Gord the Rogue


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World of Greyhawk

GORD THE ROGUE

Clangador wrote:
I remember reading those. I have one around here somewhere. I'd be happy if they were reprinted.


I am delighted about the seven Gord books being reprinted in hardback.

I am most sad that the plans for graphic novels drawn from those books hit the skids. The market for comics and graphic novels went into the dumper, so the prospective publisher was forced to cancel the series he had planned.

Damn, but there were some really great ilustrations of the city and all.

Maybe someday Broken Halos will be able to resurrect the project.

Cheers,
Gary
 


SemajTheSilent wrote:
Noted. Thank you, sir! 


As an aside, and a possibly amusing anecdote, when I was writing (by typewriter) the early Gord novels, I was suffering a lot from an abscessed tooth plus a sinus infection aggrivating it, caused by the tooth, who knows? So I dropped a lot of Sudafed and swilled Jack Daniel's Black Label bourbon as I worked. Gail was appalled, but one of my associates laughed and said I was doing my Damon Runyon impersonation 

Cheers,
Gary


SemajTheSilent wrote:
LOL! Well, Fleetwood Mac made their best music while on cocaine, so who knows.

I'm not advocating that...just pointing it out. I really enjoyed the Gord novels, so hmmm.... 

Indeed, the liquor made me consider penning a detective yarn about a hard-drinking PI so as to truly follow in Runyon's footsteps 

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerthehobo
Hiya, Gary,

I just wanted to drop an "Attaboy!" your way, after reading the new Gord the Rogue story that was released with K.R. Bourgoine in the pages of the Dragon 30th Anniversary issue. Great stuff! I hope we'll be seeing more of our favorite rogue of Greyhawk? I think before the server crashed and we lost some of this thread you had commented that there was a potential for more stories, and also possibly an omnibus of the Gord books - that still sound plausible? (Or am I completely misremembering the thread?  )


Good Afternoon

Thanks for the good words. Indeed. K.R. Bourgoine and I are going to discuss springboards for further Gord the Rogue short stories at the Lake Geneva Gaming Convention, 9 - 11 June. the next semi-planned tale is one where Chert joins Gord in his adventures.

Troll Lord Games is in process of readying to publish the seven Gorn novels in hardback. If a sufficient number of short stories are written hereafter, likely they'll be compiled with s few new ones and "At Moonset Blackcat Comes" to make an eighth volume.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by KRBourgoine
Gary,

What are your thoughts on the final publicated version of "The Return of Gord"?

<big grin>

KRBourgoine


Howdy Pard!

The editing of the story was about average in terms of destruction...nowhere near as bad as what Mongoose did to what Creffield and I wrote for them.
The positive side is that the yarn can eventually be published in generally uncut form.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dagiz
Gary -

Wanted to say thanks for writing another Gord story - those books and novels were the first ones that I ever really read and what my dad used to get me to read. I still have them on my book shelves (my wife wishes I didn't). So thanks for the novels!
 

anyways, I was curious to see how you balanced out realism vs. fun, making sure that there was a degree of believability without it getting too tedious?

Thanks!


You need to thank Bourgoine for the latest Gord tale. He was the one that encouraged its creation and took the lead.

As for crafting a yarn, that's a good deal akin to GMing an adventure for a group of players. If you know your genre and its parameters, then the task is one that is a matter of common sense. Adventure, excitement, and danger are usually more important than actual verisimilitude in short stories. In novel-length tales all that and a good deal of character development should be developed.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by airwalkrr
Speaking as the author of Keak's converted statistics for the Living Greyhawk campaign, I am quite interested to hear you mention him as he is one of my favorite GH villains. This actually brings up a fairly silly question however which several of my friends and I have debated. Was it intended to be pronounced "keek" or "kee-ack?"

Obmi is also one of my favorites. Thanks for inventing such lively (and deliciously evil) characters! You might be happy to hear that the names of both still strike terror and hatred in the heart of hundreds of LG players.


Salut!

My pleasure to have struck a chord with Obmi and Keak.

