Shiris Blamira was a Netherese arcanist[note 2] and later shadow double of herself who performed research at the Shadow Consortium of Eileanar before its destruction in 3520 NY (−339 DR).[1][note 3]
Description[]
Blamira had a narrow face, long red hair, and pale green eyes. She often wore an expression of haughty superiority and pride, and like most arcanists used extensive magical enhancements to preserve her youth despite her advanced age.[2]
History[]
Blamira worked at the Shadow Consortium for some time as they performed research on the planes and other esoteric subjects.[3] In 3389 NY (−470 DR), she committed an elaborate crime upon the enclave when she stole the research notes of the alchemist Algar Ptack, who had been working with the archwizard Karsus himself on reverse-engineering the Nether Scrolls. She then used a powerful forgetfulness spell to eliminate her memory of the whole day and created a permanent shadow double to obfuscate her own identity, with both Blamiras claiming to be the original. With no way for anyone to identify the true guilty party, she had created the circumstances that would cause both Blamiras to be released and face no punishment. Due to the intractable nature of the case, the presiding High Justice Emilus Wentar called upon Lord High Justice Andoris Derathar to take over the case and find a way to resolve it.[4]
In the course of his investigations, Andoris confirmed Blamira's guilt via the unorthodox testimony of Ptack's captive earth elemental, which had witnessed the crime, and confirmed that both Blamiras believed themselves innocent.[3] Pursuing a lead on her work at the Shadow Consortium, he determined that the shadow double's permanence was due to it being a quasimagical spell effect that utilized the magical energy of a hitherto-unknown shadow mythallar that had been developed in secret at the Consortium. In an attempt to find the original, Andoris attempted a trial by ordeal which had both Blamiras teleported away from the enclave, intended to destroy the quasimagical shadow double by dint of separation from its power source, and allow the other to be legally executed without confusion. To his dismay, both subjects were unaffected by the test.[5]
Following a brief stress-induced mental breakdown, Andoris realized that a shadow mythallar could be far smaller than the typically massive mythallars he was familiar with. Such a small construct could be hidden inside of the shadow double and render it immune to most forms of magical interruption and influence thanks to the direct connection to the Shadow Weave.[6]
Following this revelation, he determined that the original Blamira had never had control over the shadow double and likely created it after the crime purely as an alibi, rendering it utterly innocent of the deeds committed.[6] The Lord High Justice then officially proclaimed that the (as yet unidentified) shadow double was innocent of wrongdoing, and was entitled to all the rights and privileges held by a person in Netheril. In order to determine the guilty party and also deliver the sentence, he declared a second trial by ordeal that had them both come into contact with another of the Shadow Consortium's shadow mythallars, resulting in the destruction of the original, guilty Blamira, and no effect upon the innocent shadow double. As a result of this final judgement, the two Blamiras were finally reduced to one.[7]
Following the disappearance of the institute's founder Shadow in 3469 NY (−390 DR), Blamira continued to perform experimental research into the planes at the Shadow Consortium at the direction of Alkindus. Focused on the unlikely possibilities of semiplanes and antiplanes, Blamira worked alongside Janin, Vanderanus, and Pringle until Karsus's Folly.[1][note 3]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The races of the arcanists in the full table (Netheril: Empire of Magic pp. 23–28) are not explicitly referenced, unlike in the NPCs list (Netheril: Empire of Magic p. 106), which states that they are assumed to be human unless said otherwise. However, the text after the "Spells" heading (Netheril: Empire of Magic p. 22) says that the spells are "Netherese spells", and the text following this is from the perspective of the Netherese (humans): "Other spellcasting races dispute many of the claims made by the Netherese regarding who first created what spell", etc. For this reason, the arcanists provided in this list (and mentioned in other sections of the sourcebook) are assumed to be Netherese humans.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 In Netheril: Empire of Magic, Blamira is described as a priest. However, in the later Trial by Ordeal short story she is described as an arcanist.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 As a spell effect maintained by the Shadow Weave, the shadow double Blamira's existence would not necessarily be interrupted by the Weave's failure during Karsus's Folly. However, the associated dangers of Netheril's destruction may well have destroyed the shadow double Blamira anyway.
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (March 2002). “Trial by Ordeal”. Realms of Shadow (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 5, 6. ISBN 0-7869-2716-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lisa Smedman (March 2002). “Trial by Ordeal”. Realms of Shadow (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 10–12. ISBN 0-7869-2716-X.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (March 2002). “Trial by Ordeal”. Realms of Shadow (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-2716-X.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (March 2002). “Trial by Ordeal”. Realms of Shadow (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 24, 25. ISBN 0-7869-2716-X.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lisa Smedman (March 2002). “Trial by Ordeal”. Realms of Shadow (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 30, 31. ISBN 0-7869-2716-X.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (March 2002). “Trial by Ordeal”. Realms of Shadow (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-2716-X.