For additional comparison, here are the ages of other 'famous' archmages (these are all humans). Mordenkainen I believe has clones. The fact that Karsus was able to do what he did, and the the outcome of what he did, combined with the danger he represented, makes him the undisputed King of all mortal spellcasters. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. Curse of Strahd - Does NPC ability trump Inspiration rule? [13], His toenails appeared to be a venerated item in some places.[22]. I see her her actions as being her, sacrificing herself, to prevent magic from destroying the world and honestly believe that if she had of been able, she would have saved Nethiril as well. Mordenkainen also visited Barovia in the Ravenloft setting and once fought Count Strahd von Zarovich. Among his other powerful magic items are a staff of fiery power, a rod of absorption, a pink ioun stone (enhancing his constitution), a ring of protection, and a ring of wizardry. Mordenkainen Legends & Lore Learn more about the mysterious archmage from Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. It turned out that wasting a childhood playing video games, reading comic books, and watching movies could be used for finding employment, regardless of what any career advisor might tell you. [21] Mordenkainen's philosophy of neutrality is a detailed formal theory derived from decades of arcane research. He once made an oath to Zagig, pledging that he would never again enter Castle Greyhawk, an oath he kept. So the party would get to visit all the places, and see all the monsters and NPCs in Modenkainen's Mordenkainen'sTome of Foes. Mordenkainen has a very interesting history, and it's a shame that not many have discovered it. Mordenkainen is known on countless worlds for spells of his own creation, which bear his name (see spells, below, for a full list). Occupying the Tower of Urm, a windowless, iron tower that jaunts across the multiverse, Mordenkainen has authored several planar tomes and crafted many renowned spells, including Mordenkainens faithful hound, Mordenkainens magnificent mansion, and Mordenkainens sword. According to most wiki pages surrounding the character. Role-playing Games Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for gamemasters and players of tabletop, paper-and-pencil role-playing games. It is set in Maure Castle. Mordenkainen isn't just a random name that the developers at Wizards of the Coast came up with to sell their sourcebooks. From the shores of Nyr Dyv, Mordenkainen recruited a fellow wizard named Tenser and the dimwitted, but good-hearted, Serten. He appears on the cover of WG5 Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984), an hack-and-slash style adventure module based on one which which Rob Kuntz ran for Gary Gygax. Gygax: "My first PC was a fghter named Yrag, back in 1972. Mordenkainen during one of his many visits to the House Greenwood of Earth. With the threat vanquished, Mordenkainen would take the remnants of his team and clone them, reviving the Circle to its former glory. Our first hint at how that transition will be navigated is an upcoming book titled Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse, a confusing name for a. 5e He would go on to form a group with Gygax's other characters, which became known as the Circle of Eight. The Mordenkainen name should also be familiar to the players of arcane spellcaster characters inD&D, as there are several spells attributed to him, includingMordenkainen's faithful houndandMordenkainen's magnificent mansion. Whatever his bloodline, it can be confirmed where Mordenkainen spent a great deal of his time. Of course, I can't forget that Elves in Forgotten Realms are extremely long lived, and effectively immortal. There's no indication that his statistics change if his sanity is restored though. However, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes adds nine tiefling subraces, . And Allah will surely reward the grateful." No, . In 5e terms, they're casting 11th level spells, essentially. "The Weave" is just what it's called in the Forgotten Realms, but it's still a thing in other worlds. Many such groups rescued by Mordenkainen now serve in his armies out of gratitude. Sure, Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse is a monster book it's right there in the title but it also serves as an one-stop collection and update for a host of playable races from previous Dungeons and Dragons sources, and it does a lot more than simply republish them. There could in theory, be a stronger spellcaster out there in the multiverse but, as far as we know, Mordenkainen is the only one able to do the seriously top-end kind of stuff. He takes pride in his ability to pick out the small and overlooked details and makes his own predictions on how a story will end. In the battle, the dungeon level was collapsed, and the remaining gods were freed. This was added to the FAQ yesterday (5/9):. Mordenkainen himself is first mentioned in the Dungeon Masters Guide (1979), p. 160, regarding his research into the creation of Queen Ehlissa's Marvelous Nightingale. For example, in a meeting of the Circle of Eight, when Jallarzi Sallavarian noted Drawmij's growing eccentricity with age, Mordenkainen was quick to scold her for her rudeness. His most notable figure are his piercing eyes,[6] behind which lie a volatile sense of genius tinged with madness; lesser individuals are readily persuaded by his penetrating gaze alone. [19] It replicated the effect of his spell known as