Realms of the Elves

Realms of the Elves, edited by Philip Athans, is the eleventh anthology of stories from the Forgotten Realms. It serves as an anthology to The Last Mythal trilogy.

"The story of the elves of Faerûn stretches from the dawn of history to the battle for the future of a world in constant upheaval."

"Tears So White"
By Ed Greenwood

Date: 1374 DR

"The Bladesinger's Lesson"
By Richard Baker

Date: 1374 DR

Daried Selsherryn an Elven Bladesinger of some nobility is commanding a defensive scouting party in his forsaken homeland of Cormanthyr against a Sembian invading force. The elven troop is small and posted there by higher command for fear of a stealthy flanking of the larger elven force that they are apart of. There is some question as to the value of their post as the River Ashaba was thought to be extremely difficult to ford.

While in the area Daried can not resist visiting the abandoned estate of his family's previous home. When entering the gardens he finds the protective wards countered, and evidence of tomb robbing perhaps decades prior. Of particular frustration to him is the missing Selsherryn Moonblade - long magically defunct.

He excuses himself from the command of his small troop to enquire in the nearby small human settlement in the vicinity of Mistledale. Daried considers the community 'nameless' and of no account. There he makes accusations and insinuations on many of the towns folk. When inquiring about the taken moonblade he finds out that he is just days late - as the house that held the "acquired sword" has been ransacked  just nights before his arrival by a band of mercenaries.

He engages on the hunt for the mercenary band and the moonblade - tracking them to a critical river fording - one of which he was unaware. The hunt for the moonblade has brought him to the realization that there is a weak point - and further more the Sembian's Mercenaries are aware of the river crossing.

Daried stops an archer named Nilsa who has also followed the marauders - she's bent on killing the raiders one arrow at a time. Nilsa is the local descendant of the man who had taken the moon blade and is clearly of questionable heritage.

Together they perform some valiant heroism. Lessons about valor and worth are learned.

"Comrades at Odds"
By R.A. Salvatore

Date: 1371 DR

Summary
Tos'un Armgo finds himself without any allies since his three drow companions are all dead and he has become an enemy of King Obould Many-Arrows because of Kaer'lic Suun Wett's attempt to kill the orc while Obould and Drizzt Do'Urden were fighting. Tos'un knows that he cannot survive the journey back through the Underdark alone. Feeling helpless on the surface world, he lets out his rage by attacking orcs with the powerful sentient blade Khazid'hea.

On their journey to recover the body of Ellifain, Drizzt Do'Urden and Innovindil find that the orc hordes have not yet disbanded after the (so Drizzt and Innovindil believe) death of King Obould. Upon inspection, the two elves find that the orcs are building a gate upon a trail further fortifying the orc kingdom. Realizing there is nothing they can do, they continue their journey.

Tos'un Armgo becomes more powerful and dangerous under the subtle tutelage of Khazid'hea. In the battles the drow wages on unsuspecting orcs, the blade imparts the thoughts of "do not think", instilling to Tos'un to rely on his instincts and training without allowing his conscious thoughts to impede him. This was what Khazid'hea learned from Drizzt in the short time he wielded the blade.

The elves of the Moonwood find another scene where orcs were slain by Tos'un. Sinnafain and Albondiel discuss whether Tos'un is good or evil and that they will treat him accordingly.

Drizzt and Innovindil find and recover the body of Ellifain whereupon Innovindil performs a ritual asking the elven gods to rescue Ellifain from her anger. Innovindil comforts Drizzt and assures him that they will convene with the spirit of Ellifain upon their return to the Moonwood to ease Drizzt's own guilt.

As Tos'un is about to finish slaying an orc encampment, one orc falls to elven arrows. He meets with Sinnafain but she shows no signs of aggression towards him. Khazid'hea implores him to kill her but he resists knowing the he would have a dozen arrows in him before his first attack. An elven priest casts a spell to converse with the dark elf as well as a spell to detect lies. Khazid'hea assists Tos'un to deceive the latter spell. After the encounter, the blade tries to convince Tos'un to leave the elves but the drow knows he has no where else to go.

Drizzt and Innovindil return to the Moonwood where they encounter a patrol of elves. They recount their story to the patrol and also learn that King Obould is still alive and also find out that Tos'un Armgo is now residing in the Moonwood with the elves.

Upon finding out that Drizzt is in the Moonwood, Khazid'hea once again tries to convince Tos'un to leave. The blade tells him that Drizzt will recognize from the battle with Obould and that at the very least he would take Khazid'hea back since it previously belonged to Catti-brie. Tos'un agrees to leave and the blade tells him to kill Sinnafain who is the elf near to his position. Tos'un strikes her to the ground and puts the blade to her chin but does not kill her. He tells her that he is not her enemy but Drizzt would not understand. After disarming her and moving farther from the camp of elves, he forces Sinnafain to the ground once again and runs away.

When Drizzt and Innovindil meet up with Sinnafain and she tells him of Tos'un's escape, he vows to find him. Later, a priest performs a ritual which allows Ellifain's spirit to possess Innovindil's body. Innovindil's body walks to the hut in which Drizzt is residing in, kneels next to him and confirms that she is the spirit of Ellifain. She embraces him and tells that now she knows the truth. After the spirit of Ellifain leaves, Innovindil returns to a Drizzt free of guilt and ready to face the obstacles before him.

