I'm wondering where the characters in the titles of official D&D 5e books came from. What is the lore behind Tasha, Xanathar, Mordenkainen and Volo?
Where can I learn more about their stories? Is there any official information or are they only cool names for the books?
Is there any information about them in their books?
Best Answer
There is some information in their respective books, but it's not much, I'm afraid.
Tasha
Introduction in Tasha's Cauldron to Everything:
There are also notes from Tasha spread among the book, from which we learn that her aliases are Natasha the Dark, Hura of Ket, Baba Yaga's Daughter or witch by excellence, and that she loves insects, for example.
Xanathar
Introduction in Xanathar's Guide To Everything
Again, we can learn some things from his notes throughout the book, like he's glad to live underground because there is no weather, or that he's not sure whether he likes music or not.
Mordenkainen
No short introduction here, but we can learn some things from the notes at the beginning of the book:
Mordenkainen is an Oeridian wizard from the world of Greyhawk who travelled the multiverse with his apprentice Bigby to observe conflicts of all sorts.
Volo
Here again, some notes throughout the book give hints about the personality of Volo.