Blackwolf the Dragonmaster's Dark Chambers

The last adventure in the real art of Magecraft!

Once upon a Dragonmaster: Blackwolf's Dossier

DESCRIPTION: Human male 18th-Level Mage; 10th-Level Bard.

AGE: 4897 (or thereabouts).

HEIGHT: 6'1".

WEIGHT: 160 lbs.

EYES: Blue.

HAIR: White, with flowing beard of approx. 8" in length.

PENMANSHIP: Left-handed.

ALIGNMENT: Lawful Good.

THAC0: 6.

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1.

STR11, DEX12, CON14, INT18, WIS17, CHA13.

SPELLS: Blackwolf's repertoire consists primarily of the traditional combinations of offensive, protective, and defensive spells. A typical list of such spells, including certain modifications made by him, would encompass the following: 1st --- charm person, comprehend languages, detect magic, hold portal, protection form evil, burning hands, hypnotism, identify shield, remove fear, aid and speak with animals; 2nd --- hypnotic pattern, levitate, mirror image, detect evil; 3rd ---lightning bolt, hold person, plant growth, summon insects, clairvoyance, gust of wind; 4th --- charm dragon, dimensional door, cure serious wounds lower water, produce fire, detect scrying, remove curse; 5th --- passwall, teleport, wall of force, dispel evil; 6th ---disintegrate, legend lore, telekinesis, heal; 7th --- limited wish, power word stun, teleport without error, vanish, charm plants, reverse gravity, time stop.

WEAPONS OF PROFICIENCY: dagger; dart; quarterstaff; long and short swords. 

NON-WEAPON PROFICIENCIES: Even before the events that led him to settle down among the Mortals of New York City proper, Blackwolf's primary non-weapon proficiency was that of reading and writing; eventually, he mastered the fine art and science of, among other things, ancient history (Celtic/Irish/Scottish/Gaelic); spellcraft; etiquette; local history (Abbeyleix); and weatehr sense. Since settling in the Big Apple, Blackwolf has extended his repertoire of non-weapon proficiencies to include: storytelling; disguise; riding land-based (horse and centaur); musical instrument (lute); singing; computer programming; recent local history (New York City, County and State); endurance; iconography; languages ancient and modern (an indefinte amount); animal handling and training (dragon); and weekend adventuring (hiking, cooking, photography, etc.).

EQUIPMENT: Blackwolf's Dark Chambers contain a wide assortment of equipment, both Magical and Mundane, from an endless library of universes. The huge, heavy, voluminous tome permanently chained to the floor of the Mage's hovel (55 lbs., over 6700 pages) is his Diary of Magecraft, wherein he records for posterity the detailed instructions of the many spells and incantations he has mastered through the aons; along with the various tales and anecdotes of his visits to various dimensionns and points in Mortal history. Other spellbooks and related literature may also be ensconsed within Blackwolf's vast archives. These, and assorted other items, may usually be kept on a shelf, in a chest, or in some sort of pocket dimension [several of the latter are rumored to be scattered all about the Dark Chambers].

During his outdoor travels, Blackwolf limits his equipment to the few items he carries in his own, custom designed (by his own hand) belt-pocket. From time to time, should a given situation arise that deeply touches his inner soul, Blackwolf always wears two handkerchiefs in his pointed hat ..... just in case he needs to blow his nose a good sniffle or two.

MAGICAL ITEMS: Blackwolf's current magical items consist of a silver dagger and three pendants. Two of the pendants were given him by the King and Queen of the Realm of the Emerald Dragon, in recognition of faithful service. The third pendant is a representation of the Wizard Tarot card. While these four items are worn around his neck, they are obscured by Blackwolf's long, flowing, white beard. As is traditional among Magic-users, Blackwolf  wields the wooden staff borne by most Mages of his experience and  expertise. It easily functions as a divining rod, or as a standard walking stick.  

COMBAT/TACTICS: Like most Mages, Blackwolf prefers to use his powers mainly for educational purposes. However, his status as Dragonmaster permits him, if necessary, to hold certain of his spells against evil dragons in each of the three major branches in the Hexagon of Balance: Lawful Evil, Unlawful Evil and Neutral Evil. For obvious reasons, Blackwolf prefers to keep his powers a secret from most New York City Mortals (save those whom he genuinely trusts), choosing instead to "illuminate the young and young-in-heart of the City; and to rejuvenate their sense of  wonder."

