I'm looking for some help from experts on any of the TSR worlds. I just need names of important setting characters (and brief descriptions -race and class if nothing else- if you would). The Mordenkainens and Elminsters of the setting. People of notability from the sourcebooks or novels. Especially the settings that WotC hasn't really used.
Those already noted:
Dark Sun: Neeva
Dragonlance: Tanis, Raistlin, Riverwind, Soth (Tasselhoff and Caramon have been mentioned, but are specifically not on faculty)
Eberron: Merrix d'Cannith, Lord of Blades
Forgotten Realms: Alias, Artemis Entreri, Bruenor Battlehammer, Dove Falconhand, Dragonbait, Quilue, Shandrill, Storm (Drizzt and Elminster are specifically not on faculty)
Greyhawk: Eclavdra, the Justicar, Meepo, Melf, Mordenkainen, Otto
Planescape: Lady of Pain (yes, seriously; at least that's what Shemeska claims), Shemeska
Ravenloft: Strahd, Van Richten
Thanks in advance.
Wow, where to begin..
well..
Aleena: 22 year old female Human Cleric (Good). Rumoured to be dead.
Bargle: Human Magic-User (Wizard) (Evil). Claims to have killed Aleena
Etienne d'Ambreville: Powerful Human Magic-User. Rumoured to be Immortal.
Prince Haldemar of Haaken: Alphatian (Human) Magic-User. Captain of the Princess Ark (Flying Ship), Explorer Extraordinaire etc etc.
Joshuan Gallidox: Halfling Writer. Claims the world isn't hollow after all...
There are plenty more memorable NPCs, but these are my top 5. Actually, if you were mainly looking for powerful characters, there are others that should be included. I just picked the most memorable ones.
Maybe others can help?
Edit: Also we should include:
King Stefan Karameikos: The former Archduke who traded his ancestral lands for a country of his own. A Good ruler, who fails to realize the evil machinations of his cousin, Baron Ludvig Von Hendriks, the Black Eagle.
Havard
Rajaat (all magic, psionics, elemental powers)
any of the Sorcerer Kings (psionics, defiling, war)
the Dragon (psionics, defiling)
and maybe
Agis of Asticles (psionics)
King Tithian (psionics, templar)
Sadira (sun wizard)
Caleum (sun cleric)
Rikus (gladiator)
MYSTARA:
There are plenty more memorable NPCs, but these are my top 5. Actually, if you were mainly looking for powerful characters, there are others that should be included. I just picked the most memorable ones.
"Most memorable" is exactly right, thanks. I want the characters that "pop". A guy like Joshuan is more interesting than 'generic paladin who rounds out the description of City X' who just happens to be 30th level, but isn't terribly exciting. (This is why I'm asking for opinions instead of just pulling up a list somewhere; I might have missed that guy).
"Most memorable" is exactly right, thanks. I want the characters that "pop". A guy like Joshuan is more interesting than 'generic paladin who rounds out the description of City X' who just happens to be 30th level, but isn't terribly exciting. (This is why I'm asking for opinions instead of just pulling up a list somewhere; I might have missed that guy).
Cool.
Mystara has lots of powerful characters, many of them of levels 30+, but they are not neccessarily the most memorable ones.
In addition to the list above, I think we should include:
King Stefan Karameikos: The former Archduke who traded his ancestral lands for a country of his own. A Good ruler, who fails to realize the evil machinations of his cousin, Baron Ludvig Von Hendriks, the Black Eagle.
Havard
Those already noted:
Dark Sun: Neeva
Sadira the sun wizard and Rikus the mul are probably bigger named heroes in Dark Sun than Neeva.
For villians there are the sorcerer-kings, of which Hamanu is probably the most often mentioned. Tithian is another villian but he is dead (probably?).
Kylie: Cheerful young tiefling guide (and rogue), runs a messenger company. Rumored to be the daughter or granddaughter of Shemeshka the Marauder.
Ely Cromlich: Cambion servant of Vecna, former factor of the Doomguard and lover of the last Doomguard factol. Played a role in Vecna's visit to Sigil. 18th level fighter/wizard 6.
The Green Marvent: Ultimate villain from The Eternal Boundary. Leader of the Illuminated sect based in Plague-Mort. Human wizard who dresses all in green. His symbol is a green eye in a pyramid. His group infiltrates other factions.
