Realms of Valor Realms of Valor , edited by James Lowder , was the first anthology of short stories from the " Forgotten Realms " . The Lord of Lowhill . By Douglas Niles Date : before 1365 DR Summary . The story follows two halflings , Pawldo and Stefanik , as they search for treasure in a dark , evil place . Locations Notes of interest . Moonshae Isles , Gwynneth , Lowhill Elminster at the Magefair . By Ed Greenwood " Year of the Dark Dragon , 1336 DR " ( date given in short story ) " Year of the Harp , 1355 DR " ( date given by Ed Greenwood online ) Summary . This short story chronicles the visit of Elminster , accompanied by Storm Silverhand ( to serve as protector ) , to a magefair in 1336 DR and the subsequent events . At the magefair , Elminster searches for a key , which he receives surreptitiously through a kiss by a new Harper , Duara . A man searching for the key accosts Elminster and takes his staff , which he assumes is the key . Elminster in turn challenges him to a " fireball " - throwing contest and wins hands down with an incredibly impressive fireball . Elminster and Storm then return to the Twisted Tower in Shadowdale , where the Old Mage reveals that the key belonged to his closet and had been stolen by one of his brief apprentices named Raerlin . Upon opening the closet , the pair comes face to face with Raelin , who has become a lich . A spell battle ensues , with Storm defeating the lich by burning the pages of a tome ( possibly its phylactery ) . When Lhaeo returns with tea , all is well again , even if the combatants are a little singed . One Last Drink . By Christie Golden The story of how Jander Sunstar escapes the will of his vampire lord , Cassiar . The Bargain . By Elaine Cunningham Patronage . By David Cook Summary . Koja is working on his new book in Procampur and seeks funding for its printing while he reminisces of Khazari . " Date : late winter , the Year of the Helm , 1362 DR . " A Virtue by Reflection . By Scott Ciencin King ' s Tear . By Mark Anthony The Family Business . By James Lowder Summary . While searching for a mark , Shadowhawk and his son , Artus Cimber save Prince Azoun from Zhent groundling assassin s . " Date : the Year of the Snow Winds , 1335 DR " Grandfather ' s Toys . By Jean Rabe Date : 1362 DR Summary . The druid Galvin is asked to search a magician ' s tower for a little girl , only to find the task surprisingly grueling - and dangerous . Notes of interest . Dragon Coast , Sea of Fallen Stars , Sea elf , Druid The Curse of Tegea . By Troy Denning Date : 1360 DR Summary . Two clerics of the church of Mystra enter Tegea , in hopes of lifting the curse that affects the village . The clerics need not only to face the source of the evil , but their inner selves too . Notes of interest . Adon , cleric , Mystra ( Midnight ) , Time of Troubles , Dragonjaw Mountains Plot . " " " " Dark Mirror . By R . A . Salvatore Summary . Mithral Hall has just been retaken from Shimmergloom and the duergar occupying it . Drizzt Do ' Urden has been invited inside Silverymoon and is on his way there when he finds some monster tracks , possibly escorting prisoners . He joins with a band of villagers from a tiny community called Pengallen , led by Rico Pengallen , who pursue the same goal . Together they find the camp but before Drizzt ' s plan to free the prisoners without a fight can be achieved , the humans are spotted and a fight breaks out . With Drizzt and Guenhwyvar ' s help , the monsters are defeated , but one of the prisoners , a goblin named Nojheim flees . Rico asks Drizzt to bring Nojheim back to Pengallen and Drizzt agrees , but suspects that something odd is going on . Drizzt finds and retrieves Nojheim , bringing him back as promised but rather than continue to Silverymoon , Drizzt elects to stay and have a meal . Talking to the locals , Drizzt discovers that Nojheim is Rico ' s slave . Then he makes a mistake . Hating slavery even more than he hates goblins , he goes back and starts talking to Nojheim . After talking with the obviously abused but highly intelligent and good - hearted goblin he realizes that despite the hopelessly depraved nature of most of his own species even in comparison to goblins , it ' s his drow - borne mystique and seeming beauty that allowed him a foothold in the world , while that individual goblin , who was of similar principles to his own , clearly stood no such chance . Drizzt learns to feel less prejudice towards goblins and other brutish races . He decides to try to free the goblin by appealing to Silverymoon . But when Drizzt returns , he finds Nojheim dead , executed by Rico on some pretext after he overheard Drizzt and Nojheim ' s conversation . Leaving , Drizzt greatly steels his resolve against slavery . " Date : late winter , the Year of the Worm , 1356 DR . " Afterword . By Jeff Grubb