ALLIES/COMPANIONS: Master Washington of the Eastern Realm, his Mortal-born alter ego/apprentice; Sir Clisto Seversword, Knight of the Holy Blade of York; Sir Ian MacTavish, of the Clan Ironwolf; Ryleh, Wandering Hedgewizard of the Realm of Texas; Merdwin the Mediocre, Mage of the Far Hills, of the Shire of Schenectady; Thor, Barbarian warlord King, of the Realm of Hawley; Debbie D, Brown-haired Mermaid of the Oceanport of Jenkintown; Master Thoth, chronicler/channeler of the Lands of the Nular-in; the poltergeist of  Fergus MacAndrich Lochinvar Gordon, late of the Shire of Port Washington; and the seven sorcerers known as the Grand High Istari. In addition, as per his name and rank, Blackwolf is allied with the various Dragons of the Multiverse which are aligned with either Lawful Goodness, Unlawful Goodness, or Neutral Goodness; and can accordingly master them all should the occasion prove absolutely necessary.

FOES/ENEMIES: Those who would disallow usage of the Imagination; various and sundry Necromancers and other evil magicians; and, simply, all evildoers in general. 

APPEARANCE: At 6'1", 160-plus lbs., Blackwolf appears as a heavily-bearded, blue-eyed man of weathered visage, possessed of a gentle, gruff tone, and wearing a black-and-brown colored monk's robe, over which he wears a custom-designed cloak, festooned with Dragon icons, signifying his status as Dragonmaster. The Mage's kindly smile reflects his ever-positive philosophy and his unchanging belief in the miracle of Imagination, to say nothing of his unique knack for seeing the Greater Multiverse from a childlike perspective.   

PERSONALITY: Never petty or harsh, not even with his own enemies and/or detractors, Blackwolf always seeks out those who, like himself, are defenders of kindness within one's heart, and dignity toward annd respect for all living beings. Like his fellow Mages, he holds sacred their Code of Honor, in that he is bound to fulfill his every promise. Despite the fact that he has freely admitted that he has not necessarily stuck to these principles (even though he tries!), he makes an effort to instill these values into the lives of everyone he meets. Frequently, he has been known to reveal his human side; indeed, he is just as capable as the rest of us, if need be, of shedding a tear or two (even if it is once in a while!). Blackwolf also enjoy history, the sciences, alchemy, and other Mortal aptitudes. These have allowed him to hone his skills as both a magic-user and as a teller of tales. In terms of music, Blackwolf often converts his Wizard's staff to "lute mode," and, strumming said 'lute,' sings some of his favorite songs for the creatures dwelling in and around Central Park (including a few pigeons who sing off-key from time to time). In his opinion, the more songs one has in one's heart, the better!

LOCALES FREQUENTED: Besides his current home base, Blackwolf's travels have taken him to various dimensia across the unchanging seas of the Multiverse. In the case of his New York City adventures, however, his major locales have included the Shire of Sterling; and the small yet burgeoning Realm of the Cloisters, epicenter of the Dominion of Northern Manhattan. The precise location of Blackwolf's Dark Chambers, however, remains a closely guarded secret to but a chosen few, including those amongst his aforelisted allies.

HISTORY: Padraig, or Patrick, of Abbeyleix, son of Saemus the Strong, was the only child of that proud warrior's bloodline, his mother having died in childbirth. Saemus was the bold knight errant who had, on more than several occasions, rescued the lands of ancient Ireland from the forces of Darkness, in service to his master, the Ard Rhi, or High King, of Ireland, Treadloach. In his boyhood, young Padraig had long considered his father to be a hero; the moral characteristics which would shape the lad in his later years as Blackwolf had for several years been inherent in the spirit of mighty Saemus. In time, Blackwolf would likewise pass his father's philosophies to his own son, the Mage and Sorcerer, Master Yen Sid. For the present, however, he was still Padraig of Abbeyleix, and would soon undergo his most important education: that of following in his father's footsteps as a knight.

While Padraig excelled in his studies of both swordplay and chivalry, after only three years under the apprenticeship of his father, it became apparent to the naive young squire that the taking of another sentient life form was in direct violation of the laws of Nature. Determining himself to resolve such conflicts within his inner person, Padraig, by then aged 18, prepared to travel out into the country, that he might see the world for himself. It was shortly after he had begun his journeys that Padraig was press-ganged into the service of the High King's kitchen help. Here began his extended stay at the Court of Lord Treadloach. What surprised the Ard Rhi and his courtiers was how young Padraig had steadfastly devoted himself to extensively stuyding the tools of the trade --- vital tools, to say the least, which would certainly guarantee his survival.

