History Characters / FightingFantasyStarPupils

* ShopKeeper: Played with as he does keep a shop, but being a wizard he only sells potions and magical trinkets. Very useful ones at that.

** BrokenAce: Let's just say that a lifetime of death-defying heroics has taken its toll, making him terse and slightly misanthropic.

* BadassTeacher: He taught King Salamon LVII, the current King of Salamonis, when the latter was a child.

* MagicStaff: He is seen with one on the illustration, but the narration never mentions it.

** RingOfFire: The most powerful spell he can cast is the Ring of [[TechnicolorFire White Fire]], that traps powerful evil beings, [[BroughtDownToNormal breaks their dark powers and leaves them vulnerable to common weapons]]. [[spoiler: It is so powerful that it works on DemonLordsAndArchdevils, and is your only way to stand a chance against Zanbar Bone in ''The Port of Peril''.]]

* AllPowerfulBystander: Nicodemus is still powerful enough to lay a nasty smackdown to more than one BigBad, but won't because he already laid smackdowns on enough Big Bads in his lifetime, thank you very much. Make way for the young as they say. Justified in that despite retaining huge powers, he is too old and wary to run for adventure.

* BadassLonghair: To go with his BadassBeard and the WizardClassic looks.
* BadassLongrobe: A given for a wizard in a Fantasy setting.

* SignatureMove: Aside from his first appearance, you are always offered the option of him inflicting NonStandardGameOver via Baleful Polymorphe to anyone dumb enough to attack him.

* PlayingWithFire: He seems adept in fire magic, casting a flurry of {{Fireballs}} in his backstory, and casting powerful Fire Spells against the BigBad in ''The Port of Peril''.
** TechnicolorFire: The most powerful spell he can cast is the Ring of White Fire, that traps powerful evil beings, [[DePower breaks their dark powers and leaves them vulnerable to common weapons]]. [[spoiler: It is so powerful that it works on DemonLordsAndArchdevils, and is your only way to stand a chance against Zanbar Bone in ''The Port of Peril''.]]

* SignatureMove: Aside from his first appearance, you are always offered the option of attacking him, and the ensuing NonStandardGameOver with BalefulPolymorph.

* OldMaster: Very old but considerably powerful.

* TookALevelInKindness: He is nothing but polite and helpful in ''The Port of Peril''. Justified since you saved his life and are about to fight his old {{Arch-enemy}}.

* AstralProjection: Yaztromo appears this way in ''Legend of Zagor'', [[DimensionalTraveller projecting himself across dimensions]] to Titan's brother world of Amarilla.

** In ''Legend of Zagor'', he appears to play MrExposition to you, who are in another dimension.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In his first appearance in ''Forest of Doom'', he is described as wearing tattered rags, easily tired by merely climbing the stairs of his tower, and apparently lacking money. He is not even that grumpy! He would gain the traits he is most known for in latter books, in which he is described wearing lavish robes, being well-off enough to give you handfuls of gold coins without second thoughts, quite fit for his age, grouchy and loving cakes, and no longer selling you magic trinkets. Though it is said he still does sell trinkets, when not busy helping save the world.

* DimensionalTraveller: In ''Legend of Zagor'', Yaztromo uses an AstralProjection to follow Zagor to the world of Amarillia, and manages to warn the [[AChildShallLeadThem Boy King Irian]] of the upcoming threat. His knowledge of Amarillia's history implies that he already knew about the parallel world.
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: If you [[BullyingADragon draw your sword at him]], he calmly warns you not to play the fool, and you'd be wise to follow his advice. [[TooDumbToLive or else...]]

* GrumpyBear: Yaztromo's grouchy attitude is such a consistent part of him that it is actually a plot point in ''Return to Firetop Mountain'' [[spoiler: where his appearance as a kindly old man is a clue you are dealing with an impostor.]] That said, he is still more personable than Nicodemus.

* TheLancer: He plays this role to [[KnightInSourArmor Chadda Darkmane]] in the novels. Especially in ''Demonstealer'', in which he takes part in banishing the [[GreaterScopeVillain Demon Lord Rivel]], a being on par with the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Demon Princes]] themselves, as the BigBad attempts to bring him back to the Earthly Planes. He plays a major role in the third as well.

* MagmaMan: He masters the very powerful Volcano Spell.

* RedIsHeroic: He wears lavish red robes, and is one of the mightiest forces of Good to ever dwell Titan.
* TheRedMage: In addition to the obvious, he is equally adept as a support for you with healing magic and power boosts, as he is in battle, decimating the enemy's ranks with his deadly spells.

* ShopKeeper: Played with as he does keeps a shop, but being a wizard he only sells potions and magical trinkets. Very useful ones at that.

* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Animals all over the land report anything unusual to him and he can converse with them freely. Justified in that spells can do just that.

A crotchety old wizard who lives in a tower close to Darkwood Forest and makes a living selling magical trinkets. Behind his grumpy old man persona, he is a tireless foe of evil. You will meet him in many gamebooks, either as a {{Cameo}} or playing a significant role, but always a reliable source of help and wisdom.

He is a major characters in the novels ''Trolltooth Wars'', ''Demonstealer'' and ''Shadowmaster'', being close friends with [[TheHero Chadda Darkmane]]. He even personally takes part in the quest instead of being the BigGood as he usually does.

* AllPowerfulBystander: Like Nicodemus, he is stil powerful enough to destroy many {{Big Bad}}s, but he is content sending heroes after them and doing MissionControl. Justified as he is too old to go adventuring.

* BadassBoast: In ''The Port of Peril'', upon learning that [[OurLichesAreDifferent Zanbar Bone]] is after him, wanting to take over his tower, his only answer is basically "Just let him try and see who gets the last laugh!", complete with insults, without the slightest trace of fear.

* BadassGrandpa: He might be well past his prime, but he remains an immensely powerful and skilled wizard who masters devastating spells. It is quite telling that even now, he can casually stroll through the highly dangerous [[TheLostWoods Darkwood Forest]] with zero trouble. Even in a place where EverythingIsTryingToKillYou, monsters, beasts and thieves of all sort know better than getting on his bad side.
* BadassInDistress: In ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' he gets captured by a demon summoned by Razaak and you save him from being sacrificed. Ironically, his foe was very weak but immune to spells and normal weapons, [[WorfHadTheFlu rendering him helpless]] despite his superior firepower.

** Better yet, ''Eye of the Dragon'' mentions in passing that he has become the Grand Master of the Magic School of the Forest of Yore, where he himself learnt magic many decades ago.

* BigGood: He serves as this during many gamebooks:
** In ''Temple of Terror'', he sends you on your quest and gives you everything you need, including teaching you spells that prove very useful, and having the Dwarf King Gillibran lend you his [[InfinityPlusOneSword magic Warhammer]] to smash the ArtifactOfDoom that would resist anything else.

