"You are the chosen! You are the chosen!" The High Priest of Nerull whispered in the ears of a youthful Mordenkainen.
"You have a destiny. A destiny to save all of the lands of the Flaness..." He threw another brick of Lotus Resin on the Brazier.
"The Devourer is coming..."
"The Devourer?" The Young apprentice was sluring his speech. The Narcotic was overcomming his resistance.
"Yes...Tharizdun is preparing his return...and you will pervent his emergence." He stroked Mordenkainen's shoulders creating a momentary arousal.
"How?" The young boy was weakening.
"He works by corrupting Empires. No one is immune. No one is strong enough."
"They arnt?" Mordenkainen's face twisted with despare.
"No...and that is why you must keep them divided amongst themselves."
"Seek his words and you will know him by his deeds. Even now he whispers to them."
"Whaaa?" The High Priest put his fingers against Mordenkainen's Lips.
"Shhh! He will hear you! Now sleep." The boy collapsed into the seat.
I'm pretty sure that Gary Gygax would disagree about this, since Mordenkainen was his PC.
Live a little...Now is your opportunity to write a secret history for Mordenkainen, Something for his dark and forgotton past.
In fact, lets bug Gary Gygax when we are done...
Bugging Gygax.... no....this is wrong!
Yellowdingo, if you really want the history of Mordenkainen, I suggest you go to ENWorld.org, register for the forums there, and look for the thread titled "Ask Gary Gygax". Post your 'story' there and see what Gary's response is.
The concept of Mordenkainen being the chosen one to prevent Tharizdun from destroying the world isn't too hard to swallow considering that Tharizdun even in slumber is draining power away from Boccob.
And Mordenkainen using subtle ways to keep Oeirk divided to keep Tharizdun powerless makes a certain sort of sense. He is turning Tharizdun's methods against him. Intrigue Jujitsu. That does sort of come off as being very Mordenkainen. When you take in the "Rary the Traitor" storyline and what has been writen recently with the "Expedition to Castle Greyhawk", I could see Mordenkainen being the choosen one to stop Tharizdun. And I feel that he would sacrifice anyone he needed to to make sure that he was successful.
"In fact let's bug Gary Gygax when we are done".
I would say a lot more but doing so isn't in the spirit of gaming, and is neither is your post.
It isn't an issue of whether or not the story is plausible. It is a matter of respecting the character, game world, and it's creator, Gary Gygax. It is also not a matter of being a critic. If you want to give an honest evaluation of his work (whether you like it or not, that's fine). What your suggesting is disrespectful and juvenile.
"In fact let's bug Gary Gygax when we are done".
I would say a lot more but doing so isn't in the spirit of gaming, and is neither is your post.
How is this person's treatment of Mordenkainen disrespectful?
And it the the "Let's bug Gary Gygax" comment which was the worst of it.
Last time I checked, Mordenkainen wasn't evil. Clearly in the text the author presents him as a student of a high priest of Nerull.
And it the the "Let's bug Gary Gygax" comment which was the worst of it.
Nerull isn't "really evil" he's just misunderstood.
Last time I checked, Mordenkainen wasn't evil. Clearly in the text the author presents him as a student of a high priest of Nerull.
And it the the "Let's bug Gary Gygax" comment which was the worst of it.
You might want to look up some of Gary's recollections of Mordenkainen. he has on more than one opportunity sided with evil when he felt that Good was getting the upper hand.
An from reading the story the writer has presented, it is unclear how Mordenkainen came to be in his company. For all we know he could have been abducted. He is using a narcotic on him after all.
And for you know the Priest might not be evil. Using 3.5 rules the Cleric can be one step away from his diety. He could be neutral.
"And what's wrong with let's bug Gary?" He's just being glib. I have met Gary, he's made of pretty sturn stuff. I'm sure that the original writer wasn't trying to upset him.
Is that true Yellowdingo, did you want to upset gary gygax?
