. . somewhere in the most ancient corners of Faerun? An intrepid human explorer sets out to find the truth and what starts as an archaeological expedition soon becomes a race against time as an undying avenger is determined to protect the secrets of the ancient, xenophobic elven empire of Cormanthyr. Lost Empires is a bold new series that uncovers the secrets of the lost, ancient Forgotten Realms world.

    Each novel in the series will be a stand-alone adventure, but the overall setting for all of the titles will be the Old Empires, an area of the Forgotten Realms world never before explored in the novels.

    25,000 first printing.

    From beneath the dune seas of Anauroch escapes one of Toril's most powerful and ancient evils -- the phaerimm. From Evereska, the last elven refuge on comes word of invasion. From nowhere appears a group of enigmatic sorcerers determined to destroy the phaerimm and save Evereska . . . for purposes known only to themselves. From the author of "Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad, Beyond the High Road, "and "Death of the Dragon" (with Ed Greenwood) comes the most Realms-shaking event since "The Threat from the Sea."

    Now, with only a street waif for a companion, he's on the run from the mysterious Cabal. In the dismal Swamp of Akhlaur, Matteo will seek his own truth while battling a creature out of his nightmares.But something even worse is on his trail: a relentless persecutor of magic. The Magehound.

    The Halls of Stormweather, a novel in seven parts, is the first book in a series that explores the mean streets of a city where everything has its price and even the wealthiest families will do anything to survive!Ed Greenwood -- The creator of the Forgotten Realms begins the tale with the capable but embattled patriarch of the Uskevren family.Clayton Emery -- The heir to the family fortune is brought to life by the author of Star of Cursrah and the Netheril Trilogy.Lisa Smedman -- A veteran science fiction and fantasy author shows us a young woman who's more than just a maid.Dave Gross -- The author of An Opportunity for Profit tells the story of the youngest son who carries a horrifying curse.Voronica Whitney-Robinson -- The story of the willful daughter Thazienne is told by the co-author of Spectre of the Black Rose.Richard Lee Byers -- The author of Dark Kingdoms tells a tale of a wife with a past as long as it is dark.Paul Kemp -- A talented newcomer creates a servant with more secrets than his master could ever guess.

    Now his freedom and his very life are at stake as powers of evil embroil the priests of Finder in a struggle against a plot to resurrect the dead god Bane. With his only allies the young freedom fighter Holly Harrowslough, the mysterious winged woman Jas, and the aging priest Jedidiah, Joel embarks on a mission to recover the Hand of Bane. His quest leads him from the Realms all the way to the extra-planar city of Sigil. There Joel must rely on all his courage, wisdom, and strength to thwart the return of Bane the Tyrant and rescue the god Finder from imminent death. Finder's Bane is the fifteenth in an open-ended series of novels focusing on the Harpers, the secret organization for Good in the Forgotten Realms fantasy world.

    Original. 75,000 first printing.

    Original.

    Now evil threatens the islands of Moonshae, for the people have forsaken their goddess, the Earthmother.

    Original.

     It has already begun." Shadows move out of the shrinking desert, south to the rich and arrogant cities of Sembia. ""Be brave, little man," says the shadowman, and the boy thinks his voice is surprisingly soft. "Stay with your mother. This will be over soon." The shadows swallow him and he is gone." On the edge of a war that will change the face of Faerun, the world will find that not all shadows serve Shade.

    The chaos of spilled blood, lawless strife, monsters unleashed, and avatars roaming Faerun was still to come. Unbeknownst to mortals, the gods had been summoned together, and among them was Mystra, grown proud and willful in the passing eons. With the others, she was about to be stripped of her godhood. The secret of her power gave her an idea. She made certain preparations, looking always for one who would be her successor . . . But until that person's ascension, her power must be preserved. A lone mortal must carry the greater share of her divine energy until the power could be reclaimed, and it was the fate of this mortal to risk being destroyed or driven wild, involuntarily and without warning. This was the occaision of Elminster's Doom.

    Now it's her turn. Eldritch and forgotten arcana wait within its vaults. Twisted accidents of magic prowl its halls. Sinister forces lure the unsuspecting deeper into death or madness. Its victims don't remember how they got there. No one remembers how to get out...

    Original.