As "keak" means to to cackle, it is pronounced as a single syllable, keek.

Finally, considering the number of persons that read the Gord novel in which they appear, the number of G# modules sold and re-sold, I do believe somethink like hundredsof thousands have been introduced tio those villians and despised them <EEK!>

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steverooo
I always wondered, why all the re-writes on the Gord series? Stuff like whether or not he buried the "old woman" who raised him (in the first version he leaves her body in the street, in the second he returns to bury her), his origins (guttersnipe to Bastard-Prince of the Cat-Lord), etc. I know this was Post-T$R, but why the changes to the tale?


Heh...

There were no re-writes at all 

Changes? No way. I consider them elucidations of partially detailed scenes as viewed from a different and more comprehensive perspective. The information relayed in City of Hawks is revelation that supports the overall storyline, elements therein that would have been incongruos in the initial two novels.

Cheers,
Gary
 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Flexor the Mighty!
Hi Gary! Just wanted to say I finally started reading City of Hawks, and just 10 pages into it I am reminded how much I enjoy your D&D related fiction. Your descriptions of Greyhawk City are wonderful for my game and the planar politics of the Gord novels is what I base mine on when I run the Greyhawk campaign. I used Vuron in my last campaign as he tried to use some friendly help to start the Paladin of the group down the path to corruption.


Howdy Flexor!

Perhaps you recall me mentioning illustrated novel versions of the Gord books. Sadly, the state of the market in the US for comics and illustrated novels flushed that deal. I mention this becase the illustrator for the initial episode to introduce the story used City of Hawks as his basis, and the depiction of the boat with infant Gord in it approaching the looming walls of the city in the storm was just great in my opinion. The producer and illustrator had it nailed as far as I was concerned, so I was doubly whammied when things went south.


Cheers,
Gary
 

<trim>
Quote:
Originally Posted by airwalkrr
From what I know, Gary did author some Gord the Rogue novels after the fact. Plus, I believe he also collaborated in the Dungeon update of Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure, "Maure Castle." He also recently did some Gord fiction for Dragon. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this, Gary.

As an aside, how do you pronounce Yggsburgh? 


That's right, and I own the rights to all seven Gord books as well. I was not a collaborator for the update of the MFA module, though. One Gord short story has been run in Dragon magazine, and K.E. Bourgoine and I are working on the precis for a second new tale now.

Yggsburgh is pronounces "EGGS-burg"

Cheers,
E. Gary Gygax
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dead
Hi Gary,

Will there be a map of your Greyhawk city in the new Saga of Old City release?

Thanks


Heh,

Sadly, no, as a detailed one was never done. I winged it from first a one-page map, then a general four-page version. The vast detailed map that was to be around 4' by 6' when completed was never finished, parts of it languishing somewhere in the basement storage areas here.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thulcondar
Also, on a somewhat-related note, I am currently having the pleasure of re-reading "Sea of Death". I'm wondering what relation the Eclavdra therein has to the Eclavdra featured in G3 and the following modules. Is it possible that, once clan Eilserv's plans were undone, she switched her allegiance to Graz'zt in an attempt to regain some of her lost status? Was Graz'zt perhaps masquerading as teh Elder Elemental God all along? It's of course entirely possible that it's just artistic license on your part, but I do enjoy trying to suss out these sorts of apparent conflicts...


I can not speak to things related to the A/D&D game, but I can comment on the book's plot. When their efforts to free the Elder Elemental godfrom exile were thwarted, Eclavdra did indeed switch her allegience to a demon so as to remain powerful. The term Chaotic Evil suits all of the Drow well.

<trim>
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hypersmurf
Gary - in Saga of Old City, Gord at one point plays a card game, with coloured cards including Crown, Coffer, Sword, Spear, Bow, Horsehead, Dwarf, Elf, Thief, Priest, Sigil, Tower, and Gate. Combinations include the Host, Allied Host, Mage, Archmage, and Five Towers, detailed in the scene.

