Gygax's Anagrams, Puns, and Homages in the World of Greyhawk
I've grown tired of trying to track all of these obscure bits of trivia down after my brain inserts one into a random dream, so I'm going to compile a listing of all of Gygax's anagrams, tributes, and homages that I've been able to find. Many of the meanings and refernces have been researched through Greytalk, though I have pieced together many on my own as well. I am most proud of having pointed out the use of his name as Tzunk, and splitting the hair on Ekul = Darlene Pekul vs. Luke Gygax.
Many of these references are tied to the artifacts that first
appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (and subsequently the DMG1).
| Greyhawk Word/Phrase | Primary Source | Real World Equivalent | Explanation (links indicate further details) |
| Ahlissa | WoG | Ahlissa = Ehlissa = Elise | Elise Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's daughters |
| Arnd of Tdon | Invulnerable Coat of Arnd, DMG1 p. | Arnd of Tdon = Don Arndt | Don Arndt = ? |
| Ayelerarch (or perhaps Ayelerach??) | Greytalk, S4, MM2 | None | Mark Ratner's PC Cleric or Fighter (Cleric per S4/MM2, Fighter per Greytalk post) or a Paladin PC per Gary Gygax |
| B2 | B2 Keep on the Borderlands | B2 = Beetu (a demon in the DMG1) = Brian Blume | Brian Blume is |
| Beek Gwenders of Croodle | G1-3 tournament PC and D1-2 tournament PC | Beek = "to bask"; Gwenders = "comely"; Croodle = "soft cooing" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Bigby | PHB1 | None | Gary Gygax's PC |
| Bilarro | UA? | Bilarro = anagram for Robliar created by Gary Gygax | Bilarro = a tribute to Rob Kuntz's magic ring wielding El Raja Key |
| Black Dougal | Kevin Hendryx's PC named in the example party in the Dungeon Master's Log book | Black Dougal also appears in the TSR minigame Revolt on Antares (I think, need to check old Acaeum PM from Kevin) | Created by Kevin Hendryx |
| Blackmoor | Blackmoor | None | Blackmoor was Dave Arneson's campaign |
| Blemu Hills | WoG | Blemu = Blume = Brian Blume | Per Gary Gygax, there is no intentional connection between Brian Blume and the Blemu Hills |
| Blodgett | A1-4 tournament PC | Blodgett is the name of a pizza oven manufacturer | Created by David Cook (?) |
| Bombadil or Lidabmob | Greytalk; Jim Ward | Tom Bombidil was J. R. R. Tolkien's nature
character in The Fellowship of the Ring Per Jim Ward (via email): When I ran that character I used the Tolkien spelling, but I reversed it to be Lidabmob, but everyone in the game knew I had reversed the spelling of the Tolkien character's name and called me Bombadil. I never answered however. |
Jim Ward's PC; Ward wrote Metamorphosis Alpha |
| Boss Dhaley | World of Greyhawk, Bandit Kingdoms article in Dragon 63 | Boss Dahly, ruler of the city of Stoink in Cary's First Gord the Rogue novel. A direct "tribute" to Chicago's favorite "Boss." | Boss Dahly, ruler of the city of Stoink in Cary's First Gord the Rogue novel. A direct "tribute" to Chicago's favorite "Boss." |
| Bucknard | Bucknard's Everfull Purse, DMG1 p. | Bucknard was created by Gary Gygax, has no real-world equivalent | None |
| Burne | T1 The Village of Hommlet NPC | Burne was originally spelled Berne, another allusion to Ernie/Ernest Gygax | Created by Ernest Gygax |
| Cloyer Bulse the Magsman | G1-3 tournament PC | Cloy = "to gratify beyond desire"; Bulse = "purse or bag for diamonds"; Magsman = "thief" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Darg Blonke | D1-2 tournament PC; Darg is also part of the name of the mayor of Irongate | Darg = "a day's work"; Blonke = "horse" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Digby | Greytalk | None | Gary Gygax's PC |