Morte: A talking, floating skull. Formally a bard whose soul traveled to Baator after his death. As a soulshell he was decapitated and set in the Pillar of Skulls, reserved for the spirits of liars. Rescued by the Nameless One from Planescape: Torment and now lives in Sigil working as a guide to the clueless. Claims alternately to be a mimir or the Head of Vecna. He's a bard, but he uses his bardic abilities mostly to taunt and infuriate his opponents. As he can't play a musical instrument with no arms, he specializes in insults and profanity.
Fall-From-Grace: A succubus, the daughter of Red Shroud (ruler of the Abyssal fortress of Broken Reach). Sold to the baatezu by her mother and ultimately decided that neither chaotic nor lawful evil offered much promise. Became lawful neutral and joined the Society of Sensation. Operates the Brothel of the Slaking of Intellectual Lusts, where she trains prostitutes to slake intellectual desires rather than physical ones. She's a priestess of the abstract philosophy of the Society of Sensation.
Xanxost: Blue slaad and sage, expert in matters regarding the Abyss and the Quasielemental Plane of Steam. Hungry a lot, likes to eat elves, but rather friendly and gregarious. Tendency to ramble incoherently and get easily distracted or excited. Gets simple numbers confused. Trademark phrase: "Hello, mortals!"
Ronassic of Sigil: A sage, author of books detailing the illithids (Mind Kampf), beholders (Observations [etc.]), and the Ethereal Plane (Guide to the Ethereal Plane). 13th level mage, detailed in Die, Vecna, Die!, mentioned in A Guide to the Ethereal Plane, I, Tyrant, and The Illithiad.
Greyhawk
Murlynd: Planewalking paladin/wizard/hero-deity, carries six-shooters and dresses like a cowboy. Looks suspiciously like John Wayne. Combines technology and magic to bizarre effect. Has a home in a demiplane based on Lewis Carroll's Alice Through the Looking-Glass. Probably shouldn't be permitted in Sigil due to hero-deity status, but it's a humor game so what the hell.
Philidor: The Blue Mage. Mysterious blue-skinned wizard who appeared in the Vesve Forest after the Greyhawk Wars. There was a big build-up which suggested he would have a significant role to play in checking the terrible evils besetting the land, but then the line was cancelled and when Greyhawk was revived, the new authors didn't like him. Been missing in action for quite a while.
Nightsong: Sinister Entropy-worshipping bard described in Ivid the Undying. An experienced planewalker, kidnapper, and fop, Nightsong is an expert in obscure and unpleasant lore from across the planes. He knows the invocations of the Ur-Flannae necromancers, the laments of the victims of the Invoked Devastation a thousand years ago, and can sing the whispering hymns of the Wind Dukes of Aaqa. Completely heartless. He reveres, but does not worship, Tharizdun. Bard 19.
Jaran Krimeeah: The Mage of the Vale, ruler of the Valley of the Mage and the valley elves and gnomes who inhabit it. An exile of royal blood from the Great Kingdom of Aerdy (possibly during the reign of the House of Rax over a century ago). Has a drow lover. Infused himself with shadowstuff to make himself into an immortal shade. Has been missing in action since the beginning of 3rd edition.
Spelljammer
Teldin Moore: Spelljamming pilot, formally a farm boy from Krynn, hero of the Cloakmaster Cycle of Spelljammer novels.
Jas (Jasmine): Winged human woman (it's a long story). Got a spelljamming vessel (a captured illithid nautiloid). Her wings change depending on what plane she's on. On Toril they're white dove-wings, in the Phlogiston they're pink butterfly wings, and in Sigil they're metallic gargoyle wings the color of greenish copper. From Finder's Bane and Tymora's Luck by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb, statted in the Dragon Annual #2. Sarcastic, cynical, and worldly. 5th level fighter (8th level before being level-drained by a bodak).
Morkitar: One-eyed scro warpriest. Wears black, star-studded armor and carries a wheel-lock pistol. From Heart of the Enemy by Rick Swan. The leader of many troops, owns an apocalyptic orcish war machine known as the Witchlight Marauder. Would be a fine teacher of military tactics, the history of the Unhuman Wars, or theology. Wizard 5/Priest 5
Lililth "Darkmane": Black-haired drow elf, Emperor-Priestess of the drow of Kule (Celene), the smaller, aquamarine moon of Oerth. Though a devout worshipper of the demon goddess Lolth, she gives the impression of being utterly reasonable and honorable, and not as xenophobic or cruel as a typical drow. Still cunning and Machiavellian. Priest 10/Thief 3.
Spelljammer
Teldin Moore: Spelljamming pilot, formally a farm boy from Krynn, hero of the Cloakmaster Cycle of Spelljammer novels.
