Akar Kessell

Akar Kessel was an unskilled mage who lived in Luskan's Host Tower of the Arcane under the tutelage of Morkai the Red.

History
Dendybar the Mottled persuaded Kessel to kill Morkai in return for a place of power in the Host Tower. Kessel, blinded by greed, killed Morkai - the nearest thing he had to a father. Dendybar, in return, left him to freeze in the snow of Icewind Dale.

By chance (or perhaps not) Kessel came upon Crenshinibon. The Crystal Shard dominated his weak mind easily and, using the powers of the artifact, dominated an army of orcs, goblins and trolls as well as others, allying them with the local Barbarian tribes and the Balor lord Errtu, which he would use to take over the Ten Towns before moving on to loftier goals. He didn't count on the likes of the drow Drizzt Do'Urden or the barbarian Wulfgar, or even the halfling Regis, the dwarf Bruenor, Catti-brie and the magical beast Guenhwyvar - the heroes unravelled Kessel's (Crenshinibon's) plans and Drizzt himself disposed of Errtu and got Kessel in a position to accidentally kill himself.