“At once he became an enigma. One side or the other of
his nature was perfectly comprehensible; but both sides together were
bewildering.”
― The Sea Wolf
 |
| Philidor the Blue |
Philidor is one of the two major new arrivals in the
WORLD OF GREYHAWK […] (together with Mayaheine, a nascent Demipower of Lawful
Good) [.] [Dragon #191 – 66]
Why might that
be? Is it because there is so little written about him? Is it that his motives
are mysterious?
Philidor is a mystery and an enigma [.] [FtAC –
84]
One would expect then that he would be quite a lure to an
imaginative DM.
Is it because he is all-too Tolkienesque?
Their task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to
the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to
stir up rebellion [.]
—"Last Writings", The Peoples of Middle-earth
Or is it because he is just so weird?
Philidor stands 6' 4" tall, weighs 210 lbs., and
appears to be in his mid-thirties. His appearance is singular and unmistakable.
His skin is light blue all over his body, his hair is azure, and his eyes are
dark blue, save for the pale blue corneas. He appears to be a human male, but
should he polymorph himself, his skin, hair, and eyes will always be a mix of
blue colors. Likewise, he always wear blue garments with a little white or
cream edging or decoration. [FtAC – 83]
Let’s face facts, blue skin is weird. But blue skin is
not without precedent in our actual, real-world; but it never points to good
health: it points to conditions like Argyria, cyanosis, and purpula. Having
blue skin would really hinder one travelling about incognito. But wizards being
wizards, appearance can be mere surface dressing. I would wonder, though, why
anyone would make such a choice.
One can always tone down that skin tone. One might
reflect that Philidor has very light skin tone (visually bluish-white), and
that his choice of wardrobe really brings out his natural colouring.
Appearance
aside, there might be a lot to be said for Philidor.
He is most
certainly Tolkienesque. Carl Sargent created him, after all; and Carl Sargent
would appear to have been a bit of a Tolkien afficionado (he was British, so
Tolkien was by far more of an influence on him than say Robert E. Howard would
have brrn; but a great many lovers of Tolkien are not British, myself included
– although there might be a case for calling me, a Canadian, British light).
Thus, it might come as no surprise that Carl Sargent transformed Iuz into a
sort of Sauron, and required a Gandalph to counter him.
But was he
indeed Gandalf?
There are
parallels:
Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by
the ring Narya), for he was the Enemy of Sauron, opposing the fire that
devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and
distress; but his joy, and his swift wrath, were veiled in garments grey as
ash, so that only those that knew him well glimpsed the flame that was within.
Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, yet quick at times to
sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he was not proud, and sought neither
power nor praise ... Mostly he journeyed tirelessly on foot, leaning on a
staff, and so he was called among Men of the North Gandalf
'the Elf of the Wand'. For they deemed him (though in error) to be of
Elven-kind, since he would at times work wonders among them, loving especially
the beauty of fire; and yet such marvels he wrought mostly for mirth and
delight, and desired not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels
out of fear. ... Yet it is said that in the ending of the task for which he came
he suffered greatly, and was slain, and being sent back from death for a brief
while was clothed then in white, and became a radiant flame (yet veiled still
save in great need).
Tolkien 1980, part 4, ch. 2, "The Istari"
But Philidor could not be more different from the Grey
Wanderer in others.
What we do know about Philidor is that he arrived, like
Gandalf, at a time of great need.
583 CY
 |
| The Arrival of Philidor |
That would be
the Guild of Wizardry in the Free City of Greyhawk.
[T]he Free
City of Greyhawk’s Guild of Wizardry is the principle seat of magical research
and training in the Flanaess.
[CoG:FFF – 16]
One can
understand why: a hitherto unknown archmage arrives on their very doorstep,
without their ever having heard hint of his existence.
He has rented a fine secluded mansion in the High
Quarter along Wharf Road, close to Wharfgate (across the road from […] the
residence of the ambassador of the Duchy of Ulek [)]. Of course, the curious
and light-fingered of Greyhawk have dared to venture within unbidden, but they
all return bare-handed, unharmed, and with complete amnesia for what happened
after they tried to gain entry. It is unknown whether Philidor dwells alone.
