Hilather Blackcloak was known by another name…  Halaster, the Mad Mage Under the Mountain.  There are rumors that the Baneblades were used in the shattering of the Rod of Law.  There is also the realization that two blades were stolen, and one was kept by the ruling family of the areas surrounding Phlan.

The blades were used to shatter a powerful artifact, and then they were scattered to the four winds, in such a way that they might never be reunited—until a certain party was charged with recovering all of them.

The question… is why.