“And now
you'll be telling stories
of my coming back
and they won't be false, and they won't be true
but they'll be real”
― A Thousand Mornings:
Poems
 |
| Tenser |
But even the most powerful wielders of the
arcane are merely mortal. Each has his measure of time upon the Oerth, unless they pursue dark paths—and even then, those foul extensions of being are no
guarantee of immortality. Each of us must face the end, sooner or later.
No one lives forever.
581 CY
An important
though seldom noticed event took place in 581 CY, when an agent of Vecna, the
Whispered One of ancient Flan legend, struck down the entire Circle of Eight
[…]. The Circle had acted subtly as a balancing agent for years, preventing any
one power from dominating too much of the Flanaess. [LGG – 15]
The unthinkable had happened: Tenser was
dead. Indeed, the whole of the Circle of Eight, except for Mordenkainen, was
dead, laid low in their pursuit of Balance while investigating Vecna’s rumoured
return.
 |
| Vecna |
582 CY
Vecna
destroyed the entire Circle, save Mordenkainen, who had elected to remain in
Greyhawk as a safeguard against just such an occurrence. When news reached the
archmage, he mobilized the Circle's allies, and a small cadre of apprentice
wizards, former companions, and long-time confidantes embarked on a nearly
hopeless bid to thwart Vecna's apotheosis [.] [LGJ#0 – 6]
Only the
bravery and fortitude of a brave handful of adventurers was able to thwart
Vecna’s machinations and put an end to his plans. [WGR2
– 32]
Tenser’s
henchman, Cymria of Celadon, was among those gathered.
Cymria of
Celadon
Female Elf
12th-Level
Fighter/ 11th-Level Mage Chaotic Good
Tall and
thin, Cymria has a sharp, wolfish look that matches her hard-edged disposition.
Although she acts in the cause of good, Cymria is noted for her lack of mercy
and distrust of compromises. She prefers a quick and efficient solution to any
problem. Befriended by the outgoing Tenser, Cymria has chosen to leave her
family and fellow elves to join the Tenser, with his concern and curiosity for
the woodland beings, Cymria has found someone she can respect. [WGA4 Vecna Lives! – 90]
 |
| Cymria of Celadon |
Did these
gathered heroes thwart the dastardly demigod?
They did, but
not as heroically as one might expect. They had decidedly surprising help.
Somehow (it
is whispered that they employed the aid of luz, who stood to lose much under
the deification of the Lich Lord), the intrepid adventurers managed to banish
the Maimed God at the strange stone circles known as the Tovag Baragu, and
Oerth returned to relative normalcy, save for the absence of the Circle of
Eight. [LGJ#0 – 6]
The Circle was avenged. But Death is not
always the end, is it? There is always hope. Especially where archmagi are
concerned.
Mordenkainen
addressed this absence by recovering what was left of his fallen comrades and
cloning them. This endeavor consumed time that otherwise might have seen him
addressing the reports of the Circle's allies in the North, who warned of
alarming developments in Stonefist and the Barbarian Lands. When those events
spiraled into the first conflicts of the Greyhawk Wars, the Circle's clones
remained undeveloped and half-aware. By the time the clones reached full maturation,
the Circle of Eight had been forced to take a reactive stance to the tumultuous
events unfolding before them. [LGJ#0 – 6]
The entire
Circle of Eight was slain by an agent of Vecna, and so would fear and hate this
cult greatly. [TAB – 3]
Though the
Circle's leader, Mordenkainen, returned his colleagues to life using powerful
magic, the group was in disarray when war again erupted in the distant north in
582. [LGG – 14]
War had come to the Flanaess just when the
Circle could not have acted to prevent its possibility.
Though the
Circle’s leader, Mordenkainen, returned his colleagues to life, the Circle was
weakened when the Greyhawk Wars finally erupted. [WGG
3e – 4]
Where was Tenser at the outbreak of the War?
Tired, one would imagine. But not idle. He was following up on leads concerning
his personal obsession, Iggwilv.
 |
| Iggwilv |
Might he have been
pitting his strength against the Witch-queen? I would not doubt that he did.
Very likely to stalemate. Most assuredly, I would suggest. Neither could be
easily defeated by the other, each being the power that they were. The pitting
of those powers would have certainly unleashed chaos.
