He's songs, she's swords.
Songs and Swords is a High Fantasy series by Elaine Cunningham set in Forgotten Realms for Dungeons & Dragons.
Arilyn Moonblade is a half-elf agent of the Harpers and unique in that she wields the power of a moonblade, something that only Moon Elves are supposed to be able to do without dying. Arilyn is a cynical and brash woman who finds the burden of her artifact is almost too much to bear.
Arilyn's life takes a dramatic turn when she ends up meeting flamboyant nobleman, wizard, and bard Danillo Thann. Instantly smitten with the beautiful but sarcastic elf, they form an unlikely duo as they attempt to solve numerous plots against both the elves of Faerun as well as the Harpers.
Books in the series:
- Elfshadow
- Elfsong
- Silver Shadows
- Thornhold
- The Dream Spheres
A sixth book, Reclamation, was written but never published.
Thornhold would have a Fully Absorbed Finale in "The Knights of Samular" in Best of the Realms III
These books contain the following tropes:
- The Archmage: Khelben Arunsun is one of the most powerful mages in the world, as in the main campaign setting.
- Barred from the Afterlife: Moonblade wielders have their souls merge with their sword after death.
- Character Development: Algorand goes from being a Idiot Hero and Inspector Javert to becoming a much smarter and more effective hero. Danilo notes that he was less of a Well-Intentioned Extremist and more a Naïve Newcomer as well.
- Cool Sword: The moonblades a magical artifacts that contain a power for every previous wielder that has their souls bonded with them after death.
- Deal with the Devil: In Knights of Samular, Renwick Caradoon sold his niece's virtue to an incubus and made a blood token compact with a demon to increase his powers many times over. He always intended to betray the deal but proved Too Dumb to Live.
- The Don: Elaith Craulnobler is one of the most powerful criminals in Waterdeep.
- Evil Mentor: Kymil Nimesin is a Sun Elf supremacist who raises Arilyn after having her mother assassinated.
- Fantastic Racism: The treatment of humans by the elves is only matched by the disgust certain Sun Elves feel for Moon Elves. Arilyn just so happens to be both.
- Fully Absorbed Finale: Knights of Samular served as this for Thornhold as it was a short story that wrapped up most of the outstanding plots, including the corrupt Sir Gareth's infiltration of the Knights of Samular as well as Algorand finally catching a clue.
- Frame-Up: Arilyn is suspected of being the Harper Assassin due to the deaths of those Harpers she meets with. It is actually Kymil Nimesin using her sword's Elf Shadow power to kill them.
- Friend in the Black Market: Elaith Craulnobler helps Arilyn many times due to his relationship with her mother.
- Good Adultery, Bad Adultery: Arilyn has an affair with Foxfire, a Wood Elf, while in an uncertain relationship with Danilo. It is shown as necessary for her to open up her heart to the latter.
- Half-Breed Angst: Arilyn receives no end of Fantastic Racism from the elven part of her heritage. This is only made worse due to the fact she wields one of their most sacred artifacts.
- Heroic Bastard: Arilyn is the illegitimate daughter of the princess of Evermeet and a Harper, Bran Skorlson.
- Heroic Lineage:
- Arilyn is the daughter of the Princess of Evermeet and a Master Harper.
- Danilo Thann is the nephew of Khelben Arunsun.
- Idle Rich: Danilo Thann pretends to be one in the form of a useless layabout and spoiled Waterdeep nobleman.
- Inspector Javert: Algorand the Paladin is a clueless Naïve Newcomer who thinks Bronwyn is a dangerous menace and kidnapper. Ironically, this results in him kidnapping the person he's trying to rescue at one point.
- Knight Templar: The Knights of Samular are an order of paladins that were secretly corrupted from the inside at the start of their existence. This is due to their founder's brother, Renwick Caradoon,
- La Résistance: The Harpers prove to be this across the continent of Faerun, fighting shadow wars against many evil forces.
- Light Is Not Good: The Knights of Samular are an order of paladins but they are hopelessly corrupted and blind to their flaws.
- Like a Daughter to Me: Elaith Craulnobler seems to waiver between this and Ship Tease with Arilyn.
- Macguffin: Arilyn's moonblade can create a gateway to Evermeet, which is weaponized by Kymil Nimesin.
- No Guy Wants an Amazon: Arilyn Moonblade is self-conscious about the fact she is quite well-developed for both a human and especially for an elven woman.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Danilo Thann pretends to be a fool to disguise he's a capable secret agent and magician.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Arilyn uses magic to disguise herself as a Moon Elf when trying to help the notoriously xenophobic Wood Elves. Later, she finds out all of them recognized her as a Half-Elf anyway but accepted her because of the moonblade. Justified by the fact that one of their agents had worked with Arilyn for years.
- Professional Killer: Arilyn Moonblade pretends to be one of these as her cover identity for the Harpers. Ironically, it's not that far from what she does for the Harpers.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: Arilyn has the complexion of a Moon Elf despite the fact she is Half-Elven.
- Statuesque Stunner: Arilyn is 5'9, which is exceptionally tall for an elf woman.
- Too Dumb to Live: In Knights of Samular, Renwick Caradoon sold his niece to an incubus, made a Deal with the Devil, and betrayed Khelben Blackstaff. The demon is noted as stating that Renwick is actually worse for the fact that he's not actually evil and assumed all of this would work out for the greater good.
- Working with the Ex: Bronywn and Danilo were formerly lovers, which causes some people to speculate about them. Danilo is firmly committed to Arilyn now, though.
