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The '''Circle of Eight''' (formed from the earlier '''Citadel of Eight''') is a fictional group of [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|wizards]] in the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' [[campaign setting]] for the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[roleplaying game]]. The Circle was originally created by [[Gary Gygax]] around 1975 as an alliance of most of his own personal Dungeons & Dragons characters. In 1988, the concept of the Circle was redeveloped by TSR as part of a new storyline for the World of Greyhawk campaign. This new Circle of Eight became a powerful cabal of wizards based in the [[Flanaess]], the easternmost portion of [[Oerik]]. Its chief purpose seemed to be the  preservation of the balance of power between the forces of [[Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)|Good, Evil, Law, and Chaos]] in the Flanaess. Despite the organization's name, this new Circle of Eight actually has nine members, being composed of eight powerful wizards and their leader, [[Mordenkainen]] the archmage. For this reason, some sources call the group "Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight."<ref name="lgj0">{{cite journal | author=[[Erik Mona|Mona, Erik]], and [[Gary Holian]] | title=Wheels within Wheels: Greyhawk's Circle of Eight | journal=[[Living Greyhawk Journal]] | issue=#0 | publisher=[[Paizo Publishing]] | year=2000 | url=http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LGJcircleof8pdf.zip}}</ref>
:{{quoted text|''Who born in the last forty years can measure of themselves an ounce of the worth of [[Otiluke]], [[Bigby]], [[Tenser]], or [[Robilar]]—or even [[Rary]] or [[Evard]]?''|—[[Mordenkainen]]{{csb|MME|4}} }}


==Development==
{{Organization
[[Gary Gygax]], while helping to create the game of [[Dungeons & Dragons]], developed a home campaign in and around the [[Free City of Greyhawk|City of Greyhawk]] to playtest the new game. Not only was Gygax the "[[dungeon master]]" most of the time, but he also had an opportunity to be a player when his friend [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]] was the dungeon master. As a player, Gygax created many different characters for the Greyhawk world. At the point when eight of these characters — Mordenkainen (wizard), Yrag (fighter), Bigby (wizard), Rigby (cleric), Zigby (dwarf), Felnorith (elf), Vram (elf) & Vin (elf)<ref>Gygax: "The Obsidian Citadel and its Circle of Eight was original to my own campaign. 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. The members of the 'Circle were Mordenkainen and...others of my PCs: Bigby, Yrag the fighter, Rigby the cleric, Zigby the Dwarf, the Elves Vram and Vin, and Felnorith as principles. A number of lesser PCs were [also] associated."{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part III, Page 17) | publisher = EN World | date = 2003-07-08 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/46861-q-gary-gygax-pt-3-a-17.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> — had collectively accumulated both enough wealth that they couldn't easily spend it, as well as standing armies that rivalled most nations' forces, Gygax had the eight characters form an alliance that he called the Circle of Eight. Gygax had the Eight construct a stronghold in the middle of an evil land so they would not have to travel far to find adventure.<ref>Gygax: "The original [Circle of Eight] was composed of my PCs--Mordenkainen, Bigby, Yrag, Rigby, Felnorith, Zigby, Vram & Vin. In the novel version the Circle was expanded to encompass other PCs in my campaign such as Tenser. It came into being because Mordenkainen and Associates had a lot of wealth stored up from successful adventuring, located a place for a stronghold deep in enemy territory to assure plenty of action, and then went to work building the citadel. As there was a small army of dwarves associated with the larger, mounted field army, the building project went relatively quickly, about three game years to complete. While it was in progress, the 'boys' were active in raiding the lands around to keep the enemy forces back on their heels." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 9) | publisher = EN World | date = 2003-11-01 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/57832-gary-gygax-q-part-iv-9.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> After three years of game time, the resulting structure was the Obsidian Citadel, a massive and impregnable octagonal castle<ref>Gygax: "The Obsidian Citadel was indeed my personal creation as a player.... It was an octagonal castle with eight wall towers and a central keep with much space between the outer wall and the inner works because of the number of troops housed in this fortress.{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part VI, Page 9) | publisher = EN World | date = 2004-03-26 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/76849-gary-gygax-q-part-vi-9.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> from which Gygax could direct any of the Eight to sally forth in search of adventure.
| name          =  
| image          = [[Image:Circle of Eight01.jpg]]
| caption        = The Circle of Eight circa 591 CY, as depicted on the cover of ''[[Living Greyhawk Journal]]'' #0 (2000).
| alt_spelling  =  
| other name    = Council of Eight, Eight Magi
| alignment      =
| type          = Arcane, political
| founded        = 571
| ended          =  
| leader        = [[Mordenkainen]]
| members        = Wizards
| symbol        =  
| headquarters  =  
| allies        =  
| enemies        = [[Iuz]], [[Vecna]]
}}


