D&D: Honor Among Thieves' [SPOILER] Is Still A Big Bad Waiting In The Wings
Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves."
If you've seen "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," you know that the Red Wizards of Thay have their nasty hands all over the film's plot. Sofina (Daisy Head) takes the spotlight, serving as the group's primary antagonist, but even after the heroes defeat her, there's still a magical threat looming on Faerûn.
While Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page) explains the backstory of Thay, "Honor Among Thieves" introduces "D&D" big-bad Szass Tam. The lich, an undead spellcaster, is the head of the Red Wizards, ruling over Thay after turning its citizens into his undead army. Audiences get a glimpse of Tam through a shade he uses to communicate with Sofina, giving "Honor Among Thieves" one of its creepiest scenes. Although the evil wizard doesn't show up during the film's climax, audiences can feel his looming presence throughout the adventure. While defeating Sofina is cause for celebration, it can't last long as there's a larger threat still waiting in the shadows.
Tam's exclusion from the "Honor Among Thieves" finale means there are more stories to tell in this world. We know critics love the movie, so if audiences reciprocate these feelings, it may not be long before we see this ragtag group reunite to take on an even stronger foe, and Tam could be the perfect endgame.
Future D&D movies could explore Szass Tam
As with most aspects of "D&D," Szass Tam has a rich history in the lore, mostly appearing in numerous novels. Much like Vecna from "Stranger Things," Tam is a lich, which in "D&D" terms is a wizard who has exploited dark magic to ascend above mortal life and become an undead powerhouse.
Tam rose to power after killing his mentor and stealing his life's work, using his newly acquired knowledge and strength to join the Red Wizards. Eventually, he becomes one of eight Zulkir, powerful wizards who rule over Thay, each specializing in a specific type of magic. Tam's specialty is necromancy, giving him complete control over the Legion of Bone, an army of undead soldiers. "Honor Among Thieves" presented a similar version, with the wizard assuming control over Thay and transforming the population into his undead army.
Throughout his "D&D" history, Tam has proven to be a strong wizard, fighting off numerous spellcasters, including his fellow Zulkir and Red Wizards. Assuming that "Honor Among Thieves" gets the numerous sequels it deserves, the wizard could be an excellent final boss for the party. Although they defeated Sofina, the team probably isn't strong enough to take on Tam, so they'll have to do some leveling-up before coming face-to-face with the leader of the Red Wizards.