1357 DR


 * Ches: A many-headed snake monster attacks farms north of Asbravn, and no one locally can defeat it. The Red Cloaks of Asbravn send a carrier pigeon to Lord Piergeiron of Waterdeep reporting the attacks, and they seek someone who can slay the monster.
 * Mirtul: Zhentil Keep wins a naval battle against Mulmaster and Melvaunt on the Moonsea.
 * Kythorn: Luskan destroys the harbor and much of the fleet of Ruathym then lands troops on the island, waging a war to conquer the island. Ulphron, First Axe of Ruathym, disappears. Luskan forces plunder Ruathym and subjugate the population and shipping. Aumark Lithyl, one of Knights of Myth Drannor, leads a defense of the island.
 * Eleasias: Duke Bhereu of Cormyr leads troops out of Tilverton and into the Dalelands, joining forces with Mourngrym Amcathra, lord of Shadowdale. Together, they destroy a dark elf caravan travelling near Shadowdale and help Randal Morn of Daggerdale fight off an orc incursion from the Desertsmouth Mountains.
 * Eleasias: Cormyrean soldiers engage Zhent forces in Daggerdale and Teshwave, and bolster the garrison at Castle Crag to guard against attacks from the north or opportunistic bandits.
 * Marpenoth: After a particularly vicious battle between the forces of Hillsfar and those of Zhentil Keep, the Hillsfar faction, led by Maalthiir, wins control of Yûlash. Zhent forces begin massing in Voonlar to strike back, and preparing for war in Zhentil Keep itself.
 * Marpenoth: Lord Envoy Orm's desertion sparks civil war in Melvaunt, as senior families fight to control the throne.
 * Uktar: The Zhentilar retake Yûlash with an inferior number of troops supported by powerful magic. The troops from Hillsfar retreat from the city, allowing the Zhents time to reinforce the devastated city’s defenses.
 * Salamander War: The Red Wizards of Thay open a gate to the Elemental Plane of Fire and begin a campaign against the North Coast cities of Escalant, Murbant, and Thasselen. Escalant is besieged by fire elementals. Finally, Escalant and Laothkund fall to the Thayans and the elementals as most of the Wizards' Reach falls under Thayan rule.
 * A second Thayan army, this one bolstered by zombies, invades Rashemen but is turned back.
 * Circa: A fleet of the mamluks of Qudra tries to take control of the corsair city of Hawa. The attack is beaten back with severe losses to the Qudran navy.


 * An avatar of Moander wreaks terrible destruction on Yûlash when it is accidentally freed from its elven-made prison underneath the city by Alias.


 * King Virdin of Damara dies in battle with Zhengyi the Witch-King.
 * Phintarn "Redblade", lord of Llorkh, is murdered.
 * Haverstrom Lhal, husband of Myrmeen Lhal of Arabel, dies.
 * The Pharaoh Akonhorus of Mulhorand is assassinated by the Cult of Set, leaving eleven-year-old Horustep III on the throne of Mulhorand.
 * Autumn: Taalmuth Chaadren (father of Tsarra Chaadren) is killed in a spell battle, most likely by a lich.
 * Vendes Baenre, a vicious drow priestess popular in Gracklstugh for her "sculpted" ebony statues transmuted from living beings.


 * Nightal: Heavy snowfall hits Cormyr and the Dalelands, up to a foot in some places. Several ships become trapped in ice on the River Lis.
 * An earthquake in the vicinity of the Laughing Hollow releases an unknown pollutant into the River Delimbiyr downriver of the site. Livestock that drink from the river die in large numbers and Daggerford has to rely on its wells and cisterns for drinking water until the source of the pollution is stemmed.


 * Marpenoth: The Rogues of Tilverton are attacked in their own headquarters by the Fire Knives but that same contingent of Fire Knives is then defeated by an adventuring party inscribed with the Azure Bonds (which they had helped to inscribe!).
 * The Fire Knives move to Westgate and base their organization at Castle Cormaeril.
 * The dwarves of Clan Ironeater reclaim the ruined halls of Illefarn.
 * Shandril Shessair kills a dracolich of the Cult of the Dragon. The Sembian Cult of the Dragon cell also suffers, as Shandril costs the cell three dracoliches (Shargrailar the Dark, Rauglothgor the Proud, and Aghazstamn) and two Wearers of Purple.
 * In Kara-Tur, an outpost of the Black Leopard Cult on Akari Island is discovered and wiped out. As the news arrives in Pendir Chao and H'sin-to, Black Leopard followers organize large-scale parades and demonstrations.


