“Afoot and lighthearted I take to the open road,
healthy, free, the world before me.”
―
 |
| Mordenkainen |
Take Mordenkainen’s
quest for “Balance,” for instance. What was Gary’s intent here? Did he mean
Good versus Evil? Or Law versus Chaos? That the concept of Balance originated
with Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion is obvious to me. Balance between Law
and Chaos makes perfect sense, stemming from the eternal struggle between
perpetual change and orderly stagnation. Indeed, that struggle fits
hand-in-glove with OD&D’s original 3-tier alignment system. But the notion
that Balance requires a Champion falls apart in AD&D’s far more complex
clash of alignments. Why anyone should ever suggest that Evil needs assistance
is beyond my ken; truly, Evil seems to flourish without any help from anyone.
Mordnkainen, however, sees things differently from such unenlightened
souls as I.
Perhaps no individual in all Oerik sees himself as
embodying the spirit of Balance as does Mordenkainen the Archmage. His
philosophies are almost entirely one-sided on the matter, and many a worthy
cause has gone unanswered by the mage's private army, the Obsidian Citadel
(sharing the name of his hidden fortress home) because of his neutral-minded
convictions. [LGJ#0 – 9]
I’m not the only one, either.
This philosophy has gained the archmage a virtual army
of enemies, not a few of whom once considered him a good friend. Among these
last can be counted Evard the Black, Terik and, of course, Rary. luz and his
underlings, particularly Kermin Mind-Bender, have hated Mordenkainen from their
first meeting. [LGJ#0 – 9]
Few would ever guess that Mordenkainen would become the
man he would eventually be, given his origins. He began, as many heroic D&D
figures do, as a common adventurer. In short, a reaver. One might even suggest
that, despite his wielding magic, he was a common thief. Back in the day all
that glittered in Mordenkainen’s eyes was gold.
Robilar: "And what of the dream—the one you told
me about? A city of gold and silver, Mordenkainen. Surely no one but the gods
themselves could have built it."
Mordenkainen was fully awake now and staring at the
fighter like a child mesmerized by some fairy tale. [OJ#6 – 45]
We won’t hold that against him, though. We were, all of
us, cut from the same cloth then.
When then did he aspire to difference from that common
cloth? In Gary’s campaign, apparently.
Survival and ability to adventure widely were my first
concerns for Mordenkainen. When he made 12th level I decided he
should have some greater purpose, so I added political concerns, keeping the
balance in the Flanaess, growing powerful and influential, and keeping
aggressive bad guys at bay.
I see no hint in this that Gary’s Mordenkainen lent a
helping hand to Evil. Indeed, what passed as the Circle of Eight in his game
play was a very different creature to the one we are steeped in.
So, as with a
great many of the bios I’ve collected, we must separate Gary Gygax’s
Mordenkainen and our canonical one.
What
Mordenkainen was to become, I believe, is perhaps a mirror of the Greyhawk
setting, itself, an evolution of disparate influences, all crammed together in
one package, each conceivably incompatible with the whole, yet sculpted into
something greater than the sum of its parts.
Is he, though?
We shall see.
History precedes him. As it precedes us all.
c. -300 CY
Greyhawk was established as a trading post on the
Selintan River during the period of early migrations. [Folio – 11]
What has this to
do with Mordenkainen? Perhaps nothing. What follows may, or may not, have
something to do with Mordenkainen’s lineage, however.
4 CY
In 4 CY, an opportunistic captain named Maret Nial
(originally from Greyhawk) crossed the Cairn Hills with a large hand of
ex-soldiers [….] Nial arrived at the village of Greyhawk, proclaimed it
conquered without bothering to have a battle, and set about with his men
building a motte-and-bailey keep [.] [TAB – 57]
As it flourished, a local warlord built a small keep
on the hills above the village called Greyhawk which had sprung up around the
trading center, extracting taxes from the trade and occasionally raiding
caravans (particularly those coming with silver ingots found in the burial
mounds of the Cairn Hills). [Folio – 11]
 |
| Maret Nial |
This petty noble soon became quite rich and powerful
and assumed the title of Landgraf of Selintan. Greyhawk and the power of the
new Landgraf grew rapidly thereafter, and his son and heir, Ganz, was wed to
the daughter of the Gynarch (Despotrix) of Hardby, a sorceress of no small
repute. [Folio – 11]
It is this Ganz
Nial that concerns us.
