The Cleric Quintet

The Cleric Quintet is a series of five novels set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are written by R. A. Salvatore and follow the story of Cadderly Bonaduce, a scholar-cleric, as he attempts to stop the "Chaos Curse" unleashed upon the world. It is also a spiritual journey for Cadderly, where he begins to see things in a new light and becomes closer to his god.

Recurring characters in this series include Cadderly Bonaduce, Danica Maupoissant, the dwarven brothers Ivan and Pikel Bouldershoulder and Shayleigh, an elf maiden of Shilmista Forest.

The Cleric Quintet Collector's Edition Cover

Creation

The character of Cadderly was created specially for Cleric Quintet, after six Drizzt books were completed – as Salvatore wrote in his introduction, "We were done with Drizzt. Or at least, we thought we were". The new protagonist was originally planned to be a monk, but it got rejected due to changes in Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, where the class of monks was absent. Mary Kirchoff proposed that the protagonist should be a cleric. Salvatore invented a concept of spiritual journey for his character, who initially treats his religion as just a lifestyle, but gradually becomes more tied to his god, Deneir.^[1]

Canticle

Plot

The evil wizard Aballister has spent two years collecting and brewing a potion of power, as told to him by the imp, Druzil, sent by the Goddess of Poison, Talona. When he reveals it to his evil fellowship at the hidden stronghold Castle Trinity, the priest Barjin takes control of it and sets off to the major stronghold of the Snowflake Mountains — the Edificant Library. He finds an innocent, intelligent, and young, low-ranking priest, to open the potion, the Chaos Curse, which makes all who breathe it lose self-control. Cadderly must fight a memory-blocking spell in order to lift the curse and save the Library.

In Sylvan Shadows

Plot

"Cadderly must leave his home to combat the evil unleashed by the Chaos Curse. To counter Castle Trinity's plans for conquest, the cleric and his friends enter the beautiful forest of Shilmista. But among the trees and glades of the forest, Cadderly must battle a monstrous evil."

Night Masks

Plot

"Caradoon, city of shadows, city of assassins. Through its dark streets flit the killers of the Night Masks, led by the thin, sinister killer known as Ghost. In the city's evil alleyways Cadderly, struggling against the horrible Chaos Curse, must fight an additional battle against sudden, silent death."

The Fallen Fortress

Plot

"The war rages on. Cadderly, scholar-priest of the Edificant Library, leads the combined forces of Caradoon and Shilmista forest against Castle Trinity, stronghold of his enemy Aballister. But another mission calls him on a journey leading into the past.

A past he could just as soon forget."

The Chaos Curse

Plot

"The quest is over. The hero returns home.

A weary Cadderly makes his way back to the Edificant Library, where he can begin to rebuild his shattered life. But the Chaos Curse has one last surprise for him.

If he fails to meet the challenge, his beloved Danica will be lost to him forever."

References

External links

• R.A. Salvatore introduction
• Review
• RPGnet review
• Wizards of the Coast
• rasalvatore.com