Elyana grew up in a region called the Dalelands, located in North Faerun. It’s a collection of independent territories, each with its own government, military, economy, and culture. Living in the Dalelands is very much like living in the countryside. It seems quite dull and slow-paced until you visit and learn more about each Dale’s history and legends. Collectively, the Dalelands are most well known for playing host to the Sage of Shadowdale: Elminster the “Old Mage”.
If you grew up in the Dalelands, you would know of Elminster’s name and you’d know that he has been around for a very, very long time. You would also be familiar with Elminster’s brand of unabashed honesty. He never held back an insult and wasn’t afraid to threaten embarrassment, injury, or death upon trespassers of his property or wasters of his time. In the town most frequented by adventurers, stories of Elminster’s exploits are a common topic of discussion.
Shadowdale is a small and rural village that gained popularity with adventuring parties because of its history of conflict, its abundance of ruins to explore, and the presence of Elminster’s Tower. Elyana lived in the neighboring sister territory of Mistledale and heard the rumors of Shadowdale’s popularity. So after brewing her first successful batch of Mystic Meadow Moonshine, Elyana took some of her stock to sell there.
The day Elyana sealed the distribution deal with the owner of the Old Skull Inn (the only inn in town), they celebrated by having drinks and telling stories of their various misadventures. Emboldened by liquor, the innkeeper told her of the time their grandmother, Jhaele Silvermane, had witnessed some of Elminster’s influence in Shadowdale.
In 1358 DR, a Zhentarim army made its way into Shadowdale, laying waste and destruction to everything in its path. This army was commanded by the diety, Bane, the Lord of Darkness. Mistledale had just defeated its own Zhentarim invasion and so sent their remaining militia, The Riders, off to help defend Shadowdale.
Led by Mourngrym, the Lord of Shadowdale (at the time): the townsfolk, many loyal Harpers, and the Riders of Mistledale took on the Zhentarim army. This left Elminster and the god, Bane to battle it out in Elminster’s tower. The two powerful beings fought when in a great blast of energy, Bane seemed to be destroyed, but Elminster disappeared entirely. Many believed Elminster had been killed in that fight.
The Harper of Shadowdale, Storm Silverhand was a very close friend of Elminster. When she learned of his disappearance, she furiously accused several individuals of his death. This included some adventurers who were involved with Elminster at the time. And even though there was no evidence for their crime, Mourngrym, also distraught by the loss of Elminster, didn’t stop her. Luckily those adventurers were eventually set free, rather than sentenced to death.
Obviously, we know Elminster isn’t dead. But it’s rumored that he had gotten transported to another plane of existence and stuck there for some time, the innkeeper had gossiped. It’s was always hard to tell what was fact and what was rumor with these folks.
As they drank more, Elyana’s memory of the other stories told to her that evening becomes a little more faded. She faintly recalls a story of when a collision of magical spells during a battle outside of Elminster’s Tower caused a rift in the planes to open up.
She also remembers a story about when some crooks broke into Elminster’s Tower. During the resulting fight, the tower exploded into rubble, startling the surrounding residents.
Elyana has always been aware that Elminster was a powerful mage. But for
most Dalelanders, he’s more of a local legend you only ever talked about over a
drink with your mates in your favorite tavern. Having traveled alone during her more
formative years, she missed out on some of the regularly told tales that circulated about him.