# Introduction: A World of Adventure *Source: Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn, p. 4* An undead abomination stalks the snow in Icewind Dale. A scheming genie plots to conquer Calimshan. An insidious curse transforms people in the Moonshae Isles into rust-covered constructs. Corrupt politicians party with devils in Baldur's Gate. An ancient god of rot grows in the heart of a Dalelands forest. These are just some of the stories awaiting you in *Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn*. The world of Faerûn is a setting for every kind of fantasy adventure, from survival horror to high magic. But adventures in the Realms have one thing in common: their epic nature. Heroes adventuring in Faerûn seldom face mundane enemies with petty agendas. Instead, even the most ordinary antagonist is part of a grand plot—a larger-than-life adventure that pits the heroes against unforgettable foes. *Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn* provides you with dozens of epic adventures that take place all over the Realms, including everything from piracy in the Trackless Sea to stalking a dragon in the Rashemi wilderness. This book includes adventures spotlighting Faerûn's famous factions—such as the Cult of the Dragon and the Emerald Enclave—as well as well-known gods, including Mystra, Selûne, and Shar. And, so that you can get started playing in Faerûn immediately, this book includes a complete starting adventure that will bring your party from level 1 to level 3. *Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn* also gives you the tools you need to make your own adventures in the Realms, including new and returning monsters—such as drow followers of Lolth, phaerimm, and spirit dragons—and new magic items, including Artifacts such as the [Calimemnon Crystal](/3-Mechanics/CLI/items/calimemnon-crystal-fraif.md) and [Crown of Horns](/3-Mechanics/CLI/items/crown-of-horns-fraif.md). Welcome to the Forgotten Realms, a world of epic characters and epic adventures! > [!note] More Forgotten Realms > > There's so much more to Faerûn than can be covered in one book. You can explore the Realms in novels, movies, video games, and more, including the following: > > - The Baldur's Gate 3 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/Baldurs_Gate_3) video game > - The movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2906216) > - The Legend of Drizzt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Drizzt) novels by R.A. Salvatore ^more-forgotten-realms ## Using This Book The bulk of this book is made up of five chapters that focus on particular parts of the Forgotten Realms, each highlighting a specific subgenre of fantasy adventure. Other chapters include more general advice on running games, as well as adventures set all over Faerûn. You can introduce your players to the Realms through the complete adventure in chapter 7, and additional chapters on monsters and magic items give you tools to create your own adventures anywhere in the Forgotten Realms. Throughout this book, if a creature's name appears in **bold** type, you'll find that creature's stat block in the "Monster Manual" unless otherwise specified. - **Chapter 1: Running the Realms**. The first chapter begins with advice on making your Forgotten Realms games—and players!—feel epic. It continues with adventures showcasing the diverse regions, meddlesome deities, influential factions, and fantastic magic of Faerûn. - **Chapter 2: The Dalelands**. A dozen frontier settlements surrounding an ancient elven megadungeon make for heroic adventure in the classic D&D tradition. - **Chapter 3: Icewind Dale**. A supernatural horror haunts a desolate land. Icewind Dale is the perfect setting for stories of survival horror. - **Chapter 4: Calimshan**. The high magic setting of Calimshan contrasts the elemental power of desert genies with the sophisticated wonders of Calimport, a city thousands of years old. - **Chapter 5: The Moonshae Isles**. The Moonshaes are a setting for fairy tales and adventure at sea, but the Moonshaes' way of life is threatened by a corrupting magical curse. - **Chapter 6: Baldur's Gate**. Baldur's Gate is a setting for gritty urban fantasy in a city where everyone—and everything—has a price. - **Chapter 7: The Lost Library of Lethchauntos**. An adventure for level 1 characters introduces your players to the themes and conflicts of the Forgotten Realms. - **Chapter 8: Magic Items**. Faerûn's treasures run the gamut from humble [Harper Pins](/3-Mechanics/CLI/items/harper-pin-fraif.md) to fearsome Artifacts like the [Crown of Horns](/3-Mechanics/CLI/items/crown-of-horns-fraif.md). - **Chapter 9: Bestiary**. The final chapter presents dozens of new monsters as well as named antagonists you can use as villains in your campaigns. ## Other Resources  No single book could hope to include every detail of the Forgotten Realms, a setting many decades in the making. *Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn* is only part of Faerûn's grand story. Your most important companion to this book is *Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn*. There, you'll find a gazetteer describing all of Faerûn, as well as details on Faerûn's many deities, most important factions, and incredible magic. That book is also filled with character creation advice and rule options, including new subclasses, feats, and spells. Three digital projects have been designed to supplement this book and your games in the Realms. You can find these titles on DnDBeyond.com: **Astarion's Book of Hungers** focuses on Astarion, the beloved elf vampire spawn from *Baldur's Gate 3*. **Lorwyn: First Light** brings the world of Lorwyn from Magic: The Gathering to D&D. The fey of Lorwyn work particularly well in campaigns set in the Moonshae Isles. **Netheril's Fall** provides insight into ancient Netheril and its magic, as well as Netherese monsters, magic items, and adventures. Many books in the Dungeons & Dragons line detail locations in the Forgotten Realms or provide adventures there, including the following: Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus provides additional detail on the city of Baldur's Gate. Candlekeep Mysteries describes the greatest library in Faerûn, located on the Sword Coast, and includes a collection of adventures prompted by books in the library's collection. Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden has additional details on Ten-Towns and also includes an adventure focusing on Auril's endless winter. Out of the Abyss details much of the Underdark in the northwestern part of Faerûn. Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk describes the Phandelver region near Neverwinter, launching point for an adventure of mind-bending horror and eldritch abominations. Storm King's Thunder is an epic adventure that pits characters against giants and visits many locations mentioned in this book, including the Moonshae Isles and Icewind Dale. Tomb of Annihilation describes the jungles of Chult, where the lich Acererak has built a deadly dungeon to protect an Artifact causing a killing curse. Waterdeep: Dragon Heist details the city of Waterdeep on the Sword Coast.