What's in a Name, Part 2

So, the next thing I looked at are the names that D&D has 'hardwired' into the system. Some campaign worlds, like the Forgotten Realms, turn a blind eye to why there is a spell called Mordenkainen's Lucubration. Or they assume the spell wafted over the ether to get to the world.

It's my thought to adapt those names to my game. I haven't finished everything, but I've given most of the names a place in my world. If this were a television series, it might be considered a 'reboot' of the characters, because while I have a Mordenkainen, Rary, and Tenser, there is no Circle of Eight, and in fact, some of these personages lived in totally different times. But at least the players can say 'hey, Mordenkainen, he's the headmaster of the Acadamae in Goethe!'.

Here are some of my fleshed out characters ...


Bigby: More popularly known as the Iron Arcanamarch, Bigby was the foremost Evoker of the Verdraaken Empire, and one of the Runebidden.


Bilarro Vengerre: A malacisti wizard and leader of a cult of Zandrathius in Baligante. Bilarro is said to have once possessed the Eye of Vecna, having plucked out his own eye to do so.


Bucknard Tallender: A noble lord of the Verdraaken Empire famed for his wealth and generosity. He was well loved by his people, but unfortunately perished during the Summoners’ War.


Ehlonna: The previous Queen of Avalor. She lived a long life and was famed for her beauty and love of the hunt. Her daughter is Laerith.


Gruumsh: One of the Mor’Urak who occasionally steps forth from the mountains to speak with the Kozeh. One of his namesake forefathers was famous for his slaying of a Shebleleth beast, but lost his eye in the conflict. To keep the name of Gruumsh strong, all his descendants pluck out their right eye.


Heward Hakthorne: A Marchlander wizard, brother to the Golemworker Tenser. and ally of the Drakentaaler. He travels in secret, defending the ancient realm of the Verdraaken Empire with his warrior allies. He is particularly close-lipped, and knows many secrets, but speaks rarely, and often travels in disguise.


Mordenkainen Hoenott: The Acadamae is the most prestigious school of magic in the Western Marches, and as its Headmagus, Hoenott is one of the region’s most respected and powerful wizards.


Rary: A runebound wizard of the Verdraaken Empire, known for his transmutation magic that enhanced the mind. Rary often served as the herald of the Dragon King, and traveled to many distant lands. He is often depicted wearing purple.
Rary also was known for his clockwork golems, often mechanical songbirds that served as messengers, or great iron hounds to guard noble homes. Kwalish uncovered Rary’s research, and with it and the knowledge of other wizards from olden times founded the Golemworks.


Tasha the Black: A vadani enchantress who is a friend of the Elven Court, and unlike her brethren, dresses without ornament in head to toe black. However, her sense of humor is dark and complex. She travels with the Dsalti clan and can be found most often in Aldermarch.


Vecna: A Vadani witch purported to dwell within the Vallenwood and cause harm to those who trespass near her lair.
The histories of the Verdraaken Empire that survive state she was once a beautiful and charming Vadani noblewoman whose mother was a nymph, who was taken as a bride by a Verdraaken Prince, and bore him a son. However, one of her sisters grew jealous of her mortal husband, disguised herself as Vecna, and played a cruel and malicious trick which accidentally slew him. Consumed with grief and rage, Vecna used forbidden Vadani magic to call upon The Raven Witch and proceeded to slay her sister. The good fey in turn cursed her, and her beauteous form was transformed into a twisted crone.
The Empire heard of the death of the Prince, believing Vecna to have betrayed and murdered her husband. In response, they cast out all Vadani from the Empire and forbid them from dwelling within their city walls or own land. When the Empire fell, the banishment of the Vadani ended, but prejudice continues to this day.
Vecna dwelt in the forest as a witch with her son, Kas for many years, wreaking havoc and suffering on all that she could reach, until the good and noble Cuthbert quested forth from the Empire and slew her. Yet death could not end her rage and suffering and she rose again as a lich with Maglaura’s divine blessing. During the aftermath of the Summoners’ War, with no Empire remaining, she forged her own realm that reached from the Vallenwood, across the Theld and south to the Marchlands. Dark beasts roamed openly, fey were hunted and slain by undead legions, and those close to her became creatures of utter evil, her son Kas becoming a nosferati vampire. However, evil turned on itself and Kas betrayed her, attempting to wrest control of her kingdom from her, and in a epic battle, cut off her hand and removed her eye before being slain by Vecna. Twisted with rage and sorrow, she fled into the darkness, leaving everything behind.
Vecna’s empire crumbled shortly thereafter, and the land returned to nature’s stewardship. Vecna is said to dwell within the Vallenwood, the forest itself becoming cursed and dark by her very presence. She has hidden there since. It is said that her hand and eye are artifacts of evil that cannot be destroyed, and they are found by the evil or unlucky.