The Abyssal Plague Series by Bruce R. Cordell, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Erik Scott de Bie, James Wyatt, Bill Slavicsek, Don Bassingthwaite

It is a time of magic and monsters, a time when only a few scattered points of light glow with stubborn determination amid a rising tide of shadows. It is a time when only the bravest heroes dare tread the wild of the unknown… About a century ago, the collapse of Nerath, the last empire of the world, ushered in a dark age that continues to this day, the peace and prosperity of the past seemingly lost forever. However, even those fabled days weren’t without a few blemishes... moreIt is a time of magic and monsters, a time when only a few scattered points of light glow with stubborn determination amid a rising tide of shadows. It is a time when only the bravest heroes dare tread the wild of the unknown… About a century ago, the collapse of Nerath, the last empire of the world, ushered in a dark age that continues to this day, the peace and prosperity of the past seemingly lost forever. However, even those fabled days weren’t without a few blemishes. One of these was Emperor Magroth the First, a tyrant and a conqueror; cruel, ambitious, filled with delusions of grandeur and dreams of destiny, and more than a bit insane.  During Magroth’s reign, rumors of necromancy and demon worship were rampant, but  the truth was far worse. Thanks to deals he made, pacts he agreed to, and rituals he performed, death was not the end Emperor Magroth. Instead, a piece of him was drawn into the Shadowfell where he became the ruler of a domain of dead. From this vantage, the old king prepared for his return—and the new empire he would forge from the ruins of old. Now Magroth has made a new deal with Orcus, the Demon Prince of Undeath, that frees him from his eternal prison for a year and a day. In that time, Magroth must re-establish his ancient kingdom while also accomplishing a series of terrible tasks for Orcus. To this end, Magroth’s plans intersect with two other threats that are rising in the world. Where these threats meet, the world shudders. And it falls to our heroes to keep the fragile lights of civilization burning for another day less

Following close on the heels of The Mark of Nerath, Don Bassingthwaite picks up the action and takes the characters into the eye of a new kind of Dungeons & Dragons® adventure...Imprisoned in the void of a ruined universe by vengeful gods, Tharizdun—the Chained God, the Elder Elemental Eye—shares his exile with the Progenitor, a pool of liquid crystal that is all that remains of the Abyss that destroyed his universe... moreFollowing close on the heels of The Mark of Nerath, Don Bassingthwaite picks up the action and takes the characters into the eye of a new kind of Dungeons & Dragons® adventure...Imprisoned in the void of a ruined universe by vengeful gods, Tharizdun—the Chained God, the Elder Elemental Eye—shares his exile with the Progenitor, a pool of liquid crystal that is all that remains of the Abyss that destroyed his universe.Enter our heroes Albanon, Shara and Uldane—all three adventurers readers will know from The Mark of Nerath. They thought their quests were over and done with, but danger still burns like the embers of a smoldering fire in the tall grass. The Progenitor was locked safely away, guarded by Albanon’s dead master, but early on our heroes realize it was stolen and released in the presence of the green dragon Vestapalk as he fell at Shara’s sword.            Now, alerted to the danger of the liquid crystal by a mysterious cleric who claims allegiance to an order that has protected the substance for time immemorial, they must go in search of the dragon’s body, to ensure his demise has not been exaggerated.  What they discover has consequences that could change the world...From the Paperback edition. less

Following directly in the wake of The Temple of Yellow Skulls, our heroes face the totality of the destructive and pestilent forces presented by the Abyssal Plague. The disease of the liquid crystal Voidharrow spreads throughout the land, transforming unsuspecting creatures into plague demons... moreFollowing directly in the wake of The Temple of Yellow Skulls, our heroes face the totality of the destructive and pestilent forces presented by the Abyssal Plague. The disease of the liquid crystal Voidharrow spreads throughout the land, transforming unsuspecting creatures into plague demons. Shara, Uldane, and the unlikely drow hero Valmaggar join forces with Tempest and Rohgar from The Mark Of Nerath, and together they set out in search of the green dragon Vestapalk, or the creature Vestapalk has become--the patient zero of this abyssal plague.Meanwhile, Albanon and the mysterious cleric Kri Redshal--the last remaining member of the Order of Vigilance, an order dedicated to guarding the Voidharrow--go in search of answers to the disease that sweeps the land.  While their search takes them deep into the heart of the darkness that is enveloping the land, the answers they find are truly in need of new questions.  As they become aware of the true scale of the tragedy at hand, they see the forces behind them are more powerful than they had ever dreamed, and perhaps more seductive. less