Iggwilv was
not so easily put off [by Tenser’s meddling in her affairs and her subsequent
loss of the Crook of Rao], and she renewed her practice of summoning fiends and
binding them to her will. Why the Crook of Rao was not used to stop her (for
such was the purpose for its recovery) is uncertain, though some whispers hint
that whoever obtained the artifact from Tenser lost it thereafter (which would
explain the recent tales that suggest the Crook of Rao is in the possession of
Drax the Invulnerable, Lord Protector of Rel Astra). [Dragon # 225 – 52]
Their struggle
would have left him spent and exhausted, even more so after his ordeal with
Death, and unlikely to have been able to confront one such as Drax.
582 – 584 CY
Those of the Circle who could fight did what
they could amidst the struggle.
Mordenkainen's
view of "enforced neutrality" is not tit-for-tat equality, but rather
a detailed theoretical philosophy derived from decades of arcane research. He
has fought ardently for the forces of Good, most recently during the Greyhawk
Wars, but just as often has worked on darker plots to achieve his ends.
[LGG – 156]
By the time
the clones reached full maturation, the Circle of Eight had been forced to take
a reactive stance to the tumultuous events unfolding before them. Though the
Circle never acted concertedly during the Greyhawk Wars, certain
"hotspots" received a good deal of their attention. Mordenkainen,
Bigby and Otto fought against the Old One's army at the infamous Battle of
Critwall Bridge, and Drawmij was instrumental in organizing the flood of
refugees from the Lost Lands to fastnesses in the Good Hills. Nystul worked
primarily alone in besieged Tenh, while Otto and Bigby left Mordenkainen in the
Vesve Forest to do what they could for the Iron League. Citing pressing
personal needs, Rary retreated to his tower in Lopolla and refused to come to
the aid of his companions. [LGJ#0 – 6]
No mention is
made of Tenser. Should he not have fought alongside Mordenkainen at Critwall
Bridge?
He might have if
wasn’t already engaged in his unheralded struggle with Iggwilv.
By the time
the Greyhawk Wars rolled around, Iggwilv had a sizeable force under her
control, which she put at the disposal of Iuz. [Dragon # 225 – 52]
Where was Iggwilv,
then, during the War? Curiously absent. But not unengaged.
 |
| Graz'zt and Iggwilv |
Might Tenser have had
a hand in this? Possibly. Tenser could have plotted to ensure that Graz’zt had that
certain “unique magical device” in his possession when Iggwilv attempted to
summon the demon lord. Do you doubt that LG Tenser would do such a thing? I don’t. [Lawful Good (Neutral tendencies)
COG:FFF - 22] What’s more, I suggest that this might not have been
the only time the Circle could have played the “long game,” weaving complex,
secretive, and sometimes somewhat dubious webs to stem the flow of Evil upon
the Oerth… in the pursuit of Balance.
Tenser had been
championing “The Balance” a long time, long enough to balance the longer
Greater Good against the necessity of the moment. He would also be adept at subtlety,
as well, in his pursuit of it, especially when it concerned Iggwilv and Iuz, seeing
how Iuz was obsessed with his death after he had failed to kill him upon his
release from Zagyg’s prison. Let Evil stamp out Evil, Tenser might
opine; and let Good save Its strength for when it was truly needed. Tenser just
might have concluded that the loss of the magical device (and Graz’z’t’s
continued possession of it) outweighed Iggwilv’s and Iuz’s acting in concert
upon the Flanaess once again. Time would tell, wouldn’t it? And he would cross
those later bridges when faced with them.
584 CY
Meanwhile, back
on Oerth….
Onnwal,
unlike Irongate, failed to recognize the treachery that caused it to fall into
the hands of the Scarlet Brotherhood during the Greyhawk Wars. The land had
never been invaded and had previously been subjected only to periodic naval
raids by South Province. The Scarlet Brotherhood assassinated Szek Ewerd
Destron and took over the land almost overnight. Some anticipated the takeover
just in time, particularly the thieves' guild in Scant, which absconded from
the city to the countryside in 584 CY. [LGG – 80]
 |
| Rakehell Chert |
Before the night of the Scarlet Knives, Chert was aware of the Brotherhood’s plans. Exactly how he became aware is a matter of speculation—some say that Tenser or Bigby alerted him, others say that Chert has the sight of one touched by the Goddess Johydee. [Dragon #299 – 100]
It was most likely Bigby who alerted Rakehell
Chert. He had recent roots there. Friends and allies, trade contacts and
underworld connections—like any good “merchant.” But Tenser and Bigby were
always tight, and one was always willing to aid the other in their endeavours.
