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Gygax never released Mordenkainen's true statistics. Although statistics for Mordenkainen appeared in [[The Rogues Gallery]] (1980), p.44, Gygax denied that this was an accurate reflection of his original character, saying that he refused to give his character's statistics to [[Brian Blume]] to produce the book, with the result that the statistics included were largely made up.<ref name="en-post-1201279">Gygax: "Heh, and a slight error in reasoning there, amigo. The information in the ROGUE'S GALLERY was quite fallacious, made up im many cases when we refused to give Brian our PCs' stats. Rob respected my wishes and didn't use Mordie's actual stats and information, and whatever was written thereafter based on those works continues the error."[https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-1201279 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 81]. ENWorld, Nov 1, 2003.</ref> | Gygax never released Mordenkainen's true statistics. Although statistics for Mordenkainen appeared in [[The Rogues Gallery]] (1980), p.44, Gygax denied that this was an accurate reflection of his original character, saying that he refused to give his character's statistics to [[Brian Blume]] to produce the book, with the result that the statistics included were largely made up.<ref name="en-post-1201279">Gygax: "Heh, and a slight error in reasoning there, amigo. The information in the ROGUE'S GALLERY was quite fallacious, made up im many cases when we refused to give Brian our PCs' stats. Rob respected my wishes and didn't use Mordie's actual stats and information, and whatever was written thereafter based on those works continues the error."[https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-1201279 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 81]. ENWorld, Nov 1, 2003.</ref> | ||
After Gygax left TSR in 1985, he lost creative rights to the name and character of Mordenkainen, although he retained the right to use characters whose names were near-anagrams of his own, such as Zagyg. As with the rest of the World of Greyhawk, TSR and later Wizards of the Coast subsequently developed the character or Mordenkainen in directions of which Gygax had no creative control. | After Gygax left TSR in 1985, he lost creative rights to the name and character of Mordenkainen, although he retained the right to use characters whose names were near-anagrams of his own, such as Zagyg.<ref name="en-post-2666674">Gygax: "Anagrans of my name are exclusively my property according to my settlement agreement with TSR, so that is how I can use Zagyg, or Zagyg, as well as Yrag;)" [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-2666674 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 243]. ENWorld, Oct 20, 2005.</ref> As with the rest of the World of Greyhawk, TSR and later Wizards of the Coast subsequently developed the character or Mordenkainen in directions of which Gygax had no creative control. | ||
In 2002, Gygax asserted that the statistics for Mordenkainen as depicted in the ''Epic Level Handbook'' came "pretty close to nailing Mordie's level". That sourcebook places Mordenkainen as a level 27 character, suggesting that Mordenkainen's level is in the high twenties. However, Gygax declined to provide any further details.<ref name="en-post-344732">Gygax: "Actually, I am given to understand that the EPIC 3E book has come pretty close to nailing Mordie's level. I haven't seen it, so I can't comment further. As I do still play that PC now and again, I won't reveal anything else." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-344732 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 4]. ENWorld, Sep 3, 2002.</ref> | In 2002, Gygax asserted that the statistics for Mordenkainen as depicted in the ''Epic Level Handbook'' came "pretty close to nailing Mordie's level". That sourcebook places Mordenkainen as a level 27 character, suggesting that Mordenkainen's level is in the high twenties. However, Gygax declined to provide any further details.<ref name="en-post-344732">Gygax: "Actually, I am given to understand that the EPIC 3E book has come pretty close to nailing Mordie's level. I haven't seen it, so I can't comment further. As I do still play that PC now and again, I won't reveal anything else." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-344732 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 4]. ENWorld, Sep 3, 2002.</ref> | ||
In 2007, Gygax suggested that were Mordenkainen to appear in a movie, he would like him to be played by noted D&D fan Vin Diesel.<ref name="en-post-3616738">Gygax: "To the point, though, i have never thought about the matter, and I do not have any actors in mind. I wouldn't mind seeing Vin Deisel as Mordie, though. That's because he is a D&D fan, of course." [https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-3616738 Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 388]. ENWorld, Jun 29, 2007.</ref> | |||