Mordenkainen's disjunction,[speculation] making it capable of breaking any 'enchantment' within its vicinity. "Spells Between the Covers." Moderator Ravenspear Location: -8 GMT / Pacific Join Date: 7/8/2017 Posts: 835 I think it's been stated by folks like Perkins in the podcasts that wizards like Mordenkainen break the mold, attain power otherwise unattainable to other wizards. The most significant changes occurred after Gygax's departure from TSR in 1985, after which the character came to be defined by other writers. Numerous iconic World of Greyhawk figures have a similar origin, including Bigby, Tenser, Rary, Robilar, and Otiluke. I DM for a group of kids and at last week's session I let slip that This, from a 10 year old. While it is widely believed that the wizard was born 509 CY, or common year, there's very little information about the wizard's place of origin. At this point, he has no stats; all his spells are DM hand-waving. In his free time, Dexter enjoys writing short stories with a focus within the fantasy genre along with playing video games with his friends. He could have his head lopped off and dropped in the Netherrealm, but he won't die. Dexter greatly enjoys delving into the lore and story of video games. In the world of Greyhawk, Mordenkainen is a powerful archmage of Oerth who leads a group of adventurers called the Circle of Eight tasked with maintaining cosmic balance. Gary shared which method he used to extend Mordenkainen's lifespan, in a Forum post on Dragonsfoot: I envisaged Mordenkainen as around 30 year of age when he began adventuring, so that would make him around 80 years of age now (considering campaign time)--although he has quaffed a number of potions of longevity preiodically [sic], always when a wish was cast, so likely he appears more like a vigorous 50. No, he's very much a character whose existence has weight within the world of Dungeons & Dragons. We use necessary cookies to allow our site to function correctly and collect anonymous session data. In 581 CY, a great tragedy befell the newly formed group. As the beaten wizard roamed Barovia, his once brilliant mind began to crack. While it was in progress, the 'boys' were active in raiding the lands around to keep the enemy forces back on their heels.". Immortals are beings in the Mortal Kombat universe. How is it possible for this NPC to be alive during the Curse of Strahd adventure? [14], He possesses the Silver Key of Portals, a silver skeleton key created by the god Dalt; his rediscovery of this item led to a resurgence in the obscure deity's popularity. When mad, his eyes crackled with eldritch power. The final member to join this merry band was the ranger Otis, and together they became the Citadel of Eight. Challenge Rating 2: Create a blue Dog Illusion creature token with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to twice the number of cards in your hand." [20] However, he later wanted nothing to do with that "accursed thing" for fear of it destroying all his magical possessions, and he angrily rejected Xenk Yendar when he came to him in Waterdeep circa 1400 DR seeking help dealing with it. Flanaess, Oerth Tenser distrusts Mordenkainen, suspecting he may have leaked critical information to Iuz about Tenser's last clone. ", Heard, Bruce. Mordenkainen's Disjunction). [57][7] Mordenkainen and the Citadel of Eight were credited with having "quietly" and "invisibly" directed the downfall of the Temple of Elemental Evil in 569 CY. I mean, 9th level spells can reshape time and reality, so, one doesn't get much bigger than that. Effect of temperature on Forcefield parameters in classical molecular dynamics simulations. Male I like to think that it's because his time in Barovia has him begging for a change of scenery to something more palatable, like the Nine Hells. Related: Dungeons & Dragons: Party Roles Explained. [3], Mordenkainen is one of the famous mages whose spells were included in the 1988 Greyhawk Adventures hardbound. In shortArchmages tend to live until someone manages to kill them--and even then, it's hard to make sure it sticks. [3] In fiction associated with the World of Greyhawk, he has played diverse roles as both protagonist and antagonist. [5] Gygax was interested in Finnish mythology, and named the wizard Mordenkainen, a portmanteau of the mythical heroes Mordecai and Lemminkinen. Class However, the wizard gained the moniker the Mad Mage during a brief stint in Barovia, one of the Domains of Dread in Ravenloft, shortly after thwarting Vecna. Mordenkainen was created for the original Greyhawk campaign way back in the early 1970s. Elminster: Born in 212 DR, currently ~1,275 years old. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. It is described that Mordenkainen is not humanocentric, giving equal respect to all the main demihuman races of Oerth, though he does not say the same about humanoids like orcs and ogres. His voice was deep and melodic. If this is indeed the case, and the ability to weild higher level magic, is not specifically blocked but rather requires an extended ammount research and practice, then that would say other forms of wizards (liches or other undead or otherwise immortal casters) could also acquire the ability to cast 10, 11 level spells. When the Greyhawk campaign world was reset in 1991's From the Ashes, Mordenkainen was refashioned as the world's most powerful wizard. [65] Despite this, he was still unknown to many common folk in the Free City of Greyhawk, perhaps due to the infrequency of his visits. Privacy Policy. Gygax subsequently created several characters, including a 1st-level wizard in early 1973. However, he reveals the truth that Mordenkainen once lived in Highfolk. Do the Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms calendars have a 1-to-1 corelation? When Mordenkainen was at a level I considered too high for normal adventuring, I used the money he and his associates had amassed to construct the said fortress. ", Greenwood, Ed. Dragon #366 introduced the rituals Mordenkainen's Ascent and Mordenkainen's Joining. Among those with whom is is acquainted are Elminster of Faern,[9], Dalamar of Krynn,[46] Fistandantilus of Krynn,[47] and Shaan the Serpent Queen of Faerun,[26] and the apprentice Savengriff of Faern. 