[FtAC – 84]
He has dutifully paid his respects to the Guild of
Wizardry and has paid dues as an associate member. He is deferential to elders
and has charmed the socks off Darnak Khorshkan and Jawal Severnain at the Guild
[…], although he does not seem to need to study there. [FtAC – 84]
584 CY
So, Philidor arrived without introduction, bought a
house, joined the Guild, and – although not entirely antisocial – kept to
himself.
Everyone is aware that he is a supremely skilled
wizard, extremely polite toward Guild seniors and responsive to their
invitations. But he never issues invitations himself. Further, those who talk
to him find it extremely difficult to say what they intend. Something about
Philidor's unstinting friendliness and cozy conversation seems utterly to
disarm everyone. [FtAA – 9]
Needless to say,
the Guild’s interest was piqued.
Until the Guild can figure this man out, the senior
wizards feel disadvantaged and insecure. [FtAA – 9]
And, needless to
say, the Guild did their utmost to find out what they could about him. To no
effect.
Trying to acquire information about Philidor is
extraordinarily difficult. All forms of magical scrying, even a commune spell,
fail utterly to reveal anything about him. Those who speak with him find it
hard to collect their thoughts and pursue any sustained line of questioning [.]
[FtAC – 84]
That must have
irked them.
Was Philidor
aware of their efforts? Most probably; but he did not hold it against them. He
accepted invitations, invitations that invariably turned into veiled interrogations.
Philidor is sociable in the sense that he is polite,
charming, and usually accepts invitations to dinners and the like. [FtAC –
84]
But he never reciprocated.
He never invites Greyhawkers to his own home, though.
He is very good at pleasantries and small talk, and is agreeable to all.
[FtAC – 84]
Indeed, his social calendar remained decidedly open.
He does not eat out, attend such places as the Royal
Opera House, or approach the political powers in Greyhawk, though he has dined
with his neighbor from Urnst […], who recalls the meeting rather vaguely while
considering Philidor a very pleasant and affable man. [FtAC – 84]
One imagines
that all attempts to discover who he was and what his intent was remained
fruitless, and frustrating.
Philidor is unfailingly polite and courteous to those
he speaks with, but he is also a master of declining direct questions. If asked
where he comes from, he will reply, "I have lived in many lands in my
time," or "Well, it's where I'm going that's more important; the past
is a place I don't live in any more." Philidor simply does not speak about
himself, except in riddles or very vague terms. [FtAC – 84]
Truth be told,
they never had a hope in that regard. They were seriously outclassed.
 |
| Philidor |
Philidor, The Blue Wizard
Wizard 25
Str 12, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 19, Wis 16, Cha 18
AL NG.
Spells: 5 (10) each of levels 1-3, 5 each of levels
4-9
Magical items: magical robe giving base AC -4, 50% magic
resistance, free action, and immunity to poisons; quarterstaff +5; amulet of
the planes; ring of regeneration; ring of wizardry (doubles the number of first
through third level spells); rod of alertness; wand of frost, others [.]
[FtAC – 83]
But, it must be
said that all conversation with him was always fascinating.
Philidor is modest, but is also very knowledgeable. He
has sage abilities in the fields of astrology, astronomy, history of the
central states of the Flanaess, languages (he speaks the languages of elves,
dwarves, gnomes, and probably several other races), mathematics, metaphysics
(outer planes of Good, Acheron, the Abyss), philosophy (human and elven),
sociology (general, plus expert knowledge of elven, Flan, and Suloise), and
theology (general). He often feigns ignorance or displays great modesty about
areas of knowledge in which he actually has some general expertise. [FtAC –
84]
He seemed to be versed in every subject.
That must have intrigued, and infuriated, sages of every
subject.
Philidor would
not remain in the Free City for long, however. He travelled often, never
revealing where, but always in search of those he might describe as the true
sages of the Flanaess.
