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 one of Realms' most preeminent sages—famous from the Sword Coast, to the far-off jungles of Chult and the eastern Realm of Thay and beyond― as well as the most-favored Chosen of the goddess Mystra. He has saved the Realms on numerous occasions over his centuries-long life, 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 well into manhood. He had a shock of stark black hair in his youth, and a beard that went gray in his old age, and blue eyes that similarly turned blue-gray later in life, set under big bushy eyebrows.

During 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 clothes, like simple black or gray robes.

While Elminster was capable of taking on almost any appearance imaginable, even that of a certain beholder he once slew, he often preferred to travel in a less conspicuous manner, often utilizing invisibility and shapechange spells.

Personality
"Archlich, I mock everyone. Myself, most of all. It's how I guard my heart against the flailing lashings of life."

- Elminster to Larloch, 1487 DR.

Elminster was by turns serious, fearsome, and arrogant, while also being exceptionally charming, clever, and good-humored. He was said 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 specific purpose―or to just to get a reaction from others. Typically only Elmisnter's close friends got to see the full range of his character.

He extolled the virtue of tolerance, peace, and freedom from subjugation, and truly cherished the wonder and beauty of the natural world. While he grew up detesting magic, especially those that would wield it for their own selfish ends, he garnered a profound appreciation for the Power and the Art. According to El, mages should develop their studies to learn best when to avoid utilizing the arcane power they possessed.

Elminster snored loudly while sleeping, although he muted this magically if it would disturb friends. However 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 and detect magical auras at will. 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.

In either case, El considered his memory to be something of a curse. Elminster couldn't help but remember the death of every friend and loved one, every tragedy he could prevent over the thousand-plus years of his life.

According to Lyra Sunrose, Elminster was quote skilled with a needle and thread. When she once found El bathing in the Elvenflow river, Lyra found his singing voice to be entirely tone deaf, despite its rather "nice, smoky baritone" quality. He was known to be a poor musician, incapable of writing down music himself, and an exceptionally unskilled horseman.

As a learned sage, Elminster's areas of expertise included an understanding of magic, the study of monsters, knowledge and analyzation of history, and comprehensive cataloging of notable genealogy.

Magic & Psionics
Elminster was rumored to have learned much of the arcane magic from Arkhon the Old, a mage that died in Waterdeep some five centuries before the Era of Upheaval. However it came to pass, by his one thousandth year on Toril Elminster had gained knowledge of every spell that was commonly available to most adventuring spellcasters of the Realms. He preferred not to utilize spells from the conjuration school of magic, and did not like to deal with creatures from the lower planes.

He was considered one of the "modern masters" of counterspelling and metamagic, the set powers that allowed spellcasters to shape and personalize their spells to their liking, as well as having a mastery over magic that shaped natural elements. El was familiar with powerful and esoteric spells only known to a select few, including Phezult's Sleep of Ages, Symrustar's spellbinding, and The Srinshee's spellshift. He was also one of three individuals comfirmed to know spells capable of recharging spellstar gemstones.

While he preferred not to always utilize them, El was proficient in a number of psionic disciplines.

Chosen Powers
As one of Mystra's chosen, Elminster was granted access to numerous spell-like abilities, that included resistances and immunities to a myriad spells. He also had the ability to wield the goddess' silver fire, and channel spellfire, pure raw energy taken directly from the Weave.

As was the case with at least one other of her chosen, El was designated as one of Mystra's weave anchors, locations or individuals in which the Weave remained connected to the Realms.

Possessions
Elminster was seldom one to travel with his staff, large pointed hat. and was rarely without one of the pipes of his collection. He had a variety of these, from one made of meerschaum, usually puffing a vile blue or green smoke, to his famous eversmoking pipe. that could independently float and allow others to take on his appearance.

The Old Mage owned a variety of powerful magic items, including an amulet of natural armor, bracers of armor, a mantle of spell resistance, rings of protection and regeneration, numerous ioun stones,  a velvet crown, and a thundering longsword''. For a time, Elminster remained in possession of Andrathath's mask, the eponymous facemask worn by his former instructor in the arcane arts.

Elminster possessed a grand collection of books in his library, which included the Book of Passing Years, along with the Keryfaertell, a tome treasured by the elves of old Cormanthor, and The Wizards' Workbook, that originated from the same city, and for a time, Unique Mageries, by Nezram "Worldwalker".

Activities
"[Elminster] goes to strange places, does strange things, indulges in whimsy, and doesn't keep quiet about it, so that he puts odd ideas into the heads of folk and it all leads to tumult and upset."

- Lady Addee Ulphor of Shadowdale, c. 1479 DR.