Did you ever create this game in full detail, and play it? Are there ranked lists of combinations available anywhere?

Do all cards appear in all colours? (From memory, the text implies multiple Coffers and Gates exist, for example, but refers to 'The Thief' - are there Thieves in Red, Green, Blue, White, and Black, or just the one?)

-Hyp.


Hi!

As a matter of fact I have been asked about the game of plaques before. When I was writing the tale I made notes of for dramatic effect only, so I did not create a whole game.
The colored plaques are noted in the story. The Thief and some other like ones are singular and in black...IIRR.

If you venture to create a whole game from the information in the yarn, feel free to embellish as you find suitable, and do please send me a copy of it.

Cheerio,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by thedungeondelver

You know it isn't that hard to envision. I see a game like poker where certain pairs and upward combinatinos of like card faces have higher values. For real fun twists, given the fantastical nature of the game you could even throw in "Fizzbin" like rules - e.g., if Luna is Ascendent and it's Growfest, Two Towers and one Sword beats Four Elves, etc. etc.

Of course I'm no game designer but I'd play. 


Even if plastic were tp be substituted for the ivory when making the plaques, the cost of making the game would be prohibitive. Of course regular-sized playing cards could be produced with the correct artwork for the game. Sadly that would still cost an arm and a leg...one of the reasons I did not attemot to create a working game when I wroite the story.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gentlegamer
I just started Saga of the Old City, and of course, Artifact of Evil is next.

I have the following other Gord the Rogue books:

Night Arrant
City of Hawks
Sea of Death
Come Endless Darkness
Dance of Demons

What is the definitive order for reading the series?


Heh!

Just as you list them, but City of Hawks can be read before Night Arrant without any problem.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by T. Foster
... Surely you wouldn't consider retrofitting Gord into Wizards' current "canonical" Greyhawk!?


Heaven Forefend!

Should I actually write another gord short story, it will be set in the City of Greyhawk and recount an adventure with some shady associate of his from that time in his youthful manhood.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron
Any chance you would be able to revise the nomenclature in the novels to make them consistent with Greyhawk? I hope WotC will not complain if you manage to reprint the first two that were published under TSR' brand neither will ask you to take off the references to Greyhawk, like the latter ones.


That isn't exactly accurate. First, I own all the Gord material, including the two books published by TSR. Second, there was an agreement with TSR regarding use of names from their copyrighted work, and the wording is in the five later Gord novels.

That said, I have no interest in altering the names that appear in any of the seven books.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser
Colonel,

I recently reread the Gord the Rogue series of novels (quite good, btw although I need "City of Hawks" and "Dance of Demons" to complete my collection). I really enjoyed them, especially for the image of Greyhawk and Oerth that they give the reader. However, one thing has bugged me for low these many years:

How did you come up with the name "Gord" for the main protagonist?

Don't get me wrong, I like the character and think he portrays a thief character rather well. It's just that every so often I get the urge to refer to him as "Pumpkin." No offense intended!

Gray Mouser
 


Heh!

Mouser, I didn't name him Gourd now, did I?

Joking aside, I pondered what to call an orphan left with no name and raised by a vile old harridan.
Then it came to me.
She just called him "boy" most of the time, but when she was irritated or angry she would thump him on his head and say "gourd," as if he was as stupid as a vegetable.
So the poor lad assumed that name, but as "Gord" as in short for Gordon, perhaps.

Leena was a really rotten human being...

Cheers,
Gary
 

Originally Posted by JohnRTroy
That's actually a plot point covered in City of Hawks, so I doubt Gary would want to spoil that for you.

Oops, look like I posted just as Gary did. D'oh!


Hi JRT!

Not much of a plot point, actually, more a detail of how wretched Gord's life was as a foundling.
Knowing how he got his name doesn't reveal the plot of the City of Hawks story 

Ciao,
Gary
 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Flexor the Mighty!

Hi Gary!

Is TLG still putting out a reprint of Saga of Old City in hardcover? I loaned my copy to my dirtleg brother and he lost it. I can't access thier site from work though.