After Gygax was ousted from [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] in 1985, the company took over creative control of the published Greyhawk setting, including the names of any characters who had ever been named in TSR publications. In 1988, ''[[The City of Greyhawk]]'' boxed set by [[Carl Sargent]] and Rik Rose remolded Gygax's old "Circle of Eight" into a new plot device. Instead of a group of eight companions belonging to Gygax who sallied forth from an impregnable bastion to fight evil, the Circle became eight wizards brought together by Gygax's own creation now owned by TSR, Mordenkainen.  For the other wizards, Sargent and Rose used the names of Greyhawk wizards, some of them created by other players, that Gygax had borrowed in order to name spells in the original ''Players Handbook''.  
The '''Circle of Eight''', also known as the '''Council of Eight'''{{csb|CoG|64|Gem of the Flanaess}} and the '''Eight Magi'''<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''Isle of the Ape''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985. p.6</ref>. (formed from the earlier [[Citadel of Eight]]) is an organization of wizards in the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' setting. They are based in the [[Flanaess]], the easternmost portion of [[Oerik]]. The Circle of Eight's chief purpose seems to be the  preservation of the balance of power between the forces of Good, Evil, Law, and Chaos in the Flanaess, ensuring that one does not dominate the other for an extended period of time. To this end, the Circle often works behind the scenes, especially when aiding the cause of evil.


A good example of this was [[Rary]], a low-level wizard originally created by [[Brian Blume]] for Gygax's home campaign. Blume had played [[Rary]] only until he reached 3rd-level, at which point Blume retired him, having reached his objective, which was to be able to introduce his character as "Medium Rary".<ref>Gygax: "[Rary] was one that Brian Blume created early in the D&D cycle, a magic-user that Brian wanted to work up to 3rd level so as to introduce him as 'Medium Rary.' When he gained that level Brian quit playing that PC, pretty much dropped out of regularly playing D&D in fact."{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part X, Page 7) | publisher = EN World | date = 2006-05-29 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/161566-gary-gygax-q-part-x-7.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Gygax had borrowed the name "Rary" for two high-level spells in the Player's Handbook, ''Rary's mnemonic enhancer'' and ''Rary's telepathic bond'', although Blume's Rary was not powerful enough to cast either of them. Now that TSR owned the rights to the name "Rary", Sargent and Rose transformed Rary into a powerful wizard and a member of this new Circle of Eight.
The Circle consists of eight powerful wizards and their leader, [[Mordenkainen]] the archmage. In fact, the group is sometimes referred to as "Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight."{{csb|CoG|20|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}}


In addition to Mordenkainen and Rary, there were six other wizards associated with spells in the Player's Handbook that Sargent and Rose made members of their new Circle: [[Bigby (Greyhawk)|Bigby]], [[Otiluke]], [[Drawmij]], [[Tenser]], [[Nystul]], [[Otto (Greyhawk)|Otto]]. However, Sargent and Rose needed a total of nine wizards in order to have Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight, so they created a new wizard, [[Jallarzi Sallavarian]]. The mandate of this new Circle was to act as neutral referees between Good and Evil, never letting one side or the other gain the upper hand for long. In addition, Sargent & Rose took Gygax's original Obsidian Citadel, repurposed it as Mordenkainen's castle, and placed it in an unspecified location in the [[Yatil Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite book  | last = Sargent  | first = Carl  | author-link = Carl Sargent  | last2 = Rose  | first2 = Rik  |  title = The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | place = Lake Geneva WI  | publisher = TSR Inc.  | year = 1989  | chapter = 3  | pages = 20–27  | isbn = 0-88038-731-9}}</ref> Game designer [[Ken Rolston]] described this new Circle of Eight as "a powerful and influential local organization of wizards".<ref name="Dragon #156">{{cite journal| last = Rolston| first = Ken| authorlink = Ken Rolston| title = Role-playing Reviews| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #156| pages = 84–85| publisher = [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]| location = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]]|date=April 1990}}</ref>
{{quoted text|Some of the greatest spellcasters of the world of Greyhawk form the Circle of Eight, a group dedicated to preserving balance in the world. The group’s general aim is to prevent any single country, faction, or other organized group from becoming too powerful and overwhelming others. The membership of the Circle of Eight is secret.|{{csb|DMG2024|146}} }}


