Maalthiir

Maalthiir was a merchant and a wizard who came to rule the city of Hillsfar.

Description
When Maalthiir was middle-aged, he was a tall, thin man with a crinkled face. He maintained a shaved scalp, but allowed stubble to grow on it and wore a long dark-gray goatee beard.

History
Maalthiir was an unknown quantity in the Moonsea. Few knew much more about him other than the facts that he was a particularly shrewd merchant, a mage, and a member of Hillsfar's city council. In the winter of 1356/57 DR, Maalthiir overthrew the potentially corrupt Council of Hillsfar using blackmail and threats of harm.

When the city of Shade began attacking its neighbors in 1372 DR, Maalthiir allied with his longtime foes, the Zhentarim and, even more shockingly, with the daemonfey of House Dlardrageth to fight in the Dalelands against the army of Seiveril Miritar. Maalthiir eventually betrayed House Dlardrageth by refusing to march his forces against Shadowdale and the daemonfey responded with overwhelming force, causing Maalthiir to flee Hillsfar and go into hiding. Maalthiir returned twelve years later, retaking his place as First Lord and sending all of the nonhumans who'd moved to the city during his absence to the city's arena.

Eight years later, in 1396 DR, Maalthiir, who feared the increasing power of Myth Drannor, created a puppet council that included elves and half-elves and relaxed his xenophobic policies outside the city proper, hoping to prevent an incursion from the City of Song.

In 1460 DR, Maalthiir attempted to make the transformation into undeath as a lich. His attempt went awry however, and he died.

Personality
Maalthiir was a greedy, sadistic individual who had a distinct devotion to mercantile power. He regularly arranged for random executions and torture within his realm.

Relationships
Maalthiir was noted as having a single friend from before his rise to power: Wak Rathar. Maalthiir fostered a wizard apprentice, Mordak Brelliar, who acted as Maalthiir's chief advisor and second-in-command.

Possessions
Maalthiir was noted as carrying a scepter with him. It was made of some dark metal and its head was the shape of a draconic claw.