Gygax Dragons - Pre-Chainmail 1969-70
Nov 30, 2012 16:38:31 GMT -6
howandwhy99, Malcadon, and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2012 16:38:31 GMT -6
I've just posted the following on my blog:
I don't know if anyone else has posted this stuff before, but I stumbled across this treasure the other day while looking through the Postal Diplomacy Zine Archive Page, a great source of insights into the birth of our hobby and the men who were there at the beginning. It's a series of articles and fake letters concerning various dragon types in Middle Earth, published in a Diplomacy zine called Thangorodrim in 1969 and 1970, eleven issues of which can be downloaded from this page here.
Now while Gygax is not named as the author of the writings, his name is linked to the subject on the cover of Vol I, no. 2 (the picture above), which preceded the publication of the first article in no. 3, and the writings smack of his sense of humour. Sadly issue number 3 is not available in the archive and so the first article of the series is missing, but there are enough clues in the "correspondence" that follows to piece together the "facts" of the first one. [Edit: Thanks to Jon Peterson the text of the first article in no. 3 is now included below.] It's interesting to compare these dragons to those that ended up in D&D.
What follows is the relevant text from those zines. I've taken the liberty of correcting some spelling errors and I'm quite confident that I've managed to correctly transcribe even the most poorly scanned sections. Enjoy!
GRAYTE WOURMES
Thangorodrim Vol. 1, No. 3 (which does identify Gygax as the author of the series) is as follows. No grammar or spelling has been corrected:
((Excerpt from a First Age manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.))
Perhaps the rarest of the Great Worms is the Arctic Dragon, or "Frost Breath." Unlike others of his kind, this large white worm inhabits only the coldest regions of the far north and has no internal fire. Draco Articus seeks glaciers in which to dwell and if the temperature remains cold enough they will sleep therein for very long period of time, only awakening to feed when stimulated by warth. The Arctic Dragon will attack any living creature on sight, often including others of his own specie. Their main weapon is a chilling breath (which will immediately freeze boiling water.) All recorded specimens have only a single head, are up to 100 feet in length, weigh eight tons, and otherwise conform to Dragons in general (wings, fangs, claws, etc.)... Articus does not usually hoard and is of low intelligence.
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 4 – Oct 31 1969
Sir,
I wish to take issue with the writings you have published of that alleged scholar, S.K. Eltolereth. A larger pack of lies and half-truths I have never seen before. The impressive-looking title of “Doctor of Dracology” that the professor used, was, as everyone in this field of study knows, purchased from a correspondence school. And as for that so called “translation” of a First Age manuscript, I much doubt if the Professor could even read Quenya, much less understand it! (And as everyone knows, all works of any importance were written in Quenya). This “translation” is a mass of misinformation. Draco A is not, as stated, found in glaciers, but rather in high mountain caves, as with other dragon species. And his physical description is preposterous – the SMALLEST specimen of a cold drake was an individual 150 ft long, weighing ten tons. And as for the Professor’s allegation towards the intelligence of Draco A., why, it’s positively scandalous. I challenge anyone to prove the statements of S. K. Eltolereth in the face of my position.
Yours
S. Maug, Esq.
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 5 – Nov 27 1969
Dear Sir,
This letter is in reference to the letter from one S. Maug on Draco Articus. Draco Articus as I thought was well known lives on the edge of the northern marshes in the high mountain passes. There D. Articus lives in either natural caves or in caves and crevasses in glaciers. An interesting fact about D. Articus is that he sleeps during the entire summer. This is all I can give you now on D. Articus, as my major source of information, The Golden Book of Worms by Riccar of Aerie has been stolen by a shallow-faced, slanting-eyed southerner.
Sincerely,
Eldamir Konovin
University of Annuminas
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART II: DRACO NIGRUS
“Another rare Dragon is the tropical Draco Nigrus (Black or Spitting Dragon). It is the smallest of all Dragons, usually averaging no more than 40' - 50' long and weighing in about four tons. Like its northern cousin, the black species has no internal fire, rather they distill a potent caustic enzyme which they spit forth in long streams when angry. Except as noted their conformation is typical. The Black Dragon preys upon all jungle animals, and its only enemies are its own kind, the Roc, and man. They seem to favor treasures of Ivory. While cunning the Black Dragon is not clever...”
(Excerpt from a First Age Manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.)