In 1990, ten years after Gygax had published the original Greyhawk setting, TSR decided that the decade-old world of Greyhawk needed to be refreshed, and moved the campaign timeline forward a decade, from 576&nbsp;CY to 586&nbsp;CY, in order to provide a new storyline as outlined in the new setting, ''[[Greyhawk Wars (game)|Greyhawk Wars]]''. This was a new and bleaker Greyhawk, shattered by a long war and an act of treachery that involved the Circle of Eight.
==History==
===The Citadel of Eight===
The [[Citadel of Eight]] was formed at some point after [[561 CY]], and was dissolved in [[569 CY]]. Its initial members were [[Mordenkainen]] and his apprentice, [[Bigby]]. The two decided to form a group to attempt to maintain the balance between the extremes of Oerth. They recruited [[Robilar]], [[Riggby]], [[Yrag]], [[Tenser]], [[Serten]], and [[Otis]].{{cite dragon|405|2|History Check: Rary the Traitor}} The name of the group was based on their number and Mordenkainen's Obsidian Citadel.


''Greyhawk Wars Adventurer's Book'', included with the boxed set, described this war in detail: In 582 [[Common Year (Greyhawk)|CY]] (six years after Gygax's original setting of 576 CY), a regional conflict started by [[Iuz]] gradually widened until it was a continent-wide war that affected almost every nation in the Flanaess. A peace treaty was finally signed in the city of Greyhawk two years later, which is why the conflict became known as the Greyhawk Wars. On the day of the treaty-signing, Rary attacked his fellow Circle members, aided and abetted by [[Robilar]] (a fighter originally created by Ron Kuntz; however, Gygax had mentioned Robilar in several columns in TSR publications, meaning that TSR now owned the rights to the name). This treacherous attack killed Tenser and Otiluke, while Robilar and Rary fled to the deserts of the [[Bright Lands]]. With the loss of Tenser, Otiluke and Rary, the Circle of Eight now only had five members.
The group eventually dissolved for ideological reasons (in the case of Robilar and Otis), because of grudges between members (such as Tenser who blamed Mordenkainen for the death of Serten), or because of outright death in the case of Serten who fell in 569 CY [[Battle of Emridy Meadows|fighting against the hordes of evil]].


In a later development of the storyline in 1998 by [[Roger E. Moore]], the adventure ''[[Return of the Eight]]'' published by [[Wizards of the Coast]], the players meet the surviving members of the Circle of Eight (now called the "Circle of Five" because it was missing Tenser, Otiluke and Rary). If the players successfully finish the adventure, Tenser is rescued from death (although he refuses to rejoin the Circle), and the players convince three new wizards to fill the three empty spots in the Circle: [[Warnes Starcoat]], [[Alhamazad the Wise]], and [[Theodain Eriason]].<ref>[[Roger E. Moore|Moore, Roger E.]] ''[[Return of the Eight]]'' (TSR, 1998)</ref>
===The Circle of Eight===
The Circle was founded in [[571 CY]]{{cite lgj|0|6}} by Mordenkainen, from the remnants of the Citadel. The exact make-up of the eight has changed over time and has continued to remain somewhat of a secret to the general populace of the Flanaess.  Gygax has said the original Circle of Eight was composed of his player characters—[[Mordenkainen]], [[Yrag]], [[Bigby]], [[Riggby]], [[Ziggby]], [[Felnorith]], [[Vram]], and [[Vin]]. In the novels, the Circle was expanded to encompass other PCs such as [[Tenser]] (originally played by Ernie Gygax).<ref name=gygaxq&a>{{cite web |last=Gygax |first=Gary |authorlink=Gary Gygax |title=Q&A with Gary gygax |url=https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-1201408 |format=forum |work=ENWorld |publisher= |date=1 Nov 2003 |accessdate=6 December 2023 |page=p.163 |quote='''Q:''' Who were the Circle of Eight, and what classes were they? I know of Mordenkainen the Mage, but who were the others?  '''A:''' To be completely accurate, I'd have to do a search to find the ring binder in which all that information is kept. Haven't looked at it for almost 20 years now. From memory the original CoE was composed of my PCs--Mordenkainen, Bigby, Yrag, Rigby, Felnorith, Zigbie, Vram & Vin. In the novel version the Circle was expanded to encompass other PCs in my campaign such as Tenser.}}</ref>


