Themberchaud, a red dragon, resides in Gracklstugh, a city in the Underdark of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. For those unfamiliar with fantasy terms, the Forgotten Realms is a popular campaign world for the Dungeons & Dragons RPG, and the Underdark is a vast underground cave system teeming with various monsters and subterranean species, including the well-known drow or dark elves. The duergar, also known as gray dwarves, are similar to the drow but among the dwarven race. They are cold, somber, and devoted to their work, possessing exceptional craftsmanship like their more cheerful counterparts, the traditional fantasy dwarves.
Themberchaud, the dragon, was first introduced in the accessory called “Drizzt Do’Urden’s Guide to the Underdark” for the 2nd edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, published in 1999 by TSR. In this early source, the dragon plays a captivating role in the city of Gracklstugh. As a young dragon just shy of 100 years old, he assumes the title of the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh and carries on the legacy of his dragon ancestors who held the same position. His fiery breath illuminates the forges and tempers the steel forged by the city’s inhabitants, while the devoted Keepers of the Flame cater to his every desire.
The dragon receives further mentions in two accessories for Dungeons & Dragons’ 3rd edition, published by Wizards of the Coast: “Underdark” in 2003 and “Dragons of Faerûn” in 2006. These sources largely reaffirm the information from the 2nd edition, updating Themberchaud’s age to over 100 and revealing that he finds contentment not only in the duergar augmenting his treasure hoard but also through a regular supply of unruly slaves as sustenance.
