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{{refimprove|date=July 2016}}
{{Greyhawk Character
{{Greyhawk Character
|image=[[Image:Tenser02.jpg|250px]]
| name=Tenser
|caption=Tenser, as depicted in ''[[Dungeon]]'' #130 (2006). Art by Steve Prescott.
| home=[[Magepoint]]
|name=Tenser
| gender=Male
|home=[[Magepoint]]
| race=Human
|gender=Male
| class=Wizard 16/Archmage 5
|race=Human
| alignment=Lawful Good
|class=Wizard 16/Archmage 5
| age=70+
|alignment=Lawful Good
| universe=''[[World of Greyhawk]]''
|age=70+
}}
}}
'''Tenser''' is an archmage who actively seeks to rid the [[Flanaess]] of evil. Tenser is a former member of both the [[Citadel of Eight]] and the [[Circle of Eight]].


In ''[[Dungeon|Dungeon's]]'' [[Age of Worms]] adventure path, Tenser is referred to as "Manzorian."
In the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' [[campaign setting]] for the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]] '' [[roleplaying game]], '''Tenser''' is an archmage who strives to rid the [[Flanaess]] of evil. Tenser is a former member of both the [[Citadel of Eight]] and the [[Circle of Eight]].
 
In ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]''{{'}}s [[Age of Worms]] adventure path, Tenser is referred to as "Manzorian".
 
==Creative origins==
Tenser, an anagram of "Ernest", was initially a wizard [[player character]] created and played by [[Gary Gygax]]'s son Ernie, one of the first two characters that played the game now known as ''Dungeons & Dragons''. In the fall of 1972, Gary Gygax was working to create rules for a new type of game based on a demonstration he had been given by [[Dave Arneson]]. In order to provide a playtest environment in which to develop these rules, Gygax designed his own castle, "Castle Greyhawk", and prepared the first level of a dungeon that lay beneath it.<ref>Gygax: "Credit Dave Arneson and Dave Megary (designer of the Dungeon! boardgame) with my concentrating on subterranean settings for the D&D game. The contained adventuring environment was perfect for establishing fixed encounters before a game session, and for developing progressively more hazardous ones as the PCs grew in their capacity to manage them." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 1) | publisher = EN World | date = 2006-06-27 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/161566-gary-gygax-q-part-x-19.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Two of his children, Ernie and Elise, were the first players,<ref>Gygax: "It was in the late fall of 1972 when I completed a map of some castle ruins, noted ways down to the dungeon level (singular), and invited my 11-year-old son Ernie and nine-year-old daughter Elise to create characters and adventure. This they did, and around 9 PM ... they had to come back from such imaginary derring-do, put their index card character sheets aside, and get ready for bed. They had had a marvelous time and wanted to keep playing." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 1) | publisher = EN World | date = 2003-07-22 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/57832-gary-gygax-q-part-iv.html | accessdate = 2010-03-16}}</ref> and Ernie rolled up a wizard, Tenser.<ref name=witwer>{{cite book | last = Witwer | first = Michael | title = Empire of the Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons | publisher = Bloomsbury Publishing | date = 2015 | location = New York | isbn = 978-1-63286-279-2}}</ref>{{rp|99}} During the evening, the children fought and destroyed the first monsters of the Greyhawk dungeon; Gygax variously recalled this as being some giant centipedes<ref>Q: "What was the first ever monster killed by a PC in D&D?" Gygax: "A giant centipede, with the 1st level PCs played by my son Ernie (fighter) and daughter Elise (cleric)." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IX, Page 65) | publisher = EN World | date = 2005-08-19 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/125997-gary-gygax-q-part-ix-65.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> or a nest of scorpions.<ref>Gygax: "The monsters first encountered, by son Ernie's and daughter Elise's characters, were a nest of scorpions in some rubble in the very first room of the dungeon they entered. The glint of coins was mentioned to lure the incautious hand into attack proximity, but Elise's PC used a dagger to poke around, and the scorpions were spotted. Eventually one managed to sting, but the poison saving throw was made." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part V, Page 7) | publisher = EN World | date = 2004-01-28 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/71486-gary-gygax-q-part-v-7.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> During the same session, Ernie and Elise also found the first treasure, a chest of 3,000 copper coins (which was too heavy to carry, much to the children's disappointment).<ref>Gygax: "They next encountered and defeated a gang of kobolds with a chest of 3,000 copper pieces. Needless to say, they weren't pleased with the treasure." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part V, Page 7) | publisher = EN World | date = 2004-01-28 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/71486-gary-gygax-q-part-v-7.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref><ref>Gygax: "Later in the long session of exploration, the two intrepid adventurers came upon the lair of several kobolds, slew two and the rest fled. They found an iron chest filled with coins...several thousand copper pieces--that was too heavy to move. A big disappointment." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IX, Page 65) | publisher = EN World | date = 2003-07-22 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/125997-gary-gygax-q-part-ix-65.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> After his children had gone to bed, Gygax immediately began to work on the second level of the dungeon.<ref>Gygax: "After they went upstairs I stayed in my study and went to work on a second dungeon level."{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 1) | publisher = EN World | date = 2005-08-19 | url = http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/forum/archive-threads/57832-gary-gygax-q-part-iv.html#post1022839 | accessdate = 2009-03-15 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
The next night, [[Don Kaye]] and [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob]] and [[Terry Kuntz]] joined in, rolling up the character [[Murlynd]], [[Robilar]] and Terik respectively. In the following weeks and months, Tenser often adventured with Robilar and Terik. At one point, using their combined forces of loyal henchmen, the three controlled access to the first level of the Greyhawk dungeons while they ransacked the lower levels.<ref>Kuntz: "Robilar, along with Teric and Tenser, formed a triumvirate and took over the first level of Castle Greyhawk for a while. They barracked their respective forces there and guarded ingress and egress, using the location as a base for further adventures deep within the sprawling castle complex. "{{cite web | title = Robilar Remembers: Lord Robilar and Co. | publisher = Pied Piper Publishing | url = http://site.pied-piper-publishing.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=65 | accessdate = 2009-05-16 | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090221002750/http://site.pied-piper-publishing.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=65 | archivedate = 2009-02-21 | df =  }}</ref> Eventually Tenser became the second character to reach the 13th (and at the time, the bottom level) of the Greyhawk dungeons, when he noticed that Robilar was missing and went in search of him.<ref>Gygax: "Ernie, noting Rob's absence from adventuring with the party, sent Tenser on a solo quest to discover Robilar's whereabouts. He managed to follow a similar path, and made level 13."{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part III, Page 11) | publisher = EN World | date = 2003-05-13 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/46861-q-gary-gygax-pt-3-a-11.html#post893009 | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Gary Gygax "borrowed" Tenser's name for two spells, ''Tenser's floating disc'' and ''Tenser's transformation''.
 
