Vajra Safahr (pronounced: /ˈvɑːdʒrɑː sɑːˈfɑːr/ VAJ-rah sah-FAR[6]) was the seventh Blackstaff of Waterdeep, a title she ascended to in 1479 DR when her mentor and lover, Samark Dhanzscul, was killed.[2] She was quite young when she became the Blackstaff,[4][7] and was the youngest Blackstaff in Waterdeep's history.[8]
Description[]
Vajra was diminutive, standing under 5 feet (150 centimeters),[9] with olive skin, short black hair, and brown eyes.[4][7] However, for a time, she had the ability to change her eye color, and the color switched depending on which of the six previous Blackstaffs controlled her body at any given time.[9]
Personality[]
Vajra loved an intriguing arcane challenge. She was patient and known to pursue multiple plans at once, often requiring her to get her rivals to act in her best interests instead of their own.[8] Although she was prone to self-doubt when she first assumed the role of the Blackstaff,[10] she soon learned to ignore those doubts and to dismiss the envies of those who were skeptical of her role.[8]
Activities[]
She was focused on turning Waterdeep, and specifically her Blackstaff Academy, into the center of magical study in Faerûn. She would wander the libraries and laboratories of Blackstaff Tower under magical silence so as not to disturb the other wizards, save for when she made a sudden appearance to aid them in their studies. She allowed her best students access to her own personal spellbook, and was said to even allow some of them to add their own creations to it.[8]
Abilities[]
Though having become the Blackstaff at a young age, Vajra was a skilled wizard, even capable of casting a lone spell while entirely paralyzed, and thus incapable of performing verbal incantations or hand-gestures. The effect of this spell was to fire forth a few rays of amber-colored energy from her eyes.[2]
Possessions[]
Vajra's signature spellbook.
Vajra wielded the fabled Blackstaff, which was silver shod and towered over her head by several feet.[1]
She was known to carry with her a wide array of magic items, including a brooch of shielding, a ring of mind shielding, a quill of memory, a crown of scholarship, and—when she needed them—a rod of rulership, a staff of power, a tentacle rod, and a graystaff. She wore a pair of enchanted boots of her own design known as the Pillars of Knowledge. She was also said to possess a badge of the Watch, which she would use to send the City Watch to interrupt potential crises before they turned into emergencies.[8]
During Laeral Silverhand's tenure as Open Lord of Waterdeep, the senior wizard was said to have bestowed upon Vajra two unique items of her own creation: the rod of favorable inclination and the seal of insight.[8]
History[]
Early years[]
Vajra was born in Tethyr to paladin Tamik yn Tamik al Safahr and Parama yr Manshaka. She had several older siblings, but she was the only one born with sorcerous talent.[3] She grew up at Sheshyr House in Tethyr, the family home.[11]
When Vajra was fourteen, her father and her aunt died in defense of Darromar, which was attacked by assassins. She turned away from sorcery and towards wizardry, since it was what was able to save Queen Cyriana and King Errilam. She was apprenticed to Mynda Gyrfalcon-Thann and Princess Zandra, Court Vizeras of her homeland.[12]
She came to Waterdeep in order to learn foreign magic for a brief time (a requirement for her course of study) around 1476 DR. However, she fell in love with Samark Dhanzscul, the Blackstaff, and remained in the city much longer than planned.[12]
Blackstaff[]
Vajra Safahr and her Blackstaff
Samark made Vajra the heir to the Blackstaff, but he was killed by Khondar and Centiv Naomal in 1479 DR before she was fully prepared to assume the role of Blackstaff. Much of the power of the Blackstaff flowed into Vajra on Samark's death, but because she hadn't undergone the proper preparation, she was left semi-conscious and delusional.[2]
Khondar took Vajra to a secret lair beneath a house he had bought from the Open Lord Dagult Neverember and attempted to torture the secrets of the Blackstaff out of her. While traveling through the sewers on an unrelated task, Laraelra Harsard and Meloon Wardragon passed close to Khondar's hideout and heard Vajra's screams. Laraelra tracked down ownership of the house to Renaer Neverember and confronted him about the noises she had heard in the basement. Larealra, Meloon, Renaer, and several of his friends entered the residence and poked around in the basement, finding nothing unusual. While they were inside the house, Khondar and his son, in the guise of Samark, entered and confronted Renaer, showing him the deed to the home and kicking the group out of the residence. Laraelra knew something strange was going on, because "Samark" and Khondar were acting like old friends even though they were known to hate each other.[2]
