Pool of Radiance: The Ruins of Myth Drannor by Carrie Bebris is a novel based on the computer game of the same name by SSI.
A dracolich and his sorcerous queen have seized control of the Mythal, the ancient magic that once protected the war-ravaged elven capital.
Once the elven ruin is completely in their thrall, the cult intends to expand its domination one city—and one soul—at a time.
The fate of all Faerûn lies with four reluctant heroes.Summary[]
Kestrel, a thief operating in Phlan, returns to stash some of her stolen goods in Valjevo Castle only to discover the Pool of Radiance, empty since the defeat of Tyranthraxus, has refilled. She hears that Elminster is in the city and offering a reward for information about the pool, so she sets off to find him. However, she is heavily intoxicated and does not remember what happened when she wakes the next day.
She returns to the castle to retrieve her cache of stolen items only to find it is guarded by three people: the paladin of Tyr Corran D'Arcey, the half-elf sorcerer Ghleanna Stormlake, and the guard Durwyn. The trio are expecting her, and Kestrel learns she volunteered to help guard the ruins when meeting with Elminster. A group of adventurers led by the warrior Athan have also been dispatched to Myth Drannor, believed to be the source of the Pool. Athan’s group carries the Gauntlets of Moander, artifacts said to be able to destroy the pool.
A portal opens, and the group in Phlan sees Athan’s band under attack. They travel through the gate only to find most of the party dead and the gauntlets gone. They explore the city, encountering Beriand and Faeril, followers of Mystra, of a sect founded by the priestess Anorrweyn Evensong.
The group continues exploring the city, finding and recruiting the sorcerer Jarial. They encounter various enemies, including a strong presence of the Cult of the Dragon. They learn that the leaders of this cell of the cult are the archwizard Kya Mordrayn and the dracolich Pelendralaar.
The party encounters the spirit of Caalenfaire, a diviner. He tells them that the Cult of the Dragon has corrupted the city’s mythal and the party should seek out Harldain Ironbar, another spirit, to help cleanse it. The party also find the spirit of Annorweyn, who explains that during the fall of Myth Drannor, the city's residents sought a way to prevent the mythal from being corrupted. Harldain found a perfect gem and crafted into the Gem of the Weave, tied to the mythal. The gem needed a communicant, so the elf Miroden Silverblade became a baelnorn tied to the gem.
Faeril joins the party after learning that they encountered Annorwyn. The party set off to find Miroden, eventually freeing him from magical confinement. Miroden tells them that the gem has been destroyed, and they will need a new gem and a new communicant. He suggests Annorweyn. Annorwyn agrees, but is confused, as she believes Miroden should have been destroyed if the old Gem of the Weave was destroyed. The party uses a gem from Harldain to create a new Gem of the Weave, but Annorwyn isn't able to cleanse the mythal because the old Gem is still in use. The party learns that Miroden was tricked into giving the gem to Mordryn.
The party sets off to cleanse the mythal. They encounter Athan along the way, rescuing him from the cult. He is revealed to be Ghleanna’s brother. The party destroys the old Gem of the Weave with help from Miroden, who also wipes out all the cultists except Mordryn and Pelendralaar. The party are able to kill the wizard and the dracolich and destroy the Pool of Radiance, then use their Gem of the Weave to cleanse the mythal and establish Annorweyn as the new communicant.
Index[]
Characters[]
- Allyril • Anorrweyn Evensong • Athan • Beriand • Caalenfaire • Corran D'Arcey • Durwyn • Elminster Aumar • Emmeric • Faeril • Ghleanna Stormlake • Harldain Ironbar • Jarial • Kestrel • Kya Mordrayn • Loren • Miroden Silverblade • Nathlilik Kilsek • Nottle • Ozama • Pelendralaar • Preybelish • Ragnall • Razherrt • Sedric • Volun • Urdek
- Referenced only
- Bard of Kara-Tur • Eltargrim Irithyl • Ethelred D'Arcey • Forgred • Gashet • Kedar • Maglas • Mythanthar • Quinn • Rubal • Sammaster • Tyranthraxus
Creatures[]
- arraccat • baelnorn • dark naga • dragonkin • dracolich • drow • dwarf • dwarven statue golem • elf • fly (insect) • gargoyle • ghoul • half-elf • halfling • lich • lizardfolk • moon elf • orc • orog • red dragon • skeleton • zombie
- Referenced only
- alhoon • baatezu • black dragon • blue dragon • cat • dragon • goat • goblin • gold dragon • green dragon • hare • nycaloth • phaerimm • phoenix • shadow • silver dragon • troll
Locations[]
- Castle Cormanthor • Circle of Ualair the Silent • Cormanthor • Dwarven Dungeons • Elven Catacombs • Faerûn • Gate of Antarn • House of Gems • Moonsea • Myth Drannor • Nat Wyler's Bell • Nightingale Court • Phlan • Podol Plaza • Speculum • Valjevo Castle • Waterdeep
- Referenced only
- Abyss • Cormyr • Dragon Coast • Glim-Gardens • Hillsfar • Kara-Tur • Maerdrym • Mulmaster • Sarshel • Sembia • Serpentspires • Shadowdale • Windsong Tower • Zhentil Keep
Organizations[]
- Blood Spear Tribe • Broken Skull Tribe • Council of Ten • Cult of the Dragon • House Freth • House Kilsek • Sisterhood of Silver Fire • Veiled Ones
- Referenced only
- armathors • Army of Darkness • House Ammath
Magic[]
- Items
- Borea's Blood • bracers of protection from paralysis • cloak of protection • dagger of returning • Flame Blade (short sword) • Gauntlets of Moander • holy symbol • Loren's Blade • mageshield • mantle ring • Pathfinder (sword) • ring of calling • ring of regeneration • sacred staff of sunlight • snakeskin boots • spellstaff • Wizard’s Torc
- Potions
- arraccat poison • antidote • dark naga poison • potion of dracolich transformation • potion of healing
- Spells
- Aganazzar's scorcher • blind • bull's strength • burning hands • chain lightning • charm person • cloudkill • cone of cold • confusion • counterspell • darkness • disintegrate • dispel magic • energy drain • fireball • flame strike • gate • haste • heroism • hold person • invisibility • levitate • light • lightning bolt • magic missile • Melf's acid arrow • paralyze • scrying (spell) • searing light • shield (spell) • sleep • slow • spiritual hammer • stinking cloud • web
- Referenced only
- featherfall
- Other
- Gem of the Weave • lay on hands • mythal • pool of radiance • Vessel of Souls • weave
- Referenced only
- spellfire
Religion[]
Other[]
- Vegetation
- blueglow moss • corn • gardenia • moss • oak
- Referenced only
- balsa • morning glory • silvertree
- Materials & Substances
- chalk • bronze • gold • granite • marble • perfume • silk • silver • velvet
- Referenced only
- oil
- Gems
- diamond dust • emerald • opal • ruby • sapphire • topaz
- Games
- dice • Traitor's Heads
- Other
- Elven language • ferronnière • gangrene • gown • lute • Song of Faerûn • splint
- Referenced only
- Chronicle of Years to Come • drum • The Opening • trumpet • Weeping War
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Ed Greenwood, Steven E. Schend (2000). Presenting...Seven Millennia of Realms Fiction. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2003-06-21. Retrieved on 2015-08-12.