Szass Tam is a fictional character in the ''

Forgotten Realms ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a ...

campaign setting A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A ''campaign'' is a series of individual adventures, and a ''campaign setting'' is the world in which such adventures and ca ...

for the ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules ...

'' (''D&D'')

fantasy role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal ...

Description

Szass is a

lich In fantasy fiction, a lich (; from the Old English , meaning "corpse") is a type of undead creature. Various works of fantasy fiction, such as Clark Ashton Smith's "The Empire of the Necromancers" (1932), had used ''lich'' as a general term fo ...

, an

undead The undead are beings in mythology, legend, or fiction that are deceased but behave as if alive. Most commonly the term refers to corporeal forms of formerly-alive humans, such as mummies, vampires, and zombies, who have been reanimated by super ...

necromancer Necromancy () is the practice of magic or black magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions, or by resurrection for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events; ...

. He is the leader and most powerful of the Red Wizards of Thay, a group of eight zulkirs, or wizards, who rule the country of Thay. Many of his servants are undead. Szass is the ruler of Thaymount, however, rumor says that Szass is under the command of Larloch, searching for artifacts. He attempts to destroy the world and create his own in the year of the Dark Circle (1478 DR), but this plot is foiled.

Appearances

Szass Tam in his attempt to rule over Thay and Toril is featured in the ''Forgotten Realms: The Haunted Lands'' novel trilogy by

Richard Lee Byers Richard Lee Byers is an author of fantasy novels. Biography Richard Lee Byers holds a master's degree in Psychology. A resident of the Tampa Bay area, he worked in an emergency psychiatric facility for over a decade, then left the mental health f ...

(2007–2009) Szass makes an appearance in R.A. Salvatore's 2010 book ''

Gauntlgrym ''Gauntlgrym'' is a fantasy novel by American writer R. A. Salvatore set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting; it is the first book in the Neverwinter Saga. Released in October 2010, it follows the continued adventures of drow elf renegade ...

''. Other works include: * Whitney-Robinson, Voronica. ''

The Crimson Gold ''The Crimson Gold'' is a fantasy novel by Voronica Whitney-Robinson, set in the Forgotten Realms ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by playe ...

'' (

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for ga ...

, 2003). * Donovan, Dale. '' Villains' Lorebook'' ( TSR, 1998). * Pryor, Anthony. ''Spellbound'' ( TSR, 1995). * Rabe, Jean. ''

Red Magic This is a list of fantasy fiction novels based in the role-playing game setting of the Forgotten Realms. They are published by Wizards of the Coast (WotC), with some originally published by TSR before it was incorporated into WotC. Abolethic Sov ...

'' ( TSR, 1991).

Other media

"Tam has been a prominent antagonist in various ''Dungeons & Dragons'' adventures and novels, although his profile is not quite as prominent as the liches

Vecna Vecna ( ) is a fictional character appearing in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. Vecna has been named one of the greatest villains in ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Originally appearing in the ''Greyhawk'' campaign setting, Vecna ...

and

Acererak This is a list of characters from the Greyhawk campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. A Acererak Acererak was a powerful wizard who became a lich, and later a demilich. Publication history Acererak ...

". He appears as a villain in the 2023 film '' Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves''. Szass Tam appears in two scenes in the film, and is portrayed by Scottish actor

Ian Hanmore Ian Hanmore is a Scottish actor known for his role as the warlock Pyat Pree in the second season of the HBO series '' Game of Thrones''. Career He also played Albert Flood in '' The Awakening'', Margaret's Father in ''The Magdalene Sisters'', ...

References

Forgotten Realms characters {{fict-char-stub