Shadowdale Shadowdale was a farming community in the Dalelands , in north Faerûn . It was the home of the archmage Elminster Aumar and was the home of two of the Seven Sisters , Storm Silverhand and Syluné . Through its history , Shadowdale battled both Zhentarim and drow invasions . Due to the number of ruins in Shadowdale , it was a popular place for adventuring companies to settle . History . Originally Shadowdale ( then known as the " Land Under Shadow " ) was controlled by the drow , who constructed the original Twisted Tower to protect their underground routes in the area . The drow maintained a population of human s and other races on the surface , used as slaves . The first human ruler of Shadowdale was the water wizard Ashaba , who took power in 906 DR and the Twisted Tower bore his name thereafter , along with the River Ashaba . Aumry Obarskyr became Lord of Shadowdale in 1300 DR . Aumry ruled peacefully over the dale with his wife Syluné Silverhand . The peace in the dale encouraged attacks and sabotage from the Zhentarim , and led to Aumry ' s assassination in 1339 DR . The assassins responsible for Aumry ' s death were captured and killed by Jyordhan . Aumry was interned in Aumry ' s Tomb under Watcher ' s Knoll . After Jyordhan ' s death in 1345 DR , Syluné was unofficially the ruler of Shadowdale , and she was aided in its defence by the adventuring company Mane ' s Band , although she was not the lord . This led to the period being dubbed " the Time of No Lords " , with Syluné opting not to occupy the Twisted Tower and assume official leadership . The period lasted until 1348 DR . When Florin Falconhand was invited to take up the lordship by Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun in 1348 DR , he declined the honor and deferred it to his fellow Knight of Myth Drannor , Doust Sulwood instead . Doust ruled until 1353 DR , by which time he had grown tired of court life and preferred instead to return to adventuring . He passed on the lordship to Mourngrym Amcathra . Mourngrym led the dale against Lyran Nanther in 1357 DR and the Bane - led Zhentil Keep army in 1358 DR . In 1374 DR , Nightal 15 , under the cover of darkness , an army of Zhentarim , lead by Scyllua Darkhope , invaded Shadowdale with assistance from the Church of Shar and the drow House Dhuurniv . Mourngrym ruled until 1375 DR . Geography . Shadowdale spanned an area from Shadow Gap to Voonlar and its main town , which was also called Shadowdale , lay on the River Ashaba . The dale was covered with patches of light woods , and had a high number of ruins , making it popular with adventurers . The town of Shadowdale was an unwalled community in 1367 DR and was still unwalled by 1374 DR . The forest of Cormanthor lay to the east . Notable locations . The seat of power in Shadowdale was the Twisted Tower of Ashaba . Castle Grimstead , dating from 834 DR , lay not far from the site of the Tower , while Castle Krag , originally a drow outpost , was situated beneath Watcher ' s Knoll . Politics . The ruler of Shadowdale was chosen by its inhabitants . This would be someone whom they held in high regard , and was usually an outsider to the dale and someone they regarded as a hero to the dale having provided a service . This was in contrast to other Dales where hereditary rule was common . The inhabitants of Shadowdale generally kept their own lands and freedoms , swearing fealty to the lord and helping the community only when outside threats became involved . Defense . Elminster was usually responsible for the defense of Shadowdale , but when he was away on trips , he left this task with Storm Silverhand .