It was Padraig's determination to discover all these resources that inspired Treadloach to grant the youngster the post of Caretaker --- the number one person in charge of all the palace staff and kitchen help. Padraig would continue as the High King's Caretaker for some 20 years, until he was at least 30 years old.

Prior to the time of his 30th birthday, Padraig sought an audience with Lord Treadloach, in which he declared that the time was at hand when he, Padraig, would need to pursue the remainder of his adulthood in peace, choosing as he would to live out his years as a hermit. This news somewhat saddened the High King, for Padraig's exceptional capabilities during his tenure as Caretaker had been the talk of the whole kingdom! Nonetheless, preparations were soon made for what they eventually called Padraig's "retirement party."

MEDIA APPEARANCES: The following media (films, television, radio, books, and the Internet) have, at certain various points, been enchanted by the appearance and/or inclusion of the Dragonmaster: Anything Goes!, weekly radio readings (Irwin Ginshak, producer-supervisor); Thoth, live-action documentary short subject (Amateur Rabbit, Inc. production; Sarah Kernochan, producer); Late Night w/Conan O'Brien, television talk show (Broadway Video/SNL Studios in association with NBC; Lorne Michaels and Jeff Ross, executive producers); Leaf Pile, local-origination variety show (Jeff Leibowitz, producer-editor); The Adventures of Thor the Barbarian, local-origination variety show/adventure drama (Barbarian Enterprises, production company); Unscrewed w/Martin Sargent, television talk show (G4); The Nerd Show, unsold TV pilot; Totally Obsessed, unaired documentary series (VH1); The Best of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog (compilation DVD; Lionsgate Home Entertainment); Attack of the Show! (in concluding portion of interview w/Triumph; G4); Infected w/Martin Sargent, Web-only weekly interview series (Invision.com); Come Poop w/Me, comedy concert album starring the "fresh hound" (Warner Bros. Records, Robert Smigel and Brooks Arthur, producers); 24 Hours of the Foo Fighters, Segment Ten (MTV2), featuring Dave Grohl and friends interviewing both Blackwolf and Triumph; and the last season of MTV's Total Request Live, as the Mage of Talisker and the Insult Comic Dog help out with "Prom Week." While on his own, Blackwolf has been interviewed for various webites, notably the now-defunct Brotherhood 2.0; and has made several appearances in commercials airing only in foreign markets, notably England, Sweden, Germany and Japan.

ANNUAL EVENTS FREQUENTED: Blackwolf has made regular commitments to the New York Renaissance Faire at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo Park, NY; the Fort Tryon Park Mediaeval Festival, in the Twin Kingdoms of Washington-upon-the-Heights and the Inner Wood; and the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. It is at Sterling Forest in particular that the Dragonmaster has expressed a specific loyalty to Her Majesty, Elizabeth I, Queen of all England. In support of the Mortals known as "fanboys," Blackwolf also visits annual sci-fi/fantasy trade shows and conventions, either on his own or in the company of Debbie D. These include the Big Apple Comicon shows sponsored by Michael Carbonero and Associates; and more recently, the Gotham Nostalgia Events, sponsored by Gotham Nostalgia Shows, Inc. Blackwolf is also part of Debbie D's entourage as part of the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade.

MOTIVATIONS/GOALS: Having written down over 4000 years of tall tales, magic potions, and other interesting items in his Diary of Magecraft, Blackwolf is now content to hold fast to maintaining his status as Unofficial Mage and Sorcerer-in-Residence unto the Mortalfolk of the City, County and State of New York. Having resolved to never cast his spells publicly, save in the most extreme circumstances, Blackwolf has now devoted himself to instilling the wonder and wisdom of Earth's children within those he meets; and to remind them all of just how much love the Human race is truly capable of. It can, in fact, be said of Blackwolf that his ultimate philosophy is best summed up in his own words:

"There are those who would declare the days of Magic to be over. Never trust them. I, for one, would rather that those glorious days endure. Now that I'm travelling from dimension to dimension within the confines of the Mortals' Realm, well --- when all is said and done, I just think, by thunder, that I'm simply having far too much fun!" 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Electric Pirates Entertainment, Inc./EPE Holdings, Inc.; Attn: Mr. Richard Washington, Founder and Chairman, Suite #14-E, 15948 Harlem River Drive, New York, NY 10039-1012 USA; 1-212-368-6670; electric_pirates@hotmail.com; blackbeardian@yahoo.com.