 * Tarsakh: Dabron Sashenstar returns to Baldur's Gate after a successful expedition to Sossal.
 * Marpenoth: Thaalim Torchtower rises to lead the lawless men of the Tunlands between the Storm Horns and the Sunset Mountains. Rumors spread that he has spies in all the settlements of Cormyr (though in reality he only has one spy in Eagle's Peak).
 * Nightal: Haspur, a seer in Baldur's Gate, has a vision that prophesies the rediscovery of the Ring of Winter in the near future. During his vision, he seemed very upset but could recall nothing when he broke out of his trance.
 * An inexperienced Harper bard named Mestrel Hawkmantle succeeds at an extraordinary amount of tasks before disappearing through a portal that he found in some ancient ruins.
 * Chansreena Alabhansree Alanasker of Ormpur elopes with her lover, the pirate Cairak Redbeard to the Moonshae Isles, taking several magic weapons and a large quantity of saffron with her to ensure a comfortable life.
 * Shaliim, the prince of Lapaliiya, and his Waterdhavian adventuring party narrowly escape capture by a group of black dragons.
 * Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun steals the Scepter of the Sorcerer-Kings from a Harper vault called the Catacombs of Ordulin. He replaces it with an illusory replica.
 * The bard Ivryn Olindarr writes the comedic play Three Black Horses.
 * Malarkin Norlbertusz of Ordulin writes the play Much Ado in Sembia.
 * Manshoon and Fzoul Chembryl take ill but are healed.
 * Khelben Arunsun shatters the Crown of Horns, freeing Laeral Silverhand from Myrkul's evil influence. He returns to Blackstaff Tower in Waterdeep with her to help her heal; within three years, they are inseparable, and Laeral is often referred to as Lady Arunsun.
 * Thauloamur Reerist, a minstrel, writes the book Clever Words from a Failed Jester.
 * Thalamoasz Threir, Sage of Sembia, writes Signposts In The Gardens of Life.
 * Pumkato, a svirfneblin of Blingdenstone, rises to the position of burrow warden, one of the youngest in the city's history.
 * On the alternate world of Earth, Ed Greenwood collates a collection of travelogues, maps, and other information given him by Elminster into the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set for its first publication.
 * In the guise of the halfling Regis, the assassin Artemis Entreri comes to Mithral Hall. He battles Drizzt Do'Urden, but is defeated and left for dead. However, he is later rescued by Jarlaxle and the Bregan D'aerthe, who take him to Menzoberranzan. Later this year, while Drizzt and Catti-brie escape the city, he joins them.
 * Shandril Shessair, a spellfire-wielding maiden of Deepingdale, is hunted by both the Cult of the Dragon and the Zhentarim across the Dalelands and Cormyr and into the Heartlands. On the way, she is aided by the Knights of Myth Drannor and hidden by Elminster, Mirt, and the Seven Sisters. She slays three dracoliches of the Dragon Cult.
 * Shandril Shessair later kills a clone of Manshoon, collapses Irondrake Rock, slays the lichnee Iliph Thraun and does heavy damage to Zhentil Keep and the Citadel of the Raven with spellfire.
 * The Dragon Cult and Zhentarim continue to hunt Shandril, until finally she immolates herself in spellfire.
 * Heading to Silverymoon at the invitation of Alustriel, Drizzt Do'Urden comes across the path of a band of orc and ogre raiders and their captives. Joining with a band of farmers from Pengallen, they defeat the band, though not before one of the slaves—a goblin named Nojheim—escapes. Having been told the goblin was a captured war band leader who was to have a trial, Drizzt tracks him down and returns him, whereupon he learns that Nojheim is as temperamentally different a goblin as Drizzt is a drow, and a slave owned by Rico Pengallen. Traveling to Silverymoon to appeal to Alustriel's justice, Drizzt isn't there to stop Nojheim's owner from killing him.
 * Alias and Dragonbait track down the makers of the Azure Bonds. In the process, they destroy the evil magician Cassana of Westgate, the lich Zrie Prakis, the Fire Knives guild, and the fiend Phalse, and they ban the god of decay Moander from Faerûn.


 * Marpenoth: Zhentil Keep's grip on the cities of the Moonsea was expected to loosen as the Zhents become distracted by warfare further south.
 * Mirtul: Orm, the Lord Envoy of the Council of Lords of Melvaunt, flees the city with most of the treasury and buys himself an estate north of Zhentil Keep.
 * Flamerule: Azoun IV attempts to strengthen diplomatic ties between Cormyr, Shadowdale, Mistledale, High Dale, and Deepingdale. This act worsens relations with Sembia and Archendale.
 * Moonsea caravans sending supplies to Zhent troops in the Dalelands begin quietly changing their destination to Arabel. Zhentil Keep quickly discovers this treachery and abandons support for its occupying forces, instead concentrating on rebuilding Yûlash in an attempt to divert all Moonsea trade away from the Dalelands.
 * During the months of Flamerule, Eleasias, and Eleint, the Night Masks battle the Shore Patrol for control of Westgate's criminal underworld. Adventurers, hired by the city's merchant nobility as bounty hunters, deliver a sharp check to the ambitions of the Night Masks. Their efforts thwart a plot by the ruling Pentad of Night Masters to transform Westgate into a theocracy of Mask, the Shadowlord.
 * Uktar: Aumark Lithyl unifies Ruathym.
 * Waterdeep mediates a truce between Luskan and Ruathym. However, Luskan and Ruathym, together with Tuern and the Whalebones, subsequently make an alliance to raid settlements down the Sword Coast.
 * Netyarch Zalathorm is replaced on the throne of Halruaa by Elder Gabrela for two weeks while he recovers from a particularly disturbing divination concerning the events of the year to come.
 * Slave riots in Messemprar.
 * A tribe of kobolds takes up residence in the Maiden's Tomb Tor, unnoticed by Waterdeep.
 * Lady Alustriel forges an alliance with Bruenor Battlehammer of Mithral Hall and helps defend the dwarf halls against the drow of House Baenre.
 * Geildarr becomes lord of Llorkh after the murder of Phintarn "Redblade", the previous lord. Dwarves start disappearing in Llorkh.
 * Shairksah, an evil merchant and mage, is banished from Amn for threatening to kill other merchants with magical creatures he controls or conjures from his home in Murann.