Mordenkainen was 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."<ref>Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes Away; Interview]. Boing Boing Gadgets, May 14, 2009.</ref> | |||
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.<ref>"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. ... [https://www.toddlockwood.com/dungeons-and-dragons#/tsr-jam/ Todd Lockwood, TSR Jam 1999].</ref> [[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== | |||
The name Mordenkainen has appeared in hundreds of Dungeons & Dragons works, whether as a character or in reference to one of the many spells named for him. | |||
===AD&D 1st edition=== | |||
Mordenkainen is first mentioned in the AD&D 1st edition ''Player's Handbook'' (1978), in reference to the spells Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound and Mordenkainen's Sword. Countless D&D sourcebooks would later reference these or other spells, including ''Unearthed Arcana'' (1985), which describes Mordenkainen's Lucubration, Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion, and Mordenkainen's Disjunction. | |||
Mordenkainen himself is first mentioned in the ''Dungeon Masters Guide'' (1979), p. 160, regarding his research into the creation of Queen [[Ehlissa]]'s Marvelous Nightingale. | |||
Statistics for Mordenkainen and other notable characters appear in ''The Rogues Gallery'' (1980); however, Gygax asserts that he did not supply Brian Blume his original characters to create the work, and the statistics depicted there do not accurately reflect his original statistics. | |||
Mordenkainen is briefly namedropped in the [[World of Greyhawk Folio]] (1980) and mentioned in the subsequent [[World of Greyhawk Box Set]] (1983) in regards his friendship with the quasi-deities [[Heward]], [[Keoghtom]] and [[Murlynd]]. | |||
He appears on the cover of WG5 [[Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure]] (1984), an hack-and-slash style adventure module based on one which which Rob Kuntz ran for Gary Gygax. It is set in [[Maure Castle]]. Mordenkainen's statistics are given as a 12th level magic user, though Gygax notes that they are not exactly correct. | |||
Following Gygax's departure from TSR in 1985, he no longer retained creative control of the character of Mordenkainen, the Castle Greyhawk dungeon, or the World of Greyhawk setting. Perhaps the most egregious example of this is Mordenkainen's appearance in the parody adventure WG7 ''Castle Greyhawk'' (1988), featuring a level titled ''Mordenkainen's Movie Madness'', where he has set up a movie studio. | |||
===AD&D 2nd edition=== | |||
Mordenkainen appears in the 1991 TSR Trading Cards set as #494, depicting his artwork from the cover of ''Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure'' and describing him as a 20th level wizard. He appears again in the 1992 TSR Trading Cards set as #165 with the same art. | |||
He is namedropped in ''Creative Campaigning'' (1993), p. 111, along side Leomund and Bigby as "characters who have become household names in the AD&D game", noting that in the Players Handbook and Dungeon Mater Guide, "any names on spells or items probably started as characters in the original Greyhawk campaign". | |||
He was also mentioned in the following publications: | He was also mentioned in the following publications: | ||
Revision as of 14:09, 20 August 2020
| 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
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
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 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 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]
Gygax did not give much thought to the ethnic background of Mordenkainen, other than that he was human. In 2005, he suggested that he was probably of Oeridian descent.[10] He envisaged Mordenkainen as around thirty years of age at the beginning of his adventuring career, eventually reaching around 80, though physically appearing around 50 due to the use of potions of longevity. Gygax would also assert that Mordenkainen had no plans to become a lich.[11]
Gygax did not give much thought to Mordenkainen's appearance. In 2007, he stated upon some thought that he envisioned Mordenkainen as tall, lean, and pale of complexion, though tanned by sun and weather; with gray eyes and sharp features, bushy hair, and a long moustache, but no beard; often dressed in gray with black or bright blue accents, such as a girdle and blouse.[12]
Adventuring career
Mordenkainen began at 1st level.[13] He had a significant adventuring career, playing in several DM's campaigns on request.[14]