Throughout his long life Elminster traveled across the Realms —along with other planets  (including Oerth)  and extra-worldly planes of existence  ―fighting off the forces of evil, and preventing the destruction of Faerûn and its people in one way or another. He saw himself as something of a caretaker, and more often than not a meddler, always striving to preserve the long-term health and prosperity of the Realms over any immediate threats that arose.

Following his "retirement", Elminster continued to galivant across Toril, but did spend some more time in seclusion at his home in the Dalelands. During that time he was less inclined to speak to visitors or other strangers that came by his 'humble' abode.

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, and an extra-dimension pocket place known as Elminster's Safe Hold.

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

He penned a number of spellbooks over the years, the most notable of which was entitled Elminster's Traveling Spellbook.

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 A Myth Drannan Amphigory. His personal journals led to the creation of several published works, including Travels Along the Sword Coast, and the Moonshae Chronicles, while stories of his adventures inspired both Elminster: An Unauthorized Biography, along with others written by Ed of the Greenwood and Jeff Grubb.

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. It was also often falsely attributed to the long-circulated chapbook entitled, The Way of Lost Power.

El even crafted several powerful magical items, including the first ever rod of spheres.

Fame & Recognition
Elminster was so famous across the Realms that he had drink's named after him, the dark beer from Immersea known as Elminster's Choice, of which El himself was not a fan, and was even immortalized as both a wooden nesting doll and chess piece, as offered by Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue.

Relationships
While El's parentage and family were known to few, he was in fact born to Elthryn Aumar son of Uthgrael, one of the seven Princes of Athalantar, and Amrythale Goldsheaf, daughter of a woodsman. El was believed to have many lovers over the course of his life, and sired at least one child, Narnra Shalace, also known as the 'Silken Shadow' of Marsember.

Friends & Allies
"Hurling down mountains? Shattering fortresses? Easy enough. Caring diligently for allt hegol who come to you, day after moon after year, and keeping at it ― that's hard. Try it some time."

- Elminster, date unknown.

Elminster counted upon many friends and allies throughout his life, from his fellow thief Farl, to long-time ally and friend, fellow archmage, and often ideological rival, Khelben Arunsun. He was friendly with many prominent sages, scholars, and spellcasters, including Gorion of Candlekeep, Rhauntides of Highmoon, Maris Khorma Terrabin of Cormyr, and Yandrin Thorl of Archendale, among many others. El was considered a friend by nobles and royalty from all across Toril and the planes beyond, including Princess Alusair Obarskyr of Cormyr (even after her death), Count Gamalon Idogyr of Spellshire, and the Dragon Lord Mei Lung of the Kara-Turan pantheon known as the Celestial Empire.

The Old Mage was also friends with Mordenkainen and Rautheene 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, though Elminster would never have dared admitted as such.

He was connected in purpose and creation with all of Mystra's other Chosen, maintaining communication with them through a telepathic link. He held a particularly strong bond with Mystra's own daughters, known throughout the Realms as the Seven Sisters. He helped raise three of them from childhood―Ambara, Anamanué, and Astorma, ―the latter of whom took the name 'Storm Silverhand'. Over time Storm became El's longtime favored traveling companion, as the two nurtured their bond as kindred spirits.

Elminster maintained strong bods with other good-aligned and scholarly-minded individuals: El was dutifully served by Lhaeo, his personal scribe and Royal Consort to Queen Zaranda Star of Tethyr; he regularly edited works written by Volothamp Geddarm, author of the widely-popular but seldom fact-checked "Volo's Guide to..." series of travelogues;  and maintained a amiable yet friendly rivalry of sorts with Vangerdahast Aeiulvana, the Mage Royal of Cormyr.

He was an ally of numerous adventuring companies, including the Knights of Myth Drannor, and the Rangers Three, and even considered a 'bloodbrother' of no less than five clans of dwarves.

Apprentices
Elminster continued to take on apprentices on occasion. Notable among these were: Lycon "Wolf-beard", the mage and merchant, Symgharyl Maruel, Ghleanna Stormlake, who accompanied Elminster to Phlan when the city's pool of radiance became resurgent, Taranel, a longtime scholar of the Draconomicon, Raerlin, who attempted to steal fromt he Old Mage but was subsequently killed at a magefair, and Nouméa Fairbright, who witnessed Elminster defend himself against two Red Wizards from Thay.

While El did not originally take on a young Vangerdahast as an apprentice, the Old Mage did share with him some arcane secrets that remained between the two friends.

