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==Creative origins==
==Creative origins==
In late 1972, Gary Gygax created Castle Greyhawk and the dungeons beneath it. After a few months of almost non-stop play as the [[Dungeon Master]],<ref>Gygax: "An average of seven gaming sessions a week was typical even when I was busy working. Often I played more than that. " {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part II, Page 9) | publisher = EN World | date = 2003-02-26 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/38912-q-gary-gygax-continuation-thread-part-ii-9.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Gygax asked one of the players, [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]], to become co-Dungeon Master, which would allow Gygax an opportunity to experience the game as a player. Gygax subsequently created several characters, including a 1st-level wizard in early 1973.<ref>Gygax: "Mordenkainen came into being about the first month of 1973."{{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part VIII, Page 8) | publisher = EN World | date = 2005-03-01 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/121380-gary-gygax-q-part-viii-8.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Gygax was interested in [[Wikipedia:Finnish mythology|Finnish mythology]], and named the wizard Mordenkainen, a portmanteau of the mythical heroes [[Wikipedia:Mordecai|Mordecai]] and [[Wikipedia:Lemminkäinen|Lemminkäinen]].<ref>Gygax: "The background I created for Mordenkainen was Finnish-like in nature, and his master was a chap called 'Old Waino'... […] I picked the name because one [[Wikipedia:Väinämöinen|Vainomoinen]] was sometimes referred to as "Old Waino." I really was captivated with Finnish myth after seeing a B&W movie done by the Russians, I think, about him, [[Wikipedia:Lemminkäinen|Leminkainen]], and [[Wikipedia:Ilmarinen|Ilmarinen]] adventuring to [[Wikipedia:Pohjola|Pojola]] and entering [[Wikipedia:Louhi|Louhi]]'s fortress, then reading ''The Green Magician'' by de Camp and Pratt as well as the [[Wikipedia:Kalevala|Kalevala]]." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part X, Page 17-18) | publisher = EN World | date = 2006-06-13 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/161566-gary-gygax-q-part-x.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref>


He was to become Gygax's most famous character, and also his favorite to play.<ref>Q: "Of the characters you have played, which is your favorite?" Gygax: "I really must admit Mordenkainen is my favorite. I enjoy playing fighters, rangers, thieves, clerics, and multi-classed sorts in OAD&D, but the magic-user is usually most fun for me."{{cite web | last = Johnson | first = Joel | title = Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview | publisher = Boing Boing Gadgets | date = 2008-03-04 | url = http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/03/04/dungeons-dragons-cre.html | accessdate = 2009-05-14}}</ref> 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".<ref>Gygax: "I do believe that Mordenkainen earned his twenty-something levels through cleverness, daring, a bit of luck, and dint of trying..." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part X, Page 13) | publisher = EN World | date = 2006-06-13 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/161566-gary-gygax-q-part-x-13.html | accessdate = 2009-03-15}}</ref> During this period, Gygax united Mordenkainen with seven of his other characters to form the Circle of Eight.<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><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><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> During his lifetime, Gygax never disclosed any of Mordenkainen's original game statistics.<ref>Q: "May we see [Mordenkainen's] stats?" Gygax: "Can you see Mordie's stats? No! I won't even show you those for my most recent PC, Louhi Sharpnose, a gnome illusionist and treasure finder who I created only about four years back." {{cite web | last = Johnson | first = Joel | title = Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview | publisher = Boing Boing Gadgets | date = 2008-03-04 | url = http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/03/04/dungeons-dragons-cre.html | accessdate = 2009-05-14}}</ref>
Mordenkainen was originally a character created by D&D creator [[Gary Gygax]] in a campaign run by [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]].
 
===Origin===
 
In late fall of 1972, Gygax created the first levels of what would become [[Castle Greyhawk]], in a playtest scenario of the fantasy rules which would be known as Dungeons & Dragons.<ref name="en-post-1022839">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. ... After they went upstairs I stayed in my study and went to work on a second dungeon level.  The next day they played, and with their PCs were two new ones, that of Rob Kuntz and Don Kaye's Murlynd.  After that it was a race for me to get more levels done as the player group grew and got more able in their delving." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-1022839 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 73]. ENWorld, Jul 22, 2003.</ref><ref name="en-post-2922187">Gygax: "The initial plau-testers were my son Ernie and my daughter Elise, then ages 12 and 10 years respectively. They adventured on the first of what became 13 levels of "Castle Greyhawk" of the "Greyhawk Campaign" and loved it. I went to work immediately on a second level, even as Rob and Terry Kuntz and Don Kaye joined the play-test group." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-2922187 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 286]. ENWorld, Jul 2, 2006.</ref> Gygax served as [[Dungeon Master]] for the Castle Greyhawk campaign.
 
Around January 1973, player Rob Kunz began his own campaign set in ''Castle El Raja Key'', allowing Gygax to create his own player character. Gygax created a fighter named ''Yrag'' (his own name backwards), soon followed by a wizard named ''Mordenkainen'', with Gygax adventuring primarily as a solo player controlling both characters.<ref name="en-post-2069162">Gygax: "My first PC was a fghter named Yrag, back in 1972. Mordenkainen came into being about the first month of 1973. That's about all that I can recall with any level of certainly." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-2069162 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 140]. ENWorld, Mar 1, 2005.</ref><ref>Kuntz: "Gary started in the "mists" when rolling his first PC, Yrag. ... Within a day I allowed him to roll up his second PC, Mordenkainen, this to pair with Yrag, and because he was for the most part adventuring solo (but do read hereafter)." [https://lakegenevaoriginalrpg.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-first-living-campaign.html The First Living Campaign]. Lake Geneva Original RPG Campaign, April 6, 2013.</ref>
 
