Shadowdale (novel)

Shadowdale, by Scott Ciencin, is the first book of the Avatar series.

"When the gods are banished from the heavens, they must travel through Faerûn in the guise of mortals.

When four companions, last survivors of the Company of the Lynx, find themselves in possession of a mysterious amulet, they must escape death at the hand of Bane, god of murder.

When magic itself runs wild, no one can say that the most innocent of spells will not destroy the world."

Summary
In the first part of the book, the adventurers Kelemvor Lyonsbane, Midnight, Cyric and Adon are presented as they end up joined in a party to rescue a lady, who actually is the goddess Mystra, held captive by Bane. Midnight also receives a token of Mystra's power during the quest. The group eventually manage to help the goddess, who proceed to deafeat Bane, whose human form is nearly killed. Mystra then tries to ascend to the gods world to provide Ao with the names of the responsibles of the Tablets of Fate theft, but is destroyed by Helm by Ao's order, since the overgod wants the Tablets themselves back. In her last moment, the goddess pleads the adventurers to rescue the Tablets and to ask for Elminster's help on their quest.

In the second part of the book, the adventurers face a difficult travel to Shadowdale, home of Elminster. All the land is scarred and deformed by the violent death of the goddess Mystra, becoming dangerous and deadly, and the party manages to reach Shadowdale only thanks to the power Mystra granted Midnight. During the travel Midnight and Kelemvor enstabilish a sentimental bond between each other, while also Cyric starts to develop some feeling toward the woman. In the meanwhile, Adon's fate in Sune is shattered as a consequence of a serious face injury which gives him a big scar. The adventurers reach Shadowdale just before a battle begins; Bane marches to war on Shadowdale with two goals in his mind: destruction and removing the possible danger of Elminster. The battle is won and Bane apparently destroyed by an apparition of Mystra, but Elminster disappears in the huge energies generated by the event. The book ends with the adventurers accused of the death of old sage.

Main characters

 * Adon (Male Human)
 * Cyric (Male Human)
 * Kelemvor Lyonsbane (Male Human)
 * Midnight (Female Human)

Other characters

 * Aldophus (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Angelique Cantaran (Female Human)
 * Annalee (Female Human)
 * Azoun IV (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Bartholeme Guin (Male Human)
 * Bishop (Male Human)
 * Bohaim (Male Human)
 * Brehnan Mueller (Male Human)
 * Brion (Male Human)
 * Burne Lyonsbane (Male Human, as an illusion)
 * Caitlan Moonsong (Female Human)
 * Chess (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Connel Greylore (Male Human)
 * Drizhal (Male Human)
 * Elminster (Male Human)
 * Evon Stralana (Male Human)
 * Forester (man) (Male Human)
 * Fzoul Chembryl (Male Human)
 * Gelzunduth (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Geryon (Mentioned only)
 * Gillian (Female Human)
 * Goulart (Male Human)
 * Isaac (Male Human)
 * Jhaele Silvermane (Female Human)
 * Knorrel Talbot (Male Human)
 * Kyle Lyonsbane (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Kendrel Lyonsbane (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Leetym (Male Human)
 * Lhaeo (Male Human)
 * Lukyan Lyonsbane (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Marek (Male Human)
 * Mayheir Hawksguard (Male Human)
 * Mawser (Male Human)
 * Mordant DeCruew (Male Human)
 * Mourngrym (Male Human)
 * Myrmeen Lhal (Female Human)
 * Neena (Female Human)
 * Parys Guin (Male Human)
 * Phylanna (Female Human)
 * Pretti (Cat, mentioned only)
 * Quicksal (Male Human, as an illusion)
 * Renee (Female Human)
 * Rhaymon (Male Human)
 * Ronglath Knightsbridge (Male Human)
 * Rull (Male Human)
 * Rusch (Male Human)
 * Sememmon (Male Human)
 * Shaerl (Female Human, mentioned only)
 * Sharantyr (Female Human)
 * Simbul (Female Human, mentioned only)
 * Storm Silverhand (Female Human)
 * Sulcar Reedo (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Sunlar (Male Human, as an illusion)
 * Sylune (Female Human, mentioned only)
 * Tempus Blackthorne (Male Human)
 * Tensyl Durmond (Male Human)
 * Tessaril Winter (Female Human, mentioned only)
 * Thurbal (Male Human)
 * Thurbrand (Male Human)
 * Torrence (Male jackalwere)
 * Torum Garr (Male Human, as an illusion)
 * Trannus Kialton (Male Human)
 * Vance (Male Human, as an illusion)
 * Vogt (Male Human)
 * Welch (Male Human)
 * Weregrund the Trader (Male Human, mentioned only)
 * Yarbro (Male Human)
 * Zehla (Female Human)
 * Zelanz (Male Human)

Deities

 * Ao
 * Bane
 * Gond (Mentioned only)
 * Helm
 * Ilmater
 * Lathander (Mentioned only)
 * Lliira
 * Loviatar (Mentioned only)
 * Myrkul
 * Mystra
 * Oghma (Mentioned only)
 * Shar (Mentioned only)
 * Sune (As a illusion)
 * Talos
 * Tymora
 * Tyr

Artifacts

 * Methild's Harp
 * Tablets of Fate

Events

 * Arrival
 * Battle of Shadowdale

Locations

 * Arabel
 * River Ashaba
 * Calanter's Way
 * Castle Kilgrave
 * Citadel of the Raven
 * Flagon Held High
 * Hungry Man Inn
 * Night Wolf Inn
 * Old Skull Inn
 * Pride of Arabel Inn
 * Shadow Gap
 * Shadowdale
 * Spiderhaunt Woods
 * Stonelands
 * The Lady's House
 * Tilverton
 * Twisted Tower
 * Zhentil Keep

Note
The first three novels of the Avatar series were originally released under the pen-name 'Richard Awlinson'.