Ho Flexor!

Yes indeed, the Trolls plan to have Saga' in hardback available at GenCon when I can autograph them. Next will be Artifact of Evil sometime this year I believe, then the other five in the series.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Flexor the Mighty!
You ever consider writing some more Gord tales?


I co-wrote one gors short story with K. Bourgoine for Dragon magazine last year. We did another but it was turned down, and I haven't felt like doing a re-write.

Cheers,
Gary


Quote:
Originally Posted by Flexor the Mighty!
whoa, whoa, whoa!

Revised? Spill it Mr. Gygax, what does that mean? You better not be going Lucas on us. Did the Beggarking drop the chest on his own head now?


Slightly revised. I wanted to remove all the unnecessary violence and replace it with negotiation, acceptance of diversity, Gord hiring lawyers to avoid legal troubles, and peace at any price 

Seriously, I just went through the original ms. and made a few grammatical corrections and even fewer text changes in order to make the story more clear. Anyway, never fear, I doubt that you'll notice.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerthehobo
Ah-whah?!? Wasn't the return of Gord story a huge hit in the magazine? I mean, at least the letters columns and boards were humming... You and K.R. Bourgoine did a great job with that one - I was hoping for more. I hope Paizo reconsiders and gets more of Gord back in circulation...


The reason was that the characters and dialog were not sufficiently "Gord-Like."
That means that the tale needs a revision as to the key problem, how a new character is presented, and some punching-up of the dialog. Perhaps then it will get a nod from the Kindly Editor...

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerthehobo
Well, I know a lot of us are looking forward to more Gord. Good luck with it, Gary. I hope we see more Gord not just in novel form but also shorter pieces in Dragon and such. 


Kerry B and I are now exchanging email messages in regards a revision of the completed story and a springboard for a new yarn. A full novel about Gord is a poser, for his life is pretty well covered in the seven existing books. Perhaps a grand adventure by young Gord--that is in his late teens or early 20s--might be possible. Otherwise, a post-destruction epic can be done, one where a parallel Oerth exists, but that might infringe on WotC copyrights of the WoG setting.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voadam
I'm sure there are also plenty of opportunities for Gord to enter demiplanes or such at various points in his career, planes where time does not pass the same and creatures within do not age.

There is, after all, a literary tradition of people entering timeless fey domains for long periods of time only to emerge and find that only a night has passed.


That is so. Following fays into their passage under a rock brings one to fairyland where the beautiful females beguile one.


Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcas
Obviously Gord should be teleported to Lejendary Earth. 


The miliew of LEarth is not suitable for the premises upon which the Gord yarns were constructed...

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by mordelack
If it counts for anything, I did just get a message from a Gord fan saying this:

"Elminster vs. Gord. How could that possibly go wrong? 

C’mon…you don’t think Gord vs. early-career-Conan wouldn’t work better?"

K.R.Bourgoine
How absolutely dreadful!


Gary

Comments
my 4th xp for gary!
 
 


gideon_thorne wrote:
Just an odd sort of question I was thinking of while at the book store last night. You've mentioned here and there about a Gord story set in someone elses short story anthology or something of the sort? Could you put forth the title of that book for an interested reader? ^_^
 


Happy to oblige...to the best of my ability.

There were two Gord short stories done in anthologies. IIRR, one was "Celebration of Celene" where Gord meets Moorcock's little-known hero, Simon. I do not recall the book's title. The other was a Gord yarn set in contemporary tme, mainly at a bar in Venice Beach. I forget the name of the story, but I believe the anthology was titled The Eternal Champion. White Wolf published one or both of the books, I am not sure which is the case. The anthologist was Ed Kramer.

I have both paperbacks around here someplace, but finding them is likely the quest of a week's time, so... 

Cheers,
Gary


gideon_thorne wrote:
I believe this might be the other title?

Anthology The Pawns of Chaos:

And your story: Evening Odds. 