** As soon as you meet him in ''The Port of Peril'', to warn him that Zanbar Bone targets him, he takes matters in hand. He starts monitoring your quest, providing you shelter, intel, gold, power boosts of your choosing, direction, and even his stallion Stormheart, sending you to Port Blacksand while he heals your [[RequiredPartyMember travelling partner]]. He even plays a vital role during the FinalBattle, healing you, fending off Zanbar Bones's {{Mooks}}, and even [[BigDamnHeroes saving your life]] and playing a vital role after that.
** In the ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy'' roleplay ''Allansia'', he gets wind of the threat of the [[ReligionOfEvil Revived Church of Elim]] and once again directs your party to gather allies and destroy Sargon's army.
* TheCameo: Most of his appearances have him show up at the beginning to fill in the hero about the BigBad (and maybe sell them something while he's at it.)
** One of his most notable is in ''Literature/PhantomsOfFear'', a book set on Khul, a continent far away from his Allansian dwelling, as he [[DreamWalker enters your dreams]] to advise you on the BigBad [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Ishtra]].
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In his first appearance in ''Forest of Doom'', he is described as wearing tattered rags, easily tired by merely climbing the stairs of his tower, and apparently lacking money. He is not even that grumpy! He would gain the traits he is most known for in latter books, in which he is described wearing lavish robes, being well-off enough to give you handfuls of gold coins without second thoughts, quite fit for his age, grouchy and loving cakes, and no longer selling you trinkets. Though it is said he still does it, when not busy helping save the world.
* CoolPet: He has two, his raven Vermithrax, who is also his {{Familiar}}, and his stallion Stormheart.

* CurbStompBattle: Barring the high-tiers of the ''Fighting Fantasy'' universe, and even then, anyone picking a fight with this guy is sure to suffer a humiliating defeat [[BalefulPolymorph and spend some time as an animal]], if he feels generous... This includes you.

The three best students of [[TheArchmage the Great Archmage Vermithrax Moonchaser]], the most famous grand master of the WizardingSchool of the Forest of Yore, with little doubt the most famous and greatest in all of Titan. They owe their nickname to their prowesses, and the fact that they grew into three of the most notable mages of the franchise, {{Living Legend}}s respected worldwide. Among the {{Big Good}}s of the franchise, those three and especially Yaztromo and Nicodemus, stand out as the most notable and the most recurring.

One of the most powerful and famous benevolent wizards to ever dwell Titan, and a former adventurer winning many victories against the forces of evil: Among which preventing the resurrection of three highly powerful necromancers called the Dark Ones. After a lifetime of adventures, he has retired from the world to the infamous [[WretchedHive Port Blacksand]], hoping to avoid people coming to beg for his help and live his remaining years in peace and tranquility.

In ''City of Thieves'', you must search for him to learn how to defeat [[OurLichesAreDifferent Zanbar Bone]], who is revealed AllThereInTheManual to be his old {{Archenemy}}. In ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy'' he helps you finding [[EvilSorcerer Xortan Throg]], and later helps you investigate the mysterious rising threat of the ReligionOfEvil worshipping Elim. [[spoiler: In ''The Port of Peril'' he is drugged and thrown to jail by order of [[ShadowDictator Lord Azzur]], and you must save him and take him with you to help against a resurrected Zanbar Bone.]] In ''The Gates of Death'', he helps you escape after you get stranded in Port Blacksand, carrying potion that can heal [[TheVirus the Demon Plague]] threatening all of Titan, and provides you with helpful potions.

* AbsentMindedProfessor: Nicodemus is very knowledgeable about many subjects, but tends to get sidetracked. In ''City of Thieves'', he might be the only one who knows how to destroy [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]], but he forgot crucial details until the last moment. [[spoiler: To be precise, what ingredients to grind to make the compound that can kill him.]] He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it, stating that old ages is messing with his memory.
** Totally averted in the latter part of ''Blacksand'', ''The Port of Peril'' and ''The Gates of Death'', in which he is fully involved in the current threat, focused and concise.
* TheAce: He was this in his younger days, being the son of wealthy merchant and a ChildProdigy of immense potential, among the very best students of the best WizardingSchool of Allansia, who grew up to be a highly famous and respected wizard.
** BrokenAce: Let's just say that a lifetime of death-defying heroics has taken its toll, making him bitter and slightly misanthropic.
* TheAloner: He wants to be left alone, and woe betide anyone who disturbs him without a very good reason, or worse, [[TooDumbToLive try to bully him.]]

* AllPowerfulBystander: Nicodemus is powerful enough to lay a nasty smackdown to most {{Big Bad}}s of the franchise, but won't because he already laid a smackdown on enough {{Big Bad}}s in his lifetime, thank you very much. Make way for the young as they say. Justified in that despite retaining huge powers, he is too old and wary to run for adventure.

* BadassGrandpa: Like is fellow Star Pupils, he might be well past his prime but he is still an immensely powerful and knowledgeable wizard. Even in such a WretchedHive like Port Blacksand, no scoundrel in the city, from the corrupt City Guard to the ThievesGuild, would dare getting on his bad side. Considering that other powerful wizards are tortured to powerlessness by Lord Azzur's agents to snip potential threats in the bud, that's saying something. [[spoiler: Until Lord Azzur is NeutralNoLonger that is. And even he, who is TheDreaded, avoids direct confrontation.]]

* BadassTeacher: He teached King Salamon LVII, the current King of Salamonis, when the latter was a child.
* BalefulPolymorph: One of his favourite spells to dispose of people dumb enough to attack him is turning them into fishes and throwing them into the heavily polluted Catfish River. (''Blacksand'' even comes with an illustration of him doing this to an adventurer.)

* BashBrothers: With Yaztromo [[spoiler: during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', in which they back you up with spells, mow down Zanbar Bone's skeleton warriors, and even neutralizing Bone himself upon advice from Yaztromo.]]
* BerserkButton: Nicodemus hates being disturbed for petty grievances or pleas for solving minor troubles he could not care any less about, and hates even more when people are rude to him. He often inflicts minor magical afflictions to those who dare try, but can do much worse.
** He has zero tolerance for {{Boisterous Weakling}}s who dare [[BullyingADragon attack him]], and immediately reacts with BalefulPolymorph.
* BigGood: He might be grumpy and forgetful, but he is nonetheless the mightiest force of Good in ''City of Thieves'', and you cannot win without his guidance.
** He shares this role with [[HighPriest Alestiss the High Priestess of Throff]], being the greatest force of good guiding you on your quest to defeat [[BigBad Ulrakaah]] in ''The Gates of Death''.

* CurbStompBattle: Any foolhardy warrior dumb enough to attack him suffers this by BalefulPolymorph. Seriously, unless you are [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Snake Demon]] level, just '''don't''' make this guy angry. And even then it's risky. [[spoiler: Just ask Zanbar Bone.]]

* DentedIron: All these years of adventuring left a heavy toll on him, hence his insistence on being left alone.
* DisintegratorRay: He can fire a very powerful beam of light that obliterates the target in a puff of purple smoke.

* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Good, He is seen smoking a pipe Gandalf-style on the illustration.

* HealingHands: He heals you in ''Dungeoneer'' if you need it.