What Philidor is up to, no one is certain. He is
definitely absent from Greyhawk for weeks at a time on occasion [.] [FtAC –
84]
Gwydiesin of the Cranes
 |
| Gywdiesin |
Gywdiesin is a child of Johydee, of course. He has
spent nearly 700 years in the world, and he has more knowledge than perhaps any
soul living on Oerth. There hardly can be a legend, tale, or myth which the man
does not know. Often, however, he will tell a tale in its original form which
he knows mixes truth with inaccuracy, because he wishes to test the
perceptiveness of the listener or because the mood takes him. He does not lie;
he tells the tale as it always has been told. But he does not always tell what
he knows to be the real truth. [Ivid – 116]
The Circle of Eight have heard the bard's recitations;
even the introverted, conservative, and repressed Bigby was shaking when the
bard fell silent, and Mordenkainen himself was stirred enough not to repeat the
experiment. Gwydiesin's power is unsettling to those who are used to power of
their own combined with a firm sense of control. Philidor has been seen
laughing with the old man and, incredibly enough, light-heartedly skipping
along paving stones of Greyhawk City with the bard keeping pace. [Ivid – 116]
Shroudgate
 |
| The Spectre |
[I]t moves around, appearing from time to time in
different places. [Ivid – 149]
The only apparent occupant is a small, limping,
withered elf male who does not reveal his name. He appears to be normal flesh
and blood, but he can pass through walls and objects as if they did not exist,
and likewise objects can pass right through him—as one or two who have raised
weapons against him could testify if they were still alive. In the flickering
candlelight which always illuminates the gloomy interior of Shroudgate, from
certain angles it seems as if the elf is immaterial or semi-material, and the
name The Spectre has been given to him. [Ivid – 149]
The Spectre does not show any emotive response to
anything he is told, with one exception—he grows animated if any visitor can
tell him anything about Philidor, the Blue Wizard of Greyhawk City and the
Vesve forest. "So he's come at last!" is his excited response to
that. If his visitor has met or observed Philidor, The Spectre will interrogate
him keenly, his quill scribbling frantically all the while, but the elf does
not reveal anything about his knowledge of that peculiar mage.
If asked about himself, The Spectre deflects such
queries with a statement along the lines of, "All in good time. We shall
see all in the fullness of time." [Ivid – 150]
And seeking out
the most secret, illuminating tomes to be found anywhere, and everywhere.
The Lays of Bar Strannach
The book has endless riddling verses which indeed seem
to be some kind of prophetic and demagogic work. It is possible, with
imagination, to see the rise of the House of Naelax and its fall in the verses
inscribed in Old Suloise by its unknown author. Sages and scribes regularly
travel to consult it, and Mordenkainen (disguised) and Philidor (openly) are
among them; so, too, are representatives of Xavener and Strychan. That such
luminaries consult this work suggests that it cannot be merely pretension and dissimulation,
but its riddling is so obscure as to confound all but the very wisest of those
who read it. [Ivid – 123]
To say nothing
of places of mystery.
Darnakurian's Doom
At the heart of what is now the Coldwood, a great and
majestic elven city once stood. Crafted from living woods, marble, silver, and
even ice, the City of the Summer Stars was home to perhaps 2,000 gray elves.
[…]
The demise of this race is a dreadful tragedy which
few alive today know of. Those who know the tale do not speak of it.
Mordenkainen, Philidor, Gywdiesin, Calendryen of the Vesve, Immonara, and the
Silverbow Sages of the Lendore Isles are among that rare few, and perhaps one
or two other mortals. [Ivid – 74 / Dragon
#208 – 54]
Indeed, no place appears to be capable of barring
Philidor entry, should he decide to visit it.
585 CY
 |
| Magical, Mysterious Ruins |
The Vesve has its own magical, mysterious ruins, too:
liches' lairs, Suloise and Baklunish ruins, and more. [Dragon #191 – 66]
Were that true.
But I suspect he had other reasons. Whatever they might be, his visits there have been betrayed to the Guild, who are forever enquiring into what Philidor might
be about.
[A]nd it seems highly likely that he has links with
the Highfolk. Philidor does not hide his affinity with elves, and reports of a
blue-skinned elf mage in the Vesve have filtered back to the Free City.
