The Avatar Series, originally The Avatar Trilogy, is a series of fantasy novels in the Forgotten Realms setting, covering the Time of Troubles. The books were:
- Shadowdale by Scott Ciencin—originally under the pen-name 'Richard Awlinson' (April 1989)
- Tantras by Scott Ciencin—originally under the pen-name 'Richard Awlinson' (June 1989)
- Waterdeep by Troy Denning—originally under the pen-name 'Richard Awlinson' (August 1989)
- Prince of Lies by James Lowder (August 1993)
- Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad by Troy Denning (February 1998)
The covers of the novels were painted by Jeff Easley (Shadowdale), Clyde Caldwell (Tantras and Waterdeep), Brom (Prince of Lies), and Alan Pollack (Crucible). The first three works center around the remaining members of the "Company of the Lynx" and the search for the Tablets of Fate, divine tablets that hold a listing of the Gods and their roles in the balance of Law and Chaos, during the Time of Troubles. The theft of these tablets was the actual cause of the Time of Troubles as all the gods with the exception of Helm were cast to Toril and faiths and magic ran wild. The Company of the Lynx, as it was, consisted of Kelemvor, Adon of Sune, Midnight, and Cyric. The last two books in the series account for what occurred after the Tablets were returned to Ao, including the aftermath of the ascension of several Company members to godhood (Midnight took the mantle of Mystra, Kelemvor became god of the dead, and Cyric took several vile deities' portfolios and went mad).
Godsbane
Godsbane was the magical sword which was actually a manifestation of Mask and was wielded by the then-mortal Cyric during the Time of Troubles. Cyric acquired the sword by murdering a halfling named Sneakabout, who in turn killed the former wielder of the sword. Cyric named the sword "Godsbane" because while he was a mortal, he used it to slay Bhaal (then Lord of Murder), and after becoming a deity, he used it to kill Leira, Lady of Deception. Godsbane needs to consume the energy of souls to survive. "She" sucks all the blood from her victims, giving her a blood-red hue. When starved for a long time, she gradually fades to white. Before she came into the grasp of Cyric, Godsbane had driven all of her previous wielders mad, forcing them to sustain her by killing victims. Eventually, the blade would be stolen by another, and the former wielder's thoughts would always be focused on recovering it. He/she would never sleep until recovering the blade or die trying. This was also the sword Cyric used to kill Kelemvor Lyonsbane while atop Blackstaff Tower. To spite Cyric for trying to break her will while he was a mortal, Godsbane hid Kelemvor's soul from him. During a revolt in the City of Strife that marked the end of Cyric's reign as Lord of the Dead, Cyric learned of this and snapped the blade in two. This revealed the sword to be an aspect of Mask, the god of thievery and intrigue. By doing this, Cyric greatly weakened Mask and gained the portfolio of intrigue, along with shadowy characteristics. Eventually, Mask regained his portfolio of intrigue, much to the disdain of Cyric.
