Elminster - The Making of a Mage

This is the first book in the Elminster series by Ed Greenwood. It covers from his first encounter with magic as a young boy, to his days as a rebel fighter, to his nights as a theif, then on to his life following Mystra. It is the first real insight into why Elminster is "Elminster". It starts with an overview of his tragic childhood, on to his even rougher life growing up trying to hide who he is. Then as a thief he sneeks into a closed temple of Mystra to defile it. He his about to set to his task when he is spotted by a mage but then saved by the Lady of mysteries and given a chase to slay the mage that was to slay him. After he debated with the Goddess over wether or not it is right to use magic he let the mage go. Mystra then helps to hide him from those who my want him to be used in their plots, or just kill him, until he has the power to take his revenge.