Check out this new article Wizards of the Coast posted recently:

Excerpts: The Art

We continue with Chapter 6: The Art. "The Faerunian counterbalance to the strong sword has always been magic—wonderful, awesome, terrible magic. Magic gives its users the ability to harness natural forces to do things that frustrate or counter brute force, awakening fear and respect in those who deal in force of arms, and serving as a deterrent that keeps them from lashing out at will and whim."