* HeroicNeutral: He retired to Port Blacksand specifically to live his last years in peace and wants to be left alone, but he ''will'' help against dire enough threats. Then again, his advanced age prevents him from doing much than providing guidance and advice. ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' reveals that he sometimes intervenes in favour of the oppressed.
* HolographicDisguise: He uses a magical variant whenever he needs to venture into town, wearing a bewitched cloak that gives him the aspect of a hideous, monstrous humanoid with red eyes and green skin, whom people would avoid. He uses it to speak to you in ''The Gates of Death'' and gives it to you for you to escape the city without troubles.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Unapproachable rather than outright unpleasant, but he still qualifies. He does not take kindly to strangers and hates being disturbed. But he is a noble and caring man at heart, and still willing to do the right thing.

* MagicalAccessory: Averted. He wears a fancy golden medaillon (same colour as his robes on the picture), but it is just that, a fancy trinket.

* ManInWhite: A benevolent example. In ''The Gates of Death'' he is clad entirely in pure white and is very benevolent, helping you escape the guards and providing you useful potion and a disguise to exit Port Blacksand undetected.

* MacGuffinGuardian: He can becomes this at the end of ''Dungeoneer'', offering to keep watch of the Crystal of Power that was instrumental to kill [[EvilSorcerer Xortan Throg]]. At the end of ''Blacksand'', he insists that you give him the TomeOfEldritchLore you took from the [[ApocalypseCult Elimists]] for it is too dangerous.
** If your refuse to part with said TomeOfEldritchLore, next time you try to read it you find out that [[{{Troll}} he bewitched it to read mere songs and folk tales about overconfident adventurers who ended up dropped in a river]]. Doing so, he both neutralizes the evil book and [[TricksterMentor teaches you a lesson]].
* MercyKill: As soon as [[RelegatedMentor Brother Tobyn]] succumbs to the [[TheVirus Demon Plague]] and turns into a bloodthirsty monster, Nicodemus obliterates him with a DisintegratorRay, knowing that even if you healed him, the wound that infected him would have killed him painfully and that he was doomed anyway.

** TechnicolorFire: The most powerful spell he can cast is the Ring of White Fire, that traps powerful evil beings, [[DePower breaks their dark powers and leave them vulnerable to common weapons]]. [[spoiler: It is so powerful that it works on DemonLordsAndArchdevils, and is your only way to stand a chance against Zanbar Bone in ''The Port of Peril''.]]

* RetiredBadass: Was once a great adventurer, but has left that life behind. He agrees to assist the main character of ''City of Thieves'' because they're working for his old adventuring partner Owen Caraliff and in ''Dungeoneer'' because he is requested by the King of Salamonis he used to teach. In later cases, the threat either targets him directly or is too big to ignore, forcing him into the fray.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Is ''very'' similar to Yaztromo, if a good deal less approachable.

* TookALevelInKindness: He is nothing but polite and helpful in ''The Port of Peril''. Justified since you saved his life and have a very good reason to ask for his help.
** In ''The Gates of Death'' he goes out of his way to actively seek you, the only hope of saving Titan from TheVirus, and is nothing but generous and benevolent. [[TooDumbToLive Unless you're stupid enough to attack him.]]

** In ''The Gates of Death'' he goes out of his way to actively seek you, the only hope of saving Titan from TheVirus, and is nothing but wise, generous and benevolent. [[TooDumbToLive Just don't attack him or you know what will happen.]]

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: He is known and highly respected pretty much worldwide for his wisdom, his generosity, his kindness and his vast knowledge and power.

* BadassInDistress: In ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' he gets captured by a demon summoned by Razaak and you save him from being sacrificed. Ironically, his foe was very weak but immune to all magic and normal weapons, putting him through TheWorfEffect despite his superior firepower.

* BadassTeacher: He teaches you spells at the beginning of ''Temple of Terror''. Better, ''Eye of the Dragon'' mentions in passing that he has become the Grand Master of the Magic School of the Forest of Yore, where he himself learnt magic many decades ago.

** In ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' you play one of his old friends who seeks his advice on the current crisis. He sends you on your quest, monitors your progress and directs you to useful allies throughout the story, sends you messengers with vital info, [[spoiler: And saves you from the curse of the EvilWeapon you had to wield to slay Razaak at the end of the game.]] Though there is an instance in which you must save him.
** As soon as you meet him in ''The Port of Peril'', to warn him that Zanbar Bone targets him, he takes matters in hand. He starts monitoring your quest, providing you shelter, intel, gold, power boosts of your choosing, direction, and even his stallion Stormheart, sending you to Port Blacksand while he heals your [[RequiredPartyMember travelling partner]]. He even plays a vital role during the FinalBattle, healing you, fending off Zanbar Bones's {{Mooks}}, and even [[spoiler:saving your life and advising Nicodemus to cast the spell that can DePower Bone and make him vulnerable for you to strike.]]

* BalefulPolymorph: He turns would-be thieves and attackers into animals. He ''does'' seem a little more forgiving than Nicodemus however; in ''The Forest of Doom'' you encounter a man whom he turned into a crow, who not only retains his intelligence and ability to speak, but says that Yatztromo will turn him back into a human if he can come up with thirty gold pieces.
* BashBrothers: With Nicodemus during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', in which they back you up with spells, and mow down [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]]'s skeleton warriors. [[spoiler: He even advises Nicodemus on how to neutralize the Bone himself.]]

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In his first appearance in ''Forest of Doom'', he is described as wearing tattered rags, easily tired by merely climbing the stairs of his tower, and apparently lacking money. He is not even that grumpy! He would gain the traits he is most known for in latter books, in which he is described wearing lavish robes, being well-off enough to give you handfuls of gold coins without second thoughts, quite fit for his age, grouchy and loving cakes, and no longer selling you trinkets, though it is said he still does it when not busy helping save the world.

* CurbStompBattle: Barring the high-tiers of the ''Fighting Fantasy'' universe, and even then, anyone picking a fight with this guy is sure to suffer a crushing, humiliating defeat [[BalefulPolymorph and spend some time as an animal]], if he feels generous... This includes you.

** Ironically, he suffers a painful one in turn in ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'', and to add insult to injury against a pathetically weak skill 6 stamina 6 foe. Albeit a pathetically weak foe impervious to magic, meaning he was subjected to WorfHadTheFlu, to save his honour.

* DreamWalker: He can enter the Dreamtime to reach someone's dream, even someone as far as in Khul hundreds of miles away, though the farther he reaches, the harder it gets and the shorter he can stay.

* {{Familiar}}: His aforementioned raven Vermithrax, who can talk and serves as his messenger.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: He is a defender of the forest, in excellent terms with the elves and the dwarves all around. He is widely liked by birds and animals all over, who keep him informed of everything that happens in Allansia.
* GrumpyBear: His grouchy attitude is such a consistent part of him that it is actually a plot point in ''Return to Firetop Mountain'' where [[spoiler:his appearance as a kindly old man is a clue you are dealing with an impostor.]] That said, he is still more personable than Nicodemus.

