Pharaun Mizzrym

Pharaun Mizzrym was a talented wizard and and Master of Sorcere from House Mizzrym in Menzoberranzan.

Description
He was charismatic, well dressed, eloquent, and never left standing on one foot. He employed a variety of tools to get the job done -- magic and subterfuge were the two most often seen, but he did not hesitate to make a deal with a whore. break a promise to an ally, or endanger the lives of his apprentices to gain power.

Pharaun was very appearance oriented. He considered himself at the height of current fashion. During his travels at the time of the Silence of Lolth, he moped about the lack of proper hair-dressing and bathing facilities. His general appearance was graceful and elegant.

Personality
Pharaun's condescending manner was obvious in all of his interactions, including those with people of higher social standing than himself. He delighted in verbally jabbing and giving back-handed compliments to any he considers inferior -- which was to say everyone. This attitude included the glabrezu Belshazu, Jeggred Baenre's demonic father, whom Pharaun attempted to seal forever in magically frozen ice. His taunting to the party of Quenthel Baenre, Jeggred Baenre, and Danifae Yauntyrr enraged the priestesses almost to the point of murder. Only his magical skills, and promise of extreme retribution to the draegloth prevented his immediate death or grave injury.

Pharaun had a penchant for casting spells with dramatic gestures whenever possible.

Early life
Pharaun was born to House Mizzrym in Menzoberranzan, a noble House known for producing mages and illusionists of high quality and skill. Never much for physical confrontation, he preferred to have lackeys and subordinates fight for him.

As a youth in Menzoberranzan, he was embroiled in numerous family plots and schemes. Finding his intellect was well-stimulated by these games or dominance, he used his fledgling powers to aid one of his sisters, Sabal against her stronger twin, Greyanna, which earned her enmity towards him. The twin he backed was finally disabled by Greyanna, who had given her a cursed amulet. Greyanna then focused her energies on Pharaun. Pharaun slew her during his last visit to the House manor in 1372 DR.

Pharaun alluded several times to an experience he had in the Demonweb Pits prior to 1372 DR. Apparently, he was sacrificed to Lolth and exiled to the Demonweb Pits, but Lolth returned him to the living.

Academy
Pharaun was able to gain post at Sorcere after his sister Greyanna Mizzrym attempted (and failed) to kill him because he had allied with her twin sister, Sabal Mizzrym.

At the Tier Breche Academy (whether as student or master is unclear), Pharaun met the warrior Ryld Argith and the two became close friends, at least a close as drow could be. During Pharaun's and Ryld's third year at the academy (whether as students of teachers is unclear), they hunted down a Cloaker Lord and 67 other chasm rays in its party.

War of the Spider Queen
In 1372 DR, an experiment led by Pharaun at Sorcere led to the death of a number of apprentices. As punishment, Gromph Baenre, Archmage of Menzoberranzan, assigned him to track down a number of missing drow males. Ryld, bored with his position at Melee-Magthere, agreed to assist him. The two skulked around the poorer districts of Menzoberranzan until they found a group of "undercreatures" (mainly goblinoids) who were meeting together under the call of a man called the Prophet, who was an agent of of a group of drow renegades led by the illithilich Syrzan. Syrzan was planning on using his newly gathered troops to attack Menzoberranzan with the purpose of reducing the number of priestesses, then leaving the city upon for Syrzan to take control. Pharaun and Ryld unraveled the plot, but not before the undercreatures started revolting. Pharaun betrayed Ryld by leaving him to fend off pursuers and presumably die while in the hideout of the renegade drow. Meanwhile, Pharaun took control of the forces of Sorcere protecting the city, and he was the one to slay Syrzan. Although Ryld survived the encounter, it set a deep rift between the two.

During his travels, Pharaun encountered and became a lover of Aliisza the alu-fiend, a consort of Kaanyr Vhok. This affair was beneficial to both parties with the sharing of confidential information. Considering himself a great lover of women, he also made attempts to seduce Danifae Yauntyrr, to no effect. He also saved Danifae from certain death when House Melarn's manor plunged to destruction during the siege of Ched Nasad. It is thought that Lolth herself precipitated this move, as Danifae was eventually chosen as the Yor'thae of Lolth.

Pharaun accompanied the party to the very edge of the Demonweb Pits, where he was left paralyzed after a battle with the ultroloth Inthracis. After asking the priestesses for aid, his constant taunting and irritation was repaid in full. He was left paralyzed and without magical defenses, sprawled on the sand of the Abyss. A wave of spiders from the Demonweb Pits swarmed over and consumed him almost completely. Aliisza took a small trophy of Pharaun, a single finger, as a keepsake, or to perhaps to raise him, which can be done so long as at least one part of the fallen is in the casters' possession.

He is later resurrected by Allisza in Thomas Reid's book, The Crystal Mountain, into the cleric Zaisan's body before polymorphing it into his own likeness. The body is rapidly decaying, however, and he only has a short time to live. He saves his son Kael but is ultimately re-killed and presumably returns to the Demonweb Pits.

Abilities
Like the rest of House Mizzrym, Pharaun was a noted specialist in the use of illusion magic, and frequently used evocation spells in combat. He was skilled in other forms of magic as well; he was even able to cast a spell with his feet.

Pharaun displayed a high level of ability to control demons. His lore in the methodology and binding of demonic entities was utilized heavily in the quest to end the Silence of Lolth.

Pharaun was able to ride the foulwings that guarded House Mizzrym.

Equipment
Pharaun's equipment included a magical dancing rapier. He wore a ring of identification, which may have been lost in his battle with Syrzan in 1372 DR. Just before that battle, he obtained a pair of boots that appeared to work as boots of speed from Blundyth's wizard's supply shop in the Bazaar (which Pharaun destroyed).

Ryld Argith
Ryld was often contrasted with Ryld Argith; the two had shared a steadfast friendship that was badly shaken when Pharaun abandoned him to renegade drow in Menzoberranzan.

Pellanistra
Pellanistra was a prostitute at the Jewel Box tavern in the Braeryn in Menzoberranzan who had made an agreement to give Pharaun intelligence for 20 years. She detested him.

Novels

 * War of the Spider Queen
 * 1) Dissolution
 * 2) Insurrection
 * 3) Condemnation
 * 4) Extinction
 * 5) Annihilation
 * 6) Resurrection

Other

 * The Crystal Mountain