Like Chaff in the wind
Vessels of the Mercane pact
Leaves all
All burning in the wind
Ware the shadows of Shinantra.

We have fostered trust, recruited loyalty, and gathered the faithful. We have trained thousands. Our legions can cover the land, fill the sky and travel through the darkness. We can hunt any and all that would deny our heritage. Now is our time, now is the time of the Dark Reign(Rain) of the Empire of Shadows.
- High Prince Telemont Thanthul, Lord Shadow
In a speech given to the citizens of Shade Enclave
At the moment of the Shinantra Battle victory
When he revealed that he was THE Lord Shadow

After all, if humanity were ready for the kinds of magics
they chose to wield, the Realms would still be home to the
empires of Netheril, the Imaskari, and the Shoon........
Don't mess around with magic unless you're ready for magic
to mess around with you....THAT'S the primary message I
kept in mind with respect to the Nether Scrolls and all
the fallen magical empires of the past.... Steven Schend

Realms Historical Note: 1372, Year of Wild Magic. The Battle of Telemont's Hand as it was latter called (for most thought that the High Prince had revealed his hand), while not the most devestating in Faerun's great history, was certainly one of the swiftest of it's size, lasting only a few hours. Involving several hundred Halruann sky ships, and many thousands of troops on both sides the decisive victory went to Lord Shadow when he sprung his trap of twelve enclaves like those at the height of the Netherese Empire transfered from the plane of shadow to the field of battle. All opposing forces were quickly swept away. What many didn't learn for several weeks was that the battlefield encompassed most of Faerun. While the battle was raging over and on Anauroch, the last vestiges of Phaerim were being wiped out by specially trained Shadar Haduke, all of the weather magics that sustain the orchards of Thay turned to ice and snow for two days, a rebellion occured in Halruaa led by wizards trained in the shadow weave, and several hundred Selunites all over the Realms were slain in the night in their very beds. The random slayings occured all over the realms over the next month until darkness truely claimed Anauroch. It was also revealed during this time that High Prince Telemont was THE Lord Shadow of old which drove the furver of his followers and deepened the despair of his enemies. Nothing of this scope had been seen in this age. Few understood it was only the first card of Lord Shadow's hand. Lord Shadow always had a way of getting people to look where he wanted them to look and never see the death blow coming. - Peraus Wands