Mordenkainen was inspired by Finnish mythology, with the name bearing similarity to the character of ''Lemminkäinen'' of the Finnish epic ''Kalevala''. Gygax describes his influences as including a black and white Russian movie based on the Kalevala; likely [[Wikipedia:Sampo (film)|Sampo]] (1959), released in English as ''The Day the Earth Froze'' (1964). He also cites [[Wikipedia:The Green Magician|The Green Magician]] (1954) by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, possible drawing on the anthology [[Wikipedia:Wall of Serpents|Wall of Serpents]] (1960), which includes both that story and ''The Wall of Serpents'', in which the protagonist visits the world of Finnish mythology.<ref name="en-post-2887008">Gygax: "The background I created for Mordenkainen was Finnish-like in nature, and his master was a chap called Old Waino..." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-2887008 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 277]. ENWorld, Jun 13, 2006.</ref><ref name="en-post-2887050">Gygax: "I really was captivated with Finnish myth after seeing a B&W movie done by the Russians, I think, about him, Leminkainen, and Ilmarinen adventuring to Pojola and entering Louhi's fortress, then reading "The Green Magician" by de Camp and Pratt as well as the Kalevala." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-2887050 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 277]. ENWorld, Jun 13, 2006.</ref>
 
===Adventuring career===
 
Mordenkainen began at 1st level.<ref name="en-post-770705">Gygax: "Yrag and Mordenkainen both began as 1st level, and Rob Kuntz, the main DM for their adventures, was not prone to cutting slack for anyone." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-770705 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 50]. ENWorld, Mar 15, 2003.</ref> He had a significant adventuring career, playing in several DM's campaigns on request.<ref name="en-post-799797">Gygax: "Mordenkainen and Bigby, mainly by demand, played in so many different campaigns that they kept climbing.  Most of my other PCs that did likewise, but were mainly active in Greyhawk with Rob as DM, are in the range of 16th level (Yrag) on down."[https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-799797 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 53]. ENWorld, Mar 27, 2003.</ref>
 
In camapign run by Rob Kuntz, Mordenkainen once encountered an iron golem which could levitate, breathed fire, and was armed with a poisoned sword and whip tipped with cockatrice feathers. After attempting to hide atop huge ivory pillars, Mordenkainen was turned to stone and his apprentice [[Bigby]] was slain. The two were later rescued by [[Rigby]] and [[Nigby]]. Later, after wandering through a portal to a world where everything was super-sized, the party fled on the assumption that it must be inhabited by some creature whose tusks were large enough to construct those pillars.<ref name="en-post-875918">Gygax: "Mordenkainen and Bigby faced an iron golem in Rob Kuntz's campaign.  It could levitate and breathed fire.  That construct was armed with a poisned sword and a whip tipped with cockatrice feathers.  Mordenkainen was turned to stone and Bigby was slain when he failed his save:(  Fortunately others of the circle came to their rescue, and as Rigby used a stone to flesh spell, Nigby used a wish to bring Bigby back to life." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-875918 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 62]. ENWorld, May 4, 2003.</ref><ref name="en-post-807851">Gygax: "Fact is I never got to try any of those gates.  Rob alone knows where those sent the PC activating them.  All Mordie & Company found was a portal to a world where everything was super-sized--recall the huge ivory pillars thet he and Bigby sought refuge atop when the iron golem attacked.  Not wanting to meet creatures armed with tusks as large as towers, we scooted away.  the plan was to return another day, but fate intervened to disallow that--I was moved out to the West Coast." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-807851 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 54]. ENWorld, Mar 31, 2003.</ref>
 
 
Mordenkainen possessed extensive spell books was fond of the spells ''magic missile'', ''fire ball'', ''lightning bolt'', ''ice storm'', ''cone of cold'', ''cloudkill'', ''death spell'', ''power word stun'', and ''Evard's black tentacles''.<ref name="en-post-368050">Gygax: "Mordenkainen always had a fair stock of magic missile, fire ball, and lightning bolt spells to go with ice storm, cone of cold, cloudkill, death spell, and power word stun (later on) Evard's black tentacles was another oft-used casting. Dropping a cloudkill spell around his party and advancing on loe-level monsters was a lot of fun. Of course depending on intelligence he would alter the usual. Mordie had some pretty extensive spell books, of course, and he and Bigby exchanged spells to broaden their repertories." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-368050 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 12]. ENWorld, Sep 14, 2002.</ref>
 
Mordenkainen revered [[Boccob]], deity of magic, as was common in that campaign.<ref name="en-post-1340231">Gygax: Mordenkainen being a mage was indeed a follower of Boccob, and thus generally honored Zagyg. The other magic-users in the group took also did the same. That meant that their cleric would be dedicated to Boccob, and the fighters and others, wanting the benefits of clerical ministrations came along for the ride;) Boccob was never an active deity in play, and none of the PCs was eager to have Zagyg intervene..." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-1340231 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 93]. ENWorld, Jan 29, 2004.</ref>
 