In the aftermath of the plague demons' attack on Fallcrest, Roghar's inspiring optimism has played a significant role in the rebuilding of the town. Albanon, meanwhile, has not recovered so well. Tormented by his experiences and his near-transformations first by Vestapalk then by Kri, he has retreated to Moorin's tower, where he immerses himself in books... moreIn the aftermath of the plague demons' attack on Fallcrest, Roghar's inspiring optimism has played a significant role in the rebuilding of the town. Albanon, meanwhile, has not recovered so well. Tormented by his experiences and his near-transformations first by Vestapalk then by Kri, he has retreated to Moorin's tower, where he immerses himself in books. He is the last member of the Order of Vigilance, touched by both the Voidharrow and Tharizdun--he feels as if he stands on the brink of madness.The Nentir Vale has been ravaged by the abyssal plague and the plague demons. The area is lawless and suspicions run rampant. Only safe as long as they hide, the heroes scout as close as they dare. But with Vestapalk growing ever-stronger and plague demons on the rise, they know they have to act soon. The world cannot afford to wait any longer. As they journey toward the greatest concentration of demons they learn they are on the right path and they gain an ally. Kri, believed dead, resurfaces with wisdom garnered from the Chained God.  It seems even Tharizdun himself is against Vestapalk.From the Paperback edition. less

What you don’t know will kill you...Demascus awakens surrounded by corpses, at a shrine littered with traces of demonic rituals, with no memory of his past. But the Firestorm Cabal remembers him—and the demon who leads them seems to have a personal vendetta against him. Dodging knives, uncovering clues left by his past life, and dueling demons, Demascus must figure out who he is, what battles he is fighting, and who is hunting him before one of them catches up with him... moreWhat you don’t know will kill you...Demascus awakens surrounded by corpses, at a shrine littered with traces of demonic rituals, with no memory of his past. But the Firestorm Cabal remembers him—and the demon who leads them seems to have a personal vendetta against him. Dodging knives, uncovering clues left by his past life, and dueling demons, Demascus must figure out who he is, what battles he is fighting, and who is hunting him before one of them catches up with him.Sword of the Gods brings the events of the universe-spanning Pandemonium series to the Forgotten Realms® world!From the Paperback edition. less

Tharizdun, the Chanied God, has released the Voidharrow--a liquid crystal imbued with his will and all the chaos of the Abyss--into the universe, and with it comes a transformative engine of pestilence. When exposed to the Voidharrow, individuals look as though they've been stricken by disease as the Abyssal liquid twists and deforms them into chaotic demonlike creatures... moreTharizdun, the Chanied God, has released the Voidharrow--a liquid crystal imbued with his will and all the chaos of the Abyss--into the universe, and with it comes a transformative engine of pestilence. When exposed to the Voidharrow, individuals look as though they've been stricken by disease as the Abyssal liquid twists and deforms them into chaotic demonlike creatures. Behold the Abyssal Plague!When a trading caravan manned by grafters and con men comes across a dead man in the desert they open the door to an Abyssal realm long since destroyed. As the Voidharrow takes hold of one of their companions, he begins to morph into a beast like none they have ever seen.When the stakes are raised in an attempt to defraud some of the more unsavory rulers of this cruel world, the Voidharrow comes to play a role in a move that could transform our heroes forever.From the Paperback edition. less

"Shadowbane is a perfect example of what is right and enduring about the Forgotten Realms: a tale of companionship, perseverance, faith, and self-exploration. With a monster and a fight scene here or there, too, in case you need a kick in the pants. You'll read it in one sitting, and then come back to see what you might have missed... more"Shadowbane is a perfect example of what is right and enduring about the Forgotten Realms: a tale of companionship, perseverance, faith, and self-exploration. With a monster and a fight scene here or there, too, in case you need a kick in the pants. You'll read it in one sitting, and then come back to see what you might have missed." ~ Brian Cortijo (Realms Designer, Loremaster of Cormyr)  "If you like fast-paced, thrilling stories that explore the dark shadows and alleyways of cities in the Realms, and erupt into spectacular fights, in the company of wise-cracking heroes and anti-heroes, then a Erik Scott de Bie book is for you! SHADOWBANE takes the reader along for another ride with Kalen and Myrin, this time to lawless Luskan, and it's an adventure worth reading and rereading many times! First-rate fantasy!" ~ Ed Greenwood (Best-Selling Author, Father of the Forgotten Realms, Living Legend)"With its relentless pace and scenes of chilling horror and savage combat, Erik Scott de Bie's fiction evokes the work of old-school sword-and-sorcery masters like Robert E. Howard and Karl Edward Wagner, and Shadowbane is his best book yet. Don't miss it!"~ Richard Lee Byers, author of the Forgotten Realms: Brotherhood of the Griffon seriesThe city of Luskan has always been a den of pirates, thieves, and murderers. But lately, things have gotten much worse. A ship crashes offshore with nothing but corpses. Every day, people go crazy and brutalize those around them. And the only signs that even the most hardened criminals still walk the streets at night are bones.  Luskan's sister city, Waterdeep, has sent a detachment to quarantine the unclean city—to let the filth within die, rather than infect the rest of the Realms. But Myrin has slipped inside, declaring that she will save Luskan. Shadowbane follows, determined to save Myrin and therefore her pet city—even if he has to kill every rat in Luskan to do it. Shadowbane features the triumphant return of popular, dark vigilante from Downshadow and carries forth the threads of the worlds-spanning Abyssal Plague series.  This expanded e-book also includes a brand-new short story, entitled “A New Purpose”, as well as links to an existing prequel and an original e-novella, featuring characters from Shadowbane. Also included are links to background information on the Abyssal Plague series and sample chapters from other books in the series. less