The Abyssal Plague is a multiverse-spanning series of seven novels and one novella, published by Wizards of the Coast between 2010 and 2012. The event revolves around the Voidharrow, an entity from a dead universe that is unleashed across multiple worlds. Two of the novels in the Abyssal Plague series are set in the Forgotten Realms.[1]
Description[]
Narrative structure of the Abyssal Plague event.
The Abyssal Plague event was divided into three parts:
- Origins: the beginning of the Plague, and introductions to most of the main characters
- Plague Strikes: the main trilogy of novels, set on the world of Nerath
- Plague Spreads: how the Plague affected the worlds of Toril and Athas
Plot[]
Origins[]
The Chained God Tharizdun stirs in his prison in Pandemonium.[3] On the world of Nerath, Tharizdun makes contact with one of his disciples, who is instructed to use a fragment of an artifact known as the Living Gate[4] to pierce Tharizdun's prison and allow the god to free himself.[5] As Tharizdun's plan is underway, the benevolent deities Ioun and Pelor move to foil him through their own mortal champions,[6] among which is Demascus, the Sword of the Gods.[7] The champions chase the disciple and his minions from Nerath unto Sigil[8] and finally into Pandemonium itself,[9] but are unable to stop the ritual in time.[10] The entity known as the Voidharrow slips out of Tharizdun's prison, imbued with a fraction of the god's willpower.[11] The Voidharrow manifests itself as a liquid, crystalline substance,[10] that corrupts and twists those who touch it with Abyssal Plague, and turning them into plague demons.[1] The champions of Ioun and Pelor catch up to the disciple and his now-twisted minions,[12] and in the ensuing fight, parts of the Voidharrow fall into portals leading to the worlds of Athas[13] and Toril. Demascus also falls through one of the portals.[14]
On Nerath, the Voidharrow is captured by a wizard.[15] Through a convoluted series of events involving the green dragon Vestapalk,[16] Orcus,[17] and an agent of the Voidharrow known as Nu Alin,[18] the Voidharrow is eventually freed and possesses Vestapalk.[19]
Publication history[]
| Date | Title | Author | Pages | Setting | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origins | |||||
| 2010 | The Gates of Madness | James Wyatt | 75 | Nentir Vale | |
| August 2010 | The Mark of Nerath | Bill Slavicsek | 320 | Nentir Vale | ISBN 978-0-7869-5622-7 |
| Plague Strikes | |||||
| March 2011 | The Temple of The Yellow Skulls | Don Bassingthwaite | 320 | Nentir Vale | ISBN 978-0-7869-5749-1 |
| August 2011 | Oath of Vigilance | James Wyatt | 384 | Nentir Vale | ISBN 978-0-7869-5816-0 |
| April 2012 | The Eye of The Chained God | Don Bassingthwaite | 384 | Nentir Vale | ISBN 978-0-7869-5983-9 |
| Plague Spreads | |||||
| April 2011 | Sword of the Gods | Bruce R. Cordell | 352 | Forgotten Realms | ISBN 978-0-7869-5739-2 |
| June 2011 | Under The Crimson Sun | Keith R. A. DeCandido | 320 | Athas | ISBN 978-0-7869-5797-2 |
| Sept 2011 | Shadowbane | Erik Scott de Bie | 352 | Forgotten Realms | ISBN 978-0-7869-5802-3 |
Follow up with Sword of the Gods by reading Spinner of Lies. (Part of the Rise of the Underdark event)
Before reading Shadowbane, consider checking out Downshadow (novel) (Part of the Waterdeep (series)) and then after Shadowbane, follow up by reading Eye of Justice.
The Ghost King, Whisper of Venom, and others stand as prequels to this storyline.
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 James Wyatt (2011-03-16). Design & Development: The Abyssal Plague. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2011-03-22. Retrieved on 2017-01-07.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast event page
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 1. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 55–56. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
- ↑ Bill Slavicsek (October 5, 2010). The Mark of Nerath (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 1057. ISBN B0045EOIWS.
- ↑ Bill Slavicsek (October 5, 2010). The Mark of Nerath (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 2228. ISBN B0045EOIWS.
- ↑ Bill Slavicsek (October 5, 2010). The Mark of Nerath (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 4553. ISBN B0045EOIWS.
- ↑ Bill Slavicsek (October 5, 2010). The Mark of Nerath (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 3115. ISBN B0045EOIWS.
- ↑ Bill Slavicsek (October 5, 2010). The Mark of Nerath (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 4897. ISBN B0045EOIWS.