===Retirement===
 
Following numerous adventures, Mordenkainen rose to above 20th level, a rarity in those days.<ref name="en-post-941749">Gygax: "Never did I demand a retirement of a PC.  Most of the players with characters in the high-teens level voluntarily took those PCs into semi-retirement, keeping them only for adventures that called for potent adventurers.  My own top-level PC Mordenkainen, went past 20th level thus--special high-level scenarios." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-941749 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 66]. ENWorld, Jun 14, 2003.</ref> He went into general retirement around 18th level, after acquiring 9th-level spells, returning only for special high-level adventures.<ref name="en-post-1029900">Gygax: "When PCs got to around 15th level they were generally retired, went only on special adventures.  (Even given that, Mordenkainen took enough of those to get into the 20s, although his general retirement was at 18th level, when he could finally use 9th level spells!)" [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-1029900 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 76]. ENWorld, Jul 25, 2003.</ref>
 
In one such special adventure, he was attacked by liches armed with ''rods of cancellation''. In his final two adventures, which occurred a year apart, Mordenkainen visited the ''Metamorphosis Alpha'' RPG's ''Starship Warden'', and in the other, a campaign run by his son Ernie, he was recruited in to fight two ancient white dragons, which he easily bested. Mordenkainen only rarely slew dragons throughout his adventuring career.<ref>Gygax: "In one in company with several other like PCs. the first encounter faced by the group were liches armed with Rods of Cancellation that charging the party. ... Mordie's last two adventures were one there he was accompanying some mid-level characters who got transferred to the MA game's Starship Warden and another in which two ancient white dragons were awaiting the party.  Each of those was about a year apart." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-941749 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 66]. ENWorld, Jun 14, 2003.</ref><ref name="en-post-344687">Gygax:" To the best of my recollection my PCs have managed to slay only a few [dragons]. Of course Mordenkainen and party did subdue a couple of red dragons. The last time Mordie was involved in dragon slaying was in an OAD&D campaign run by my son Ernie. Two ancient white dragons had ambushed his main players' PC party, killed most. So they sought help, Mordenkainen agreed to the deal, and lead the survivors and some new PCs into the dragons' lair. a Power Word Stun took care of one, and the other, lurking invisibly above on a ledge was then assailed and laid low--many a Magic Missile lightening the combat load on the other characters in the melee." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-344687 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 3]. ENWorld, Sep 3, 2002.</ref>
 
Following his retirement from adventuring, Mordenkainen became involved in politics.<ref name="en-post-458755">Gygax: "As for Mordie, no such pretensions;)  He adventured a lot, made a substantial level, and then got involved in politics." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-458755 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 29]. ENWorld, Nov 7, 2002.</ref>
 
===Later appearances===
 
Gygax never released Mordenkainen's true statistics.
 
---
 
He was to become Gygax's most famous character, and also his favorite to play.<ref>Q: "Of the characters you have played, which is your favorite?" Gygax: "I really must admit Mordenkainen is my favorite. I enjoy playing fighters, rangers, thieves, clerics, and multi-classed sorts in OAD&D, but the magic-user is usually most fun for me."{{cite web | last = Johnson | first = Joel | title = Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview | publisher = Boing Boing Gadgets | date = 2008-03-04 | url = http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/03/04/dungeons-dragons-cre.html | accessdate = 2009-05-14}}</ref>
 
During this period, Gygax united Mordenkainen with seven of his other characters to form the Circle of Eight.<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><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><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> During his lifetime, Gygax never disclosed any of Mordenkainen's original game statistics.<ref>Q: "May we see [Mordenkainen's] stats?" Gygax: "Can you see Mordie's stats? No! I won't even show you those for my most recent PC, Louhi Sharpnose, a gnome illusionist and treasure finder who I created only about four years back." {{cite web | last = Johnson | first = Joel | title = Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview | publisher = Boing Boing Gadgets | date = 2008-03-04 | url = http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/03/04/dungeons-dragons-cre.html | accessdate = 2009-05-14}}</ref>


When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost the rights to most of the characters he had mentioned in TSR publications, including Mordenkainen.<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> TSR subsequently changed Mordenkainen in ways unforeseen by his creator. When the Greyhawk campaign world was reset in 1991's ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]'', Mordenkainen was refashioned as the world's most powerful wizard and the leader of the [[Circle of Eight]], a cabal of eight powerful wizards, and given strong convictions against moral absolutes. In fiction associated with the [[World of Greyhawk]], he has played diverse roles as both protagonist and antagonist.The Circle of Eight was now described as a cabal of eight wizards supervised by Mordenkainen, who together sought to balance the forces of good and evil.
When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost the rights to most of the characters he had mentioned in TSR publications, including Mordenkainen.<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> TSR subsequently changed Mordenkainen in ways unforeseen by his creator. When the Greyhawk campaign world was reset in 1991's ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]'', Mordenkainen was refashioned as the world's most powerful wizard and the leader of the [[Circle of Eight]], a cabal of eight powerful wizards, and given strong convictions against moral absolutes. In fiction associated with the [[World of Greyhawk]], he has played diverse roles as both protagonist and antagonist.The Circle of Eight was now described as a cabal of eight wizards supervised by Mordenkainen, who together sought to balance the forces of good and evil.

Revision as of 11:26, 20 August 2020

Greyhawk Character
Mordenkainen
Mordenkainen, as depicted on the cover of Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), art by Michael Kormarck
General info
Home:Yatil Mountains
Alignment:Neutral
Gender:Male
Species:Human
Class:Wizard
Dates
Age:80+

Mordenkainen is a character created by Gary Gygax originally for play in a Fantasy Game (the working title of D&D) refereed by Robert J. Kuntz, later played in Greyhawk, and in Kahlibrun. Mordenkainen is one of the original characters continuously associated with various role-playing games. Mordenkainen's exploits have appeared in numerous publications up to the present day.

Character biography

Mordenkainen, as depicted in Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984).