When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost the rights to most of his characters, except those that were anagrams of his own name.<ref>Gygax: "Anagrams of my name are exclusively my property according to my settlement agreement with TSR, so that is how I can use Zagyg, or Zagig, as well as Yrag."{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IX, Page 91) | publisher = EN World | date = 2005-10-20 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/125997-gary-gygax-q-part-ix-91.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Tenser is one of the famous mages whose spells were included in the 1988 ''[[Greyhawk Adventures]]'' hardbound.<ref name="Dragon #143">{{cite journal| last = Bambra| first = Jim| authorlink = Jim Bambra| title = Role-playing Reviews| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #143| pages = 71–72| publisher = [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]| location = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]]|date=March 1989}}</ref> Tenser was reintroduced as a member of a repurposed [[Circle of Eight]] in 1989 in ''[[The City of Greyhawk]]'' boxed set, where he appeared as part of a cabal of nine wizards, including himself, who sought to balance the forces of Good and Evil in the world.<ref>[[Douglas Niles|Niles, Douglas]], and [[Carl Sargent]]. ''[[The City of Greyhawk]]'' (TSR, 1989)</ref>  When TSR decided to reboot the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting in 1991, the storyline of the setting moved forward a decade to 585 [[Common Year (Greyhawk)|CY]], the year after the end of a continental war called the [[Greyhawk Wars]]. In events described in the new storyline, [[Rary]] and Tenser's old adventuring partner Robilar has attempted to destroy the Circle of Eight, and succeeded in murdering Tenser and [[Otiluke]]. This was the end of Tenser until TSR was bought by [[Wizards of the Coast]] and the Greyhawk storyline was once again revised. This time, in [[Roger E. Moore]]'s  D&D adventure ''[[Return of the Eight]]'' (1998) 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).


