Curse of the Azure Bonds

Cover art

The game box's cover features a painting by artist Clyde Caldwell, entitled Azure Bonds, earlier used as the front cover to the 1988 novel of the same name and the 1989 RPG module Curse of the Azure Bonds (FRC2).

Inspiration

This game is based on the bestselling book of the same name from TSR (1988). Many of the Non-Player Characters (NPCs) that may join your party in the adventure are originally from the said novel written by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb.

The three NPCs that may join your cause are: * Alias, a female human fighter - which can be seen in the front cover of both the box and the book. She's the main character of the novel, also cursed by the strange Azure Bonds. * Dragonbait, a male Sauron Paladin standing beside Alias, both in the front cover of the box and the book. He's practically her bodyguard also cursed by the strange Azure Bonds. He communicates by omitting smells - which may seem puzzling in the game if you haven't read the novel. * Last but not least, Akabar, the merchant-mage. A human merchant turned hero-mage.

Alias and Dragonbait will join you together but only in a limited area, which also goes for Akabar in another place.

Other main characters like the Nameless One and the Halfing Bard do not join you as NPCs, but are still seen in the game.

Remake

The entire game has been recreated as a Neverwinter Nights' module by Sarion the Wise. You can find links to modules archives through the related links.

Silver Swan cult

If you have a female character in your group, in the game she can join the Drow's Silver Swan cult.
If you use that character in the sequel: the Secret of the Silver Blades, that character will still be recognized as a Silver Swan member.

Awards

• Power Play
  • Issue 01/1990 - Best Role Playing Game in 1989

Information also contributed by Indra was here, Pseudo_Intellectual, and Sciere.