And for you know the Priest might not be evil. Using 3.5 rules the Cleric can be one step away from his diety. He could be neutral.
No, because you can only be True Neutral if your deity is True Neutral. Evil is the only option for a priest of Nerull.
No, because you can only be True Neutral if your deity is True Neutral. Evil is the only option for a priest of Nerull.
I realize this might be a bit off topic, but I’ve never quite understood why Nerull is evil. He’s the god of death – a completely neutral portfolio – which should make him true neutral by all logical standards.
Of course if you read some of Gary’s old literary works Nerull isn’t so much a neutral god of death as an active god of slaughter-everything-that-isn’t-quick-enough-to-get-away. Neither version makes him evil, though the second certainly can lead others to perceive him as such.
I realize this might be a bit off topic, but I’ve never quite understood why Nerull is evil. He’s the god of death – a completely neutral portfolio – which should make him true neutral by all logical standards.
Nerull doesn't merely govern over death, nor does he help people deal with the death of loved ones. He hates all life and seeks to destroy it.
I realize this might be a bit off topic, but I’ve never quite understood why Nerull is evil. He’s the god of death – a completely neutral portfolio – which should make him true neutral by all logical standards.
He is god of Death, MURDER, Darkness and the Underworld. Murder is usually thought of as an evil act. His titles include Foe of all Good and Hater of Life. He has never been presented as a neutral presider over death and the dead but as a killer who brings slaughter and pain.
I still prefer Incabulos though ;)
Is that true Yellowdingo, did you want to upset gary gygax?
I dont know Acear.
DA RULES: Mordenkainen doesnt remember any of this beyond a simple driving force in his life...
No, because you can only be True Neutral if your deity is True Neutral. Evil is the only option for a priest of Nerull.
I do stand corrected on the point raised on the Player's Handbook. On the other hand under "Nerull: The Fane of the Skull" from "Complete Champion" (p.27) it states that Nerull does have a following of True Neutral followers in this sect.
So I believe when I posted about the I had the information confused, but I believe that this information still supports my point. (It could be argued that it doesn't specify clerics in the artical could break the alignment rule, but IMHO, it certainly implies it.)
But let's go ahead and say I'm wrong about the alignment issue. It has been pointed out that even though Nerull is a evil deity, all the people of Oeirk still pay him some lip service just to keep him at bay and that is why his image shows up at some roadside shrines. Just because Nerull is evil doesn't remove him from those people lives. Dare I say it, I doubt that many people would move against a Cleric of Nerull unless he was in the act of murdering someone for fear of divine retribution.
So just because a younger version of Mordenkainen in the presence of a Cleric of Nerull mean that Mordenkainen is a follower of Nerull.
One of the main concepts of Greyhawk is the "wheels within wheels" manipulation behind the scenes plot devices that Gary Gygax so often wrote about. Common in the Gord series. Common Temple of Elemental Evil.
It's common of many of the adventures in Greyhawk. Against the Giants, Decent into the Depths of the Earth, Queen of the Demonweb pits.
The only think I have to admit about the original story as writen above is that it sor to of sets a stage for Mordenkainen, because at a young age Mordenkainen is manipulated, Mordenkainen becomes a manipulator. For his defense or for defense of the world is up in the air. Perhaps to himself it's an irrelivant question.
I dont know Acear.
DA RULES: Mordenkainen doesnt remember any of this beyond a simple driving force in his life...
Ok I admit I laughed when I read that. :D
On the other hand, having watched gary Gygax shake the hand of my 10 year old son and say how happy he was to meet a young gamer this year at GenCon I disturbed myself doing so.
I'll tread lightly on the Gary's well being since I wish him well.
I do stand corrected on the point raised on the Player's Handbook. On the other hand under "Nerull: The Fane of the Skull" from "Complete Champion" (p.27) it states that Nerull does have a following of True Neutral followers in this sect.
So I believe when I posted about the I had the information confused, but I believe that this information still supports my point. (It could be argued that it doesn't specify clerics in the artical could break the alignment rule, but IMHO, it certainly implies it.)