Not all of Elminster's apprenticeships were wholly beneficial for the Realms however. By Mystra's request El tutored one of her other Chosen, a young mage by the name of Sammaster–the future founder of the Cult of the Dragon. The two quickly formed a contentious relationship, and Sammaster left Elminster's tutelage after his obsession with Mystra and jealously of her lovers was too much to bear.

It was the often-corruptive force of seeking more powerful magic in order to wage war that led Elminster to stop taking on new students.

Romances
Elminster enjoyed many romances during his long and storied life, but his 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 when she was a woman), when Mystra taking the form of a mortal named Myrjala Talithyn.

El had flirtatious and amorous relationships with several of the Fair Folk and their kin, including Morgwais, the Lady of High Forest, the half-elf Nacacia of Cormanthor, and the lich-like being known as the Srinshee. El and the Srinshee enjoyed a centuries-long friendship, founded on mutual admiration and shared respect for the nature of magic, despite the Srinshee's one unsuccessful attempt to steal away from Elminster some of his silver fire

His true great love however was Alassra Silverhand, the Witch-Queen of Aglarond and the second-youngest of the Seven Sisters. A passionate love for one another formed during the early 14 century, having met and famously battled one another in a spell-duel some decades prior. Their love endured for over a hundred years, enduring the death of Alassra's reincarnated mother, and the calamitous series of events that followed. El remained dedicated to Alassra during her darkest years, and did everything in his power for decades to keep her well when she was afflicted with supernatural madness.

Enemies
"Ye have enemies? Good, good – that means ye've stood up for something, sometime in thy life..."

- Elmisnter, speaking to a young member of the Harpers.

Among Elminster's greatest foes were Othortyn and the malaugrym, terrible shapeshifting beings native to the plane of shadow. Elminster had slain one of their kind as a youth, and earning himself the distinction as their "Great Foe" after helping thwart their invasion of Toril. Twice in his life Elminster assailed the malaugrym Shadowhome and slain nearly all of their kind.

Perhaps Elminster's most distinguished and menacing foe native to the Realms was the archmage Manshoon, founder of the nefarious Zhentarim.

He was one of prominent spellcasters targeted by the murderous members of House Karanok of Chessenta, who had placed a 10,000 gp bounty on his head. El had even earned the enmity of at least one demigod, Velsharoon the Lich-Lord of necromancers.

An Outlaw and Thief
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 livelihood.

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.

Magical Studies & Return Home
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 revealed 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
"Nothing is recorded of the journey of Elminster from his native Athalantar across half a world of wild forests to the fabled elven realm of Cormanthor, and it can only be assumed to have been uneventful."

- Excerpt from The High History of Faerûnian Archmages Mighty, 1366 DR.

In the, Elminster traveled to the city of Cormanthor to continue his magical studies under Mystra's direction. He walked east from Athalantar, across the Heartlands and through eastern border of Cormyr before arriving at the Forest of Cormanthor. While in the forest he tried to defend a dying elf from hobgoblins. While unsuccessful, the elf bestowed upon El the kiira of House Alastrarra, with the mission to return it to his family in Cormanthor.

Elminster was astonished by the wonders of Cormanthor, but kept his promise to the dying elf. While many elves treated him with animosity and outright hatred, El was brought before Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl and Mystra herself blessed the meeting with her presence. El was taken to the Vault of Ages to face a sort of trial with the Srinshee. The two connected immediately, becoming fast friends and bonding over their shared outlook on magic. With the Srinshee's blessing, Elminster was openly welcomed as the first human allowed in Cormanthor, named Sha'Quessir (or elf-friend), and granted the title of Armathor of the Coronal Guard by Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl.

Elves that stood in opposition to the opening of Cormanthor to non-elves attempted to use Elminster as proof that humans and other undesirables were detrimental to elven kind. Despite being framed for murder, El garnered a modicum of respect among some forward-thinking elves of the city, thanks in part to Coronal Eltargrim and an appearance by Mystra's blessing in the elven city. Eventually was apprenticed to the cruel and powerful wizard from House Starym known publicly as the Masked, and toiled away for 20 years in near slave-like conditions. Elminster's magics contributed to the formation of a mythal around Cormanthor. Despite the efforts to corrupt El's involvement, the mythal was completed in the, and the newly-named city of Myth Drannor was opened to non-elves for the first time.

Attempts on Elminster's life continued unfortunately. On Tarsakh 4 of that year, Lady Laurlaethee Shaurlanglar attempted to slay the Old Mage, first by lacing his moonwine with srindym poison, and when that failed, attempting to kill him with spells. She was ultimately unsuccessful and subdued by greater mage.

El remained in the city for nearly a century, and was present 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.