[FtAC – 84]
It is said […] that Philidor the Blue Wizard […] has a
fondness for the Vesve and its folk, and that his magical alarm systems give
them forewarning of the approach of humanoids and other enemies over
considerable distances. Whether this will prevent or merely slow the advance of
Iuz into this great forest remains to be seen. [FtAA – 54]
The Guild could
not but take notice when Philidor began to host diplomats for Highfolk, whilst
they remained, shall we say, barred entrance.
His town house in Greyhawk is known to receive
Highfolk visitors. [FtAC – 84]
Philidor smilingly waves away queries on this score.
[FtAC – 84]
Philidor’s interest in the Vesve became a subject of
great interest within the oligarchs of the Guild.
 |
| The Vesve |
The Vesve forest is of critical importance in the
future of the Flanaess. Iuz refuses to yield any claim to it, while Furyondy
and the Highfolk support those within it who try to fend off evil forces. [FtAA – 54]
Because Philidor
was not the only mage that was obsessed with the goings-on in that distance
wood.
The Vesve also has its powerful allies. In addition to
Philidor, Mordenkainen looks out over Highvale and would help protect it, were
it invaded or in dire peril. [WGR4 The Marklands – 55]
The Guild meant
to discover why.
But when they
approached the council of Highfolk, and even elves of note within the Vesve,
even they only knew Philidor to be a person of mystery. A benevolent one, and a
valuable one, to be sure, but as enigmatic to them as to the Guild themselves.
The Archmage Philidor […] is known within the Vesve by
the good and powerful. He always appears as a blue-skinned elf, and he never
says much about his actions or purposes. He is often referred to simply as the
"Blue Wizard." [WGR4 – 54]
In many areas he has constructed a network for magical
spying using Philidor’s globes. […] [WGR4 – 54]
Philidor's globes are found throughout the Lands of
the Tree, in the high elf heartlands where Philidor knows Kashafen, and in a
wide area around Quaalsten where Elrenn Walthair is among those who have met
the enigmatic Archmage. [WGR4 – 54]
Kashafen Tamarel, Lord of the High Elves of the
Vesve: 12th-level fighter/13th-level mage […]
Kashafen is one of the few who is coming to feel that
a combined Vesve army of woodsmen, rangers, gnomes and elves, including the
grey elves, must be organized to march on Iuz. [WGR4 – 54]
Elrenn Walthair, Lord Marshal of the Vesve Forest:
16th-level ranger […]
He has fought evil within the Vesve since coming of
age, and he knows almost every inch of the forest. [WGR4 – 56]
Philidor has gone so
far as to scatter his globes far and wide across the Vesve.
Flameflower
This is a community of 500 high elves, mostly of the
Shandareth clan. Among its lofty tree houses and wooden chalets dwells
Kashafen, the Lord of High Elves. […]
There are elven spies in the trees all around,
Philidor's globes hover and screen those who pass (see below), and beautiful
Flameflower is now a base for exchanging information, especially magically,
among the high elves of the Vesve. [WGR4– 52]
The Timeless Tree
The Timeless Tree is both a community and a shrine.
This vast oak stands in the central part of the Vesve forest. It measures 160
feet high and its trunk has a circumference of 55 feet. Its branches span a 200
foot radius. Within this tree's massive network of branches are tree houses of
extraordinary elven design. Rope bridges and trailing vine ladders are
everywhere, seeming almost to be part of the vast tree itself. This is the
heart of the lands of the grey elves. Here their Seer, High Priestess Calandryen
of Labelas Enoreth, holds court inside a glittering crystal chamber within the
roots of the oak. […]
Philidor's globes (see below) protect all of these
lands, and Calandryen can see virtually anywhere within her domain as she
wishes. [WGR4– 53]
Calandryen, High Priestess of Labelas Enoreth:
15th-level priestess
Calandryen is nearly 630 years old, a tiny (4'
7") grey elf [.] Because of her age, Calandryen is a living font of lore
and first hand knowledge, possibly unequalled in the Flanaess. [WGR5 Iuz
the Evil – 56]
 |
| Seeking Stones |
The globes are effectively true seeing devices. Each
individual network is "slaved" to a form of crystal ball that allows
the user to use true seeing through the globe of his or her choosing, viewing
an area up to 240 yards around the globe. […]
The globes also have an internal alarm system. If any
goblinoid, humanoid or other servant of Iuz approaches within 120 yards of a
globe, it causes the controlling crystal ball to flash blue and to make a
shrill noise for six rounds or until a sentient individual picks up the ball to
check what the globe has detected. {WGR4 – 54}
So, as far as we know they cannot be used as are
Tolkien’s Seeking Stones… as far as we know. Philidor is a secretive sort,
after all, however benign.]
