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• Zeromaru X went into the Narfell wilds to consult the ancient and terrible Hermit about the Time of Dragons and the Draco Holy Wars, learning of ancient realms like Argissthilliax and Darastriverthicha, and the kobold vassal state of Darastrixhurthi, before their fall in the first Dracorage. Returning to civilization, Zeromaru reported on mercury dragons and Gryznath, a black dragon Chosen. Now, there's just the small matter of a curse…

• Ir'revrykal also wrote of dragons: Augaurath, a ruler of the High Ice; Alhazmabad, who was lost in time; and Lorragauth, the Chained Wyrm, already dead, one hopes. Then, after reading the teasingly named The Fools Who've Stood Here Before You, he went on the trail of the great mage Archveult Tattercloak, consort of a gold dragon. He documented Archveult's spell dagger (a spell, not a dagger) and read his Thesis on Conditional Ruptures, which sounds like a feat in itself.
• We say well met to the voracious Vegepygmy, who first detailed their own kind, the mold folk, whose spores are hazardous to more than one's health. Vegepygmy went on to expand the menageries for countless other monsters, including meenlocks, umber hulks, and banderhobbs. In particular, Vegepygmy beheld more beholder-kin than thought wise, with death kisses, gauths, gazers, spectators, and more.

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Ilbratha, the "Mistress of Battles", was an enchanted bloodstone-bedecked bronze short sword with a long and storied history. It had the distinction of being part of the royal regalia of two kingdoms, to be carried by their heirs: the Forest Kingdom of Cormyr on land and the merfolk kingdom of Eadraal in the Inner Sea. However, the sword was lost to both realms, its whereabouts unknown but always sought after.

To Cormyr, Ilbratha was one of the Lost Swords of State. It was commissioned by Azoun I and went with him on campaign against the kingdom of Valashar in the Year of the Leaping Hare, 376 DR. Ilbratha rallied the troops, becoming a symbol of power and of Azoun's victory over the Shoon Imperium. But it was lost in the wreck of the prince's ship, Valashar's Bane, then was rediscovered then lost, time and again.

Finally, it went under the waves again, becoming Haalorth, "the Warrior's Fang". It was swung by Tarag, a sea ogre chieftain and builder of the Axe Kingdoms. Then, famously, it was borne by the merfolk princes and princesses of Eadraal for some seven centuries, as the official Heir's Blade. Finally, in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, the mermaid warrior princess Jian wielded it in battle against the conquering wereshark Iakhovas, until she was slain and the blade lost to history.

New & Upcoming Releases

Boundless, the second entry in the Generations trilogy of Drizzt novels, was released on September 10^th. The novel's story is split into two parts: one following Drizzt in the present time of the Realms, and the other focusing on Zaknafein and Jarlaxle's adventures in the distant past. A Darkened Wish #2 by B. Dave Walters with art by Tess Fowler is the second of a new five-issue comic series published by IDW Publishing. It will be released on July 24^th, and is set around the Sea of Swords, following the adventures of the young wizard Helene and friends.

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Enter Hoondarrh: the Red Rage of Mintarn; the Sleeping Wyrm of Skadaurak; a red dragon of legendary size, cunning, and strength. None shall prevail against his might.

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Realms of Valor was the first anthology of short stories from the Forgotten Realms, published in 1993. It was edited by James Lowder and features stories from many contemporary authors of Forgotten Realms novels, as well as many of their characters, in adventures tied in to recent novels and Realms events, including a Ravenloft cross-over. In the Afterword, Jeff Grubb presents a short history of the development of the Forgotten Realms to that point.

It includes:

"The Lord of Lowhill" by Douglas Niles • "Elminster at the Magefair" by Ed Greenwood • "One Last Drink" by Christie Golden • "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

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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 authors, including: R. A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Douglas Niles, Troy Denning, Christie Golden, and others.

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Today in the Realms...

...it is 15 Eleint, or the 15th of the Fading. Selûne is a new moon .   

Realmslore

• Turnips were a nearly ubiquitous vegetable grown from Faerûn to Kara-Tur and used in an uncountable number of recipes. They were even used in the ink for inscribing message scrolls.
• The Infinity Spindle was a timeless artifact that could transform a mortal creature into a minor demigod. Raxivort stole it from Graz'zt's treasury and used it on himself to achieve godhood.
• The Field Ward was a slum full of refugees and smelly industries that sprang up in the caravan grounds north of Waterdeep in the late 15^th century DR.
• The Wintershield Watchmen started as a local volunteer city watch in Neverwinter in response to the harsh methods of the Mintarn-born Neverwinter Guard.
• A hellwasp swarm was a hive-minded cloud of stinging insects from the Lower planes. It could poison a victim into submission and inhabit the body, operating it from within like a puppet.
• Swift quiver was a spell used by rangers to get an unlimited number of arrows for a short time, but they had to have a quiver with at least one arrow in order to cast the spell.
• Shandeir was an adventurous wizard with a sharp tongue and a penchant for pranks. She often traveled on a copper dragon from her home in Elturel in the mid–14^th century DR.

And, from the archives:

• An ice box was a quasimagical item with a conduit to the Paraelemental Plane of Ice, in which people could keep food frozen.
• The incantation school of magic focused on affecting magic itself, but its practioners were unknown outside western Faerûn.
• Fiend's Wing was a province of the Yikarian Empire in the World Pillar Mountains, ruled by the powerful Cloud Wizard.
• The Isle of Gargantuas of Wa was a place of great volcanic activity where enormous monsters fought constantly and destructively.
• A warlock could make a pact with an undying patron such as Larloch or Gilgeam, granting them powers over death.
• Belhuar Thantarth was Master Harper who managed all their operations and presided over the trial of Khelben Arunsun.

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