Gale Dekarios

Chosen of Mystra, Professeur of Illusion Blackstaff Academy Gale Dekarios

In his youth, Gale was a prodigiously talented practitioner of the Art. He likened his skill as a wizard to that of an actual artist, who manipulated the Weave in the same manner a virtuoso did music. Gale studied as an apprentice in Blackstaff Academy.  
Eventually he became a chosen of Mystra and was her lover for a time.  He asked Mystra for more secrets sothat he may serve her better but Mystra refused.  He sought out an ancient Tome; Tome of Gateways. Within it was a fragment of the primal weave displaced out of time.  He wanted to reunite this fragment with Mystra but failed.  This portion of the weave was not from Mystra's weave but Karsus' and this caused Gale's body to become host to a Netherese Orb of Destruction.   
This Weave of Karsus sought to destroy Mystra's weave as Karsus had originally intended.  The orb would continuously pulse, absorbing energy from the Weave, counting down to an ultimate destruction that was capable of tearing down entire cities. The orb could only be stabilized by breaking down parts of the Weave, and Gales connection to the weave and therefore his skill with the art started to weaken.  The once talented Archmage weakened in power to a novice.  He had the knowledge of an Archmage with the skill of an Apprentice.  Gale isolated himself in his tower for a year as he continued to weaken.  Eventually his Tressym Tara figured out the orb could consume magic item and she brought him magic trinkets to try to stabalize his power at least temporarily.
In the Year of Three Ships Sailing, 1492 DR, Gale was taken prisoner by illithids upon a nautiloid. He was infected by the illithids with a tadpole.  He managed an escape and got shunted inbetween planes when the Githyanki attacked the Spelljamming ship. 
Thorduin Lionheart pulled him out of a planar portal and together with Jenevel Hallowleaf, Astarion, and Karlach sought out a way to free themselves from the illithid tadpole.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Identifying Characteristics

Gale has a simple, yet refined style to him, with clothes well-made but never ostentatious. His mousy brown hair is straight and shoulder-length, swept back with an elegant flair. His eyes are chestnut brown, his gaze soft but confident, and he keeps his facial hair neatly trimmed. On his left ear, Gale wears a silver earring shaped in the form of a star, holy symbol of Mystra, representing perhaps his former relationship with the goddess or just his affinity with magic. In the middle of his chest, a dark circle with wispy tendrils can be found, the result of absorbing Karsus' netherese magic. These tendrils extend all the way to under his left eye, faint, but ever present.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Youth

Born to Morena Dekarios and an unknown father, Gale was raised in the city of Waterdeep. A prodigy of magic from a young age, Gale learned to manipulate the Weave like a skilled virtuoso plays music, his talents and abilities manifesting in many occasions, though often with unintended consequences. One time, forbidden from having a cat of his own by his parents, Gale summoned Tara Tara, a tressym that would become not only his lifelong companion, but also family.  Such was their bond that Gale disallowed any attempts at referring to Tara as his pet, even if Tara considered him the "most expensive pet in Waterdeep". After Gale's departure from home, Tara would keep mother Dekarios company throughout the years. In time, Gale would be enrolled at the prestigious Blackstaff Academy, an educational institution for promising wizards and sorcerers.

"Ah. Quite. A misadventure from my days as an apprentice at Blackstaff Academy. I was but a child, only a few months into my studies, but already I knew I was destined for greatness. No one believed me, of course, so I decided to prove it. To cast a spell with the Blackstaff itself. From one perspective, I succeeded. I opened a portal. However, instead of pointing it at the first year dormitory, I found myself pulled into limbo, facing a very irritated Death Slaad. Fortunately, The Blackstaff himself came to the rescue, hauling me back from the brink, and straight into several months of writing lines."

