Shandalar

Shandalar is an eccentric and reportedly powerful mage who lives in a converted Halruaan skyship, east of Ulgoth's Beard.

Shandalar is a skilled mechanic and has created several devices to harness the lightning from the coastal storms to power his various contraptions. It is also rumoured that the old wizard is immune to all harm from lightning as in terrible storms he can be seen, drenched from the rain, to be dancing and singing among the ferocious bolts.

The mage's source of income comes mainly from selling mushrooms to clerics and cooks in Baldur's Gate. These mushrooms are grown in a network of caverns beneath his floating home, that are maintained by various monsters and mechanical constructs loyal only to Shandalar. It's rumoured by the townsfolk of Ulgoth's Beard that these monsters are living mushrooms, but this is not confirmed. The supplies are then shipped to Baldur's Gate by his three beautiful daughters, and sold at markets. It is speculated that his daughters are also apprentices of Shandalar, and each one a powerful mage in their own right.

He is also known to have a number of agreements with various outlaws and pirates. Shandalar keeps certain treasures safe on their behalf, deep within his mushroom caverns. This annual fee for this service is 1,000 gold pieces.