The first light of dawn had barely touched the grounds of Old Nan’s Manor when an unassuming figure approached, a traveler whose simple appearance belied the depth of his true identity. As the Manor’s custodian of tales and greetings, it fell upon me, Mr. Loman Muckbuckle, to meet him with the customary inquiry that subtly probed for a password, a safeguard against the uninvited.
“Good morning,” I began, masking my suspicion with a veneer of politeness. “The Manor is seldom sought without purpose. How did you come to know of this place?” A standard question for those unfamiliar.
“I’ve wandered many paths to find myself here once more,” he responded, his voice carrying a hint of laughter and an air of mystery that piqued my curiosity.
It was Old Nan’s entrance that shattered my lack of interest with her sudden greeting, “Elminster, you old rogue, welcome back to the Manor,” instantly turning my world askew. My heart might have skipped a beat, or perhaps it stopped altogether for a moment. Elminster? THE Elminster? The renowned sage of Shadowdale, advisor to kings and queens, a wizard whose power and wisdom were matched only by his famed unpredictability? And here I had treated him as any wayward traveler!
As I sank into my chair, a deep sense of chagrin enveloping me, I dared to steal another glance towards him. It was then that the traveler before me shimmered and shifted, the guise of the commoner melting away to reveal the true form of Elminster Aumar, the Sage of Shadowdale. There he stood, his long silver beard and hair framing a face marked by the wisdom of ages and eyes twinkling with a mischievous light that seemed to pierce right through me. Clad in robes that spoke of arcane power and adorned with symbols of his deep connection to the Weave, Elminster carried himself with the ease of one who had traversed realms beyond my fathoming.
And then, as if sensing the tumult of revelations churning within me, Elminster turned, catching my wide-eyed stare. With a wink that held centuries of secrets and tales untold, he acknowledged the silent exchange, a mischief-laden gesture that somehow eased the embarrassment that had settled over me.
Born of Tragedy
In the quietude of Heldon, a village embraced by starlit nights, Elminster’s life began. Yet, his journey was shadowed by a cruel twist of fate- an orphan, his parents claimed by destiny’s grasp, decimated by Undarl, one of Athalantar’s malevolent magelords. Bereft of family, a flame of vengeance ignited within him. From these depths of sorrow, his path emerged that would lead him from darkness to the luminous corridors of magic itself.
His footsteps strayed into the realm of thievery and lawlessness. His days as an outlaw forged him, an education in the art of survival. But destiny’s call echoed, leading him from the shadows to a path paved with greater purpose. In those years, the seeds of his potential lay dormant, awaiting the catalyst that would awaken them.
The Dance of Magic
The goddess Mystra’s gaze, like starlight through a veil, fell upon Elminster. Cloaked as Myrjala Talithyn, a mentor of arcane arts, Mystra guided him. Through trials veiled as lessons, she molded him, testing his heart and forging his resolve. Each challenge, each lesson, drew him closer to the mantle she had woven for him – the one of a Chosen. Latter in life her hand moved again, as Elminster encountered Dasumia, a sorceress of wicked cosmic knowledge, who served the god Bane and sought to tempt him away from Mystra’s path. As Dasumia tortured innocents and prepared a ritual for her dark god, Elminster refused to strike down her victims as directed and attacked her with what minimal magic he could cast.
Unbeknownst to him, Dasumia was Mystra herself, guiding him through veils of divine lessons. Through their encounters, his potential crystallized – he became a conduit for magic, chosen by Mystra to safeguard the Weave that bound the realms.
Amidst Elven Realms: Elminster’s Odyssey in Myth Drannor
In the heart of Cormanthor, Elminster found himself in the midst of a city that breathed with elven magic. Despite initial animosity, he honored his pledge by returning a kiira – the lore gem that enhanced one’s memory. In the presence of Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl, Mystra’s intervention solidified their meeting, leading Elminster to the Vault of Ages and a profound connection with the Srinshee, was one of the most famous baelnorn of all time. Their shared reverence for magic and outlook forged an unbreakable bond, bestowing upon Elminster the title of Sha’Quessir, the Armathor of the Coronal Guard.
Yet, opposition arose, using Elminster as a pawn to challenge the inclusion of non-elves in Cormanthor. Framed for murder, he persevered under Coronal Eltargrim’s guidance and Mystra’s blessing, earning respect among progressive elves. Apprenticed to “The Masked” of House Starym, he toiled for two decades, despite cruel conditions and still, his contributions to the formation of Cormanthor’s mythal were immense, despite political subversion.