| Dorag | "Faceless Men and Clockwork Monsters," The Dragon 17, p. 6 | None | Luke Gyagx's PC |
| Drawmij | Drawmij's Instant Summons, PHB1 p. | Jim Ward | Jim Ward's PC; Ward wrote Metamorphosis Alpha |
| Egg of Coot | Blackmoor | According to Gary Gygax in an ENWorld thread, "According
to Dave Arneson the "Egg of Coot" was created from the name "Gregg
Scott," the chap who ran the MicroArmor casting company some years back. Gregg
dismissed fantasy games as childish and claimed wargaming was "manly." Coot indeed!" |
Egg of Coot was an evil swamp monster in Dave Arneson's Blackmoor game; |
| Ehlissa | Queen Ehlissa's Marvelous Nightingale, DMG1 p. | Ehlissa = Elise | Elise Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's daughters |
| Ekul | WoG | Ekul = Luke = Luke Gygax | Luke Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's sons |
| Ekul = Pekul = Darlene Pekul | Darlene Pekul illustrated the DMG and drew the original Greyhawk wall maps | ||
| El Raja Key | WG5: Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure, p. | El Raja Key = the RJK = Robert J. Kuntz | Robert J. Kuntz was co-GM of Greyhawk |
| Eljayess | A1-4 tournament PC | Eljayess = El Jay Ess = L J S = Lawrence J. Schick | Lawrence Schick was author of A4 In the Dungeons of the SlaveLords |
| Erac | Greytalk | None | Ernie Gygax's PC; Ernie is one of Gary Gygax's sons |
| Erac's Cousin | Rogue's Gallery, Greytalk, S4, MM2 | None | Ernie Gygax's PC F/MU; Ernie is Gary Gygax's son |
| Eraj | Artifact of Evil | None | A member of the Citadel of Eight. |
| Erelhei-Cinlu | D3: Vault of the Drow, p. | Er = Ernest, El = Elise, Hei = Heidi, Ci = Cindy, Lu = Luke | All of Gygax's children |
| Evard | Dragon Magazine 67 (November 1982) and Unearthed Arcana | Per Gary Gygax on Dragonsfoot: Evard was a name I created. | Evard thus has no provenance in the Lake Geneva Greyhawk campaign |
| Fables of Burdock | Heward's Mystical Organ, DMG1 p. | Burdock = Burdick = Hugh E. Burdick | None |
| Faffle Dwe'o-mercraeft | G1-3 tournament PC | Faffle = "stammer, stutter", Dwe'o-mercraeft = "spell crafter" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Fage the Kexy | D1-2 tournament PC | Fage = "clever beguiler"; Kexy = "brittle" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Felnorith | Artifact of Evil (same name as ToEE NPC EHP/MU?) | None | Elven NPC henchman of Mordenkainen |
| Flerd Trantle | G1-3 tournament PC | Flerd = "flock + herd"; Trantle = "possession of little value" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Fnast Dringle | D1-2 tournament PC | Fnast = "pant"; Dringle = "one who likes to waste time" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Fonkin Hoddypeak | G1-3 tournament PC and D1-2 tournament PC | Fonkin = "a little fool"; Hoddypeak = "an egregious blockhead" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Frush O'Suggil | G1-3 tournament PC | pez | pez |
| Galap-Dreidel | The Ghost Tower of Inverness (1979) | None | Created by Allen Hammack |
| Gaxx | Ring of Gaxx, DMG1 p. | None | E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
| Geoff | WoG folio, p. | Geoff = Jeff = Jeff Perren? | Jeff Perren co-wrote Chainmail with Gygax |
| Gleep Wurp the Eyebiter | G1-3 tourney PC (original tourney PC was Gleed, not Gleep [who was Space Ghost's monkey wasn't he?]) | Gleed = "a glowing ember or burning coal"; Eyebite = "to bewitch with the eye" | Created by Gary Gygax (Gleed also appears as an evil gnome serving Iuz in Gygax's Artifact of Evil Greyhawk novel) |
