Realms of Valor

Realms of Valor, edited by James Lowder, is the first anthology of stories from the Forgotten Realms.

"From the secret annals of Realms history come eleven never-before-published tales of valor, featuring the greatest heroes of that magical world—Drizzt Do'Urden, Arilyn Moonblade, Adon, Elminster of Shadowdale, Jander Sunstar, and many others - told by your favorite author's, including: R. A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Douglas Niles, Troy Denning, Christie Golden, and others."

The Lord of Lowhill
By Douglas Niles

Characters: Stefanik, Pawldo, Ketheryll

Elminster at the Magefair
By Ed Greenwood

Characters: Storm Silverhand, Elminster, Dhaerivus, Lhaeo, Raerlin

This short story chronicles the visit of Elminster, accompanied by Storm Silverhand, to a magefair in 1355 DR, and the subsequent events.

One Last Drink
By Christie Golden

The story of how Jander Sunstar escapes the will of his vampire lord, Cassiar.

The Bargain
By Elaine Cunningham

Patronage
By David Cook

A Virtue by Reflection
By Scott Ciencin

King's Tear
By Mark Anthony

The Family Business
By James Lowder

Grandfather's Toys
By Jean Rabe

The Curse of Tegea
By Troy Denning

Dark Mirror
By R.A. Salvatore

Mithral Hall has just been retaken from Shimmergloom and the Duergar occupying it. Drizzt Do'Urden has been invited inside Silverymoon and is on his way there when he finds some monster tracks, possibly escorting prisoners. He joins with a band of villagers from a tiny community called Pengallen, led by Rico Pengallen who pursue the same goal. Together they find the camp but before Drizzt's plan to free the prisoners without a fight can be achieved, the humans are spotted and a fight breaks out. With Drizzt and Guenhwyvar's help, the monsters are defeated, but one of the prisoners, a goblin named Nojheim fled. Rico asks Drizzt to bring Nojheim back to Pengallen and Drizzt agrees, but suspects that something odd is going on.

Drizzt finds and retrieves Nojheim, bringing him back as promised but rather than continue to Silverymoon, Drizzt elects to stay and have a meal. Talking to the locals, Drizzt discovers that Nojheim is Rico's slave. Then he makes a mistake. Hating slavery even more than he hates goblins, he goes back and starts talking to Nojheim. After talking with the obviously-abused goblin he realizes that despite the hopelessly depraved nature of most of his own species even in comparison to goblins, it's his drow-borne mystique and seeming beauty that allowed him a foothold in the world, while that individual goblin, who was of similar principles to his own, clearly stood no such chance.

He decides to try to free the goblin when he comes back but, as Rico overheard their conversation, as soon as Drizzt leaves Rico kills Nojheim. This makes Drizzt feel less prejudice towards goblins while greatly steeling his resolve against slavery.