Laeral Silverhand

Laeral Silverhand was known as the Lady Mage of Waterdeep. Together with her partner Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun they lead the Moonstars, a dissident faction of the Harpers, which sought to arrange the destiny of the cities and nation of the North.

Biography
After Laeral's mother died, Laeral, Dove and Storm were placed into the care of Elminster until they came of age. When her sisters decided to leave the Old Sage, Laeral elected to stay with him as his apprentice. When she had finished her studies, she left to join the Harpers. At the age of 41, Laeral was a self-styled queen, ruling the realm of Stornanter from Port Llast. Many later sages suspected that Laeral named herself after this queen, not realising that it actually was her. It was at this time that Laeral also attempted to rebuild and resettle the ruins of Illusk. Before she did so, she explored the Host Tower of the Arcane where she encountered several liches who were members of the Grand Cabal who ruled over Illusk centuries before. She sealed the liches inside the tower with magic before continuing with her other works.

Her activites attracted the attention of her sister Syluné who desired to rule over the same region and the two were drawn into spellbattle. Having grown up separately, neither recognized the other so before they destroyed each other, Mystra felt obliged to manifest herself before the two and explain their heritage, offering them both the mantle of Chosen. They accepted and journeyed together for a time, under the guidance of Azuth.

Under an assumed name, Laeral eventually established herself as a hard-drinking and fearless adventurer, coming to lead an adventuring band known as The Nine. In 1337 DR, Laeral along with The Nine discovered the ancient netherese artifact known as the Crown of Horns. The Crown was actually planted for her to find by the netherese lich Aumvor The Undying, who wished to use the Crown to influence her to marry him. The plot failed when Laeral donned the headpiece and the Crown's powers conflicted with Laeral's spellfire and drove her into madness.

Twenty years later, in 1357 DR, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun traveled to the stronghold of The Nine in the High Forest, freed Laerel Silverhand from the Crown of Horns and its curse and therefore also from Myrkul's influence. Laeral returned with him to Waterdeep for more healing, and after that, they were inseparable. She was referred to as Lady Arunsun, though they were never married. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Laeral and Khelben's meeting and subsequent partnership led some to believe that Laeral was enslaved to Khelben against her will. Laeral never denied this, instead preferring to let those who wished Khelben harm seek her out as an ally against him.

As of the events of the Spellplague, Laeral, along with Dove and Alustriel, have vanished. Storm Silverhand still lives, though the Spellplague has taken her singing voice away. Alassra "the Simbul" Silverhand survived the Spellplague as well, though she was driven completely insane by it.

Personality
Laeral was incredibly organized - it was the only way she could manage to fit all of her activities into a single day. She was very friendly and accomodating, leading to almost everyone who met her considering her a true friend (even the stuffy/haughty nobles of Waterdeep). She was also proactive, to the extent that certain waterdhavians would stage calamitous events so that she would keep tabs on persons of interest for them without their needing to ask for her help or involve themselves directly.

Having been in thrall to the Crown of Horns and forced to commit heinous acts by it, she felt that she understood the nature of evil folk better than most and often acted as a go-between in mediating disputes with rogues, undesirables and sentient monsters, especially in Skullport where she kept an alias identity.

She enjoyed pretending to be other people and often went to parties magically transformed as someone else where she would learn something of what it was to be that person and occasionally discover interesting information.

Family
Laeral was one of seven female spellcasters, born to the ranger Dornal Silverhand and his wife Elué (with the exception of Qilué Veladorn who, due to divine intervention, was drow). Collectively they were known as the Seven Sisters.

She had three children, a girl named Maura, conceived by Laeral during her time under the influence of the Crown of Horns by an unknown father. Maura was in love with the Crown Prince of Evermeet, Lamruil. She also had twins, a boy and a girl, fathered by her consort and fellow Chosen Khelben shortly before his death.

Magic items and spells
Laeral created many magic items in her lifetime. Notable and oft-copied examples include a magic steel shield that grants the wielder spell resistance, and shields of this type were subsequently named Laeral's spell shield. Although there is a type of magic armor called Laeral's storm armor, it is not clear what role Laeral had in its development. Laeral ceased her prolific creation of magical items after she was freed from the Crown of Horns.