Elminster

Elminster Aumar, also known as the "Sage of Shadowdale" and the "Old Mage", was one of the most famous and powerful wizards in all of Faerûn. He was considered perhaps the most-trusted chosen of the goddess Mystra, saved the Realms on numerous occasions over his centuries-long life in the Realms, and achieved a legendary reputation among its people.

"Life has no meaning but what we give it. I wish a few more of ye would give it a little."

- Elminster of Shadowdale

Description
Perhaps Elminster's most distinguishing physical feature was his hawk-like nose, that remained with him from his youth, throughout the time he spent as a woman, and into old age. He had a shock of stark black hair that began to gray in his later years before going entirely white.

Throughout most of his many centuries of life, Elminster appeared as elderly by alert man with a gray beard, gruff voice, and weathered features. He preferred to wear plain cloths, and was often seen wearing a read cloak or robes.

As a high-level wizard, Elminster was capable of taking on almost any appearance imaginable.

In his natural state,

Personality
Elminster was by turns serious, fearsome, and arrogant, while also being exceptionally charming, clever, and good-humored. He was said to to be wholly fearless and entirely forthright in others. El was a natural raconteur and actor, and could present himself as a fatherly type, a trickster, a rake, or any other role or cliché required for a purpose or just to get a reaction from others. However, usually only close friends got to see the full range of his character.

Elminster snored loudly while sleeping, although he muted this magically if it would disturb friends. It should be noted that as one of Mystra's Chosen, Elminster did not need to sleep.

Abilities
Even before he devoted his life to the Mystran faith or began studying as a spellcaster, the young Elminster possessed the innate ability to heal himself. He was supernaturally intelligent, a boon bestowed upon him by multiple castings of the wish spell, and was blessed with an eidetic memory. While his recall memory was quite impressive, his memories may not entirely have been his own. It was speculated that some were implanted within his mind by Mystra to better transform him into the instrument of the Realms she needed.

Elminster was reported to have a "nice smoky baritone" singing voice, and according to Lyra Sunrose, Elminster was skilled with a needle and thread. He was however a poor horseman, and an even worse musician, incapable of writing down music himself.

Elminster was known to be capable of bypassing the wards of Blackstaff Tower and teleporting directly inside the structure unbidden, something Khelben believed him to be the lone individual capable of.

Chosen Powers
As one of Mystra's chosen, Elminster was granted access to numerous spell-like abilities (circa the early Era of Upheaval) along with the power to wield the goddess' silver fire.

Possessions
Elminster owned a variety of powerful magic items, including an amulet of natural armor, bracers of armor, a mantle of spell resistance, a ring of protection, a ring of regeneration, and a thundering longsword. He was rarely without one of the pipes of his collection, whether it be one of meerschaum, usually smoking a vile blue or green smoke, or his famous eversmoking pipe.

Activities


In addition to his residence on Toril, Elminster maintained a hideaway within a floating metal sphere that orbited the central earthmote of the planet Coliar.

Spells
Elminster was credited with the creation of several unique spells that bore his name, including Elminster's multiple mouths, Elminster's effulgent epuration, and the powerful Elminster's evasion.

Works
Elminster penned a number of books in his time including Songs of the Wind: The Holdings of Windsong Tower, Harping by Moonlight: Approaches to Life, and A Myth Drannan Amphigory. He famously compiled a nine-book series titled Elminster's Ecologies, in which a number of contributors wrote about the plants, animals, creatures, people and other natural phenomena they encountered throughout the Eastern Heartlands. His name was used under false pretenses in a work called Elminster's Black Book, found in Undermountain, that in fact housed a carnivorous palimpsest creature.

Allies
Elminster counted upon many freinds and allies throughout his life, from his fellow thief Farl, to long-time ally, friend, fellow archmage, and often ideological rival, Khelben Arunsun.

most notable among them his Chosen of Mystra, fellow agents of the Harpers, and other goodly-aligned adventurers, such as the Knights of Myth Drannor.

He had other allies in Lhaeo, his scribe.

Elminster interacted regularly with the other Chosen of Mystra through a telepathic link. As well as once sharing a bed with the goddess herself, he conducted a relationship with the Simbul of the Seven Sisters.