The War wound
down, the combatants exhausted, as one would expect after prolonged bloodshed.
Troops were spent, munitions depleted, coffers empty. The victors would wish to
consolidate their gains, the others had need to shore up their defenses and
prepare for what they knew was sure to resume.
There was a
rumour of peace. Before long, those rumours became fact.
9 Goodmonth
When the
political rumblings that signaled the end to the conflict reached the Free City
of Greyhawk, the entire Circle was on hand to ensure a favorable outcome
to the peace process. Their network of agents researched the backgrounds
of key diplomats and participants in the proceedings, and magical divinations
were conducted to unmask any would-be saboteurs. Never did the view of those
scrying crystals turn inward, however, toward the plans of the single
individual who could do the most harm to the delegates' cause. [LGJ #0 –
6,7]
 |
| Betrayal |
A blazing
explosion destroyed a good part of the Grand Hall only minutes before the
ambassadors assembled for the day. A fierce magical battle immediately ensued,
spreading havoc through much of the old city. [Wars
– 24]
Instead of
counter-attacking Otiluke directly. Rary set off several more traps, injuring
Bigby, who had just joined the fight. […] As the smoke cleared, amid the crash
of falling masonry and the tinkle of broken glass, Bigby, himself badly wounded.
crawled over to see to his friends, only to find both of them slain beyond hope
of resurrection, and Rary had vanished without a trace. [WGR3
– 7]
When the fire
and dust cleared, constables discovered smoldering robes belonging to two
powerful members of the mysterious Circle of Eight—Otiluke and Tenser. The
murderer of these wizards, undeniably a powerful mage [.] [Wars
– 24]
A badly
wounded third, Bigby of Scant, claimed that their assailant had been their
one-time ally, Rary, member of the Circle of Eight. [LGG – 38]
Nothing was
left of their bodies to allow revival by clone, resurrection or any other
spell. [Rot8 – 3]
 |
| Rary |
Rary's
treachery that day killed Tenser and Otiluke, and gained the Archmage of Ket
everlasting infamy. Spurned from his family by his brother and banned from
Greyhawk itself by Mordenkainen, Rary fled to the Bright Desert, to uncover its
secrets and inaugurate an empire. [LGJ#0 – 7]
Using secrets
gained in confidence, Rary not only vaporized his two fellows but also tracked
down and destroyed every clone the pair held in preparation. [Wars
– 24]
Simultaneously,
Rary’s ally Robilar entered Tenser’s castle (four days’ travel away) and
initiated an attack. When the battle ended, Tenser’s forces were slain, his
castle was looted and all Tenser’s cloning materials were destroyed. [Rot8
– 3]
In the
ensuing confusion and shock, Lord Robilar's own troops struck, destroying every
one of the dead wizards' hidden clones, assuring the permanent death of both
Tenser and Otiluke. [WGR3 – 7]
However,
after the battle that killed Tenser and Otiluke, all discoverable clones of the
two mages were destroyed by co-conspirators of the assassin, Rory of Ket. [PGtG
– 23]
 |
| Robilar |
Quij was once a henchman of the notorious
Lord Robilar[.] Quij took part in the sacking of the castle of the slain
Archmage Tenser, but the orc became separated from his comrades after the raid. [TAB
– 98]
Mordenkainen’s
divination revealed that Tenser was truly dead and could not be resurrected by
any means. […] [Rot8 – 3]
Tenser was dead!
Truly dead! Again!
Magical
scrying and the strenuous efforts of sages have not availed to give the full
story of what happened that day. All that is known for sure is that, within the
Grand Hall where the treaty was to be signed, a fierce magical battle erupted
and spread havoc through the Old City. Afterwards, two members of the famed
Circle of Eight, the great mages of Greyhawk, lay dead; Otiluke and Tenser were
no more. Their magical clones likewise shrivelled and perished, and their own
bodies could not be resurrected. It is also known that Rary of Ket, another
Circle member, was last seen fleeing with Lord Robilar into the Bright Desert,
and that Rary had turned traitor and had slain his old friends. [FtAA – 9]
The treachery of Rary in 584 CY saw the destruction of Tenser
and Otiluke, leaving the Circle at five. [LGG – 156]
The treachery
left the Eight (now Five: Bigby, Drawmij, Jallarzi Sallavarian, Nystul and
Otto) reeling. [Rot8 – 2,3]
Others were left filled with rage. And in need for revenge.