==Description==
==Description==
Tenser is medium-sized, with brown hair and an aquiline nose. He is always dressed in blue. He is polite and outgoing, but is willing to enforce his will on others for the sake of Law and Good.  
Tenser is medium-sized, with brown hair and an aquiline nose. He is always dressed in blue. He is polite and outgoing, but is willing to enforce his will on others for the sake of Law and Good.


==Relationships==
==Relationships==
Tenser is a close friend of [[Jallarzi Sallavarian]] and [[Cymria]]. [[Agath of Thrunch]] often meets him at his fortress.  
Tenser is a close friend of [[Jallarzi Sallavarian]] and [[Cymria]]. [[Agath of Thrunch]] often meets him at his fortress.


==Home==
==Home==
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==History==
==History==
[[Image:Tenser03.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Tenser in the late 570s, as depicted in ''[[Isle of the Ape (module)|Isle of the Ape]]'' (1985)]]
Tenser was born 525 [[Common Year (Greyhawk)|CY]], purportedly in the [[Wild Coast (Greyhawk)|Wild Coast]] town of [[Fax (Greyhawk)|Fax]]. At some point after 551 CY, he was recruited by [[Mordenkainen]] and [[Bigby (Greyhawk)|Bigby]] to join the [[Citadel of Eight]]. After the death of his good friend and fellow Citadel member [[Serten (Greyhawk)|Serten]] in 569 CY, the Citadel dissolved. Tenser joined forces with Bigby and Mordenkainen once more in 574 CY when he joined the [[Circle of Eight]], replacing [[Leomund]].
Tenser was born 525 [[Common Year|CY]], purportedly in the [[Wild Coast]] town of [[Fax]]. At some point after 551 CY, he was recruited by [[Mordenkainen]] and [[Bigby]] to join the [[Citadel of Eight]]. After the death of his good friend and fellow Citadel member [[Serten]] in 569 CY, the Citadel dissolved. Tenser joined forces with Bigby and Mordenkainen once more in 574 CY when he joined the [[Circle of Eight]], replacing [[Leomund]].


In 570 CY, Tenser accompanied Bigby and [[Neb Retnar]] beneath [[Greyhawk Castle]] in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent [[Robilar]], [[Riggby]], and [[Quij]] from freeing the demigod [[Iuz]] from [[Zagyg]]'s ''[[Godtrap]]''.  
In 570 CY, Tenser accompanied Bigby and [[Neb Retnar]] beneath [[Greyhawk Castle]] in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent [[Robilar]], [[Riggby]], and [[Quij]] from freeing the demigod [[Iuz]].


In 579 CY, [[Robilar]] sacked the [[Temple of Elemental Evil]], freeing the demoness [[Zuggtmoy]] in the process. In retribution, Tenser, [[Otis]], [[Rufus]], and [[Burne]] led an army of good-aligned forces in pursuit of his former companion, following him back to his castle and laying siege to it, defeating his armies and driving them from the [[Domain of Greyhawk]] to the [[Pomarj]].
In 579 CY, [[Robilar]] sacked the [[Temple of Elemental Evil]], freeing the demoness [[Zuggtmoy]] in the process. In retribution, Tenser, Otis, Rufus, and Burne led an army of good-aligned forces in pursuit of his former companion, following him back to his castle and laying siege to it, defeating his armies and driving them from the [[Domain of Greyhawk]] to the [[Pomarj]].


In 581 CY, Tenser accompanied Bigby, [[Drawmij]], Jallarzi Sallavarian, [[Nystul]], [[Otiluke]], [[Otto]], and [[Rary]] to the tomb of [[Halmadar the Cruel]]. Every member of the party died that day, though they were brought back to life later through the agency of ''clone'' spells.  
In 581 CY, Tenser accompanied Bigby, [[Drawmij]], Jallarzi Sallavarian, [[Nystul]], [[Otiluke]], [[Otto (Greyhawk)|Otto]], and [[Rary]] to the tomb of [[Halmadar the Cruel]]. Every member of the party died that day, though they were brought back to life later through the agency of ''clone'' spells.