Renaer and friends returned through the sewers and found the secret sublevel dungeon in which Vajra was imprisoned. They rescued Vajra and took her back to the Neverember mansion. When Khondar realized that Renaer had helped Vajra to escape, he framed Renaer and associates for Vajra's "murder". The City Watch tracked Renaer and crew to the Neverember estate, and the group used a secret rooftop gate to travel to an old family mansion called Varadras outside Waterdeep. Vajra was still only occasionally lucid, as the consciousnesses of previous Blackstaffs fought for control of her mind. After a few days, they returned to Waterdeep and entered Blackstaff Tower.[2]
In the tower, she was tested by the previous Blackstaffs and was allowed to officially assume the role of Blackstaff. Vajra, now fully in control of her abilities, sent spectral hounds to stop Khondar from entering the tower. The hounds rent Khondar to shreds, and his animated skeleton was left as a warning to anyone foolish enough to attempt entry.[2]
After Khondar was defeated, Vajra consented to Renaer's plan to revive a group to replace the Moonstars with the stipulation that the group serve as her friends, not her servants.[13]
Vajra Safahr, holding the Blackstaff, a spellbook, and wearing her arcane robes.
Later, in the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR, Vajra was increasingly worried. The Lords of Waterdeep had just elected Laeral Silverhand as the new Open Lord, and Laeral's reputation and mere presence stirred up feelings of inadequacy in Vajra. She had also underestimated the Cult of the Dragon's threat and power, and Tiamat's near triumph in her schemes. In an effort to prove herself, Vajra began to seek the meaning of the current year's name, the reason that giants were becoming alarmingly more active in Faerûn, and what was causing many Underdark races to seek refuge in Skullport.[14]
Relationships[]
Samark Dhanzscul[]
Samark Dhanzscul, the sixth Blackstaff, was both Vajra's mentor and lover, despite his age relative to hers.[4]
Laraelra Harsard[]
After their experiences together, Vajra asked fledgling sorcerer Laraelra Harsard to be the Blackstaff's Heir. This enabled Vajra's power to be projected through any Blackstaff held by Laraelra and aided in Khondar's defeat.[15]
Gray Hands[]
Around 1492 DR the Gray Hands were under the control of Vajra Safahr.[16]
Ed of the Greenwood[]
Much like Khelben before her, Vajra had some interactions with the Earthling known as Ed of the Greenwood. In these interactions she was introduced to a unique Earth pastry known as butter tarts, which Vajra found herself to be rather fond of.[17]
Family[]
Vajra's father Tamik was born to Vajra Gyrfalcon (who was her namesake) and Tamik el Safahr.[citation needed] Vajra Gyrfalcon's parents were Lara Idogyr and Arn Gyrfalcon.[citation needed] Lara's father Gamalon Idogyr was the great-grandson of the original Blackstaff, Khelben Arunsun. Vajra's paternal aunt was Mynda Gyrfalcon-Thann.[citation needed]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
- Novels
- Blackstaff Tower • Death Masks
- Video Games
- Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms • Warriors of Waterdeep
- Card Games
- Magic: The Gathering (AFR)
- Board Games
- Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters: Adventures in Waterdeep
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- A Wrinkle in the Weave • When the Lights Went Out in Candlekeep
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 258–259. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 247–251. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 217. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 1. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Ludia (May 2019). Designed by Stephen David Wark, et al. Warriors of Waterdeep. Ludia.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Howdy and welcome to a quick "Steven clarifies something he wrote long ago". (28-06-2023). Retrieved on 28-06-2023.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2016-06-07). Death Masks. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1. ISBN 0-7869-6593-2.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 245. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 249–251. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 301–305. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2016-06-07). Death Masks. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-6593-2.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 260. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2020-12-21). Favorite Earth Cuisine (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved on 2021-07-30.