I'm going to be a bit snarky here, I'm afraid. I guess I just have very strong views on certain things. But don't you think that perhaps a story is stronger if it can stand on it's own two feet, and doesn't need the prop of a "known world"? Why would your story be diminished by changing names? What is it about those names that stregnthens the story, and don't you think it would be nice to have a story where YOU provided that needed something-or-other rather than letting someone else do it? If the person reading the story had never heard of Forgotten Realms, would the story even work for them? I am aware of a published novel that was written as a Star Trek novel, paramount said "not interested" and the serial numbers were then filed off. Unfortunately I forget the title and author. (I'm BAD at names) but I can go ask on my favorite newsgroup, they'll know. Obviously this story was it's own story, complete and entire, and used the Star Trek universe only as a setting, not as a crutch. This seems to me to be an admirable goal. But then, I haven't gone near fanfic with a ten-foot pole since my first two stories when I was twelve, so obviously there is some kind of appeal there that I have missed out on.