Erik Scott De Bie - Shadowbane: A Forgotten Realms Novel

SHADOWBANE
2011 Wizards of the Coast LLC

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eISBN: 978-0-7869-5935-8
640-37446000-001-EN

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v3.1

ORIGIN

The Gates of Madness
James Wyatt

The Mark of Nerath
A prologue to the Abyssal Plague
Bill Slavicsek

THE PLAGUE STRIKES

The Temple of Yellow Skulls
The Abyssal Plague Trilogy, Book I
Don Bassingthwaite

Oath of Vigilance
The Abyssal Plague Trilogy, Book II
James Wyatt

The Eye of the Chained God
The Abyssal Plague Trilogy, Book III
Don Bassingthwaite
April 2012

THE PLAGUE SPREADS

Sword of the Gods
Bruce R. Cordell

Under the Crimson Sun
Keith R. A. DeCandido

Shadowbane
Erik Scott de Bie

This book goes out to my fellow Realmsians, authors, editors, readers, designers, and gamers alike.

It is only by working together that we keep the awesome setting that is the Forgotten Realms alive and flourishing!

Id like to acknowledge the efforts of a most excellent group of ladies whose editing skills went into crafting this novel from beginning to end: Susan, Erin, Liz, and Nina. This tome of treachery, swordplay, and divine grace would not have been possible without you.

Thanks especially to my patient and supportive wife Shelley. I owe her about a hundred thousand kind words for all her help, a count that resets every novel or so.

Special thanks to an old gaming group of mine for a special thread of backstory for one of the characters: Gered, Shea, Ben, Zach H, and Zach K. I hope I did you proud!

Also as always, I give thanks for the tireless work of my fellow authors: Ed, Steve, Rosemary, Jaleigh, Bruce, Paul, Bob, and all the rest. I couldnt do what I do without you to guide and inspire me.

And finally, thanks to the James brothersyou know, for Helm.

W elcome to Faern, a land of magic and intrigue, brutal violence and divine compassion, where gods have ascended and died, and mighty heroes have risen to fight terrifying monsters. Here, millennia of warfare and conquest have shaped dozens of unique cultures, raised and leveled shining kingdoms and tyrannical empires alike, and left long forgotten, horror-infested ruins in their wake.

A LAND OF MAGIC

When the goddess of magic was murdered, a magical plague of blue firethe Spellplagueswept across the face of Faern, killing some, mutilating many, and imbuing a rare few with amazing supernatural abilities. The Spellplague forever changed the nature of magic itself, and seeded the land with hidden wonders and bloodcurdling monstrosities.

A LAND OF DARKNESS

The threats Faern faces are legion. Armies of undead mass in Thay under the brilliant but mad lich king Szass Tam. Treacherous dark elves plot in the Underdark in the service of their cruel and fickle goddess, Lolth. The Abolethic Sovereignty, a terrifying hive of inhuman slave masters, floats above the Sea of Fallen Stars, spreading chaos and destruction. And the Empire of Netheril, armed with magic of unimaginable power, prowls Faern in flying fortresses, sowing discord to their own incalculable ends.

A LAND OF HEROES

But Faern is not without hope. Heroes have emerged to fight the growing tide of darkness. Battle-scarred rangers bring their notched blades to bear against marauding hordes of orcs. Lowly street rats match wits with demons for the fate of cities. Inscrutable tiefling warlocks unite with fierce elf warriors to rain fire and steel upon monstrous enemies. And valiant servants of merciful gods forever struggle against the darkness.

A LAND OF
UNTOLD ADVENTURE

17 K YTHORN, THE Y EAR OF D EEP W ATER D RIFTING (1480 DR)

M ERCIFULLY, THE SUN SANK BEYOND THE DISTANT HORIZON , letting cool night reclaim the Sword Coast.

For Duran Ironhand, who had pulled the short stick and been stuck with this fools errand into Luskan, it was a relief after hours of steaming heat.

Twilight brought its own dangers, however, particularly in Luskan. Monsters, Duran preferred: a monster was honest in its vile aimspredictable. Most of the perils lurking in the shadows wore the faces of men and carried jagged steel. Duran kept one hand on his coin purse and the other on the war pick at his hip.

Still, Luskan did boast fine sunsets. The stinking smoke had tainted the air, and when the sun god Amaunator sank into sleep, the clouds blazed with vibrant light. Duran couldnt really say how it all workedthe blue-haired lady had tried to explain it, but to no avail. The wizard tagging along with Clan Ironhand had a kind way about her, but her words often made his head hurt.

His partner Roluf rubbed his hands together out of nervousness. Hope they hurry up. I need a piss.

The two dwarves stood outside a tavern down by the docks at the appointed meeting place. Their contact was a big man in a gang called the Dead Rats. The dodgy tluiners were known on the streets of Luskan for being untouchable, unless one fancied a quick and bloody death in the shadows. No one could say for certain if they were fully men or partially beasts.