==Fictional history==
Among the group's original members were former Citadel members Mordenkainen and Bigby, and soon was comprised of the wizards [[Bucknard]], [[Drawmij]], [[Leomund]], [[Nystul]], [[Otto]], [[Rary]], and an unknown ninth mage.{{cn}} In [[574 CY]], the unnamed member left to explore other planes of existence,{{cite lgj|0|6}} and was replaced by former Citadel member Tenser.{{cite dragon|405|2-3|History Check: Rary the Traitor}}{{cite lgj|0|6}}
Using various TSR and Wizards of the Coast publications, a historical timeline of the post-Gygax Circle of Eight can be drawn:


===The Citadel of Eight===
In [[576 CY]], [[Otiluke]], president of Greyhawk's [[Society of Magi]] and member of the city's [[Directing Oligarchy]], joined the Circle, replacing Leomund, who had retired earlier that year. In [[579 CY]], Bucknard mysteriously disappeared,{{cite lgj|0|6}} and was not replaced until [[581 CY]], when [[Jallarzi Sallavarian]] became the first woman to join the Circle of Eight.{{cite dragon|405|3|History Check: Rary the Traitor}}  (Bucknard was eventually found to have died while exploring.)
The Citadel of Eight was formed at some point after 561 CY, and was dissolved in 569 CY. Its initial membership was [[Mordenkainen]] (its founder) and [[Bigby (Greyhawk)|Bigby]], his apprentice. The two decided to form a group to attempt to maintain the balance between the extremes of Oerth. They recruited [[Robilar]], [[Riggby]], [[Yrag]], [[Tenser]], [[Serten (Greyhawk)|Serten]], and [[Otis (Greyhawk)|Otis]]. The name of the group was based on their number and Mordenkainen's Obsidian Citadel. The group eventually dissolved for ideological reasons (in the case of Robilar and Otis), because of grudges between members (such as Tenser who blamed Mordenkainen for the death of Serten), or because of outright death in the case of Serten who fell in 569 CY [[Battle of Emridy Meadows|fighting against the hordes of evil]].<ref name="lgj0" />
 
Later, in [[581 CY]], nearly six months after Jallarzi joined, the group met with tragedy when all its members, save Mordenkainen, were slain by [[Halmadar]] the Cruel, a former [[Shield Lands]] tyrant under the control of the fabled lich [[Vecna]], who had somehow achieved godhood. Mordenkainen responded by assembling a group of "small cadre of apprentice wizards, former companions. and long-time confidantes"{{cite lgj|0|6}} to thwart Vecna's plans, and was able to recover the remains of his allies and clone them. The cloning took some time, which could otherwise have been used to prevent the [[Greyhawk Wars]]. (Cook, ''[[Vecna Lives!]]'')