Adventuring Years
On Midsummer evening in the, the Srinshee visited Elminster one last time after claiming the Rulers' Blade. She briefly interrupted his studies to bid him farewell before she departed for Arvandor.

Elminster returned to Myth Drannor and fought for the city's defense during the Weeping War. El joined the conflict about four months after the Army of Darkness first laid siege to Cormanthor in Nightal of the. He fought alongside the Nameless One and contributed to the elves' victory in the conflict known as Dawn at Erolith's Knoll. Months later, he fought again in the legendary battle at Silversgate, that saw the Army of Darkness driven from the city. Elminster himself destroyed the gate that linked Myth Drannor to Silverymoon Pass, but was inadvertently sucked into other planes of existence and lost to his allies for some time.

After the tragic loss of the city, Elminster joined those in attendance of the Gathering of the Gods at the Dancing Place in the. This momentous occasion saw the clergies of many human deities of nature, 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.

Trials, Temptations & Toddlers
"And in the days when Mystra revealed herself not, and magic was left to grow as this mage or that saw best or could accomplish, the Chosen called Elminster was left alone in the world―that the world might teach him humility, and more things besides."

- The High History of Faerûnian Archmages Mighty, 1366 DR. 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 recent events in the prior decades, though it was believe by some that his memory had been altered.

It was around this time that Mystra decided to take a more personal hand in the creation of her Chosen. She chose Dornal Silverhand―the mortal man she deemed most worthy―and his paramour Elué Shundar as the vessels to birth seven daughters over the following years.

Shortly thereafter, the god Azuth soon came to Elminster telling him that he mustn't rely on Mystra for aid like any other Chosen must with magic. El was presented with another test from Mystra: he would have to learn to survive without divine aid while using magic as little as possible. He was directed to serve under the tutelage of a wicked sorceress named Dasumia, who served the gone Bane, and sought to tempt El away from Mystra's path. El apprenticed himself to Dasumia, and was eventually named Court Mage of Galadorna under his new malevolent Master. As Dasumia tortured innocents and prepared a ritual for her dark god, El was compelled to take action. He refused to strike down her victims as directed and attacked Dasumia with what the minimal magic he could cast. In the end, Dasumia revealed herself to be the goddess Mystra herself, once again testing El and his faith.

Around that time, magic had become unreliable and unexpected effects abounded whenever spells were cast. Some began to panic and speculated about whether or Mystra still yet lived. Elminster was drawn to an ancient repository of magic created by the Netherese arcanist Karsus, where freed the long-imprisoned Spellcaster Saeraede Lyonora. Saeraede enticed El with with powerful magic that had been forbidden by Mystra, and attacked him, before being slain herself by an embittered foe from El's past.

After all he had gone through, Elminster felt dejected and lost. He reiterated his faith to Mystra and prayed to the goddess in earnest. El was given visions of all he could have had in life had he not follows the Mystran faith, everyone he had lost over the past 500 some odd years, and the arcane power he could have, had he chosen to take it for himself. In one of El's darkest moments, Mystra appeared before him and stated his most important task was just ahead: the rearing of her daughters.

By the, Dornal and Elué had seven daughters, but tragically Elué's mortal body could not hand Mystra's divine possession. When Dornal learned that Elué was in-effect possessed by a supernatural entity, he tried to murder her and then abandoned his daughters. Mystra entrusted the care of Ethena Astorma, Ambara Dove and Anamanué Laeral to her most trusted Elminster for a time. After two of the girls found their own paths in life, Elminster dedicated himself to raising only Laeral.

Work With the Harpers
Decades later in the ,Elminster first met with Sammaster, a fellow Chosen of Mystra. El took on the young mage as an apprentice for a time, instructing him on how to wield his newfound powers, including the highly-covered silver fire. But over time Sammaster developed an unhealth obsession with Endué Alustriel, Mystra's second eldest daughter, and lost command over his silver fire. In the, Sammaster and his apprentice Algashon Nathaire abducted Alustriel and prepared a horrific ritual that would steal her access to the fire and restore his own. Elminster and Alustirel's sister Laeral rescued their fellow Chosen and were forced to slay Sammaster, leaving his remains to Mystra's consort Azuth.

On Hammer 14 in the, 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, this conflict gave way to the Harpstar Wars, which began in earnest in the. During the conflict, El crafted the eponymous Harp of Stars a magical device that helped his allies learn more about the aberrant monstrosities from the shadow plane. The Harpers fought the malaugrym across numerous extra-planar locals, and both sides of the conflict suffered tremendous losses. It was only when El's comrade Khelben Arunsun took over the consciousness of the malaugrym Shadowmaster, in the, that the war came to an end. After some 40 years of fighting, only a handful of malaugrym remained in their own demiplane, along with a score of Harpers that returned to Toril to help protect the Realms.