"The Greater Treasure"
By Erik Scott de Bie

Date: 1362 DR

Summary
“The Greater Treasure” takes place in the month of Eleasias in 1362 DR, the Year of the Helm, in the city of Elversult on the Dragon Coast. The sun elf Yldar Nathalan and his wizardess sister, Cythara, both exiled from House Nathalan, or the House of the Crescent Bow, in Evermeet, arrive in Elversult just as the Scarred Eagle adventuring band defeats the Cowled Skull dynasty of Elversult, and the lady mage Yanseldara is crowned in the Skulls' place; all the while the citizens of Elversult go about their daily business. Yldar is searching for an ancient magical elven relic known as Ynloeth's Bracer, which was once worn by Coronal Ynloeth of Shantel Othreier, a hero of the Crown Wars.

While in the Splitskull inn in Elversult, Yldar and Cythara meet a beautiful and humorous moon elf thief who goes by the name Fox-at-Twilight. She is later revealed to be a shadowdancer (she can walk through shadows) and a former lover of Erevan Ilesere, the Fey Jester, the elf god of mischief and rogues. Twilight agrees to help them obtain the bracer, and she takes them to the House of Coins, a temple of Waukeen, Lady of Merchants and goddess of commerce. The basement of the temple is used by the Deep Coven, a cabal that worships the demon prince Graz'zt, who has been holding Waukeen captive since the Godswar. While in the temple of Graz'zt, Cythara, seeking more power and tired of following in her younger brother's footsteps, betrays Yldar and Twilight. Twilight takes the bracer, and she and Yldar flee, leaving Cythara behind with the demon worshipers. Cythara defeats the lamia Leis'anna, leader of the Deep Coven and Chosen of Graz'zt, and becomes the new leader and Chosen.

Yldar and Twilight fall in love. Yldar asks Twilight to help him save his sister, but Twilight says he cannot ask that of her. When Yldar awakens the next day, after the last night he and Twilight lay together, Twilight is gone. She leaves with him the Bracer of Ynloeth and a note of parchment reading, “Farewell, and remember.”

"Necessary Sacrifices"
By Lisa Smedman

Summary
Dates: 1342 DR – 1344 DR

The loss of a son to a drow attack at the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale in the Year of the Behir, 1342 DR, leads the elven bard, Sorrel, to join in a pact of service to Shevarash the elven deity of revenge, loss and hatred of the drow.

His induction at the Oak of Shevarash in Cormanthyr includes membership to the Dark Avengers. The Dark Avengers were made up of elves of all kinds who sought vengeance and retribution on the drow for personal losses.

Shortly after his induction on Midwinter night of the Year of Moonfall, 1344 DR, there is a drow assault close by. The council of Cormanthyr calls for retaliation via the Dark Avengers.

Assigned to a mixed group of elves as a novice, our hero finds redemption and healing in the Underdark on a mission to avenge his lost family.


 * Locations: Old Skull Inn, Shadowdale, Cormanthor
 * Organizations Dark Avengers, Shevarash

"The Staff of Valmaxian"
By Philip Athans

Dates: – 

Summary
This story begins in in the gold elven realm of Siluvanede. Valmaxian is a young gold elf mage who has trouble mastering the creation of magic items. His frustration and thirst for magic leads him to steal one of his master's scrolls to summon the demon En'Sel'Diren. Valmaxian asks for magic, and En'Sel'Diren agrees to grant it, for a price none of them yet knows.

Six hundred and sixty four years later, Valmaxian is the most sought-after and pompous magic item crafter, when he hears that his old master, Kelaerede, is on his deathbed and has sent for him. Master and student had not spoken to each other since Valmaxian's bargain with the devil, but the student still visited his master. Kelaerede wanted Valmaxian to admit that his ways were flawed and repent in order to rest in peace, something that Valmaxian himself did not agree upon, but he finally gave in after the prompting of Chasianna, Kelaerede's granddaughter.

Two years later, Valmaxian and Chasianna are now lovers and Valmaxian is working on his masterpiece staff. His demon magic is not enough to complete it, though, while Chasianna's magic of self-sacrifice fares better on it. For that, Valmaxian summons En'Sel'Diren once more, but before striking a new bargain, En'Sel'Diren asks for Chasianna as payment for their previous bargain. Valmaxian refuses, but his magic is not enough to stop the demon from taking her anyway. Valmaxian follows them into the Abyss, and after fighting off En'Sel'Diren's minions he faces the demon himself. In the end, he has to sacrifice his masterpiece staff and his demon magic in order to save him and his lover from the demon's clutches.

Index

 * Characters
 * Chasianna • En'Sel'Dinen • Kelaerede • Merellien • Valmaxian • Yulmanda


 * Creatures
 * Demon • Dretch • Gold elves • Nabassu


 * Locations
 * Kingdoms: Siluvanede
 * Planes: Abyss
 * Planets: Toril


 * Organizations
 * House Guirolen


 * Items
 * Staff of Valmaxian


 * Spells
 * Magic missile • Retributive strike


 * Deities
 * Selûne

"Traitors"
Main Article: Realms of the Elves/Traitors.