Great Wizards of History

## Influential Living Wizards

**Mordenkainen d’Phiarlan.** Mordenkainen d’Phiarlan is the original name of the wizard now known as Mordain the Fleshweaver. As Mordain, he is infamous for his mastery of transmutation magic; but he was a remarkably gifted wizard who came up with a number of innovative spells before he became obsessed with transmutation, and those that use this name are among his earlier works. The slight twist that many uneducated wizards are unaware of is that most of his spells draw on Xoriat in various ways. The phantom hound of *Mordenkainen’s faithful hound* is a many-eyed multidimensional denizen of Xoriat, merely taking the form of a friendly beast. *Mordenkainen’s blade* is a shard of Xoriat itself. *Mordenkainen’s magnificent mansion* creates a pocket of space in Xoriat; fortunately, it’s impossible to breach the walls of the manor (probably…). Note that this has nothing in common with *magnificent mansions* created through other methods (such as Ghallanda’s *manor key*).

Mordain abandoned his given name shortly after having scribed his famous bestiary, *Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes*. This tome was a biological study that sought to fully understand the physical form of existing creatures, in order to inform the transmutative studies that would shape the rest of his career in the Closed Circle.

**Sora Tasha.** Sora Tasha was a wizard of Thaliost who was adopted by the infamous Sora Kell shortly after the city's founding. There are many conflicting accounts of Sora Tasha, with some scholars doubting if the witch ever really existed.

In some stories, Tasha was a beloved protégé of Sora Kell, who disappeared into the planes long ago to search for her lost "grandmother". In other versions of the story, Tasha was responsible for Sora Kell’s disappearance, stealing her mentor’s grimoire and trapping her in a planar prison. Some stories say Tasha is long dead, while others say that dark magic has preserved her after seizing Sora Kell’s hidden sanctum as her own. The most likely story, however, is that Tasha is yet another alias of Sora Katra. Perhaps "Tasha" was a mere illusion constructed by the hag to manipulate the people of Thaliost... or perhaps it was even the original name of Sora Katra's true human form before undergoing "The Change" that transformed her into the fearsome hag that the world knows today.

## Historical Wizards

**Raela Solaen.** Raela Solaen, known to history as the Queen of the Burning Sky, was an Aereni wizard. She opposed the Undying Court and chose exile; making her way west she married Breggor Firstking of Wroat. Her arcane might was a key element of Breggor’s success; in the tales of Breggor’s siege of Shaarat (*a former incarnation of Sharn*), Solaen devastates the defenders with massive waves of fire. These stories may be exaggerated; Raela may have just been using *fireballs* and *flaming spheres*. On the other hand, it’s possible that the Queen of the Burning Sky developed unique war rituals - likely spells that inflicted less damage than a *fireball*, but with a far greater range and area of effect. As she had no interest in sharing her knowledge with others, her secrets died with her. But if Solaen’s spellshards were found today, her war rituals might be a boon to the nation that obtained them.

## The Circle of Eight

The Circle of Eight was composed of the eight founding members of the Arcane Congress, established by King Galifar I in 15 YK. Princess Aundair worked diligently to unite the resources of the former Thaliost circles, leading the arcanists to study the mysteries of magic and place these powers at the service of the kingdom. Each member of the Circle of Eight was themself the leader of a separate wizard circle, working together towards the common cause of arcane science.