While Elminster and his allies were away from Faerûn, a mediocre bard named Rundorl Moonsklan had taken control of the group and named himself the 'Harper King'. After drawing the Harpers into a drawn-out and pointless conflict with the Red Wizards of Thay, he began to lose control of the situation and was forced to ally himself with the lich Thavverdasz, an ally of the emergent Cult of the Dragon, which itself was founded by El's former pupil Sammaster. As the Red Wizards, Harpers, and Dragon cultists entered into a terrible battle at the Vast Swamp, Thavverdasz battled the Red Wizards Szass Tam and appeared to claim victory as master of the undead. Elminster appeared out of the skull of a slain Harper and destroyed the lich and saved the remaining Harpers, just having returned to Toril with his comrades.

Despite their "victories", the Harpers as an organization was left nearly in ruin. Elminster transported his injured friend Khelben and the other survivors to Elventree to recover, and set out to rebuild all that had been lost in the previous decades.

Adventures as the Old Mage
Some twenty years later, on Eleint 21 in the, Elminster sought council with the wise warrior Thauntar and his dear friend the Srinshee about a spellcaster known as the Simbul that was killing many mages in the eastern realm of Aglarond. Elminster traveled to Aglarond and challenged the Simbul to a spell-duel. The titanic battle that eventually erupted between the two 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 one of Mystra's Chosen.

In the years that followed, Elminster forged a bond of friendship and comradery with the Simbul, who was in fact Alassra Shentrantra, the sixth daughter of Dornal Silverhand and Mystra. He called upon both Alassra, and the Wychlaran of Rashemen to help defend the recovering Harpers from their Red Wizard enemies in Thay. Fortunately for El and the Harpers, the Simbul hated the Red Wizards and would gladly keep them and their armies on the defensive.

As the dark mage Manshoon and his cabal of wizards known as the Zhentarim emerged as a threat to the Heartlands, Elminster personally took it upon himself to keep them at bay. He worked with Astorma—then known as Storm Silverhand—to recruit adventurers throughout the Dalelands and Eastern Heartlands to once again grow the Harpers' ranks. Eventually Elminster made his home in an old tower in Shadowdale Town, near Anastra's old cottage and Storm's farm.

Retirement
"No trespassing! Violators should notify next of kin. Have a pleasant day."

- The sign outside of Elminster's tower.

Elminster did take some time for himself during these years. He managed to make a visit to the Moonshae Isles in the, and took extensive notes about all he encountered.

El unofficially 'retired' to Shadowdale about 15 years later, in the, serving as the de facto leader of Shadowdale, alongside Lord Mourngrym Amcathra. His retirement however was something of a ruse to provoke certain enemies.

Despite his efforts to remain hidden, Elminster continued to help new adventuring groups and aid his friends and allies. He played a key part in establishing the Rangers Three. On Ches 16 in the, Elminster agreed to pay off Sir Sabrast Windriver's tax-debts, despite the displeasure it brought to Vangerdahast the Royal Magician of Cormyr who had been hunting Sabarast. The following year, Elminster helped the young Shandril Shessair understood her newly-found powers over spellfire, and worked to keep her safe from her enemies in the Zhentarim and the Cult of the Dragon.

The Time of Troubles
"Those who fight must know that the enemy can be conquered, that even the gods may die. Ye see there are forces greater than man or god, just as there worlds within and worlds without..."

- Elminster, 1358 DR.

In the, just before the Time of Troubles, Mystra gained by some means foreknowledge about the upcoming calamity (Elminster later theorized this knowledge was offered to her by the overdeity Ao). She invested a great deal of her power into the lesser deity Azuth and all of her Chosen, with Elminster himself receiving the greatest amount. Mystra crafted a magical pendant and bestowed it upon the adventurer Midnight, and compelled her with a geas to seek out her avatar after the gods had been cast down to the Realms. At the moment Mystra ceased to be the Goddess of Magic, magic did not function as normal, and Elminster lost access to the Weave. He felt weak and a lost, a shadow of the man he was just a day earlier.

After suffering such a great loss, Elminster's friends and fellow chosen were greatly worried about him. The adventurer Sharantyr and two Harpers Belkram and Itharr, known together as the Rangers Three, watched after El, and together they overthrew a Zhentilar controlled outpost in High Dale. During the conflict, the archlich Saharel sacrificed herself to slay the mortal Manshoon and safe Elminster's life.