c. 40 CY
Lord Nial’s son and heir, Ganz, was more a bureaucrat
than a soldier, more a manager than a leader. However, he was a very good
manager, and he had all of his father’s shrewdness. Ganz married Maro, the
daughter of the then-current Gynarch of Hardby, forging a loose but lasting
alliance between the two towns. [TAB – 57]
The heirs of Ganz and Maro (who became Gynarch in 49
CY) oversaw a domain with vast potential. [TAB – 57]
Is this Ganz Nial Ganz Yragerne? One
imagines it is. But how is this Nial “a Yragerne”? Through paternity, I expect.
Was Maro a Yragerne? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Perhaps the matriarchal line of the Gynarchs
of Hardby (named paternally) have direct lineage from the Nials…. ‘Tis lost to
time. We do know, however, that Zagig Yragerne is descended from Ganz (see
below), and thus Maret Nial.
Again, what has this to do with Mordenkainen? Perhaps
nothing. Perhaps I’m rambling, tediously. But I’m closing in on what is
suggested, if not necessarily true.
277 CY
Time passes. Zagig
is born.
During the
middle of the third century [,] a boy-child named Zagig was born to a lesser
member of the Gynarchy [of Hardby] and a descendant of Lord Ganz of Greyhawk. [Slavers – 32]
Zagyg the demigod is often called the Mad Archmage or
identified by his mortal name, Zagig Yragerne. [PGtG – 16]
290s CY
Who were this group of adventurers? Legend has it they
were the Company of Seven: Zagig, Keoghtom, Murlynd, Norlzur, Qyall, Heward,
and Tasha.
Murlynd, the most peculiar hero-god known, was called
Merlund or something similar during his mortal life [.] [PGtG – 16]
305 CY
In 305 CY, [a group of adventurers] led by a crafty
young wizard of the Landgrafdom of Selintan […] navigated [Lyzandred the Mad’s]
riddles and defeated many of his guardians. […] The lich conversed with them
through a projected image before dismissing all save the wizard, whom he saw as
having great potential. The mage was Zagig Yragerne. […] The young mage stayed
with the lich for a short time and learned much, finally asking to leave and
practice what he had been taught. [LT2 Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad –
2]
 |
| Veralos |
Zagig
Yragerne led a quixotic expedition of his companions on a quest to locate the
lost Flan citadel of Veralos. He was accompanied by such young personages as
Murlynd and Keoghtom, who among others formed the auspicious Company of Seven. [Dragon #293 – 90]
c. 310 CY
All good things come to an end, however. Sooner or later,
all adventurers, should they survive, have desire to make their mark on their
world.
Greyhawk became a haven for criminals fleeing Aerdy
justice farther east, and its Oligarchy (as the city council was now known) had
become corrupt and petty.
Into this mess came a wizard named Zagig Yragerne,
rumored to have been born somewhere on the Wild Coast. [TAB – 58]
This haven for criminals seemed as good a place as any.
c. 320 CY
Zagig turned that mess of a town around.
Over time, Lyzandred watched Zagig gather knowledge
and power, use that power to build a small town into a bustling city, and
construct a strange multidimensional castle on a nearby hill. [LT2 – 2]
The castle and its three towers were begun around 320
CY by Zagig Yragerne, the mad Archmage, before he became lord Mayor of
Greyhawk. [TAB – 75]
What to call it? I doubt he called it Castle Greyhawk, but
stranger things have happened. And Zagig would prove an unpredictable sort.
His reign was bizarre in many other ways [.]
[Folio – 11]
421 CY
Then, one day, without so much as a how-do-you-do, Zagig
up and disappeared.
As with Lyzandred so long before, Zagig’s thoughts clarified
and he saw what he was becoming. He chose to leave his city and wander the
planes, and that was the last day he was seen on Oerth as a mortal man.