* HeroOfAnotherStory: He lived many unspecified adventures in his prime, that were doubtless as perillous as yours. It is stated in the books that he helped banish the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Demon Lord Rivel]], a being on par with the Snake Demons themselves.

* MagmaMan: He masters the very powerful Volcano Spell, and saves your life with it during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', destroying the millions of flying insects summoned by Zanbar Bone.

* MrExposition: [[MemeticMutation He is an endless barrel of exposition!]] If there is a poster boy for the trope in the franchise, it's Gereth Yaztromo.
* OldMaster: Very old but still considerably powerful. Hard to picture how formidable he was in his prime.

* ShopKeeper: Played with, as he does keeps a shop, but being a wizard he only sells potions and magical trinkets. Very useful ones at that.
* SimpleStaff: He carries one, but its just that, a walking aid for his old bones. He can spellcast just fine one his own.

* BerserkButton: Nicodemus hates being disturbed for petty grievances or pleas for solving minor troubles he could not care any less about, bewitching anyone foolish enough to try.

-> '''Appears in:''' ''[[Literature/CityOfThieves1983 City of Thieves]]'' | ''Literature/CavernsOfTheSnowWitch'' (mentioned only) | ''Literature/MidnightRogue'' (cameo) | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' (mentioned only) | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''The Gates of Death'' | ''Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World'' | ''Blacksand'' | ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy: Dungeoneer''

One of the most powerful and famous benevolent wizards to ever dwell Titan, and a former adventurer winning many victories against the forces of evil, among which preventing the resurrection of three highly powerful necromancers called the Dark Ones. After a lifetime of adventures, he has retired from the world to the infamous [[WretchedHive Port Blacksand]], hoping to avoid people coming to beg for his help and live his remaining years in peace and tranquillity.

In ''City of Thieves'', you must search for him to learn how to defeat [[OurLichesAreDifferent Zanbar Bone]], who is revealed AllThereInTheManual to be his old {{Archenemy}}. [[spoiler: In ''The Port of Peril'' he is drugged and thrown to jail by order of [[ShadowDictator Lord Azzur]], and you must save him and take him with you to help against a resurrected Zanbar Bone.]] In ''The Gates of Death'', he helps you escape after you get stranded in Port Blacksand, carrying potion that can heal [[TheVirus the Demon Plague]] threatening all of Titan, and provides you with helpful potions.

* AbsentMindedProfessor: In ''City of Thieves'', he might be the only one who knows how to destroy [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]], but he forgot crucial details until the last moment. [[spoiler: To be precise, what ingredients to grind to make the compound that can kill him.]] He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it the letter he sends you, stating that he fears to have grown too old to be of real help to anyone.

** BrokenAce: Let's just say that a lifetime of death-defying heroics has taken its toll, making him bitter and lonely.

* BadassGrandpa: Like is fellow Star Pupils, he might be well past his prime, but he is still an immensely powerful and knowledgeable wizard. Even in such a WretchedHive like Port Blacksand, from the corrupt City Guard, the ThievesGuild or even the scoundrels of the city, no one would dare getting on his bad side. Considering that other powerful wizards are captured by Lord Azzur's agent and tortured to powerlessness to prevent them from threatening his rule, that's saying something. [[spoiler: Until Lord Azzur is NeutralNoLonger that is. And even he, who is TheDreaded, avoids direct confrontation.]]

* BarrierWarrior: He can cast a Barrier Spell potent enough to block several crossbow bolts at once.

* CurbStompBattle: Anytime a foolhardy hero is dumb enough to attack him, they suffer this by BalefulPolymorph and NonStandardGameOver. Seriously, unless you are [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Snake Demon]] level, just '''don't''' make this guy angry. And even then it's risky. [[spoiler: Just ask Zanbar Bone.]]

* HeroicNeutral: He retired to Port Blacksand specifically to avoid people pestering him to solve their problems in their stead, and wants to be left alone, but he ''will'' help against dire enough threats. Then again, his advanced age prevents him from doing much than providing guidance and advice. ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' reveals that he sometimes intervenes in favour of the oppressed.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Unapproachable rather than outright unpleasant, but he still qualifies. He does not take kindly to strangers and hates being disturbed for petty grievances he has no interest in. But he is a noble and caring man at heart, and still willing to do the right thing.

* RetiredBadass: Was once a great adventurer, but has left that life behind. He agrees to assist the main character of City of Thieves because they're working for his old adventuring partner Owen Caraliff. In later cases, the threat either targets him directly or is too big to ignore, forcing him into the fray.

** In ''The Gates of Death'' he goes out of his way to actively seek you, the only hope of saving Titan from TheVirus, and is nothing but wise, helpful and benevolent. [[TooDumbToLive Just don't attack him or you know what will happen.]]

-> '''Appears in:''' ''[[Literature/CityOfThieves1983 City of Thieves]]'' | ''Literature/MidnightRogue'' (cameo) | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' (mentioned only) | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''The Gates of Death'' | ''Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World'' | ''Blacksand'' | ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy: Dungeoneer''

One of the most powerful and famous benevolent wizards to ever dwell Titan, and a former adventurer winning many victories against the forces of evil, among which preventing the resurrection of the Dark Ones: three considerably powerful necromancers. After a lifetime of adventures, he has retired from the world to the infamous [[WretchedHive Port Blacksand]], hoping to avoid people coming to beg for his help and live his remaining years in peace and tranquillity.

In ''City of Thieves'', you must search for him to learn how to defeat [[OurLichesAreDifferent Zanbar Bone]]. In ''The Port of Peril'' he is drugged and thrown to jail by order of [[ShadowDictator Lord Azzur]], and you must save him and take him with you to help against a resurrected Zanbar Bone. In ''The Gates of Death'', he helps you escape after you get stranded in Port Blacksand, carrying potion that can heal [[TheVirus the Demon Plague]] threatening all of Titan, and provides you with helpful potions.

* AbsentMindedProfessor: In ''City of Thieves'', he might be the only one who knows how to destroy [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]], but he forgot crucial details until the last moment. [[spoiler: To be precise, what ingredients to grind to make the compound that can kill him.]] He lampshades it the letter he sends you, stating that he fears he has grown too old to be of real help to anyone.

** BrokenAce: Let's just say that a life-time of death-defying heroics has taken its toll.

* BadassGrandpa: Like Yaztromo, he might be well past his prime, but he is still an immensely powerful and knowledgeable wizard. Even in such a WretchedHive like Port Blacksand, from the corrupt City Guard, the ThievesGuild or even the scoundrels of the city, no one would dare getting on his bad side. Considering that other powerful wizards are captured by Lord Azzur's agent and tortured to powerlessness to prevent them from threatening his rule, that's saying something. [[spoiler: Until Lord Azzur is NeutralNoLonger that is. And even he, who is TheDreaded, avoids direct confrontation.]]

* BalefulPolymorph: One of his favourite spells to dispose of people dumb enough to attack him is turning them into fishes and throwing them into the heavily polluted Catfish River (''Blacksand'' even comes with an illustration of him doing this to an adventurer.)