The Circle was betrayed in 584 CY, when Tenser, Bigby, and [[Otiluke]] discovered a plan by the Circle's own [[Rary]] to slay a number of diplomats assembled in Greyhawk to sign the treaty ending the [[Greyhawk Wars]]. 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]].
The Circle was betrayed in 584 CY, when Tenser, Bigby, and [[Otiluke]] discovered a plan by the Circle's own [[Rary]] to slay a number of diplomats assembled in Greyhawk to sign the treaty ending the [[Greyhawk Wars]]. 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]].


However, Rary and Robilar had failed to discover a clone Tenser had hidden away on [[Luna]], one of [[Oerth]]'s moons, and in [[Greyhawk Calendar|Goodmonth]] of 585 CY Tenser was restored to life. Though he was welcomed back into the Circle, Tenser refused.
However, Rary and Robilar had failed to discover a clone Tenser had hidden away on [[Celene (Kule)|Celene]], one of [[Oerth]]'s moons, and in [[Greyhawk Calendar|Goodmonth]] of 585 CY Tenser was restored to life. Though he was welcomed back into the Circle, Tenser refused.


==Spells==
==Spells==
[[Image:Tenser01.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Tenser in [[586 CY]], as depicted in ''[[Return of the Eight]]'' (1998).]]
Two of Tenser's eponymous spells, ''Tenser's Floating Disc'' and ''Tenser's Transformation'', appear in the 3.5 Edition ''[[Player's Handbook]]''. Other spells that he developed, described in such second edition supplements as ''Greyhawk Adventures'', include:
Two of Tenser’s eponymous spells, ''Tenser's Floating Disc'' and ''Tenser's Transformation'', appear in the 3.5 Edition ''Player’s Handbook''. Other spells that he developed, described in supplements, include:
* Tenser's Brawl
*''Tenser's Brawl''
* Tenser's Deadly Strike
*''Tenser's Deadly Strike''
* Tenser's Destructive Resonance
*''Tenser's Destructive Resonance''
* Tenser's Eye of the Eagle
*''Tenser's Eye of the Eagle''
* Tenser's Eye of the Tiger
*''Tenser's Eye of the Tiger''
* Tenser's Flaming Blade
*''Tenser's Flaming Blade''
* Tenser's Floating Disc, Greater
*''Tenser's Floating Disc, Greater''
* Tenser's Fortunes of War
*''Tenser's Fortunes of War''
* Tenser's Giant Strength
*''Tenser's Giant Strength''
* Tenser's Hunting Hawk
*''Tenser's Hunting Hawk''
* Tenser's Master of Arms
*''Tenser's Master of Arms''
* Tenser's Primal Fury
*''Tenser's Primal Fury''
* Tenser's Running Warrior
*''Tenser's Running Warrior''
* Tenser's Staff of Smiting
*''Tenser's Staff of Smiting''
* Tenser's Steady Aim
*''Tenser's Steady Aim''


==Writings==
==Writings==
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*''Theory of the Invisible Forces''
*''Theory of the Invisible Forces''


==Creative origins==
== References ==
It is rumored that the name 'Tenser' is actually the rearanging of [[Gary Gygax|E Gary Gygax's]] first name "Ernest," a name also shared by one of his sons, Ernie, who played Tenser in the elder Gygax's campaign.
{{Reflist}}
 
==Bibliography==
*Blume, Brian, [[David Cook]], and Jean Wells. ''The [[Rogues Gallery]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
 
*Browne, Dave J., and Don Turnbull. ''[[The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
*-----. ''[[Danger at Dunwater]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
 
*[[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]]. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." ''[[Greyhawk Wars (game)|Wars]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available online:[http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html]
*-----. ''Vecna Lives''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
 
*Grohe, Allan. "Gygax's Anagrams, Puns, and Homages in the ''World of Greyhawk''." Available online:[http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_anagrams.html]
 
*[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Isle of the Ape (module)|Isle of the Ape]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
*-----. ''Players Handbook''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1978.
 