Elminster worked often with the author Volothamp Geddarm, though the outlandish storyteller often sorely taxed the old mage's patience.

The Old Mage was also friends with Mordenkainen of Oerth and was acquainted with Dalamar of Krynn. The three frequently met at Ed Greenwood's home on Earth to exchange spells and news of each other's worlds.

Apprentices
Elminster once (briefly) had a Calishite apprentice named Raerlin, who stole the key to Elminster's closet in order to obtain a powerful spellbook (or possibly a phylactery). When Elminster retrieved the key in 1336 DR at a magefair with the help of Storm Silverhand and subsequently opened the closet, Raerlin appeared as a lich. He was defeated when Storm burnt the pages of the tome Raerlin was after.

Elminster continued to take on apprentices on occasion. One such apprentice was Ghleanna Stormlake who accompanied Elminster to Phlan in 1369 DR during the crisis of the pool of radiance resurgence. She later became the part of the adventuring party known as the Veiled Ones, assembled by Elminster to stop the Cult of the Dragon and its leader Kya Mordrayn.

Romances
Elminster's first and arguably most impassioned lover was the goddess Mystra herself. The two spent much time together when El was a young man (as well as a young woman), Mystra taking the form of a mortal woman named Myrjala Talithyn.

El shared a playful and nearly-amorous relationship with several of the Fair Folk, including Morgwais, the Lady of High Forest, the lich-like elf known as the Srinshee.

Early Life
Elminster was born in the, to Amrythale Goldsheaf and Elthryn Aumar, lord of the village of Heldon and prince of Athalantar. When Elminster was a boy, his parents were slain by Undarl, a malaugrym and one of Athalantar's magelords. Undarl decimated Heldon, leaving Elminster the only survivor. At the age of twelve, Elminster took his father's broken blade, the Lion Sword that served symbol of the great king of the Stag Throne, and became a brigand and thief.

El was rescued by Helm Stoneblade and taken to live with the outcast Knights of Athalantar, who had executed their own form of justice as brigands out of their hideout in the Horn Hills. He remained with them for a few years, until he was forced to slay many men in defense of those that took him in. At sixteen years old, Elminster already grew weary of death and knew he needed a new livlihood.

But with no desire for killing, the young El soon abandoned that trade and instead operated as a burglar in Hastarl, capital of Athalantar. He operated under the alias of "Eladar the Dark", and befriended a young thief named Farl. They committed many acts of thievery together and lived life fully, later forming the gang the Velvet Hands in opposition to a rival gang, the Moonclaws, who were servants of Athalantar's magelords. During a burglary, Elminster met the Magister of the time, Dorgon "Stonecloak" Heamilolothtar. The Magister asked him if he desired to learn magic, but Elminster refused, as he hated all mages because of the magelords.

While Elminster enjoyed his time spent as a thief in Hastarl, he rededicated his efforts to seeking revenge upon the magelords for the death of his family. When he ran afoul of the magelords' temple in the city, El was over overcome by hostile guardsmen and saved by Mystra herself. The Lady of Magic transformed him into a woman, to strengthen his bond with magic and to expand his understanding of the world. For a few years, "Elmara" served a priestess of Mystra in Athalantar and beyond. After some time, Mystra appeared to El once again as Myrjala Talithyn and trained her in the ways of spellcasting. The two became dear friends, and fell in love with one another. Over time however, Elmara felt compelled to "reveal" to Myrjala his true identity as Elminster, and shared his quest to take back Athalantar from the malevolent magelords. As an avatar of Mystra, Myrjala was of course was fully aware of El's shared identities.

Elminster and Myrjala set out together, rallying allies from among the elves of the High Forest, the exiled Knights of Athalantar, and the Velvet Hands of Hastarl. In the, Elminster and his friends stormed Athalantar's capital city, defeated Undarl Dragonrider, the Mage Royal that slew El's family, and reclaimed the Stag Throne from his uncle Belaur.