Whatever Philidor is doing, he will work through
intermediaries (elves, wizards, even lesser aasimon—yes, he goes this high!).
No one gets anywhere near him unless he wishes this. He is a guide, a patron, a
secret protector, a puller of strings, and maybe a score of other things. [FtAC
– 84]
Cerenellyl: 9th-level elven fighter
Cerenellyl is a Knight of the High Forest, 272 years
of age, and his apparent blindness is due to milky cataracts in his eyes. Since
he wears an ancient elven ring of true sight this blindness is only apparent,
not real. The cataracts are developments of the "moonbow" which
appeared in his eyes 30 years past, a summoning from the goddess Sehanine to
him to leave the mortal world, a summons Cerenellyl resists fiercely.
Cerenellyl's major role is to learn all he can about
the politically powerful in Furyondy, especially advisers to the King and his
provincial rulers, and supply information to the Knights of the High Forest and
Highfolk. He has a very wide range of contacts, most of whom are Knights of
Furyondy and Knights of the High Forest. He also deals with the mage Philidor [.]
He is friendly with Sharnalem, and the two work together to patrol the southern
Vesve fringes and the Royal Highway. [WGR4 – 38,39]
Sharnalem: 11th-level ranger
Sharnalem is a Knight of Furyondy with many, many
friends throughout the land and among the Highfolk. [WGR4 – 42]
Late 580s CY
So, what is Philidor's purpose? [WGR4 – 54]
[Philidor] is silent about his schemes. He has his own
plans and timetable, and at this time he dispenses information and watchful
magical guardians. After he has left a community within the Vesve, moon dogs
are heard baying, and no goblinoids or monsters are sighted in the immediate
vicinity for some days afterwards. [WGR4 – 54]
All that can be said is that he is a greatly powerful
servant of good. His eyes stare far into the future, and they shine as he
watches over the elves of the Vesve. But then, so do the malign orbs of Iuz the
evil. Istus alone knows the fate of all, as she knows that Iuz hates and fears
Philidor and seeks his destruction. [WGR4 – 54]
It is rumored that Philidor's appearance in Oerik is
linked with the rise of Iuz in some way; this may well be the most reliable of
the many rumors that circulate concerning him [.] [FtAC – 84]
Philidor has spent a considerable amount of time
combating Iuz’s incursions into the Vesve.
Vesve Forest
Izlen rules the Iuz-controlled northeastern end of the
Vesve Forest and west coast of Whyestil Lake. High Priestess Halga (CE female
human Clr19 of Iuz), of Iuz's Greater Boneheart, is the ruler. Izlen's nonhuman
forces, under Panshazek the Vile (CE male human Clr15 of Iuz), battle the Vesve
elves and assorted forces of Philidor the Blue (NG male human? Wiz20+), a
mysterious archmage who appeared in the Flanaess less than a decade ago.
Philidor has been little seen since the Great Northern Crusade, but peculiar
spells and magical constructs undoubtedly of his creation cause great trouble
for orcs in the woodlands. [LGG – 61]
One can understand that Iuz should hate anyone who would stand in the way of his achieving his ends; but Iuz’s hatred of Philidor
would seem to surpass even that of those six who nearly killed him.
Iuz's most burning desire is to have revenge on those
who freed and tried to slay him. [WGR5 – 5]
Since that fateful brush with extinction, Iuz has
schemed to destroy those six [Bigby, Quij, Rary, Riggby, Robilar, and Tenser].
[WGR5 – 5]
He dreams of destroying the Free City of Greyhawk and
those who nearly killed him when he was released. [PGtG – 24]
That bit about Iuz wishing to destroy the Free City has
always confused me. Why might he? Was it because the Free City once played host to his imprisoner, Zagig? Could it be because many of his near assassins reside there?