*[[Gygax, E. Gary]], and [[Frank Mentzer]]. ''[[The Temple of Elemental Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
 
*Heard, Bruce. "Spells Between the Covers." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #82. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
 
*[[Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
 
*[[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]]. ''[[Greyhawk: 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.
 
*[[Pryor, Anthony]]. ''[[Rary the Traitor]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
 
*[[Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
*-----. ''[[Iuz the Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.


*[[Jim Ward|Ward, James M]]. ''[[Greyhawk Adventures]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
== Further reading ==
* [[Brian Blume|Blume, Brian]], [[David Cook (game designer)|David Cook]], and [[Jean Wells]]. ''[[The Rogues Gallery]]'' (TSR, 1980).
* Browne, Dave J, and [[Don Turnbull (game designer)|Don Turnbull]]. ''[[The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh]]'' (TSR, 1981).
** Browne, Dave J, and Don Turnbull. ''[[Danger at Dunwater]]'' (TSR, 1982).
* [[David Cook (game designer)|Cook, David]]. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." ''[[Greyhawk Wars (game)|Wars]]'' (TSR, 1991). Available Online: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060206031911/http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html]
** Cook, David. ''Vecna Lives'' (TSR, 1990).
* Grohe, Allan. "Gygax's Anagrams, Puns, and Homages in the World of Greyhawk." Available online: [http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_anagrams.html]
* Gygax, Gary. ''[[Isle of the Ape]]'' (TSR, 1985).
** [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Players Handbook]]'' (TSR, 1978).
*[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, E. Gary]], and [[Frank Mentzer]]. ''[[The Temple of Elemental Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
* [[Bruce Heard|Heard, Bruce]]. "Spells Between the Covers." (''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #82 (TSR, 1984).
* Holian, Gary, [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''Living Greyhawk Gazetteer'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).
* Mona, Erik, and [[Gary Holian]]. "Wheels within Wheels: Greyhawk's Circle of Eight." ''Living Greyhawk Journal'' #0 (Aug 2000). Available online: [http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LGJcircleof8pdf.zip]
* Moore, Roger. ''[[Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins]]'' (TSR, 1998).
** [[Roger E. Moore|Moore, Roger E]]. ''[[Return of the Eight]]'' (TSR, 1998).
* Pryor, Anthony. ''[[Rary the Traitor]]'' (TSR, 1992).
* Sargent, Carl. ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]'' (TSR, 1993).
* [[Jim Ward (game designer)|Ward, James M]]. ''[[Greyhawk Adventures]]'' (TSR, 1988).


{{D&D topics}}


[[Category:Characters of Greyhawk]]
[[Category:Greyhawk characters]]
[[Category:Characters of the Wild Coast]]
[[Category:Fictional arcane spellcasters (Dungeons & Dragons)]]
[[Category:Human characters]]
[[Category:Wizards]]

Revision as of 23:08, 18 September 2018


Greyhawk Character
Tenser
General info
Home:Magepoint
Alignment:Lawful Good
Gender:Male
Species:Human
Class:Wizard 16/Archmage 5
Dates
Age:70+

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Tenser is an archmage who strives to rid the Flanaess of evil. Tenser is a former member of both the Citadel of Eight and the Circle of Eight.

In Dungeon's Age of Worms adventure path, Tenser is referred to as "Manzorian".

Creative origins

Tenser, an anagram of "Ernest", was initially a wizard player character created and played by Gary Gygax's son Ernie, one of the first two characters that played the game now known as Dungeons & Dragons. In the fall of 1972, Gary Gygax was working to create rules for a new type of game based on a demonstration he had been given by Dave Arneson. In order to provide a playtest environment in which to develop these rules, Gygax designed his own castle, "Castle Greyhawk", and prepared the first level of a dungeon that lay beneath it.[1] Two of his children, Ernie and Elise, were the first players,[2] and Ernie rolled up a wizard, Tenser.[3]:99 During the evening, the children fought and destroyed the first monsters of the Greyhawk dungeon; Gygax variously recalled this as being some giant centipedes[4] or a nest of scorpions.[5] During the same session, Ernie and Elise also found the first treasure, a chest of 3,000 copper coins (which was too heavy to carry, much to the children's disappointment).[6][7] After his children had gone to bed, Gygax immediately began to work on the second level of the dungeon.[8]

The next night, Don Kaye and Rob and Terry Kuntz joined in, rolling up the character Murlynd, Robilar and Terik respectively. In the following weeks and months, Tenser often adventured with Robilar and Terik. At one point, using their combined forces of loyal henchmen, the three controlled access to the first level of the Greyhawk dungeons while they ransacked the lower levels.[9] Eventually Tenser became the second character to reach the 13th (and at the time, the bottom level) of the Greyhawk dungeons, when he noticed that Robilar was missing and went in search of him.[10] Gary Gygax "borrowed" Tenser's name for two spells, Tenser's floating disc and Tenser's transformation.

