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1376 DR (Year of the Bent Blade): The High One charges his pupil Flamsterd with retrieving Halaster's soul-shards, scattered throughout Toril and beyond

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Originally posted by Brian R. James

When I was writing the Sarifal article for D&D Insider I also designed a timeline of Moonshae related events. Sadly, around that time, WotC decided against filling in the gaps in the official timeline. Anyway, you might be interested in one of the timeline events which involved Flamsterd:

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1376 DR (Year of the Bent Blade): The High One charges his pupil Flamsterd with retrieving Halaster's soul-shards, scattered throughout Toril and beyond

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Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

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Originally posted by Brian R. James

When I was writing the Sarifal article for D&D Insider I also designed a timeline of Moonshae related events. Sadly, around that time, WotC decided against filling in the gaps in the official timeline. Anyway, you might be interested in one of the timeline events which involved Flamsterd:

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1376 DR (Year of the Bent Blade): The High One charges his pupil Flamsterd with retrieving Halaster's soul-shards, scattered throughout Toril and beyond

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Did you have any more than that, friend Brian, on either Flammy or Hally's soul shards?

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Think of him as a (neatly-trimmed beard, cultured Oxonian accent, slender silver-mounted and always unlit and empty pipe in hand or mouth [largely used for gesturing, when speaking, the converse always quiet], expensively dressed in quiet good taste) bookish, retiring, sophisticated 'please just leave me be' wizard. He went to the Moonshaes to escape the bustle and intrigue of mainland Faerūn at the time, and although he recognizes the need to defend his newfound home against both internal strife and external attacks, he most seeks the peace and quiet to research and think deeply. Flamsterd is interested in natural processes of Faerūn, and naturally powerful beings of all sorts (many long forgotten, fallen, hidden from, or misunderstood by, mortals). What is the true nature of godhood? Does power cycle, truly, or flow to and from inbalances? Can it be harnessed or gathered without causing harm elsewhere? Do gates and mythals and wards and other lasting magical constructs cause lasting harm? Or, if not harmful, what effects on natural processes and the natural ongoing transformations of power do they have? Who is meddling with power/natural energies right now? How? Can human lore even record or perceive the true cycles or nature of power, or has power been so meddled with or controlled (all the while humanity was rising to any sort of awareness of it) that there's nothing left of what's "natural" for human lore TO recognize? And out of all this, what power can I as an ethical wizard gather and use? What uses should I be making of it? What beings should I attempt to thwart, to preserve the Moonshaes or the wider Realms that I'm familiar with?

These are the same questions that Khelben, Elminster, and others have grappled with (including all who "came to service" as Chosen, but not those who were born into it, as the Seven were -- because, rebel or not, they've always had Mystra's direct guidance available), but Flamsterd is one of many who went off alone to consider how to grapple with them. Manshoon of the Zhentarim was another, and took a very different road. So, too, were Sammaster, and Malchor Harpell, and Larloch, and scores of others.

Flamsterd has, in short, retreated to his underwater abode to further isolate and defend himself (witness his stated actions in FR2), while he makes forays into various planes and locates various gates (ahem, portals) so as to deepen his understanding of the shadowy power groups at work in the Realms. He has decided that he doesn't like Larloch's growing web of liches, or some of the schemes afoot among some of the most magically powerful elves, either -- nor yet certain Red Wizards or particular Halruaan elders. So he's been trying to figure out how to subtly control power flows so as to limit and confound such meddlers, without himself being noticed by them.

He can't, of course, manage this swiftly -- and can't manage it at all without being noticed by Mystra, who's set Azuth the task of oh-so-subtly guiding Flamsterd (so Flamsterd won't in turn be aware that he's being manipulated). Azuth is still in the process of testing the unwitting Flamsterd to see if Flamsterd's mind and morals are sufficient to allow him to acquire the abilities he craves, to limit the powers of others.

Thus far, I can reveal that Flamsterd has passed with flying colours. Time alone will tell what the final judgement on him is. Oh, yes, one thing more: after deciding to avoid women and romance and all of the trouble and potential weakness that accompanies romantic relationships, Flamsterd has started to notice a particular lass. He hasn't quite realized yet that he's smitten with her, but he is, and Azuth is watching this, too, with interest.

And I haven't reached the point in my own writings yet that I can reveal her identity (no, it's not a Realms character you've already seen) to you. For one thing, I don't "control" the Realms, and haven't for years. This is a glimpse of my own ongoing "what this character has been up to" notes, and for obvious reasons (given how many writers are at work in the Realms) I can't go merrily along passing you my notes for character after character, or we'll have MORE inconsistencies to argue over on this list! :}

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Originally posted by Alenis

Great piece of lore on him, Wooly! That's probably the best I've seen yet that has cleared up what type of epic wizard he is (well, at least touched the outer edges). By chance, do you know whether he's protected by heaps of NDA?

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Originally posted by sleyvas

I have a prediction.... the lass he's been watching.... Lady Yhelbruna the wychlaran of Rashemen. He's intrigued by her attempts to have magic work with nature.... and the fact that he can't see under her mask.

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