Despite their small victory, two great threats to the Heartlands emerged: the extra-planar malaugrym that saw this crisis as opportunity exact revenge by slaying Elminster, and the god Bane, who had taken mortal form in Zhentil Keep, and sought to take for himself the Tablets of Fate. In the middle of Kythorn, El and his fellow chosen devised a plan to protect the Old Mage and keep the Realms safe. The ghost of Syluné would use El's pipe to act as a decoy Elminster, attracting the attention of the malaugrym while the Rangers Three assisted the real Elminster in preserving Mystra and repairing what remained of the fractured Weave.

On the same day the avatar of Mystra was destroyed by the avatar of Bane, Elminster reunited with Syluné and the Rangers Three in Daggerdale, warning them of the growing conflict between the Dales and the Zhentarim of the north. Over the following tendays, El and Mystra's other Chosen, along with the Rangers Three and the Knights of Myth Drannor held off the malaugrym invasion of the Realms for a time. They ventured into the plane of shadow, killed many of the malevolent shapeshifts in their Castle of Shadows, and destroyed the Malaugrym spell loop, albeit at great cost.

Having returned to the Prime Material plane, Elminster finally met with the adventurer Midnight on Flamerule 8, along with her companions Adon, Cyric, and Kelemvor, at his tower in Shadowdale. He offered them aid in their fight against Bane's forces

All the while, Elminster worked old necromancy spells to restore the bodies of the allies that accompanied him to the Castle of Shadows to their natural state. Within a tenday, El was reunited with them in Faerûn on the 15 of the following month.

El accompanied Midnight and her companions to Morningdawn Hall, just as the Zhentilar army marched upon Shadowdale Town, and helped Midnight perform a [[ritual that would located the Tablets before Bane and the Zhentarim. As the two performed the ritual, Bane's avatar forced his away into the temple. As the Celestial Staircase opened up above, Elminster created a rift that conjured Mystra's pure essence in the form of a magic elemental. The entity imbued Bane's avatar with all of its power, all but destroying his mortal form. Elminster acted quickly to seal the rift, but was taken within and transported to some other plane. Midnight and her companions believed the Old Mage to be dead.

While Midnight and her friend Adon were tried for Elminster's "murder", they were sprung from imprisonment by their companion Cyric. El's scribe Lhaeo allowed them to seek passage to the city of Tantras, where Elminster believed they could find the Tablet of Fate. By the time Midnight arrived in the city, El had returned to them Realms, using the alias of Minstrel. He told Midnight she could find the tablet within the local temple of Torm, but guided her to another tower so that she could ring the Bell of Aylen Attricus. As the colossal avatars of Bane and Torm battled outside, and meteors rained down on Tantras from the skies, Elminster helped Midnight ring the bell just in time to shield the city from a catastrophic explosion.

Elminster remained in touch with Midnight, Adon, and Kelemvor as they traveled west towards Waterdeep in search of the second Tablet of Fate, and reunited with them at Blackstaff Tower upon their arrival. El and Khelben offered them some insight to the adventurers about how best to proceed at acquiring the tablet from the realm of Hades, beneath Dragonspear Castle.

Once Midnight and the others succeeded in their mission, Waterdeep was overrun with Myrkul's legion of undead minions led by the night riders. Elminster helped defend the City of Splendors, and helped heroes hide away the tablet within an extra-dimensional space in Blackstaff Tower, until they could fight off and destroy the avatar of Myrkul himself. El rained down meteors upon the rest of the dead god's horde, so that Midnight, Kelemvor, and Adon could take the tablets to Mount Waterdeep. While the allies' former companion Cyric managed to steal both tablets and present them to Ao at the mountain himself, Midnight was recognized as the hero that wrested them from the avatars of the gods and given the opportunity to ascend as the new Mystra, Goddess of Magic.

Subsequent Years
In the month of Mirtul in the, Tarth Hornwood appeared before 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 the staff of his former master, Nerndel of Amphail. Tarth attempted to trick the Old Mage with a fake staff built by Sarlin the Serpent, but was unsuccessful. 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 Alturiak of the, 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 the, the new incarnation of Mystra stripped away many of Elminster's memories of her former incarnation's secrets.

Return of the Archwizards
Later in the year, 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, in the, 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.

Continued Adventures
In the, 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 the Feast of the Moon in the, El, Khelben, and Laeral worked powerful high magic to cleanse the stretch of the High Moor around Highstar Lake, and return to glory the lost city of Faer'tel'miir. It was then renamed Rhymanthiin, the Lost City of Hope. The fantastic feat came at a great loss however, as Khelben Arunsun sacrificed his life to ensure its completion.