When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost the rights to most of his characters, except those that were anagrams of his own name.[11] Tenser is one of the famous mages whose spells were included in the 1988 Greyhawk Adventures hardbound.[12] Tenser was reintroduced as a member of a repurposed Circle of Eight in 1989 in The City of Greyhawk boxed set, where he appeared as part of a cabal of nine wizards, including himself, who sought to balance the forces of Good and Evil in the world.[13] When TSR decided to reboot the World of Greyhawk campaign setting in 1991, the storyline of the setting moved forward a decade to 585 CY, the year after the end of a continental war called the Greyhawk Wars. In events described in the new storyline, Rary and Tenser's old adventuring partner Robilar has attempted to destroy the Circle of Eight, and succeeded in murdering Tenser and Otiluke. This was the end of Tenser until TSR was bought by Wizards of the Coast and the Greyhawk storyline was once again revised. This time, in Roger E. Moore's D&D adventure Return of the Eight (1998) 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).

Description

Tenser is medium-sized, with brown hair and an aquiline nose. He is always dressed in blue. He is polite and outgoing, but is willing to enforce his will on others for the sake of Law and Good.

Relationships

Tenser is a close friend of Jallarzi Sallavarian and Cymria. Agath of Thrunch often meets him at his fortress.

Home

Tenser makes his home in the Fortress of Unknown Depths on the southern shore of the Nyr Dyv, near the village of Magepoint, only a few days ride from the Free City of Greyhawk.

History

Tenser was born 525 CY, purportedly in the Wild Coast town of Fax. At some point after 551 CY, he was recruited by Mordenkainen and Bigby to join the Citadel of Eight. After the death of his good friend and fellow Citadel member Serten in 569 CY, the Citadel dissolved. Tenser joined forces with Bigby and Mordenkainen once more in 574 CY when he joined the Circle of Eight, replacing Leomund.

In 570 CY, Tenser accompanied Bigby and Neb Retnar beneath Greyhawk Castle in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Robilar, Riggby, and Quij from freeing the demigod Iuz.

In 579 CY, Robilar sacked the Temple of Elemental Evil, freeing the demoness Zuggtmoy in the process. In retribution, Tenser, Otis, Rufus, and Burne led an army of good-aligned forces in pursuit of his former companion, following him back to his castle and laying siege to it, defeating his armies and driving them from the Domain of Greyhawk to the Pomarj.

In 581 CY, Tenser accompanied Bigby, Drawmij, Jallarzi Sallavarian, Nystul, Otiluke, Otto, and Rary to the tomb of Halmadar the Cruel. Every member of the party died that day, though they were brought back to life later through the agency of clone spells.

The Circle was betrayed in 584 CY, when Tenser, Bigby, and Otiluke discovered a plan by the Circle's own Rary to slay a number of diplomats assembled in Greyhawk to sign the treaty ending the Greyhawk Wars. 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.

However, Rary and Robilar had failed to discover a clone Tenser had hidden away on Celene, one of Oerth's moons, and in Goodmonth of 585 CY Tenser was restored to life. Though he was welcomed back into the Circle, Tenser refused.

