War Wizards

The War Wizards, formally known as the Brotherhood of War Wizards, are Cormyr’s state-sanctioned mage guild, tasked with protecting the realm through magical means, enforcing the king’s laws, and supporting the Purple Dragons (Cormyr’s army). They are a cornerstone of Cormyr’s power, ensuring the kingdom’s stability in a world rife with magical threats. In 1372 DR, following the death of King Azoun IV in the Ghazneth War (1371 DR), the War Wizards operate under the leadership of Caladnei, the new Royal Magician, after the retirement of the legendary Vangerdahast, who stepped down after Azoun IV’s death.

History and Organization

• Founding: The War Wizards were established in the 9th century DR under King Galaghard III, who sought to counter magical threats from rival nations like Sembia and the Zhentarim. By 1372 DR, they are a well-entrenched institution, numbering around 500 mages, though only a fraction are active field agents, per Lords of Darkness.
• Structure: The War Wizards are led by the Royal Magician, a position of immense power second only to the king. In 1372 DR, Caladnei, a young but capable mage, holds this role, having succeeded Vangerdahast, who served for over a century. Below her are the High Wizards, senior mages overseeing regional operations (e.g., in Suzail, Arabel, and Marsember), and the Wizards of War, the rank-and-file agents. Apprentices train in Suzail’s arcane academies, often starting as young as 12, enduring rigorous testing to ensure loyalty.
• Recruitment and Oath: War Wizards are selected for their magical talent and loyalty to the Obarskyr dynasty. They swear a magical oath, often reinforced by geas spells (Will DC 20 to resist), binding them to serve the crown, as noted in Volo’s Guide to Cormyr. Disloyalty is rare, as the oath can trigger severe consequences, such as psychic damage (2d10, Will DC 15 halves).

Appearance and Equipment

• Attire: War Wizards wear practical yet elegant robes in Cormyr’s colors—purple and blue—often embroidered with silver runes of protection. High-ranking members like Caladnei might wear Robes of the Archmagi (+5 AC, +4 to saves, spell resistance 18), per Magic of Faerûn. Their attire is designed for mobility, as they often accompany Purple Dragons into battle.
• Equipment: War Wizards carry enchanted items to aid their duties. Common items include War Wizard Signet Rings (message 3/day, +2 to caster level checks, resistance energy 5), Wands of Fireball (10 charges, 5d6 damage, Reflex DC 14 halves), and Staves of Power (20 charges, various spells like lightning bolt or magic missile), per Magic of Faerûn. They also use Amulets of Proof Against Detection and Location to avoid enemy scrying, a necessity given their role as spies and enforcers.
• Symbol: Their badge is a silver dragon clutching a staff, set against a purple field, often worn as a brooch or embroidered on their robes.

Role in Cormyr

• Magical Defense: War Wizards protect Cormyr from arcane threats, such as Zhentarim mages, Red Wizards of Thay, or extraplanar incursions. They use scrying to monitor borders, dispel magic to counter enemy spells, and teleport to deploy rapidly, as described in Lords of Darkness. During the Ghazneth War, they battled magical abominations, with Vangerdahast personally destroying several Ghazneths using disintegrate (Fort DC 19, 30d6 damage).
• Support for Purple Dragons: In battle, War Wizards provide magical support to the Purple Dragons, casting fireball or haste (+4 AC, extra attack) to turn the tide, per Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. They also enchant weapons, such as +1 longswords with flaming (+1d6 fire damage), for elite knights.
• Law Enforcement and Espionage: War Wizards enforce Cormyr’s laws against unsanctioned magic, investigating rogue mages or illegal artifact trade in cities like Marsember. They use invisibility and clairvoyance for espionage, rooting out Sembian spies or Zhentarim agents. Caladnei, in 1372 DR, has increased their focus on internal dissent, as noble houses vie for influence under the young Azoun V.
• Diplomatic Role: High Wizards often serve as emissaries, using spells like charm person (Will DC 14) to sway foreign leaders..

Culture and Reputation

• Loyalty and Discipline: War Wizards are fanatically loyal to the crown, their oath ensuring obedience. They are trained to prioritize Cormyr’s safety above personal gain, though some, like Vangerdahast, developed a reputation for overzealous control, often clashing with nobles, as noted in Lords of Darkness.
• Reputation in Faerûn: Across Faerûn, War Wizards are respected and feared as Cormyr’s magical enforcers. In Waterdeep, the Lords’ Alliance admires their discipline but distrusts their methods, while the Red Wizards of Thay view them as rivals, often targeting them in arcane duels. Common folk in Cormyr see them as protectors, though rural farmers sometimes fear their authority, per Volo’s Guide to Cormyr.
• Training and Specialization: War Wizards are generalists but often specialize in abjuration (protective magic), evocation (combat magic), or divination (intelligence-gathering). Caladnei, a diviner, excels at scrying (sees up to 10 miles/level), using it to monitor threats in 1372 DR.

Notable War Wizards

• Caladnei (Royal Magician): A young Mulan woman in 1372 DR, Caladnei succeeded Vangerdahast after his retirement. Skilled in divination and abjuration, she wields a Staff of Power and wears a Cloak of Resistance (+3 to saves), focusing on stabilizing Cormyr amidst political turmoil.
• Vangerdahast (Retired): The former Royal Magician, a 20th-level wizard, served for over a century, retiring after Azoun IV’s death. Known for his iron grip on magical affairs, he used meteor swarm (40d6 damage, Reflex DC 22 halves) to devastating effect against enemies, per Lords of Darkness.
• Thalendra Vaelspire (Historical): A War Wizard who aided Myth Drannor during the Weeping War (714 DR), crafting the Ring of Veilwarding (previously described), killed by a nightshade during the city’s fall.

Summary

The War Wizards of Cormyr, circa 1372 DR, are a 500-strong mage guild led by Caladnei, serving as Cormyr’s magical defenders, law enforcers, and spies. Clad in purple-blue robes, they wield Signet Rings, Wands of Fireball, and Staves of Power, casting spells like fireball, scrying, and haste to support the Purple Dragons and protect the realm. Trained in Suzail and bound by a magical oath, they are loyal to the Obarskyr crown, feared by enemies like the Zhentarim, and respected as a disciplined force across Faerûn.