Mordenkainen soon recruited Bigby, then a third-level character, who he defeated using charm magic. He managed to change Bigby from neutral evil to neutral in alignment, and he soon became Mordenkainen's loyal henchman. Gygax went on to play Bigby as a character.[15]
In Rob Kuntz' campaign, Mordenkainen's adventures included exploration of the Machine Level of Castle El Raja Key; the Lost City of the Elders in early 1973 (which would inspire Kuntz's Kalibruhn Supplement in 1976); the high-level technological Dungeons of Krazor the Mad in 1974; the Orcky Level in late 1975; and the Temple of the Latter Day Elder Ones.[16]
As was common at the time, Mordenkainen had no shame about fleeing from risky encounters, sometimes hiding from powerful enemies or fleeing using teleport magic.[17] In campaign 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.[18][19]
Mordenkainen at one point adventured with lawful evil characters, including Robilar, Terik, and Erac's Cousin.[20]
Upon attaining 12th level, Gygax decided that Mordenkainen should set some goals, becoming politically powerful and keeping the balance in the Flanaess. To this end, he desired to control some territory upon which to keep his armies.[21]
Around 14th level, Mordenkainen was played in a high-level campaign run by François Marcela-Froideval.[22]
Throughout his adventuring career, Mordenkainen encountered and defeated several dragons, among them the red dragons Gorki and Porki.[23] The two dragons were subsequently kept in the dungeons beneath Mordenkainen's citadel.[24] Porki, the smaller of the two, often accompanied Mordenkainen and company on excursions, hidden in a merchant's wagon and used as a diversion in battle.[25]
Mordenkainen possessed extensive spell books, and 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.[26] Mordenkainen also knew the enlarge spell, which he taught to all of his apprentices for its usefulness.[27] Although capable of casting ninth level spells, he rarely used wish except to restore slain allies to life.[28]
Mordenkainen revered Boccob, deity of magic, as was common in that campaign.[29] He was of Neutral alignment, though tending slightly toward good over evil, and chaos over law.[30]
Late in his career, Mordenkainen and his allies formed the Circle of Eight, and used their vast wealth to construct the Obsidian Citadel. The Circle at this point consisted of Mordenkainen and eight other of Gygax's PCs, including Bigby, Yrag, Rigby, Zigby, Nigby, Vram, Vin, and Felnorith, with some others involved as well.[31] The Citadel's location was intentionally chosen inside enemy territory to ensure a steady supply of combat encounters. It was constructed with the aid of an army of dwarf mercenaries, and took three years to complete.[32] Its design consisted of an octagonal castle with eight wall towers, with walls extending to a significant distance beyond the central keep in order to house a massive number of troops.[33] On several occasions Mordenkainen and his army engaged in large-scale battles with thousands of troops, including city sieges and an instance where they wiped out 3,000 goblins from a distance.[34][35]
Mordenkainen also recruited horse archers from the Wolf Nomads.[36]
Mordenkainen possessed numerous personal magic items. The Obsidian Citadel contained a large hoard of magic items, although much of it was low-level.[37]
Retirement
Following numerous adventures, Mordenkainen rose to above 20th level, a rarity in those days.[38] He went into general retirement around 18th level, after acquiring 9th-level spells, returning only for special high-level adventures.[39]
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.[40][41]
According to a post by Gary Gygax in May 2005, Mordenkainen had not been played since around the year 2000, when he fought two white dragons in Ernie's campaign.[42]
Following his retirement from adventuring, Mordenkainen became involved in politics.[43] He rarely left his fortress, but when he did it was typically alone and in disguise.[44]
Later use
Gygax never released Mordenkainen's true statistics. Although statistics for Mordenkainen appeared in The Rogues Gallery (1980), p.44, Gygax denied that this was an accurate reflection of his original character, saying that he refused to give his character's statistics to Brian Blume to produce the book, with the result that the statistics included were largely made up.[45]
After Gygax left TSR in 1985, he lost creative rights to the name and character of Mordenkainen, although he retained the right to use characters whose names were near-anagrams of his own, such as Zagyg.[46] As with the rest of the World of Greyhawk, TSR and later Wizards of the Coast subsequently developed the character or Mordenkainen in directions of which Gygax had no creative control.