It should also be noted that Teldin is, by his own accounts at least, a veteran of the War of the Lance (the post-Cataclysm one).
Two of the most famous teachers of psionics:
Tarandas of Raam, powerful female psionicist who mysteriously vanished from Athas several hundred years prior to the "present day"
Gulem the Gray, dwarf instructor who runs Nexus, the premiere school for gifted psionicists everywhere
(It's worth noting, however, that canonically "present day" Dark Sun is set about 1000 years later than every other campaign setting, if you go by the official dates of setting crossovers in Ravenloft. Not that anyone should blindly trust the Demiplane of Dread! ;) )
(It's worth noting, however, that canonically "present day" Dark Sun is set about 1000 years later than every other campaign setting, if you go by the official dates of setting crossovers in Ravenloft. Not that anyone should blindly trust the Demiplane of Dread! ;) )
No matter. I've never concerned myself with canonical timelines anyway, even within the same setting. Sigil Prep has several professors who are officially "deceased" in their own settings, and I've absolutely abused Sigil's own timeline.
We've taken a couple of trips to Athas, already. Actually, I think we've been everywhere but Jakandor by this time.
Azalin Rex pops into my mind for Ravenloft.
Ah, my favorite campaign. Azalin definitely comes to mind. The lich-king of Darkon. Other noteworthy characters could include Vlad Drakov, Baron Gundar (deceased, but whatever), Mistress mentioned Soth (from both Ravenloft and Dragonlance), and you could also use his former lieutenant Azrael Dak, the dwarven werebadger. Maybe Inza Kulchevich, Laurie and Gennifer Weathermay Foxgrove (Van Richten's nieces, trying to carry on his work now that he's missing. Their scholarly attitude would be excellent for a university setting), or George, their uncle and an accomplished monster hunter. Hazlik, a red wizard who was drawn into the world, Ivani Boritsi, Ivan Dilisnya, and even though he's sort of a lesser character, I think that Tristan ApBlanc is pretty cool.
If you really want to get obscure, you could do some research on the Red Steel campaign, but I don't recall the names of any of the characters there.
It should also be noted that Teldin is, by his own accounts at least, a veteran of the War of the Lance (the post-Cataclysm one).
That isn't quite right. Teldin ran away to become a war hero, but never got the chance to be one. Teldin got trained as a mule-skinner and saw very little of the front line. At one stage his unit arrived at the site of a big battle only to be given the task of burying hundreds of dead bodies.
When Teldin came home his neighbor Liam thought he was a war hero, and Teldin didn't have the heart to tell him the truth. But he never lied about the war.
That isn't quite right. Teldin ran away to become a war hero, but never got the chance to be one. Teldin got trained as a mule-skinner and saw very little of the front line. At one stage his unit arrived at the site of a big battle only to be given the task of burying hundreds of dead bodies.
When Teldin came home his neighbor Liam thought he was a war hero, and Teldin didn't have the heart to tell him the truth. But he never lied about the war.
Eh, it's been a long while since I read the series, the details get fuzzy. But if he was recruited, got paid, and lived to spend any of it, I'd say he can call himself a veteran :D .
The Gorgon: The Gorgon is the most powerful of the awnsheghlien, abominations who have evolved monstrous forms and terrible powers due to exposure to the blood of the dead god Azrai. The Gorgon was once the Black Prince Raesene, half-brother of Haelyn, who would eventually become the god of valor and war, and Roele, a legendary king. Because of his curse, the Gorgon is immortal, now ruling a kingdom of his own. He resembles a stony-skinned humanoid with horns and goatlike legs. His gaze can turn his enemies to stone or simply die. Fighter 25/Wizard 16.
Rhuobhe Manslayer: An ancient elf consumed with hatred for humanity, he was the one who allied the elves with the god Azrai thousands of years ago. Where the rest of the elves rejected the evil god's teachings, Rhuobhe continued to serve him, eventually becoming an awnsheglien. His skin has turned gray and his eyes are milky orbs. From his twisted fortress, he trains other elves to kill humans, leading them on wild hunts. Fighter 16/Mage 15.
Caliedhe Dosiere: The Imperial Chamberlain of Anuire. A strong, middle-aged man with only a fringe of hair on his head, Caliedhe may nonetheless be immortal and thousands of years old. The Empire of Anuire has been defunct for thousands of years, since its last king was slain by his uncle, the Gorgon. Caliedhe watches over its ashes and waits for a true king to emerge to unite the land. Fighter 12/Diviner 16.