Anastra Emberhelm
Anastra Syluné Emberhelm (a.k.a. Syluné)
Syluné, the most misunderstood of the Seven, was always a kindly, polite, wise woman known by those who wrongly feared her as “the Witch of Breghdel” when she lived.
Syluné was perhaps the shrewdest of all Mystra’s Chosen. She could judge the essential nature of beings with awe-inspiring accuracy. This had allowed her to correctly anticipate everything from complex series of reactions to future events most of the time. This faculty won her a reputation as a seer and led to suspicions among many clergy, adventurers, Setite Wizards, and Zhentarim that she had been given some sort of prophetic gift by Mystra. This was unfortunately not so.
She sacrificed herself in spectacular fashion, dying under dragonfire in 2249 as she broke her Staff of the Magi in a retributive strike to kill the beast that was killing her, an ancient red dragon. She died as she had lived, defending her beloved Breghdel. Some folk say the Dale grew into the sort of community that would attract good souls and noble individuals to dwell in solely because of her. Certainly, it would not exist at all, save as shunned ruins overgrown by the forest, were it not for her influence with the Elven Court of Tharethiel. She held a lot of influence in the Elven Court, which saved a fledgling Breghdel from many potentially devastating attacks.
When she lived, Syluné was a wise, sometimes stern, but usually kind and soft-spoken woman. She was a dispenser of herbs, philters, medicines, and advice to all who stopped by her hut near the millpond at the western end of Breghdel.
What Folk Thought of Syluné
Loved in Breghdel but feared elsewhere as a dangerous witch during her life (partially due to dark rumors spread by the Zhentarim), Syluné is missed by most of Abios, and her death celebrated by those who seek to do harm.
Syluné was well loved in life by many of the residents of Breghdel as the midwife and healer who came to them when they needed her, always had time to chat and listen to their troubles, and gave them advice when The Old Mage, Storm, and even the Druids of the Circle in earlier days were always too busy with grander schemes and adventures.
And this is the key to understanding the much misunderstood Witch of Breghdel: Once she had settled in the Dale, she always had time for its lowest, slowest, ugliest, dirtiest, and poorest inhabitants, meeting all folk as equals. For that, the folk of the Dale will love her forever. The Dalesfolk respected her husband Aumry, but they loved her. They did whatever they could to please her because they could see that she was doing the same for them. And as The Old Mage once said, “Hurling down mountains? Shattering fortresses? Easy enough. Caring diligently for all the folk who come to you, day after moon after year, and keeping at it -- that’s hard. Try it some time.”
It was apparent from this that Syluné loved people in all their variety and with all their shortcomings. When she was not listening to their troubles, she was teaching them to weave spells or adventure following the same philosophy she had: to work always for the betterment of peaceful folk everywhere. Deliberate misuse of power was the greatest crime in her eyes, and many an adventurer had heard her say crisply, “And did you think before you acted? If not, why ever so? Those who act without thinking do the greatest harm of all!”
Long years of hard thinking had led Syluné herself to anticipate and work to avoid troubles as few folk in the Realms could. If she stopped to play with a child, she already knew where all the sharp, pointed objects and chances of falling nearby were. If she sent an adventurer or soldier into battle, she knew when and where best to strike for maximum effect and in maximum safety. And most important of all, she cared what happened to other folk in the Realms -- a rare virtue, as many will attest, and an even rarer one among mages.
History
Syluné decided she could best serve Mystra by settling down in one spot and nurturing a community there, so that common folk could see that magic could be used to aid them, not just as a bludgeoning weapon. In time, she hoped that her home could become a center of magical learning. Mystra agreed, and Syluné explored the Realms for some centuries, learning mastery of magic when she could, and ultimately chose Breghdel to settle in. She married Aumry, Lord of Breghdel, and set about defending her adopted community.
Syluné traveled the Realms learning magic from many hermits, druids and priests as well as liches and mages. What she could not wield herself, she determined at least to learn all about. These jaunts gave her a wide circle of acquaintances among the powerful human and demihuman wielders of magic in Abios. She even (in disguise) dwelt among the Setite Wizards of Xeshana for a time, and she later trained with the Witches of Yeran. She also visited Athund on many occasions. (She once said of the magic of the Yuan-Ti, “It’s more effete but not more effective than ours. If the Sshohsa Mages of Athund were half as good as they think they are, all the realms would have cause to be humble -- or fearful.”)
In her travels, Syluné found and used the scepter of Savras, which contained the essence of the god Savras the All-Seeing after being trapped within by another deity. It allowed the wielder to work infallible divination magic of all sorts. One simply indicated the desired knowledge, and the scepter went about gaining all information it could on the subject. The scepter could also identify objects by touch (as the wizard spell, but without any debilitating effects to the wielder).
Savras was seeking to break free of his prison, and he subliminally (as the Spirit of the Scepter) permanently granted Syluné the abilities of a weredragon. She could take the shape of a mature adult silver dragon at will, acquiring all dragon powers and abilities.
Syluné willingly surrendered the scepter to Mystra upon her request after she used it to uncover some secrets of the doings of the gods that Mystra deemed it better for mortals not to know. It is said that Mystra freed the god Savras and, in return, both Mystra and Savras watched over Syluné.
• Sources: Article customized using reference material taken from Anastra Syluné Silverhand of Forgotten Realms Wiki.
Species
Life
1654
2249
595 years old
Children
Gender
Female
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