Malzahar

An aging human, weathered and bronze-skinned, with amethyst eyes behind a pair of large round glasses. His hair is long and white, as is his considerable beard. He wears a blue robe, trimmed in gold. He is leaning against a hand carved quarterstaff as if it is his third leg. Attached to his hip is a book with two clasps of wood, leather, and brass holding closed a cover of the same materials embossed with runic symbols. Shiny brass fittings protect the book’s corners and gold gilds the pages.

Malzahar is missing most of his memories. Loudmouth has read about magic users who tried feats far beyond their power and were driven mad; he wonders if Malzahar is a less extreme case of this phenomenon.

Tyndareus seems to know who Malzahar was, and has given him some books to study in an attempt to help recall his old knowledge.

In Dellmarrow, Malzahar traded Master Uhthoff a copy of "Divination Without Magic" for Uhthoff's "101 Uses For Honey". Malzahar gave Runt his cheese knife (dagger) when Runt wanted to get a weapon for Jennrielle.

#### Malzahar's Backstory

*I was at the great tree in the old forest studying the magics surrounding it, when before my eyes, snaps of red lightning begin shooting in all directions. Magic ripped a hole in the air and a red portal crackled open, humming with a rhythm that reverberates in time to the swirls of wavering, red light. A naked old man fell through the portal and it snapped shut behind him. He laid still on the ground. He had something in his hand.. some kind of crystal with runic inscriptions.*

*Soon he began to stir, moving slowly as if he had just awoken from a long slumber, his eyes were searching and his brow told me he was puzzled. I called to him multiple times but his mind was clearly elsewhere. He then looked at the crystal in his hand and began quietly muttering to himself.*

*"Who are you?" I asked as I approached, reaching out in a friendly geasture. His head shot up and his gaze met mine, his eyes resembled that of a scared wild animal. He chanted some words and the roots around my feet sprung from the earth, binding my legs. I did not resist, I stood still and prayed that I did not incure his wraith. A silvery mist surrounded the man and he vanished from my sight.*

"Who am I? Where am I?" The old Man askes himself. "I remember my name and some magic... this crystal pulls me in a direction but I do not understand its purpose, or my own."

**Additional details**

Malzahar can be found reading on his downtime. He tires easily and eats a lot of food for his size and age. One of his companions - a half-orc named Runt - has agreed to carry a bag on Malzahar's behalf, which he stuffed full of books he found in the tower of Tyndareus.

**Books**

Here are a list of books the party has seen Malzahar reading or he has referenced.

1. Local plants
2. The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces
3. Raging Blades: A Tale of the North
4. 1001 Ways to Cook Bean
5. Achieving Wealth Through Proper Grooming
6. Divination Without Magic traded for 101 ways to use honey
7. Magic that I Have Tasted
8. The Spectrum of Multiversal Beliefs

Malzahar is writing a book titled "Ramblings of a Forgetful Wizard: Musings on the Mysteries of Life and Magic"