[LT2 – 3]
It came as no surprise when it was reported that Zagig
Yragerne had mysteriously vanished after years of rule when no change or aging
could be detected. [Folio – 11]
[Castle Greyhawk] was abandoned after Zagig vanished
in 421 CY. [TAB – 75]
What has the doings of the archmage Zagig to do with
Mordenkainen? Nothing, at present, given that Mordenkainen had not been born;
but these events will have some small effect on Mordenkainen’s life.
505 CY
As did Iuz the
Evil’s disappearance.
 |
| Iuz the Evil |
6th
Century CY
However unpredictable
and evil he may have been, Iuz had proved a somewhat stabilising presence north
of the Nyr Dyv, insofar as his domain became Abyss on Oerth in his absence.
Over the years a handful of lesser demons and
shapeshifters appeared on the scene claiming Iuz’s Throne of Bone, whipping the
fractured cult of the Old One into temporary frenzy until being dispatched by
rivals. These false Iuzes threw the nations into turmoil and brought savage
armies across civilized borders. If the real Iuz returns, the disaster could be
incalculable. [EttRoG – 4]
We finally come
to the beginning of our story.
509 CY
Mordenkainen is
born.
He is possibly
Oeridian. [Ivid – 137]
Little is known about Mordenkainen’s origins,
particularly; the place of his birth. Rumors place him as Oeridian, perhaps
Aerdi. Some even say he is of the line of Ganz Yragerne, making him distantly
related to such notables as Zagig Yragerne and Heward. [LGJ#0 – 9]
Suggesting does
not actually make it so. ‘Tis hearsay, as they say.
This next
passage is more concrete:
Zagyg is related to Heward by some distant kinship,
and Heward and the arch-mage Mordenkainen are likewise kin. [Dragon #71 – 20]
So, we come to
it: Mordenkainen has a bit of pedigree. One might declare him nobility,
distantly related to Landgrafs and Gynarchs; but commoners of all
colours can do that, given how great families have – for the most part – carried
on. What is far more telling is his being related to Zagig and Heward, possibly
presaging the power he would wield in decades to come.
But Mordenkainen
did not grow up a Landgraf or a scion of Gynarchs. There is no suggestion whatsoever
that he was raised with riches at his disposal; indeed, there are no tales told
either way, truth be told. There is only the suggestion that he hails from an
altogether less than fortunate tract of landscape: the Wild Coast.
Legendary natives of the Wild Coast include such
persons as Mordenkainen, Robilar, and Tenser, to name but a few. [WoGA – 42]
Capital:
None;
Major towns
only (Safeton 4,600; Narwell 2,900; Fax 6,700; Badwall 5,200; Elredd 8,400)
Population:
150,000 + (est. only)
Demi-humans:
Many
Humanoids:
Many
Resources:
None outstanding
The western
shores of the Sea of Gearnat have long been called the Wild Coast, for the
region has been a haven for malcontents, dissidents, demi-humans, humanoids,
and the outcasts of other states. […]
Its racially
mixed peoples are well known as mercenaries and adventurers themselves. [Folio – 19]
That sort of
pedigree does not presage heroism and great deeds. It does the reverse, to my
mind. One wonders how Mordenkainen managed to be born in such a place. Why
should this be so perplexing? Because he is also, apparently, descended from
kings.
Apart from this complexity, House Cranden is important
because of its history and traditions. Cranden sages have many of the finest
collections of historical documents, tomes, and items in all the lands. If one
should seek all that is known of such ancient luminaries as Lum the Mad,
Johydee, the Wind Dukes of Aqaa, and the Sunken Isles below the Nyr Dyv, then
Cranden sages are the best sources—and probably the most accessible. Indeed,
the house itself has produced some of the greatest names in all Oerth's history;
Johydee, Tuerny the Merciless, Schandor, and among more modern luminaries, both
Bigby (which is generally known) and Mordenkainen himself (which is not known
to more than a handful). [Ivid –
137]
I would not read
too much into this. It smells more like propaganda than fact. We are all
descended from kings, I might opine, if we cast our net far enough back and widely
enough. I imagine the suggestion that he hales from House Cranden is supposed
to signal his inevitability of learned magnificence.
