Across the wind-swept hills of the Dalelands, through the bustling streets of Waterdeep, and echoing in the shadowed halls of ancient dwarven strongholds, tales spread of heroes who've shaped the fate of Faerûn. These heroes have battled dragons, delved into dungeons, and defied evil gods—and with the help of the Forgotten Realms Ultimate Bundle, you too can craft a hero worthy of a name in the hallowed halls of Faerûn's legends.
In this article, we'll explore some of the most iconic heroes of the Realms, who you may hear tales of—or come face-to-face with—in your own adventures!
- Alustriel Silverhand
- Bruenor Battlehammer
- Drizzt Do'Urden
- Elminster
- Laeral Silverhand
- Minsc and Boo
- Vajra Safahr
- Volo
![]() Alustriel SilverhandAlustriel Silverhand is a shining paragon of arcane power, graceful benevolence, and diplomatic might. As one of Mystra's Chosen and a daughter of the goddess herself, Alustriel is deeply devoted to safeguarding the Weave—the living essence of magic woven through Toril. She believes the Weave responds to acts of mercy and compassion, empowers those who strive to protect others, and strengthens those who rise to challenge injustice and fight evil. Alustriel was once the ruler of Silverymoon and led the League of the Silver Marches—an alliance of northern cities forged against those who would endanger the balance of civilization and nature in the area. She now traverses the multiverse to defeat evil wherever it rears up, like when Vecna tried to reshape the multiverse in Vecna: Eve of Ruin. |
![]() Bruenor BattlehammerBruenor Battlehammer is a battle-worn dwarf king whose tough grit gives way to a full heart. Stubborn, stout, and bold beyond measure, Bruenor reclaimed his home of Mithral Hall from the shadow dragon Shimmergloom, reigned as its king across three separate eras, and wielded his notched axe in defense of dwarvenkind time and time again. He was also a founding member of the Companions of the Hall, the adoptive father of Catti-brie and Wulfgar, fast friends with Regis, and bonded for decades with Drizzt Do'Urden. During the events of Out of the Abyss, King Bruenor Battlehammer reigns over Gauntlgrym as danger stirs in the Underdark. Though older and scarred by war, he remains the same gruff, golden-hearted dwarf who once vanquished dragons and rallied his people against their foes. |
![]() Drizzt Do'UrdenDrizzt Do'Urden is a drow who turned his back on Lolth and chose honor over heritage. Forsaking the cruelty of Menzoberranzan, he wandered the Underdark for years before emerging onto the surface and becoming a legendary hero of the North. Accompanied by his mystical panther Guenhwyvar and driven by a fierce moral compass, Drizzt defends the Realms with twin scimitars—Twinkle and Icingdeath—and has worked with the Companions of the Hall to defeat many a villain across Faerûn. Over the decades, Drizzt has helped reclaim Mithral Hall, faced the horrors of the Spellplague, and battled evil throughout the Realms. He has crossed blades with assassins, dragons, and demons alike, and may still be encountered when traversing the frigid North of Faerûn. |
![]() ElminsterThe Sage of Shadowdale. The Old Mage. Elminster is the Realms' most cantankerous and cunning archmage. A Chosen of Mystra, Elminster's fingerprints are all over the Realms' most significant events—from the toppling of tyrants to the tutoring of great heroes. He's survived centuries of adventuring, walked through the Nine Hells, guided kings and archmages, helped rebuild the Weave after Mystra's fall, and even outwitted gods and goddesses. Never underestimate the man in the pointy hat! Thoroughly mysterious, it's never clear when or where Elminster will appear to help the forces of good. It was rumored he recently appeared to a group of heroes who were investigating an Elder Brain's plot to overthrow the city of Baldur's Gate. |
![]() Laeral SilverhandSister to Alustriel, Laeral Silverhand once wandered the world as a mighty Wizard. At the time of the events in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, she resides as the Open Lord of Waterdeep, making her the governor of one of the Realms' most powerful cities. A Chosen of Mystra and a former adventurer of no small renown, Laeral balances diplomacy and arcana with steadfast authority. Though her power has waned over the years, she is still an incredibly powerful spellcaster, and her partnership with the Blackstaff—Vajra Safahr—and occasional tension with Waterdeep's mask-wearing Lords, makes her a key player in one of Faerûn's most cosmopolitan cities. |
![]() Minsc and BooThe beloved Rashemi ranger Minsc once wandered the Sword Coast as part of a motley band of adventurers—and now stands as one of the most recognizable heroes in all of Faerûn. Known for his towering strength, eccentric catchphrases, and constant companionship with Boo, a miniature giant space hamster, Minsc is as fearless as he is chaotic. Though often dismissed as comic relief, Minsc has faced Mind Flayers, Liches, and demon lords head-on, guided by a heart full of justice and a fist full of fury. Though Minsc and Boo were Petrified while exploring Baldur's Gate and were believed to be a commemorative statue, they have since been rescued from their stone form to continue their chaotic campaign. You'll find him charging into battle shouting “Go for the eyes, Boo!” or holding court with Boo on matters of good and evil, reminding the Realms that even its wildest champions can be its truest heroes. |
![]() Vajra SafahrThe seventh Blackstaff of Waterdeep, Vajra Safahr rose to the title of Waterdeep's chief mage after the assassination of her mentor, Samark Dhanzscul. Vajra survived a kidnapping perpetrated by her former mentor's killers and passed the Tower's tests to become the youngest Blackstaff in the city's storied history. Though she once wrestled with self-doubt, Vajra has grown into her mantle with quiet intensity. She commands Force Grey, mentors the city's brightest spellcasters, can animate the city's walking statues, and carries within her the memories and might of all who bore the Blackstaff before her. |
![]() VoloYou've heard his name. You've seen his books (whether or not you trust them). Volothamp Geddarm is Faerûn's most infamously unreliable author, traveler, and name-dropper. He's penned guides to monsters, dungeons, cities—and likely annoyed every archmage and archfiend from here to Sigil in the process. Endlessly curious and obliviously brave, Volo's misadventures are often more dangerous to him than to his readers. Still, if he says he's dined with a dragon or dated a dryad? It might even be true. When exploring goblin encampments or cities infected with illithid tadpoles, it's best to check the dungeons to see if he needs to be rescued. |
Your Turn to Become a Legend
The Forgotten Realms calls to all those who yearn for adventure. The tales of Drizzt, Laeral, and Minsc are invitations to take to the wilds in search of danger, riches, and glory.