In 2002, Gygax asserted that the statistics for Mordenkainen as depicted in the Epic Level Handbook came "pretty close to nailing Mordie's level". That sourcebook places Mordenkainen as a level 27 character, suggesting that Mordenkainen's level is in the high twenties. However, Gygax declined to provide any further details.[47]
In 2007, Gygax suggested that were Mordenkainen to appear in a movie, he would like him to be played by noted D&D fan Vin Diesel.[48]
Mordenkainen was Gygax's most famous character, and also his favorite to play.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
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.[49] 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
The name Mordenkainen has appeared in hundreds of Dungeons & Dragons works, whether as a character or in reference to one of the many spells named for him.
AD&D 1st edition
Mordenkainen is first mentioned in the AD&D 1st edition Player's Handbook (1978), in reference to the spells Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound and Mordenkainen's Sword. Countless D&D sourcebooks would later reference these or other spells, including Unearthed Arcana (1985), which describes Mordenkainen's Lucubration, Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion, and Mordenkainen's Disjunction.
Mordenkainen himself is first mentioned in the Dungeon Masters Guide (1979), p. 160, regarding his research into the creation of Queen Ehlissa's Marvelous Nightingale.
Statistics for Mordenkainen and other notable characters appear in The Rogues Gallery (1980); however, Gygax asserts that he did not supply Brian Blume his original characters to create the work, and the statistics depicted there do not accurately reflect his original statistics.
Mordenkainen is briefly namedropped in the World of Greyhawk Folio (1980) and mentioned in the subsequent World of Greyhawk Box Set (1983) in regards his friendship with the quasi-deities Heward, Keoghtom and Murlynd.
He appears on the cover of WG5 Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984), an hack-and-slash style adventure module based on one which which Rob Kuntz ran for Gary Gygax. It is set in Maure Castle. Mordenkainen's statistics are given as a 12th level magic user, though Gygax notes that they are not exactly correct.
Following Gygax's departure from TSR in 1985, he no longer retained creative control of the character of Mordenkainen, the Castle Greyhawk dungeon, or the World of Greyhawk setting. Perhaps the most egregious example of this is Mordenkainen's appearance in the parody adventure WG7 Castle Greyhawk (1988), featuring a level titled Mordenkainen's Movie Madness, where he has set up a movie studio.
AD&D 2nd edition
Mordenkainen appears in the 1991 TSR Trading Cards set as #494, depicting his artwork from the cover of Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure and describing him as a 20th level wizard. He appears again in the 1992 TSR Trading Cards set as #165 with the same art.
He is namedropped in Creative Campaigning (1993), p. 111, along side Leomund and Bigby as "characters who have become household names in the AD&D game", noting that in the Players Handbook and Dungeon Mater Guide, "any names on spells or items probably started as characters in the original Greyhawk campaign".
He was also mentioned in the following publications:
- Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007)
- The Wizards Three series of articles from Dungeon Magazine
- Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium (2011)
- Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018)
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.
Gallery
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Cover of TSR Jam 1999 -
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Cover of Living Greyhawk Journal #0 -
Living Greyhawk Journal #0, p9 -
3rd Edition Epic Level Handbook -
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Cover of Expedition to the of Greyhawk -
See also
References
Citations
- ↑ Gary Holian, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, Frederick Weining;Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, Wizards of the Coast,2000, isbn=0-7869-1743-1
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Journal #0, p9. (2000)
- ↑ Logan Bonner, Eytan Berstein, Peter Lee; Arcane Power, Wizards of the coast, 2009, p106
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "Actually, no, I never really worried aboiut the ethnic origination of my human PCs. I would assume that Mordenkainen would be mainly of Oeridian stock and that Bigby is from Flan-Suloise background."Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 145. ENWorld, Mar 10, 2005.