[Personally, I
dislike stacking too much greatness on any PC’s/NPC’s backstory. It signals
divine destiny. Oh, did I tell you? Mordenkainen is a king. Mordenkainen is
related to everyone great. Mordenkainen was always going to become the
greatest wizard who every lived! Spare me. Give me rags-to-riches, any day.]
Who were Mordenkainen’s
parents, then? Were they rich? Nobility? Influential? I doubt they were any of
these. I expect they were one of those forementioned malcontents,
dissidents, […] and the outcasts of other states. [Folio – 19]
Although [r]umors
place him as Oeridian, perhaps Aerdi [LGJ#0 – 9], it’s far more plausible
that they were racially mixed
peoples [,] well known as mercenaries and adventurers [Folio – 19] – you know, actual Wild
Coasters.
522 CY
Whomever his
parents were, they must have had enough experience with magic to recognise
their son’s innate talent for it, and flush with enough coin (pirates,
perhaps?) to send their son away for instruction, all the way to the City of
Greyhawk.
 |
| The City of Greyhawk |
His Solemn Authority, the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk
[...]
Population: 53,000 (city), 70,000 + total (including
surrounding area)
Demi-humans: Some
Humanoids: Some
Resources: silver, electrum, gold, platinum, gems
(I-IV)
[Folio – 11]
Mordenkainen, one of the most powerful wizards ever to
walk the world of Oerth, came to Greyhawk following tales of Zagig’s legendary
magical prowess. [EttRoG – 9]
Perhaps. Whyever he came to the City of Greyhawk, Mordenkainen began training as a magic-user
at 13 years of age.
[The date is pure
conjecture on my part. One must begin training sometime, and I decided that the
age one enters middle-school (thereabouts) is as good an age as any to begin
magical training.]
Mordenkainen was [o]nce a resident of […] Greyhawk [.]
[LGJ#0 – 9]
The Free City of Greyhawk is the home of the most
prestigious school of magic across the Flanaess. The distinctive pyramid of the
University of Magic is one of the Free City’s most unique landmarks. [CoG:GotF
– 5]
One of the guild’s major functions is the training of
wizards, both the novice and the experienced. Every year, new fresh-faced
students arrive to begin their studies and learn their first spell (which is
always read magic).
Trainee mages enrolled at the University can expect
the very best in training and preparation for their career in magery. The
University can draw upon the considerable resources of the associated Guild of
Wizardry and includes some of the most distinguished [practitioners] of the Art
among its tutorial staff.
The University encourages both established wizards and
students (under supervision) to undertake research into various aspects of the
magical arts, and there are several secure laboratories beneath the Guildhall.
[CoG:FFF – 20]
Its students work hard, and are subject to harsh
discipline. By and large the apprentices have time for little but their
studies. [CoG:GotF – 5]
The [Greyhawk
University of Magical Arts] is known for its harsh academic life and intense, focused studies;
Mordenkainen […] learned [his] craft here decades ago. [TAB – 6]
Harsh it might have
been, but it taught him well. He was not only exposed to the secrets of the
Weave, but to art and music and history and political science, all of which
might come in handy when plying one’s Art, or navigating courtly life.
His greatest passions are for his Art. [LGJ#0 – 9]
One wonders if a low-born Wild Coaster with ambition
would have difficulty fitting in amid such company as would be enrolled in the
– reputedly – most eminent scholastic institution in Greyhawk, if not all of
the Flanaess.
 |
| Young Mordenkainen |
Was he bullied?
It matters little how talented he might be should he be set upon by a troupe of
oppressors, who also happen to be the cream of society. Had he, he would have
been taught perhaps the most important lessons of his life while there: The
world is a cruel and heartless place; and that “monsters” come in many forms.
Indeed, his time there left its indelible mark.
He has few friends, and no one in whom he completely
confides. [LGJ#0 – 9]
Was it from then that the suggestion of his Cranden
familial roots sprung? A pretention of suitability carefully seeded….
You like to keep people guessing, so you do not
confirm or deny anything. [COR1 – 00 The Citadel – PCs – 1]
[I do not deny his relation to Zagig and Heward here, but
I doubt he would know of it then if he were sprung from Wild Coast bandits.
It’s not like anyone born to banditry would have genealogical records at his
fingertips. As to his being a scion of Crandon…. Well… Ivid the Undying
declares him thus.]