* RetiredBadass: Was once a great adventurer, but has left that life behind. He agrees to assist the main character of City of Thieves because they're working for his old adventuring partner Owen Caraliff.

* CurbStompBattle: Barring the high-tiers of the ''Fighting Fantasy'' universe, anyone picking a fight with this guy is sure to suffer a crushing, humiliating defeat [[BalefulPolymorph and spend some time as an animal]], if he feels generous... This includes you.

** Ironically, he suffers a painful one in turn in ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'', and to add insult to injury against a pathetically weak skill 6 stamina 6 foe. Albeit a pathetically weak foe impervious to magic to save his honour.
** Millions of venomous insects magically summoned? [[MagmaMan Volcano Spell]] to make them explode, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch!]]

** Millions of venomous insects magically summoned? [[MagmaMan Volcano Spell]] to make them explode, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBithch bitch!]]

* SpecksOfAwesome: He wears half-moon spectacles and is a grade A BadassGrandpa and CoolOldGuy.

* CurbStompBattle: Anytime a foolhardy hero is dumb enough to attack him, they suffer this by BalefulPolymorph and NonStandardGameOver.
** Nicodemus versus a [[ViralTransformation demonified]] Brother Tobyn ended before it even began [[DisintegratorRay in a puff of smoke]]. Seriously, unless you are Snake Demon level, don't make this guy angry.

* SimpleStaff: He carries one in ''The Port of Peril''.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gereth_yaztromo_7.jpg]]

* HeroOfAnotherStory: He lived many unspecified adventures in his prime, that were doubtless as perillous as yours. It is stated in the books that he helped banish the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Demon Lord Rivel]], a being on par with the Snake Demons themselves.

* GrumpyOldMan: When spoken to, his first reflex is to grumble and loudly complain about the ruckus you cause or something else... Only later will he listen to what you have to say and lend a hand.
* HealingHands: He is not as good as his friend Pen Ty Kora, aptly titled The Healer, but he ended a plague caused by Zagor in ''Return to Firetop Mountain'' and Sargon in ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy'', and gives you a useful HealingPotion in ''Crypt of the Sorcerer.'' Among other feats...
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Of many other stories to be precise. Sadly, they remain to be told in detail.

* MagmaMan: He masters the very powerful Volcano Spell [[spoiler: And saves your life with it during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', destroying the millions of flying insects summoned by Zanbar Bone.]]

[[folder:Gereth Yaztromo]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gereth_yaztromo_7.jpg]]
->'''Appears in:''' ''Literature/TheForestOfDoom'' | ''Literature/TempleOfTerror'' | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' | ''Literature/PhantomsOfFear'' |''The Trolltooth Wars'' | ''Demonstealer'' | ''Shadowmaster'' | ''Literature/ReturnToFiretopMountain'' | ''Literature/LegendOfZagor'' | ''The Zagor Chronicles'' | ''Allansia'' | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''Eye of the Dragon'' (cameo)

A crotchety old wizard who lives in a tower close to Darkwood Forest and makes a living selling magical trinkets. Behind his grumpy old man persona, he is a tireless foe of evil. You will meet him in many gamebooks, either as a {{Cameo}} or playing a significant role, but always a reliable source of help and wisdom.

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: He is known and highly respected pretty much worldwide for his wisdom, his generosity, his kindness and his vast knowledge and power.

* TheArchmage: He is one of the most powerful and accomplished wizards Titan ever knew.

[[folder: Arakor Nicodemus]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arakor_nicodemus.jpg]]
-> '''Appears in:''' ''[[Literature/CityOfThieves1983 City of Thieves]]'' | ''Literature/MidnightRogue'' (cameo) | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' (mentioned only) | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''The Gates of Death'' | ''Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World'' | ''Blacksand'' | ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy: Dungeoneer''

One of the most powerful and famous benevolent wizards to ever dwell Titan, and a former adventurer winning many victories against the forces of evil, among which preventing the resurrection of the Dark Ones: three considerably powerful necromancers. After a lifetime of adventures, he has retired from the world to the infamous [[WretchedHive Port Blacksand]], hoping to avoid people coming to beg for his help and live his remaining years in peace and tranquillity.

In ''City of Thieves'', you must search for him to learn how to defeat [[OurLichesAreDifferent Zanbar Bone]]. In ''The Port of Peril'' he is drugged and thrown to jail by order of [[ShadowDictator Lord Azzur]], and you must save him and take him with you to help against a resurrected Zanbar Bone. In ''The Gates of Death'', he helps you escape after you get stranded in Port Blacksand, carrying potion that can heal [[TheVirus the Demon Plague]] threatening all of Titan, and provides you with helpful potions.

