Sorceress of Castle Grayskull

The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull is a power magic user who watches over Castle Grayskull, guarding over the secrets and wisdom contained therein. Teela Na, the mother of Teela, is the current Sorceress, having succeeded Kuduk Ungol long ago. Imbued with magical abilities by the Pool of Power, the Sorceress is an exceptionally powerful force, but she may only use her gifts within the confines of the castle. Outside Grayskull's walls, her only magical ability is to become Zoar, a falcon, and to communicate telepathically with several of her most trusted confidants.

Character history
The Sorceress provided Prince Adam with the Sword of Power to become He-Man, and similarly bestowed the Sword of Protection to Princess Adora so she could be She-Ra. She remains a trusted advisor and mentor to both heroes, particularly He-Man.

The character of the Sorceress is based upon an earlier figure who served the same role in the first Masters of the Universe stories. To avoid confusion, this other woman, who is always depicted wearing a cobra headdress, is generally referred to as the Goddess.

Filmation series
The Sorceress was a major character in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, as well as its spinoff series, She-Ra: Princess of Power.

The Sorceress was the mistress and guardian of the Secrets of Castle Grayskull, the source of He-Man's great power. Although considered one of the three most powerful beings on Eternia, she exemplified humility and a truly selfless nature, never seeking credit for her efforts or aid. She dwelled alone within Castle Grayskull, keeping watch over Eternia and acting as a guide to He-Man.

Once named Teela Na, her home, the village of Nowella, was attacked, and subsequently conquered, by Morgoth and his allies Ferros, Repta, and Rachney, servants of the Evil Horde. With the aid of an old storyteller's rhyme: In barren places find ye hope/And where no water springs, no plant grows, no wind blows/Find all you need...), Teela Na sought out Castle Grayskull, which she hoped would help her find a way to defeat her captors. Just as she was about to succumb to the Eternian wastelands, the mystical fortress appeared before Teela Na's eyes, and she was invited inside by a mysterious voice. Once inside she came across an old woman, her predecessor as the Sorceress; Kuduk Ungol. Her predecessor invited her to take up the mantle of Castle Grayskull's protector, and explained her duties as such: Teela Na accepted the offer and immersed herself in the Pool of Power, which inundated her with the powers of Castle Grayskull. Once she had taken her place as the guardian of Castle Grayskull, the Sorceress returned to Nowella and overthrew the invaders before returning to her new home inside Castle Grayskull.

During the Horde invasion of Eternia, the Sorceress helped King Randor and his armies fight back the invading Hordak. When the Princess Adora was kidnapped, the Sorceress and Man-At-Arms tracked him to his hidden base at Snake Mountain, but Hordak fled through a portal with the child. Following this, the Sorceress used her magic to wipe all memory of Adora from the minds of the people of Eternia.

The Sorceress was also the biological mother of Teela, childhood friend of Prince Adam and Captain of the Royal Guard. When Teela was an infant, the Sorceress gave her to Duncan to raise as his own, because the Sorceress felt that Castle Grayskull was too dangerous a place for her daughter to be raised. The identity of Teela's father was never revealed, though Man-at-Arms claimed he was a great soldier.

At one point, Teela set out to discover the truth about her mother from The Oracle of the Crystal Sea. Teela succeeded, but the Sorceress erased the revelation from Teela's memory for her own good, even though she desperately wished she could tell her the truth. Other than Man-At-Arms, the only others who shared the secret were He-Man, Battle Cat, and the Oracle of the Crystal Sea. As her daughter, Teela was one day destined to take her place as the guardian of Grayskull.

The New Adventures of He-Man
The Sorceress continues to be a major character in the 1989 He-Man (toyline) and its accompanying media, such as The New Adventures of He-Man.

In the toyline's accompanying Minicomics the Sorceress appeared in her classic falcon form, and warned Prince Adam that the Galactic Guardians, tricked by Skeletor, were siphoning the Power of Grayskull. She later appeared with a totally different chrome armor, evoking the futuristic feeling of the new series, saying that He-Man would not become Prince Adam again, and that He-Man now had to say the name of the Starship Eternia in order to transform.

In the New Adventures animated series, the Sorceress continued to serve as He-Man's guide, instructing him in the "way of the magic". The Sorceress warned He-Man that travellers from the future had come looking for him, and that Skeletor had tricked them into believing he was the hero they sought.