Or is it because it claims Philidor a resident? That bears consideration, because Philidor lays claim to the secret of
Iuz’s undoing.
The Soul Husks Caverns
While these caverns contain no few secrets or
monsters, what lies at the core of them is part of the mystery of luz's
ascension to demipower status.
Within it, some six structures are found which
resemble ten-foot-tall chrysalises. Each contains a shrivelled remnant of a
humanoid form, reputed to be the mortal remains of a powerful wizard or
extra-planar creature which had its being extracted by luz through some
horrific and arcane magical ritual. The energies gained by luz in those
monstrous rituals are part of his being now. luz cannot destroy these remnants,
since he would lose part of his powers in so doing.
Very, very few sages on Oerth even know that such a
place exists, let alone where it is. Mordenkainen and Philidor are among that
handful of informed people. Obviously, a strike against this place would weaken
luz very directly and possibly irreversibly. [WGR5 – 22]
One wonders if
all of Philidor’s preparations were leading up to Iuz’s ultimate defeat.
Philidor the Archmage, the Blue Wizard, looks calmly
out over Iuz's lands from the Vesve Forest, biding his time. Iuz is an emperor
now, but he is not invulnerable. [WGR5 – 6]
591 CY
So, why has Philidor not struck, then?
 |
| Philidor the Blue |
Philidor, The Blue Wizard
Philidor is an enigma, a wizard of tremendous power
who first appeared toward the end of the Greyhawk Wars. Regardless of how he
otherwise changes his appearance, his skin, hair, eyes, and clothing always
remain shades of blue. He has been seen in many places in the Flanaess,
particularly in the Vesve Forest and the City of Greyhawk, though not in recent
years. [PGtG – 25,26]
Perhaps a clue to Philidor’s disappearance lies in where he was last seen.
The last claimed sighting of the archmage Philidor
placed him near the entrance to the valley [of the Mage]. [LGG – 128]
And in that his disappearance coincides with another’s
sudden absence.
No sightings of the [Black] Mage [of the Valley of the
Mage] have been reported since the Greyhawk Wars, but the drow seneschal [Tysiln
San ] still has authority there. The Mage was known to be interested in
exploring the so-called Demiplane of Shadows. [LGG – 128]
And in why Rary the Traitor and Mordenkainen have become as interested as they so suddenly have been in the Valley of the Mage.
The archmages Rary and Mordenkainen were said to have
sponsored rival adventuring parties to the valley—both suffering high
casualties. [LGG – 128]
Perhaps the most
interesting attempt to justify the enigmatic Philidor was done by Denis
Tetreault, concerning the equally enigmatic Valley of the Mage, and Gary
Gygax’s mystery of the Demi-Urge.
 |
| The Demi-Urge |
Maldin’s
Greyhawk: Secrets of Mordenlainen and the Circle of Eight
Take that as you
will, verbatim, or with a healthy grain of salt.
Personally, I
prefer to lean towards Philidor being one of the Children of Johydee, as is Medegia’s
“The Walker.”
"Johydee's Children" is the name bestowed
upon very, very rare Aerdi individuals of exceptional magical gifts. The name
is given for two reasons, not because the individuals concerned are literally
descended from Johydee. First, Queen Johydee of pre-Devastation history was a
priestess of great magical prowess, favored by the gods themselves. Second,
Johydee is known for her famed artifact, the mask, which allowed her to resist
many forms of magic and to take on the appearance of anyone she chose. […]
Johydee's Children are strange, otherworldly people.
Either they are wholly aloof, without any apparent emotion, or else they seem
to live in a spiritual world which raises them far above the cares and feelings
of ordinary folk. Either way, those who know them come to think of them as
masked, inscrutable, impossible to "read." The Children are loners,
never understood by others. [Ivid – 7]
What fore then, if Philidor were one of Johydee’s
Children, is his aim in what he does? Your guess would be as good as mine. In
that regard Philidor is very much like The Walker.
The Walker is enigmatic. No one knows who he is, or
where he comes from, or where he is going. He seems to be undergoing some
endless journey.
