Real Name: Professor Ishmael
The Lord of Knowledge presides over the University. He dedicates himself to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge to those eager to learn. From among his hundreds of students, he selects a few apprentices who show aptitude for Truespeech. When lecturing, he frequently steers discussions toward Truespeech and can become long-winded on the subject — a quirk his students have grown accustomed to.
When not teaching, he researches the origins and mechanics of Truespeech and seeks obscure lore in nearby ruins. He is a rival of the Lord of Science, whom he regards as an intelligent man who fails to properly apply his intellect. His current objective is to acquire the Emerald Tablet to further his understanding of the Empire of Narthezeem.
In 1486 DR, he used Truespeech to kill Willow of the Seekers after she summoned a demon at his University during an attempted theater production. He subsequently banned Solomon and Nog from the University. Though he no longer fully trusts the party, he is willing to commission them to retrieve the Emerald Tablet.
After learning of Alkhazir’s ressurgence, he intends to call a meeting with all Lords of Calimsharn to discuss the future of Calimsharn. In that meeting, they agree on the Blood Mines Expedition.
Realizing that his continued existence placed Calimsharn under threat, and suspecting Father Rogers’ involvement in the betrayal of Taalib, he chose to end his life, sacrificing himself to settle the city’s debt to Father Rogers.
Days later, the Seekers received a posthumous message addressed to each of them.
To Maerik, he tells of his greatest legacy: the sponsorship of the Order of the Purple Robes, based in the Luminous Cloud Citadel, founded by his former student Eszteban. His final request is for Maerik to travel to the Citadel, defeat Eszteban, the Magnificent if he cannot be saved, reclaim control of the Order of the Purple Robes, and secure the discoveries within the Upper Library before their power can be unleashed upon the world.
Posthumous Letter to Maerik
My apprentice. My boy. Thank you. For the years of service, for your loyalty, but above all, for having achieved what I could not: to walk the path of arcane power and keep your moral compass intact. You remind me of the mage I once wanted to be.”
“That is why I owe you the truth about my end. The power that I and the other founding Lords used, the Truespeech, was not a gift. It was a loan. And the creditor… he has come to collect interest. His visit today showed me that, as long as I lived, he would continue to use my debt to threaten this city. He sponsored Taalib’s betrayal, I am certain of it. My death is the final payment. A sacrifice to keep him at bay… I hope. Forgive me for the cowardice of choosing this path, but the terror he inspires… is absolute.”
“But this is not merely a farewell. I bequeath to you my true legacy, not the dusty corridors of this university, but my greatest project: the patronage of the Order of the Purple Robes in its home, the Citadel of the Luminous Cloud. Its founder, Eszteban, was my most brilliant student. I wished for you to join him as a partner leader, so that your morality might temper his genius.”
“…But I fear the situation is more dire than I allowed myself to believe. Eszteban’s genius has become a disease. His paranoia is a corruption that threatens to consume everything we built. He sought shortcuts, Maerik. Shortcuts to the same kind of power that was offered to us here, and I fear his soul is already lost. He has locked himself in his tower, not to protect his work, but to protect his dark power.”
“The Order is paralyzed, held hostage by the madness of its master. My hope for a peaceful resolution was the illusion of a foolish old man. There is nothing left to save in Eszteban. There is only something to stop.”
“Go to the Citadel, Maerik. You are my heir. The Order is yours by right. Reclaim the Citadel. Free the Order from its fallen master. Use your friends, your strength. Gain access to the Upper Library and claim its ‘Discoveries’ before he can use them for a terrible purpose. If he cannot be saved, then his work… and his power… must be contained forever.”
“Do what I no longer have the strength to do. Farewell, my boy.
— Professor Ishmael