In the Year of Soaring Stars, 261 DR, the mythal crowned the city’s transformation into Myth Drannor, welcoming non-elves. However, peace eluded Elminster as attempts on his life persisted, culminating in a confrontation with Lady Laurlaethee Shaurlanglar, first by lacing his moonwine with srindym poison, and when that failed, attempting to kill him with spells. She was ultimately unsuccessful and was subdued by a greater mage.
Even amidst the tumult, Elminster’s involvement spanned a century, witnessing the birth of the Harpers and the defense of Myth Drannor. At Mystra’s behest, he left Cormanthor in the Year of the Cold Clashes, having spent the greater part of his life amidst the elven realm.
After many adventuring years, trials and temptations, came the shadow of adversity. It loomed as the Malaugrym, those immortal and evil shapeshifters sought dominion over magic. Elminster’s path intertwined with the Harpers and together, they stood against the their nefarious plots. The Harpers fought the malaugrym across numerous extra-planar locales, and both sides of the conflict suffered tremendous losses. It was only when Elminster comrade Khelben Arunsun took over the consciousness of a malaugrym that the war came to an end.
The realms shuddered during the Time of Troubles – a cataclysmic event when gods walked the mortal plane. In the crucible of godly conflicts Elminster emerged not only as a mage, but as a guardian of balance.
His odyssey carried him even to the infernal depths of the Nine Hells. Through trials and torment, his resilience held firm. Amid the infernal flames, he forged bonds, forged alliances, and seized knowledge that would shape his path upon his return to the realms above.
Echoes of Divine Farewell
The year that bore witness to Mystra’s fall, 1385 DR, cast the realms into turmoil. The Weave of magic unraveled, leaving devastation in its wake. The Chosen found themselves stripped of their once-potent powers. Elminster, though still able to wield arcane magic, became a vessel of instability. His every spell cast plunged him toward the precipice of madness, a maddening dance on the edge of sanity. It was Storm, his steadfast companion, who played the role of the tether, coaxing his mind back from the abyss with her own essence.
The aftermath of the Spellplague dealt its harshest blow to Alassra Silverhand as well, Elminster’s beloved and fellow Chosen. She absorbed the cataclysmic surge of magical energies, ensnared by unending delusion. Unintentionally, she unleashed her affliction upon him, triggering a fierce battle of spells upon Silverhand farm. Elminster, defending himself, absorbed her unleashed powers along with the landscape’s essence. He emerged a threat to the Dales, conjuring pockets of plaguelands and earthmotes.
Adventurers intervened, subduing the once-mighty mage. Still, his heart’s purpose remained unchanged. He gathered enchanted items from realms near and far, channeling their magic to Alassra, granting respite from the storm. She would find fleeting moments of clarity before her journeys led her elsewhere. Elminster’s life became a devoted vigil, caring for her through realms and lifetimes.
Elminster’s spirit, resilient and unbowed, returned to the Sword Coast. His tale, far from its end, aligned with the ebb and flow of magic itself. The Second Sundering, a time of rebirth and restoration, brought balance to the Weave, and Elminster stood once more as a sentinel of magic’s harmony.
Rekindling the Weave
In 1479 DR, the echoes of Mystra’s presence resonated once more in the Forgotten Realms. A vestige of her essence had endured since her fall, guiding her Chosen to pave the way for her resurgence. The task fell upon the mighty shoulders of the Simbul, her mission spanning the closure of rifts within the Weave and across realms. Through her tireless efforts, she absorbed potent Silverfire and Blue Flame, embracing their essence.
Yet, a twist of destiny brought forth a profound exchange. The Simbul channeled this amalgamation of magic to Elminster, a gift bestowed from one luminary to another. And in a symbiotic dance, Elminster channeled this radiant energy back to Mystra – a divine dialogue played out within the sacred confines of a cavern nestled in the heart of Cormyr’s King’s Forest.
From this convergence emerged a new Mystra, a being woven from memories interlaced with the essence of Mystra, Midnight/Mystra, and perhaps the echoes of Mystryl. A fusion of recollections drawn from the Weave itself, a memory of magic, of gods and the realms they shape. The cycle of power, sacrifice, and rebirth flowed on, painting the realms with hues of mystique and wonder.
Weavings of the Heart
Among the tales of Elminster’s love, none burned as fervently as his connection with the goddess Mystra herself. But his heart, like a garden of affection, blossomed for many others as well.
He shared flirtations and affections with the Fair Folk, with Morgwais, the Lady of High Forest, and Nacacia, a half-elf from Cormanthor. And then, there was the Srinshee, a being beyond mere lichdom, whose presence watched over Myth Drannor.
The story took a fervent turn – a chapter where passion intertwined with power. The already mentioned Alassra Silverhand, one of the Seven Sisters, entered Elminster’s life. It was a love that endured trials, including the shadow of Alassra’s mother’s reincarnation and the storms that followed.
