Azure Bonds

by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb
First Pubished in October 1988
Part of the Finders Stone Trilogy
Takes place in 1357 DR

Her name is Alias, and she is in big trouble.

She is a sell-sword, a warrior-for-hire, and an adventuress. She awoke with a series of twisting, magical blue sigils inscribed on her arms and no memory of where she got them.

Determined to learn the nature of the mysterious tattoo, Alias joins forces with an unlikely group of companions: the halfling bard, Ruskettle, the southern mage, Akabar, and the oddly silent lizard-man, Dragonbait. With their help, she discovers that the symbols hold the key to her very existence.

But those responsible for the sigils aren't keen on Alias's continued good health. And if the five evil masters find her first, she may discover all too soon their hideous secret.

Review

The story concept for Azure Bonds is quite different from your standard fantasy Quest story. It’s more of a noir formula. Amnesiac Alias awakens with no memory and strange symbols tattooed on her arm. The story followers her as she, like a hard boiled detective, attempts to uncover just what happened.

As a fantasy story, Azure Bonds is a bit slow at first. There is also somewhat of a lack of fantasy elements until about halfway through when the dragon, Mist, enters the picture. After that, the action picks up making for a more entertaining read.

Some of the bothersome conventions of Spellfire are present. The annoying and somewhat illogical characters of Shadowdale make an appearance, but thankfully they are far less intrusive than they were in Spellfire. Some of the ridiculous language conventions are present, too, such as everyone saying 'well met' instead of 'hello'. Also, magic is described by spell name rather than effect, making it seem a little too D&D geeky.

The main protagonists really make this novel readable. They are all deep and well developed characters with interesting back stories and believable reactions to situations. All in all, an improvement over Spellfire, but still nowhere near as good as the Crystal Shard

Effects on Toril

The town of Yulash sufferes damage by the abomination of Moander. A wide swath of the forest near Myth Drannor is cleared by the abomination, creating a road deep into the woods. Moander is presumably weakened considerable and banished from the Prime Material plane for a century.

Characters

Major

Akabar Bel Akash - ...of House Akash, a mage and merchant. One of the main protagonists.
Alias - The main protagonist. A swordswoman with mysterious blue tatoos on one of her arms. She has troubles with her memory.
Cassana of Westgate - A sorceress of Westgate. Said to have killed Zrie Prakis.
Dragonbait - A suarian. The lizard like companion of Alias. On of the primary protagonists.
Finder Wyvernspur (The Nameless Bard) - Known as the the Crafter. A prisoner of Cassana
Giogioni Wyvernspur - Cousin of Lord Frefford Wyvenspur.
Mistinarperadnacles Hai Draco - "Mist", A Red Dragon
Moander The Darkbringer - The god of rot and corruption
Olive Ruskettle - A renowned halfling bard. One of the primary protagonists.
Phalse - An agent of Zrie Prakis. Appears as a halfling.
Zrie Prakis - A dead mage of Westgate area. Killed by his lover Cassana.

Minor

Azoun IV - King of Suzail
Dimswart - A sage outside of Suzail
Dorath Wyvernspur - One of the Wyvernspur dowagers.
Elminster Aumar - The Sage of Shadowdale. One of the most famous and powerful wizards in all of Faerun.
Gaylyn - Youngest daughter of the sage Dimswart.
Gaylyn - Daughter of the Sage Dimswart
Jhaele Silvermane - Proprietor of the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale.
Lady Leona - Wife of the Sage Dimswart
Lhaeo - Elminster's Scribe.
Lord Frefford Wyvernspur - Son-in-law of the Sage Dimswart
Minda - A guest at the wedding reception of Lord Frefford Wyvernspur and Gaylyn.
Mitcher Trollslayer - A regular at the The Hidden Lady, a tavern in Suzail.
Mourngrym Amcathra - Lord of Shadowdale. Husband of Shaerl Rowanmantle. Once a Knight of Myth Drannor.
Mystra - The merchant-mage ruler of Hillsfar
Olav Ruskettle - A renowned bard.
Phocius Green - Proprietor of the Hidden Lady, an inn in Suzail.
Turko - A waiter at the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale
Vangerdahast - Court wizard of Suzail
Winefiddle - A curate at the Towers of Good Fortune, a Temple of Tymora in Suzail.

Only Mentioned

Kith - A former member of the Swanmays, a band of adventurers.
Malark - A potter and baker in Shadowdale.
Sylune - One of the Seven Sisters. Deceased.

Monsters

Red Dragon - The Red Dragon, Mist, terrorized the countryside near Suzail
Crystal Elemental - A crystal elemental tries to capture Alias and Dragonbait as they are traveling through the wilderness.
Kalmari - A Kalmari employed by The Iron Throne is responsible for the destruction of an inn in shadow gap. Alias and Her Companions camp in the ruins of the inn at one point.
Troll - An encounter with one is mentioned.
Orc - Patrols of orcs are sometimes found on the road to Yulash