Galaeron Nihmedu

Galaeron Nihmedu was an elven member of the Tomb Guard and shadow adept and a minor noble of Evereska. He played in the central role in the series of events known as the Return of the Archwizards, which saw the return of the phaerimm along with the Netherese enclave of Thultanthar to the Realms and the early re-emergence of the Netheril empire.

Description
Galaeron was tall and solidly built for a moon elf and had the pale skin and regal features common to his race. Two decades of serving as a Tomb Guard along the Desert Border South have left his face mildly rugged and weather-beaten.

Personality
Galaeron's extensive use and overindulgence of Shadow Weave magic brought him into conflict with his shadow self – a manifestation of characteristics opposite his own – a being that was devoid of kindness and loyalty that resembed a vampiric drow. He gradually lost control over his emtions and began experiencing extreme bouts of jealousy, especially when centered around the Vaasan woman Vala. He even lost his inherent connection with other elves close to him, along with the ability to enter into reverie.

Abilities
Galaeron was skilled in both hand-to-hand combat and sorcery, having attended both academies of the College of Magic and Arms. Under the tutelage of Melegaunt Tanthul, Galaeron learned how to utilize the Shadow Weave to cast arcane magic, unaware that this source of magic was controlled by the goddess Shar It was however particularly effective against the magic-resistant phaerimm.

Along with the personality changes Galaeron experienced due to his use of shadow magic, or "cold magic", he eventually lost the ability to tap into the Weave. Galaeron became used to the sensation of coldness when utilizing the Shadow Weave, a sign he was that much closer to being consumed by his shadow self.

Relationships
Galaeron was the son of the moon elf Aubric Nihmedu, the Blademajor of the Swords of Evereska and Lord of Treetop in Starmeadow Tower. His mother was Lady Morgwais Nightmeadow, the wood elf ruler of Reitheillaethor in the High Forest. Galaeron had a younger sister named Keya, who was born in 1364 DR. A third Nihmedu sibling died in childbirth, an event that caused Morgwais to return to the High Forest in grief.

While in his Tomb Guard, Galaeron's life was made harder by Kiinyon Colbathin, Tomb Master and Master of the Defenses of Evereska, who was notably scornful of the younger elf.

Galaeron was romantically involved with his fellow tomb guardian Takari Moonsnow, though the two held no formal commitment with one other. Their relationship became greatly strained as Galaeron became close with Vala Thorsdotter and delved deeper into shadow magic. Galaeron's relationship with Vala was more intense and complicated than that he shared with Takari. They developed a close bond in short time, but scorn and jealousy kept them apart for much of their journeys, particularly after they encountered Prince Escanor Tanthul. While Vala swore to Galaeron that she would not let his shadow self gain control – by a killing blow if needed – she also promised his father Aubric she could watch over him during their journey.

Early Life
In his youth, Galaeron began to manifest magical abilities, including minor levitation, telekinesis and pyrotechnics. After seeking the advice of a wizard, Galaeron's father enrolled him in the Evereskan Academy of Magic. As he was a sorcerer, Galaeron was often reprimanded in the academies for doing things in non-wizardly manner. After refusing to keep a spellbook, he was accused of practicing "dark magic" and finally expelled from the Academy.

Aubric managed to arrange a transfer for Galaeron to the Academy of Arms, where his skill with the blade quickly developed to rival that of his magical prowess. Although he excelled at the Academy of Arms and even earned a top rank, Galaeron's discontent with authority learned in the Academy of Magic held him back.

Through the intervention of Lord Gervas Imesfor, Galaeron was granted a place in the Tomb Guard, the branch of the Evereskan military that guarded the elven crypts in the Evereska Vale and surrounding Greycloak Hills. Galaeron's independent spirit was fostered and he was assigned as patrol leader to the Desert Border South, the region of the hills near Anauroch that was known for being particularly uneventful, where he served for twenty years.

The Return
On Nightal 20, the, Galaeron led his patrol into the familial crypts of House Vyshaan and encountered a band of Vaasans led by Vala Thorsdotter and their beholder minion as they ventured towards the Sharn Wall. A small skirmish broke out between the elves and the human crypt-breakers, leading to a collision between Galaeron's magic and the shadow magic wielded by Melegaunt Tanthul, the archmage sought out by the Vaasans. This intersection of two magics created an explosion that punctured a hole in the Sharn Wall, freeing the ancient, malevolent, and powerful race known as the phaerimm.

Galaeron and his fellow tomb guardians escorted the humans back to Evereska, to report that had occurred to the city's Hill Elders. While the elven high mages failed at repairing the damage done to the Sharn Wall, Melegaunt led Galaeron, Vala and the Vaasan warriors on their own journey to stop the phaerimm. As more of the aberrant creatures escaped through the breach, they began gathering armies of bugbears, illithids, and beholders that they had enthralled through their mind magic. They companions traveled through the Shadow Fringe to the Forgotten Forest and then the Greypeak Mountains, where they were eventually accompanied by a little man named Malik el Sami yn Nasser and Aris, a stone giant sculptor whom Galaeron rescued from beholders serving the phaerimm.



The group made their way through the mountains to Reitheillaethor in the High Forest, and eventually to the ruins of Karse in the Dire Wood. There they encountered the tortured being known Jingleshod, who tasked them with killing the lich Wulgreth of Ascalhorn. The companions finally found the lich within the temple of Karsus and a terrible battle broke out. After receiving a mortal wound, Melegaunt imparted all of his knowledge of the phaerimm into Galaeron's subconscious along with the fact he was the Twelfth Prince of Shade. Just before dawn on Hammer 1 of the, Galaeron used the Karsestone to create a gate that transported the ancient floating city of Thultanthar from the Plane of Shadow back to Toril.

Struggles With Shadows
"Hear me now, people of Shade. Follow me now, for the Return is at hand!"

- Galaeron, initiating the Return of Thultanthar to the Realms.

With Melegaunt's knowledge stored in his mind, Galaeron became a valuable asset to High Prince of Thultanthar, Telamont Tanthul. Unfortunately for the young elf, he lost control of his shadow self and grew distant and callous towards those he had formed friendships with during his travels.

Ultimately, however, Galaeron had a falling out with the Most High, and with the help of Khelben Arunsun, Laeral Silverhand, Alustriel Silverhand, Dove Falconhand, Storm Silverhand, and Aris, Galaeron managed to rescue Vala from Prince Escanor and deal a major blow to Shade Enclave. Also, during his imprisonment by Telamont, Galaeron joined with his shadow, filling in the gaps of his character and making him more whole while still being able to keep his will as his own.

On Mirtul 21, Galaeron Nihmedu arrived in Cormyr, bringing evidence that the Shadovar were melting the High Ice and crippling the Heartlands.

When Galaeron arrived back in Evereska, he helped the high mages repair the mythal, which had been unraveled by a phaerimm SpellGather. This inadvertently added something new to the mythal: after the golden meteors descended to blast apart the phaerimm, streaks of shadow were left in their wake.

Due to his father's death while fighting the phaerimm, Galaeron inherited his lordship. For his great exploits, Galaeron was offered the position of Master of the Defenses by Lord Erlan Duirsar but he turned it down, choosing instead to travel with Vala to her home, the Granite Tower, in Vaasa, along with his spirit-deep mate, the wood elf Takari Moonsnow.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Return of the Archwizards (The Summoning, The Siege, The Sorcerer)