Murlynd
Encyclopedia
In the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, Murlynd is a minor deity. He began as a player character created by Gary Gygax
's closest friend Don Kaye in 1972 for the second-ever session of the game that would become D&D. Kaye continued to play Murlynd in Gygax's nascent Greyhawk campaign, developing him as a crossover between swords & sorcery D&D and the Wild West. After Kaye's unexpected death in 1975, Gygax subsequently created a tribute to his friend by highlighting Murlynd as one of the unique characters of the world of Greyhawk. In later editions of D&D, Murlynd was elevated to deityhood, becoming the Oeridian god of Magical Technology.
's childhood friend Don Kaye
created Murlynd for the second-ever session of Gygax's Greyhawk campaign in 1972, rolled up on Gygax's kitchen table at the same time as Rob Kuntz
's Robilar
and Terry Kuntz
's Terik. Gygax later recalled that "Murlynd" was the first attempt by a player to make a creative name for a character; in the early days, most players—including Gygax himself—simply used their own name as a basis for their character's name. (Tenser = Ernest, Yrag = Gary, etc.) In the early days of D&D, cross-pollination with other fictional "universes" was common, and in one of these sessions, Gygax transported Murlynd to America's Wild West, a setting that Kaye loved. When Murlynd eventually returned to the world of Greyhawk, he brought his six-shooters back with him. Although Gygax did not allow the use of gunpowder in his Greyhawk setting, he made a loophole for Kaye by ruling that Murlynd actually carried two "magical wands" that made loud noises and delivered small but deadly missiles.
The game Kaye and Gygax were playing would become D&D, and Kaye would go on to help Gygax start up TSR; however, Kaye died unexpectedly in 1975. As a tribute to his friend, Gygax highlighted Murlynd in the March 1983 issue of Dragon magazine. The following year, Gygax paid further tribute to Kaye when he borrowed Murlynd's name for two spells in Unearthed Arcana
, Murlynd's ogre and Murlynd's void, as well as for Murlynd's spoon, a magical spoon that created a bad-tasting but nutritious gruel when placed in an empty bowl.
When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost control of most characters he had used in TSR material, including Murlynd. However, other than one brief references to him in the 1988 adventure The Throne of Bloodstone
, TSR did not make use of the Murlynd character. (He was also mentioned in passing in Carl Sargent
's sourcebook Ivid the Undying, but TSR killed that project just before publication, later releasing it as a computer file.) Murlynd was not mentioned again in official material until Wizards of the Coast
bought TSR and wrote a new storyline for Greyhawk. In Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
(1998), Murlynd was recast as the Oeridian god of Magical Technology, and was also mentioned in the sourcebook Slavers
(2000).
. A pencil illustration shows a stereotypical cowboy
of the Wild West genre, wearing a Stetson
and chaps
, and holding two Colt .45 revolvers. His personality is described as aloof and taciturn, though he is quite personable among his allies. Murlynd is described as being dangerous only when provoked by evil beings. In addition to his pistols, which are simply described as a pair of strange, hand-held weapons that emit powerful projectiles, and which Murlynd refers to as "45's," "six shooters," and "hog legs", Gygax notes that he is also proficient with longsword, battle axe, and crossbow. However, Gygax describes Murlynd's origins as unknown.
's massively shared Living Greyhawk
campaign that ran from 2000–2008.
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 campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, Murlynd is a minor deity. He began as a player character created by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
's closest friend Don Kaye in 1972 for the second-ever session of the game that would become D&D. Kaye continued to play Murlynd in Gygax's nascent Greyhawk campaign, developing him as a crossover between swords & sorcery D&D and the Wild West. After Kaye's unexpected death in 1975, Gygax subsequently created a tribute to his friend by highlighting Murlynd as one of the unique characters of the world of Greyhawk. In later editions of D&D, Murlynd was elevated to deityhood, becoming the Oeridian god of Magical Technology.
Creative origins
Gary GygaxGary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
's childhood friend Don Kaye
Don Kaye
Donald R. Kaye , co-founder of TSR, Inc., was the childhood friend of Gary Gygax, and shared an interest in war games and tabletop miniatures with him during their youth...
created Murlynd for the second-ever session of Gygax's Greyhawk campaign in 1972, rolled up on Gygax's kitchen table at the same time as Rob Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz is a game designer and author of role-playing game publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various Dungeons & Dragons-related materials.-Works:...
