The Nine

The Nine was a powerful, long-lasting band of adventurers that wandered the Realms for over thirty winters. The band maintained a subterranean stronghold, the Stronghold of the Nine, in the woods east of Waterdeep, on the banks of the Unicorn Run. Before they disbanded, they had links to the Harpers and the Lords of Waterdeep.

In 1337 DR (the Year of the Wandering Maiden), the Nine acquired the Crown of Horns. When Laeral Silverhand, the leader of the group, donned the headpiece, she descended into madness and the band fragmented into three warring parties.

Surviving Members
Most nobles of Cormyr have heard rumors that some of the Nine still exist in the post-Spellplague world, trapped in magic items, and can be summoned forth from those items by those who hold them - and know how to activate them - to fight as the item-bearers' slaves. Thus far, only two of these entrapped spirits, known as Blueflame ghosts, have been discovered: Treth Halonter and Relve Langral, trapped in the Wyverntongue Chalice and Flying Blade respectively.

Manshoon claims to know of the existence of six - maybe seven - items containing souls of the Nine.