- ↑ Gygax: "I envisaged Mordenkainen as around 30 year of age when he began adventuring, so that would make him around 80 years of age now (considering campaign time)--although he has quaffed a number of potions of longevity preiodically, always when a wish was cast, so likely he appears more like a vigorous 50." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 257. ENWorld, Nov 12, 2005.
- ↑ Gygax: "As a matter of fact u have nor given this matter much thought before this, as my mental picture of my PCs sufficed, it being rather vague. ... Mordenkainen I pictured as tall, lean, with a pale complexion tanned by sun and weather. His features are sharp, eyes gray. His hair is rather byshy, with a long moustache but no beard. He favors garments of gray with black or bright blue accents--girdle and blouse for example. His age apears to be somewhere around 50."Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 389. ENWorld, Jun 30, 2007.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen did indeed manage to get the drop on Bigby, charm him. At the time bigby was a 3rd level NE dungeon dweller. By word and deen Mordie brought him around from NE to N, and thus Bigby became his apprentice. I got to roll the stats for that character after rob determined he was a loyal henchman of Mordenkainen." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 133. ENWorld, Feb 19, 2005.
- ↑ The First Living Campaign. Lake Geneva Original RPG Campaign, April 6, 2013.
- ↑ Gygax: "When small parties adventured--well stocked with potions of healing and extra-healing--often no cleric would be present, for the members were high level and had a lot of magical goodies to cover them in crises. for example, Mordenkainen and Bigby would teleport away in a pinch." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 98. ENWorld, Feb 11, 2004.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "When my son Ernie became angry with me as DM he switched to playing an LE character, Erac's Cousin. That PC adventured fairly frequently with two othe LE ones, Robilar and either Terik or the monk PC that Terry Kuntz liked to play. ... Mordenkainen would adventure with that lot, always with a strong henchman. He was never assualted or even threatened." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 395. ENWorld, Jul 25, 2007.
- ↑ Gygax: "Survival and ability to adventure widely were my first concerns for Mordenkainen. When he made 12th level I decided he should have some greater purpose, so I added political concerns, keeping the balance in the Flanaess, growing powerful and influential, and keeping aggressive bad guys at bay. At no time was there a desire to rule more than a minor domain where he and his associates and followers would be secure and properly housed and fed. Of course, he had a lot of followers, so a small demesne was out of the question." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 277. ENWorld, Jun 14, 2006.
- ↑ At 14th level through the next few above that he played for a good bit of time in Francois Marcela Froideval's campaign. At those levels Mordenkainen was a low-level "flunkie" type, as the movers and shakers in that setting were of high 30th and 40th level. Frnacois had a complete campaign based on ultra-high level characters, and believe me it was filled with challenges and a very real sense of danger for PCs of under 30th level, I should think. there was a lot of roleplay, and the wrong dialog coming from a chatacter could be fatal..." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 99. ENWorld, Feb 15, 2004.
- ↑ Gygax: "Encounters with dragons were not common, quite rare, all things considered. Mordenkainen encountered several over his years of adventuring, subdued two red ones, the very old Gorki and the young Porki (thank you for naming them Rob...)" Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 159. ENWorld, Apr 11, 2005.
- ↑ "Gygax: that's so even though Mordenkainen has two red ones in his citadel's subterranean complex..." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 169. ENWorld, May 19, 2005.
- ↑ Gygax: "Ghorki remained behind to guard the Citadel, but little Phorki often accompanied expeditions into the surrounding terrain to rid the area of undesirable elements...and take their stuff. Uncorking him from a "merchant's wagon" was an effective diversionary attack ;)" Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 387. ENWorld, Jun 22, 2007.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen taught all of his apprentices the enlarge spell for such possibility...and to give them a healing sans cleric :lol:" Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 249. ENWorld, Oct 31, 2005.
- ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen used wishes only in extremis to bring back associates that had met their end." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 256. ENWorld, Nov 9, 2005.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "No. Mordenkainen is Neutral, although he tends to prefer Good over Evil, Chaos over Law." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 118. ENWorld, Feb 6, 2005.