Tenser had many friends and allies. And a vast network of confidants and
collaborators.
Schinus
Balint, Commander of the Cairn Hills Force
Schinus has a
secret ambition: he wants to hunt down Robilar and Rary and kill them. Schinus
had his own life saved from a dragon turtle by Tenser, and has been an escort
to Jallarzi Sallavarian, and he hopes to track down the renegades, revenge his
old friend Tenser, and present himself covered in glory to Jallarzi, whom he
admires and desires greatly. [FtAC – 30]
Tenser being Tenser, he had prepared for the
very worst.
Following a
near-tragedy at the hands of Vecna’s followers, all members of the Eight kept a
number of active clones. [PGtG – 23]
Though Rary
thought he destroyed every clone of Tenser, he missed one. After a close
call some years before, Tenser set up a hidden laboratory. Manned by magical
servants, the laboratory would be triggered only by Tenser’s death if no other
cloning effects were begun within a set period of time. [Rot8 – 3]
Tenser is
dead but his clone lives, activated in a secret laboratory a very long way from
home. [Rot8 – 2,3]
He could not plan for every possibility,
though.
Unfortunately,
the clone has run into an old enemy [… Tuerny] …. [Rot8
– 2,3]
Tenser is
still alive, but powerless and changed into a minor demon. [Rot8
– 2]
To the rest of
the Flanaess, Tenser was dead, though.
 |
| Jallarzi Sallavarian |
Say what you will, old enemies are
persistent, especially the Old One’s.
A few people
have set off to visit the castle since Tenser’s demise, but none ever returned.
[Rot8 – 19]
Next to the skeletal elf body lie a man in
black priest’s robes, with a tiny grinning skull of Iuz on a chain around his
neck; a decapitated orc in chain mail and another orc, who appears to
have had his hands burned off with a metal staff several feet beyond him. [Rot8
– 39]
585 CY
Tenser might have been tight with Bigby, and
fast friends with Otto; he might have trusted Drawmij and Nystul with his life;
but he chose his prior pupil, Jallarzi, with the settling of his estate. Why?
Because they shared a history. And maybe more. I've suggested that Tenser might have felt rather paternal to Jallarzi, and thus they would have shared a secret understanding that he lacked with
his other colleagues, however fast and friendly. He deemed that she, of all of
them, could piece the clues of the existence of his most secreted clone, and
bring him back to life. A daughter would pick up what others would miss, obviously.
Tenser had
left a will with the Guild of Lawyers and Scribes in Greyhawk naming Jallarzi
Sallavarian executrix of his estate. [Rot8 – 3]
‘‘To Jallarzi
Sallavarian, sole guardian of my abode – Tenser.” [Rot8 – 18]
Since
Tenser's death, the sirines, swanmays, selkie, nymphs, and halflings he
befriended still visit, in the hope that their friend may yet return. None
enters the castle, save for Jallarzi Sallavarian, the executrix of Tenser's
will. She alone holds the keys to the castle, although she rarely visits now
that Tenser's bequests have been fulfilled. [FtAC – 85]
But others had waylaid Jallarzi before she
could follow those clues.
Jallarzi had her own secrets, too, it would
seem.
Hiding behind
a stack of barrels is 9-year-old Skye (“the Lioness”), already a 2nd-level
wizard [.] If rescued, Skye tells the PCs she is a special student of
Jallarzi’s, coming to her house every few days for lessons that Jallarzi gives
in her messy, brightly lit bedroom/study on the third floor. [Rot8 – 14]
Why might
Jallarzi take on young Sky as an apprentice? Because she is Bucknard’s child?
And perhaps Jallarzi’s?
Being who she is, and the dangers that might
attract, Jallarzi hid the fact that Skye was hers and Bucknard’s child to
protect her….
With good reason, as she too was missing.
It fell to others to follow the breadcrumbs
to Tenser’s clone, to say nothing of where Jallarzi might be.