But Elminster had no desire for kingship, and quickly abdicated in favor of his friend, Helm Stoneblade, honored knight of Athalantar. After a night of revelry and celebration, Elminster and Myrjala departed the kingdom. On their way out however, Undarl revlealed himself as one of the malaugrym and attacked them on the road out of the city. Myrjala's magic was ineffective against the otherworldly creature and she appeared to die herself to its magic. To prevent Elminster from foreswearing the use of magic, Mystra revealed herself to Elminster and proposed that he become one of her Chosen. Elminster readily agreed.

Time in Myth Drannor
Around the, Elminster traveled to the city of Cormanthor, where he continued his magical studies. He was apprenticed to the cruel and powerful wizard known as the Masked, and lived among the residents of the ancient elven society. Against the wishes of Cormanthyr's elven nobility, Elminster was readily accepted by Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl, and was even bestowed the rank of Armathor of the Coronal Guard.

On morning of Nightal 9 in that year, the Srinshee attempted to steal some of the silver fire from Elminster but was burnt during her attempt.

Elminster played a significant role in the raising of Cormanthyr's mythal, and was present in the city when it was renamed Myth Drannor in the. On Tarsakh 4 of that year, Lady Laurlaethee Shaurlanglar attempted to poison Elminster by lacing his moonwine with srindym. When the plot failed due to Mystra's protections, Laurlaethee attempted to kill the Chosen with spells. The murderous Lady Shaurlanglar was ultimately subdued by Elminster.

He remained in the city for nearly a century, and was still a resident in the, when Lady Dathlue Mistwinter founded an order of idealistic council of elves, humans, and half-elves that would aide in Myth Drannor's defense. This group came to be known as the Harpers at Twilight, the harp symbol of which was chosen by Elminster, despite his poor skill with the instrument.

Elminster finally left Cormanthyr in the, after nearly a century-long stay in the city. He did so by request of his goddess Mystra.

7 & 8 Centuries DR
On Midsummer evening of 666 DR, after claiming the Rulers' Blade, the Srinshee visited Elminster one last time while he studied to bid him farewell before she departed for Arvandor.

Elminster was among those in attendance of the Gathering of the Gods at the Dancing Place in the. This momentous occasion saw the clergies of many human nature deities, along with those of the Seldarine, assemble together in unity against the agents of who they referred to as the 'Cruel Gods'. It marked the re-founding of the Harpers organization. These adventurers would act in defense of the good people of the Realms, while holding no allegiance to one single deity.

Some thirty years later, in the, Elminster awoke within a dusty tomb when a band of adventurers found their way within. He was under the impression he had been trapped there in stasis for roughly a century. How he came to believe as such was unknown, given his appearance at the founding of the Harpers some forty years prior and meeting with the Srinshee before that.

By now, magic had become unreliable, and Elminster had to again learn to survive by his wits and the skills he'd picked up earlier in his life. The god Azuth soon came to him telling him that he mustn't rely on Mystra for aid like any other Chosen must with magic, this again being a test from Mystra. Soon he had to learn how to survive without constant divine aid. He later underwent further magical training under the tutelage of a wicked sorceress who sought to tempt him away from Mystra's path. Later, during a fake ritual for Bane, she revealed herself to be the goddess Mystra herself, once again testing him.

In the, Mystra decided to take a more personal hand in the creation of her Chosen. The end result was rife with tragedy however, as the mortal man she chose as a father abandoned his daughters seven years later when their mother's body could not hand Mystra's divine possession. Elminster took on the role of foster father to three of the girls for a time, Ethena Astorma, Ambara Dove and Anamanué Laeral for a time, but eventually helped raise only Laeral.

The Old Mage
In 851 DR, Elminster mentored the newly-appointed Chosen of Mystra, Sammaster, in how to use his new powers.

On Hammer 14 in 907 DR, Elminster confronted Halueve Starym for attempting to control devils. During the ensuing battle, the Srinshee advised Elminster through his silver fire on how to defeat the elven mage.

In the early 11 century DR, Elminster and Khelben Arunsun spent much of their time searching for suitable adventurers to take up the mantle of the Harpers of some centuries past. They found who the right champions they sought, in the newly-chartered company known as the Knights of Myth Drannor. After the group firmly rooted themself as a force of goodness in the North, Elminster ceased his meddling with the group, at least for a time.