- ↑ Gygax: "The Obsidian Citadel and its Circle of Eight wasoriginal 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 siad fortress. The members of the 'Circle were Mordenkainen and his associates--others of my PCs. The latter included 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 associated." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 72. ENWorld, Jul 8, 2003.
- ↑ Gygax: "It came into being because Mordenkainen and Associates had a lot og 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 an small army of dwarves associted 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." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 82. ENWorld, Nov 1, 2003.
- ↑ Gygax: "The Obsidian Citadel was indeed my personal creation as a player. The eight (actually nine) main PCs of mine that occupied it were Mordenkainen, Bigby, Yrag, Rigby, Vram & Vin, Zigby, Felnorith, and Nigby. 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."Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 105. ENWorld, Mar 26, 2004.
- ↑ Gygax: "Rob was the DM for some of Mordenkainen's roving forays with several thousands of troops, even city siege attacke. He winged such, as we both had considerable experience with large-scale military miniatures battles. That's what I did when a large PC force met a large NPC one opposed to it." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 119. ENWorld, Feb 7, 2005.
- ↑ Then again, Mordenkainen, bigby, and several other members of their group did wipe out 3K of goblins Rob Kuntz sent against them, luckily from a distance, and I found it quite appropriate." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 390. ENWorld, Jul 19, 2007.
- ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen was in the lands of the Wolf Nomads, recruited a troop of horse archers there. I brought in no NPCs from East or West as there were plenty from the central and north." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 363. ENWorld, Apr 15, 2007.
- ↑ Gygax: "The magic hoard in the Citadel is large...and sadly mostly of very low level. Poor Zigby the dwarf lost his +2 shield in the frost giant jarl's ice caves and had to accept a +1 replacement from Mordenkainen :\ This is not to say that Mordenkainen, Bigby, Yrag, and Riggby don't glow like bonfires when a detect magic spell is played upon them...Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 257. ENWorld, Nov 11, 2005.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "Mordenkainen has not ventured forth from his citadel for about five years. The last adventure he assisted with was to deal with a pair of ancient white dragons." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 166. ENWorld, May 16, 2005.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gygax: "Nowadays he seldom ventures forth, but when he does it is in disguise and usually alone." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 277. ENWorld, Jun 14, 2006.
- ↑ Gygax: "Heh, and a slight error in reasoning there, amigo. The information in the ROGUE'S GALLERY was quite fallacious, made up im many cases when we refused to give Brian our PCs' stats. Rob respected my wishes and didn't use Mordie's actual stats and information, and whatever was written thereafter based on those works continues the error."Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 81. ENWorld, Nov 1, 2003.
- ↑ Gygax: "Anagrans of my name are exclusively my property according to my settlement agreement with TSR, so that is how I can use Zagyg, or Zagyg, as well as Yrag;)" Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 243. ENWorld, Oct 20, 2005.
- ↑ Gygax: "Actually, I am given to understand that the EPIC 3E book has come pretty close to nailing Mordie's level. I haven't seen it, so I can't comment further. As I do still play that PC now and again, I won't reveal anything else." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 4. ENWorld, Sep 3, 2002.
- ↑ Gygax: "To the point, though, i have never thought about the matter, and I do not have any actors in mind. I wouldn't mind seeing Vin Deisel as Mordie, though. That's because he is a D&D fan, of course." Q&A with Gary Gygax, page 388. ENWorld, Jun 29, 2007.
- ↑ "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.
Bibliography
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- Bulmahn, Jason, James Jacobs, and Erik Mona. Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. ISBN 0786943580
- Castle Greyhawk, TSR, inc., 1988, WG7, isbn = 0880385308, p128
- Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." Wars (TSR, 1991). Available Online: [1]
- Cook, David. Vecna Lives! (TSR, 1990).
- Greenwood, Ed. "A Dark and Stormy Knight: Another Evening With the Wizards Three." Dragon #344. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
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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 |