Mal'eb'dala

The Book of the Shadows, or the Mal'eb'dala as it is written in the ancient Talfirian tongue, was an ancient book of Talfir. Similar to an encyclopedia, it detailed many ancient matters long forgotten by the 14 century DR, such as magic, monsters, and magical items. The author was unknown, but there may have been more than one author that contributed to the book.

The original was destroyed in battle when two mages fought each other to the death. Nearly all copies were lost or ruined by the mid-1300s. One copy was in the library of Elversult, where it had laid for two centuries until it was stolen in 1363 DR by Tembris for Ravendas. Another copy was made by a loremaster of Oghma, Loremaster Erill, in a monastery in the Sunset Mountains. That copy was given to the wizard Morhion Gen'dahar in 1363 DR and since then resided in his tower in Iriaebor.

A passage of the book described the rise of the Shadowking, and his defeat at the hands of the bard Talek Talembar.