's Robilar
Robilar
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Robilar is a powerful warrior who serves as commander of Rary's forces in the Empire of the Bright Lands...
and Terry Kuntz
Terry Kuntz
Terry Kuntz is a game designer who was an early associate of Gary Gygax and employee of TSR.-Biography:...
's Terik. Gygax later recalled that "Murlynd" was the first attempt by a player to make a creative name for a character; in the early days, most players—including Gygax himself—simply used their own name as a basis for their character's name. (Tenser = Ernest, Yrag = Gary, etc.) In the early days of D&D, cross-pollination with other fictional "universes" was common, and in one of these sessions, Gygax transported Murlynd to America's Wild West, a setting that Kaye loved. When Murlynd eventually returned to the world of Greyhawk, he brought his six-shooters back with him. Although Gygax did not allow the use of gunpowder in his Greyhawk setting, he made a loophole for Kaye by ruling that Murlynd actually carried two "magical wands" that made loud noises and delivered small but deadly missiles.
The game Kaye and Gygax were playing would become D&D, and Kaye would go on to help Gygax start up TSR; however, Kaye died unexpectedly in 1975. As a tribute to his friend, Gygax highlighted Murlynd in the March 1983 issue of Dragon magazine. The following year, Gygax paid further tribute to Kaye when he borrowed Murlynd's name for two spells in Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
, Murlynd's ogre and Murlynd's void, as well as for Murlynd's spoon, a magical spoon that created a bad-tasting but nutritious gruel when placed in an empty bowl.
When Gygax was forced out of TSR in 1985, he lost control of most characters he had used in TSR material, including Murlynd. However, other than one brief references to him in the 1988 adventure The Throne of Bloodstone
The Throne of Bloodstone
H4 - The Throne of Bloodstone is an Official Game Adventure or "module" for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.-Plot summary:In The Throne of Bloodstone, the player characters take a trip to the Abyss to steal the wand of the demon prince Orcus....
, TSR did not make use of the Murlynd character. (He was also mentioned in passing in Carl Sargent
Carl Sargent
Carl L. Sargent is a British author of several roleplaying game-based products and novels.-Early career:...
's sourcebook Ivid the Undying, but TSR killed that project just before publication, later releasing it as a computer file.) Murlynd was not mentioned again in official material until Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
bought TSR and wrote a new storyline for Greyhawk. In Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins is a 1998 sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The 128 page book was written by Roger E...
(1998), Murlynd was recast as the Oeridian god of Magical Technology, and was also mentioned in the sourcebook Slavers
Slavers
Slavers is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:The 128-page book was published by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 for second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
(2000).
Original Description in first edition D&D
In Gygax's Dragon article, Murlynd was described as a handsome Oeridian male with weathered features, clothed in worn leather and wearing a light-colored hat of a type unfamiliar to the FlanaessFlanaess
The Flanaess is the eastern part of the continent of Oerik, one of the four continents of the fictional world of Oerth in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The Flanaess has been the setting of dozens of adventures published between the 1970s...
. A pencil illustration shows a stereotypical cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
of the Wild West genre, wearing a Stetson
Stetson
Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing over 3.3 million hats a year in a factory spread over . Today Stetson remains a family-owned concern...
and chaps
Chaps
Chaps are sturdy coverings for the legs consisting of leggings and a belt. They are buckled on over trousers with the chaps' integrated belt, but unlike trousers they have no seat and are not joined at the crotch. They are designed to provide protection for the legs and are usually made of leather...
, and holding two Colt .45 revolvers. His personality is described as aloof and taciturn, though he is quite personable among his allies. Murlynd is described as being dangerous only when provoked by evil beings. In addition to his pistols, which are simply described as a pair of strange, hand-held weapons that emit powerful projectiles, and which Murlynd refers to as "45's," "six shooters," and "hog legs", Gygax notes that he is also proficient with longsword, battle axe, and crossbow. However, Gygax describes Murlynd's origins as unknown.
Deityhood in second edition D&D
After an absence from all TSR material after Gygax's ouster from the company, the character was re-created as the deity of Magical Technology in WotC's new development of the Greyhawk campaign setting, Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins. His new deityhood is described in detail:- He was sponsored to godhood by HeironeousHeironeousIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Heironeous is the Oeridian god of Chivalry, Justice, Honor, War, Daring, and Valor. His holy symbol is a silver lightning bolt, often clutched in a...
, and is described as being an ally of CelestianCelestianIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Celestian is the god of Stars, Space and Wanderers. His symbol is a black circle set with seven stars. His color is black....
, PhaulkonPhaulkonIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Phaulkon is the Suel god of Air, Wind, Clouds, Birds, and Archery...
, ZagygZagygIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Zagyg is the god of Humor, Eccentricity, Occult Lore, and Unpredictability...
, KeoghtomKeoghtomIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Keoghtom is the hero-god of Secret Pursuits, Natural Alchemy, and Extraplanar Exploration. His symbol is a round disk, bisected by an upward-pointing arrow....
, MordenkainenMordenkainenMordenkainen is a fictional wizard from the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. He was created by Gary Gygax as a player character and is one of the oldest characters in roleplaying fiction...
, and HewardHewardIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Heward is the god of Bards and Musicians. Heward is notable not only for his musical prowess, but also for his technological skills....
, while IuzIuzIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Iuz is the chaotic evil demigod of Deceit, Evil, Oppression, Pain, and Wickedness. Iuz is variously called "The Old One" and "Old Wicked," among other titles. Unlike most Greyhawk deities, Iuz makes his home on...
is one of his fiercest enemies. (This is due to the fact that he aided ZagygZagygIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Zagyg is the god of Humor, Eccentricity, Occult Lore, and Unpredictability...
in imprisoning IuzIuzIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Iuz is the chaotic evil demigod of Deceit, Evil, Oppression, Pain, and Wickedness. Iuz is variously called "The Old One" and "Old Wicked," among other titles. Unlike most Greyhawk deities, Iuz makes his home on...
beneath Castle GreyhawkCastle GreyhawkCastle Greyhawk is one of the central dungeon settings in the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The Castle was originally developed by Gary Gygax for his own campaign and later detailed for publication...
.) Murlynd dwells in a variety of unusual planes and demiplanes, moving between his various abodes as suits his mood.
- Murlynd's priests, who are identified by his holy symbol, a silver-plated six-pointed star with rounded points, strive to uphold the virtues of law and good, and often work with the clergy of Heironeous toward this end. They use their knowledge of technology to aid the common man, and are encouraged to invent new devices and improve upon old ones. They work to destroy extremely dangerous magical or technological devices, and often find themselves working toward this end with followers of PhaulkonPhaulkonIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Phaulkon is the Suel god of Air, Wind, Clouds, Birds, and Archery...
. They consider the book titled Murlynd's Early Adventures & Subsequent Ventures to be their holy book.
Murlynd in third edition Dungeons & Dragons
Although Murlynd did not appear in any D&D material published by Wizards of the Coast for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, he was listed as a deity in RPGARPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
's massively shared Living Greyhawk
Living Greyhawk
Living Greyhawk was a massively shared Dungeons and Dragons living campaign administered by RPGA that ran from 2000 to 2008. The campaign setting and storyline were based on Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk setting, and used the Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition rules...
campaign that ran from 2000–2008.
Additional reading
- Gygax, Gary. The Land Beyond the Magic MirrorThe Land Beyond the Magic MirrorThe Land Beyond the Magic Mirror is an adventure module, written for use with the First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is set in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting.-Plot summary:...
(TSR, 1983) - Brown, AnneAnne Brown (game designer)Anne Brown is a writer and editor in the role-playing game industry.Brown began working as an Assistant editor for Dragon magazine in 1989, on issues #147 to #151 . She was later transferred to TSR's Games Division...
. Player's Guide (TSR, 1998) - Moore, Roger E. Return of the EightReturn of the EightReturn of the Eight is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module was published by Wizards of the Coast in 1998 under its recently acquired "TSR" imprint for the second edition Advanced Dungeons &...
(TSR, 1998). - Reynolds, Sean K, Frederick WeiningFrederick WeiningFrederick Weining is among those credited for design of the Dungeons & Dragons Gazetteer and the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, both published by Wizards of the Coast. He has also authored or co-authored a number of Greyhawk articles for the Living Greyhawk Journal, the Oerth Journal, and...
, and Erik MonaErik Mona-Career:Erik Mona served as the editor-in-chief of Dragon magazine since 2004 and Dungeon magazine from 2004 to 2006; at the time, both magazines were published by Paizo Publishing, until the license through Wizards of the Coast expired in September 2007...
. "Blood of Heroes." Living Greyhawk JournalLiving Greyhawk JournalThe Living Greyhawk Journal was a periodical published by the Role-Playing Games Association as a stand-alone magazine from 2000 to 2004. The publication was intended to supplement the RPGA's Living Greyhawk campaign, though many consider the content within to be canon for the Greyhawk setting in...
#3 (Paizo Publishing, 2001) - Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"