Just over a tenday later, on Nightal 15, 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 of existence.

The Spellplague
"Learn ye well the lesson of the pebble that begets a landslide. Likewise a single betrayal unleashed the Spellplague, whose consequences yet dance and stagger across Toril, and beyond."

- Elminster, 1479 DR.

Death of Mystra
In the, Mystra was slain in Dweomerheart by the god Cyric working alongside the goddess Shar. The magical Weave that permeated Realmspace collapsed, and the Spellplague wracked all of Toril. El and the rest of Mystra's chosen were stripped of their powers. While El himself could still cast arcane magic, every use of his magic drove him to—and sometimes over—the brink of insanity. When this happened, only his longtime traveling companion Storm was able to bring his mind back, giving of her own essence to soothe Elminster's mind.

Elminster's great love and fellow Chosen, Alassra Silverhand, was left in a much worse state following the Spellplague. She absorbed the magical energies released during the cataclysmic event and was afflicted with never-ending madness. On one occasion she unwittingly attacked Elminster at Silverhand farm, and he was forced so to defend himself in a devastating spell battle. The powers she held within were released and absorbed by El, and he became a threat to all the Dales. He absorbed the power from the surrounding landscape, creating pockets of plaguelands and conjuring earthmotes. The Old Mage was eventually subdued by a band of adventurers, and left to languish at the old farm.

Despite that ordeal, Elminster made it his calling to amass magical or otherwise enchanted items from wherever they were found, and channel their dweomers to Alassra to alleviate her worst symptoms and grant her brief moments of lucidity. She would remain well for a time, before she flew off to some far away realm, only to return to one of her favored locales. El dedicated his life then on to caring for her, while rumors spread that the reverse was true.

15 Century
Despite these setbacks, Elminster and Storm continued with their campaign to save Faerûn, battling evil where they could. While most people believed they were dead, they pair watched over Shadowdale, and even guided aspiring adventurers, like Kahara Sulwood when drow from House Jaelre overrun the dale. On one occasion, El heard the voice of Mystra direct him travel to Zhentil Keep, and destroy the Darkways that Manshoon had corrupted, leading to the death of many noted mages.

Eventually El and Storm took the aliases of "Elgorn" and "Stornara Rhauligan", two servants working for the Cormyrean royal family, and relocated to Suzail.

After living in such a weakened state for nearly a century, Elminster finally admitted in the, that he and Storm needed help saving the Realms. Having run out of easy-to-steal magic items to feed to Alassra, 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. In order to achieve these ends, El specifically sought to recruit the efforts of his descendent, Amarune Whitewave.

Death & Reemergence
During one of his excursions into the Royal Palace that same year, Elminster's was slain 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 Amarune's consent and the aid of Storm, Elminster's essence was placed in the body of his great-grandaughter by means 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. He shared Rune's body with her for a time, but soon discovered how to also cohabit the body of her paramore, Lord Arclath Delcastle, along with his consciousness.

As El learned to navigate his new bodiless existence, Storm discovered a means of permanently curing Alassra of her madness: by helping her consume one of the powerful blueflame items seemingly created during the Spellplague. Meanwhile, the Manshoon of Westgate was enacting a convoluted scheme to manipulate the nobility of Cormyr and install himself as Emperor of Cormyr.

The situation came to a head as El, Storm and the others struggled to offer the blueflame item to Alassra within a secluded cave, and Manshoon appeared before them all. Alassra returned to her full self, restored Elminster's physical form, and presented everyone with a missive from her long-dead mother: El and Manshoon would have to work together against the machinations of the Imprisoner, and close the many inter-planar rifts that had been opened by warlocks and others during the last hundred years. If they failed, the primordials would take over Toril, and the world of elves, men, and dwarves would be no more. Elminster and Manshoon both agreed to work alongside the other...for a time.

Manshoon's loyalty to the others lasted all but a few minutes. Just after Alassra left to begin their work, Manshoon used his magic to once again cast Elminster from his body and plunge his essence into the Underdark. El's ephemeral form lingered in the Underdark for a time, witnessing a wider scope of the effects of the Spellplague, before encountering the consciousness of Symrustar Auglamyr, an elf that lived in Cormanthor when El first stepped into the city. They traveled together as El came to inhabit the body of a drow woman, and eventually made his way back up to the surface world.

El had managed to make his way back to Cormyr, reunited with Amarune, and heralded Mystra's return to the Realms. He entered into the mind of an honest and stalwart member of the War Wizards and informed them their aid would be needed during the conflict ahead.

