monstrous beings and documenting them in a series of published guides, the best
known of which is Van Richten’s Guide to Vampires.

In kinder days, Rudolph lived with his wife, Ingrid, and son, Erasmus, but he lost
them both to a wicked vampire. In the process of hunting the vampire, Rudolph
came under a terrible curse: “Live you always among monsters, and see everyone
you love die beneath their claws.”

In the decades since, van Richten has hunted monsters and armed others with the
knowledge they need to confront evil. Though he’s made many devoted allies, he
keeps them at arm’s length, fearing the threat of his curse.

Van Richten is closely associated with other heroes who prowl the Domains of
Dread, including the detective Alanik Ray and his partner Arthur Sedgwick, the
explorer Ez d’Avenir, and the twins Gennifer and Laurie Weathermay-Foxgrove.

Strahd von Zarovich

A brilliant thinker and capable warrior in life, Strahd von Zarovich (STRAWD von
zuh-ROH-vitch or ZAR-oh-vitch) fought in countless battles for his people. After a
long life of warfare and slaughter, he settled in the remote valley of Barovia and
built a castle on a towering pinnacle. His brother Sergei came to live with him in
Castle Ravenloft, becoming Strahd’s adviser and constant companion.

In his brother, Strahd saw everything he was not. Resentment colored their
relationship and eventually turned into hatred. Strahd’s beloved, Tatyana, spurned
Strahd for Sergei, whom she pledged to marry.

In a desperate attempt to regain Tatyana’s love, Strahd forged a pact with dark
powers that made him immortal. Strahd confronted his brother at Sergei and
Tatyana’s wedding and killed him. Tatyana fled and flung herself from Ravenloft’s
walls. Guards shot Strahd with arrows, but he didn’t die. He became a vampire—
the first vampire, according to many sages.

In the centuries since his transformation, Strahd’s lust for life has grown. He
broods in his castle, cursing the living for all he has lost and never admitting to his
role in the tragedy.
Summer Queen, The
Titania, the Summer Queen, is the regal and charismatic ruler of the Summer Court
in the Feywild (see Cosmology). Perhaps the mightiest of the archfey, she can
ripen a crop with a smile and summon wildfires with the merest crinkling of her
brow.

Sword Coast, The

The Sword Coast is the western edge of the continent of the Forgotten Realms
setting, running along the Sea of Swords. It’s a narrow band of territory dominated
by several major city-states, from Neverwinter in the north to Baldur’s Gate in the
south, with Waterdeep in between.

Szass Tam
Szass Tam (ZASS TAM) is a powerful lich and necromancer in the Forgotten Realms
setting. As leader of the Red Wizards of Thay, he has countless spies, assassins,
and other agents at his service, and his schemes span centuries and reach to the
ends of the world.

Tasha
See Iggwilv.

Tharizdun
For a being known as the Chained God, the Elder Evil Tharizdun (thuh-RIZZ-dun or
thair-izz-DOON) has managed to extend his baleful influence from the Greyhawk
setting through many worlds of the Material Plane. He is an ancient force of
entropy, the end of all things and the extinction of life. His worshipers are nihilists
who seek to end all worlds by liberating their god. Tharizdun is often linked to cults
of Elemental Evil (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide).

Tiamat
Tiamat (TEE-a-mat) is one of the primordial dragons who (along with Bahamut) is
said to have created the First World. Since the destruction of the First World, she
has made her home in the Nine Hells (see Cosmology), where she is served by
devils and enjoys the worship of mortals across the multiverse. In the Dragonlance
setting, where she is known as Takhisis (ta-KEE-sis), she is the greatest of the gods
of evil. On many worlds, she is known as a god of greed, wealth, and vengeance.

Chromatic dragons might fear, respect, envy, and appease Tiamat as a sovereign,
but they don’t worship her. Their devotion to her rarely supersedes their devotion
to their own goals.
Underdark, The
The Underdark is a vast subterranean realm of natural caverns and passages
extending far beneath the surface of most D&D worlds. Many creatures inhabit the
Underdark, including drow, duergar, svirfneblin, and other species that have
adapted to the world below the surface.

Undermountain
Undermountain is the largest, deepest dungeon in the Forgotten Realms setting.
It’s a series of interconnected dungeon levels sprawling far beneath the city of
Waterdeep. Its tunnels connect to preexisting mithral mines and natural caverns of
the Underdark. The best-known entrance to Undermountain is through the Yawning
Portal tavern in Waterdeep, but other routes also exist. A reclusive and
cantankerous archmage named Halaster Blackcloak claims Undermountain as his
domain, although his overlordship isn’t widely acknowledged by the dungeon’s
other denizens.

Vajra Safahr
Vajra Safahr (VAWJ-rah sah-FAR) is a human Wizard in her midthirties, making her
the youngest person ever to hold the position of Blackstaff—the chief mage of
Waterdeep and the head of Blackstaff Academy, a school for mages. Several of the
older and more seasoned mages of Waterdeep consider Vajra an upstart, but they
are smart enough not to challenge her. As the badge of her office, she carries the
Blackstaff, an Artifact that holds the spirits of all her predecessors.