12 Obviously I am talking about him in terms of the D&D universe. Among them are Heward,[51] Otto, Elayne Mystica of Irongate, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun of Faern, and priestess Johanna of Almor. Mordenkainen is cited as creator of the Arcane Key in Dragon #387 (2010). Mordenkainen Astral dreadnoughts were massive creatures. The main reason I changed the identity of the Mad Mage in my Curse of Strahd game was because my players would have no idea who this guy is and what he represents. Would you publish a deeply personal essay about mental illness during PhD? The Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse release date has been announced. [5], Mordenkainen is a male who appears to be in his forties, although his true age is around twice that. Answer (1 of 9): Chapter 3, verse 145: "And Muhammad is not but a messenger. Mordenkainen is one of the most well-known and most powerful wizards in the Flanaess. If you think its a good idea feel free to steal it, im okay with it. It is immune to entry by teleportation and similar magic. From his comment, methods to turn him undead would be unlikely. All the Circle of Eight, save for Mordenkainen himself, were slain by Halmadar the Cruel under the direction of the lich Vecna. Zagig had used this artifact c. 505 CY to ascend to divinity, becoming the deity Zagyg. [8] Over several years of gameplay, mainly from 1973 to 1985, Gygax developed the character traits and adventures with which Mordenkainen would become associated, as well as raising the wizard to "twenty-something levels". Immortality of Raiden. While I am sure she is capable of doing so, I strongly suspect that she does not bother with clones and uses some other means, though what that may be I do not know. Meanwhile, Lord Robilar destroyed clones and phylacteries belonging to Tenser and Otiluke, preventing their return to life. 9th level spells have always been the "cap" for spellcasters and it's always been said this is the most powerful magic there is, short of gods' magic, there's nothing else higher than 9th level. Cookie Notice Also, using Magic Jar to take control of the body of another while you Imprison your original body in a way that prevents aging. The Raven Queen as Mother Night One of my players in my CoS campaign recently purchased me a copy of the new Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (MToF) for reasons I can only guess at. Are there any canonical correlations or known overlaps between D&D settings' various timelines that could be used to determine when they correspond? [55], It is known to only a few that Mordenkainen is of Oeridian descent, related to House Cranden of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy; other notable figures who share this honor include the hero-goddess Johydee, Tuerny the Merciless, the lawmaker Schandor, and Mordenkainen's own apprentice Bigby. Mordenkainen was absent during this encounter and spent most of his time bringing his allies back to life, through the use of theclonespell, which he had to do again when the traitor Rary killed several members of the Circle. Why would a highly advanced society still engage in extensive agriculture? Mordenkainen appears in material for the fifth edition of D&D, including Curse of Strahd (2016), and Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (2019). It seems to me that to complete his research, he needs to go to places and encounter beings that are not only dangerous but out right hostile to life in general. Mordenkainen is detailed in The City of Greyhawk boxed set (1989), which details the Circle of Eight and gives statistics for Mordenkainen, as well as a great deal of information about the Obsidian Citadel, Mordenkainen's activities, and his acceptance of Jallarzi Sallavarian into the Circle of Eight. Full statistics for Mordenkainen appear in the Epic Level Handbook (2002), p. 308-309, where he is a 27th level wizard, described as one of the most feared and respected living mages in the Flanaess. [16] He typically listens more than he talks,[8] keeps an open mind, and is quick to share pertinent information. He is frequently stubborn and difficult to work with and does not suffer fools gladly. He was created by Gary Gygax as a player character,[1] only months after the start of Gygax's Greyhawk campaign and is therefore one of the oldest characters continuously associated with Dungeons & Dragons.