Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

Morkai. Dendybar is next seen when he summons
the spirit of Morkai the Red for information on the
current doings in Icewind Dale. Seeking the magical
item that had previously granted Kessell power
enough to raise an army, Dendybar sent a band of his
servants to work with one ARTEMIS ENTRERI, who
was after the halfling, Regis. All these ended up
dead, and Dendybar himself was later killed by
Morkai’s spirit as vengeance for Morkai’s own death,
which had been prompted by Dendybar’s machinations.
Motivations/Goals: At the heart of Dendybar’s
every action is his quest for power. Through guile,
trickery, and violence has Dendybar ascended the
ranks of the Hosttower, and he’s not content until
he rules the Hosttower as its archmage. He also seeks
powerful magical items to aid him in his quest.
Dendybar also longs for lichdom, as the form’s
power and immortality will further his quest for
more power, gained over an eternity of time.
Campaign Uses: Had he survived, Dendybar
would make a most interesting foe. Capable of considerable
guile and some unusual abilities for a wizard,
the Master of the North Spire could become the
primary villain (along with the others of the Hosttower)
in any game campaign set in the North.
For lower-level campaigns, Dendybar can be the
mage behind the scenes with enough power, servants,
and contacts to make the lives of PCs more
exciting. Perhaps the player characters disrupted
some trade or exposed smuggling on the part of the
Brotherhood or Dendybar personally. His ego would
demand that the meddlesome amateurs be taught a
lesson in real power.
For higher-level campaigns, Dendybar can play a
more active role. With a party of magelings and
troops (not to mention golems and other magical
constructs or items), Dendybar could ruin the day of
many a PC adventuring band. Perhaps the PCs have
uncovered some major magical item that Dendybar
decides only he was right to wield. Having it stolen
would not be a difficult task for one such as Dendybar.
Then, the PCs would have to try to recover the
item before Dendybar could make any major power
plays with it. This could result in a full-fledged campaign
as Dendybar travels across the North, seeking
to gather the allies or components he needs, all the
while working to stay ahead of the PCs.
Sources: The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, The
North boxed set.
Arcane Brotherhood: This organization is a mercantile
company and wizards’ guild. The group
maintains several safehouses in Luskan and across
the cities of the North, but the Hosttower of the Arcane
is its headquarters. Led by Arklem Greeth (LE
hm W18), a hateful old man bent by age (who is believed
to be preparing himself for lichdom), this evil,
manipulative group has ties with the Zhentarim and
others who share in the goals of politically and economically
dominating the North.
Eldeluc (LE hm W14) is another member of the
Brotherhood, and he took part in the conspiracy to
eliminate Morkai the Red. He seems to have escaped
Dendybar’s fate though, at least so far. He and
Dendybar came to be fierce rivals for power within
the Brotherhood. Big and burly, this mage is close
with many in the Zhentarim, especially those who
are involved with Fzoul’s growing church of Xvim.
(See the Zhentarim’s and Fzoul’s entries for possible
contacts and campaign uses.)
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