 * This year is known as the Year of Spell Flames in the Black Chronology.
 * Hammer: Whole herds of cattle disappear from grazing land in Archendale. A dragon is suspected to be lairing in nearby mountains.
 * Alturiak: A man named Haljak hires many skilled warriors in Scornubel for a good wage but none of those hired are seen again.
 * A drow is found in the thawing ice of the Thunder River. The High Constable of High Dale doubles the strength of all patrols indefinitely.
 * Ches: Three boats vanish without a trace on the Inner Sea within the first two weeks of the year’s trading season.
 * The corpses of six illithid and thirteen drow are found washing down the Unicorn Run in Secomber all killed by fire or blade.
 * Rumors are rampant in the lands east of Waterdeep that a new Beast Lord (a term given to those who breed rare, dangerous monsters) has arisen, as monsters associated with such men are suddenly increasing in number and seem to be working in concert.
 * Gauntlgrym is re-discovered by the Company of the Gryphon.
 * Large bands of orcs are reported to be on the move between Baldur’s Gate and Amn. They are avoiding contact and moving stealthily.
 * Tarsakh: The Tome of the Unicorn is stolen from Ruathym's Green Rooms royal library by the Calishite mage Shond Tharovin. Shond successfully summons the skull of Shoon VII from the tome and communicates with his spirit.
 * Unknown creatures are reported being seen in the Yuirwood. Those who attempt to combat them are not seen again.
 * Mirtul: Another war of conquest in the Dales is feared as Archendale begins hiring mercenaries.
 * Kythorn: Calimshan begins building its first navy since the time of the Shoon Imperium.
 * During the Festival of the Assumption, Gilgeam destroys a giant dragon turtle in Unthalass Harbor.
 * Flamerule: A Zhent caravan is destroyed in Teshwave, apparently by Cormyreans upset at the situation in Daggerdale.
 * Mourngrym Amcathra and Randal Morn (supported by the garrison at Tilverton) commit forces to clear the trade roads from Shadowdale and Mistledale to Cormyr.
 * Eleasias: The Nentyarch of the Great Dale begins stockpiling black gemstones, sending agents across the Realms in search of them but not giving a reason why.
 * Azoun IV orders the search of all travellers in Cormyr after he discovers gems from the royal mine are being smuggled out of the country.
 * The Sceptanar of Cimbar sends an envoy to Cormyr, Sembia, and the Dalelands, seeking information on the attack on Scornubel by a nishruu in 1355 DR. He offers great wealth to whoever can send the specimen trapped under his palace back to its home plane without harming the magic or people of his realm (and greater wealth to whoever can make it work for him).
 * Eleint: Sightings of Princess Alusair Obarskyr pour into Suzail. Many are thought to be false but one, claiming her appearance in Tilverton, being seen with the lord of that city, seems credible as he too has recently disappeared.
 * Tyranthraxus learns of the process of inscribing Azure Bonds. The Possessing Spirit forms an alliance with a Red wizard, some Zhentarim mages and the survivors of the previous attempt at using the Azure Bonds (Fire Knives members and cultists of Moander). They abduct a group of adventurers and inscribe them with the Bonds.
 * Marpenoth: A tavern in Ordulin is destroyed when a fight breaks out between locals and a mage thought to be a Red Wizard.
 * The adventurers abducted by the New Alliance of the Bonds wake up in Tilverton during a visit from Azoun IV. The brands force them to attack the king's carriage but they escape retaliation, going on to rescue Alusair Obarskyr and Giogi Wyvernspur. They then free themselves of the Azure Bonds and destroy Tyranthraxus with a little help from Elminster.
 * Uktar: Thayan agents openly slay merchants in both Westgate and Scardale Town.
 * Slaver activity is discovered in the Elven Court.
 * Citta Hothemer publishes the book Musings of a Shameless Noble.
 * The "present" in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set is Nightal 30, 1357 Dalereckoning.


 * Realms of Valor: "Dark Mirror"
 * The Halfling's Gem ends.
 * The Legacy
 * Starless Night
 * Azure Bonds
 * Spellfire
 * Crown of Fire
 * Forgotten Realms comic book begins.
 * AD&D&reg; comic book begins.