Elminster

Lore & Background

Elminster appears as a gray-bearded man of weathered visage, with a hawk-like nose and alert, dancing eyes. He speaks in a gruff tone and generally wears nondescript attire. He is almost always smoking a meerschaum pipe that spouts vile-smelling blue or green smoke. He is normally a witty, clever, and very charming man, but can be imperious, grave, and terrible. He is a natural storyteller and a consummate actor, rarely revealing the full extent of his true nature to anyone who is not an extremely close friend. He can portray himself as a trickster, rake, stern father figure, or fool, depending on what he wants to accomplish. Readers learn that Elminster has a daughter at the end of Elminster's Daughter: Narnra Shalace. He has no known wife, but retains contact with several previous lovers, including the goddess Mystra — although his relationship with Mystra changed when the goddess was slain during the Time of Troubles and the sorceress Midnight assumed the mantle of the Lady of Mysteries. During the Time of Troubles, Elminster was trapped in a demiplane by Bane, and Bane's avatar was destroyed by the combined efforts of Midnight and others, not solely by Mystra's intervention. Elminster's allies included the Harpers, the other Chosen of Mystra (especially the Simbul), and his scribe Lhaeo. The Knights of Myth Drannor were also close friends and confidants.

In Their Own Story

Elminster was born around 212 DR to Elthryn, lord of the village of Heldon and a prince of Athalantar, and his wife Amrythale, in the kingdom of Athalantar. His family was killed by a malaugrym posing as Undarl, one of the magelords of Athalantar. Taking up his father's broken sword, the Lion Sword, Elminster became a brigand. He soon realized he had no taste for killing, and gave it up to become a burglar in Hastarl, the capital of Athalantar. He met and became friends with Farl, a local thief, who knew Elminster as Eladar 'the Dark'. While eavesdropping on a possible thieving mark, Elminster met that era's Magister. When asked if he was interested in learning sorcery, Elminster refused, hating all mages because of the magelords. While in a temple, Elminster was visited by Mystra, the Goddess of All Magic. She left the awestruck Elminster with the message that he should learn of magic and worship her. Soon thereafter, Mystra transformed Elminster into a woman named Elmara to strengthen his bond with magic and to know what it is to be a woman. For a few years, Elmara was a priestess of Mystra. Later, an avatar of Mystra named Myrjala 'Darkeyes' trained Elmara in the ways of a mage and brought her to an ancient Netherese arcanist who taught Elmara a spell that would transform her back into Elminster. After a terrific battle, Elminster persevered and assumed the throne of Athalantar, but passed the monarchy to Helm Stoneblade, stating he had wanted to avenge his family's death, not rule. Mystra then offered to make Elminster one of her Chosen, and he readily accepted.

Reader's Guide

In Elminster in Myth Drannor, Elminster travels to the city of Cormanthor, serving as an apprentice to a cruel and powerful wizard. He remains in Cormanthor for over two decades, and is present when the mythal is raised and the city is renamed Myth Drannor. In The Temptation of Elminster, the timeline moves ahead several centuries. Elminster emerges from a dusty tomb after being trapped there in stasis for many years. During much of this book, Elminster restricts his use of magic on orders from Mystra, and must again learn to survive by his wits and the skills he picked up earlier in his life. He later undergoes further magical training under the tutelage of a wicked sorceress who seeks to tempt him away from Mystra's path. Following the events of that novel, Elminster served as a foster parent to three of Mystra's other Chosen: Laeral, Storm, and Dove. During the Time of Troubles, Elminster was instrumental in forming the Rangers Three, who aided him in recurring battles with the mysterious Shadowmasters. Elminster also defended Shadowdale from an army of Zhentarim led by the avatar of Bane. Bane and Elminster battled, 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 Elminster in Hell, the floating city of Shade returned to Faerûn from the Plane of Shadow. One of the shadow princes was struck by Storm's silver fire, creating a rift to the Nine Hells. Elminster realized the only way to close the portal before a legion of devils spilled forth onto Toril was to close it from the other side, and he narrowly managed to close the portal.

Did You Know?

• Elminster was born around 212 DR to Elthryn, lord of the village of Heldon and a prince of Athalantar, and his wife Amrythale.
• Mystra once transformed Elminster into a woman named Elmara to strengthen his bond with magic and to know what it is to be a woman.
• Elminster has one confirmed daughter: Narnra Shalace.
• During the Time of Troubles, Elminster was trapped in a demiplane by Bane; Bane's avatar was destroyed by the combined efforts of Midnight and others, not solely by Mystra's intervention.
• In Elminster in Hell, Elminster closed a portal to the Nine Hells from the other side to prevent devils from spilling onto Toril.