Appearance
An octagonal volume of two wooden
board covers, over which are stretched
sections of black-and-silver crocodileskin,
enclosing nine sheets of beaten
electrum, each bearing, stamped and
etched, a single spell. The book is fastened
with a clasp opposite the electrum
hinges—a black left human hand
that swivels at its wrist to grasp a black
bestial hooked tail. The book bears no
title.

History and Description
This book was compiled by the mage
known only as Shadowhands, lieutenant
to Nelazra, the Old Mother (though
she was never called that to her face
twice), Guildmaster of the Nighteyes,
the guilded thieves of Calimport.
Shadowhands, whose real name has
never been known is believed to have
been Nelazra’s lover and confidant, and
is believed to have been slain in a battle
with The Brothers Six, a group of
mages who sought to control much
merchant trade in Calimshan, and saw
elimination of the Nighteyes as necessary
to the success of their ventures.
The Brothers Six had been reduced to
just two in number by the time they
finally slew Nelazra and broke the
power of the Nighteyes in Calimport—
and they were in turn slain by Khelben
“Blackstaff” Arunsun when they
attempted to control trade entering and
leaving the harbors of Baldur’s Gate and
Waterdeep.

The Shadowtome was found in a concealed
room in the back wall of the temple
of Mystra in Calimport by the mage
Azkhazan, who was slain by hobgoblins
when adventuring in the mountains
north of Iriaebor, and the tome traded
by them to the evil mage Maerglor of
Elturel, in return for weapons, food,
and fine armor. Maerglor sold it to
Elminster, who after copying what of its
contents he needed, sold it to Evinther
the Blue of Neverwinter, who was blasted
to nothingness two winters later by
an unknown magical assailant who presumably
has the book now, unless
meeting with subsequent misfortune.

The Shadowtome’s pages bear the following
spells (unless otherwise noted,
they are all standard PLAYERS HANDBOOK
spells):

<backlash is listed in the section for the Shadowtome, but is omitted from the above list>
 
 
 

Magic-User Spellbooks

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Books of the Forgotten Realms