===The Circle of Eight===
By [[584 CY]], the Circle was fully restored and working toward an end to the Greyhawk Wars. On the eve of the day when all parties involved were to sign the treaty bringing the wars to an end, Otiluke, Tenser, and Bigby discovered a plan by the Circle's own Rary to slay all the assembled diplomats via a great magical trap. Unfortunately, Rary witnessed their discovery, and a great magical battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of Otiluke and Tenser, and severely wounding Bigby, who was unable to pursue Rary as he escaped. Word later came that Rary's allies, among them former Citadel member Lord Robilar, had ensured Tenser's and Otiluke's deaths by destroying every clone they had prepared for such an incident. Rary and Robilar fled to the [[Bright Desert]], southeast of Greyhawk, where they established the [[Bright Lands|Empire of the Bright Lands]]. (Cook, "History of the Greyhawk Wars"[http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html])
The Circle was founded in 571 CY by Mordenkainen, from the remnants of the Citadel.<ref name="lgj0"/> Among the group's original members were former Citadel member Bigby, as well as the wizards [[Bucknard]], [[Drawmij]], [[Leomund]], [[Nystul]], [[Otto (Greyhawk)|Otto]], and [[Rary]]. In 574 CY, Leomund left to explore other planes of existence, and was replaced by former Citadel member Tenser. In 576 CY, [[Otiluke]], president of Greyhawk's Society of Magi and member of the city's Directing Oligarchy, joined the Circle. In 579 CY, Bucknard mysteriously disappeared, and was not replaced until 581 CY, when [[Jallarzi Sallivarian]] became the first woman to join the Circle of Eight.


Later in 581 CY, nearly six months after Jallarzi joined, the group met with tragedy when all its members, save Mordenkainen, were slain by [[Halmadar]] the Cruel, a former [[Shield Lands]] tyrant under the control of the fabled [[Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)|lich]] [[Vecna]], who had somehow achieved godhood. Mordenkainen responded by assembling a group of adventurers to thwart Vecna's plans, and was able to recover the remains of his allies and clone them. The cloning took some time, which could otherwise have been used to prevent the [[Greyhawk Wars]].<ref name="vecna">{{cite book | author=Cook, David | title=[[Vecna Lives!]] | publisher=[[TSR, Inc.]] | year=1990 | authorlink=David Cook (game designer)}}</ref>
By [[586 CY]], the Circle had returned to its full membership of eight plus one. Though Tenser had been returned to life via a clone he had hidden on [[Luna]], he had no desire to rejoin the Circle.  In his, Rary's, and Otiluke's places stood [[Warnes Starcoat]], [[Alhamazad the Wise]], and the high elf [[Theodain Eriason]]—the Circle's first non-human member.{{csb|Rot8}}  These members would remain the same through at least [[598 CY]].


By 584 CY, the Circle was fully restored and working toward an end to the Greyhawk Wars. On the eve of the day when all parties involved were to sign the treaty bringing the wars to an end, Otiluke, Tenser, and Bigby discovered a plan by the Circle's own Rary to slay all the assembled diplomats via a great magical trap. Unfortunately, Rary witnessed their discovery, and a great magical battle ensued, killing Otiluke and Tenser, and severely wounding Bigby, who was unable to pursue Rary as he escaped. Word later came that Rary's allies, among them former Citadel member Lord [[Robilar]], had ensured Tenser's and Otiluke's deaths by destroying every clone they had prepared for such an incident. Rary and Robilar fled to the [[Bright Desert]], southeast of Greyhawk, where they established the [[Bright Lands|Empire of the Bright Lands]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Cook, David | title=Wars: History of the Greyhawk Wars | publisher=[[TSR, Inc.]] | year=1991 | url=http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html | authorlink=David Cook (game designer) | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206031911/http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html | archivedate=2006-02-06 | df= }}</ref>
=== Fifth edition ===
In the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (2024), set in [[576 CY]], members of the Circle aren't commonly known, and only [[Bigby]], [[Jallarzi Sallavarian]], [[Otiluke]], and [[Otto]] (in addition to [[Mordenkainen]]) are named as being members.{{csb|DMG2024|146}}


By 586 CY, the Circle had returned to its full membership of eight plus one. Though Tenser had been returned to life, via a clone he had hidden on one of Oerth's two moons, he had no desire to rejoin the Circle. Eventually Warnes Starcoat, Alhamazad the Wise, and the high elf Theodain Eriason, the Circle's first non-human member, replaced the three missing members.<ref name="lgj0"/>
== Creative Origins ==
''{{main|Creative origins of Mordenkainen}}''
=== Circle of Eight in Gygax's Personal Game ===
[[Gary Gygax|Gygax]] was notoriously particular about not releasing in-game stats for his characters<ref>Gygax, Luke ([[Melf]]), in a comment on ''Mordenkainen, in 1974 and today.'', [http://playingattheworld.blogspot.com/2018/06/mordenkainen-in-1974-and-today.html?showComment=1528240112987#c7870394458787808348 Playing at the World], June 5, 2018</ref> , but, in discussions in the years after his departure from TSR he gave names of the characters which had been in the Citadel and Circle in his home game before the World of Greyhawk was a published setting by TSR.  