| Gryrax | WoG map | Gryrax = Gary Gygax modified | E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
| Heward | Heward's Mystical Organ, DMG1 p. | Heward = Hugh E. Burdick EX2, page 26: "I am always asked about the names in books and modules. Murlynd, or something close to that, was the name of the late Don Kaye's magic-user. Heward is... Heward. Zagyg is the Mad Arch-Mage who has left CASTLE GREYHAWK to wander far afield, and it's certain he'll never return." |
Hugh E. Burdick was Gygax's cousin, who died in 1993; Gygax has written an eulogy for Burdick |
| Hodkin Ap-Awrd | "Faceless Men and Clockwork Monsters," The Dragon 17, p. 6 | Awrd = Ward = Jim Ward | Jim Ward PC? |
| Idee | WoG | Idee = Heidi = Heidi Gygax | Heidi Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's daughters |
| Jehef Peh'reen | Jacinth of Inestimable Beauty, DMG1 p. | Jehef Peh'reen = Jeff Perren | Jeff Perren co-wrote Chainmail with Gygax |
| Johydee | Johydee's Mask, DMG1 p. | Johydee = Heidi = Heidi Gygax | Heidi Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's daughters; Carl Sargent further expanded upon Joyhdee's legend as a quasi-deity through his creation the "children of Joyhdee" in Ivid the Undying |
| Kas | Sword of Kas, DMG1 p. | Kas = Tim Kask | Tim Kask was original editor of The Dragon magazine |
| Keak Breedbate of Nithe | D1-2 tournament PC | Keak = "cackle"; Breedbate = "one who likes to start fights"; Nithe = "a base individual" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Keoghtom | Keoghtom's Ointment, DMG1 p. | Keoghtom = Tom Keogh | Tom Keogh was |
| Keoland | WoG folio, p. | Keoland = Tom Keogh | Tom Keogh was |
| Krevell | None | None | Krevell, a high priest of Nerull, was created by Carl Sargent in Ivid the Undying |
| lacofcite | D3: Vault of the Drow, p. | lacofsite = Lack of Site, also a pun on Len Lakofka | Len Lakofka was |
| Lembu | C2, pregenerated Fighter PC | Lembu = Blume | [which one?] |
| Leomund | None | Leomund = Len Lakofka | Len Lakofka's PC |
| Luekish | WoG folio, p. | Luekish = Luke = Luke Gygax | Luke Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's sons |
| Luek-O | The Mighty Servant of Luek-O, DMG1 p. | Luek-O = Luke = Luke Gygax | Luke Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's sons |
| Lynerden the Spinner | None | None | Creation of Carl Sargent in Ivid the Undying |
| Merlynd | The Dragon #71 | see Murlynd | Don Kaye's PC |
| Mordenkainen | PBH1 | None | Gary Gygax's PC |
| Murlynd | The Dragon #71, EX2 | EX2, page 26: "I am always asked about the names in books and modules. Murlynd, or something close to that, was the name of the late Don Kaye's magic-user. Heward is... Heward. Zagyg is the Mad Arch-Mage who has left CASTLE GREYHAWK to wander far afield, and it's certain he'll never return." | Don Kaye's PC made into a quasi-diety by Gygax |
| Neb Rentar | "Faceless Men and Clockwork Monsters," The Dragon 17, p. 6 | Neb Rentar = Ben Ratner | related to Mark Ratner? |
| Nira Melubb | Money Changer in T1 Village of Homlett, at key 15 | Nira Melubb = Brian Blume | Brian Blume was |
| Nivell | "Faceless Men and Clockwork Monsters," The Dragon 17, p. 6 | None | None |
| Norebo | Dragon #86 | Norebo = Oberon backward | Oberon, King of the Fey |
| Nosnra | G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, p. | Nosnra = Arn[e]son | Dave Arneson was co-creator of D&D |