Greyhawk authors Carl Sargent, Erik Mona, and Gary Holian imply that Mordenkainen was born 509 CY. His birthplace is unknown, but before coming to prominence in the early 560s, he is thought to have resided on the Wild Coast. He also resided for a time in the City of Greyhawk, as well as Highfolk. He is rumored to be of Oeridian blood, possibly Aerdi. Some claim that he is a descendant of Ganz Yragerne, first Landgraf of the Selintan, which would mean he's also related to Zagig and Heward. According to some sources, he is distantly related to House Cranden, one of the royal houses of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy.

About 561 CY, with his young apprentice Bigby, the warriors Robilar and Yrag, the clerics Riggby and Serten, the ranger Otis, and fellow mageTenser, Mordenkainen formed the Citadel of Eight. The group was named for the Obsidian Citadel, Mordenkainen's stronghold in the Yatil Mountains. The Citadel disbanded after the Battle of Emridy Meadows in 569 CY, where Citadel member Serten lost his life.

Two years later, Mordenkainen formed the Circle of Eight, a cabal of eight wizards with himself acting as the ninth "shadow member" and leader. Mordenkainen felt that the failure of the Citadel was due to its composition. He felt that such a group as he envisioned could only succeed if its members were "men of intellect and sorcerous skill, whose primary interests were more than material."

Role and philosophy

Mordenkainen's role in the Greyhawk setting has been described as a form of one-man peacekeeping force. He operates according to a theory based on power balance and Neutrality, trying to keep neither Good nor Evil from getting the upper hand. His methods are manipulative; he operates very much from the shadows.

The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000) says the following about Mordenkainen:

Mordenkainen the Archmage formed the Circle of Eight as a tool to manipulate political factions of the Flanaess, preserving the delicate balance of power in hopes of maintaining stability and sanity in the region. Mordenkainen's view of "enforced neutrality" is not a tit-for-tat equality but rather a detailed theoretical philosophy derived from decades of arcane research. He has fought ardently for the forces of Good, most recently during the Greyhawk Wars, but just as often has worked on darker plots to achieve his ends.[1]

Description

Mordenkainen appears much younger than his years, perhaps in his early forties, rather than his actual 82 years (as of 591 CY). He is 5' 11" tall, of medium build and often depicted wearing black, blue, or grey. He does not prefer robes, instead wearing coats, often black satin with red lining. He wears a Van Dyke beard with two prominent grey streaks. Its shape has changed over the years, and in recent art is narrow and pointed, but was originally broad, covering the whole chin. He once wore his graying black hair at medium length, but since 589 CY has been shaving his pate bald[2], as well as trimming his goatee to a fine point. He speaks with a deep, melodic voice.

When traveling, Mordenkainen often disguises himself as a poor, elderly merchant.

Mordenkainen can be stubborn and difficult, and does not tolerate fools. He normally spends much more time listening than talking, but when he does speak, his pronouncements are authoritative and rarely questioned.

Relationships

Yrag, Mordenkainen, Bigby, and Riggby, as depicted in Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984).

As a major character in the World of Greyhawk, Mordenkainen has had dealings with nearly every other character in the setting.
He has many allies, including the lesser deity Dalt. He can sometimes be spotted visiting with his distant kinsman Heward, or traveling with Keoghtom and Murlynd, and even associating with Zagyg. Of course, he has access to the full resources of the Circle of Eight, and is known to associate with Ravel Dasinder.
His enemies include Evard, Iuz, Rary, Terik, and Sir Robilar.
He is distantly related to Heward, Zagyg, and Bigby. The latter was at one point Mordenkainen's apprentice.

The "Wizards Three" articles mention that Mordenkainen is an associate of Elminster of the Forgotten Realms setting and Dalamar of the Dragonlance setting, who all meet on Earth to swap news and magic. He is also stated to have an apprentice named Rautheene.

Mordenkainen's citadel is defended by humans, dwarves, and gnomes. The wizard is also allied with various giants.

Powers and abilities

Mordenkainen is a powerful wizard and a potent political manipulator. He has many allies in the Free City of Greyhawk and his influence is far reaching.

He is responsible for developing a number of spells, among them the commonly well-known spells Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion, Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound, and Mordenkainen's Disjunction. Mordenkainen is known to have authored or co-authored the following diegetic works:

Spells

Mordenkainen, as depicted on the cover of Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984).

Mordenkainen is responsible for developing such commonly known spells as:

  • Mordenkainen's Disjunction
  • Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound
  • Mordenkainen's Guardian Hound[3]
  • Mordenkainen's Lucubration
  • Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
  • Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
  • Mordenkainen's Sword

Mordenkainen has also developed the following additional spells (published in Greyhawk Adventures, 1988):

  • Mordenkainen's Buzzing Bee
  • Mordenkainen's Capable Caravel
  • Mordenkainen's Celerity
  • Mordenkainen's Defense Against Lycanthropes
  • Mordenkainen's Defense Against Nonmagical Reptiles and Amphibians
  • Mordenkainen's Electric Arc
  • Mordenkainen's Encompassing Vision
  • Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Defenders
  • Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Guardian
  • Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Shield-Maidens
  • Mordenkainen's Force Missiles
  • Mordenkainen's Involuntary Wizardry
  • Mordenkainen's Penultimate Cogitation
  • Mordenkainen's Protection From Avians
  • Mordenkainen's Protection From Insects and Arachnids
  • Mordenkainen's Protection From Slime
  • Mordenkainen's Trusted Bloodhound

Amongst Mordenkainen's later spells (published in Dragon #366) are:

  • Mordenkainen's Ascent
  • Mordenkainen's Joining

Writings

Mordenkainen as depicted in Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk

Mordenkainen is known to have authored or co-authored the following diegetic works:

  • Architecture (with Leomund)
  • The Codex of Mordenkainen
  • Cosmogony of Magnetic Fluids
  • Dark Sides of the Memory
  • Epic Saga of the Great Conjurers
  • On the Rise of Magecraft and Modernity
  • Weapons of the Ether (with Melf)

Creative origins

Mordenkainen was originally a character created by D&D creator Gary Gygax in a campaign run by Rob Kuntz.