By the 12 century, Elminster had became well-versed in traveling the various planes of existence. While visiting the plane of shadow, El inadvertently attracted the attention of a malaugrym ―the same type of aberration that posed as the Mage Royal of Athalantar ―and slayed the being. When others of its kind descended upon Toril, Elminster drew them into a battle at Blackstaff Tower in the, and rallied his Harper allies to turn them away from the Realms. Despite warning them never to return,

During the Harpstar Wars in 1222 DR, Elminster defeated the Zulkir of Necromancy, Szass Tam, and earned himself (and the Harpers) the emnity of Thay.

Aumarra Kethtan was present during early 1246 DR in Twilight Hall, when Elminster and Storm Silverhand discussed Lantan's recent use of bombards. On Eleint 21 in 1246 DR, Elminster consulted with the Srinshee and Thauntar before preparing to challenge the Simbul in Aglarond for her mage-slaying activites. The titanic battle that eventually erupted between Elminster and the Simbul caused much damage to the Witch-Queen's palace before they both agreed to move the battle to Crommor's Fang. Their battle continued at the new locale until Elminster realized the Simbul was also a Chosen of Mystra.

On Flamerule 6 in 1294 DR, Symgharyl Maruel requested that she become Elminster's apprentice.

In 1336 DR, Elminster visited the Moonshae Isles.

In 1350 DR, Elminster 'retired' to Shadowdale, though this was something of a ruse to provoke certain enemies.

Elminster played a key part in establishing the Rangers Three. They helped him in continuing conflicts with the Shadowmasters.

On Ches 16 in 1356 DR, Elminster agreed to pay off Sir Sabrast Windriver's tax-debts in exchange for his support. This greatly displeased Royal Magician Vangerdahast who, along with his War Wizards had been hunting Sabarast.

In 1357 DR, Elminster helped shield Shandril Shessair from her enemies, the Zhentarim and the Cult of the Dragon.

The Time of Troubles
In 1358 DR, just before the Time of Troubles, Mystra gained some foreknowledge and backed up her power into Midnight, the human wizard, so it would not be lost. As Elminster, like most other wizards, received his power from Mystra, he was left powerless.

During the Time of Troubles, Elminster defended Shadowdale against a Zhentarim army commanded by Bane himself. When Bane and Elminster battled inside his tower, Elminster used a spell to get rid of the avatar, but both of them were struck, and others believed Elminster was slain. In fact, he was transported to another plane for a period of time, and later returned.

However, while Elminster was absent, the other Chosen, the Knights of Myth Drannor, and the Rangers Three held off the forces of evil until his return to the world. However, the subsequent calm was soon broken, as the Shadowmasters had not stopped their plans for power. Elminster, the Rangers Three, and their allies, managed to stop their plans.

In Mirtul of 1360 DR, Tarth Hornwood arrived at Elminster's tower seeking to be trained by the sage of shadowdale in exchange for the Lost Ring of Murbrand. Elminster refused the offer but instead asked that Tarth destroy his former master's (Nerndel of Amphail) staff. Tarth tries to trick Elminster by using a fake staff built by Sarlin the Serpent, however the Old Mage reveals the deception and presents the real staff to Tarth instead. After performing the ritual to destroy the staff, the item transfrom into Nimra Ninehands who had been trapped in the staff for over 700 years. Elminster explains that Nimra would help train Tarth as she was still bound to Nerndal's service - and now his.

In Mirtul of 1364 DR, Elminster took on Nouméa Fairbright as an apprentice after being introduced by the Great Lady Calabrista of Selgaunt. During their meeting two Thayan Red Wizards tried to kill Elminster but failed in both attempts.

In Alturiak of 1365 DR, Elminster assisted Royal Magician Vangerdahast in searching for the missing war wizard Bolifar Geldert. Together they uncovered a plot by Baerune Cordallar, Kaulgetharr Drell, and others to wed Alusair Obarskyr and kill Tanalasta Obarskyr.

In late Eleint of 1371 DR, the new Mystra stripped away many of Elminster's memories of her former incarnation's secrets.