Reminded of his “unsuitability,” Mordenkainen would have
striven to succeed, bettering his betters in every subject he engaged in. Much
to their chagrin.
But that level
of success necessitated a great many hours at study in libraries, pursuing ever
more esoteric lore. Some of what he discovered was enlightening, to say the
least.
Before his adventures, Mordenkainen knew of Zagig as
an eccentric, the long-lived former Lord Mayor during the City of Greyhawk’s
renaissance. He was the founder of the city’s world-renowned Guild of Wizardry
and one of the greatest adventuring mages ever to cast a spell. Mordenkainen
would come to learn that Zagig had cheated death by becoming a deity [.]
[EttRoG – 4]
535 CY
Mordenkainen
completes his initial training as a magic-user.
Mordenkainen is
26 years old. [DMG 1e – 12]
Let’s assume he
was valedictorian. He has the intelligence to have been, and, given his history
to follow, the drive, as well.
 |
| Mordenkainen the Prestidigitator |
Class:
Magic-User
Level: 1
Str 10, Int 18, Wis 15, Dex 17, Con 17, Cha 18
[WG5 Mordenkainen’s Fantastic Adventure – 30]
Mordenkainen stands 5 ft. 11 in. tall [.] [LGJ#0 –
9]
He wears a dark beard trimmed to a point, and usually
favors black satin coats, lined in red, over traditional robes. […] His most
impressive physical features are his penetrating eyes. [LGJ#0 – 9]
Did he remain in
the city of Greyhawk? Doubtful. He would have had every desire to strike out to
prove his mettle. And had his time at the university been, shall we say,
trying, he’d have been motivated to put as much distance between himself and it
as passible.
Late 530s CY
Where might he
have struck out to? Home, at first, I would imagine. All the better to show off
his “great” accomplishment to those who bankrolled his education.
Mordenkainen was [o]nce a resident of the Wild Coast
[.] [LGJ#0 – 9]
Besides, the
Wild Coast was as good a place as any for an ambitious young mage to prove his
worth.
There is no
question that the Wild Coast is known throughout the Flanaess as a place of
sanctuary, albeit a highly dangerous one, filled with adventure at the very
least. [Folio – 19]
And let’s face
facts, the Wild Coast has always proved an excellent training ground for
adventurers.
The area
gives rise to many outstanding clerics, fighters, magic-users, and thieves. [Folio – 19]
It was there
that Mordenkainen had his first taste of adventure. And peril. The Wild Coast
is not, after all, a tranquil place, by any stretch of the imagination.
POMARJ (The)
The humanoids have not often dared to cross into Ulek,
but their raiders cause much trouble in the Wild Coast. [Folio – 14]
Woolly Bay:
Some unscrupulous captains still put in at the
humanoid-controlled town of Highport to trade. [Folio – 21]
GNARLEY FOREST
The forest is home to many fierce creatures as well,
and many humanoid bands rove about seeking to murder and loot. [Folio – 22]
 |
| The Suss Forest |
The humanoid bands of the Pomarj, particularly
kobolds, orcs, and gnolls, seem to love this forest, and many hundreds are
known to dwell within Its depths. They likewise use It as a highway to move
northwards to raid In the Wild Coast, Celene, or even the Ulek states and into
Verbobonc. [Folio – 26]
Mordenkainen knew there was a great deal of adventure to
be had there, despite its dangers.
A lost, ruined city of the Old Suloise Is said to be
hidden somewhere In the Suss forest, but few dare to venture on such a quest,
particularly today. [Folio – 26]
He did not
remain here for long. He had read a great deal about the wider world and aimed
to see what he could of it.
Where did he
roam, exactly? Who can say, but there are rumours that [Mordenkainen]
has traveled to the reaches of the exotic Far West and ventured extensively
across the Flanaess, from the lands of the Northmen to the shores of the Amedio
Jungle. [LGJ#0 – 9]
 |
| Tenser |
In his adventurous youth, [Tenser] traveled throughout
the Flanaess and beyond and met Mordenkainen, Riggby, Merlynd (now the
quasi-diety Murlynd), Robilar, Bigby and other now-famous personages. [Rot8
– 58]
Wherever
Mordenkainen travelled prior to meeting those mentioned, it was in their
company that he acquired his fame and fortune.