Origin

In late fall of 1972, Gygax created the first levels of what would become Castle Greyhawk, in a playtest scenario of the fantasy rules which would be known as Dungeons & Dragons.[4][5] Gygax served as Dungeon Master for the Castle Greyhawk campaign.

Around January 1973, player Rob Kunz began his own campaign set in Castle El Raja Key, allowing Gygax to create his own player character. Gygax created a fighter named Yrag (his own name backwards), soon followed by a wizard named Mordenkainen, with Gygax adventuring primarily as a solo player controlling both characters.[6][7]

Mordenkainen was inspired by Finnish mythology, with the name bearing similarity to the character of Lemminkäinen of the Finnish epic Kalevala. Gygax describes his influences as including a black and white Russian movie based on the Kalevala; likely Sampo (1959), released in English as The Day the Earth Froze (1964). He also cites The Green Magician (1954) by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, possible drawing on the anthology Wall of Serpents (1960), which includes both that story and The Wall of Serpents, in which the protagonist visits the world of Finnish mythology.[8][9]

Adventuring career

Mordenkainen began at 1st level.[10] He had a significant adventuring career, playing in several DM's campaigns on request.[11]

In camapign run by Rob Kuntz, Mordenkainen once encountered an iron golem which could levitate, breathed fire, and was armed with a poisoned sword and whip tipped with cockatrice feathers. After attempting to hide atop huge ivory pillars, Mordenkainen was turned to stone and his apprentice Bigby was slain. The two were later rescued by Rigby and Nigby. Later, after wandering through a portal to a world where everything was super-sized, the party fled on the assumption that it must be inhabited by some creature whose tusks were large enough to construct those pillars.[12][13]


Mordenkainen possessed extensive spell books was fond of the spells magic missile, fire ball, lightning bolt, ice storm, cone of cold, cloudkill, death spell, power word stun, and Evard's black tentacles.[14]

Mordenkainen revered Boccob, deity of magic, as was common in that campaign.[15]

Retirement

Following numerous adventures, Mordenkainen rose to above 20th level, a rarity in those days.[16] He went into general retirement around 18th level, after acquiring 9th-level spells, returning only for special high-level adventures.[17]

In one such special adventure, he was attacked by liches armed with rods of cancellation. In his final two adventures, which occurred a year apart, Mordenkainen visited the Metamorphosis Alpha RPG's Starship Warden, and in the other, a campaign run by his son Ernie, he was recruited in to fight two ancient white dragons, which he easily bested. Mordenkainen only rarely slew dragons throughout his adventuring career.[18][19]

Following his retirement from adventuring, Mordenkainen became involved in politics.[20]

Later appearances

Gygax never released Mordenkainen's true statistics.

---

He was to become Gygax's most famous character, and also his favorite to play.[21]

During this period, Gygax united Mordenkainen with seven of his other characters to form the Circle of Eight.[22][23][24] During his lifetime, Gygax never disclosed any of Mordenkainen's original game statistics.[25]

When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost the rights to most of the characters he had mentioned in TSR publications, including Mordenkainen.[26] TSR subsequently changed Mordenkainen in ways unforeseen by his creator. When the Greyhawk campaign world was reset in 1991's From the Ashes, Mordenkainen was refashioned as the world's most powerful wizard and the leader of the Circle of Eight, a cabal of eight powerful wizards, and given strong convictions against moral absolutes. In fiction associated with the World of Greyhawk, he has played diverse roles as both protagonist and antagonist.The Circle of Eight was now described as a cabal of eight wizards supervised by Mordenkainen, who together sought to balance the forces of good and evil.

Mordenkainen is one of the famous mages whose spells were included in the 1988 Greyhawk Adventures hardbound.[27] Mordenkainen's name has been used to describe various spells published in the Dungeons & Dragons system of magic.

Mordenkainen as depicted on the cover of the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, WotC, 2000, art by William O'Conner

Originally depicted with dark hair, Mordenkainen was first drawn as bald on the cover of TSR Jam 1999, a trait which would be continued in all subsequent D&D products. Todd Lockwood based his depiction of Mordenkainen on illustrator Fred Fields.[28] Living Greyhawk Journal #0 (Aug 2000) attributes this baldness to Mordenkainen's decision to shave his head in 589 CY, a habit which he has continued until at least 591 CY.

Publishing history

Mordenkainen's AD&D statistics were first published in The Rogues Gallery (1980), although Gary Gygax was later emphatic that he never gave author Brian Blume any information about the wizard, and insisted that Blume had been forced to make up the published statistics.[29] Variations on Mordenkainen's AD&D statistics were also published in Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984), The City of Greyhawk (1989) and Epic Level Handbook (2002).

He was also mentioned in the following publications:

Mordenkainen also figured prominently in the parody adventure Castle Greyhawk (1988), in which he runs a film studio, possibly a reference to Gary Gygax's work as TSR's liaison to Hollywood while he was developing the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon and other projects.

Mordenkainen appears in Curse of Strahd, released March 2016.


