03-18-2013, 10:55 PM
Dave Arneson's Blackmoor gives us the following dates:
994: Marfeldt the Barbarian begins his legendary rampage. First Fantasy Campaign tells us he killed the wizard who created him during a "friendly wrestling match."
996: William of the Heath picks up the sword and armor beneath Castle Blackmoor and becomes the Blue Rider.
First Fantasy Campaign recounts an alternate story, however, in which a "demented old wizard" gave a passing adventurer the sword, armor, and warhorse in order to aid him against one of his own creations. It's implied that the wizard is dead, probably at the hands of the Blue Rider.
However, what if the rebellious creation was Marfeldt? Given the dates above, Marfeldt's creator could have gifted a passing adventurer with the Blue Rider's equipment in a desperate attempt to prevent Marfeldt from killing him. Whether it was Marfeldt or the Blue Rider who ultimately caused the wizard's demise, the Rider could have subsequently been killed beneath the twelfth level of Blackmoor Castle only to have William of the Heath discover the items there a few years later. That would explain the two contradictory stories; there were two Blue Riders, a short-lived one and William.
Are there any likely candidates for who this wizard might have been?
994: Marfeldt the Barbarian begins his legendary rampage. First Fantasy Campaign tells us he killed the wizard who created him during a "friendly wrestling match."
996: William of the Heath picks up the sword and armor beneath Castle Blackmoor and becomes the Blue Rider.
First Fantasy Campaign recounts an alternate story, however, in which a "demented old wizard" gave a passing adventurer the sword, armor, and warhorse in order to aid him against one of his own creations. It's implied that the wizard is dead, probably at the hands of the Blue Rider.
However, what if the rebellious creation was Marfeldt? Given the dates above, Marfeldt's creator could have gifted a passing adventurer with the Blue Rider's equipment in a desperate attempt to prevent Marfeldt from killing him. Whether it was Marfeldt or the Blue Rider who ultimately caused the wizard's demise, the Rider could have subsequently been killed beneath the twelfth level of Blackmoor Castle only to have William of the Heath discover the items there a few years later. That would explain the two contradictory stories; there were two Blue Riders, a short-lived one and William.
Are there any likely candidates for who this wizard might have been?