This is a bit of a different "In Search Of" since the topic, while related to the past of the D&D game, it is not actually part of it. Indeed, the furthest back this topic goes in terms of researchable material is only a scant seven years. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth some digging...and a little fun.
Today I go In Search Of...the Warduchess!
In Search Of...the Warduchess
Who is "Warduchess?" Well, the most straightforward answer to that question is she is a genderbent version of Warduke from the classic LJN toyline, and appears in the D&D BECMI product AC1 The Shady Dragon Inn.
Before we can answer who is Warduchess, maybe we should start with who is Warduke?
Who is Warduke?
As I mentioned already Warduke was/is a very popular character from the old D&D LJN toy line. He would also later have his stats printed out in The Shady Dragon Inn and more recently as a member of The League of Malevolence in "The Wild Beyond The Witchlight" for D&D 5e. Just as I am obsessed with Skylla, there are those out there just as obsessed with Warduke. The two NPCs also share a history. This will be important later.
I described Warduke as a minor D&D celebrity. He has stats for Basic (BECMI), 3rd Edition, and 5th Edition. I bet if I dug deeper, I could find 2nd and 4th Edition stats as well. He is chaotic (BECMI) evil (3,5) and always described as a powerful fighter. The D&D Companion "Avenger" class was either made for him in mind or he was made for it. In 1984's XL-1 Quest for the Heartstone he appears again with some more backstory. He even appears on the cover with the D&D "Paladin" Strongheart. The biggest revelation is that Warduke used to be good (or at least less evil) and was friends with Strongheart!
I was introduced to the Anti-Paladin in Best of Dragon Vol. II, and I briefly considered Warduke to be an anti-paladin, but he seemed more of a brutish thug to me. I never got the appeal of the guy back then, but like I have said before, his fans look at my 40+ Skylla posts and scratch their heads.
Warduke has had, beyond a doubt, a successful D&D career over the last 42 years. Or more.
More? Yes. While the image of Warduke with his half-chain armor is cemented in everyone's mind, it wasn't his first appearance. That honor actually belongs to The Dragon Magazine #17.
That is our old pal Warduke with whom I assume to be Elvira. It looks like he has all his armor, and maybe some of hers as well. Eh, it was 1978. The Forgotten Realms wiki claims the cover artist is David Sutherland. I have no reason to doubt this. Who ever the woman is we can gather she is some sort of spell caster. I am also putting her into the running of "the mother of Warduchess."
Naturally the question now is. Who is her mother?
Who is the Mother of Warduchess?
Much like my investigation on who the father of Drelnza was, there are some interesting choices. Lets see what we can figure out based on Warduke's published histories.
For this thought experiment, I am only considering consensual pairings. Why? I want a Warduchess, who while very evil, looks up to her father as someone to emulate. I want a Warduke who looks at his daughter as someone worthy to control of what every domain he set up for himself, that is as long as she proves herself worthy.
Skylla
She is my favorite choice mostly because I love the character and I can totally see her giving up a child for magical power/advantage. Plus, the Dragon #17 cover reminds me a bit of her, at least in the face. And once she got over her "Ziggy Stardust" phase.
Warduke and Skylla both have similar demon motifs on their outfits. Skyll's demon headdress is very similar to one Warduke has on his shield. So there is a connection here. Would Skylla give up her child? Sure, she is evil and if there was magical gain in it then sure.
Raven
If I had a dime for every "Raven" I have run into...anyway. Why Raven? She is an evil cleric and she has the distinction of being in love with Warduke. Though it is often said he really doesn't want anything to do with her. Is she Warduchess' mother? Maybe. Maybe Warduke took her to wife, or consort, and she stayed at his keep and raised little Warduchess. It would explain why we never saw her again in any other product or toyline. Or she was killed. In truth, I don't see Warduchess having a maternal figure in her life. She would be (again in my mind) too dedicated to her father. I also like the idea that he raised her.
Helayne
Another woman from Warduke's past. Helayne is an evil illusionist. so she would also work fine with the Dragon #17 art. She has all the pros and cons of Raven to be honest. Other than class, there is not a lot to differentiate them, save that Raven is explicitly said to be in love with him.