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 6 – Mar 7 1970
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART III: DRACO CHLORINUM
“Dwelling far to the East, the Draco Chlorinum (Green Dragon) has seldom been seen by mankind. It inhabits the mountainous regions where it constantly wars with the Mountain Giants. This warfare has so decimated both sides that they are nearing extinction – to our great benefit. Green Dragons are another non-fire breather, having a system that produces chlorine gas. Being themselves immune to the fumes, even their lairs are usually filled with poisonous vapors to make them inviolate. This large type of worm measures from 90 to 110 feet long, weighs seven to ten tons, is multiwinged and multiheaded. It is a very fierce fighter and never shuns battle. Chlorinum has high intelligence and loves particularly to hoard carven jades matching its own color. Some accounts state that the Eastrons actually bribe various of these monsters to protect them from other perils, paying it with valuable goods and praising it in word and sculpture; legend is difficult to separate from fact here. Green Dragons are sometimes called Chimerae because of the wide and unusal variety of body types, horns, plates, etc., found...”
(Excerpt from a First Age Manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.)
AND THE REBUTTAL...
Sir,
Once agin you insist on printing the drivel of the late fool, Prof. S. K. Eltolereth. I objected the last time with what I thought was enough force to warn you. Although I have no objections to the physical description of dragons (Draco Nigrus), any more slurs on the mental capacity of dragons shall result in the direst consequences to you!
Yours, S. Maug, Esq.
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 8 – Jul 3 1970
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART IV: DRACO ELECTRICUS
“Draco Electricus, commonly called the Blue Dragon, has virtually vanished from existence. It formerly inhabited the area between the Red varieties and the Green, but could not compete with either due to the necessity of being close to its enemy in order for its lightnings to be effective. It was also extensively hunted by certain trolls who highly prized its blue hide. Iron weapons hurled into the beast caused a great discharge of its electricity whereupon a concentrated rush of trolls would usually overwhelm it without more than half of the attackers being torn asunder. The Blue Dragon, of intermediate size and body type typical of most Dragons, was also handicapped by only moderate mentality and an introverted nature. Reports of Draco Electricus living on the far slopes of the Mountains southeast of Far Khand are uncertain.”
(Excerpt from a First Age Manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.)
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 9 – Aug 14 1970
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART V: THE MOTTLED DRAGON
“Of doubtful species, the Mottled or Purple Worm must be included in any study despite the possibility that it is not a true dragon. The creature has no wings and no internal form of weapon unlike other dragons. Yet its body shape conforms otherwise to the kind as does its general behaviour. The Purple Dragon has a venomous sting in the tip of its tail, one drop of which is enough to fell an Oliphant. It is sly and treacherous. The species is found only on the Islands Umbar.
I don't know if anyone else has posted this stuff before, but I stumbled across this treasure the other day while looking through the Postal Diplomacy Zine Archive Page, a great source of insights into the birth of our hobby and the men who were there at the beginning. It's a series of articles and fake letters concerning various dragon types in Middle Earth, published in a Diplomacy zine called Thangorodrim in 1969 and 1970, eleven issues of which can be downloaded from this page here.
Now while Gygax is not named as the author of the writings, his name is linked to the subject on the cover of Vol I, no. 2 (the picture above), which preceded the publication of the first article in no. 3, and the writings smack of his sense of humour. Sadly issue number 3 is not available in the archive and so the first article of the series is missing, but there are enough clues in the "correspondence" that follows to piece together the "facts" of the first one. [Edit: Thanks to Jon Peterson the text of the first article in no. 3 is now included below.] It's interesting to compare these dragons to those that ended up in D&D.
What follows is the relevant text from those zines. I've taken the liberty of correcting some spelling errors and I'm quite confident that I've managed to correctly transcribe even the most poorly scanned sections. Enjoy!
GRAYTE WOURMES
Thangorodrim Vol. 1, No. 3 (which does identify Gygax as the author of the series) is as follows. No grammar or spelling has been corrected:
((Excerpt from a First Age manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.))
Perhaps the rarest of the Great Worms is the Arctic Dragon, or "Frost Breath." Unlike others of his kind, this large white worm inhabits only the coldest regions of the far north and has no internal fire. Draco Articus seeks glaciers in which to dwell and if the temperature remains cold enough they will sleep therein for very long period of time, only awakening to feed when stimulated by warth. The Arctic Dragon will attack any living creature on sight, often including others of his own specie. Their main weapon is a chilling breath (which will immediately freeze boiling water.) All recorded specimens have only a single head, are up to 100 feet in length, weigh eight tons, and otherwise conform to Dragons in general (wings, fangs, claws, etc.)... Articus does not usually hoard and is of low intelligence.