* AbsentMindedProfessor: In ''City of Thieves'', he might be the only one who knows how to destroy [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]], but he forgot crucial details until the last moment. [[spoiler: To be precise, what ingredients to grind to make the compound that can kill him.]] He lampshades it the letter he sends you, stating that he fears he has grown too old to be of real help to anyone.
* TheAce: He was this in his younger days, being the son of wealthy merchant and a ChildProdigy of immense potential, among the very best students of the best WizardingSchool of Allansia, who grew up to be a highly famous and respected wizard.
** BrokenAce: Let's just say that a life-time of death-defying heroics has taken its toll.
* TheAloner: He wants to be left alone, and woe betide anyone who disturbs him without a very good reason, or worse, [[TooDumbToLive try to bully him.]]
* AllThereInTheManual: Much of his background is filled out in ''Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World''.
* TheArchmage: One of the most powerful, experienced and accomplished wizards Titan ever knew.
* BadassBeard: Long, white and flowing.
* BadassGrandpa: Like Yaztromo, he might be well past his prime, but he is still an immensely powerful and knowledgeable wizard. Even in such a WretchedHive like Port Blacksand, from the corrupt City Guard, the ThievesGuild or even the scoundrels of the city, no one would dare getting on his bad side. Considering that other powerful wizards are captured by Lord Azzur's agent and tortured to powerlessness to prevent them from threatening his rule, that's saying something. [[spoiler: Until Lord Azzur is NeutralNoLonger that is. And even he, who is TheDreaded, avoids direct confrontation.]]
* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler: In ''The Port of Peril'' Lord Azzur sends his [[TheDragon main agent]] kidnap him by drugging his drinking water and sending him in the Governor's palace's jail to be executed. You must sneak into the jail to free him.]]
* BadassLonghair: To go with his BadassBeard and the WizardClassic looks.
* BadassLongrobe: A given for a wizard in a Fantasy setting.
* BalefulPolymorph: One of his favourite spells to dispose of people dumb enough to attack him is turning them into fishes and throwing them into the heavily polluted Catfish River (''Blacksand'' even comes with an illustration of him doing this to an adventurer.)
* BarrierWarrior: He can cast a Barrier Spell potent enough to block several crossbow bolts at once.
* BashBrothers: With Yaztromo [[spoiler: during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', in which they back you up with spells, mow down Zanbar Bone's skeleton warriors, and even neutralizing Bone himself upon advice from Yaztromo.]]
* BigGood: He might be grumpy and forgetful, but he is nonetheless the mightiest force of Good in ''City of Thieves'', and you cannot win without his guidance.
** He shares this role with [[HighPriest Alestiss the High Priestess of Throff]], being the greatest force of good guiding you on your quest to defeat [[BigBad Ulrakaah]] in ''The Gates of Death''.
* TheCameo: In ''Midnight Rogue'' you can decide to search for the McGuffin in his house. If you know what's good for you, you'd better leave at once. If you feel TooDumbToLive, try run past him and rush inside. Go ahead. Come on, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong
** In ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'', you meet a scholar that was blinded and tortured in the jails of Port Blacksand, [[spoiler: who provides a vital clue to defeat Razaak]], who explains that he was freed by intervention of Nicodemus.
* DentedIron: All these years of adventuring left a heavy toll on him, hence his insistence on being left alone.
* DisintegratorRay: He can fire a very powerful beam of light that obliterates the target in a puff of purple smoke.
* FamedInStory: He is famous throughout Allansia and the world of Titan. A bit disliked due to his harsher approach, yet still highly respected by anyone aside from evil beings.
* GuestStarPartyMember: In ''The Port of Peril'' you rescue him and bring him to Yaztromo's tower, where he is needed for the FinalBattle. Against his old {{Archenemy}} no less. He uses powerful spells that save the day several times.
* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Good, He is seen smoking a pipe Gandalf-style on the illustration.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: His battles against the Dark Ones would have made a fine gamebook setting.
* HeroicNeutral: He retired to Port Blacksand specifically to avoid people pestering him to solve their problems in their stead, and wants to be left alone, but he ''will'' help against dire enough threats. Then again, his advanced age prevents him from doing much than providing guidance and advice. ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' reveals that he sometimes intervenes in favour of the oppressed.
* HolographicDisguise: He uses a magical variant whenever he needs to venture into town, wearing a bewitched cloak that gives him the aspect of a hideous, monstrous humanoid with red eyes and green skin, whom people would avoid. He uses it to speak to you in ''The Gates of Death'' and gives it to you for you to escape the city without troubles.
* ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest: In ''The Gates of Death'', he gives you four powerful potions that can help you against a specific threat each, stating that when the time comes YouWillKnowWhatToDo.
* ItsPersonal: With Zanbar Bone. The backstory explains that they knew each other from their days in the WizardingSchool, and staunchly hated each other. One night, he witnessed Bone murder a female elven student named Ellanor, and was nearly killed in the ensuing WizardDuel, only owing his life to Vermithrax Moonchaser. They are implied to have faced off for the following decades until ''City and Thieves'' when you came along. [[spoiler: They settle their score in an epic fashion in the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril''.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Unapproachable rather than outright unpleasant, but he still qualifies. He does not take kindly to strangers and hates being disturbed for petty grievances he has no interest in. But he is a noble and caring man at heart, and still willing to do the right thing.
* LivingMacGuffin: In both ''City of Thieves'' and ''The Port of Peril''. For the exact same reason in both, as only him can help defeat Zanbar Bone.
* MagicKnight: In his prime, he was a fearsome warrior in addition to his huge mastery of magic.
* MagicStaff: He is seen with one on the illustration, but the narration never mentions it.
* ManInWhite: A benevolent example. In ''The Gates of Death'' he is clad entirely in pure white and is very benevolent, helping you escape the guards and providing you useful potion and a disguise to exit Port Blacksand undetected.
* MasterSwordsman: Back in his adventuring days.
* MercyKill: As soon as [[RelegatedMentor Brother Tobyn]] succumbs to the [[TheVirus Demon Plague]] and turns into a bloodthirsty monster, Nicodemus obliterates him with a DisintegratorRay, knowing that even if you healed him, the wound that infected him would have killed him painfully and that he was doomed anyway.
* OldMaster: Very old but considerably powerful.
* PlayingWithFire: He seems adept in fire magic, casting a flurry of {{Fireballs}} in his backstory, and casting powerful Fire Spells against the BigBad in ''The Port of Peril''.
** TechnicolorFire: The most powerful spell he can cast is the Ring of White Fire, that traps powerful evil beings, [[DePower breaks their dark powers and leave them vulnerable to common weapons]]. [[spoiler: It is so powerful that it works on DemonLordsAndArchdevils, and is your only way to stand a chance against Zanbar Bone in ''The Port of Peril''.]]
* RingOfPower: The Ring of Burning Snakes, the McGuffin of ''The Port of Peril'' used to belong to him. It is a very potent power-amplifier that Nicodemus needs to cast his mightiest magic. [[spoiler: He must have it for the FinalBattle, or else you are doomed.]]
* RobeAndWizardHat: See WizardClassic below.
* RetiredBadass: Was once a great adventurer, but has left that life behind. He agrees to assist the main character of City of Thieves because they're working for his old adventuring partner Owen Caraliff.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Is ''very'' similar to Yaztromo, if a good deal less approachable.
* TookALevelInKindness: He is nothing but polite and helpful in ''The Port of Peril''. Justified since you saved his life and have a very good reason to ask for his help.
** In ''The Gates of Death'' he goes out of his way to actively seek you, the only hope of saving Titan from TheVirus, and is nothing but wise, helpful and benevolent. [[TooDumbToLive Just don't attack him or you know what will happen.]]
* WizardClassic: Even more so than Yaztromo, he actually has the hat.
[[/folder]]

!!Currently Active

[[folder:Pen Ty Kora]]
'''Appears in''': ''Literature/CavernsOfTheSnowWitch''
[[/folder]]

!!Retired

A crotchety old wizard who lives in a tower close to Darkwood Forest and makes a living selling magical trinkets. Behind his grumpy old man persona, he is a tireless foe of evil. You willeet him in many gamebooks, either as a {{Cameo}} or playing a significant role, but always a reliable source of help and wisdom.

* BadassBoast: In ''The Port of Peril'', upon learning that [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]] is after him, wanting to take over his tower, his only answer is basically "Just let him try and see who gets the last laugh!", complete with insults, without the slightest trace of fear.
-->'''Yaztromo''': If that piece of skeletal detritus thinks he is going to take over my tower, then he has another thing coming!

* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler: In ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' he gets captured by a demon summoned by Razaak and you save him from being sacrificed.]] Ironically, his foe was very weak but immune to all magic and normal weapons, putting him through TheWorfEffect despite his superior firepower.

* BadassTeacher: He teaches you useful spells at the beginning of ''Temple of Terror''. Better, ''Eye of the Dragon'' mentions in passing that he has become the Grand Master of the Magic School of the Forest of Yore, where he himself learnt magic many decades ago.

