Dungeons and Dragons provides its players a universe to explore and create in, with dozens of settings, campaigns, characters, and stories to experience. Of all that content, little stands out as much as the Forgotten Realms setting and the character of Drizzt Do'Urden. The dark elf has been a part of the Dungeons and Dragons experience since 1988's novel The Crystal Shard. This summer Wizards of the Coast has decided to hold a season-long celebration for Drizzt, Dungeons and Dragons' most iconic hero.

Wizards of the Coast will be celebrating this Drizzt Do'Urden summer with a variety of announcements and Drizzt-focused content. To start things off, a new short animated video titled Sleep Sound has been released. The video was written by Drizzt Do'Urden creator and author R.A. Salvatore and is narrated by actor Benedict Cumberbatch. It introduces the culture of the dark selves, as well as the origin of Drizzt Do'Urden himself.

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Other events planned for the summer include an interview with the developers of Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance, in which Drizzt is a protagonist, on June 22. A special look at Magic: The Gathering's new Forgotten Realms-based Adventures deck will drop on July 23. Then on August 3, R.A. Salvatore will announce new details regarding his next Legend of Drizzt novel. It's a great opportunity for Dungeons and Dragons fans to share their nerdiness within the community and celebrate Drizzt together.

For those unfamiliar, Drizzt is easily one of if not the most recognized established Dungeons and Dragons character. He's best known from the official line of Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms novels written by R.A. Salvatore, of which there are over 30. But he's branched out significantly. He's been in games, has figures and merchandise, and could appear in an upcoming Wizards of the Coast TV show or film. Clearly, Wizards of the Coast has very big plans for Drizzt, with the summer being just the start.

What makes Drizzt Do'Urden such a popular character, however, is how he's the definition of a great Dungeons and Dragons player character. He starts off having some fun, if over-the-top adventures. He then gets an epic backstory filled in, and over time he goes on to bigger and more audacious adventures. He earns and swaps out legendary loot, has a loving party of fellow adventurers, and even has to say goodbye to them over the years. It's what every player hopes for.

Even for those being introduced to Drizzt for the first time, the summer of Drizzt will be a great opportunity to meet him. Start with the Sleep Sound video, and then consider checking out the Drizzt books or perhaps the Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance game starting June 22. Barring everything else, finding a group of friends and starting up a Dungeons and Dragons campaign may be the best way to celebrate Drizzt of all.

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