The Walker is a mystery, and the sightings of him in
Medegia would be nothing more than the retelling of an old myth if it were not
for the fact that his travels have left behind him a growing and developing
trail of magical force. [Ivid – 107]
That is a bit of a cop-out, on my part, I suppose; but if
Philidor is not as much a mystery as is The Walker, then who is?
 |
| Tenser |
[Tenser] is
the strongest proponent for the causes of Law and Good within the Circle of
Eight. [CoG:FFF - 24] Advanced
age might have released him from strict adherence to Law (thus becoming NG), allowing
him less restraint in his achieving his schemes.
Tenser’s
concern for thwarting the plans of Evil is indicated by his contacts in the
courts of Furyondy, Urnst, and Nyrond, and by his very strong friendship with
the High Patriarch of Rao in Mitrik, none other than the Hazen, priestly ruler
of that bastion of righteousness. [CoG:FFF - 22] This explains his preferred front in defending against and combating Iuz.
He will sometimes enspell good magic-users to go on
dangerous missions to aid the cause of good. [Rogues Gallery – 47] He wields agents in his struggle against his
mortal enemy.
Iuz has schemed to destroy those six [Bigby, Quij,
Rary, Riggby, Robilar, and Tenser]. [WGR5 – 5] It’s personal. A much older Tenser just might have returned
to ensure Iuz’s destruction.
And there is this suggestive description of Tenser's robes in WG6 Isle of the Ape:
Here the Arch-Mage pauses to adjust his flowing robes of midnight blue. [WG6 – 6]
Regardless which
explanation you prefer, one thing is for certain: It is highly likely
that Philidor is not originally from Oerth. [FtAC – 84] Or the Oerth of our present time....
Seriously,
though, lose the blue skin. For God’s sake, please do. To my mind, that feature
makes Philidor a figure of ridicule. He’s far more interesting without that odd
artificiality. And it detracts from you taking him seriously.
“I have often found it difficult to explain myself to
myself, and I do not often try.”
―
“You come out at night
That's when the energy comes and the dark side's light
And the vampires roam
You strut your rasta wear
And your suicide poem
And a cross from a faith that died
Before Jesus came
You're building a mystery…”
– Building a Mystery, Sarah McLachlan
One must always
give credit where credit is due. This piece is made possible primarily by the
Imaginings of Gary Gygax and his Old Guard, Lenard Lakofka among them, and the
new old guards, Carl Sargant, James Ward, Roger E. Moore. And Erik Mona, Gary
Holian, Sean Reynolds, Frederick Weining. The list is interminable.
Special thanks
to Jason Zavoda for his compiled index, “Greyhawkania,” an invaluable research
tool.
The Art:
Map detail, by Darlene, from World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
Sources:
1015
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1983
1043 The City of Greyhawk
Boxed Set, 1989
1064
From the Ashes Boxed Set, 1992
9025
World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
9031
The Rogues Gallery 1e, 1980
9398
The Marklands, 1993
9399
WGR5 Iuz the Evil, 1993
9578
Player’s Guide to Greyhawk, 1998
WGR7
Ivid the Undying, 1998
11743
Living Greyhawk Gazeteer, 2000
Dragon
Magazine #191,208
LGJ
#2
Maldin’s
Greyhawk: Secrets of Mordenlainen and the Circle of Eight
Greyhawkania,
Jason Zavoda
Thank you for taking stock of this strange character. I translated the 1983 box and the city of Greyhawk into French. I have reservations about Greyhawk Wars. But I need to reread all of Carl Sargent's work: FtA, WGR 4 to 6 and Ivid. There is a unity in his work. Have you looked for any background in Sargent's work before TSR: GW, White Dwarf... No Blue Archmage?
ReplyDeletePhilidor the Blue is a prime example of what I like to call "Bad 90s RPG metaplot" where the authors have an idea about something and drip it out over a series of products without ever giving away what's really involved. White Wolf was the primary offender, but it shows up in TSR as well (the identity of the Seventh Sister in Forgotten Realms, the Lady of Pain in Planescape, the Gentleman Caller in Raveloft). I tend to blame the X-Files for popularizing it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad RPGs have grown out of it. Most of them now put it in a GM section so they can plot around it without worry that something they do will be overridden in a future product.