Aleena
Ah, my long shot. Does every woman go through a "bad boy" phase? No. But Aleena did, and that bad boy was Warduke. One night of forbidden passion, fast forward to a couple of years and then Bargle. Warduke, learning Aleena had died, kidnaps (he says reclaims) his daughter from the temple Aleena belonged to and raised her.
Morgan Ironwolf
While not a part of Warduke's past, I don't put it past her. She is not really "good" so his evil would not be an issue. I can see her getting pregnant and leaving the child in the care of a relative, but that seems less likely.
The only thing in her favor is that there is a mini of her with red hair, Morgan's color.
I admit, I kinda want a Warduchess who doesn't know who her mother is and is ok with that. Part of her anger stems from her sense of abandonment by her mother and her "rescue" by her father. This is one of the reasons she chooses to emulate him.
Who do you think it is? Vote below.
Who is Warduchess?
Art, custom minis, produced minis, and kitbash figures of Warduchess have been around the Internet for a while. The first ones I can find date back to at least 2018 and I am certain there are other, earlier ones. The most famous, or at least the most widely reposted, art belongs to the talented Aaron J. Riley who has done work of D&D and Magic. So that puts a veneer of authenticity to her existence in a D&D universe.
What is my personal involvement with this character? While a few years ago (2020) I had accidentally ordered an extra set of Willow & Tara minis from HeroForge. I thought it might be a good idea to send them to a friend. In the package I mentioned, I was also putting in an extra Warduke mini I had "to protect them." My friend was a big Warduke fan. Though in my typing, I instead typed "Wardyke." To which my friend responded, "Warduke, protector of lesbians." And I responded back, "Warduchess." It kinda stuck. I am NOT claiming to made up Warduchess here, I already knew of the kitbash figure from a couple of years prior while trying to kitbash my own Skylla (didn't manage to make my own, so I just bought one). In any case, Warduchess stuck with me.
As far as the character goes. I always assumed she was raised by her father who still had some "good" left in him to raise a daughter that idolized him. Not saying he was up for Father of the Year, mind you. He taught her to be a killer.
Warduchess
For nearly a generation after the fall of Lord Warduke, the borderlands began to breathe again.
His fortress still brooded over the black crags like a broken tooth, but no banners flew from its towers. The warbands that once hunted beneath his sigil scattered into brigands and ghosts. Merchants dared the old roads again, first with armed caravans, then with laughter, then with children born who learned his name only as a curse muttered by grandparents.
Some whispered that Warduke had grown old.
Others claimed he had turned inward, brooding in iron solitude.
A few even dared to say he had found regret.
For a time, it seemed the age of terror had passed.
Then the Warduchess came.
They say the first village to fall thought her a masquerader. A young woman in battle-scarred armor, half-chain and demon helm, bearing the same skull sigil the old tyrant once bore. They laughed at her from the palisade. They died screaming beneath it.
Warduchess13th level Fighter (Avenger) Female
Alignment: Chaotic
Strength: 18 (+3)
Intelligence: 11 (-)
Wisdom: 13 (+1)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 16 (+2)
Charisma: 11 (-)
Poison or Death Ray: 4
Magic Wand: 5
Turn to Stone or Paralysis: 6
Dragon Breath: 7
Spells or Magic Staff: 8
AC: 1 (Chainmail +2, Demonshield +1)
HP: 77
To Hit AC 0: 11 (+3 melee, +1 ranged)
+10% xp
Detect Evil 1/round
Turn as Cleric 4
Spells as Cleric 4
First level: Cure Light Wounds, Resist Cold
Second level: Hold Person
Gear
Sword +2 flaming
Chainmail +2
Demonshield +1 to AC (+2 total), +1 to fire-based saves
Battle Axe +2
She wears her father's armor, and bears his shield and sword. But her new preferred weapon is a large double-bladed axe she wields in both hands.
I wanted her to be an Avenger, to make good on the idea that Warduke had been an anti-paladin and this is the BECMI version of that. It also lends some evidence (maybe??) that her mother was Raven and she had gotten at least some clerical instruction from her at some point.
Looking forward to seeing what else I can do with her!
Links
Warduchess
Warduke
Dungeons & Dragons Fandom Wiki