==Footnotes==
==External link==
<references/>
<!-- removing link after WP deletionists got rid of the article *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Eight The Circle of Eight at Wikipedia]. -->


==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Circle of Eight02.jpg
Image:Circle of Eight03.jpg
</gallery>
==References==
==References==
*Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." ''[[Greyhawk Wars (game)|Wars]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1991). Available online: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060206031911/http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html]
=====Citations=====
**Cook, David. ''[[Vecna Lives!]]'' (TSR, 1990).
<references />
*Holian, Gary, [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000).
=====Bibliography=====
*Mona, Erik, and [[Gary Holian]]. "Wheels within Wheels: Greyhawk's Circle of Eight." ''[[Living Greyhawk Journal]]'' #0 ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2000). Available online: [http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LGJcircleof8pdf.zip]
* [[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]]. "History of the Greyhawk Wars". ''[[Greyhawk Wars (game)|Wars]] boxed set''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Archived: [http://web.archive.org/web/20010210233426/http://www.wizards.com/Greyhawk/DnDGreyhawkWars.asp] Accessed: Dec 19, 2019
*[[Roger E. Moore|Moore, Roger E]]. ''[[Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins]]'' (TSR, 1998).
:———. ''[[Vecna Lives!]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.  
*[[Douglas Niles|Niles, Douglas]], and [[Carl Sargent]]. ''The City of Greyhawk'' (TSR, 1989).
* [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Artifact of Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: [[TSR]], 1986.  ISBN 0-88038-279-1
*Pryor, Anthony. ''[[Rary the Traitor]]'' (TSR, 1992).
* [[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
*[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]'' (TSR, 1993).
* [[Mona, Erik]], and [[Gary Holian]]. "Wheels Within Wheels: Greyhawk's Circle of Eight." ''[[Living Greyhawk Journal]]'' #0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. Available online: [http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LGJcircleof8pdf.zip]
* [[Moore, Roger E]]. ''[[The Adventure Begins]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
:———. ''[[Return of the Eight]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
* [[Niles, Douglas]], and [[Carl Sargent]]. ''[[The City of Greyhawk]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
* [[Anthony Pryor|Pryor, Anthony]]. ''[[Rary the Traitor]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
* [[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
* Wood, Sam. "Window on the World." ''[[dragmag|Dragon]]'' # 290. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
{{index}}


{{D&D topics}}


[[Category:Fictional arcane spellcasters (Dungeons & Dragons)]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Greyhawk organizations]]
[[Category:Members of the Circle of Eight]]
[[Category:Councils]]

Latest revision as of 15:31, 22 February 2025

"Who born in the last forty years can measure of themselves an ounce of the worth of Otiluke, Bigby, Tenser, or Robilar—or even Rary or Evard?"—Mordenkainen[1]

Greyhawk Organization
Circle of Eight
The Circle of Eight circa 591 CY, as depicted on the cover of Living Greyhawk Journal #0 (2000).
Type:Arcane, political
Founded:571 CY
Leader:Mordenkainen
Members:Wizards
Enemies:Iuz, Vecna

The Circle of Eight, also known as the Council of Eight[2] and the Eight Magi[3]. (formed from the earlier Citadel of Eight) is an organization of wizards in the World of Greyhawk setting. They are based in the Flanaess, the easternmost portion of Oerik. The Circle of Eight's chief purpose seems to be the preservation of the balance of power between the forces of Good, Evil, Law, and Chaos in the Flanaess, ensuring that one does not dominate the other for an extended period of time. To this end, the Circle often works behind the scenes, especially when aiding the cause of evil.