There are no alignment restrictions on being a worshipper. There are alignment restrictions on being a cleric. It's that simple.
But let's go ahead and say I'm wrong about the alignment issue. It has been pointed out that even though Nerull is a evil deity, all the people of Oeirk still pay him some lip service just to keep him at bay and that is why his image shows up at some roadside shrines. Just because Nerull is evil doesn't remove him from those people lives. Dare I say it, I doubt that many people would move against a Cleric of Nerull unless he was in the act of murdering someone for fear of divine retribution.
So just because a younger version of Mordenkainen in the presence of a Cleric of Nerull mean that Mordenkainen is a follower of Nerull.
That is certainly true.
I dont know Acear.
DA RULES: Mordenkainen doesnt remember any of this beyond a simple driving force in his life...
I'm tempted, but I think i would still like the story better as Istus rather than Nerull as the cleric's diety.
She knew that she had to work quickly, the boy would be missed very soon and Boccobite acolyte was surely on her trail by now, no doubt upset that he failed to guard the wizard’s protégé. Moving down the stairs with the paralyzed captive draped over the arms of her shield guardian, she entered the secret fane dedicated to Mistress Fate, Istus.
It was a half lit place filled with shadows. Strings lead to from a spool on the altar that runs every which way along the ceiling connecting figures of people in a bas relief, some connections obvious, some not so.
Making a reverent gesture to the altar, she moves to another room just beyond and enters a room behind a curtain, but this room is very different. Lit with lanterns and magic torchlight, is room also has strings but these all run to a single point, a single dark point that you can’t quite focus on, as if it’s not really there. From the core of darkness strings extend to different things in the room. Dolls, effigies really, of leaders from all over the continent, objects made to look like weapons, buildings, objects of art, animals, monsters and other things best left undescribed. Some look dead, some just as they are expected to look, something that look changed in ways that would be hard to describe. As the boy tries to take it all in, he thinks, “It looks like chaos bound in stasis”. In the center of the room facing that floating ball of darkness is a chair surrounded by braziers that fill the room stifling heat and dull throbbing roar.
The veiled cleric motions for the Shield Guardian to place the boy in the chair and once done, she pulls the boys head back and pours a dark and foul concoction down the boys throat. It relieves the paralytic in his system, but the end result leaves the boy very, very groggy. Try as he might, his legs and arms are like lead, he fights to keep his head raised trying to make sense of the manic knot work in front of him, after a moment the construct moves away from the boy, faiding to what he thinks must be the corner of the room. And he can hear his captor pacing behind him.
"You are the chosen! You are the chosen!" The High Priestess whispered in the ears of a youthful Mordenkainen.
"You have a destiny. A destiny to save all of the lands of the Flaness..." she threw another brick of Lotus Resin on the Brazier.
"The Corruptor is coming..."
"The Corruptor?" The Young apprentice was slurring his speech. The Narcotic was overcoming his resistance.
"Yes...Tharizdun is preparing his return...and you will prevent his emergence." she stroked Mordenkainen's shoulders creating a momentary arousal.
"How?" The young boy was weakening.
"He works by corrupting Empires. No one is immune. No one is strong enough."
"They aren’t?" Mordenkainen's face twisted with despair.
"No...and that is why you must keep them divided amongst themselves."
"Seek his words and you will know him by his deeds. Even now he whispers to them."
"Whaaa?" The High Priestess put her fingers against Mordenkainen's Lips.
"Shhh! He will hear you! Now sleep." The boy collapsed into the seat.
PS I'm not allowed to discuss the XP value of Gary Gygax...Orders from on high and all that.
While I actually liked the original, your rewrite is even better. It would make a great prelude to a short story or adventure that featured Mordenkainen as a guiding background force, or perhaps featuring that same cleric, or maybe her journal or something or other. Maybe the PCs are fighting a cult of Tharzidun, and maybe they receive help from a mysterious source. You could likely write a module with that as your inspiration...well I almost could. If I were so inclined
I'm not you see, but still.
