Open Lord Laeral Silverhand (LAIR-awl)

Open Lord Anamanué Laeral Silverhand

Laeral Silverhand, born Anamanué Silverhand and formerly known as the Witch-Queen of the North and later the Lady Mage of Waterdeep, was one of the Seven Sisters, a Chosen of Mystra, and the Open Lord of Waterdeep during the late 15th century DR. Together with her partner Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, they led the Moonstars, a dissident faction of the Harpers, which sought to guide the cities and countries of the North toward a shared destiny.

Personality

Laeral was incredibly organized—it was the only way she could manage to fit all of her activities into a single day. She was friendly and accommodating, leading almost everyone who met her, even the haughty nobles of Waterdeep, to consider her a true friend. She was also proactive in her defence of the city, to the extent that certain Waterdhavians would stage calamitous events so that she would keep tabs on persons of interest for them without their needing to ask for her help or involve themselves directly.

Having been in thrall to the Crown of Horns and forced to commit heinous acts by it, she felt that she understood the nature of evil better than most and often mediated disputes with rogues, undesirables, and sentient monsters, especially in Skullport where she kept an alias identity in the form of Irusyl Eraneth.

Laeral was infuriated by magic-users who employed their power to deceive and exert baleful influence over others. She disliked doppelgangers and slave-owners.

Laeral was especially conscious of personal security and always kept several daggers hidden on her person.

Physical Description

Special abilities

One of the most prolific magic item creators in recorded history, Laeral was particularly adept at determining the abilities of magic items and could potentially do so merely by holding one in her hand without activating it. She also hid a gift granted to her by Mystra to deactivate or cause malfunctions in magical items that touched her.

As a centuries-old wizard, Laeral was one of the most accomplished spellcasters in Faerûn, though her powers steadily declined as she had to increasingly devote her energies to maintaining her aging body. Like all Chosen, Laeral's divine blessings were much reduced in the wake of the Second Sundering, as all gods took a more distant approach to interfering in mortal affairs. Nonetheless, her knowledge and facility with Weave-craft, as well as her silver fire, made her a formidable opponent.

Specialized Equipment

When Laeral became a Chosen, Mystra gifted Laeral with special power over magic items. As such, Laeral created many magic items in her lifetime. Notable and oft-copied examples include a magic steel shield that granted the wielder resistance to spell, and shields of this type were subsequently named Laeral's spell shields. In addition to the normal abilities of a Chosen of Mystra, Laeral had given herself the permanent benefit of wearing a ring of fire resistance. Although there is a type of magic armor called Laeral's storm armor, it is not clear what role Laeral had in its development. Laeral ceased her prolific creation of magical items after she was freed from the Crown of Horns.

Laeral collected beautiful dresses and shoes. She liked to wear them to social occasions but didn't care if they were soiled or ruined while she wore them. Laeral also particularly valued hand-sized ornaments depicting frogs, snails, and toads. The pride of her collection was a set of jewels carved into the shape of snails and frogs that magically orbited her bedside table.

During her reign as the Open Lord of Waterdeep, she wore a robe of the archmagi.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Early Years

Laeral was born in the Year of the Cowl, 765 DR, fifth of the seven daughters of the godess Mystra. After their mother died, Laeral, Dove, and Storm were placed into the care of Elminster until they came of age. When her sisters left the Old Sage, Laeral elected to stay with him as his apprentice. When she had finished her studies, she left to join the Harpers.

Laeral left the Harpers early and, in the Year of the Warrior's Rest, 806 DR, at age 41, she was a self-styled queen, ruling the realm of Stornanter from Port Llast. Many later sages believed that Laeral had named herself after this queen, not realizing that it was actually her. It was at this time that Laeral also attempted to rebuild and resettle the ruins of Illusk. Before she did so, she explored the Host Tower of the Arcane, where she encountered several liches who were members of the Grand Cabal, rulers over Illusk from centuries before. She sealed the liches inside the tower with magic before continuing with her other works.

Barely ten years into her reign, Laeral's court mage, Malek Aldhanek, with whom she had worked very closely, was apparently assassinated in a plot involving other nobles. Realizing too late that she was in love with Malek, Laeral quit her court and spent twenty five years wandering Stornanter. In truth, Malek was not dead—he'd never even existed—and was actually Khelben Arunsun in disguise. Khelben faked his death to deal with a dire prophecy he had discovered in the works of Alaundo.

During this period of wandering, Laeral came into conflict with Slarkrethel in the Year of the Leaping Lion, 834 DR and although the great kraken was driven off, he managed to steal Laeral's magical throne, which she had crafted with Malek.

Her activities attracted the attention of her sister Syluné, who desired to rule over the same region, and the two were drawn (some say manipulated) into spell-battle in the Year of the Hunted Elk, 841 DR. Having grown up separately, neither recognized the other so, before they destroyed each other, Mystra felt obliged to manifest herself before the two sisters and explain their heritage, offering them both the mantle of Chosen. They accepted and journeyed together for a time, under the guidance of Azuth.

Adventuring Years

Under an assumed name, Laeral eventually established herself as a hard-drinking and fearless adventurer, coming to lead an adventuring band known as the Nine. In the Year of the Wandering Maiden, 1337 DR, Laeral and the Nine discovered the ancient Netherese artifact known as the Crown of Horns in Yûlash. The Crown was actually planted for her to find by the Netherese lich Aumvor The Undying, who wished to use the Crown to influence her to marry him. The plot failed when Laeral donned the headpiece and the Crown's powers conflicted with Laeral's spellfire and drove her into madness.