| Nystul | Nystul's Magic Aura, PHB1, p. | Per Gary Gygax on Dragonsfoot: Nystul is the surname of a stage magician, Brad Nystul, who suggested the magical aura spell to me. | The brothers Mike and ? Nystul played in Len Lakofka's Lendore Island campaign (per Fid on DF) |
| Olidammara | "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk" (Dragon 70), p. 20 | Olidammara is a close analog-anagram for armadillo | Thanks to Rob Kuntz for this information |
| Otiluke | PHB1 | Otiluke = Otis + Luke (per Scott Gregg on Dragonsfoot) | Otis was Luke Gygax's PC in the Temple of Elemental Evil; Luke is one of Gary Gygax's sons |
| Perrenland | WoG folio, p. | Perrenland = Perren | Jeff Perren co-wrote Chainmail with Gygax |
| Philotomy Jurament | D1-2 tournament PC | Philotomy = "lover of law"; Jurament = "to swear, to take oath" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Pomarj | WoG folio, p. | Pomarj = pun of some sort; also short for Poor March | None |
| Radigast City | WoG map | Radigast = Radigast the Brown | homage to J. R. R. Tolkien's character (wizard, a friend of Gandalf the Grey) |
| Rary | Rary's Mnemonic Enhance, PHB p. | Per Gary Gygax on Dragonsfoot: Rary was a low-level PC of Brian Blume. He wanted him to make "Medium," so he could be Medium Rary. That's how the character was played...if one can call it that. | Brian Blume was |
| Redmod Dumple | G1-3 tournament PC | Redmod = "Hasty, ill-advised, rash"; Dumple = "Dumpy, made little (like dumpling)" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Riggby | Rogues Gallery | None | None |
| Roaky Swerked | G1-3 tournament PC | Roaky = "dark", Swerked = "mystified" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Robilar | WoG folio, p. | Robilar = Rob liar/lair? | Character played by Robert J. Kuntz |
| Scrag Flatchet | "Faceless Men and Clockwork Monsters," The Dragon 17, p. 6 | Flatchet = arrow??? | PC henchman |
| Serten | Rogues Gallery | Serten = Tenser = Ernest | Ernie Gygax's PC |
| Shab Heenling | D1-2 tournament PC | Shab = "to play mean tricks"; Heanling = "a base person, a wretch" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Sunndi | WoG | Sunndi = Cindy = Cindy Gygax | Cindy Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's daughters |
| Sustarre | Player's Handbook, Druid Spell | Sustarre = Sustare = Dennis Sustare | Dennis Sustare is thanked in the PHB credits = ? |
| Tasha | Dragon Magazine 67 (November 1982) and Unearthed Arcana | n/a | Per Gary Gygax: Tasha was a very young girl, a D&D fan who wrote her first letter to me in crayon. She suggested the laughter spell, so her name was used in the version I created based on her suggested details. |
| Tenh, Duchy of | WoG | Tehn = Duchy of Ten | A land from Dave Arneson's Blackmoor campaign |
| Tenser | PHB1 | Tenser = Serten = Erenst | Ernie Gygax's PC |
| Terik (also Teric) | WG6: Isle of the Ape, p. | Terik = Teri K = Terry Kuntz | Character played by Terry Kuntz |
| Teurney | The Iron Flask of Teurney the Merciless (artifact) from Eldritch Wizardry (1975) | Teurney = "To Ernie" and was a warning from Gary to Ernie about his PCs' bloodthirstiness (need to dig up quotation source; EnW? or in conversation with Gary??) | Ernie Gygax was Gary's son |
| tumkeoite | D3: Vault of the Drow, p. | tumkeoite = Tom Keogh | Tom Keogh was |
| Tsojconth | The Lost Caverns of Tsojconth | Tsojconth may be an anagram of John Scott??? | None |
| Tzoonk | Codex of the Infinite Planes, Eldritch Wizardy, p. | Tzoonk = Kuntz | Robert J. Kuntz was co-GM of Greyhawk |
