Nystul

Nystul ( or ) was a human Oerthian mage, a master of disguise, and a member of the Circle of Eight, who showed fascination with magics that altered light and darkness and was responsible for the creation of many such spells.
==Description==
Nystul's true appearance was hidden even from his fellow members of the Circle of Eight. At the age of forty-three years old, Nystul was a plain-looking, lanky man who weighed , a noticeably lightweight for someone tall. He had messy, lank hair of pale brown and brown eyes.
==Personality==
Nystul had a sharp and unerring mind but also was a lover of tactics, jokes, and puns. Using magic, Nystul often took on the guise of a fair elven maid when traveling, knowing that brave knights and stalwart paladins eagerly offered protection to such a delicate creature. He believed that a mage was never to meet an enemy in close combat, preferring greatly to control the battlefield with illusory magics.
==Relationships ==
Nystul's group, which included Mordenkainen, Otto, Rary, Drawmij, Otiluke, Bigby, and Tenser, was known as the famed Circle of Eight. Nystul's jokes and puns proved to be quite an annoyance to Mordenkainen, Bigby, and Drawmij. At a later date, Nystul's Circle of Eight consisted of Warnes, Theodain, Alhamazad, Drawmij, Bigby, Nystul, Otto, and Jallarzi. Dwarf fighter from the Duchy of Tenh named Yars Blud-Sigul was Nystul's acquaintance and aided him against lich Vecna.
==Possessions==
Nystul often carried such defensive magic items as bracers of defense, a ring of protection, and a cloak of displacement. However, he was armed only with a simple dagger, which he seldomly used for anything but peeling an apple. Other wondrous items in Nystul's possession were boots of levitation, dust of disappearance, a hat of disguise, a helm of telepathy, a wand of enemy detection, a wand of illusion, and a wand of illumination. As an additional method of protection, Nystul was always under the effects of a permanent protection from evil spell.
==Activities==
Nystul was known for creating a number of spells, Nystul's magic aura and Nystul's undetectable aura being extremely common and found on many worlds, and Nystul's nullifier was a spell used by law enforcement of Ravens Bluff in the Vast. Nystul's crystal dirk was brought to Toril in the late 14 century DR from a cross the planes by the Order of the Eternals.
Other spells, unknown on Toril, included Nystul's blacklight burst, Nystul's blackmote, Nystul's blazing beam, Nystul's crystal dagger, Nystul's dancing werelight, Nystul's enveloping darkness, Nystul's expeditious fire extinguisher, Nystul's flash, Nystul's golden revelation, Nystul's grue conjuration, Nystul's lightburst, Nystul's magical mask, Nystul's radiant arch, and Nystul's radiant baton.
Apart from spellcrafting, Nystul also penned the Libram of the Great Paravisual Emanations, which contained a variety of spells, including that of his own making, as well as The Metaphysics of Mathematics.
==History==
Nystul was born to a wealthy noble family in the capital city of the Duchy of Tenh. In later years, Nystul showed concern for his homeland and often felt others did not show enough concern for the Duchy of Ten. He spent much of his time collecting intel on the goings-on at Tenh's borders, supplying it to the country's rulers without asking for accolades or recognition.
==Appendix==
===Behind the Scenes===
Nystul's spells were named after Mike Nystul (and not after his character), a game designer and the owner of Pariah Press, publisher of the Whispering Vault horror TTRPG.
===Appearances===
===References===
Category:Humans
Category:Wizards
Category:Wizards (2e)
Category:Archmages
Category:Inhabitants of Oerth
Category:Nobles
Category:Members of the Circle of Eight
Category:Spell inventors
Category:Year of Machinations