3rd week of Goodmonth
 |
| Jallarzi and Tenser, Transformed |
One clone of
Tenser was finally recovered from a secret location. [PGtG
– 23]
Tuerny has
tortured him by changing him to a dretch marked with an imitation of the sword
from his coat of arms, Tenser retains his awareness, but he currently has no
spell powers, armor, weapons or anything else. [Rot8 – 50]
Nor was
Jallarzi:
Tuerny the
Merciless has chosen to torture her, as well. After making a simulacrum, he
changed he sex and cast potent spells to alter her alignment, just for the amusement
of watching her turn into something she hates. [Rot8 – 50]
More than
anything, Tenser wants to be human again, and he wants Jay revived if necessary
and restored to her good-aligned female form. One wish can return Tenser to his
human form. Two other wishes can change Jay to Jallarzi and restore her old
alignment. [Rot8 – 52]
Tuerney might
have been the means, but it was Iggwilv who hatched the plot.
 |
| Iggwilv |
After a
successful mission to rescue one of Tenser's clones from the clutches of the
infamous necromancer-witch Iggwilv, the Circle added three new members,
rounding out the membership. (Tenser, chafing at Mordenkainen's agenda, left
the group in disgust after his rescue.) [LGG – 156]
The startling
restoration of the archmage Tenser in mid-585 CY, followed by the announcement
that the Circle of Eight was once again at full number, heartened many people
in the difficult days after the end of the wars. [TAB – 19]
All’s well that
ends well, you might say; but not all endings are entirely happy.
Tenser was
returned to life in 585 CY […], but chose not to return to the Circle of Eight.
[PGtG – 21]
Tenser,
chafing at Mordenkainen's agenda, left the group in disgust after his rescue.
[LGG – 156]
Otiluke is
still dead. Three new members were appointed in 585 CY: Alhamazad the Wise,
Theodain Eriason and Warnes Starcoat. […] [PGtG – 21]
It would seem that Tenser was not the only
one disenchanted with Mordenkainan’s methods.
Since Tenser
was probably her closest ally in the Circle, [Jallarzi] now spends less time
with her companions than before the wars, preferring instead to conduct her
research and Circle business alone. [LGJ#0 – 9]
Tenser had decided to go it alone. He would
never again work to “Keep The Balance,” he would fight for the Greater Good. As
he always had.
Tenser left
the Eight and now follows his own course in protecting the Flanaess. [PGtG
– 11]
Outgoing,
generally polite and witty, Tenser is [a] passionate advocate of law and
goodness, demanding that individual desires be abrogated to the greater common
good of civilization in the Flanaess – even to the extent of occasionally
infringing on individual rights. He may magically force others to do his
bidding if he feels the cause is important. His passion can be seen as bullying
and even dangerous by potential allies, but his devotion to lawful-good
principles endears him to his followers. [Rot8 – 58]
When the
cloned Tenser returned to his castle on the shore of the Nyr Dyv in 585 CY, he
retired from the Circle of Eight and began a campaign to promote the forces of
law and good in the Flanaess. [PGtG – 23]
The return of the archmage Tenser in 585 CY
brought joy to the community [of Elmshire]. Along with a raft of whispers about
his recent adventures, plans, and projects. It is often said that Tenser’s
fortress, along the southern Nyr Dyv coast over 40 miles east of Elmshire, is
home to monsters, artifacts, and wizardry unparalleled. The halflings love
Tenser’s presence but fear him personally. [Dragon
#262 – 43]
 |
| Tenser |
Human male 21st-level
mage
Former member
of the Circle of Eight
Str 10, Dex
16, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 11, Cha 18
Spells
(5/5/5/5/5/4/4/4/2): Fond of using charm-type spells like geas to
force others to take quests, Tenser also likes divination and combative spells.
He rarely uses necromancy. Tenser begins (and ends) this adventure knowing no
spells at all; he will be obliged to relearn them. [Rot8
– 57]
Nonweapon
Proficiencies: Ancient history (history and legends of the Nyr Dyv),
astrology, etiquette, herbalism, information gathering […] local history (Wild
Coast) […] [Rot8 – 57]
Tenser is
sixty years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 160 pounds. He is in good
health but not muscular. His once dark-brown hair is streaked with gray; he has
dark-brown eyes and a prominent aquiline nose. Tenser loves the color blue and
always wears it. Even his possessions and his castle are blue. His robes always
have the design of a thin scimitar, as this is part of his coat of arms. [Rot8
– 58]
Tenser uses
destructive spells in combat, leaving hand-to-hand melee to his warrior
henchmen and hirelings, but he will not shy away from physical fighting; he has
sometimes been so overcome with rage that he stops spellcasting and charges
into battle with his staff. Tenser developed many spells to improve warriors’
effectiveness in battle, and he is likely to outfit companions with
combat-boosting item. [Rot8 – 58]
Tenser will
fight to the death without quarter against his most hated enemies: Iuz and his
followers and Rary the Traitor. [Rot8 – 58]
It would be remiss to exclude Iggwilv from
Tenser’s shortlist. His whole history is replete with his jousting with the necromancer-witch.