The Circle consists of eight powerful wizards and their leader, Mordenkainen the archmage. In fact, the group is sometimes referred to as "Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight."[4]

"Some of the greatest spellcasters of the world of Greyhawk form the Circle of Eight, a group dedicated to preserving balance in the world. The group’s general aim is to prevent any single country, faction, or other organized group from becoming too powerful and overwhelming others. The membership of the Circle of Eight is secret."[5]

History

The Citadel of Eight

The Citadel of Eight was formed at some point after 561 CY, and was dissolved in 569 CY. Its initial members were Mordenkainen and his apprentice, Bigby. The two decided to form a group to attempt to maintain the balance between the extremes of Oerth. They recruited Robilar, Riggby, Yrag, Tenser, Serten, and Otis.[6] The name of the group was based on their number and Mordenkainen's Obsidian Citadel.

The group eventually dissolved for ideological reasons (in the case of Robilar and Otis), because of grudges between members (such as Tenser who blamed Mordenkainen for the death of Serten), or because of outright death in the case of Serten who fell in 569 CY fighting against the hordes of evil.

The Circle of Eight

The Circle was founded in 571 CY[7] by Mordenkainen, from the remnants of the Citadel. The exact make-up of the eight has changed over time and has continued to remain somewhat of a secret to the general populace of the Flanaess. Gygax has said the original Circle of Eight was composed of his player characters—Mordenkainen, Yrag, Bigby, Riggby, Ziggby, Felnorith, Vram, and Vin. In the novels, the Circle was expanded to encompass other PCs such as Tenser (originally played by Ernie Gygax).[8]

Among the group's original members were former Citadel members Mordenkainen and Bigby, and soon was comprised of the wizards Bucknard, Drawmij, Leomund, Nystul, Otto, Rary, and an unknown ninth mage.[citation needed] In 574 CY, the unnamed member left to explore other planes of existence,[7] and was replaced by former Citadel member Tenser.[9][7]

In 576 CY, Otiluke, president of Greyhawk's Society of Magi and member of the city's Directing Oligarchy, joined the Circle, replacing Leomund, who had retired earlier that year. In 579 CY, Bucknard mysteriously disappeared,[7] and was not replaced until 581 CY, when Jallarzi Sallavarian became the first woman to join the Circle of Eight.[10] (Bucknard was eventually found to have died while exploring.)

Later, in 581 CY, nearly six months after Jallarzi joined, the group met with tragedy when all its members, save Mordenkainen, were slain by Halmadar the Cruel, a former Shield Lands tyrant under the control of the fabled lich Vecna, who had somehow achieved godhood. Mordenkainen responded by assembling a group of "small cadre of apprentice wizards, former companions. and long-time confidantes"[7] to thwart Vecna's plans, and was able to recover the remains of his allies and clone them. The cloning took some time, which could otherwise have been used to prevent the Greyhawk Wars. (Cook, Vecna Lives!)

By 584 CY, the Circle was fully restored and working toward an end to the Greyhawk Wars. On the eve of the day when all parties involved were to sign the treaty bringing the wars to an end, Otiluke, Tenser, and Bigby discovered a plan by the Circle's own Rary to slay all the assembled diplomats via a great magical trap. Unfortunately, Rary witnessed their discovery, and a great magical battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of Otiluke and Tenser, and severely wounding Bigby, who was unable to pursue Rary as he escaped. Word later came that Rary's allies, among them former Citadel member Lord Robilar, had ensured Tenser's and Otiluke's deaths by destroying every clone they had prepared for such an incident. Rary and Robilar fled to the Bright Desert, southeast of Greyhawk, where they established the Empire of the Bright Lands. (Cook, "History of the Greyhawk Wars"[1])

By 586 CY, the Circle had returned to its full membership of eight plus one. Though Tenser had been returned to life via a clone he had hidden on Luna, he had no desire to rejoin the Circle. In his, Rary's, and Otiluke's places stood Warnes Starcoat, Alhamazad the Wise, and the high elf Theodain Eriason—the Circle's first non-human member.[11] These members would remain the same through at least 598 CY.