Valor’s Call
The noble adventuring party known as Valor’s Call was founded by Strongheart, a
resolute human Paladin committed to destroying evil wherever it rears its head.
Strongheart alone determines who can become a member of this prestigious
group, and he is always looking for courageous heroes willing to devote
themselves to a good cause.

Only good-aligned characters can join Valor’s Call. The group enjoys the patronage
of Yolande, the queen of Celene, and carries out missions on her behalf both in the
Greyhawk setting (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide) and in the Feywild (see
Cosmology).

Prominent members of Valor’s Call include the dwarf Fighter Elkhorn, the human
Cleric Mercion, the human Rogue Molliver, and the human Wizard Ringlerun.
Vecna
Vecna (VECK-nah) had humble beginnings in the Greyhawk setting, where an order
of Wizards used him as a bootblack and scribe. He studied magic in secret until he
amassed enough power to slaughter the order, and then he turned his efforts
toward scribing the Book of Vile Darkness (described in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide). Armed with that dread tome, he forged a kingdom to rule, with the
vampire Kas as his lieutenant. But Kas betrayed and killed him, leaving only one
hand and one eye intact (the Eye and Hand of Vecna are described in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide).

Vecna’s evil will was so great that he persisted beyond death and eventually
became a demigod of secrets and evil magic. His ambition drives him to pursue
greater divine power across the multiverse.

Venger
Venger (VEN-jur) was once both human and good-hearted, but some fiendish force
transformed him into a winged, one-horned villain. His schemes have spanned
centuries and worlds, as he seeks to seize ever-increasing magical power. He has a
particular loathing for Tiamat and longs to overthrow her. He is often seen astride
a flying black steed, his shadowy adviser in tow.

Vi
Vi (VYE) is a gnome artificer, entrepreneur, and traveler of many worlds who
originally hails from Eberron. After helping to create terribly destructive weapons
during the Last War, Vi sought to atone for this guilt by establishing the Fixers, an
organization dedicated to solving apparently hopeless problems. From the Fixers’
headquarters in Sigil, Vi has brought her genius, warm heart, and love for a stiff
drink to many worlds across the multiverse.

Vlaakith
Vlaakith (VLAH-kith) is the lich-queen of the githyanki city of Tu’narath, adrift in
the Astral Plane (see Cosmology). She is ancient, having fought alongside a leader
named Gith to win her people’s freedom from the mind flayers that enslaved them.
Githyanki of Tu’narath swear unquestioning obedience to the lich-queen, and she
promises access to paradise to those who serve her loyally. In truth, she feasts on
the souls of any subjects who grow powerful enough to dream of challenging her.
Waterdeep
Waterdeep is the most famous and cosmopolitan city in the Forgotten Realms
setting. It’s a center of wealth and influence where people come to make their
dreams come true. The city is home to the Yawning Portal, the best-known point of
access to the sprawling dungeon of Undermountain.

Xanathar
Xanathar (ZAN-a-thar) is an eccentric beholder crime lord dwelling beneath
Waterdeep. Desiring to know all there is to know, Xanathar collects knowledge
from across the multiverse, but its most prized possession is its goldfish, Sylgar.

Yawning Portal, The

The Yawning Portal is a tavern in Waterdeep, built around an entrance to the
infamous dungeon of Undermountain. Adventurers throughout the Forgotten
Realms setting and elsewhere in the multiverse visit the Yawning Portal to
exchange knowledge about Undermountain and other dungeons. Most visitors are
content to swap stories by the hearth, but some adventurers pay the toll for entry
into Undermountain (collected by the mysterious owner and bartender, Durnan).

Yolande
Yolande (yoh-LAWND), known as the Faerie Queen, is the benevolent and beloved
elf monarch of Celene (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide). Raised in the court of the
Summer Queen, Yolande had no wish to rule. She preferred the life of an
adventuring magic-user. She built her reputation on triumphs, such as her capture
of the fomorian brigand Solgna and the theft of the Prince of Frost’s sentient
sword, Winterflash. Yolande was among the first elves to migrate from the Feywild
to the Greyhawk setting.

Zagyg
The archmage Zagig Yragerne (ZAG-igg EE-rag-airn) was an adventurer in the
Greyhawk setting and a member of the Company of Seven. At the climax of a long
and prosperous adventuring career, he built a fortress known as Castle Greyhawk
outside the Free City of Greyhawk (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide). From this
stronghold, he took an increasingly powerful role in the politics of the city,
contributing to its reputation as “the Gem of the Flanaess.” He obsessively delved
deeper under his castle and withdrew from the outside world until he managed to
entrap nine demigods in magical prisons and claim a fragment of their divine
power. He ascended to a minor form of godhood, took the name Zagyg, and took a
place in the court of Boccob, a god of magic.

Zargon
Zargon (ZAR-gawn) is an Elder Evil—an undying abomination from eons past with
an insatiable appetite. A tentacled, slime-covered horror with a cyclopic red eye
and an indestructible horn, Zargon corrupts creatures it doesn’t devour,
transforming its victims into amorphous servants. Zargon is imprisoned on the
Material Plane in a prison deep in the earth. This prison is described in the Quests
from the Infinite Staircase adventure anthology.