Ah, my attentive audience, brace yourselves this evening, for our Manor’s cozy hearth is about to flicker with tales not just of arcane might but of an arrival that sets even my seasoned heart aflutter. Within the shadowed embrace of our gathering room, where the light dances with the dark as if to the tune of an ancient melody, a stir of magic so potent sweeps in, heralding the entrance of none other than The Simbul herself.
Her approach to Old Nan’s Manor is an affair that demands no fanfare, for the very winds whisper her name, Alassra Shentrantra Silverhand—The Simbul. The atmosphere, charged with a suspense akin to the charged air before a storm’s break, signals her near. It’s a presence that fills the space, a storm’s grace personified, stepping over our threshold with the unpredictability that is her signature.
To behold The Simbul is to stand in the presence of untamed power, a visage of beauty woven with the threads of wild magic itself. There’s an air of respect, a distant reverence one might afford a tempest at its peak—magnificent, yet laced with the caution reserved for forces beyond our ken.
Now, let me confide in you, for Old Nan is well aware of my little eavesdropping enchantment—the Whispering Teapot—a device that has served me well in garnering the stories that warm our evenings. Yet, when titans of magic like The Simbul cross our doorstep, I find its whispers fall silent, its enchantments dulled, as if by her very will. Old Nan chuckles at my frustration, suggesting, with a twinkle in her eye, that some tales are meant to be shared openly, not whispered.
So here I stand, a gnome outwitted by the weave of magic itself, compelled to find new means to sate my boundless curiosity. For The Simbul’s arrival, though it leaves me bereft of my usual tools, only sharpens my resolve to uncover her tale. With the Teapot silenced by forces I dare not tamper with, I turn to the art of conversation, of observation, and perhaps a bit of discreet inquiry among those who’ve known the tempest that is The Simbul.
Gather closer, my friends, as we venture into a tale that is as much a mystery to me as it is to you. Tonight, we delve into the legacy of Alassra Shentrantra Silverhand, through means less magical but no less effective. Let the fire’s warmth steel us against the chill of the unknown, and may the storm of The Simbul’s story reveal truths as illuminating as lightning across a starless sky.
Chosen of Mystra, Ruler of Aglarond
Old Nan’s eyes meet The Simbul’s, a mixture of admiration and caution. For The Simbul is no ordinary mage; she is a Chosen of Mystra, one of the Seven Sisters.
Before 1057 DR, she was born as Alassra Shentrantra Silverhand , chosen by the goddess herself. She gained her nickname “The Simbul” due to a peculiar incident early in her life. The event occurred when she was still a young and relatively inexperienced mage. During a magical experiment, Alassra accidentally transformed herself into a statue, specifically that of a simurgh, a mythical bird-like creature.
While she was in this statue form, Alassra was discovered by a powerful sorceress named Mystra, the goddess of magic herself. Impressed by Alassra’s magical potential and her audacious transformation, Mystra offered Alassra a pact that would transform her into one of Mystra’s Chosen, granting her immense magical power and a special connection to the goddess.
As part of this transformation and pact, Alassra adopted the name “The Simbul,” inspired by her temporary statue form as a simurgh. This name, derived from the simurgh’s mystical nature and her own transformation, became synonymous with her power and presence. Throughout her life, The Simbul’s name struck awe and curiosity into the hearts of those who knew her, marking her as a formidable mage and a chosen agent of the goddess Mystra.
In the year 1057 DR, The Simbul’s destiny takes a new turn. She becomes the ruler of Aglarond, a land where her wild magic thrives, and her rule becomes a testament to her strength and leadership. The realm she governs is not just land and people – it is a canvas for her magic, a realm where she dances with the elements.
Love, Defiance, and the Dance of Destiny
Elminster – a name that resounds through the ages, carrying the wisdom of centuries. A love blossomed between him and The Simbul, a love that intertwined the realms of power and romance. In the year 1368 DR, their bond that transcended realms and defied convention, was revealed to the world.
But The Simbul’s legacy is not confined to the embrace of love. She is a force of nature, a storm unyielding in the face of challenge. The realms echo with tales of her clash against the Red Wizards of Thay, where her defiance became a beacon of hope against necromantic tyranny. Against the odds, she stood – magic unbound, will unbroken – a testament that the arcane can shape not only destruction but creation as well.
Yet, even the most resilient storms can be altered by the tides of change. The Spellplague – a cataclysmic upheaval that swept across the realms – carried a toll even The Simbul could not evade. In the year 1375 DR, as the Weave convulsed in chaos, her power splintered, her essence shattered, and her very being transformed. But she did not falter. She fought against the effects of the Spellplague, her resilience a testament to her indomitable spirit, and in the years that followed, The Simbul embraced realms familiar and uncharted.
In an effort to protect the city of Cormyr from this destructive storm of magic she made a heroic stand. She absorbed a vast amount of chaotic magic, trying to contain its destructive effects. However, the sheer power of the Spellplague overwhelmed her, and she was consumed by the very forces she tried to control. The Simbul sacrificed herself in this act, vanishing in a burst of wild magic.
Her sacrifice had a significant impact on the realms. Her actions, while tragic, demonstrated her unwavering dedication to protecting the realms from magical devastation.
The year 1485 DR saw the Second Sundering – a restoration of balance to the Weave of magic and her essence echoed in this restoration, as she took on an avatar form to aid in the reweaving of magic’s fabric. Her spirit preserved, guiding adventurers in a battle against Thayan forces during the assault on Shadowdale. Her presence, though unseen, was felt – a reminder that even in captivity, her magic and legacy endured.