Meanwhile, Alassra worked tirelessly to close rifts that had been opened across the Realms. She eventually made her way to an isolate keep shrouded in blue flame and overrun with tanar'ri. She wielded her silver fire to slay many demons, but was nearly overrun and called out to Elminster and Mystra for help. While Alassra emerged victorious, El heard her pleas but could not be heard in response. As she continued with her quest, consuming blue flame items became increasingly taxing on her body.

When Elminster witnessed so much needless death and destruction caused by Manshoon's schemes that he went into a murderous rage and unleashed all the remaining magic he had upon his old foe. It was not enough however, and El's newest body was blasted apart by the city's War Wizards. Alassra arrived moments later and sacrificed herself to restore El's rightful body and make himself whole again. Absolutely distraught with the loss of his lifelong love, Elminster went on to systematically slay everyone responsible for the events leading up to that point. He saved Manshoon for last, melting his body with silver fire, despite knowing the centuries-old despot could not be truly destroyed save for by divine intervention.

El resisted the urge to allow his rage to overtake him. He returned to the cave where Alassra was cured, carrying with him the power of the blue flame items she had amassed. El returned the arcane power to Mystra, allowing her to fully return as the Goddess of Magic once again.

After suffering such tremendous loss, 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; had meet with and bring a coded message left by an undercover spy with the Blacklake gangs; had them capture a coded message from the Dead Rats for the Harpers to decrypt; and directed them to covertly transcribe certain notes from Principles of Thaumaturgic Transmogrification at Bradda's Sage Shop, among others.

When the restored Cult of the Dragon emerged as a threat to the Sword Coast in the 1480s DR, Elminster joined the armies of the Five Factions at the Well of Dragons, and helped prevent Severin Silrajin form summoning Tiamat to the Realms.

Second Sundering


Over the next few years, Elminster and Storm Silverhand, along with Amarune and Arclath, traveled across the Realms working to strengthen the Weave at locales where some magical wards managed to survive the Spellplague. After venturing in a dungeon near Elturel in the, they became aware that the Shadovar of Thultanthar were investigating similar points across the Realms. To stop Shar's agents from carrying out their goddess' new plot, El ventured to Candlekeep to gain more information while his allies made their way to the rebuilt city of Myth Drannor.

While in Candlekeep, El discovered that both Shadovar agents and two of his fellow Chosen—Alustriel and Laeral—had spent years, decades even, infiltrating the library-fortress to prepare for events that were about to unfold. El learned that his old friend Khelben had gleaned insight into the developing Second Sundering and had developed a contingency plan. Khelben's fellow Moonstars, Alustriel and Laeral intended to destroy the wards of Candlekeep, in order to prevent them from being utilized by Shar and her followers from Thultanthar. While El was absolutely aghast at the idea, a new arrival offered an alternative. The lich Larlock―who had so expertly retained his power during the Spellplague―taught El how to use his power as a weave anchor to channel the power of Candlekeep's wards, and preserve them while turning away the Shadovar. Elminster saw Shar as the greater threat to the Realms, accepted the Shadow Lord's offer, and began carrying out their plan.

As agents of the Moonstars broke into Candlekeep to excise the Shadovar within, Elminster linked minds with members of the Avowed to gain access to its wards. Larloch had betrayed El and the others, using the connection to slay so many of Candlekeep's monks, and strip away its wards for his own use. Elminster learned his lesson. He and his fellow chosen quickly made their way to Myth Drannor, to ensure the Shadow Lord Larloch could not steal the power from its restored mythal.

They arrived too late however, as Larloch invaded the minds of Thultanthar's citizens and set out to his work. El meanwhile used the technique Larloch taught him―along with the support of Laeral and Alustriel―and gained control of the flying city itself. Bolstered with the sacrifice made by the Srinshee who had returned to Myth Drannor, Elminster brought Thultanthar crashing down atop Myth Drannor in a cataclysmic blast that destroyed both cities. Fortunately, most residents of Myth Drannor were evacuated, and even the goddess Shar resigned the fate of her scheme to Mystra.

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. Others ascribed his many years to "more mundane" means, like drinking from potions of longevity, vitality, or the elixer of life.

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
 * Shadowdale • Tantras • Waterdeep • Web of the Spider Queen
 * Hellgate Keep • Undermountain: Stardock • Scepter Tower of Spellgard • Search for the Diamond Staff • Undermountain: Halaster's Lost Apprentice • Out of the Abyss • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
 * 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) •


 * Organized Play & Adventures
 * Tyranny of Dragons (Pool of Radiance Resurgent)
 * Tyranny of Dragons (Pool of Radiance Resurgent)