| Tzunk | Codex of the Infinite Planes, DMG1 p. | Tzunk = Kuntz | Robert J. Kuntz was co-GM of Greyhawk |
| Ulek (Duchy/County) | WoG folio, p. | Ulek = Luke = Luke Gygax | Luke Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's sons |
| Urnst (Duchy/County/ Principality) | WoG | Urnst = Ernest = E. Gary Gygax or Ernie Gygax | None |
| Vecna | Eye of Vecna, DMG1 p. | Vecna = Vance = Jack Vance | Jack Vance was a favorite fantasy author of Gygax's |
| Vim | Greytalk | None | None |
| Vram | Greytalk | None | None |
| Womtham | WoG map | Womtham = Tom Wham | Tom Wham, a friend of Gygax, created Snit's Revenge and other games |
| Xagig | Prison of Xagig, S4: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, p. | Xagig = Gygax backward and modified | E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
| Xagy | Queen Ehlissa's Marvelous Nightingale, DMG1 p. | Xagy = Gygax backward and modified rumor from the net: Xagy was Zagig's evil twin brother??? |
E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
| Yagrax | Codex of the Infinite Planes, DMG1 p. | Yagrax = Gary Gygax modified | None |
| Ycore Rixle | D1-2 tournament PC | Ycore = "comely"; Rixle = "mixed-up" or "rule" | Created by Gary Gygax |
| Ye'Cind | The Recorder of Ye'Cind | Ye'Cind = Cindy = Cindy Gygax | Cindy Gygax, one of Gary Gygax's daughters |
| Yrag | WG5: Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure, p. | Yrag = Gary backward | None |
| Zagig Yragerne | WoG folio, p.; Prison of Zagig, S4: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, p. | Zagig = Gygax backward Yragerne = Gary Ern[i]e backward |
E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
| Zagy | Talisman of Zagy, DMG1 p. | Zagy= Gygax backward | E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
| Zagyg | DMG1 p. | Zagyg = Gygax backward EX2, page 26: "I am always asked about the names in books and modules. Murlynd, or something close to that, was the name of the late Don Kaye's magic-user. Heward is... Heward. Zagyg is the Mad Arch-Mage who has left CASTLE GREYHAWK to wander far afield, and it's certain he'll never return." |
E. Gary Gygax created Greyhawk |
Notes
Original Players in Greyhawk (from The Dragon #7, page 7): Gary Gygax, Ernie Gygax, Don Kaye, Rob Kuntz, Terry Kuntz, soon followed by Don Arndt, Brian Blume, Tom Champeny, Bill Corey, Bob Dale, Mary Dale, Chip Mornard, Mike Mornard, Tim Wilson.
Peter Aronson (created Illusionists), Joe Fischer (created Rangers), Omar Kwalish (Apparatus of Kwalish?), Doug Schwegman (created Bards)
Per Gygax's final introductory note in "Faceless Men & Clockwork Monsters" (The Dragon 17, page 6), "The names give for the characters have been changed in order to protect the innocent . . . " However, a little time and divination resolves the mystery. In Greyhawk Castle, Gary Gygax was DM, Mark Ratner and Jim Ward each played henchmen of their higher-level PCs; Ernie Gygax played Ben Ratner's abandoned PC.
When the PCs are whisked away to the Starship Warden, Gary switches GM roles with Jim Ward:
- Brain Blume plays Mark Ratner's PC since he's not available for the Metamorphosis Alpha adventure
- Thurible of Roaky (a Cleric of Rao?) = Mark Ratner's cleric?
- Scrag Flatchet = henchman
- Dorag = Luke Gygax's fighter
- Hodkin Ap-Awrd = Hodkin Ap-Ward = Jim Ward?
Jim Ward has a PC MU who uses poison, continual light wands, poly other, permanent fly, etc. (The Dragon 13, page 30)
Bibliography
Carl Sargent. Ivid the Undying.
Greytalk.
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