When Adam transformed into He-Man and revealed his secret to his parents, the Sorceress told them that Eternia would now be a land free of Skeletor, and would know peace for all time.

When He-Man travelled to the future, the Sorceress continued to speak with him telepathically from across time, often giving him cryptic advice, which he would then need to figure out for himself. She was also able to reach into the future directly and use her powers to help He-Man. One one occasion, the Sorceress used a wrinkle in time to send Teela to the future for a brief period of time, sensing that He-Man was homesick.

The Sorceress was also able to contact Master Sebrian, He-Man's mentor in the future, and once reached out across time to help him battle an evil council of clones created by Skeletor.

2002 TV series
In the 2002 series, the attire of the Sorceress was redesigned to evoke the feeling of an Egyptian Goddess rather than a falcon. She is still Teela's mother, and that fact is still kept secret. The episode "Out of the Past" briefly reveals part of the Sorceress' history, and how Teela was conceived after the Sorceress married an unnamed soldier, who supposedly died in battle. Her husband is seen in heavy bandaging throughout his appearance, and his identity remains unconfirmed throughout the series. The episode description in 2nd-season DVD follows the episode's hint that Man-at-Arms may indeed be Teela's biological father as well as her adoptive one; yet other unconfirmed sources suggest that the writers intended the unidentified soldier to be Fisto, Man-At-Arms' brother. When not in formal attire, the Sorceress looks strikingly like Teela, only taller. If the series had continued, it was intended in the third season, that Teela would discover that the Sorceress is her mother, but would not have lost the memory as she does in the original series.

The Sorceress is also shown as a capable fighter on two occasions: In the episode Out of the Past, she saves a village from a band of marauders led by Prahvus, while in another, Rise of the Snakemen Part II, she fights against King Hiss by unleashing an atomic-like blast against the evil Snake Men's leader before attacking him with her staff; unfortunately, the Sorceress is defeated by the ancient villain, and the scars she receives remain with her throughout the remainder of the series.

The comic book produced by MVC, which follows the 2002 canon, also depicted the Sorceress' fighting prowess when she defeats Evil-Lyn in direct conflict during a storyline that saw the first appearance of Hordak.

Just as there were previous Sorceresses in the 1980s Masters of the Universe series, the current Sorceress is not the first. The wife of King Grayskull, known as Veena, was seemingly the original Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. She bears a similar appearance, and it was she who was first entrusted with the Sword of Power's protection following the death of King Grayskull.

In "Out of the Past", she is seen similar to the statue, with an exposed midriff, and similar to her present day clothing, this may be why the locals misunderstood Teela as her mother.

1987 live-action film
The live action movie based on the He-Man series showcased Christina Pickles in the role of Sorceress. In the movie the Sorceress has been imprisoned by Skeletor, and her powers are being syphoned into him; the result leaves her aged and dying. Once Skeletor is eventually defeated, her powers and true appearance are seemingly restored. However, her restoration changes her from looking withered and dying to moderately elderly.

The Sorceress is clothed in long white robes, with feather-like strands of white fabric hanging from her arms as an homage to the original design, although they are only visible in the scene where she waves goodbye to the characters of Julie and Kevin. Rather than a bird-like headpiece, crystals are placed throughout the Sorceress' long, silver hair like a crown.

Netflix series
In the 2021 version of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Teela takes on the mantle of the Sorceress, while her precursor is referred to as Eldress.

Powers and abilities
The Sorceress possesses a vast array of magical and spellcasting abilities, and is considered the most powerful magic-wielder on modern Eternia. Some spells she performs on a regular basis, including transforming into Zoar.

She is perhaps most noted for projecting her telepathic image to others, especially He-Man. Her telepathy is very powerful, as she can contact He-Man across great distances as well as sense the thoughts, emotions, and motives of others.

According to the episode Teela's Triumph, the Sorceress can look into both the past and the future. She frequently uses a mystic mirror within Castle Grayskull to keep watch over current events on Eternia.

The Sorceress can also teleport herself and others across vast distances, and in the episode The Cosmic Comet, she temporarily grants He-Man the ability to fly.

Other times she exhibits telekinesis, the ability to project images, as well as create fire, and produce magical shields.