Spells

Two of Tenser's eponymous spells, Tenser's Floating Disc and Tenser's Transformation, appear in the 3.5 Edition Player's Handbook. Other spells that he developed, described in such second edition supplements as Greyhawk Adventures, include:

  • Tenser's Brawl
  • Tenser's Deadly Strike
  • Tenser's Destructive Resonance
  • Tenser's Eye of the Eagle
  • Tenser's Eye of the Tiger
  • Tenser's Flaming Blade
  • Tenser's Floating Disc, Greater
  • Tenser's Fortunes of War
  • Tenser's Giant Strength
  • Tenser's Hunting Hawk
  • Tenser's Master of Arms
  • Tenser's Primal Fury
  • Tenser's Running Warrior
  • Tenser's Staff of Smiting
  • Tenser's Steady Aim

Writings

Tenser is known to have authored the following works:

  • Evolution of the Arcane Will Power
  • Magical Properties of Gemstones
  • Magical Properties of Herbs and Flowers
  • Occult Properties of Gemstones
  • Theory of the Invisible Forces

References

  1. ↑ Gygax: "Credit Dave Arneson and Dave Megary (designer of the Dungeon! boardgame) with my concentrating on subterranean settings for the D&D game. The contained adventuring environment was perfect for establishing fixed encounters before a game session, and for developing progressively more hazardous ones as the PCs grew in their capacity to manage them." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 1). EN World , 2006-06-27. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  2. ↑ Gygax: "It was in the late fall of 1972 when I completed a map of some castle ruins, noted ways down to the dungeon level (singular), and invited my 11-year-old son Ernie and nine-year-old daughter Elise to create characters and adventure. This they did, and around 9 PM ... they had to come back from such imaginary derring-do, put their index card character sheets aside, and get ready for bed. They had had a marvelous time and wanted to keep playing." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 1). EN World , 2003-07-22. Retrieved on 2010-03-16.
  3. ↑ Witwer, Michael (2015) Empire of the Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons, New York⧼colon⧽ Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN: 978-1-63286-279-2.
  4. ↑ Q: "What was the first ever monster killed by a PC in D&D?" Gygax: "A giant centipede, with the 1st level PCs played by my son Ernie (fighter) and daughter Elise (cleric)." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IX, Page 65). EN World , 2005-08-19. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  5. ↑ Gygax: "The monsters first encountered, by son Ernie's and daughter Elise's characters, were a nest of scorpions in some rubble in the very first room of the dungeon they entered. The glint of coins was mentioned to lure the incautious hand into attack proximity, but Elise's PC used a dagger to poke around, and the scorpions were spotted. Eventually one managed to sting, but the poison saving throw was made." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part V, Page 7). EN World , 2004-01-28. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  6. ↑ Gygax: "They next encountered and defeated a gang of kobolds with a chest of 3,000 copper pieces. Needless to say, they weren't pleased with the treasure." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part V, Page 7). EN World , 2004-01-28. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  7. ↑ Gygax: "Later in the long session of exploration, the two intrepid adventurers came upon the lair of several kobolds, slew two and the rest fled. They found an iron chest filled with coins...several thousand copper pieces--that was too heavy to move. A big disappointment." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IX, Page 65). EN World , 2003-07-22. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  8. ↑ Gygax: "After they went upstairs I stayed in my study and went to work on a second dungeon level."Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 1). EN World , 2005-08-19. Retrieved on 2009-03-15. [[Category:All articles with dead external links{{#translation:}}]][[Category:Articles with dead external links{{#translation:}} from January 2018]]<span title=" <translate> since <tvar" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<translate> dead link</translate>]
  9. ↑ Kuntz: "Robilar, along with Teric and Tenser, formed a triumvirate and took over the first level of Castle Greyhawk for a while. They barracked their respective forces there and guarded ingress and egress, using the location as a base for further adventures deep within the sprawling castle complex. "Robilar Remembers: Lord Robilar and Co.. Pied Piper Publishing. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved on 2009-05-16.
  10. ↑ Gygax: "Ernie, noting Rob's absence from adventuring with the party, sent Tenser on a solo quest to discover Robilar's whereabouts. He managed to follow a similar path, and made level 13."Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part III, Page 11). EN World , 2003-05-13. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  11. ↑ Gygax: "Anagrams of my name are exclusively my property according to my settlement agreement with TSR, so that is how I can use Zagyg, or Zagig, as well as Yrag."Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IX, Page 91). EN World , 2005-10-20. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  12. ↑ Bambra, Jim (March 1989). "Role-playing Reviews". Dragon (#143): 71–72. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR.
  13. ↑ Niles, Douglas, and Carl Sargent. The City of Greyhawk (TSR, 1989)

Further reading

Template:D&D topics

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