Once restored
to the Flanaess, Tenser will be on the move for many months, rebuilding his
network of allies and spies, not to mention recovering his lost spellbooks,
personal wealth and magical treasures. Tenser created many spells that bear his
name; if rescued, he will be especially interested in regaining these for his
use. If given the chance to study his old spellbooks or create new ones using
other wizards’ spellbooks or scrolls, he recovers much of his lost knowledge in
a year’s time. Once he regains his citadel and brings back most of his henchmen
and hirelings, he can recover his monetary losses in about two years.
His next goal
is the complete destruction of Rary and Robilar [….]
 |
| Warnes Starcoat |
Tenser may have
left the Circle of Eight, but he was not a fool. They had their uses. More
importantly, he had friends within its fold, and he would never abandon then,
regardless his differences of opinion with their chair.
Tenser is on
good terms with Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight, though he often disagrees
with them on matters of policy and he is frustrated with their caution when
acting against evil. [Rot8 – 58]
Ever pragmatic, Tenser realized that the
Circle’s network of informants would not necessarily be at his disposal, so he
endeavoured to wax his own. One could never have enough eyes and ears out
there. Some were more useful than others.
Javka is a friend and personal servant of
the Despotrix [of Hardby], and she has travelled to cities as far away as
Dyvers and Leukish, usually on errands of information gathering for the
Gynarchy. […]
She entered the service of the Gynarchy in
early 585 CY, and her resourcefulness and diligence quickly brought her to the
attention of the Despotrix. […]
Javka personally favors Tenser, having
worked with a few of his agents on her past missions. [LGJ#1
– 27]
586 CY
What became of the Crook of Rao?
After its rescue, the Crook somehow fell
into the hands of Drax the Invulnerable, the calculating animus of Rel Astra.
In the closing days of the Greyhawk Wars, Drax and [Canon] Hazen worked out a
trade, and the Crook soon came to Mitrik, where it became the most influential item
in the modern history of the Flanaess. [Dragon
# 294 – 95]
After much ado it was finally but to use.
In Coldeven of 586 CY, […] Canon Hazen of
Mitrik used the Crook to stunning effect, banishing thousands of demons,
devils, yugoloths, and other outsiders from all parts of the Flanaess [.] The
assistance of nearly every priest of Rao in Mitrik as wall as the aid (some say
manipulation) of the archmage Bigby, certainly played an important role in the
effort’s success. [Dragon #294 – 93,95]
587 CY
Tenser visited a great many sages and
mystics while recovering his lost magic, some he had visited long ago when he
was very young and hungry for the power.
In a hillside
to the west is a single, shallow cave where the Hermit of Wavenair dwells.
The Hermit
never gives his name, and speaks rarely.
Certainly, he
is a powerful man. Hillsmen will tell those they trust that the Hermit was once
seen to draw from his yarpick staff a bolt of lightning that shattered the
ribcage of a hill giant attacking Wavenair (the Hermit owns a staff of thunder
and lightning that can cast double-strength bolts). If the speaker really
trusts an adventurer, he may describe a famous wizard who visited the Hermit
two years ago [in 587 CY], and if that adventurer has seen (a portrait of)
Tenser the Archmage, he would know that this was the wizard who came to call.
Why? Only the Hermit knows—and possibly Mordenkainen, too. [FtAC – 28,29]
589 CY
 |
| Tenser |
What esoteric
mysteries he returned with is anyone’s guess; but the halflings of Elmshire
are quite sure that it will come to no good.
Tenser recently reactivated his keeps mining
operations (which had been shut down after his death during the Greyhawk wars),
and minor earthquakes and strange grinding vibrations occasionally rumble into
the surrounding area from deep beneath the citadel, hinting at the immense
golems currently at work harvesting the world’s magical substance. [Dragon
#294 – 93]
The halflings should know better. Tenser has
always been a good soul. He might be aggressive in combat, he might be a bit of
an alarmist, and he might on occasion geas a soul or two in the pursuit of his
ends, but he has always fought for the Greater Good.