See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Gary Holian, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, Frederick Weining;Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, Wizards of the Coast,2000, isbn=0-7869-1743-1
  2. ↑ Living Greyhawk Journal #0, p9. (2000)
  3. ↑ Logan Bonner, Eytan Berstein, Peter Lee; Arcane Power, Wizards of the coast, 2009, p106
  4. ↑ 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. ... After they went upstairs I stayed in my study and went to work on a second dungeon level. The next day they played, and with their PCs were two new ones, that of Rob Kuntz and Don Kaye's Murlynd. After that it was a race for me to get more levels done as the player group grew and got more able in their delving." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 73. ENWorld, Jul 22, 2003.
  5. ↑ Gygax: "The initial plau-testers were my son Ernie and my daughter Elise, then ages 12 and 10 years respectively. They adventured on the first of what became 13 levels of "Castle Greyhawk" of the "Greyhawk Campaign" and loved it. I went to work immediately on a second level, even as Rob and Terry Kuntz and Don Kaye joined the play-test group." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 286. ENWorld, Jul 2, 2006.
  6. ↑ Gygax: "My first PC was a fghter named Yrag, back in 1972. Mordenkainen came into being about the first month of 1973. That's about all that I can recall with any level of certainly." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 140. ENWorld, Mar 1, 2005.
  7. ↑ Kuntz: "Gary started in the "mists" when rolling his first PC, Yrag. ... Within a day I allowed him to roll up his second PC, Mordenkainen, this to pair with Yrag, and because he was for the most part adventuring solo (but do read hereafter)." The First Living Campaign. Lake Geneva Original RPG Campaign, April 6, 2013.
  8. ↑ Gygax: "The background I created for Mordenkainen was Finnish-like in nature, and his master was a chap called Old Waino..." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 277. ENWorld, Jun 13, 2006.
  9. ↑ Gygax: "I really was captivated with Finnish myth after seeing a B&W movie done by the Russians, I think, about him, Leminkainen, and Ilmarinen adventuring to Pojola and entering Louhi's fortress, then reading "The Green Magician" by de Camp and Pratt as well as the Kalevala." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 277. ENWorld, Jun 13, 2006.
  10. ↑ Gygax: "Yrag and Mordenkainen both began as 1st level, and Rob Kuntz, the main DM for their adventures, was not prone to cutting slack for anyone." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 50. ENWorld, Mar 15, 2003.
  11. ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen and Bigby, mainly by demand, played in so many different campaigns that they kept climbing. Most of my other PCs that did likewise, but were mainly active in Greyhawk with Rob as DM, are in the range of 16th level (Yrag) on down."Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 53. ENWorld, Mar 27, 2003.
  12. ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen and Bigby faced an iron golem in Rob Kuntz's campaign. It could levitate and breathed fire. That construct was armed with a poisned sword and a whip tipped with cockatrice feathers. Mordenkainen was turned to stone and Bigby was slain when he failed his save:( Fortunately others of the circle came to their rescue, and as Rigby used a stone to flesh spell, Nigby used a wish to bring Bigby back to life." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 62. ENWorld, May 4, 2003.
  13. ↑ Gygax: "Fact is I never got to try any of those gates. Rob alone knows where those sent the PC activating them. All Mordie & Company found was a portal to a world where everything was super-sized--recall the huge ivory pillars thet he and Bigby sought refuge atop when the iron golem attacked. Not wanting to meet creatures armed with tusks as large as towers, we scooted away. the plan was to return another day, but fate intervened to disallow that--I was moved out to the West Coast." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 54. ENWorld, Mar 31, 2003.
  14. ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen always had a fair stock of magic missile, fire ball, and lightning bolt spells to go with ice storm, cone of cold, cloudkill, death spell, and power word stun (later on) Evard's black tentacles was another oft-used casting. Dropping a cloudkill spell around his party and advancing on loe-level monsters was a lot of fun. Of course depending on intelligence he would alter the usual. Mordie had some pretty extensive spell books, of course, and he and Bigby exchanged spells to broaden their repertories." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 12. ENWorld, Sep 14, 2002.
  15. ↑ Gygax: Mordenkainen being a mage was indeed a follower of Boccob, and thus generally honored Zagyg. The other magic-users in the group took also did the same. That meant that their cleric would be dedicated to Boccob, and the fighters and others, wanting the benefits of clerical ministrations came along for the ride;) Boccob was never an active deity in play, and none of the PCs was eager to have Zagyg intervene..." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 93. ENWorld, Jan 29, 2004.
  16. ↑ Gygax: "Never did I demand a retirement of a PC. Most of the players with characters in the high-teens level voluntarily took those PCs into semi-retirement, keeping them only for adventures that called for potent adventurers. My own top-level PC Mordenkainen, went past 20th level thus--special high-level scenarios." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 66. ENWorld, Jun 14, 2003.
  17. ↑ Gygax: "When PCs got to around 15th level they were generally retired, went only on special adventures. (Even given that, Mordenkainen took enough of those to get into the 20s, although his general retirement was at 18th level, when he could finally use 9th level spells!)" Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 76. ENWorld, Jul 25, 2003.
  18. ↑ Gygax: "In one in company with several other like PCs. the first encounter faced by the group were liches armed with Rods of Cancellation that charging the party. ... Mordie's last two adventures were one there he was accompanying some mid-level characters who got transferred to the MA game's Starship Warden and another in which two ancient white dragons were awaiting the party. Each of those was about a year apart." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 66. ENWorld, Jun 14, 2003.
  19. ↑ Gygax:" To the best of my recollection my PCs have managed to slay only a few [dragons]. Of course Mordenkainen and party did subdue a couple of red dragons. The last time Mordie was involved in dragon slaying was in an OAD&D campaign run by my son Ernie. Two ancient white dragons had ambushed his main players' PC party, killed most. So they sought help, Mordenkainen agreed to the deal, and lead the survivors and some new PCs into the dragons' lair. a Power Word Stun took care of one, and the other, lurking invisibly above on a ledge was then assailed and laid low--many a Magic Missile lightening the combat load on the other characters in the melee." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 3. ENWorld, Sep 3, 2002.
  20. ↑ Gygax: "As for Mordie, no such pretensions;) He adventured a lot, made a substantial level, and then got involved in politics." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 29. ENWorld, Nov 7, 2002.
  21. ↑ Q: "Of the characters you have played, which is your favorite?" Gygax: "I really must admit Mordenkainen is my favorite. I enjoy playing fighters, rangers, thieves, clerics, and multi-classed sorts in OAD&D, but the magic-user is usually most fun for me."Johnson, Joel. Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview. Boing Boing Gadgets, 2008-03-04. Retrieved on 2009-05-14.
  22. ↑ 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." Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part IV, Page 9). EN World , 2003-11-01. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  23. ↑ 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.Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part VI, Page 9). EN World , 2004-03-26. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  24. ↑ 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."Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part III, Page 17). EN World , 2003-07-08. Retrieved on 2009-03-15.
  25. ↑ Q: "May we see [Mordenkainen's] stats?" Gygax: "Can you see Mordie's stats? No! I won't even show you those for my most recent PC, Louhi Sharpnose, a gnome illusionist and treasure finder who I created only about four years back." Johnson, Joel. Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview. Boing Boing Gadgets, 2008-03-04. Retrieved on 2009-05-14.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ Bambra, Jim (March 1989). "Role-playing Reviews". Dragon (#143): 71–72. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR.
  28. ↑ "The art order called for a representative character for each world. I thought it would be fun to use characters from the Wizards Art and Cartography Departments as models: Illustrator Fred Fields as Mordenkainen, from Greyhawk. ... Todd Lockwood, TSR Jam 1999.
  29. ↑ "The information in the Rogue's Gallery was quite fallacious, made up in many cases when we refused to give Brian (Blume) our PCs' stats. Rob respected my wishes and didn't use Mordie's actual stats and information in Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure, and whatever was written thereafter based on those works continues the error. Brian Blume compiled Rogues Gallery, and when persons would not give him information regarding their PCs, as Rob and I did, he simply made up whatever suited him."Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part VIII, Page 4). EN World , 2005-02-21. Retrieved on 2010-03-20.

