Blackstaff Tower NPCs

Blackstaff Tower

	Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun Archmage of Waterdeep Khelben is the most powerful and influential archmage of the Sword Coast, and is widely rumored to be one of the rulers of Waterdeep (though he never has anything to say on the subject). Allied to the Harpers, and instrumental in keeping the Lords' Alliance (of Silverymoon, Sundabar, Neverwinter, and other “good” cities of the North, with Waterdeep) intact, Khelben is always working to influence this or that occurrence or trend, looking years ahead. He is a forester and a painter, and has tutored many mages of note (including Malchor Harpell, Savengriff, and Nain). Khelben is a tall (6', 6"), well-muscled, bearded man with a receding hairline, black hair shot through with silver, and a distinguished manner. He is gravely wise, not pompous, and is fully learned in the history, lore, and traditions of magic as practised by humans in the North since the rise from barbarism. * Former Apprentices of Blackstaff Tower * Known Spells of the Blackstaff
	Danilo Thann Youngest Thann Son, Khelben's apprentice The youngest of Lady Cassandra and Lord Rhammas' nine children, Danilo is the sixth boy in the House. Always precocious and a born attention-seeker, Danilo was the only one of Lady Cassandra's children to exhibit any talent for the Art. His uncle Khelben has been training him in the privacy of the Thann villa, but often despairs of the young man's lackadasical approach to study. He hopes that some time in actual apprenticeship in Blackstaff Tower will help him sharpen his resolve.
	Demisante Mage-Thief A whimsical and not-terribly-bright young half-elf, Demisante's stated mission is the liberation of jewels and other goods from ugly rich people to deliver them to where they belong: the persons of beautiful but poor people. An avid worshipper of Lurue, she has been caught twice by Ahmadar, who asked Khelben to take her on as an apprentice, freeing her from imprisonment under Khelben's watch.
	Aleena Paladinstar Daughter of Lord Piergeiron The only daughter of the Open Lord, Aleena has lived a life of seclusion for the most part, growing up in the private halls of the Palace and rarely leaving there, for her own safety. She is a very tall young woman (at seventeen years), about the height of her father, with a shy personality but stunning intellect. Ciro Melshimber threw her official coming out party, but it wasn't until she appeared, seemingly by magic, in Khelben's cellars that her true potential came to fruition. When she explained that she'd discovered the passages leading between the Palace and Blackstaff Tower, Khelben was impressed with her cunning and intelligence. Once she showed an aptitude for wizardry, Khelben took her on as an apprentice. She has rooms at Blackstaff Tower and must live there for the first year of her apprenticeship, much to the chagrin of her father. For her part, she adores the privacy and freedom.

The Palace of Piergeiron

Lord Piergeiron Paladinson Open Lord of Waterdeep Piergeiron is the only openly-known Lord of Waterdeep, and speaks for all the Lords. He is also the City of Splendor's chief diplomat to foreign powers and its chief defender, being both Commander of the Watch and Warden (commander) of the Guard. As Overmaster of the Guilds, he has clear authority to override Guild law, and his decree is the only absolute law in this city of interpretation and subtle evasion. As such, he is very safe from Waterdhavians - and his life is threatened by foreign powers, such as Amn, Calimshan, and Luskan, for the same reason: he is so above reproach, and so able in his administration and justice, that the City flourishes. Waterdhavians could not conceive of a better man to fill the offices Piergeiron discharges; those wishing the City ill want to remove him if at all possible. Piergeiron speaks seldom, and slowly; as a result, he is sometimes snidely known as "the Thickskull," though never to his face. He is not stupid, but often pretends to be, to draw others out into verbal admissions they might otherwise not make. His grander nickname is due to the fact that his father Athar, "The Shining Knight," The Arm of Tyr, was a very famous paladin adventurer of the North.