Minicomic appearances

 * Masks of Power
 * The Secret Liquid of Life!
 * He-Man and the Insect People
 * The Temple of Darkness
 * The Obelisk
 * The Story of She-Ra
 * Skeletor's Dragon
 * The Battle of Roboto
 * Grizzlor: The Legend Comes Alive!
 * The Stench of Evil
 * The Treachery of Modulok
 * The Flying Fists of Power
 * King of the Snake Men
 * The Ultimate Battleground!
 * The Search for Keldor
 * Revenge of the Snake Men!
 * Enter: Buzz-saw Hordak!
 * The Powers of Grayskull: The Legend Begins!
 * The Cosmic Key
 * The New Adventure
 * Skeletor's Journey
 * Battle for the Crystal

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

 * The Cosmic Comet
 * The Shaping Staff
 * Disappearing Act
 * Diamond Ray of Disappearance
 * She-Demon of Phantos
 * Teela's Quest
 * The Time Corridor
 * The Dragon Invasion
 * Masks of Power
 * Evil-Lyn's Plot
 * Like Father, Like Daughter
 * Colossor Awakes
 * Reign of the Monster
 * Daimar the Demon
 * Quest for He-Man
 * Dawn of Dragoon
 * Song of Celice
 * Evilseed
 * Orko's Favorite Uncle
 * The Defection
 * Prince Adam No More
 * The Taking of Grayskull
 * The Dragon's Gift
 * The Search
 * Valley of Power
 * House of Shokoti Part 1
 * House of Shokoti Part 2
 * Double Edged Sword
 * The Mystery of Man-E-Faces
 * Orko's Missing Magic
 * Eternal Darkness
 * Return of Evil
 * Temple of the Sun
 * Dree Elle's Return
 * Eye of the Beholder
 * The Once and Future Duke
 * The Return of Granamyr
 * Pawns of the Game Master
 * Golden Disks of Knowledge
 * The Huntsman
 * The Remedy
 * The Energy Beast
 * Day of the Machines
 * The Gamesman
 * The Rarest Gift of All
 * The Great Books Mystery
 * Origin of the Sorceress
 * To Save Skeletor
 * Trouble in Trolla
 * Betrayal of Stratos
 * Disappearing Dragons
 * Into the Abyss
 * Journey to Stone City
 * A Bird in the Hand
 * Battlecat
 * The Secret of Grayskull
 * Teela's Triumph
 * Orko's New Friend
 * The Problem with Power
 * Double Trouble
 * The Eternia Flower
 * Beauty and the Beast
 * Orko's Return

She-Ra: Princess of Power

 * Into Etheria
 * She-Ra Unchained
 * Reunions
 * Battle for Bright Moon
 * Horde Prime Takes a Holiday
 * The Price of Freedom
 * A Talent for Trouble
 * Loo-Kee Lends a Hand
 * The Inspector

The New Adventures of He-Man

 * A New Beginning
 * The Heat
 * Attack on Onnor (mentioned)
 * The Ultimate Challenge
 * Sword & Staff
 * Glastnost Schmaznost (non speaking role)
 * The Gift
 * Skeletor's Victory
 * He-Man in Exile
 * The Battle for Levitan
 * Crack in the World
 * Escape from Gaolotia
 * Council of Clones
 * Cold Freeze
 * Slaves to the Machine
 * The Siege of Serus
 * The Children's Planet
 * Zone of Darkness
 * Once Upon a Time
 * The Nemesis Within
 * The Dream Zone
 * Brain Drain
 * No Easy Way
 * Queen's Gambit
 * The Final Invasion

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)

 * The Beginning Part 1
 * The Beginning Part 2
 * The Deep End
 * Lessons
 * Siren's Song
 * The Ties That Bind
 * Dragon's Brood
 * Turnabout
 * Mekaneck's Lament
 * Night of the Shadowbeasts
 * The Mystery of Anwat Gar
 * The Sweet Smell of Victory
 * The Council of Evil, Part 1
 * The Council of Evil, Part 1
 * The Last Stand
 * Out of the Past
 * Rise of the Snake Men, Part 1
 * Rise of the Snake Men, Part 2
 * Second Skin
 * The Power of Grayskull
 * Awaken the Serpent