The Red Wizards of Thay are some of the Forgotten Realms’ most notorious villains. But where did this cadre of red-robed Wizards come from?
When it comes to villains of the Realms, the Zhentarim are shadowy and mercenary, sure, but far too knowable. The Xanathar’s Guild is a terror, to be certain. But there’s no evil cadre like an evil cadre of Wizards. And the Red Wizards of Thay carved a nefarious reputation as slavers, demonologists, and experimenters driven to power at any cost.
The Red Wizards of Thay slowly took over the governance of a nation, then built an empire. At least they would have, if they hadn’t also secretly been at war with each other. The labyrinthine history of it all begins in Mulhorand, more than five centuries from the present day.
Red Wizards of Thay – Origins
The Red Wizards of Thay can trace their origins back to a conspiracy of 10th-century Mulhorandi spellcasters, known then as the Red Wizards of Mulhorand. This secret society sought sovereignty beyond the oppressively codified structure of Mulhorand, through whatever means necessary.
And in the Year of the Spouting Fish, the Red Wizards found victory at last. At the Battle of Thazalhar, they discovered a demoncyst. Demoncysts were pockets of the 248th layer of the Abyss, known as the Hidden Layer. The Hidden Layer was a harsh land, ravaged by lightning storms, torrential rain, strong winds, and filled with assassin vines, bloodthorns, ironmaws, viper trees, and worse.
Beneath the chain of volcanic mountains known as Thaymount, the Red Wizards used dark rituals to enlist the aid of the lord of the Hidden Layer, the canid demon Eltab. With the demon’s aid, the Red Wizards overwhelmed the city of Delhumide, defeated the Mulhorandi god-king, and gained independence for the province of Thay.
Thay – Conquerors and Magocracies
And once they did, they got to work immediately seeing how fast and how far their reach could exceed their grasp. In the early years, Thay was a relatively aggressive power. And in 934 DR, the year of Fell Wizardry, they attempted to conquer their neighbors in Rashemen, but were repulsed.
In 955 DR, they magically transported an entire horde of orcs from the Spine of the World to the lands south of Thay, in an event known as the Orcgates Affair, which helped to diminish the prestige of their rivals.
And so it went for centuries. A Red Wizard scheme launched into neighboring lands. All the while, the Red Wizards consolidated their power within the monocratic nation of Thay. Failed invasions would lead to bloody changes in the regime, but the Wizards were always in power.
Especially since their experiments resulted in huge advantages for those who could control them. Thay opened a permanent gate to the Elemental Plane of Fire. They delved into the ruins of Myth Drannor, uncovering lost elven magic and more demonic power.
But when their conquering armies were rebuffed, cracks set in. The Council of Zulkirs, nominal leaders of the Red Wizards, began to experience internal strife as power struggles played out with neighboring nations.
Rise of the Lichlord
For a time, the Red Wizards relied on military might. But then, it seemed they found more success in accumulating power through monetary means. In a time of outward peace, Thay grew in power. And as it grew in strength, so did it grow in turmoil. Until it bubbled over in the Year of Risen Elfkin, when Szass Tam plunged Thay into a civil war. The lich launched a coup against the rest of the Zulkirs, and the Red Wizards were split into two factions: rebel Zulkirs, and those loyal to Tam.
Szass Tam, ever the opportunist, seized the power of the Spellplague to become like unto a god. Which is pretty standard stuff for the realms. But it worked—after four hundred years, the Red Wizards as they once were ceased to be. Now a new order arose. An order of Wizards loyal to Szass Tam and his undead Zulkirs.
However, this meant that the Red Wizards diminished in reputation and prestige outside of Thay. Their days of conquest seemed behind them. As exile mages took up residence in new nations, and opened up magical mercantile consortiums, it seemed the remnants of the rebel Red Wizards were doomed to a mundane life.
Naturally, they turned to infernal powers to try and overthrow Szass Tam.
And so it continues to this day, with Szass Tam and his undead council ruling over Thay at home, and their influence steadily spreading… until at last Tam is ready to make his move.
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