Every dungeon cracked open, every city defended, every friendship forged around a campfire—these are the legacies that shape Faerûn. And yours could be next.
The Forgotten Realms Ultimate Bundle has everything you need to begin your own saga. Pre-order today and prepare for the Realms to know your name!

Mike Bernier is the founder of Arcane Eye, a site focused on providing useful tips and tricks to all those involved in the world of D&D. Outside of writing for Arcane Eye, Mike spends most of his time playing games, hiking with his girlfriend, and tending the veritable jungle of houseplants that have invaded his house.
He was an old white guy for a short time in the early 90's.
I must have missed that image thanks.
Uh, traveling with Volo is the worst, a couple tendays ago, we had to go down into the underdark, NOT FUN, even as a half-elf I have minor darksight, but gosh, is it dark down there. Do not work with Volo. It is one of my biggest regrets.
This article needs to be updated, add Samuel Jackson to the end of it, he now exists in the forgotten realms, no questions asked.
Incorrect.
Why would you drop 4 decades of history? This is Property that they not only own outright, but know is a successful formula. Giving the Realms history just helps to allow immersion. And these characters- and others- are woven into the last three hundred years of Faerun's history. Not just Faerun, either. Some of the adventures that originated in Faerun have helped shape D&D and given birth to rich options to use in other settings, like dead magic, spellfire, heck, even the Archmage itself.
Naww, respect the history of D&D like as if it were the real world. Nobody is forgetting Gilgamesh, Alexander or Genghis, let alone Napoleon or Hitler. Why should our D&D worlds be any different? Just gives us a history to look back on. If it's not your cup of tea or story telling style, that's fine. I get it. But I appreciate having it. Toril comes to life through its history! This is my second favorite setting after Greyhawk- for a similar reason- it has HISTORY!
I already made a comment to reply to someone, There's a ton of the FR from 3e forward, that many modern players don't even know about. but I just have to say- there is so much more to the realms that most modern gamers have not seen. The original boxed set covered the Northern continent, with special notes on the Eastern Realms and the Southern Realms. It was pointed out that Toril was HUGE. The games back then started out in the center of the map- the Dalelands, and adventures were set widely across the Realms. This was from a time when getting there was part of the adventure, and not Intermission.
Most of the action in the last two versions has been much more focused on the Sword Coast, which was a destination in the setting previous to that. In fact, I'd say that the biggest difference between the 1e/2e versions and the current versions is the limited access to the whole of the realms. And apocalyptic hints of Dark Sun aside, when is the last time we heard from Kara-Tur other than apocryphal hints in the 2014 PH about the Shou?
If this is meant to be a full release of The Forgotten Realms, lots of the realms is definitely Forgotten! Now me, I have still the original and 2e boxed sets, along with those EPIC maps! (Most of you youngsters are unaware of the depth you've missed- Four poster sized maps that went all the way to Thar and Rashemin in the Eastern Realms. To a fourteen-year old with an imagination, it was a siren's call to discover!)
Kara-Tur has been mentioned in talking about things like cultural appropriation and overt racism of the times (Along with Al-Qadim, Chult, and others). And that may be true, but it is undeniable that the attempt came from a place of reverence even if they did miss the mark on a few occasions. If you had made a trip to China in the eighties and spent a week, you were most likely the person who was working on a project like this. I'm a martial artist and have been since I was five, so five decades plus. I've been a borderline Sinophile for about two-thirds of that, and I need to say, I've learned more about the eastern cultures in the last ten years than I could even find in the previous twenty. Times have changed. Always remember, hindsight is twenty-twenty. Not so much foresight. That said, to those of us raised in the seventies and eighties, this was even more mysterious than a middle earth or medievil setting, but still bound to a real place albeit, one we knew near nothing about!
I hope that many of you are able to recapture that same feeling, discovery and mystery and adventure with your heroic (or villainous) hearts!