<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Xaeyruudh&#039;s Index]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Xaeyruudh]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/author/xaeyruudh/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Szass Tam]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>This information is intended for use with the <a href="http://dnd.wizards.com" target="_blank">Dungeons &amp; Dragons</a> role-playing game.</p>
<div style="width: 269px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href='http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ag/20010614a&amp;page=5' target='_blank'><img title='Szass Tam, from the WotC FRCS Art Gallery.  All rights are assumed to be reserved by Wizards of the Coast' src='https://i2.wp.com/www.wizards.com/dnd/images/FR_ART/People/SzassTam.jpg' width='259'></a><p class="wp-caption-text"> </p></div>
<hr>
<h3>At a Glance</h3>
<p><b>Szass Tam</b> is the Zulkir of Necromancy and a <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/lich/" title="Lich">lich</a>; this much is known to many of the <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/red-wizards/" title="The Red Wizards of Thay">Red Wizards</a>, and at least suspected by most residents of <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/thay/" title="Thay">Thay</a>.  Vanity keeps him from admitting it openly, however, so he uses magic to preserve his body.</p>
<p>Szass is born the son of <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/shevas-tam/" title="Shevas Tam">Shevas Tam</a> in 1104 DR, and later becomes a <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/necromancer/" title="Necromancer">necromancer</a> and a <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/red-wizard/" title="Red Wizard">red wizard</a>.  In 1159 DR he feels like he&#8217;s close to achieving immortality without resorting to the ignominy of undeath, but he&#8217;s forced to became a lich after sustaining life-threatening injuries while leading an attack on <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/rashemen/" title="Rashemen">Rashemen</a>.  This affront turns into an obsession with bringing about the destruction of Rashemen; something which consumes most of his efforts for the next two centuries.</p>
<p>Szass is credited by Elminster with creating the <a href="https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/belt-of-spells/" title="Belt of Spells">belt of spells</a>.</p>
<hr>
<h3>The Xaeyruudh Campaign</h3>
<p>With the exception of <a href="http://wiki.aerie.ru/images/thumb/0/09/SzassTam.JPG/180px-SzassTam.JPG" target="_blank">the picture in FR6</a>, official depictions fail to take his vanity into account; it seems that subsequent artists chose to ignore this detail.  This campaign chooses to abide by the original lore.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Sources</h3>
<h6>Primary Sources</h6>
<ul>
<li>Epic Level Handbook page 297</li>
<li>Villains&#8217; Lorebook [9552] page 54</li>
<li>Dreams of the Red Wizards [FR6/9235] page 52</li>
</ul>
<h6>Passing Mention</h6>
<ul>
<li><a href='http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17385&amp;whichpage=30#426210' target='_blank'>Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013)</a></li>
<li><em><a href='https://xaeyruudh.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/refs-17872/' title='References in Champions of Ruin'>Champions of Ruin</a></em> [17872] pages 130, 132</li>
</ul>
<h6>Other Resources</h6>
<ul>
<li>Search for <a href='http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Search?search=Szass Tam&amp;fulltext=Search' target='new'>Szass Tam</a> on the FR Wiki</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3>Disclaimer</h3>
<p>Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons &amp; Dragons, D&amp;D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries.  This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.</p>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://i2.wp.com/www.wizards.com/dnd/images/FR_ART/People/SzassTam.jpg?fit=440%2C330]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[225]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[330]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>