Mourngrym Amcathra

Mourngrym Amcathra was the lord of Shadowdale from 1353 DR until 1375 DR.

Appearance
Mourngrym was an athletic man with neatly trimmed brown hair and a similarly maintained mustache.

Personality
Mourngrym was a cautious but shrewd leader and able diplomat. He was authoritative and had abundant foresight. While he liked to think of himself as benevolent and protective, he came off more smothering and overly paternalistic as well as condescending.

Background
Mourngrym was born to the noble Amcathra family of Waterdeep. As a child, he had everything he ever needed as well as lots of friends and a good knowledge of how Waterdeep worked. Still, he felt unfulfilled, as if he wasn't doing enough to make himself useful. In his early teens, he began training to use weapons which served him well when he ended up aiding an associate of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun. Khelben watched the youth with interest from then on and noticed his martial skill and his ability to remain persuasive under duress.

Mourngrym became affiliated with the Harpers and, through them, Khelben encouraged him to join Doust Sulwood, the current lord of Shadowdale in his adventures. He became an important member of the Knights of Myth Drannor.

In 1353 DR, when Doust Sulwood gave up the rule of Shadowdale to return to adventuring, he chose Mourngrym to be his successor, and Mourngrym accepted. Although Mourngrym had been sent from Waterdeep by Khelben Arunsun for other reasons, Doust recognized and admired his honesty and ambition to help protect Shadowdale, and was inspired to pass on the lordship.

A few years later, in 1355 DR, a diplomatic envoy from Cormyr named Shaerl Rowanmantle was sent by Vangerdahast to investigate why the last two lords of Shadowdale were both "chosen" by Khelben. On arriving in Shadowdale, Shaerl fell in love with Mourngrym and they were married in 1355 DR. In 1358 DR, three years after marrying, Mourngrym and Shaerl had a child: Scotti.

When Elminster disappeared during the Time of Troubles, Mourngrym took the news badly. When some adventurers were brought in under suspicion of murdering the Old Sage (without a shred of evidence), Mourngrym allowed an angry mob to choose their punishment, despite knowing full well that they would choose the death penalty and after being accused that fairer trials were held at Zhentil Keep. Luckily, the adventurers escaped their fate.

Mourngrym finally met his match in the summer of 1374 DR when his body was possessed by Yder Tanthul. Despite his rescue from this state, Mourngrym became depressed at his inability to protect himself and his people and offered to step down as lord of Shadowdale. He handed the Pendant of Ashaba over to Azalar Falconhand and rejoined the Knights of Myth Drannor.