Indeed, that is the Gord yarn wherehe ends up at a low dive on Ocean Avenue 

Cheers,
Gary
 


Here is the list of most of my short fiction that was published as individual storues. Sadly, I can not find the Fafhrd & Grat Mouser one that runs to about 30K words as I recall :\

...
“Return of Gord” (with K.R. Bourgoine), Dragon Magazine #344, 2006
...

Cheerio,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry
Gary, is Gord still your property, however? I'm assuming he is, since he's appeared in other stories you've written.


Yes indeed, Gord is the IP of Trigee Enterprises.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser
Hmmm. I thought that you retained the IP to your own PC's after the split with TSR. Perhaps I came to this conclusion because of the deal you made with them being able to continue the Gord books and your having included such personages.

In any event, "Oh, bugger."

Gray Mouser


Note the permission from TSR in the five Gord books published subsequent to the initial pair that TSR published. As those two originals have my copyright on them, there is some question as to who really has the IP rights to all the characters used therein, but I do not want to litigate the matter...

Cheerio,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser
Colonel,

I know you're not a big fan of JRRT, but I do have to recommend The Children of Hurin. Only 259 pages, and that includes the preface and introduction. It seems to me to be Tolkien's take on Greek tragedy set in a fantasy milieu. Without dropping any spoilers I have to just say that I got the last 1/3 (or so) of the book and thought, "OMG, no way!" Had to go back and reread a bit just to make sure I was following what was going on correctly 

BTW, the book also fetures a damn cool talking sword. I'd have to think JRRT was a bit influenced by Michael Moorecock in this area if the story hadn't been written some time before the appearance of Stormbringer 

As for your other comments, I have to completely argee with the necessity of rereading Jack Vance on a fairly regular basis. Rarely have I read an author whose prose I enjoyed so much. I also hope that the outline of the new Gord novel progresses apace. And don't forget to put in the appearance of Mordenkainen and Bigby! (Heh, I know, I know...) 

Gray Mouser


when i am out of reading material that I am excited about likely I will picj up The Children of Hurin. After all, I did really enjoy reading The Hobbit. Perhaps the "singing Sword" wielded by Prince Valiant was a source of inspiration for JRRT. Anyway, IIRR there are some talking swords in fairy tales. It has been decades since I read those of Andrew Lang where I think they appear.

As for Vance, how thoroughly I agree. His prose is so exceptional that reading it is a sheer joy. I recall how I lingered over Night Lamp, wishing it were 400 or more pages in length.

Because i have had too much other stuff to do today, I have made no further progress on the detailed outline for the new Gord novel, still only nine chapters set forth. I'll add one or two more today yet...with luck.

Cheerio,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff1138
Hello Gary,

I love the Gord the Rogue novels, is there any chance you will be writing a sourcebook for C&C?

Thank you for the game you created! I bought my first book, the Monster Manual, when I was ten years old from my local grocery store of all places that had AD&D books on their shelves.


Thanks 

I have written a town sourcebook for the C&C systen, but as much of what is in the Gord books is used with permission of the owner of that IP, I donot have any plans to expand the fiction into gaming material...although a big module based on the Sea of Death would be quite possible.

As I am semi-retired now and enjoying it, it is pretty doubtful that I will want to spend a year of my life creating such an adventure 

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by thedungeondelver

YOU KNOW...once I'm done with a couple of little projects of no large consequence  'round here, my time will be available.

*whistling idly*


I have done a lot of detailed "bible" material for the Yggsburgh town and castle-dungeons. I suppose one of these days I might get around to re-reading Sea of Death and developing a backstory that suits the plot devised, then detail the outline of a trek into the place, side adventure springboards, and do the like for major scenarios contained in the work.

Ah, but even that is a lot of work, and right now I have a cold and sore throat, and I don't want to think about it 

Cheers,
Gary

<trim>
 


Hello Archibael,

Whew! That is some epistle ypu posted for me... Many thanks for the very kind words.

I will answer you in three parts: first the basis for the contemplated new Gord novel, second the undetailed/unknown critters in the books, and finally the direction of the series after I parted company with TSR.

