Rolplaying Elminster

[Bladesake]

Hi folks. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm looking to get some info on how to roleplay Elminster as a DM. My players are trying to bring something to him that they can't handle, but I'm not sure how Elminster's personality is because I've never read any of his books.

One of the players has gotten hold of a possessed sword masquerading as a good weapon. What it's actually doing is trying to get as much people killed as possible through mishaps that look completely random, but are really orchestrated by the sword. Barn fires, were-rat attacks and merchant ambushes by Shadow Plane outsiders (Skiurid Ninjas) are some of the things it's accomplished so far and the party thinks it's just happenstance.

They do know, however, that the sword is not as good as it appears, and that's why they're taking to Elminster to figure out what the hell it is.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Hi folks. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm looking to get some info on how to roleplay Elminster as a DM. My players are trying to bring something to him that they can't handle, but I'm not sure how Elminster's personality is because I've never read any of his books.

One of the players has gotten hold of a possessed sword masquerading as a good weapon. What it's actually doing is trying to get as much people killed as possible through mishaps that look completely random, but are really orchestrated by the sword. Barn fires, were-rat attacks and merchant ambushes by Shadow Plane outsiders (Skiurid Ninjas) are some of the things it's accomplished so far and the party thinks it's just happenstance.

They do know, however, that the sword is not as good as it appears, and that's why they're taking to Elminster to figure out what the hell it is.

According to wiki:

Personality
A natural storyteller, Elminster is normally a witty, clever, and very charming man. He can be imperious, grave, and terrible, however, and furthermore is a consummate actor. He rarely reveals the full extent of his true nature to anyone who is not an extremely close friend. He can portray himself as a trickster, rake, stern father figure, fool or any other stereotype he wants to assume, depending on what he wants to accomplish or what reaction he wants to elicit from those around him.

I don't think you have to get his personality right. Do what you want, and you can always say later that he was only acting that away around them.

As to whether or not he'd help them... well, he seems mostly concerned with big problems. So if the problem is one that can be quickly fixed, I don't see why he wouldn't help, as long as it doesn't hurt his own motivations.

 

[Sekhmet]

I like to think of Elminster as exactly the kind of person the party needs him to be. He could just as easily be found in a tavern, face down in a stein of ale as he could in the library at Candlekeep pouring over a musty tome, as he could be giving tasks to younger adventurers as he could be advising a King.

He's the consort of the Goddess of all Magic, and he is so far removed from the daily life of mortals that it is unnecessary to believe he has only one personality type. He goes from mask to mask to mask in order to move the pawns into position against evil.

 

[Seppuku]

Elminster is a busy plane hoping wizard. He takes care of issues of worldly importance. He will not be home and certainly not be available to dink around with non-Epic PCs. He has people who do that for him, otherwise the line outside his door would extend to the horizon.

 

[Sekhmet]

Elminster is a busy plane hoping wizard. He takes care of issues of worldly importance. He will not be home and certainly not be available to dink around with non-Epic PCs. He has people who do that for him, otherwise the line outside his door would extend to the horizon.

He's long since stopped adventuring and performing epic feats. He wants to see other's perform them, so that he knows that the world can get by without him to defend it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The way I'd go is between the two extremes: An old wizard with a beard and a funny hat and a pipe and a sword, IS found, and does help the party as needed. He never identifies himself as Elminster, and might be a simalcrum, a friend of his, an imposter, an apprentice or the real thing.

Don't even raise the question of who he is -- unless the players catch on to the fact that he never confirms his identity as "Elminster" -- until it becomes important later in the campaign, if it ever does. If you need him, retroactively, to not have been Elminster, well, then he wasn't. Until then, don't worry about it.

 

[Ajax1979]

Perhaps you could introduce a sage character of your own, play that character in the way which seems natural to you, and not worry that you've got Elminster "wrong."

For every way that Elminster can be played there is a camp who will find fault with it. As he is an actor almost any set of traits can be ascribed to him. Ian McKellen as Gandalf with a dash of Fred Flinstone works for me.

If you need a wise sage then play him straight. If you need a cranky drunk use that. If you need an angry, harried Realms human resources manager there he is.

The key thing for me is to never suggest Elminster will rescue the PCs in the future, get them out of a jam, or threaten anyone on their behalf. The idea that the PCs have a powerful NPC on their side can derail a campaign.

Do whatever you want; there's no FR police coming to your house to tell you you're wrong.

 

[MrFaust]

Elminster is a busy plane hoping wizard. He takes care of issues of worldly importance. He will not be home and certainly not be available to dink around with non-Epic PCs. He has people who do that for him, otherwise the line outside his door would extend to the horizon.

This is far from the truth and anyone who knows Elminster, also knows of how much he tends to get involved with whats going on in the realms wither he would like to or not. Even 1st level adventurer's have been assisted by Elminster on a number of occasions. Now as much for being buddy buddy with the old sage I would have to agree that would be reserved for epic-like characters. As far as him lending a hand in terms of information (stories) and identification of great objects as this weapon sounds to be I don't see any reason why he wouldn't mind taking a look should he be home. An depending on the edition your playing (that is if your following canon) he shouldn't be THAT hard to find.

 

[shadzar]

Well they wont be visiting him at his tower, so have to find him out and about with great luck. When they do I would think they could get his attention or irritate him depending on their actions. A good tale is likely to peak his interest, or just showing deep interest in his own tales.

If you have seen the Dragonlance movie, then just play it like Fizban, but without the forgetfullness, unless Elminster is drinking heavily. They are pretty much the same character save for one being an avatar of a god.

He is probably going ot want a favor for helping identify the sword, as he probably needs some things done a he is so busy. Could be something of normal day to day activity like helping out around Shadowdale, or maybe going to track down something that he could do himself, but can't be bothered with it right now. He is also likely to send the players to do that ask, and end up doing it himself anyway when they return with whatever they may have ben sent to fetch.

 

[Bladesake]

Thanks for all the responses!

The party was actually told by Tymora, via one of her priestesses to take it Elminster. He'll take it seriously, I'm sure. Still, He won't intervene directly because he doesn't really need to. Tymora's blessing is already upon the adventurers (The party doesn't know this) and she's charged them with destroying the weapon.

The sword in their possession is actually a forge of Beshaba (Party dosesn't know this either) created as a mockery of the church of Lathander and to spread as much chaos and bad luck as possible. The adventure takes place in the Dalelands, so naturally the Zhentarim have already gotten a blip on their radar that something significant is occurring, so the possibilities for adventure are endless.