** As soon as you meet him in ''The Port of Peril'', to warn him that Zanbar Bone targets him, he takes matters in hand. He starts monitoring your quest, providing you shelter, intel, gold, power boosts of your choosing, direction, and even his stallion Stormheart, sending you to Port Blacksand while he heals you’re travelling partner. He even plays a vital role during the FinalBattle, healing you, fending off Zanbar Bones's {{Mooks}}, and even [[spoiler:saving your life and advising Nicodemus to cast the spell that can DePower Bone and make him vulnerable for you to strike.]]

* BashBrothers: With Nicodemus [[spoiler: during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', in which they back you up with spells, and mow down Zanbar Bone's skeleton warriors. He even advises Nicodemus on how to neutralize the Big Bad himself.]]

** One of his most notable is in ''Literature/Phantoms of Fear'', a book set on Khul, a continent far away from his Allansian dwelling, as he [[DreamWalker enters your dreams]] to advise you on the BigBad [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Ishtra]].
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In his first appearance in ''Forest of Doom'', he is described as wearing tattered rags, easily tired by merely climbing the stairs of his tower, and apparently lacking money. He is not even that grumpy! He would gain the traits he is most known for in latter books, in which he is described wearing lavish robes, being well-off enough to give you handfuls of gold coins, quite fit for his age, grouchy and loving cakes, and no longer selling trinkets.
* CoolPet: He has two, his raven Vermithrax, who is also his familiar, and his stallion Stormheart.
* CoolOldGuy: GrumpyBear tendencies aside, he is pretty chill to hang out with. He is a gracious host, who enjoys a nice party. Mostly why he gets along so well with the dwarves in fact.
* DreamWalker: He can enter the Dreamtime to reach someone's dream, even someone as far as in Khul hundreds of miles away, though the farther he reaches, the harder it gets.

* GrumpyOldMan: When spoken to, his first reflex is to grumble and complain about the ruckus you cause or something else... Only later will he listen to what you have to say and lend a hand.

* OldMaster: Very old but considerably powerful.

* TheRedMage: In addition to the obvious, he is equally adept as a support for you with healing magic and power boosts, as he is as decimating the enemy's ranks with his deadly spells.

->'''Appears in:''' ''Literature/TheForestOfDoom'' | ''Literature/TempleOfTerror'' | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' | ''Literature/PhantomsOfFear'' |''The Trolltooth Wars'' | ''Demonstealer'' | ''Shadowmaster'' | ''Literature/ReturnToFiretopMountain'' | ''Legend of Zagor'' | ''The Zagor Chronicles'' | ''Allansia'' | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''Eye of the Dragon'' (cameo)

->'''Appears in:''' ''Literature/TheForestOfDoom'' | ''Literature/TempleOfTerror'' | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' | ''Literature/PhantomsOfFear'' |''The Trolltooth Wars'' | ''Demonstealer'' | ''Shadowmaster'' | ''Literature/ReturnToFiretopMountain'' | ''Legend of Zagor'' | ''The Zagor Chronicles'' | ''Allansia'' | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''Eye of the Dragon'' (mentioned only)

** He shares this role with [[HighPriest Alestiss the High Priestess of Throff]], being the greatest force of good guiding you on your quest to defeat [[BigBad Ulrakaahy]] in ''The Gates of Death''.

!!Active

!!(Semi-) Retired

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pen Ty Kora]]
'''Appears in''': ''Literature/CavernsOfTheSnowWitch''

[[folder: Arakor Nicodemus]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arakor_nicodemus.jpg]]
-> '''Appears in:''' ''[[Literature/CityOfThieves1983 City of Thieves]]'' | ''Literature/MidnightRogue'' (cameo) | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' (mentioned only) | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''The Gates of Death'' | ''Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World'' | ''Blacksand'' | ''Advanced Fighting Fantasy: Dungeoneer''

One of the most powerful and famous benevolent wizards to ever dwell Titan, and a former adventurer winning many victories against the forces of evil, among which preventing the resurrection of the Dark Ones: three considerably powerful necromancers. After a lifetime of adventures, he has retired from the world to the infamous [[WretchedHive Port Blacksand]], hoping to avoid people coming to beg for his help and live his remaining years in peace and tranquillity.

In ''City of Thieves'', you must search for him to learn how to defeat [[OurLichesAreDifferent Zanbar Bone]]. In ''The Port of Peril'' he is drugged and thrown to jail by order of [[ShadowDictator Lord Azzur]], and you must save him and take him with you to help against a resurrected Zanbar Bone. In ''The Gates of Death'', he helps you escape after you get stranded in Port Blacksand, carrying potion that can heal [[TheVirus the Demon Plague]] threatening all of Titan, and provides you with helpful potions.

* AbsentMindedProfessor: In ''City of Thieves'', he might be the only one who knows how to destroy [[BigBad Zanbar Bone]], but he forgot crucial details until the last moment. [[spoiler: To be precise, what ingredients to grind to make the compound that can kill him.]] He lampshades it the letter he sends you, stating that he fears he has grown too old to be of real help to anyone.
* TheAce: He was this in his younger days, being the son of wealthy merchant and a ChildProdigy of immense potential, among the very best students of the best WizardingSchool of Allansia, who grew up to be a highly famous and respected wizard.
** BrokenAce: Let's just say that a life-time of death-defying heroics has taken its toll.
* TheAloner: He wants to be left alone, and woe betide anyone who disturbs him without a very good reason, or worse, [[TooDumbToLive try to bully him.]]

* TheArchmage: One of the most powerful, experienced and accomplished wizards Titan ever knew.