There is scarcely a mage who has not heard of his
exploits or recognized his skill and knowledge of matters both magical and
political. [LGJ#0 – 9]
540s CY
Early in life, Bigby’s travels found him in the Wild
Coast, where he eventually gained the notice of Mordenkainen. [LGJ#1 – 8]
Castle
Greyhawk
 |
| Young Bigby |
Mordenkainen certainly educated the bookish boy in the
ways of dungeon delving.
Soon
thereafter, Mordenkainen took Bigby in tow and again ventured into the
dungeons. The pair sent a fireball into the notorious pudding-guarded chamber,
but heard nothing. Following quickly, the two saw a black pudding moving at
best speed away from them, leaving the access to the lower regions of the
dungeon open and uncontested. [Dragon #289 – 28]
Indeed, he took
the burgeoning Bigby under his wing.
Bigby was the original […] apprentice of Mordenkainen
[.] [Dragon #37 – 11]
Perhaps it was from
their acquaintance that rumours of Mordenkainen’s supposed lofty lineage stem.
Bigby is known to be a member of Aerdy's House
Cranden, and rumors have long placed Mordenkainen as a distant scion of the
same bloodline. For that reason, and because of their shared experiences and
adventures, Bigby and Mordenkainen share a friendship unique among the members
of the Circle. [LGJ#1 – 8]
Regardless their
dubiously convenient shared lineage, Bigby and Mordenkainen’s fates had entwined
and would be for decades to come. One images then that they were close. But
master and pupil are rarely bosom buddies. That is not the nature of their
relationship. It would be with
Tenser that Bigby became the fastest of friends.
Tenser (LG) [Rogues Gallery 1e – 47]
Bigby is
never without a teleport without error spell which can take him to Mordenkainen
or Tenser should he become trapped [.] [CoG:FFF – 23]
550 CY
Theirs was a
lucrative alliance. So much so, in fact, that Mordenkainen could soon afford to
set about building his citadel.
It is possible for a magic-user of 1[0]th
or higher level to construct a stronghold and clear the countryside in a 10 or
20 mile radius of all monsters, thus ruling an area much as a noble. If this is
accomplished, a revenue of 5 silver pieces per inhabitant per month is
generated in the territory ruled. [PHB 1e – 25]
[The PHB 1e stipulates 12th level (other
editions are vaguer about when this can take place), but as Mordenkainen does
not attain that level until about 560 CY (noted in WG5), long after the Citadel
of Eight became active, one must assume that he began constructing his
stronghold earlier. Let us then assume that he began construction when he was
10th level, completing his vast citadel when 12th.]
 |
| Mordenkainen the Mage |
Mordenkainen the Mage
Class: Wizard
Level: 10
Align: Neutral
Height: [5 ft. 11 in.] Weight: 190 lb Age: [42] [Text
says 6’1”; and 52 years old, as would be his age in 560 when the module COR1 –
00 The Citadel is set, but adjusted here to conform more adequately with
other source material.]
Str 10, Int [18], Wis 15, Dex 17, Con 17, Cha 18 [Text
says Int 20, reduced to conform with WG5.]
Mordenkainen wears a dark beard trimmed in the
Nyrondal style and favors black satin coats lined in red over traditional
robes. In sharp contrast to the fashion of the day, your black hair, streaked
with silvery-gray, is shorn close to your head. [COR1 – 00 – 1]
Mordenkainen is 41 years old.
His edifice would take years to complete, one imagines,
regardless that a strong clan of stone giants […] assisted in the building
of the citadel. [CoG:FFF – 21] Why should this be when he had such
skilled and able artisans at his disposal? Because the site he chose is remote
and the Yatils, themselves, are a formidable range, and not just in terrain.
 |
| Yatil Mountains |
Yatil Mountains: These mountains are
clustered thickly for many leagues west and south of Lake Quag. They, along
with the Barrier Peaks, divide the Baklunish portion of the continent from the
rest – save in the north where western nomads have pushed across the top and beyond.