* **Queen Aundair**. Aundair was the daughter of Galifar I first Queen of Aundair. Long intrigued by arcane science, Aundair studied with both the Twelve and the Guild of Moonlight and Whispers, and had come up with her own unique theories of magic—the basic elements of Siberyan theory. The people she worked with had great respect for her talents—and this in turn played an important role both in Galifar’s negotiations with the Twelve and in recruiting Thaliost mages to his cause.
* **Nystul ir'Lain (Guild of Moonlight and Whispers).** Nystul was a master illusionist, and a descendant of Margana Lain: original founder of the Guild of Moonlight and Whispers, and widely considered to be the "Mother of Magic" after making several major breakthroughs in the basic techniques of arcane science without the aid of a manifest zone.
* **Iggwilv.** Founder of The Unspoken Word, and secretly, The Closed Circle. Iggwilv was very publically slain by the Daughters of Sora Kell some time later, after having supposedly discovered an ancient secret belonging to their mother. Iggwilv's death was later proven to be a fabrication in 641 YK, when records recovered from the Closed Circle showed that the witch was actively leading the secret society for nearly a century after her "death". These records also proved that Iggwilv was much older than originally thought, having been present at the founding of Thaliost nearly 2,000 years prior. She was tied directly to the historical witch known as Sora Tasha. This revalation, along with the involvement of the infamous coven of hags, have led many to speculate that Iggwilv was actually a false persona used as a disguise by Sora Katra the entire time.
* **Elminster Aumar (The Arcane Order of Aureon).**
* **Aganazzar (The Lodge of the Eternal Flame).** Wizard, created *Aganazzar's scorcher.*
* **Galder Fendt (The Guild of Endless Doors).** Galder the Conjurer believed that it was mankind's duty to explore and catalogue the planes of existence, and for this reason, he founded the Guild of Endless Doors. Prior to this, Galder was a member of (and briefly the master of) the Order of Edifice. He is credited with the creation of two spells, Galder's Speedy Courier and Galder's Tower, as well as laying the groundworks for future members of his guild to develop the modern forms of *teleport, teleportation circle*, and *misty step* that are taught at Arcanix today. It is said that, before falling to the ravages of age, Galder left Eberron in order to explore the furthest reaches of the Astral Sea.
* **Jallarzi Sallavarian (Dolurrh’s Gate).** Jallarzi was born into slavery in the year -82 YK, held captive by an order of wizards who controlled a fortress near the modern-day village of Arcanix. At age 14, she was freed from her imprisonment when a fellow slave, known to her as Jhonn Holbrook Vance, rose up and killed their captors with the wizards' own magics. The necromancer that saved her would later become infamous under a different name: Vecna. After witnessing what she did at Arcanix, Jallarzi dedicated the rest of her life to studying the positive uses of necromancy; such as the practical value of *speak with dead* and studying how to contain and control undead threats.
* **Leomund Lakofka (The Order of Edifice).** For many years, Leomund was the apprentice of Galder. Leomund eventually became the leader of the Order of Edifice when his master left the circle to found the Guild of Endless Doors. Leomund is credited with creating the spells Tiny Hut and Secret Chest.

## Namesake Wizards

**Margana Lain (Guild of Moonlight and Whispers).** Margana Lain was an early arcane pioneer, convinced that what the fey seemed to do by whim, mortals could master through will. Beyond her own accomplishments, Margana was instrumental in the creation of the Guild of Moonlight and Whispers, the first true wizard’s circle of the Five Nations.

**Bigby.** Bigby is said to be a giant wizard of the Cul’sir Dominion. He was one of the mentors (and slavemasters) of the legendary elf wizard Cardaen. When the warrior queen Vadallia rescued Cardaen from the citadel he was imprisoned in, she cut off the giant’s hand. Cardaen later perfected the series of spells, saying that he had bound Bigby’s hand to do his bidding. Cardaen’s spells are known both to Tairnadal and Aereni wizards, and were eventually shared with wizards of the Five Nations.

**Otto.** Not a wizard, but a fairy tale bard. In some Talentan legends Otto is a trickster (perhaps an alias used by The Traveler) who fulfills wishes, makes misers dance until they lose consciousness. Otto invented the Pipes of the Sewers, and subsequently became the inspiration for the story of the Pied Piper.

**Maximillian Hysian.** A member of the Esoteric Order of Aureon, who created the modern version of Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp.

**Melf.** Mariel Av’v “Melf” Peralay, flashy, charismatic elven wizard, and one of the Tairnadal ancestral spirits. Melf was a skilled swordsman and an accomplished wizard, as well as a handsome leader… which makes him big boots to fill for many Valenar elves. “Melf” was a nickname given to him by his goblin foes which he embraced - and encouraged others to use short names for the ease of use in battle.

**Rary.** Rarishana was a kalashtar psionicist who instructed many arcanists at the Morgrave university. Today her identity is forgotten, but the general principle of Rary’s Telepathic Bond replicates and actually improves the kalashtar telepathic abilities.

**Drawmij.** Drawmij was not a real person, but a duo of dragonmarked researchers. "Drawmij" was a codename for a new project operated by House Sivis and Orien, now discarded for being too impractical. The two lead researchers on the project were James "Jimmy" Torralyn d'Sivis and Ward d'Orien, and the project's codename was a portmanteau of their names backwards. Drawmij’s Instant Summons survives as a collection of incomplete scrolls and notes, and instead of a sapphire it requires a large dragonshard.