As to what he might be up to in his keep on
the Nyr Dyv, be assured it is well-thought out. Tenser is a genius, after all;
his knowledge is as esoteric and deep and any other great archmage.
Do you doubt that? He is certainly the most prolific
of any of the Circle of Eight, past and present.
“Theory of the Invisible Forces” by Tenser
(push, unseen
servant, strength, Tenser’s floating disc) [Dragon #82 – 57]
“Evolution of the Arcane Will Power”
by Tenser
(polymorph
self, polymorph other, polymorph any object, Tenser’s transformation) [Dragon
#82 – 58]
The Magical
Properties of Gemstones, by Mage Tenser
The Magical
Properties of Herbs and Flowers, by Mage Tenser [U1 – 7]
The Occult
Properties of Gemstones — Mage Tenser. [U2 – 20]
He may have
penned more spells than the others:
Although individual wizards of the Circle
have developed their own spells, which are predominantly of one type (e.g.
Tenser and Drawmij have their own spells which are mostly of the alteration [transmutation] school), all of them are considered as general (non-specialist) wizards. [COG:FFF
– 21]
Level One
Tenser’s Eye of
the Tiger
Tenser's Floating
Disc
Tenser’s Steady
Aim
Level Two
Tenser’s Brawl
Tenser’s Hunting
Hawk
Level Three
Tenser’s Deadly
Strike
Tenser’s Eye of
the Eagle
Level Four
Tenser’s Flaming
Blade
Tenser’s Giant
Strength
Tenser’s Master
of Arms
Tenser’s Running
Warrior
Tenser’s Staff
of Smiting
Level Five
Tenser’s
Destructive Resonance
Tenser’s Primal
Fury
Level Six
Tenser’s
Fortunes of War
Tenser’s
Transformation
Level 7
Tenser's Floating Disc, Greater
(Illusionist)
Level 8
Tenser's Lift (4e)
Level 9
Tenser's Binding (4e 10th level)
True Dweomer
Tenser’s Telling Blow
[PHB 1e – 126/GA –
128/ Dragon #366 – 32/ Wizard’s Spell Compendium IV/ Return of the 8 – 42]
And it may be that Tenser has likely created
more magical items than the rest of them combined, as well:
Tenser’s
Arrows of Hunting
Tenser’s Dagger of Frost and Flame
Tenser’s Belt of Brawling
Tenser’s
Boots of the Running Warrior
Tenser’s Bow of Eagle Sight
Tenser’s Bow
of Steadiness
Tenser’s Eyes of the Tiger
Tenser’s Fortunate Coin
Tenser’s Girdle of Giant Strength
Tenser’s Hunting Hawk
Tenser’s Iron Staff of Smiting
Tenser’s Potion of Primal Fury
Tenser’s Sword of Deadly Strikes
Tenser’s
Telling Blow
[Rot8 – 28,31,42,52,63,64]
Tenser's
Portmanteau of Frugality (W)
[Tome of Magic
2e – 145]
Tenser’s Shield
[White Dwarf #22
– 13]
 |
| Tenser's Tantalus |
A tantalus is
a nonmagical piece of furniture, a liquor-stand that uses wooden or metal rods
to keep the bottles and glasses in the stand from moving about. Tenser’s
tantalus is a mobile, magical version of the same sort of device, designed to
transport magical potions or other fragile items, keeping them safe and within
easy reach for the mage’s use. […]
Tenser’s
tantalus is a flat metal disc, 3’ in diameter, which floats at a constant 3’ above the
surface of the ground (under most circumstances) and at the same 3’ distance
from its user unless specifically commanded otherwise. [Dragon
#194 – 86]
Tenser is a truly
complex fellow. He’s a Good man amongst Neutrals. They all fight for the same
ends, or so they say; but he is the only one to admit that he fights for the
forces of Good, and in that we have to assume that he would never purposely
support Evil—unless he could turn it against them.
What do I think
about Tenser? I think he’s been pushed around a little. Don’t you? Like, come on;
he’s been killed twice, and even turned into a dretch! No other Circle member
has been so used and abused. You have to wonder why such a beloved and honoured character from the dawn of the game was treated that way. He deserved more respect. He's an archmage, for gods sake; one of the most powerful of the whole of the Flanaess!
 |
| Tenser |
He’s probably
one of the easiest of the Circle to DM, I believe. Bigby might claim that distinction, too, as well, although
Tenser is way more intimidating than Bigby, I think. Personally, I think that
Tenser is a better poster-boy for Greyhawk than Mordenkainen, what with his dedication to the cause of Good, but that’s me.
