Elminster
Character
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| fgcolor | #fff |
| bgcolor | #000 |
| image |  {width=250px} |
| name | Elminster Aumar |
| aliases | Elmara, Elminster of Shadowdale, the Old Sage |
| gender | Male |
| race | Unknown Human, Chosen of Mystra |
| dob | the Year of the Awakening Magic, 212 |
| pob | Heldon, Athalantar |
| occupation | Sage, archmage, author, Chosen of Mystra, meddler |
| affiliations | the Church of Mystra, the Chosen of Mystra, the Harpers |
| spouse | None, currently involved with the Simbul |
| children | Narnra Shalace, possibly many more. |
| class | {{class table|Fighter|1|Rogue|2|Cleric|3|Wizard|20|Archmage|5}} |
| alignment | Chaotic Good |
Like his onetime apprentice Vangerdahast, this ancient wizard is finally starting to seem truly old, prone to long reveries in which he sees again people and places now long vanished. The strongest of Mystra's Chosen rarely moves directly against his foes, preferring to work through younger and more vigorous heroes.
The Sage of Shadowdale for years confounded the Zhentarim, the Red Wizards of Thay, and a hundred rival mages while at the same time training and rearing a long succession of apprentices who all became superb spellcasters in their own right. Before that he foiled renegade Chosen, helped found the Harpers, and raised several of the Seven Sisters. During the Time of Troubles, he saved Toril by holding Mystra's power inside himself, surviving by his wits and the aid of the ranger Sharantyr rather than by his magic. He's also a passable fighter and thief and a superb dancer.
Elminster is a consummate actor and delights in acts of whimsy, helping the needy and lovelorn, and dispensing poetic justice to those who deserve it. He has a heart of gold, a deep need to bring tyrannical, pompous, and cruel persons low, and a crotchety, "Don't push me" manner. After knowing the love of the goddess Mystra, nothing awes him or leaves him much afraid.
History
Archaic records attest to the fact that a son named Elminster was born more than 1150 years ago to Elthryn, the lord of the village of Heldon, and his wife Amrythale. His family was killed by a Shadowmaster named Undarl, one of the magelords of the ancient kingdom of Athalantar. Taking up his father's broken sword, Elminster became a brigand and a thief at the ripe age of 12.
He soon realized that he had no taste for killing, and gave it up when he went to become a burglar in the city of Hastarl, the capital of Athalantar. It was here that Elminster first met that era's Magister, the wizard who bore the mantle of Mystra's power. When asked if he was interested in learning sorcery, Elminster refused.
After many adventures, Elminster was visited by Mystra, the Goddess of All Magic. She tarried with him and left the awestruck Elminster with the message that he should learn of magic and worship her.
Soon thereafter, while he was still a young adult, perhaps to further widen his worldview, Elminster became Elmara, priestess of Mystra. This change also allowed him to move within his enemies circles without their knowledge. After more adventures, Elmara was at last ready to become a mage, and Elminster reappeared. In the time that followed, he learned much about magic from the sorceress Myrjala reaching the point where he could finish taking his revenge against the evil magelords who had usurped the kingdom. After a terrific battle, Elminster persevered and assumed the throne of Athalantar.
However, no sooner had he gained the kingship than he passed it one to one of his friends, Helm, a knight of Athalantar. Elminster stated that he had wanted to avenge his family's death, not become a monarch. As he and Myrjala left the kingdom, the sorceress revealed herself to be Mystra. She offered to make Elminster one of her Chosen, and he readily accepted.
Many of Elminsters adventures following this time are undetailed, but it is known that he visited such places as Cormanthor, the Towers of Song, and Myth Drannor before its fall and stayed some 20 years. For years more he traveled, and only he (and perhaps Lhaeo) knows what transpired. He also served as a foster parent to three other of Mystra's Chosen some 600 years ago: Syluné, Storm, and the woman who hundreds of years later would become his paramour, the Simbul.
It is also suspected that he had something to do with the founding of Waterdeep, or at least with the organizing of the city's Lords. The next major adventures Elminster took part in for which records exist were the events of the chaotic Time of Troubles. He was instrumental in forming the Rangers Three, who aided him in recurring battles with the mysterious Shadowmasters during this time. Elminster also took time out to defend Shadowdale from an army of Zhentarim led by the avatar of Bane. The avatar and Elminster did battle in the old mage's tower, and both were caught up in the spell that Elminster had called upon to dispose of the avatar. Elminster was originally thought to have been destroyed, but when he later reappeared it became apparent that he had merely been transported to another plane of existence for a time. In his absence, the foes of good tried to rally, but the other Chosen, the Knights of Myth Drannor, and the Rangers Three held them at bay until he returned.
With the present crisis averted, all seemed calm, but the Shadowmasters had other ideas. Elminster and the Rangers Three, along with their allies, managed to frustrate and foil the plans of this race of shapeshifters. Elminster also confronted the overgod, Lord Ao, over his instigation of the Time of Troubles while innocents were being killed. As the critical moment of the Time of Troubles approached, Mystra knew of what was to come and she shed most of her power into another, a mortal, so that all of her essence would not cease to exist. (This mortal was the mage Midnight, who went on to become the new manifestation of Mystra.) Since Elminster (among many other mages) obtained his power from Mystra, this change left him personally powerless at a critical juncture. He recruited one of the Rangers Three, Sharantyr, and they equipped themselves from Elminster's cache of magical items, which would still function. The two of them were later reunited with the other two members of the band, Itharr and Belkram, but even the Rangers Three could not prevent Elminster from being wounded in battle. Despite this setback, Elminster and the Rangers, along with their allies, not only freed High Dale and defeated Manshoon of the Zhentarim, but they also outlasted the Time of Troubles, and Elminster regained his magic.
What Elminster is currently up to is not known, though it is rumored that he has been meeting in some far distant plane to discuss matters of deep importance with wise and powerful mages of other worlds. Perhaps, in that world, some record of these conversations exists. . . .