Fifth edition

In the Dungeon Master's Guide (2024), set in 576 CY, members of the Circle aren't commonly known, and only Bigby, Jallarzi Sallavarian, Otiluke, and Otto (in addition to Mordenkainen) are named as being members.[5]

Creative Origins

Main page: Creative origins of Mordenkainen

Circle of Eight in Gygax's Personal Game

Gygax was notoriously particular about not releasing in-game stats for his characters[12] , but, in discussions in the years after his departure from TSR he gave names of the characters which had been in the Citadel and Circle in his home game before the World of Greyhawk was a published setting by TSR.

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium (2011), p.4.
  2. ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.64, Gem of the Flanaess.
  3. ↑ Gygax, Gary. Isle of the Ape. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985. p.6
  4. ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.20, Folks, Feuds, and Factions.
  5. ↑ a b Dungeon Master's Guide (2024), p.146.
  6. ↑ "History Check: Rary the Traitor".  Dragon #405 (Nov 2011), p.2.
  7. ↑ a b c d e Living Greyhawk Journal #0 (Aug 2000), p.6.  
  8. ↑ Gygax, Gary. Q&A with Gary gygax (forum). ENWorld p.163. Retrieved on 6 December 2023. "Q: Who were the Circle of Eight, and what classes were they? I know of Mordenkainen the Mage, but who were the others? A: To be completely accurate, I'd have to do a search to find the ring binder in which all that information is kept. Haven't looked at it for almost 20 years now. From memory the original CoE was composed of my PCs--Mordenkainen, Bigby, Yrag, Rigby, Felnorith, Zigbie, Vram & Vin. In the novel version the Circle was expanded to encompass other PCs in my campaign such as Tenser."
  9. ↑ "History Check: Rary the Traitor".  Dragon #405 (Nov 2011), p.2-3.
  10. ↑ "History Check: Rary the Traitor".  Dragon #405 (Nov 2011), p.3.
  11. ↑ Return of the Eight (1998).
  12. ↑ Gygax, Luke (Melf), in a comment on Mordenkainen, in 1974 and today., Playing at the World, June 5, 2018
Bibliography
  • Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars". Wars boxed set. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Archived: [2] Accessed: Dec 19, 2019
———. Vecna Lives!. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
———. Return of the Eight. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Artifact of Evil 50, 58, 70, 71, 321, 323
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus, D&D 5e 97
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Come Endless Darkness 130
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards 13
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 2, 17, 21-25, 27, 28, 36, 63
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 61, 63, 64, 75, 83
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Curse of Strahd, D&D 5e 39
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #185 58, 59, 62
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #188 27, 28
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #206 24
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #225 49
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #233 92, 93
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #241 40, 80
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #249 90, 93
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #290 108
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #297 91
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #299 99, 100
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dragon magazine #AN2 98, 99
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Dungeon magazine #042 34
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, El Raja Key Archive (Standard Edition) 154, 164
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 9
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book 24
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Ivid the Undying 116, 136
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e 13, 105, 109
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 15, 16, 17, 37, 38, 58, 78, 112, 114, 126, 127, 147, 156
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Living Greyhawk Journal #0 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Living Greyhawk Journal #2 8
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Living Greyhawk Journal #4 15, 17
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Living Greyhawk Journal #5 6
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Player's Guide to Greyhawk 1, 10, 11, 21-23, 27, 29, 48, 51
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Return of the Eight 2, 3, 8, 10, 19, 32, 53, 54, 56-58, 60-62
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, Slavers, AD&D 2e 75, 127
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, The Adventure Begins 3, 3, 6, 7, 19, 20, 23, 26, 31, 35-38, 43, 60-63, 71, 76, 78, 86, 88-91, 97, 98, 102, 110, 111, 113, 114, 119, 121
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, 1992 TSR Trading Cards - Gold Set 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, LT3 The Doomgrinder 3, 6, 7, 16, 27, 44
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, The Scarlet Brotherhood 23
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, LT1 The Star Cairns 2
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, WG6 Isle of the Ape 6, 8, 22, 27
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, WGA4 Vecna Lives! 8, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 30, 46, 53, 84, 85, 86, 89
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, WGQ1 Patriots of Ulek 19
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk 32, 34, 38, 39
Circle of Eight People Group Mage order, WGR3 Rary the Traitor 4, 6-8, 11, 31, 57
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