Return of the Archwizards
Later in the year of 1371 DR on Nightal 25, Elminster was called to Blackstaff Tower to discuss the phaerimm attack on Evereska with Laeral Silverhand, Khelben Arunsun, High Elder Gervas Imesfor, and High Priestess Angharad Odaeyns.

On Nightal 28, Elminster met with the Lady-of-the-Wood Morgwais in time for the arrival of Galaeron Nihmedu, Melegaunt Tanthul, Vala Thorsdotter, and the stone giant Aris. Elminster confronted Melegaunt on his motives but didn't press the issue too far in the presence of Morgwais. Later that night during a feast, Elminster followed the group as they tried to leave with the help of Malik el Sami. Melegaunt used his shadow magic and the arrival of a phaerimm with its beholder thralls to drive off Elminster long enough to escape into the Dire Wood.

Elminster fought a running battle against phaerimm, beholders and even the lich Wulgreth through the wild magic area of the dire wood. Despite this, on Nightal 30 he eventually stumbled across the Princes of Shade and overheard them planning an attack on shadowdale while he was trapped in the form of a tree. Exhausted from his long battles and depleted of many spells, Elminster returned to Shadowdale via the Anauroch desert and arrived to find the dale's inhabitants and Storm Silverhand embattled already by phaerimm rather than the expected shadovar. When Elminster appoached his tower, Rivalen Tanthul and five other Princes of Shade ambushed Elminster. In the confrontation, spells were thrown, and Storm Silverhand blasted one of the shadow princes with a ball of silver fire. Since shadovar were living shadow magic, and silver fire was pure Weave magic, the collision between the two tore at the fabric of reality, creating a rift to the Nine Hells. Elminster realized that the only way to close the portal before legions of devils spilled forth into Toril was to close it from the other side.

In the Nine Hells
In the early hours of Hammer 1, 1372 DR, Elminster entered the portal and narrowly managed to close it, but at the expense of much of his magical strength. Once in Hell, he was abducted and enslaved by an outcast archdevil known as Nergal, who wished to discover the secret of Mystra's silver fire. Elminster was subject to brutal tortures, surviving only because of his exceptional endurance and ability to heal himself with silver fire. While the arch-fiend plundered Elminster's thoughts and memories, Mystra became aware of her favorite servant's plight and entered Hell herself to find him. Realizing that her presence in Hell was overly conspicuous, Mystra retreated and dispatched more subtle agents to find him, first Halaster Blackcloak the Mad Mage of Undermountain (who was defeated), and then the Simbul. After much searching, the Simbul found him, and together they defeated Nergal and returned home.

In the 1370s DR
In 1373 DR, Elminster discovered a daughter he had never known, Narnra Shalace, in Marsember. Because of her curiosity, Narnra quickly found herself involved not only in Elminster's activities but also in the intrigues of the Cormyrean nation.

Elminster later secretly helped a small group of adventurers near Westgate at the village of Reddansyr, investigating the fate of a clone of Manshoon, and unmasking the real leader of Night Masks of Westgate, the Night King known as "The Faceless" (the Manshoon clone, now known as Orbakh), three years after the Manshoon Wars in the year of 1373 DR.

On Nightal 15 1374 DR, Sharran agents attempted to steal the Ebon Diadem from Elminster's tower. Due to the essence of the artifact and the sheer power of Elminster's wards, on whose power the artifact fed, the Sharrans defeated Elminster (though not without losing most of their number) and a contingency spell whisked Elminster away, while his tower itself was blasted into ruin and transported to another, unknown plane.

Post-Spellplague
Following the death of Mystra in 1385 DR and the collapse of the Weave in the Spellplague, Elminster was stripped of many of his abilities as one of the Chosen, though he still aged as slowly as he had for the previous millennium and was still quite powerful magically. However, every use of his magic drove him to—and sometimes over—the brink of insanity. When this happened, only Storm was able to bring his mind back, giving of her own essence to soothe Elminster's mind. Elminster could still cast minor cantrips at times—and had, on several occasions, cast minor illusions—without going mad, though this wasn't always the case.

