Mordenkainen

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The cover of the Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure, a module which features an early character writeup for the mage.

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Mordenkainen is one of the most powerful archmagi of the Flanaess. Originally a player character invented by Gary Gygax, his name is derived from the names Mordecai and Väinämöinen. In the World of Greyhawk he has played diverse roles throughout many stories and RPG adventures, but is most notable for being the leader of the Circle of Eight, a cabal of nine mages of which Mordenkainen acts as a shadow leader.

Resources about Mordenkainen sometimes disagree with each other, since even the official publications for the World of Greyhawk sometimes contradict each other. It is clear, however, that he is one of the greater heroes (or antiheroes) of the Flanaess.

1 Description
2 History
3 Role and philosophy
4 Enemies
5 Spells
6 Writings
7 References

[edit] Description

Mordenkainen appears much younger than his years, perhaps in his mid-forties. He is tall, of medium build and often depicted wearing black, blue, or grey. He wears a Van Dyck beard (a mustache with a goatee) 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 greying black hair at medium length, but since 591 CY has been shaving his pate bald, as well as trimming his goatee to a fine point.

[edit] History

Greyhawk authors Carl Sargent, Erik Mona, and Gary Holian imply that Mordenkain 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 Yragere, 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 mage Tenser, 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, which is regarded by many as one of the most important events of the sixth century. Only Serten was present at Emridy Meadows, and he paid with his life.

Two years later, Mordenkain 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."

[edit] Role and philosophy

Mordenkainen's role in the setting is quite an unusual one - he has been described as a form of one-man peacekeeping force. Trying to prevent wars and conflicts, he operates according to some bizarre theory based on power balance and neutrality, trying to keep neither good nor evil from getting the upper hand. Exactly how this is done is not entirely clear, but he is very manipulative and operates very much from the shadows.

The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (Wizards of the Coast edition) 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."

[edit] Enemies

Mordenkainen has made many enemies over his lifetime, among them Evard, Iuz, Kermin Mind-Bender, Rary, and Sir Robilar.

[edit] Spells

Mordenkainen is responsible for developing such commonly known spells as:

Mordenkainen's Disjunction
Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound
Mordenkainen's Lucubration
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
Mordenkainen's Sword

Mordenkainen has also developed the following additional spells:

Mordenkainen's Buzzing Bee
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

[edit] Writings

Mordenkainen is known to have authored or co-authored the following 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)

[edit] References

Bailey, Robin Wayne. Night Watch (TSR, 1990).

Blume, Brian, David Cook, and Jean Wells. The Rogues Gallery (TSR, 1980).

Breault, Mike, ed. Castle Greyhawk (TSR, 1988).

Collins, Andy, and Bruce R Cordell. Epic Level Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).

Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." Wars (TSR, 1991). Available Online: [1]
Cook, David. Vecna Lives (TSR, 1990).

Gygax, Gary. Artifact of Evil (TSR, 1986).
- Gygax, Gary. Come Endless Darkness (New Infinities, 1988).
- Gygax, Gary. Dance of Demons (New Infinities, 1988).
- Gygax, Gary. Dungeon Masters Guide (TSR, 1979).
- Gygax, Gary. Players Handbook (TSR, 1978).
- Gygax, Gary. Sea of Death (New Infinities, 1987).

Heard, Bruce. "Spells Between the Covers." (Dragon #82 (TSR, 1984).

Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).

Kuntz, Robert J, and Gary Gygax. Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (TSR, 1984).

Mona, Erik, and Gary Holian. "Wheels within Wheels: Greyhawk's Circle of Eight." Living Greyhawk Journal #0 (Paizo Publishing, 2000). Available online: [2]