Twenty years later, in the Year of the Prince, 1357 DR, Khelben Arunsun travelled to the Stronghold of the Nine in the High Forest, freed Laerel Silverhand from the Crown of Horns, the malign intelligence contained within' and her madness. Laeral returned with him to Waterdeep for more healing, and after that, they were inseparable. She was referred to as Lady Arunsun, though they were never married. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Laeral and Khelben's meeting and subsequent partnership led some to believe that Laeral was enslaved to Khelben against her will. Laeral never denied this, instead preferring to let those who wished Khelben harm seek her out as an ally against him.

Laerel soon came to be the caretaker of Blackstaff Tower and Blackstaff Academy, which was founded as apprentices flocked to the Tower to learn from Khelben and herself.

Return of the Archwizards

Laeral played an important role in the series of events known as the Return of the Archwizards. In Nightal 24 in the Year of the Unstrung Harp, 1371 DR, Lord Gervas Imesfor appeared before Blackstaff Tower and informed Laeral, Khelben, and Elminster about the threat of the returned phaerimm from beyond the Sharn Wall. During the early skirmishes of the growing conflict, she led a small force against the phaerimm at the Battle of Rocnest and was forced to retreat to the Marsh of Chelimber.

In the early months of the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, Laeral and her sister Storm led Waterdhavian forces to Evereska in relief of beleaguered Evereska. The sisters' forces were ambushed by the phaerimm's army of thralls, but were themselves rescued by the blue dracolich Malygris and his minions, allies of the returned princes of Thultanthar. Laeral's forces arrived at Evereska not long after the Princes of Shade withdrew from the emerging alliance of the Heartlands. While Laeral was fortunate enough to reunite with her love Khelben—after being separated from him for months since Lord Imesfor appeared at Blackstaff Tower—the army was devastated by a secret phaerimm assault and Laeral herself received a grievous injury in the form of a dismembered arm.

Not one to be stopped, Laeral joined her lover Khelben, along with sisters Storm, Dove, and Alustriel in a daring mission against Princes of Shade, who collectively posed a threat to the Realms as great as that of the phaerimm. They infiltrated the flying city of Thultanthar and prevented Telamont Tanthul from reshaping the Heartlands in the form of returned Netheril by means of the Karsestone.

When Khelben died in the Year of Lightning Storms, 1374 DR, Laeral returned from life in the public eye for some time. For years she and her sister Alustriel hid among the monks of Candlekeep, in order to prepare the destruction of the library keep's wards so that no one could use them to gain control over the Weave.

15th Century

In the Year of the Rune Lords Triumphant, 1487 DR, Larloch foiled Laeral and Alustriel's plans and absorbed the wards of Candlekeep. Shortly thereafter, Laeral, Alustriel, Elminster, and the Srinshee prevented Larloch's ascension to godhood. Laeral remained a Chosen of the restored Mystra.

After the fall of Myth Drannor, Mystra herself appeared to Laeral. With the end of Luruar, stability was once again needed in the northern Sword Coast, and Mystra tasked Laeral with maintaining it by becoming Open Lord of Waterdeep. According to Mystra, her presence would actually restrain abuse of magic for personal gain, and therefore limit the possibility that the general population could turn against wizards, blaming them for eventual disasters, and blindly hunting all Art-wielders. Following Mystra's request, Laeral returned to Waterdeep, and swiftly managed to gain the support of the Masked Lords of the city, supplanting Dagult Neverember as Open Lord.

She served as the representative of her home city during the Second Council of Waterdeep, when the reborn the Cult of the Dragon threatened much of the Western Heartlands and Sword Coast North.

At some point during her Lordship, circa 1490s DR, Laeral Silverhand acquired a baby griffin and hired a Traynov, a trainer to raise the monster and train as a companion and loyal creature. Both baby griffin and its trainer were staying inside Laeral's mansion in Waterdeep. Unfortunately for the Open Lord, Traynov was bribed by the current Xanathar during that time, Zushaxx, and the monster trainer aided in the griffon's kidnapping. Laeral Silverhand and her trusted City Watch civilar Jauslo found a halfling thief not associated with the Xanathar's Thieves' Guild and recruited him in the dangerous rescue mission to Skullport.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Laeral was one of seven female spellcasters born to the ranger Dornal Silverhand and his wife Elué (with the exception of Qilué Veladorn who, due to divine intervention, was drow). Collectively, they were known as the Seven Sisters.

Laeral was a tremendous influence on her partner and fellow chosen of Mystra Khelben Arunsun. She was able to recognize in him those small moments of personal growth where he kept his anger and his contempt of incompetence in check.

She had three children, a girl named Maura, conceived by Laeral during her time under the influence of the Crown of Horns by an unknown father. Maura was in love with the Crown Prince of Evermeet, Lamruil. Laeral also had twins, a boy named Krehlan Arunsun and a girl, fathered by her consort Chosen Khelben shortly before his 'death' in 1374 DR.

During her tenure as Open Lord, Laeral had a challenging relationship with Vajra Safahr, the young and rather insecure 7th Blackstaff.

Family Ties

Alignment

Chaotic good

Current Location

Waterdeep

Species

Human

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Open Lord of Waterdeep,
Lady Mage of Waterdeep, 
Lady Blackstaff,
Witch-Queen of Stornanter,
Witch-Queen of the North

Year of Birth

765 DR 726 Years old

Parents

Mystra

Gender

Female

Belief/Deity

Follower and Chosen of Mystra

Aligned Organization

Lords Aliance

Other Affiliations

• Seven Sisters

Known Languages

Common, Draconic, Elvish, Giant, Infernal

Ruled Locations

• Waterdeep