D&D General Who are the iconic NPCs in each D&D campaign setting?

[JEB]

Which NPCs would you say are the iconic representatives of each official D&D campaign setting? The characters who are referenced the most in RPG products, used the most in tie-in products like novels and video games, appeared in the most promotional artwork, most popular with fans of the setting, etc. These can be heroes and villains, gods and demons, or whatever else.

To counter bias towards personal favorites, please defend your choice with some evidence, such as listing the major appearances they've made.

Note, while answers for popular settings like the Realms are fine, I think it would be more interesting to hear about the less known settings.

 

[pukunui]

Can you clarify what you mean by NPC? Would novel characters like Drizzt and Tanis count as NPCs or are they essentially PCs?

So for FR, would it be people like Elminster, the Seven Sisters, Szass Tam, etc? Or would it also be Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, etc?

For DragonLance, would it be Tanis, Flint, Laurana, Sturm, Kitiara, etc? Or would it be people like Derek Crownguard, Alhana Starbreeze, Elistan, etc?

 

[M.L. Martin]

Ravenloft is easy: Strahd von Zarovich (foundation stone of the setting) and Rudolph van Richten ('voice' for the heroic side).

 

[Enrico Poli1]

Greyhawk: Mordenkainen, Bigby, Otto, Tenser, Iggwilv (Tasha), Vecna, Robilar, Zagyg, Gord, Melf, Grazzt, Iuz, Eclavdra, Obmi, Tharizdun, Dragotha, Brazzemal the Burning

 

[aco175]

Apparently they did not being Tordek to the planning session.

These guys seem to be the iconic figures in Wild Witchlight.

 

[TheSword]

I thought I would discuss Birthright. Probably my favourite setting.

Rhobbhe Manslayer - Features in Campaign Starter Set, Features in the first adventure Crown and Sword and runs his own kingdom. One of the big three Cerillian Awnsheghlien.

Darrian Avan - Prince of Avanil is set up as one of the two main contenders for the iron throne.

Gavin Tael - Baron of Ghoere set up as the other main contender for the Iron Throne

The Spider - A local baddy with a great backstory. Right in the heart of the four main PC kingdoms of Anuire.

The Gorgan - The final big bad who has some serious Dark Lord vibes ruling over the Gorgons Crown.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Mystara:

• Grand Duchy of Karameikos has Duke Stefan Karameikos and his evil cousin, Baron Ludwik Von Hendrix, as well as Aleena the Cleric from red box starter set, and evil wizard Bargle who killed her. Characters involved in A LOT of beginner adventures, they etrenched themselves in hearts of countless players over the decades
• Principalities of Glantri has Ettienne d'Amberville and rest of the Princes, especially Donna Carnelia de Belcadiz y Fedorias of Belcadiz, Jaggar von Drachenfels, Morphail Gorevitch-Woszlany and Brannart McGregor. Among the Princes they have by far most personality.
  
• Empire of Alphatia has Prince Haldemar and rest of the crew of Princess Ark, heroes of Bruce Heard's series of short stories. To lesser extent there's Empress Eriadna and her children, especially Prince Zandor, due to Mr. Welch popularizing idea of Zandor as "Wizard Gaston".
  
• Broken Lands has King Thar, a ruthless Orc warlord and vampire, who stole title of Broken Lands Gazzeteer, which is known as Orcs of Thar
• Hule has Hossadus, Master of the Desert Nomads, reocurring villain and threat to the whole world.
• Ethengar has Moglai the Golden Khan, another iconci antaognist and, similiarly to Thar, Ethengar gazzeteer is named Golden Khan of Ethengar.
• Denagoth has the Shadow Lord, the villain from Saga of the Shadow Lord
• Ghyr has Strongheart the Paladin and rest of Valor's Call and their enemies, League of Malevolence, lead by sorcerer Kelek and warrior Warduke, the toyline characters

one could also argue first PCs from Basic Set - Belarin the Elf, Clarion the Cleric, Derek the magic-user, Fleetwood the Fighter, Greegan the Thief, Tochberry the Halfling and Rolf the Dwarf - or playable characters from Chronicles of Mystara games - Crassus the Fighter, Dimsdale the Dwarf, Greldon the Cleric, Lucia the Elf, Moriah the Thief and Syous the Magic-User - are the most well-known, even if not everyone knows their names.

 

[JEB]

Can you clarify what you mean by NPC?

Sure.

Would novel characters like Drizzt and Tanis count as NPCs or are they essentially PCs?

They're NPCs.

So for FR, would it be people like Elminster, the Seven Sisters, Szass Tam, etc? Or would it also be Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, etc?

Yes to both. Any non-PC.

For DragonLance, would it be Tanis, Flint, Laurana, Sturm, Kitiara, etc?

Most definitely.

Or would it be people like Derek Crownguard, Alhana Starbreeze, Elistan, etc?

I don't know who those are offhand, but if they originate or are featured in the game's fiction, then yes.

 

[JEB]

Greyhawk: Mordenkainen, Bigby, Otto, Tenser, Iggwilv (Tasha), Vecna, Robilar, Zagyg, Gord, Melf, Grazzt, Iuz, Eclavdra, Obmi, Tharizdun, Dragotha, Brazzemal the Burning

Are all those characters equally iconic in your view? Can you cite some of your reasoning?

 

[JEB]

I thought I would discuss Birthright. Probably my favourite setting.

Rhobbhe Manslayer - Features in Campaign Starter Set, Features in the first adventure Crown and Sword and runs his own kingdom. One of the big three Cerillian Awnsheghlien.

Darrian Avan - Prince of Avanil is set up as one of the two main contenders for the iron throne.

Gavin Tael - Baron of Ghoere set up as the other main contender for the Iron Throne

The Spider - A local badly with a great backstory. Right in the heart of the four main PC kingdoms of Anuire.

The Gorgan - The final big bad who has some serious Dark Lord vibes ruling over the Gorgons Crown.

Thanks for the Birthright knowledge! So it sounds like Rhobbhe would be the #1 most iconic Birthright character, in your view? Where do the other characters feature in Birthright material?