Realms of Infamy

Realms of Infamy, edited by James Lowder, is the second anthology of stories from the Forgotten Realms. "From the secret annals of Realms history come these never-before-published tales of infamy, featuring the most nefarious villains of that magical world—Artemis Entreri, Manshoon of Zhentil Keep, Elaith Craulnober, Zulkir Szass Tam, and many others—told by your favorite authors, including: Ed Greenwood, R.A. Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham, Troy Denning, Christie Golden, and others."

Contents
Realms of Infamy contains the following short stories:


 * "So High a Price" by Ed Greenwood, in which Elminster foils a plot by Manshoon and Fzoul Chembryl to seize control of Zhentil Keep.
 * "The More Things Change" by Elaine Cunningham, telling the story of how Elaith Craulnober became a Waterdhavian crime lord.
 * "The Meaning of Lore" by Barb Hendee, in which a young Oghmite scholar lies and cheats his way into the secret vaults of the Seat of Lore in Berdusk.
 * "Raven's Egg" by Elaine Bergstrom, in which a dying Lord Sharven of Espar looks back on his life.
 * "The Third Level" by R.A. Salvatore, in which a young Artemis Entreri ingratiates himself with the Basadoni cabal of thieves.
 * "Blood Sport" by Christie Golden, in which a vampire-slaying bounty hunter tries to defeat Jander Sunstar.
 * "Gallows Day" by David Cook, in which Pinch and his thieving companions rescue a captured comrade.
 * "A Matter of Thorns" by James M. Ward, in which a murderous lord is harassed by a malevolent rose bush.
 * "Stolen Spells" by Denise Vitola, in which a thief-for-hire is betrayed by his client and plots revenge.
 * "The Greatest Hero Who Ever Died" by J. Robert King, in which a mysterious stranger travels to an isolated settlement and shares an unlikely tale.
 * "Twilight" by Troy Denning, recounting the giant legend of Ulutiu's affair with Othea and the fall of Ostoria.
 * "The Walls of Midnight" by Mark Anthony, in which a ruthless Zhentarim agent steals a magical object from an old sorcerer's tower.
 * "And Wringing of Hands" by Jane Cooper Hong, in which a small-time alchemist secretly provides an assassin with poison.
 * "Thieves' Honor" by Mary H. Herbert, in which the horse-thief Teza is caught up in a plot involving Prince Laric Balindre of Telflamm.
 * "Laughter in the Flames" by James Lowder, in which two Cormyrean nobles decide to pay Cyric a visit.
 * "Vision" by Roger E. Moore, in which a blind half-goblin leads a goblin warband on a quest for redemption.

Blood Sport
By Christie Golden

Summary
The Shark, a bounty hunter specialized in vampire-slaying, followed Jander Sunstar to Waterdeep, hoping to finally defeat the blooder.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Locations


 * Miscellaneous


 * Organizations


 * Religion

Gallows Day
By David Cook

Summary
After the thief Therin was setup on his most recent "jobs" in Elturel, his companions led by Pinch began to orchestrate his rescue from the gallow's noose. Pinch himself began to tie clues of the botched heist together, planning revenge against the group's traitor.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Locations


 * Organizations


 * Religion

A Matter of Thorns
By James M. Ward

Summary
After the newly-arisen young Lord Stone killed the long-serving gardener of Castle Stone, a massive malevolent rose bush arose out of the castle's gardens.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Items


 * Locations


 * Organizations


 * Plants


 * Religion

Stolen Spells
By Denise Vitola

Summary
Having been offered the right price, the skilled thief Arek Adar traveled to the Sunset Mountains to steal an item of great value from an old dwarven] hermit. When Arek returned to his client in Cormyr he was betrayed, and began to plot his revenge.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Items


 * Locations


 * Miscellaneous


 * Religion

The Greatest Hero Who Ever Died
By J. Robert King

Summary
A mysterious stranger traveled to the isolated settlement of Capel Curig and shared the story of a valiant knight whose exploits were too grand to be entirely true. When confronted by the wizard Dorsoom, the knight revealed the truth of character.

Index

 * Characters


 * Items


 * Locations


 * Religion

Twilight
By Troy Denning

Summary
The giant legend of Ulutiu's affair with Othea is recounted, including its revelation to her husband Annam, leading to the murder of Ulutiu and downfall of Annam's relationship with Othea over the incident. The tale then told the legend of Lanaxis's betrayal of his mother Othea, and the infighting between the sons of Annam that led up to the demise of Ostoria.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures:


 * Locations
 * 
 * 
 * 


 * Items

The Walls of Midnight
By Mark Anthony

Date: 1350 DR

Summary
Ravendas, a former member of the Flaming Fist from Baldur's Gate, is sent on a mission by the Zhentarim to retrieve an ancient magical object, the Finger of Ckai-el-Ckaan. Arriving at Gurthang, the old sorcerer's tower in the Sunset Mountains, she finds its walls insurmountable. With the help of Marnok, a mage she meets there, she overcomes the fortress' defenses and escapes, sacrificing Marnok, with the prize in her hands.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Locations


 * Miscellaneous


 * Organizations


 * Religion

And Wringing of Hands
By Jane Cooper Hong

Summary
We get to know Tine, a small-time alchemist, in his secret occupation as poison-maker and accomplice to Renek the assassin. His conscience and his heart's desires are not always in concordance with the malignant life of hired killers.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Items


 * Locations


 * Organizations


 * Religion

Thieves' Honor
By Mary H. Herbert

Date: 1367 DR

Summary
A common horsethief from Immilmar named Teza is caught up in a plot involving Prince Laric Balindre of Telflamm.

Index
•
 * Characters

• •  •
 * Creatures

• •
 * Items


 * Locations


 * Organizations


 * Religion

Laughter in the Flames
By James Lowder

Summary
Hamnet Hawklin and Gareth Truesilver are respected members of the Cormyrian Society of Stalwart Adventurers. When they are informed of a possible passageway to the realm of Cyric, Lord of Strife by Uther, butler of the Society's Club Hall, they embark on the journey through the dark alleys of Suzail.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Locations


 * Miscellaneous


 * Organizations


 * Religion

Vision
By Roger E. Moore

Summary
The half-goblin prophet Zeth spreads his teaching across the borders of Durpar alongside the veteran goblin warrior Kergis and his warband.

Index

 * Characters


 * Creatures


 * Locations


 * Miscellaneous