What Are the Forgotten Realms?
The Forgotten Realms is the default campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and one of the most expansive fictional universes ever created. Set on the planet Toril — specifically the continent of Faerûn — it's a world of sprawling cities, ancient ruins, scheming gods, and countless adventurers who have risen and fallen across millennia of history.
Created by Ed Greenwood in the 1960s and formalized as a D&D setting in 1987, the Forgotten Realms has appeared in hundreds of novels, video games (Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights), and every edition of D&D. If you've played Baldur's Gate 3, you've walked through a small slice of it.
A Brief History of Faerûn
Faerûn's history is divided into eras, but a few pivotal events are worth knowing:
- The Crown Wars (−12,000 DR): A series of devastating elven conflicts that reshaped entire continents and drove the drow underground into the Underdark.
- The Fall of Netheril (~−3,859 DR): A mighty human empire of archwizards collapsed when its greatest mage, Karsus, stole the divine portfolio of the goddess Mystryl — and destroyed the Weave of magic in the process.
- The Time of Troubles (1358 DR): The gods were cast down to walk Faerûn as mortals. Several were slain; others were reborn. Mystra died and was reborn. This event reshaped divine magic across the setting.
- The Spellplague (1385 DR): Another catastrophic magical event triggered by Mystra's second death, warping landscapes, creating "plaguechanged" creatures, and reshaping entire regions.
- The Second Sundering (~1482–1487 DR): The current era. The gods separated the planes and the world largely restored itself, leading into the 5th Edition present.
Major Factions of the Realms
Faerûn is shaped by powerful organizations that adventurers frequently encounter — as allies, employers, or enemies:
| Faction | Goal | Alignment |
|---|---|---|
| The Harpers | Protect the innocent, preserve balance, oppose tyranny | Neutral Good |
| The Lords' Alliance | Unite city-states for mutual defense and stability | Lawful Neutral |
| The Zhentarim | Expand influence and wealth through mercantile control | Neutral Evil |
| The Emerald Enclave | Maintain the natural order and oppose civilization's overreach | True Neutral |
| The Order of the Gauntlet | Smite evil and protect the innocent through righteous force | Lawful Good |
Iconic Locations Every Adventurer Should Know
Waterdeep — The City of Splendors
The largest and most cosmopolitan city in Faerûn, Waterdeep sits on the Sword Coast and serves as a hub for merchants, adventurers, and political intrigue. Ruled by masked Lords, it's a city of towering guilds, ancient secrets beneath its streets (Undermountain), and countless hooks for urban adventures.
Baldur's Gate
A massive port city defined by stark inequality between the wealthy Upper City and the crime-ridden Lower City. Historically tied to the Blood of Bhaal — children of the dead god of murder — it's fertile ground for moral ambiguity and political complexity.
Neverwinter
Once destroyed by a volcanic eruption, Neverwinter is a city in the process of rebuilding itself under Lord Dagult Neverember. Multiple factions vie for control, making it a hotbed of faction-based adventuring.
The Underdark
Not a city but an entire underground world beneath Faerûn — a labyrinthine network of caverns, tunnels, and subterranean seas home to the drow, mind flayers, beholders, and countless other terrors. Out of the Abyss is the official adventure set here.
Using Forgotten Realms Lore in Your Campaign
You don't need to memorize millennia of history to run a Forgotten Realms campaign. Pick one city as your home base, choose one or two factions to involve your players with, and let the deeper lore unfold naturally through discovered texts, NPC knowledge, and ancient ruins. The setting rewards exploration — both physical and historical.