Halaster Blackcloak

The mad wizard Halastar Blackcloak is a very old and thoroughly mad mage who resides within his lair, the most infamous dungeon in Faerûn, Undermountain.

History
In his youth more than a thousand years ago, Halaster Blackcloack was known as Hilather, though where he spent his youth is the source of great speculation. He was more gregarious then, creating and hosting Magefairs and Spellmoots, and taking many apprentices. However, as his power grew, he became more interested in aberrations and the Outer Realms, which led to growing paranoia and viciousness.

In 168 DR Hilather, now calling himself Halaster Blackcloak, arrived at the foot of Mount Waterdeep with his seven apprentices. Halaster summoned demons and other Outsider monsters to construct a great tower for himself and lesser towers for his apprentices, and claimed the nearby lands as his own. Mostly likely he chose the location because deep beneath lay the abandoned Netherese outpost, Sargauth Enclave.

Halaster refused to release the monsters and demons after they constructed his tower, instead sending them into the caverns to explore. This began Halaster's Hunts, a long series of journeys into the what is now called the Underhalls, driving out the drow, duergar, and various monsters that lived there. By 309 DR Halaster had completely control over the near endless tunnels and caverns and he began constructing the largest and most deadly dungeon imaginable, Undermountain.

By now, Halaster had become completely mad and wanted nothing to do with the outside world. He now lived only in Undermountain, allowing his tower to fall to ruin. Several of his apprentices came looking for him; he slew two before demanding the rest help him fortify his dungeon even more. One refused and managed to escape Undermountain. She would later become a Magister and would provide what little history there is about the Mad Mage.

Halaster's Apprentices
Several of Halaster's apprentices would become extremely powerful in the own right, notably Shardin Mulophor the "Lord of Bones", Trobriand "the Metal Mage", Arcturia, and Murial "the Misshapen".


 * Shardin Mulophor : Shardin was a powerful Netherese necromancer who had survived the collapse of his country. In 1148 DR he learned of Sargauth Enclave and petitioned to become an apprentice to the Mad Mage. For reason perhaps even unknown to him, Halaster agreed and also allowed him to take the Enclave as his own. Shardin, calling himself the "Lord of Bones", turned the Enclave into Skullport, a neutral way-station in the Underdark, linking Undermountain to the Lands Below.