Acear,
While I actually liked the original, your rewrite is even better. It would make a great prelude to a short story or adventure that featured Mordenkainen as a guiding background force, or perhaps featuring that same cleric, or maybe her journal or something or other. Maybe the PCs are fighting a cult of Tharzidun, and maybe they receive help from a mysterious source. You could likely write a module with that as your inspiration...well I almost could. If I were so inclined
I'm not you see, but still.
Thanks for the complement! I'm fond of the wheels within wheels of Greyhawk.
Nerull doesn't merely govern over death, nor does he help people deal with the death of loved ones. He hates all life and seeks to destroy it.
Yes, but Tharizdun is worse :D
... what was that about little boys and arousal? Yeah, lets let Forgotten Realms keep the monopoly on characters getting molested as children. (Poor Artemis)
Ugh, Let's keep this clean shall we.
Yes, but Tharizdun is worse :D
Nah, he's just misunderstood. No one ever gave him a chance. ;)
Apparently now WOTC are going to give Tharizdun a chance, seems his job description has changed.
Yes, I was quite pleased to see him mentioned.
I'm sure many people are happy to see bits and pieces of Greyhawk thrown into the mix for 4th edition and I can see that point of view. I just feel that stripping Greyhawk for all that they feel it is worth, leaves the world with very little. Now these changes of coarse will not affect my home campaign but it does continue to help me form an opinion of 4th edition and what kind of support I would consider giving it.
I guess by disagreeing with the majority of what I have seen, WOTC is making the choice easier for me. Better to know and decide throughout the waiting process then to buy a year's worth of books and then decide.
For all those folks that like the ideas presented in 4th edition regarding the occasional drop in name from Greyhawk, I am sincerely happy for you however. I wish I was happy among you.
I'm sure many people are happy to see bits and pieces of Greyhawk thrown into the mix for 4th edition
Actually, I'm just happy about the inclusion of Tharizdun because I like Tharizdun.
Mordenkainen is worked in a little bit but I would like to give him a bigger role. Just not sure which direction to go with him. The campaign has so many facets of villains that it is mind boggling. In addition deities are casting judgements down upon the Flanaess for impropely worshipping them throughout the world over the past several centuries.
The PCs need to right the wrong while trying to prevent others from freeing Tharizdun and Tharizdun from influencing all sort of evil throughout the world. There is also a war between arcane and divine magic building up. Right now the arcane casters have found a way to slowly siphon off divine energy and direct it to Tharizdun while at the same time prevent one religion after the next to start losing their connection with their deities and as a result, bring divine magic to an end. Eileen, a cleric of Istus (my character) is really suffering without spells and turning undead. The loss of power isn't absolute but with each passing day it gets harder to succeed.
Mordenkainen has always been a friendly but neutral force in my world. I need to figure out how to incoporate him into all of this in a deep way. I want him to remain neutral so I won't align him with Tharizdun or his forces, yet, since the campaign has pretty much been good versus evil, I would like him to come across as more neutral rather than helpful. Any suggestions?
Mordenkainen is an arcane caster so it would be hard for him to not take part in the mage war.
What makes it harder to leave to have him take a part and yet stay neutral is the end of the world scenario you are building up to...If the purple T comes out of his prison then there ain't much future for the world is there? Staying neutral in such a scenario sounds a bit ...wrong...
My take on this therefore would be that he does indeed help the "good" guys but with separate machinations working behind the scene in order to assure neutrality is preserved once the smoke clears....
This has been done before. It's annoying.
Sorry to sound a bit negative but...
Could you please elaborate on who this refers to (the OP, EileenProphetofIstus's post or my reply to her).
And could you offer something more useful than negative Criticism?
This has been done before. It's annoying.
No need to troll, not like anyone invited you to this thread.
No need to troll, not like anyone invited you to this thread.
I haven't seen her (him?) say anything positive in general. Don't worry about it.