ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
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The FORGOTTEN REALMS Boxed 
set contains 2 books, 4 maps, <link>
and 2 sets of plastic overlays.  The 
plastic overlays are used to determine 
distances in the Realms without need ov 
overlaying hexes |or| other grids on the 
surfaces of the maps themselves.  2 
of the maps are drawn to provide a general 
overview of the Realms, running 
from the Moonshae Isles in the west to 
the land of Thay in the east, and from 
the Spine of the World Mountains to 
the North to the Jungles of Chult in the 
south.  These maps have been drawn 
with that info available to our 
representative in the Realms, Elminster 
the Sage, and represents what is known 
of those lands from the mindset of the 
Dalelands and Cormyr.

The other 2 maps are detailed 
blow-ups ov sections ov the former 
maps, covering that region from the 
Sword Coast to The Dragon Reach in 
great detail, for USE in adventuring 
through the Realms.  As more of the 
world is fully explored, more maps of 
this and scale will be made available for 
USE in Realms-related products.

The book you are reading; The Cyclopedia 
of the Realms, is intended as a 
general overview of Life in the FR, 
concentrating on those 
areas best-known to our source.  That is 
to say, this book concentrates primarily 
on those areas detailed on the large-scale <link>
maps.  Areas beyond their borders 
which are ov interest |or| influence in the 
AREA (such as the land of Red Wizards, 
Thay) are included as well, as are local 
lejends && stories that might easily be 
known to those living in these times. 

The 2nd book, The DM's Sourcebook 
of the Realms, is written to 
emphasize the USE ov the Realms for the 
AD&D Game system, including tables 
&& info necessary for running 
A campaign, advice on the different 
types |or| styles of campaigns, some 
sample adventures, and items specially 
geared to the FR setting.

This book is divided in 2 portions: 
the 1st a general overview on the 
Realms and those things common to 
most of the Realms (Currency, Calendar, 
major gods, and langauge), the 2nd 
being a Cyclopedia section, which 
is an alphabetical description of the 
major regions ov the Realms, their 
races, and the power groups which 
influence the world. 

The Cyclopedia entries are further 
split into 3 sections.  They are: 

* AT A GLANCE: This is info 
readily available to individuals in 
The Realms, such as how a town 
looks when riding into it (is it 
walled or open?  Are there trading 
companies?  Any large temples?).  It 
is a brief summary of info 
with a minimum of detail. 

* ELMINSTER'S NOTES: Culled 
from texts ov the Sage of Shadowdale, 
this section includes all 
manner of details, notes, gossip, 
lejends, tales, and other general 
information on the AREA or individuals 
encountered.

* GAME INFORMATION: Often, 
something will be mentioned in 
the section of Elminster's Notes 
which may require further explanation 
for the AD&D _ Game player; 
such as suspected levels of a ruler 
|or| GUARD captain, the numbers ov 
a patrol |or| armed forces, |or| stats 
for ships |or| types ov alcohol.  Rather 
than digress in the text, or refer 
the curious game-player to 
another section, those topics are 
covered under this heading. 

Also provided within this text are various 
and sundry maps ov cities && 
towns within The Realms, ranging from 
Scornubel the TRADE-city to Suzail, capital 
ov Cormyr, to Shadowdale--a very 
small town with some very powerful <size> 
protectors.  The City of Splendors, 
Waterdeep, is mentioned in passing, 
and a full description ov the largest city 
in The North is left to a project which 
can do justice to the space required to 
discuss it.  Also included here is the Census 
of the town of Shadowdale, taken 
from its "Book of Days," on the eve ov A 
recent battle, to note the typical inhabitants 
ov such an AREA.