Despite these setbacks, Elminster and Storm continued with their campaign to save Faerûn, battling evil where they could. For years, the two of them pretended to be "Elgorn" and "Stornara Rhauligan", "repairers of ever-crumbling stone, plaster, tapestries, and wood" in the royal palace of Suzail, spying on and testing the loyalties of War Wizards and nobles alike. On one occasion, Elminster even stole into the bedchambers of King Foril Obarskyr and made changes to the Suzail Writ, while his majesty slept not a spear-length away.

15 Century
In 1479 DR, after finally admitting that they needed help saving the Realms, and having run out of easy-to-steal magic items to feed to the Simbul, Elminster sought to gain access to artifacts known to contain the spirits of the Nine—objects powerful enough to pierce the wards surrounding the royal palace or, Elminster believed, to permanently restore the Simbul's sanity. He also sought to recruit the efforts of a descendant of his, Amarune Whitewave.

During one of his excursions into the palace, Elminster's body was destroyed by Manshoon, who had secretly been peeling away the Old Mage's contingency spells over several years. However, Manshoon departed before he realized that Elminster had survived his body's destruction in a near-undead state. With the agreement of Amarune and the aid of Storm, Elminster's essence was placed in Amarune's body with the aid of a spell the ex-Chosen had discovered in a cache once belonging to Azuth. He then sought to train his great-granddaughter while attempting to defend the Forest Kingdom from Manshoon and traitorous nobles alike. Later, thanks to the sacrifice of the Simbul, he regained his former body again and ruined for good Manshoon's claim to the throne of Suzail.

Afterward, in 1479 DR, Elminster went to Neverwinter for its Protector's Jubilee to see the city's renewal for himself. A guest of honor at the Protector's Enclave, Elminster bade adventurers who sought him out to escort merchants through the hostile territory of Blacklake District, Ebon Downs, and Whispering Caverns; meet with and bring a coded message left by an undercover spy with the Blacklake gangs; capture a coded message from the Dead Rats for the Harpers to decrypt; and covertly transcribe certain notes from Principles of Thaumaturgic Transmogrification at Bradda's Sage Shop, among others.

In 1487 DR, Elminster (with the help of the Srinshee, Alustriel, and Laeral Silverhand) stopped Shar as well as Larloch from becoming the new deity of magic. He killed Telamont Tanthul and let Thultanthar fall upon Myth Drannor. Along the way, Mystra was completely restored.

In 1491 DR, Elminster and Mirt the Moneylender returned to the city of Waterdeep, both aiding the newly appointed Open Lord of Waterdeep, Laeral Silverhand, uncover the culprits behind a string of murders of Masked Lords.

Rumors & Legends
According to the Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue, Elminster owed his longevity in part to a hidden cache of elven bread imported from Evermeet.

Some believed Elminster had a hand in the founding of the city Waterdeep, or just with setting up its system of lords.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Elminster series (Elminster: The Making of a Mage, Elminster in Myth Drannor, The Temptation of Elminster, Elminster in Hell, Elminster's Daughter) • Pools of Randiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor • Spellstorm • Shandril's Saga (Spellfire, Crown of Fire) • The Finder's Stone trilogy (Azure Bonds, Song of the Saurials) • The Shadow of the Avatar Trilogy (Shadows of Doom, Cloak of Shadows, All Shadows Fled) • Avatar series (Shadowdale, Tantras, Waterdeep) • The Harpers series (Stormlight) • The Summoning • Sage of Shadowdale (Elminster Must Die, Bury Elminster Deep, Elminster Enraged) • The Herald • Death Masks
 * The Harpers series (The Parched Sea, Soldiers of Ice) • Return of the Archwizards (''The Siege, The Sorcerer)
 * Fiction
 * Realms of Infamy: "So High a Price" • Realms of Valor: "Elminster at the Magefair" • The Best of the Realms: "Elminster at the Magefair" • Dragon #390: "Lord of the Darkways"
 * Adventures
 * Hellgate Keep
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards • Spellfire: Master the Magic •
 * Comics
 * Spelljammmer (Nimone) • Forgotten Realms (Converging Lines)
 * Video games
 * Pool of Radiance series (Pools of Darkness, Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor) • Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal) •
 * Video games
 * Pool of Radiance series (Pools of Darkness, Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor) • Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal) •