**Tenser.** Floating Disk, Transformation. Founder of Aundair's Order of the Ethereal Blade in the fifth century (YK).

**Evard.** Member of the Closed Circle who studied the Daelkyr.

TBD:

* Snilloc, Wizard, created Snilloc's Snowball Storm
* Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
* Ashardalon's Stride
* Fizban's Platinum Shield
* Nathair's Mischief
* Raulothim's Psychic Lance
* Rime's Binding Ice
* **Bucknard.** Aundairian wizard and a founding member of Aundair's Order of the Ethereal Blade. He was a good friend of Tenser, and sparred with him many times.
* Keoghtom, a jack of all trades who mastered magic, hunting, alchemy, and the Old Lore of the bards. Keoghtom was Zagig's closest confidante and the most inventive of the group.
* Quaal, a ranger of Flan descent whose interest in useful spells and magic, as opposed to sheer arcane power, served the company in good stead.
* Heward, an accomplished bard whose mastery of both song and spell allowed him to channel powerful magic and incredible music through his instruments.
* **Otiluke (The Golden Seal).** Resilient Sphere, Freezing Sphere. Otiluke became the leader of was murdered by Rary.
* **Rary (Order of the Unforgotten Mind).** Rarishana was a kalashtar psionicist who instructed many arcanists at the Morgrave university. Today her identity is forgotten, but the general principle of Rary’s Telepathic Bond replicates and actually improves the kalashtar telepathic abilities.

## Mages of the Dark Ages

* Legendary fey warlocks of Thaliost: **Tyman Three-Cloaks** and **Vilina the Unseen** were both contemporaries of Sora Tasha
* **Raela Solaen, "Queen of the Burning Sky".** She opposed the Undying Court and chose exile; making her way west she married Breggor Firstking of Wroat. Her arcane might was a key element of Breggor’s success; in the tales of Breggor’s siege of Shaarat (*a former incarnation of Sharn*), Solaen devastates the defenders with massive waves of fire. These stories may be exaggerated; Raela may have just been using *fireballs* and *flaming spheres*. On the other hand, it’s possible that the Queen of the Burning Sky developed unique war rituals—likely spells that inflicted less damage than a *fireball*, but with a far greater range and area of effect. As she had no interest in sharing her knowledge with others, her secrets died with her. But if Solaen’s spellshards were found today, her war rituals might be a boon to the nation that obtained them.
* Two of the greatest pioneers were **Alder d’Cannith** and **Lyssia** **Lyrriman** **d’Sivis**. But it was Lyssia who developed the basic foundation of the *elemental sigils*—the verbal and somatic components used by most modern externalist wizards. Alder developed the earliest form of the modern *magecraft* spell, as well as pioneering techniques of spell preparation and aspects of artifice. It was Alder who designed the Tower of the Twelve, and who insisted on the name of the organization, and it was in this tower that Lyssia d’Sivis perfected the elemental sigils.
* **Hadran d’Cannith** proposed that the houses work together to create an “*institute for the application of magic*“—a foundation that would study both the dragonmarks and ways to harness their power, but also other forms of arcane magic. It was Hadran’s charisma and dreams that paved the way for the Twelve, but it was Alder d’Cannith who made it a reality.
* **Heken Askarda** was a Daskaran monk devoted to Aureon, who pioneered the development of utilitarian magic. Notably, she created spells—at the time, 1st level wizard spells—that produced the individual effects of *prestidigitation* (heating, chilling, cleaning, soiling, etc). Later generations would refine these spells to the level of cantrip and ultimately to the versatile spell that people use today. Early wizards were often focused on the combat applications of magic; Heken sought to show how Aureon’s gift could improve all aspects of life.
* **Duran** perfected many of the basic techniques of arcane necromancy employed by the Blood of Vol. While Duran died long ago, **some say** that he was also the first human of the Five Nations to master the rituals required to become a lich -- but most agree that Vecna the first human in Khorvaire to become a lich.
* **Beren’s Hearth** was a legendary inn located in a Fernian manifest zone. The innkeeper Beren had crafted externalist spells allowing him to channel the power of Fernia to heat food and the inn itself. According to the tales, when a group of bandits threatened Beren and his guests, the innkeeper called the fire out of the hearth, and it chased down his enemies and burned them. To this day, Brelish wizards often call *flaming sphere* “Beren’s blaze” and *fire bolt* “Beren’s blast.” According to the tales, Beren’s Hearth finally burnt down and the land was claimed for a Cannith foundry. There are many conflicting accounts of just where the Hearth was, and some who say that it was the Twelve—notably agents of Ghallanda and Cannith—who burned down the Hearth.
* Dorius Alyre ir’Korran