I was thinking mainly of Gord's adventures as a young man in Greyhawk, as sketched out in Night Arrant, but your suggestion for a wider-ranging tale is worth considering! I will see what my collaborator has to say, and what input John R. Troy might have in this regard.

I never developed stats for these monsters, as none of my players were sufficiently high in level to deal with them. I envisioned Dreggals as the egg-like, bird-like-and fish-like demons or devils illustrated by Durer or Dore...or some similar artist. They are relatively weak indivudually but come in companies. Maelvis were imagined as flying demons of bat-like sort, IIRR, also of no great power individually but strong when operating in company. A Cacodemon is shown on the cover of Artifact of Evil. These are very bad critters.
Pamdemonium is a likely home for them.

the course of Gord's story changed considerably after I parted from TSR...that is pretty evident from the destruction of Oerth. Tharizdun would have been neutralized in some other manner had some more palatable conclusion of my association with TSR been the case. As a matter of fact I had in mind another story that would effectively restore Oerth--an alternate one, but virtually the same as Gord's original homw world, but where Tharizdun did not exist.

It is most likely the magazine editor's response was aimed at negating the tale I wrote that destoryed the World of Greyhawk.

Cheerio,
Gary
 


G'Day Tewligan,

Troll Lord Games is publishing the entire seven books in the Gord series in hardback editions, beginning with Saga of Old City being released at GenCon. As I have yet to see and polish the ms. for Artifact of Evil, I can not say when the Trolls will have it available.

IIRR, there were indeed full stats for the cataboligne demon but I surely can not recall the details after all these years...and so many nw and different critters devised since that one.

Curley Greenleaf went the way of many aPC...his CRS was misplaced or lost, so he is in limbo, has been for over 20 years now. Chert, Gellor, and company were creations of mine for purposes of story telling. The elf, Melf, was a PC played by my son Luke...who resented my duping him for the scene with Keek, that I played out.

I do enjoy the opportunity to relate virtually with so many fellow gamers here, so thank you for being a part of the fun 

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tewligan
Oh, really?! I had no idea they were being republished - I'll have to grab those! When you say you haven't gotten the manuscript for polishing, does that mean that some parts are actually going to be rewritten? I didn't know that there were so many Gord books - I only read the first two, although I did see that the bookstore had a used copy of the third when I picked up SoOC. I didn't get it because I knew I'd be tempted to read it before I found and reread the second. Time for an eBay search, I guess...


Not only are the Trolls doing the seven Gord the Rogue books but Piazo is reprinting the three Magister Setne Inhetep fantasy mysteries, releasing the Anubis Murders in trade paperback format at GenCon. I will be at their booth autographing for an hour or two furing the con.

As for changes in the iinitial Gord novel, they are mainly stylistic--a polish as I noted. No major revision has been done.

The Gord books are

SAGA OF OLD CITY
ARTIFACT OF EVIL
CITY OF HAWKS
NIGHT ARRANT
SEA OF DEATH
DANCE OF DEMONS
COME ENDLESS DARKNESS

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tewligan
Upon reading your first paragraph, I was going to ask if these editions would have any nifty character/monster/magic writeups included in an appendix, but I'm guessing maybe that won't be the case since you didn't mention it when you answered the cataboligne question. Alas. Of course, I suppose Gord can be cobbled together from your original afterword, and some of Catty's powers are easily gleaned from the story. I guess it's too much to hope that the original Clyde Caldwell art is going to be included, hm?


No additional material pertaining to the AD&D game will ever be added.

The cover artwork is not our (Trigee's) property, so it will not be reprinted.

Cheerio,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkwolf71
On a side note, you've probobly answered this before, but are the characters of Gord, Curley Greenleaf and co. based on PCs or were they created specifically for your novels?


Most of the characters in the Gord novels were created for the stories. Curley Greenleaf was a PC of mine, and Melf was my son Luke's principal PC.
We actually played out the scene where Keek dupes Melf...for which Luke berates me to this day.

Cheerio,
Gary
 
 







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