Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

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Appearance: Halaster’s true appearance is that of
a tall, gaunt, elderly man dressed in tattered brown
robes under an equally ragged gray cloak. His hair is
long and strikingly white, framing his thin face as it
hangs from around his face to his shoulders. If
viewed while in Undermountain, Halaster seems
confused and distracted, not quite focused. He seldom
looks directly at those addressing him, and multiple
images (or “phantoms”) of him appear and disappear
around continually. These images often seem
to be engaged in their own activities and do not al-
ways seem aware of their immediate surroundings.
Personality: While in Undermountain, Halaster
seems constantly distracted, always chuckling and
muttering to himself over people and happenings
only he can discern (see Unique Abilities below).
He also has difficulty holding the thread of any
conversation.
If he’s ever removed from Undermountain, he regains
his lucidity. At these times Halaster is fastidious,
meticulous, and quite proper, though still thoroughly
evil. Halaster can be honorable, and even
noble in a way. He brooks no insolence in any case,
and remembers any slight or aid given him.
Locales Frequented: The myriad, deadly environs
of Undermountain, the huge dungeon complex be-
neath Mount Waterdeep.
History: Halaster, the Mad Mage of Undermountain,
is the designer of that insane, chaotic
maze of deathtraps, monsters, and disreputable be-
ings of all shapes and sizes.
This man’s given name was Hilather, but he
changed it to the grander Halaster as more befitting a
powerful mage. The date and place of his birth are unknown,
but he’s rumored to be older than even Elminster.
Regardless of his origins, Halaster left off his dealings
with most of humanity more than 1,000 years ago.
Accompanied only by his seven apprentices, Halaster
came to the base of Mt. Waterdeep to build his new
home. He summoned and bound fell creatures from
other planes to build this tower and complex, as well
as smaller towers for his apprentices. Once finished,
even his apprentices saw less of their master.
As he dealt less and less with humans and more
with the vile creatures from other planes, Halaster
changed. He grew grim and became prone to long,
sullen silences, broken by sudden, violent rages. He
had his servant creatures dig storage areas and additional
laboratories beneath his tower, and this work
went on for decades.
Finally, his servitors broke into an area Halaster
called the Underhalls. These tunnels had been dug
by the dwarf Melairkyn clan, named after its
founder, Melair. This clan had discovered mithral.
The dwarves eventually died or were scattered by incursions
of duergar and drow. When the mithral
mines were played out, the duergar left, but the drow
remained.
Halaster is thought to have wiped out the last of
the drow after they had been weakened in a war with
the surface elves. The mage’s apprentices believed
that Halaster kept some of the drow, magically trans-
formed them, and held them as his new slaves.
In any case, Halaster soon faked his death, banished
his otherplanar servants, and abandoned his
complex on the surface, moving all to these underways.
Halaster soon began “testing” his servants and
traps against his seven apprentices. Only one survived,
named Jhesiyra Kestellharp, who later became
the Magister. The Magister’s writings provide
what little is currently known of the Mad Mage.
Now alone with his surviving servants, Halaster
began his monstrous menagerie by visiting other
planes and kidnapping creatures. He also built his
network of gates to move them around his new
home. Over time, Undermountain has slowly become
what it is today, a reflection of its creator’s
madness.
Halaster was actually visited in his sanctum sanctorum
recently by the adventurer Artek the Knife
and others who were using a horned ring in an at-
tempt to escape Undermountain.
Motivations/Goals: Halaster views Undermountain
as his own deadly playground, a means to bring
him entertainment as well as new companions,
knowledge, and magical spells and items. He seems
content to rule his demented but lethal domain,
constantly tinkering with its contents, inhabitants,
and the network of gates he maintains there and
beyond.
Campaign Uses: Halaster is a mystery and a terror
to those who know he still exists. DMs should
ensure that he remains an enigma in their campaigns;
most adventurers, even those who are brave
(or depraved) enough to call Undermountain home
should never meet Halaster, though many claim to
have seen the strange “phantoms” of an aged wizard
who observes much in Undermountain. Halaster is
mad and evil, a terrible combination when one is as
powerful as he.