Bibliography

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

Architecture By Leomund & Mordenkainen Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 58
Architecture By Leomund & Mordenkainen Item Book, Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III 1140
Codex of Mordenkainen Item Book, Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book 27
Codex of Mordenkainen Item Book, Living Greyhawk Journal #0 4, 5, 9
Cosmogony of Magnetic Fluids By Mordenkainen Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 58
Cosmogony of Magnetic Fluids By Mordenkainen Item Book, Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III 1157
Dark Sides of the Memory By Mordenkainen Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 58
Dark Sides of the Memory By Mordenkainen Item Book, Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III 1162
Epic Saga of the Great Conjurers By Mordenkainen Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 58
Epic Saga of the Great Conjurers By Mordenkainen Item Book, Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III 1165
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Artifact of Evil 126, 131, 200, 218, 229, 230, 232, 236, 321-324, 326, 330, 331, 333, 347
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus, D&D 5e 4, 97, 98
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Bigby's Curse 56, , 88, 89, 106, 184, 185, 186
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Come Endless Darkness 60, 62, 117, 246, 247, 248, 256, 290, 371, 372, 373, 375
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook 105
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 2, 18, 20-24, 27, 28
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Curse of Strahd, D&D 5e 39, 40
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition 160
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], DMGR5 - Creative Campaigning 111
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dance of Demons 33, 34, 35, 36
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #037 11
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #068 24
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #071 19, 20, 21
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #082 58, 59
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #185 57, 58, 59, 62
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #188 27, 28, 29, 30
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #191 64, 68
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #196 83, 84, 85, 86, 88
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #200 22, 23
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #204 54, 56
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #208 54
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #211 83, 84
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #219 92, 93, 94
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #225 49, 50
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #230 8, 13
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #233 93
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #238 43, 44, 46
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #241 40, 43, 44, 47
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #242 49, 50
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #246 87, 88
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #268 70
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #289 28
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #293 91
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #299 18
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #306 16
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #307 16
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #344 57-61
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #351 42
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #359 70, 72, 79, 80, 81, 82
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #AN1 72
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dragon magazine #AN2 99
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Dungeon magazine #077 33
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Epic Level Handbook, D&D 3.0 308, 309
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 15
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], From the Ashes: Campaign Book 29, 30, 38, 42, 69, 86
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], From the Ashes: References Card #13
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Greyhawk Adventures 3, 56-58, 127
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e 26
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book 27
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Ivid the Undying 8, 63, 66, 74, 83, 84, 116, 123, 136, 137, 146, 157
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e 5
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 15, 128, 156, 157
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Living Greyhawk Journal #0 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Living Greyhawk Journal #2 8
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Living Greyhawk Journal #4 11, 17
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Living Greyhawk Journal #5 6
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Monster Manual 1, D&D 5e 167
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #03 9
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #06 26,30,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #07 21,43,44
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #12 8
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #16 28
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #18 16,17,25
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #22 27,48,60
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #23 4,5,9,15,22,25
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #25 3,15,16,17,18
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #29 7,9
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #32 8,12
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Oerth Journal #33 28
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Player's Guide to Greyhawk 5, 18, 21, 22, 48
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], The Rogues Gallery 44
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Return of the Eight 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 18, 20, 32, 45, 53, 54, 58, 59, 62
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], Sea of Death 27, 68, 386
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], The Adventure Begins 3, 6, 7, 24, 60, 61, 63, 71, 102, 114
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 1
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], 1991 TSR Trading Cards - Factory Set 494
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], 1992 TSR Trading Cards - Gold Set 165
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], LT3 The Doomgrinder 44
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], The Scarlet Brotherhood 82
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WG5 Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure 1, 2, 4, 5, 22, 30, 32
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WG8 Fate of Istus 40
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WGA4 Vecna Lives! 1, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 47
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) 19
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WGR1 Greyhawk Ruins 84
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk 32, 37, 38, 39, 40
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WGR3 Rary the Traitor 4, 6, 8, 11, 31
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], WGR4 The Marklands 55
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 42