A Chosen of Mystra

Gale was mentored by Elminster Elminster Aumar, one of the most powerful and famous wizards of Faerûn and a hero to Gale. The Sage of Shadowdale guided Gale, furthering his mastery over the Weave and arcane arts, and over time became something of a parental figure to him.
Gale's talent eventually drew the attention of the Goddess of Magic, Mystra, who made him one of her Chosen. Mystra became a teacher, muse, and eventually lover to Gale. When Mystra's passion waned, Gale sought the rekindle her interest by showing her he was her equal. Arrogance demanded she see him as worthy of peering beyond what the goddess of magic allowed mortals to experience, but she refused his every plea. Having learned of Karsus' Folly and his attempts at reaching godhood via his netherese magic, Gale searched for a tome containing a scrap of Weave, hoping to impress Mystra by returning a long-lost part of her.

"A fragment of it was caught and sealed away in a book. No ordinary book, mind you: a tome of gateways that contained within it a bubble of Astral Plane. It was a fragment of primal Weave locked out of time - locked away from Mystra herself."

Yet when he opened the book, a writhing mass of darkest black leapt at him, becoming part of his body and giving him an insatiable hunger for magic. To keep the orb from exploding with enough force to level an entire city flat, Gale needed to consume magic constantly in order to feed this gnawing hunger. But the most painful punishment for his hubris would be to lose his position as Mystra's Chosen. When she learned of Gale's recklessness, Mystra ceased all contact with him and ended their relationship for good without adding another word, leaving Gale to deal with the netherese orb within him on his own.

Education

Apprentice in Blackstaff Academy
Apprentice to Elminster Aumar

Accomplishments & Achievements

Act I: In Search of the Cure
Destroyed the Nether Brain
Removed the Shadowfell Curse around Moonrise Tower
Rescued Every Single Prisoner held in Gortash's Iron Throne through spellcraft
Saved Everyone of the Elturel Tiefling Refugees from the Emerald Grove
Contributed magic resources to the Rebuilding efforts for Both Reithwin and Blighted Moonhaven, including the use of 2 Wish Spells
Aided Jenevel Hallowleaf in Resanctifying the Defiled Selune Temple near Moonhaven.
Reforged the Crown of Karsus and presented it to Mystra.  She named him Chosen of Mystra once again.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Regaining Mystra's Favor, and proving himself worthy

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Gale is an intelligent, thoughtful wizard, with a good-hearted and peaceful nature. Despite his scholarly and slightly pompous manner of speaking, he is friendly and always willing to lend his ear to friends. As an accomplished wizard and eternal scholar, he is proud of his arcane knowledge and feats achieved as an erstwhile Chosen, yet it is this pride combined with his ambition that prevent him from seeing reason sometimes, risking repeating mistakes from the past. Still, Gale is not unreasonable, and if convinced by friends, he is willing to think twice before jumping to rash actions. Furthermore, he is good to his companions, being attentive of their problems and taking care of them however he can, often by assuming cooking duties.
Though outwardly confident and easy-going, Gale still carries the physical and emotional wounds of his former relationship with Mystra and the consequences of dabbling in forbidden magic. As such, he is sensitive about criticism, and often reacts defensively when confronted by his past actions. All of this leads him to be willing to do anything to earn Mystra's forgiveness, even if it means sacrificing his life to do so. He also seems to hide somewhat behind his Gale of Waterdeep persona, built to project this image of a great and powerful wizard as opposed to, the way he sees it, the more mundane Gale Dekarios.

Alignment

Chaotic good

Current Status

Illusion Instructor at Blackstaff Academy

Species

Human

Circumstances of Birth

Unknown Father, Mother is Morena Dekarios

Birthplace

Waterdeep

Current Residence

Waterdeep

Sex

Male

Eyes

Hazel

Hair

Long Swept back Brown hair

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Warm White

Height

5'9"

Weight

155

Quotes & Catchphrases

"It is. Courtesy of my mother, the inimitable, dare I say it sometimes unavoidable, Morena Dekarios. It's been so long since I've used it. 'Gale Dekarios' cuts a poor figure next to the wizarding prowess of 'Gale of Waterdeep'."

Belief/Deity

Mystra

Aligned Organization

Heroes of the High Hall

Related Historical Events

• 1378 DR
  Absolute Crisis