Ideas Wanted--Developing a PC Wizard obsessed with finding some arcane secrets

[johnsemlak]

Planning to start a new campaign set in FR based in/around Waterdeep. I am to play a wizard. I'm asking for some ideas early on here because I'm not very familiar with Forgotten Realms.

I'd like to develop a character concept in which the wizard is a seeker of some mysterious or secret arcane knowledge, something that is the key to some great threat to the Realms. One thought is for him to be the apprentice of another wizard who seeks/sought such information.

One specific idea is for him to be seeking info on a mysterious, (perhaps long-forgotten) evil race (something like the Drow were in early 1e). My DM suggeested the Aboleth (sp). Any others?

I'm not set on the evil race idea, any other ideas of some mysterious info my character could make a lifelong quest to seek? A forgotten evil god, akin to Tharizdun?

Any ideas in developing this would be appreciated.

 

[MaxKaladin]

Planning to start a new campaign set in FR based in/around Waterdeep. I am to play a wizard. I'm asking for some ideas early on here because I'm not very familiar with Forgotten Realms.

The Netherese are your friend. Yes, that's a cliche answer. Still, its a cliche for a reason.

Netheril was an ancient empire where Anauroch was that achieved heights of magic current wizards only dream of. They had flying cities and the whole bit. The city of Shade is the last survivng remnant of the Netherese people.

As far as ancient races go, look at the Phaerrim and the Sharn.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Was watching the History Channel this weekend and they had the Bible Code, which was freaky but you could do somethng along the same lines, a spell book of some powerful person what has a build in code. One the wizard has to find the book, then find the code breaker, the result could becoming one with magic.

 

[johnsemlak]

The Netherese are your friend. Yes, that's a cliche answer. Still, its a cliche for a reason.

Netheril was an ancient empire where Anauroch was that achieved heights of magic current wizards only dream of. They had flying cities and the whole bit. The city of Shade is the last survivng remnant of the Netherese people.

As far as ancient races go, look at the Phaerrim and the Sharn.

Ah the Netherese, yeah, that might be interesting. I'll read up on them. I'll look into the Paerrum and the Sharn, though I dont' know much about them.

On another route, is there something similar to Tharizdun (a forgotten evil deity now imprisoned) in FR?

 

[MaxKaladin]

Ah the Netherese, yeah, that might be interesting. I'll read up on them. I'll look into the Paerrum and the Sharn, though I dont' know much about them.

On another route, is there something similar to Tharizdun (a forgotten evil deity now imprisoned) in FR?

The Phaerrim are supposed to be responsible for a lot of the troubles the Netherese were having at the end of their empire. If Karsus hadn't screwed things up, they would probably have had a fight on their hands. The Sharn oppose the Phaerrim.

I'm sure you can find more than one forgotten evil diety out there in the Realms, but I'm drawing a blank on them. I do seem to remember, however, reading something about a evil god of war that Tempus supplanted that is "almost dead". That was in the 2nd edition Faiths and Avatars book by Eric Boyd. IKts a great resource for all things godly in the realms. There was a sequel for the demihuman dieties as well if your character isn't human.

 

[ericlboyd]

If you want to go the "Tharizdun-like" cult route, you might look at Gargauth, Ghaunadaur, or Moander. The first two are detailed in Faiths & Pantheons (as well as Powers & Pantheons and Demihuman Deities, respectfully). The latter is detailed in Faiths & Avatars (not in 3e, because its dead). I believe another poster was referring to Garagos (also in F&P and DD), but I don't think he's as appropriate (more of a god of barbarian raging these days).

All that said, if you're a wizard, going the route of searching for Netherese secrets is a tried and true path to adventuring in the North.

--Eric