DnD CHARACTERS LORE
Vecna (pronounced: vɛknα VEK-nah) was a once-human king and lich from Oerth who ascended to godhood. While he was once considered the most powerful lich to dwell on that world, over the ages he spent in undeath Vecna became maligned across the multiverse, and was considered the scourge of all civilization.
“Evil is not an absence of good. It is not a choice. Evil is one of two forces in the cosmos, an agency locked in eternal struggle against its antithesis. Only good and evil exist. And not even a hair's width of space separates them.” — Vecna
Tasha is a powerful archmage with one of the most storied lives in the D&D multiverse. Raised in the Feywild by Baba Yaga, the Mother of Witches herself, Tasha adventured across the world of Greyhawk and became the ally and enemy of many famous adventurers, including Mordenkainen. In time, Tasha even ruled as the Witch Queen and went by many names, most notably Iggwilv, a figure of legend. Tasha has put several lifetimes of knowledge into the creation of well-known spells such as Tasha's hideous laughter and Tasha's otherworldly guise, and as the author of the Demonomicon of Iggwilv.
A man of noble birth, Strahd spent much of his life serving causes of goodness and law, most notably as a warrior and leader of armies. Years of such service took their toll upon him however, and by the time he reached middle age, Strahd came to believe he had squandered his life and his youth. With this dark mood upon him, he came to conquer the region known as Barovia, and assumed lordship there, taking as his residence the pre-existing castle known as Ravenloft. From this position of power and security, he called for members of his family "long unseated from their ancestral thrones" to join him, including a younger brother named Sergei. Some time after this reunion, the Count himself fell in love with a young Barovian woman, Tatyana, though she rejected his affections in favor of the younger Sergei. Filled with despair and jealousy, and brooding a growing hatred for Sergei, Strahd sought magical means to restore his youth. In a moment of desperate frustration, he "made a pact with death - a pact of blood." On the day of Sergei and Tatyana's wedding, Strahd murdered his brother and pursued the grieving Tatyana until she flung herself from the walls of Ravenloft. Strahd himself was shot down by the arrows of the castle guard. Even so, he did not die, but went on to rule the land of Barovia as a vampire.
Minsc is a bald, purple-tattooed ranger and a source of comic relief. His loyal companion is a miniature giant space hamster (a.k.a., a regular hamster) known as Boo, who doesn't talk. Minsc hails from Rashemen, Boo from Wildspace. Both became fixtures in Baldur's Gate—literally. After defeating evil forces threatening Baldur's Gate, Minsc and Boo allowed themselves to be petrified and placed in the middle of a market square in the Upper City—until such time as heroes were needed once more. While they were statues, Minsc and Boo didn't age. After being struck by wild magic, Minsc and Boo reverted to flesh and resumed their heroic ways. They are currently members of an adventuring party called the Heroes of Baldur's Gate. This group has traveled up and down the Sword Coast, and even traveled to Ravenloft and the Nine Hells.
The Raven Queen was a mysterious entity from the Shadowfell who was revered as a deity by the shadar-kai.
“The Raven Queen is trapped by her fascination with the past. She sits in her fortress, amidst all the memories of the world, looking at the ones that please her most as though they were glittering jewels. Many great wizards have attempted to understand her motives, but like a raven she has always remained cryptic, keeping her cache of secrets just out of their reach.” — Alustriel Silverhand
Zariel (pronounced: /'zαriɛl/ ZAR-ee-el about this audio file listen or: /'zɛəriɛl/ ZAIR-ee-el about this audio file listen), titled the Archduchess of Avernus and the Lord of the First, was the archdevil ruler of Avernus who was dedicated to winning the unending Blood War between devils and demons. She was originally an angel of the Seven Heavens before transforming into an archdevil and falling to the Nine Hells.
“My legions are the only thing standing between your precious Seven Heavens and the bottomless hunger of the Abyss. I did not fall into the clutches of evil. I rose to shoulder a cosmic burden.” — Zariel
