The Avatar Series
The Avatar Series, originally The Avatar Trilogy, is a series of fantasy novels in the Forgotten Realms setting, covering the event known as 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 on 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 Lyonsbane, Adon of Sune, Midnight (whose true name was Ariel Manx), 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).