The Grand Tour

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Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour is a comic published by TSR, Inc. as a limited-edition release. It presents a short, whirlwind tour of the Forgotten Realms, introducing various core concepts and themes, then-ongoing storylines from the novels, and famous characters, and notably features cameos from the characters of the Dungeons & Dragons animated series of 1983–1985, now older.

“

The Grand Tour plunges readers into the amazing world of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, a popular fantasy role-playing game rich in history, intrigue, mystery and incredible creatures. Prompted by his overzealous friends, young Preston boldly confronts the legendary wizard Elminster, seeking the position of apprentice. The powerful mage is more amused than annoyed, and soon the normally awkward young man finds himself spirited away on a journey through both Time and Space, facing one dangerous situation after another. Ancient races, lost kingdoms, and secret treasures are displayed for the young wizard's hungry eyes, as well as several monstrous creatures straight from his worst nightmares. He soon realizes he's no match for the deadly forces Elminster faces on a daily basis, but at least he walks away from the encounter alive and with an amazing story for his friends.

”

Synopsis[]

In the 1360s DR, the well-known adventurers, Bobby, Diana, Eric, Hank, Sheila, and Presto visit the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale so that Presto can ask the great sage, Elminster to take on Presto as an apprentice. Though Presto loses his nerve, the rowdy group of friends manage to convince him to at least. Elminster decides to take Presto on his "evening rounds" where he checks on various ongoing matters.

Together, the two wizards journey throughout Faerûn, seeing several well-known figures in action, getting caught up in battles, and fighting monsters. After returning from the grand tour, Presto decides that he is not quite on Elminster's level, and is content to remain with his friends, but has ideas for future adventures with them.

Index[]

HankLater — *Hank the Ranger ponders life and sips on his ale.*

Characters

Alias • Bobby • Diana • Dragonbait • Ed Greenwood • Elminster Aumar • Eric • Hank • Jhaele Silvermane • Julia Martin • Presto • Qilué Veladorn • Sheila • Volothamp Geddarm

Referenced only

Azoun Obarskyr IV • Catti-brie • Drizzt Do'Urden • Fyodor • Gromph Baenre • Guenhwyvar • Khelben Arunsun • Liriel Baenre • Simbul • Vangerdahast Aeiulvana • Wulfgar

Creatures

dire wolf • drow • elf • gnoll • human • ogre • orc • sharn • treant

Referenced only

chicken • dragon • fox • human (Rashemi, Tuigan) • mind flayer • panther • toad • vulture

Items

ale • gem • Shadowdark ale • staff • sword • Volo's Guide to All Things Magical

Referenced only

Sea Sprite

Locations

OldSkullInn — *The adventuring group visit the Old Skull Inn.*

Inns & Taverns: Old Skull Inn • War Wizard
Settlements: Luskan • Netheril • Shadowdale • Skullport • Waterdeep; Referenced only; Amn • Baldur's Gate • Calimshan • Halruaa • Menzoberranzan • Mithral Hall • Icewind Dale • Lantan • Nimbral • Ruathym • Sembia • Tethyr • Turmish • Westgate • Zhentil Keep
Regions: Cormyr • Sword Coast • Western Heartlands; Referenced only; Moonsea • Moonshae Isles • Savage Frontier • Sea of Swords • Spine of the World
Wilderness: Anauroch; Referenced only; Inner Sea • Sea of Swords • Spine of the World

Organizations

Referenced only

High Captains of Luskan • House Do'Urden

Religions

Referenced only

Cyric • Deneir

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Notes[]

↑ There are several different dates implied in The Grand Tour, but each event points back to material being written in the beginning of 1996 (real-world time). Qilué Veladorn states that "Drizzt is currently hunting pirates along the Sword Coast", thus placing the comic when Drizzt and Catti-brie are sailing with Deudermont, which is between the novels Siege of Darkness (released August 1994) and Passage to Dawn (released August 1996), dating the comic between 1358 and 1364 DR. Elminster, however, states that Azoun Obarskyr IV was on his death bed, which explicitly happened in 1369 DR in Cormyr: A Novel (released July 1996). Qilué explains the happenings of Liriel Baenre, concurrent with events that happen in 1361 DR from Tangled Webs (released April 1996). The blurb states that Elminster and Presto travel in time as well as space (though this may be figurative), so this may be the correct explanation to account for the apparent inconsistency. It is also possible that Qilué and/or Elminster were behind/incorrect in their timings.

[1] There are several different dates implied in The Grand Tour, but each event points back to material being written in the beginning of 1996 (real-world time). Qilué Veladorn states that "Drizzt is currently hunting pirates along the Sword Coast", thus placing the comic when Drizzt and Catti-brie are sailing with Deudermont, which is between the novels Siege of Darkness (released August 1994) and Passage to Dawn (released August 1996), dating the comic between 1358 and 1364 DR. Elminster, however, states that Azoun Obarskyr IV was on his death bed, which explicitly happened in 1369 DR in Cormyr: A Novel (released July 1996). Qilué explains the happenings of Liriel Baenre, concurrent with events that happen in 1361 DR from Tangled Webs (released April 1996). The blurb states that Elminster and Presto travel in time as well as space (though this may be figurative), so this may be the correct explanation to account for the apparent inconsistency. It is also possible that Qilué and/or Elminster were behind/incorrect in their timings.

[note 1]