Elminster

Did You Know?

• Following the Spellplague caused by Mystra's destruction, Elminster lost much of his power but remained unaging, becoming bitter and withdrawn in Shadowdale.
• Rob Bricken described Elminster as 'the most powerful, important, and smartest wizard in the Forgotten Realms' and 'more Merlin than Gandalf.'

Basics

Elminster is a gray-bearded man with a weathered face, a hawk-like nose, and alert, dancing eyes. He speaks gruffly, wears nondescript clothing, and almost always smokes a meerschaum pipe that emits foul-smelling blue or green smoke. Normally witty, clever, and charming, he can also be imperious, grave, and terrible. He is a natural storyteller and consummate actor, rarely revealing his full nature except to close friends. He may portray himself as a trickster, rake, stern father figure, or fool depending on his goals. At the end of Elminster's Daughter, readers learn he has several daughters, including Narnra Shalace, Laspeera of the War Wizards, and dowager queen Filfaeril of Cormyr. He has no known wife but maintains contact with former lovers, including the goddess Mystra, though their relationship changed after Mystra was slain during the Time of Troubles and Midnight became the new Lady of Mysteries. His allies include the Harpers, other Chosen of Mystra (especially the Simbul), his scribe Lhaeo, and the Knights of Myth Drannor.

Media

In Dragon Magazine, Elminster appeared as a wise sage in articles by Ed Greenwood, imparting knowledge to a fictional interviewer. He contributed lore on monsters in "The ecology of ..." pieces, such as "The ecology of the ochre jelly," and served as a source for "Pages from the Mages" articles describing spells. The "Wizards Three" series featured Elminster meeting wizards from other Dungeons & Dragons settings, with the conceit that these meetings occurred in the home of Ed Greenwood, who was included as a character eavesdropping to later write the stories.

Novels

The first novel of The Elminster Series, The Making of a Mage, recounts his origin. Elminster was born to Elthryn, lord of Heldon and a prince of Athalantar, and his wife Amrythale. His family was killed by a malaugrym posing as Undarl, a magelord of Athalantar. Taking up his father's broken sword, the Lion Sword—symbol of the great king of the Stag Throne, his grandfather—Elminster became a brigand. He soon gave up killing and turned to burglary in Hastarl, befriending the thief Farl and forming the Velvet Hands gang. While eavesdropping, he met the Magister but refused to learn sorcery, hating mages due to the magelords. In a temple, Mystra visited him, urging him to learn magic and worship her. She transformed him into a woman named Elmara to strengthen his bond with magic and allow him to move among enemies undetected. As Elmara, he became a priestess of Mystra. Later, an avatar of Mystra named Myrjala "Darkeyes" trained Elmara in magic and brought her to an ancient Netherese arcanist who taught a spell to change back to Elminster. After learning much from Myrjala, Elminster took revenge on the evil magelords, assumed the throne of Athalantar, and became a powerful wizard.

Other media

In the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game Pools of Darkness, Elminster aids the player's party against the god Bane, offering advice and shuttling them between dimensions. He is captured by the balor Gothmenes but breaks free, only to be swept into the Abyss; the party rescues him after defeating Gothmenes. In the Baldur's Gate series, he makes brief appearances to check on the protagonist. In Baldur's Gate 3, he appears as a simulacrum in the companion mission of Gale of Waterdeep, acting as an emissary between Mystra and Gale. Elminster was added to Dungeons & Dragons Online in the Menace of the Underdark expansion. In Neverwinter Online, he ran a store for the "Protector's Jubilee" event and was the primary quest giver in "Well of Dragons." He also appears in the Forgotten Realms comics story arc "Dragonreach," assisting wizard Dwalimor Omen in stopping a dragon slayer.