Elminster Aumar of Shadowdale

Appearance

Elminster Aumar, a human male archmage and Chosen of Mystra, stands at 6'0" with a wiry, deceptively frail frame, his age—over a millennium, though he appears in his late 70s—softened by the ageless vitality granted by Mystra’s favor. His weathered face is framed by a long, flowing white beard and mustache, and his shoulder-length white hair is often tucked beneath a wide-brimmed, weathered hat. His twinkling blue eyes, sharp and mischievous, gleam with centuries of wisdom, and a faint, crooked smile often plays on his lips, softening his hawkish nose and the deep lines etched into his face. A faint scar runs along his left temple, barely visible beneath his hair.

Attire

Elminster wears a tattered, travel-worn robe of faded red, its hem frayed and patched with mismatched fabrics, the sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms marked with faint arcane tattoos that shimmer when he casts. Over his shoulders drapes a heavy, moth-eaten cloak of dark green, its edges singed from past magical mishaps, clasped with a simple iron brooch shaped like a star. His wide-brimmed hat, a deep burgundy with a bent brim, casts a shadow over his face, and his scuffed leather boots are caked with the dust of a hundred realms. A silver ring on his left hand, engraved with Mystra’s symbol, glows faintly with her divine magic.

Demeanor

Elminster moves with a spry, almost theatrical energy, his steps light and bouncy despite his apparent age, often accompanied by a playful twirl of his staff or a dramatic flourish of his cloak. His voice is a rich, gravelly tenor, laced with a Cormyrean accent and a hint of mirth, often punctuating his speech with cryptic riddles or hearty chuckles, though it turns steely when confronting evil. He gestures animatedly when speaking, his hands weaving minor cantrips absentmindedly—sparks or tiny illusions—his blue eyes twinkling with amusement or narrowing with sudden intensity. His presence is a blend of grandfatherly warmth and arcane menace, disarming yet formidable.

Possessions

He carries a gnarled oaken staff, its surface etched with swirling arcane runes that pulse with a soft blue light, a focus for his immense magical power that also serves as a walking stick. A battered leather satchel hangs at his hip, stuffed with scrolls, a pipe, a pouch of tobacco, and a few spell components—dragon scales, a vial of starlight, and a cracked sapphire. Around his neck, hidden beneath his robes, is a small amulet shaped like a seven-pointed star, a gift from Mystra that allows him to commune with her directly. A worn, leather-bound journal, its pages filled with sketches and cryptic notes, is tucked into his cloak, its cover scorched from a long-ago battle.