* BadassGrandpa: Like Yaztromo, he might be well past his prime, but he is still an immensely powerful and knowledgeable wizard. Even in such a WretchedHive like Port Blacksand, from the corrupt City Guard, the ThievesGuild or even the scoundrels of the city, no one would dare getting on his bad side. Considering that other powerful wizards are captured by Lord Azzur's agent and tortured to powerlessness to prevent them from threatening his rule, that's saying something. [[spoiler: Until Lord Azzur is NeutralNoLonger that is. And even he, who is TheDreaded, avoids direct confrontation.]]
* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler: In ''The Port of Peril'' Lord Azzur sends his [[TheDragon main agent]] kidnap him by drugging his drinking water and sending him in the Governor's palace's jail to be executed. You must sneak into the jail to free him.]]
* BadassLonghair: To go with his BadassBeard and the WizardClassic looks.
* BadassLongrobe: A given for a wizard in a Fantasy setting.
* BalefulPolymorph: One of his favourite spells to dispose of people dumb enough to attack him is turning them into fishes and throwing them into the heavily polluted Catfish River (''Blacksand'' even comes with an illustration of him doing this to an adventurer.)
* BarrierWarrior: He can cast a Barrier Spell potent enough to block several crossbow bolts at once.
* BashBrothers: With Yaztromo [[spoiler: during the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril'', in which they back you up with spells, mow down Zanbar Bone's skeleton warriors, and even neutralizing Bone himself upon advice from Yaztromo.]]
* BigGood: He might be grumpy and forgetful, but he is nonetheless the mightiest force of Good in ''City of Thieves'', and you cannot win without his guidance.
** He shares this role with [[HighPriest Alestiss the High Priestess of Throff]], being the greatest force of good guiding you on your quest to defeat [[BigBad Ulrakaahy]] in ''The Gates of Death''.
* TheCameo: In ''Midnight Rogue'' you can decide to search for the McGuffin in his house. If you know what's good for you, you'd better leave at once. If you feel TooDumbToLive, try run past him and rush inside. Go ahead. Come on, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong
** In ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'', you meet a scholar that was blinded and tortured in the jails of Port Blacksand, [[spoiler: who provides a vital clue to defeat Razaak]], who explains that he was freed by intervention of Nicodemus.
* DentedIron: All these years of adventuring left a heavy toll on him, hence his insistence on being left alone.
* DisintegratorRay: He can fire a very powerful beam of light that obliterates the target in a puff of purple smoke.
* FamedInStory: He is famous throughout Allansia and the world of Titan. A bit disliked due to his harsher approach, yet still highly respected by anyone aside from evil beings.
* GuestStarPartyMember: In ''The Port of Peril'' you rescue him and bring him to Yaztromo's tower, where he is needed for the FinalBattle. Against his old {{Archenemy}} no less. He uses powerful spells that save the day several times.
* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Good, He is seen smoking a pipe Gandalf-style on the illustration.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: His battles against the Dark Ones would have made a fine gamebook setting.
* HeroicNeutral: He retired to Port Blacksand specifically to avoid people pestering him to solve their problems in their stead, and wants to be left alone, but he ''will'' help against dire enough threats. Then again, his advanced age prevents him from doing much than providing guidance and advice. ''Crypt of the Sorcerer'' reveals that he sometimes intervenes in favour of the oppressed.
* HolographicDisguise: He uses a magical variant whenever he needs to venture into town, wearing a bewitched cloak that gives him the aspect of a hideous, monstrous humanoid with red eyes and green skin, whom people would avoid. He uses it to speak to you in ''The Gates of Death'' and gives it to you for you to escape the city without troubles.
* ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest: In ''The Gates of Death'', he gives you four powerful potions that can help you against a specific threat each, stating that when the time comes YouWillKnowWhatToDo.
* ItsPersonal: With Zanbar Bone. The backstory explains that they knew each other from their days in the WizardingSchool, and staunchly hated each other. One night, he witnessed Bone murder a female elven student named Ellanor, and was nearly killed in the ensuing WizardDuel, only owing his life to Vermithrax Moonchaser. They are implied to have faced off for the following decades until ''City and Thieves'' when you came along. [[spoiler: They settle their score in an epic fashion in the FinalBattle of ''The Port of Peril''.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Unapproachable rather than outright unpleasant, but he still qualifies. He does not take kindly to strangers and hates being disturbed for petty grievances he has no interest in. But he is a noble and caring man at heart, and still willing to do the right thing.
* LivingMacGuffin: In both ''City of Thieves'' and ''The Port of Peril''. For the exact same reason in both, as only him can help defeat Zanbar Bone.
* MagicKnight: In his prime, he was a fearsome warrior in addition to his huge mastery of magic.
* MagicStaff: He is seen with one on the illustration, but the narration never mentions it.
* ManInWhite: A benevolent example. In ''The Gates of Death'' he is clad entirely in pure white and is very benevolent, helping you escape the guards and providing you useful potion and a disguise to exit Port Blacksand undetected.
* MasterSwordsman: Back in his adventuring days.
* MercyKill: As soon as [[RelegatedMentor Brother Tobyn]] succumbs to the [[TheVirus Demon Plague]] and turns into a bloodthirsty monster, Nicodemus obliterates him with a DisintegratorRay, knowing that even if you healed him, the wound that infected him would have killed him painfully and that he was doomed anyway.
* OldMaster: Very old but considerably powerful.
* PlayingWithFire: He seems adept in fire magic, casting a flurry of {{Fireballs}} in his backstory, and casting powerful Fire Spells against the BigBad in ''The Port of Peril''.
** TechnicolorFire: The most powerful spell he can cast is the Ring of White Fire, that traps powerful evil beings, [[DePower breaks their dark powers and leave them vulnerable to common weapons]]. [[spoiler: It is so powerful that it works on DemonLordsAndArchdevils, and is your only way to stand a chance against Zanbar Bone in ''The Port of Peril''.]]
* RingOfPower: The Ring of Burning Snakes, the McGuffin of ''The Port of Peril'' used to belong to him. It is a very potent power-amplifier that Nicodemus needs to cast his mightiest magic. [[spoiler: He must have it for the FinalBattle, or else you are doomed.]]
* RobeAndWizardHat: See WizardClassic below.
* RetiredBadass: Was once a great adventurer, but has left that life behind. He agrees to assist the main character of City of Thieves because they're working for his old adventuring partner Owen Caraliff.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Is ''very'' similar to Yaztromo, if a good deal less approachable.
* TookALevelInKindness: He is nothing but polite and helpful in ''The Port of Peril''. Justified since you saved his life and have a very good reason to ask for his help.
** In ''The Gates of Death'' he goes out of his way to actively seek you, the only hope of saving Titan from TheVirus, and is nothing but wise, helpful and benevolent. [[TooDumbToLive Just don't attack him or you know what will happen.]]
* WizardClassic: Even more so than Yaztromo, he actually has the hat.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gereth Yaztromo]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gereth_yaztromo_7.jpg]]
->'''Appears in:''' ''Literature/TheForestOfDoom'' | ''Literature/TempleOfTerror'' | ''Literature/CryptOfTheSorcerer'' | ''Literature/PhantomsOfFear'' |''The Trolltooth Wars'' | ''Demonstealer'' | ''Shadowmaster'' | ''Literature/ReturnToFiretopMountain'' | ''Legend of Zagor'' | ''The Zagor Chronicles'' | ''Allansia'' | ''The Port of Peril'' | ''Eye of the Dragon'' (mentioned only)

A crotchety old wizard who lives in a tower close to Darkwood Forest and makes a living selling magical trinkets. Behind his grumpy old man persona, he is a tireless foe of evil. You willeet him in many gamebooks, either as a {{Cameo}} or playing a significant role, but always a reliable source of help and wisdom.

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: He is known and highly respected pretty much worldwide for his wisdom, his generosity, his kindness and his vast knowledge and power.
* AllThereInTheManual: Much of his background is filled out in ''Titan - The Fighting Fantasy World''.
* TheArchmage: He is one of the most powerful and accomplished wizards Titan ever knew.
* BadassBeard: Long, white and flowing.

The three best students of [[TheArchmage the Great Archmage Vermithrax Moonchaser]], the most famous grand master of the WizardingSchool of the Forest of Yore, with little doubt the most famous andthe best in Titan. They owe their nickname to their prowesses, and the fact that they grew into three of the most notable mages of the franchise, {{Living Legend}}s respected worldwide. Among the {{Big Good}}s of the franchise, those three and especially Yaztromo and Nicodemus, stand out as the most notable and the most recurring.

!!The Star Pupils