LexiL

A guide to different versions of Karsus and the source material I took reference of (even with references they are still heavily self-interpreted , sorry for nothing). This series may get an update, because i still have a few works in stock, or not.

🔺My headcanon Karsus

Mantle`s magic effect and Karsus`s stats are from Netheril: Empire of Magic, His Sigil K and white stork being the guardian of Eileanar is from the Netheril Trilogy by Clayton Emery. Netheril`s fall mentioned that high netherease favored exquisite accessories that generates shinny magical effects. Others i made them up.

🔺Trilogy Karsus

Karsus in Netheril Trilogy, described as below:

The young wizard wore an expensive but rumpled and frayed robe embroidered in green-blue and white lace. By contrast, his hair was a rat’s nest, his fingernails cracked, gnawed, and filthy, his chin stubbly, his bare feet black with grime. And he needed a bath. Yet his eyes were golden, like melted gold swirling in a vat, and arresting. He smiled in a cockeyed way and waggled the fingers of one hand. 

🔺 “That famous pic” Karsus

That image appears everywhere but for sometime I couldn`t find a source, after doing reverse image search I found out that it was commissioned by Os Últimos Dias de Glória, a Brazilian fan based community. The artist is Enrico Tomasetti (he has a deviant art page) and, actually, there`s another piece too! SHOUTOUT：i like these arts a lot, they conveyed Karsus`s spirit (bright and shinny, but utterly stupid) well. Also the spiky hairstyle, can`t find anything that suit him more. (For copyright reasons I feel like not posting them here but do check them out 👍)

🔺The original Karsus

inspired by 1981 dragonquest campaign the Enchanted Wood written by Jennell Jaquays, who is the character`s original creator. In the campaign Karsus was an ancient god who fought against a serpent monster, but ended up with the serpent cursing the land, drowning Karsus`s people in a flood of blood. The god was so heart broken that he turned into a giant rock with ever pumping heart. Jaquays got to merge the storyline and a few characters (Karsus, Wulgreth,  Jingleshod, etc. ) into FR settings when she wrote the AD&D 1st edition book Savage Frontier. many settings were lost through editions but the giant butte and the bleeding heart stuff remained. (The heart-shaped tattoo…? What is going on)

🔺 Godhood Karsus

According to the trilogy again Karsus wore a white robe during the ritual when he casted the Avatar spell.

Karsus was surrounded by apprentices, as usual, but also a trio of tailors with needles and thread in their mouths. The mad mage wore a startling white gown embroidered with silver thread. Someone had cleaned his face, scrubbed his neck, even combed and trimmed his hair. He stood with arms out as the tailors closed seams and smoothed pleats. Karsus giggled all the while.

🔺 Lich Karsus

Karsus was said to embraced lichdom when he realized the Phaerimms life drain had made their longevity spells stopped working (Netheril: Empire of magic), however the same book gave him a human stat block. In 5rs new book Netheril`s Fall， Karsus uses lichs stat block, but was specified to be a humanoid and doesnt have a phylactery.

🔺 Roman Karsus