All that said, there is a notable absence in Tenser’s
long life. There is nary a mention of any romantic attachment in the whole of
his history. Bigby had Wanda, once, long ago. But Tenser? No one. Did he harbour
an unrequited love for Jallarzi, the only woman ever mentioned in his intimate “circle,”—the
only other woman that continually crosses Tenser’s life with any regularity would be Iggwilv, and that’s an entanglement
of a whole different type—or did he have another unrequited, even more secret, love? Let's address the elephant in the room: might Tenser carry a torch for Bigby, perchance? Is Tenser gay? One could present a case for it; but I expect
the omission of any romantic attachment is one that's common to many a
campaign: the subject was irrelevant in a game of swords and spells. Not that it matters. I doubt that Tenser's sexuality would ever come up in anyone's game. Or should. He wouldn't be bosom buddies with the PCs. Likely a patron, and thus his personal life would never come under scrutiny, ever. So, maybe let's let sleeping dogs lie, so as not to incite argument.
A more important question is, do I like Tenser? I
do. He’s tough and tenacious. He's from the Wild Coast, so he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s a bulldog, so to speak, as close to a Fighter as a mage can be, and thus a "little" reckless at times. He wades in, and once he gets his jaws on something he doesn’t let go. In that regard, Ernie Gygax was probably a young fellow when he played Tenser [Rogues Gallery — 46]: He wanted to have his cake and eat it too, in that he wanted to swing a sword and fling fireballs, both. I was like that when I played my first magic-user. Reckless. Physical, more likely to brandish a dagger than to cower or to run away when I ran out of spells. It wasn't until I realised that supportive magic punched heavier than actual combat magic when the shit hit the fan.
I digress....
Tenser was certainly an
adventurer. And an evocative one. He explored the depths of Castle Greyhawk with others destined to
become quasi-deities; even so, he's the central character and hero of Mike Bridges’ and Scott Casper’s graphic novel,
Castle Greyhawk, not them, not Mordenkainen.
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:
Graz'zt and Iggwilv, by Wayne Reynolds, from Dungeon #121, 2005
Rakehell Chert, by Gary Williams, from WG6 Isle of the Ape, 1986
Rary, by Andrew Hue and Arnold Tsang, from Dungeon #103/LGJ#21, 2003
Robilar, from Epic Level Handbook, 2002
Jallarzi Sallavarian, by Sam Wood, from Living Greyhawk Journal #0, 2000
Jallarzi and Tenser, Transformed, by M.E. Kedzierski, from Return of the Eight, 1998
Iggwilv, by Robson Michel. from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, 2020
Tenser, by Ted Naifeh, from Return of the Eight, 1998
Warnes Starcoat, by Sam Wood, from Living Greyhawk Journal #0, 2000
Tenser (Manzorian) detail, by Steve Prescott, from Dungeon #130, 2006
Tenser's Tantalus, by LA Williams, from Dragon #194, 1993
Lyran-Knox by black3
Sources:
1015
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1983
1043 The City of Greyhawk
Boxed Set, 1989
1064
From the Ashes Boxed Set, 1992
1068
Greyhawk Wars Boxed Set, 1991
2010
Players Handbook 1e, 1978
2023
Greyhawk Adventures, 1988
2121
Tome of Magic 2e, 1991
9025
World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
9031 The Rogues Gallery,
1980
9062 U1 Sinister Secret of
Saltmarsh, 1981
9064 U2 Danger at Dunwater,
1982
9112 WG5 Mordenkainen’s
Fantastic Adventure, 1984
9153 WG6 Isle of the Ape,
1985
9309
WGA4 Vecna Lives! 1990
9360
WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk, 1992
9386
WGR3 Rary the Traitor, 1992
9576
Return of the Eight, 1998
9577
The Adventure Begins, 1998
9578
Player’s Guide to Greyhawk, 1998
11742
World of Greyhawk Gazetteer 3e, 2000
11743
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 2000
Dragon
Magazine #82, 194, 225, 262, 294, 299, 366
White
Dwarf Magazine #22
Living
Greyhawk Journal #0, 1
Wizard’s
Spell Compendium IV, 1996
Greyhawkania,
Jason Zavoda