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 4 – Oct 31 1969
Sir,
I wish to take issue with the writings you have published of that alleged scholar, S.K. Eltolereth. A larger pack of lies and half-truths I have never seen before. The impressive-looking title of “Doctor of Dracology” that the professor used, was, as everyone in this field of study knows, purchased from a correspondence school. And as for that so called “translation” of a First Age manuscript, I much doubt if the Professor could even read Quenya, much less understand it! (And as everyone knows, all works of any importance were written in Quenya). This “translation” is a mass of misinformation. Draco A is not, as stated, found in glaciers, but rather in high mountain caves, as with other dragon species. And his physical description is preposterous – the SMALLEST specimen of a cold drake was an individual 150 ft long, weighing ten tons. And as for the Professor’s allegation towards the intelligence of Draco A., why, it’s positively scandalous. I challenge anyone to prove the statements of S. K. Eltolereth in the face of my position.
Yours
S. Maug, Esq.
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 5 – Nov 27 1969
Dear Sir,
This letter is in reference to the letter from one S. Maug on Draco Articus. Draco Articus as I thought was well known lives on the edge of the northern marshes in the high mountain passes. There D. Articus lives in either natural caves or in caves and crevasses in glaciers. An interesting fact about D. Articus is that he sleeps during the entire summer. This is all I can give you now on D. Articus, as my major source of information, The Golden Book of Worms by Riccar of Aerie has been stolen by a shallow-faced, slanting-eyed southerner.
Sincerely,
Eldamir Konovin
University of Annuminas
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART II: DRACO NIGRUS
“Another rare Dragon is the tropical Draco Nigrus (Black or Spitting Dragon). It is the smallest of all Dragons, usually averaging no more than 40' - 50' long and weighing in about four tons. Like its northern cousin, the black species has no internal fire, rather they distill a potent caustic enzyme which they spit forth in long streams when angry. Except as noted their conformation is typical. The Black Dragon preys upon all jungle animals, and its only enemies are its own kind, the Roc, and man. They seem to favor treasures of Ivory. While cunning the Black Dragon is not clever...”
(Excerpt from a First Age Manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.)
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 6 – Mar 7 1970
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART III: DRACO CHLORINUM
“Dwelling far to the East, the Draco Chlorinum (Green Dragon) has seldom been seen by mankind. It inhabits the mountainous regions where it constantly wars with the Mountain Giants. This warfare has so decimated both sides that they are nearing extinction – to our great benefit. Green Dragons are another non-fire breather, having a system that produces chlorine gas. Being themselves immune to the fumes, even their lairs are usually filled with poisonous vapors to make them inviolate. This large type of worm measures from 90 to 110 feet long, weighs seven to ten tons, is multiwinged and multiheaded. It is a very fierce fighter and never shuns battle. Chlorinum has high intelligence and loves particularly to hoard carven jades matching its own color. Some accounts state that the Eastrons actually bribe various of these monsters to protect them from other perils, paying it with valuable goods and praising it in word and sculpture; legend is difficult to separate from fact here. Green Dragons are sometimes called Chimerae because of the wide and unusal variety of body types, horns, plates, etc., found...”
(Excerpt from a First Age Manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.)
AND THE REBUTTAL...
Sir,
Once agin you insist on printing the drivel of the late fool, Prof. S. K. Eltolereth. I objected the last time with what I thought was enough force to warn you. Although I have no objections to the physical description of dragons (Draco Nigrus), any more slurs on the mental capacity of dragons shall result in the direst consequences to you!
Yours, S. Maug, Esq.
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 8 – Jul 3 1970
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART IV: DRACO ELECTRICUS
“Draco Electricus, commonly called the Blue Dragon, has virtually vanished from existence. It formerly inhabited the area between the Red varieties and the Green, but could not compete with either due to the necessity of being close to its enemy in order for its lightnings to be effective. It was also extensively hunted by certain trolls who highly prized its blue hide. Iron weapons hurled into the beast caused a great discharge of its electricity whereupon a concentrated rush of trolls would usually overwhelm it without more than half of the attackers being torn asunder. The Blue Dragon, of intermediate size and body type typical of most Dragons, was also handicapped by only moderate mentality and an introverted nature. Reports of Draco Electricus living on the far slopes of the Mountains southeast of Far Khand are uncertain.”
(Excerpt from a First Age Manuscript translated by the late Professor S. K. Eltolereth, DrD.)
Thangorodrim, Vol I, No. 9 – Aug 14 1970
GRAYTE WOURMES – PART V: THE MOTTLED DRAGON
“Of doubtful species, the Mottled or Purple Worm must be included in any study despite the possibility that it is not a true dragon. The creature has no wings and no internal form of weapon unlike other dragons. Yet its body shape conforms otherwise to the kind as does its general behaviour. The Purple Dragon has a venomous sting in the tip of its tail, one drop of which is enough to fell an Oliphant. It is sly and treacherous. The species is found only on the Islands Umbar.