[2]. In a v3.5 adventure he appeared in, Mordenkainen was level 30. My party is about to finish up in Vallaki and will be leveling up to 5 likely by the end of next session. Various depictions of Mordenkainen.Gallery On this day, the Circle of Eight was betrayed by the archmage Rary, and Lord Robilar. [21][23] He is of exceptional intelligence, and has mastered the ultimate ninth level of spells, by some accounts knowing forms of magic even more powerful than that. ", Gygax: "Mordenkainen came into being about the first month of 1973. Mordenkainen was originally one of the player characters of Gary Gygax, the co-creator of D&D. This makes him one of the oldest D&D characters in the history of the game. Mordenkainen was concerned that this artifact would disturb the balance of the universe, and asked them to chop off Vecna's hand and bring it back to him. (. They probably won't be looking to fight Strahd in the immediate future, but I wanted to start wrapping my mind around Mordenkainen, who was revealed as their ally from the Card Reading. I get that such notable long lived features keep their methods a closely guarded secret, but it would help me from a lore building perspective. [52], He is not known for his relationships, though he once competed with Vangerdahast of Faern for the hand of an extra-planar beauty. [8], Mordenkainen has other bases of operations, including the plane-traveling Tower of Urm, a small iron fortress which he took with him to Avernus in order to study the planar effects of the Nine Hells in modifying magic. Mordenkainen is known to have authored "several planar tomes"[70] and co-authored books on other topics, including the following in-setting works: Mordenkainen has opposed attempts to copy and distribute his works.[87]. Mordenkainen is first mentioned in the AD&D 1st edition Player's Handbook (1978), in reference to the spells Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound and Mordenkainen's Sword. Mordenkainen is a native of Oerth (Greyhawk) not Toril (Forgotten Realms), so the weave (a Forgotten Realms setting detail) has never really applied to him. Anyone have guidance on how to role play this most iconic of all D&D Wizards? Empty iron foundations remain behind to mark the site of his towers arrival and upon its return, the tower locks itself into place with a satisfying clunk. No fewer than a dozen other compatriots were slain in adventuring. The implement Mordenkainen's Tome appears in Adventurer's Vault 2, which improves the bearers ability to cast Mordenkainen's Sword. Alignment On May 17, Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes will be discontinued from our digital marketplace. Scott specializes in gaming and has loved the medium since the early 90s when his first console was a ZX Spectrum that used to take 40 minutes to load a game from a tape cassette player to a black and white TV set. Mordenkainen was Gary Gygax's first-ever player character. [7] He can be volatile, a trait disliked by his former ally Rary the Traitor, who considers the Mordenkainen too obsessed with petty intrigues and debate rather than the acquisition of power. [7]:334, He was to become Gygax's most famous character,[3] and also his favorite to play. [57] The four are among only thirteen individuals who have made it to the eighth level beneath Zagig's Tower of Magic since 409 CY. [13], He is bold and decisive in carrying out his plans, thorough, resourceful, and a skilled leader. Which leads to the discussion, above, regarding higher level magic. Types: Legendary Planeswalker Mordenkainen. Based upon this, I would stick my neck out and say that maybe Mordenkainen wasn't entirely mortal, that he was some kind of demi power and probably bordering on lower level god. Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. So, Elminster, for example, might've technically been a more "powerful" character, since he had a higher CR and more levels but, Mordenkainen was the more powerful wizard, which is the OP's question. Tasha though? [7], According to writings in the Codex of Mordenkainen, he began developing his philosophy of neutrality at least as far back as 551 CY. [63], Feeling resposible for the release of Iuz, Mordenkainen recruited several of his former Citadel allies into a new organization, the Circle of Eight. Mordenkainen I believe has clones. 5e [7] A rumor holds that Robilar is Mordenkainen's bastard son, though it is unsubstantiated. All rights reserved. Rary slayed Tenser and Otiluke, and severely wounded Bigby. They appear in the repertoire of characters in various campaign settings, including Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, Al-Qadim, Ravenloft, Spelljammer, and Dragonlance. And he who turns back on his heels will not harm Allah at all. Starting on May 16, you can acquire the streamlined and up-to-date creatures and character race options, as well as a plethora of exciting new content, by purchasing Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. He often met with Elminster from the Forgotten Realms and Dalamar from Dragonlance in theWizards Threearticles that used to appear inDragonmagazine, with the three treating each other as equals. Since his unfortunate encounter with Strahd, Mordenkainen struggles to regain what he had lost. Lord Mage of Greyhawk[1] Mordenkainen's statistics vary between sources, but are given in. Perhaps the difficulty is in the acquisition of the prerequisites knowledge. Mad Mage of Mount Baratok Mordenkainen continued to adventure with Robilar across the Flanaess, visiting such distant places as the City of the Gods in the northern wastes and the Amedio jungle of the south. When he was ousted from TSR, Gary lost the intellectual property rights to the character, so from that point on, official canon was up to TSR and later WotC, and this answer hence does not represent canon for 5e.

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