Mordenkainen Non-player character Male, Human, [M16][M20][3e M20+], World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 33-36
Mordenkainen's Capable Caravel (LVL8) Spell Spell (Magic User), Stormwrack, D&D 3.5e 119
Mordenkainen's Celerity (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 180, 182
Mordenkainen's Celerity (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Tome of Magic, AD&D 2e 30
Mordenkainen's Celerity (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 592
Mordenkainen's Defense Against Lycanthropes (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 56, 127
Mordenkainen's Defense Against Lycanthropes (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 592
Mordenkainen's Defense Against Nonmagical Reptiles and Amphibians (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 57, 127
Mordenkainen's Defense Against Nonmagical Reptiles and Amphibians (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 593
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 181, 182
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Spelljammer Boxed Set: Concordance of Arcane Space 85
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 31, 65
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) 31, 65
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 593
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Sorcerer), Player's Handbook, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) 196, 205, 238, 255
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Cleric), Player's Handbook, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) 188, 205, 238, 255
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #068 24, 59
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #347 81, 82
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 8
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, AD&D 2e 127, 196, 238, 243
Mordenkainen's Disjunction (LVL9) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) 196, 205, 238, 255
Mordenkainen's Electric Arc (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 57, 127
Mordenkainen's Electric Arc (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 593
Mordenkainen's Encompassing Vision (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 56, 127
Mordenkainen's Encompassing Vision (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 593, 594
Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 5
Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, AD&D 1e 41, 81
Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 181, 184
Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 594
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Defenders (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook 108
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Defenders (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 57, 58, 127
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Defenders (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 594, 595
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Guardian (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook 109
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Guardian (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 58, 127
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Guardian (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 595
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Shield-Maidens (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook 108
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Shield-Maidens (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 57, 127
Mordenkainen's Faithful Phantom Shield-Maidens (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 595
Mordenkainen's Force Missles (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 147, 182, 184
Mordenkainen's Force Missles (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 595, 596
Mordenkainen's Involuntary Wizardry (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #200 24
Mordenkainen's Involuntary Wizardry (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 596
Mordenkainen's Lucubration (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #068 24, 54
Mordenkainen's Lucubration (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 6
Mordenkainen's Lucubration (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 181
Mordenkainen's Lucubration (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 31, 61
Mordenkainen's Lucubration (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) 31, 61
Mordenkainen's Lucubration (LVL6) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 596
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #068 24, 55
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 7
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, AD&D 2e 127, 185, 238, 243
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 181, 184
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Spelljammer Boxed Set: Concordance of Arcane Space 84
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 31, 62
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) 31, 62
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 596, 597
Mordenkainen's Penultimate Cogitation (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook 110
Mordenkainen's Penultimate Cogitation (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 58, 127
Mordenkainen's Penultimate Cogitation (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 597
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 58, 127
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 5
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), PHBR4 - The Complete Wizard's Handbook 103
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 180, 181, 185
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Tome and Blood, D&D 3.0e 84, 93
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 598
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum (LVL5) Spell Spell (Sorcerer), Tome and Blood, D&D 3.0e 93
Mordenkainen's Protection From Avians (LVL1) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 56, 127
Mordenkainen's Protection From Avians (LVL1) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 598
Mordenkainen's Protection From Insects and Arachnids (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 57, 127
Mordenkainen's Protection From Insects and Arachnids (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 598
Mordenkainen's Protection From Slime (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Greyhawk Adventures 57, 127
Mordenkainen's Protection From Slime (LVL4) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 598
Mordenkainen's Sword (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 7
Mordenkainen's Sword (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, AD&D 1e 42, 88
Mordenkainen's Sword (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 183, 184
Mordenkainen's Sword (LVL7) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume III 599
Mordenkainen, Codex of Item Book, Reference SEE Codex of Mordenkainen
On The Rise of Magecraft and Modernity By Mordenkainen Item Book, Living Greyhawk Journal #4 11
Weapons of the Ether By Melf & Mordenkainen Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 59
Weapons of the Ether By Melf & Mordenkainen Item Book, Encyclopedia Magica - Volume IV 1261
WG5 Mordenkainens Fantastic Adventure Adventure Located in: Abbor alz, El Raja Key Archive (Standard Edition) 47, 48, 60, 65, 136, 247
WG5 Mordenkainens Fantastic Adventure Adventure Located in: Abbor alz, From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 73
WG5 Mordenkainens Fantastic Adventure Adventure Located in: Abbor alz, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 2, 5
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