These mountains form the boundaries of Ekbir, Tusmit, and Ket to the west. In
and along their eastern slopes are found the Concatenated Cantons of Perrenland
and the territory of the Olvenfolk (Highfolk). [Folio – 24]
Yatil Mountains: These great mountains
are nearly impassable for many leagues west and south of Lake Quag. Numerous
orcs, ogres, giants, trolls, and bestial monsters dwell here, even dragons,
though less than in the mountains to the south. [LGG – 143]
There are numerous humanoids and monsters dwelling
within this range of mountains, but there are also some hardy demi-humans and
mountaineers there. The Yatils are quite rich in ore deposits and gems,
although it is difficult to locate and mine such deposits. [Folio – 24]
One must then assume that Mordenkainen had to take residence there from
the start to guard against all those orcs and ogres and giants and trolls, oh
my!
Mordenkainen lives in the Obsidian Citadel,
a symmetrical complex of towers and walled defenses in the Yatil Mountains. [CoG:FFF
– 21/FtAR#13]
Anchored for a time in one place, this gave
him more time for further research into all things arcane.
Mordenkainen lives in his Obsidian Citadel
in the Yatils, but he also travels disguised as a merchant to learn facts on
his own. The Citadel houses Mordenkainen’s unequalled library which is said to
contain spellbooks of every known spell) except those designed by individual
wizards), intelligence reports from across the continent, and a detailed and
continually updated history of the Flanaess. [PGtG
– 21,22]
Costs piled up,
however. A citadel in the mountains is not a cheap undertaking.
When
Mordenkainen had gathered his initial band of fellows, henchmen, and followers
numbering a score or two, keeping them became a problem. It wasn’t a matter of
loyalty or what to do with them. The sheer cost of paying upkeep and wages was
quite staggering. The rewards for dungeon exploration were sufficient to
maintain the group in modest fashion, but certainly a mage with vision needed
more than such a small company to achieve his grand ends. [Dragon #299 – 18]
What to do,
then?
Venture further
afield in search of funds.
 |
| The Answer |
His plan was met
with success. It also tamed the immediate approaches to his construction site.
That got him
thinking. Might he not tame the entire Flanaess, ridding it of the “monsters”
afflicting it? Why stop there? Why not rid it of both evil-goers and the overly
officious and sanctimonious overlords who presumed to know better than those
who toiled under them. Why not “free” the Flanaess of all forms of oppression!
He had something
there, he thought.
He could not
undertake such a scheme alone, however.
“And suddenly you know: It's time to start something
new and trust the magic of beginnings.”
―
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:
Mordenkainen, by Michael Kormarck, from Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk, 2007
Map detail, by Sam Wood, from The Adventure Begins, 1998
Zagig Yragerne, from Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk, 2007
Veralos, by Kalman Andrasofszky, from Dragon #293, 2002
Iuz the Evil, by Eric Hotz, from WGR5 Iuz the Evil, 1993
Map details, by Darlene, from World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
University of Magical Arts, by David Roach, from The Adventure Begins, 1998
Map detail, by Anna B. Meyer
Sources:
1015
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1983
1043
City of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1992
1064
From the Ashes Boxed Set, 1992
2010
Players Handbook 1e, 1978
2011A
Dungeon Masters Guide 1e, 1979
9025
World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
9031
The Rogues Gallery 1e, 1980
9576
Return of the Eight, 1998
9577
The Adventure Begins, 1998
9578
Player’s Guide to Greyhawk, 1998
9580
LT2 Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad, 1998
WGR7 Ivid the Undying, 1998
11621
Slavers, 2000
11743
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 2000
Expedition
to the Ruins of Greyhawk, 2007
Dragon
Magazine #37, 71, 289, 293, 299
Oerth
Journal #6
Living
Greyhawk Journal #0, 1
COR1 – 00 The Citadel PCs
Greyhawkania,
Jason Zavoda
The
map of Anna B. Meyer
Here we go! It's interesting to read this backstory as I've never contemplated Mordy as a youth. He just springs forth as an major mage in my memory from Maure Castle forward. Seeing the Obsidian Citadel so early is surprising but then again I guess that is tied to level. For some reason I assumed he had a lesser abode to start then when he got really high level moved west. I look forward to the next installment. I know there is more to come.
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