Underworld Folk

	Ahkhalan Skullport Slaver; Ahmadar's brother Ahmadar's twin, raised by their father, a dwarven slaver in Skullport. Ahkhalan works in their father's organization in Skullport, although he has become interested in his brother's facility with magic, and desires to see if he has the talent.
	Artanial Head of Pickpocket gang; Glim's "uncle" The somewhat-weaselly head of a gang of child pickpockets, Artanial took in Glim when she was a girl on the streets. He taught her the arts of the thief, and has started looking into heists a bit more grandiose than his normal fare.

Wanderers

Imrul Athelzedar The Magister A friend of Khelben's, and the Magister of Mystra. Imrul is an unassuming man, and kindly spoken, though when the need arises, his quiet power is palpable. Like many previous Magisters, he loves to introduce people to magic, using his Art in kindly, useful ways, and passing on interesting, rare spells to those mages (particularly mages new to their Art) he meets.

Nouméa Drathchuld Magister's Apprentice An archivist at the Vault of Sages, Nouméa is an old friend of Ciro's from his days at the Vault. She came to Silverymoon as a young woman, desperate to learn magic, but too poor to afford the training from any of the magical collegia of the city. When she discovered that Vault archivists are often trained as wizards, she quickly found a way into an apprenticeship there, where she has discovered not just a talent for magic, but an affinity for the work of the archivists as well. She and Evendur spent a night of intimacy together in the High Palace of Silverymoon, before they parted ways: he to return to Waterdeep, and she to accept an offer of apprenticeship with the Magister.

Silverymoon

	Lady Alustriel Silverhand Lady of Silverymoon The beautiful silver-haired sorceress-queen of Silverymoon is well-loved by her people (and many outside of Silverymoon), and hated by those who would seek to enslave, conquer or destroy the goodly folk of the North. She is an avid ally of the Harpers, going so far as to publicly open her court to Those Who Harp, and a part of the Lords' Alliance. Her neighbors know her protection without any fear of being conquered for the aid, and she has made Silverymoon into a bastion of art, culture, beauty and love, inspired by the example of ancient Myth Drannor. She has been acknowledged as an elf-friend by the elven folk, and has a handful of half-elven sons, the Brothers Aerasume. She is a dedicated sensate and cheerful hedonist, although does not allow her pleasures to stand in the way of her duty; indeed, she is very well-known for letting her pleasures to assist her (she is somewhat notorious - in an envied fashion - as a "budoir diplomat").
	Taern "Thunderspells" Hornblade High Mage of Silverymoon Alustriel's strong right hand, and the High Mage of Silverymoon, Taern loves his liege greatly, and those who would seek to do harm to her are in grave danger from him. An invoker of dangerous reputation, Taern deeply believes in the ideals of Silverymoon, even while proclaiming himself a "man too simple to truly understand them." Despite his bluster and thunder, he is a skilled politican, with a good-natured laugh that can hide the most subtle of threats.
	Naerond Aerasume Knight in Silver A paladin of Mystra and mage both, Naerond is warm and outgoing, cheerful where his brothers can be distant or suspicious. Ciro was closest to Naerond during his time in Silverymoon, as the two young men often spent evening in one anothers' company (and beds), artfully stepping on the line that separates friendly lover and beloved routinely during that time. Naerond was very happy to see Ciro return.
	Daemera of the Bow Priestess of Mielikki A blonde half-elf with a strongly elfin appearance, Daemera is a ranger and priestess at Mielikki's Grove in Silverymoon. Before she took such vows, however, she was an adventuring companion of Glim's mother, Syanee Farwalker. She suggested to Glim that if she wished to know more about Syanee, she seek out the wife of the owner of the Old Xoblob Shop, in Waterdeep, who apparently acted as sort of a "den mother" for their old adventuring company.
	Teshura Ahmadar's mother, Private Dancer Moved to Silverymoon into a comfortable home by Ahmadar, Teshura has settled in and become something of a fixture in the local dwarven community. She has gained something of a reputation as a merry widow, willing to grace suitors with her charms not out of expectation of marriage or coin, but because it pleases her to do so. Of course, dwarves being who they are, messengers arrive with expensive gifts from anonymous admirers and beaus multiple times a week.