“Great Men, taken up in any way, are profitable
company.”
― On Heroes and Hero
Worship and the Heroic in History
 |
| Melf, Prince Brightflame |
THROUGHOUT the world of Greyhawk are quite a number of
characters that have risen above the status of heroes, but who are not quite
demi-gods. These personages are 'quasi-deities.' Among those contemporary in
the World of Grey hawk are Daern, Heward, Johydee, Kelanen, Keoghtom, Murlynd,
Nolzur, Quall, and Tuerny. Of these, only Heward, Keoghtom, and Murlynd are
currently placed so as to interact with player characters. Other well-known
personages, such as Bucknard, Mordenkainen, Otiluke, and Tenser, are not as
powerful and broadly endowed as are the quasi-deities. [WoGG – 33]
All those notable personages are human.
That is odd, isn’t it, considering how prevalent elves
are in the setting. And dwarves. And gnomes. And halflings. Even orcs and
half-orcs. They’ve all played their parts in the script. Indeed, one expects that they preceded humans.
When, exactly,
did the elves come to the Flanaess? Canon is sketchy on this. Suffice it to say
that they have been here for a very long time.
In ancient days, elven princes held sway from the
Velverdyva to the Wild Coast [.] [LGG – 39]
This piece, however, is not about elven history; so,
enough said about that for now.
This piece is about one notable, elf, a very contemporary
elf, one Prince Melf Brightflame of Celene. Celene, of couse, is one of the few demihuman nations to grace the map.
Capital: Enstad (6,950)
Population: 15,000
Demi-humans: Gray Elves (9,500), Sylvan Elves (8,000),
Gnomes (3,500), Halflings
Humanoids: None
Resources: foodstuffs, cloth, silver
[Folio – 9]
Languages: Elven, Common, Sylvan, Gnome, Halfling
Alignments: CG*, NG, LN, N, LG
Religions: Elf pantheon*, gnome pantheon, Ehlonna,
Phaulkon, Phyton, halfling pantheon
[LGG – 38]
Celene is the principal nation of the elves in the
Flanaess. [LGG – 38]
Celene has ever been home to the gray elves of the
Flanaess. [LGG – 39]
Today, elves are dominant in Celene, Sunndi, Highfolk,
the Vesve Forest, and the Lendore Isles. [LGG – 8]
This small land west of the Wild Coast beyond the
Welkwood has long been under the rule of Olvenfolk. Although these are good
creatures, they do not welcome strangers (with cause), and little certain
knowledge of Celene or its Court exists. [Folio – 9]
What does Celene have to do with Melf? Everything. As we
shall see.
One imagines that the character of Celene should shed
light on his, and indeed, on the character of all elves. Elves are shy on the
world stage; as are their nations in the grand scheme of world politics. They
keep to themselves, are largely distrustful of other races, finding them
aggressive and warlike. Perhaps untrustworthy. And temporary. Tragically so.
Elves cannot be said to truly hate almost any
creatures; even orcs are merely regarded with antipathy, for they will soon
pass from life —even more quickly than humans do. [Dragon #60 – 7]
As temporary as they are, elves would rather not be drawn
into their frenzied drama, or their conflicts, knowing them to be inconsequential,
for the most part, fleeting, carried out by vein, impatient, short-lived
people.
 |
| Carefree |
The wispy, lightly built elves have a life span more
than ten times as long as humans, averaging 1,200 years with a maximum of 1,600
years or so. [Dragon #60 – 6]
When they do venture out into the affairs of men, they
always regret doing so.
The elves of Celene even offered their allegiance to
the benign rulers of Keoland for several centuries, rejecting them only when
warlike monarchs took the Keoish throne. [LGG – 39]
But long lives and long memories have taught them that
they cannot stand alone for long.
Although the demi-humans have avoided general
involvement in human wars, the formation of the demi-human principalities of
Celene and Ulek highlights the fact that they will resist invasion from the
humans inhabiting a state. [Folio – 6]
Which brings us
to Melf.
Melf is an elf, one destined to be born into and to play a part in turbulent times. Despite
his humble beginnings as an NPC, he rose to be a Fighter/Magic-user of some
distinction. Perhaps that is because he ventured out into the wider world.
He did not
remain an NPC for long, however. He eventually became a PC. An adventurous one.
Melf — Luke Gygax [Dragon #68 – 24]
He became far
more than just a mere adventurer over the years. He became a leader.
Perhaps we
should begin at the beginning. That’s always good practice.
400 CY
Melf is born in
Celene to nobility, influence, and wealth.
Melf, prince Brightflame of Celene [.] [TAB – 70]
Melf, Prince Brightflame, is a cousin of Celene’s
queen, Yolande. [PGtG – 26/FtAC – 69]
Being a prince
of Celene, he must then be a gray elf.
Age: 200+/- [FtAC – 69]
[I could have
said c. 400 CY, but a concrete date is always better than conjecture.]
You would think, then, that he would have been content to
remain where he was. Most would be.
436 CY
Humans and other demihumans rush about and vainly set
out on adventures and projects that they want to complete before the Grim
Reaper turns their bodies and works to dust. [Dragon #60 – 6]
The humans were always up in arms about one thing or
another.
[B]y 436 CY [Keoland] had publicly threatened to annex
the whole of Veluna in the name of the Keoish crown. [LGG – 130]
[T]he armies of Furyondy surged into Veluna, battling
south of the Velverdyva in a ferocious series of actions soon known as the
Short War. [LGG – 130]
This “Short War,” the most recent one being waged, was
but one more reason why the elves should keep the humans at arm’s length.
438 CY
 |
| Young Melf |
One can’t help but imagine that all this drama might have
sparked the imagination of an impressionable young elf, bored by court life,
where poetic sparring was considered the height of civilised conflict.
Their longer lifespans also imbue elves with a
tendency to see things in a long-range way. […] Singing and dancing all day are
not actions done for the sake of the moment (as most other creatures believe).
[…] Life is an endless series of surprises to fire elves’ imaginations; there
are poems to be written, songs to be sung, and tales to be told about those
surprises. [Dragon #60 – 6]
Not all elves, though, are cut from the same cloth.
Some elves seek […] variety and excitement […], and
care more about how interesting an adventure was rather than what material was
gained from it. [Dragon #60 – 7]
If there is something elves desire strongly, it would
be a knowledge of magical power. Magic fascinates elves, who see it as a source
of infinite variety for their benefit and enjoyment over the long years.
[Dragon #60 – 7]
Melf happened to be one of those elves.
Keoish garrisons were scattered throughout Celene then; a
visible reminder that greater things were afoot away from poetic recitations.
450 CY
It comes as no surprise then that Melf began instruction
as a Fighter/Magic-user.
[I assume that as elves would take their time concerning
any form of instruction, 100 years until graduation would not seem
unreasonable.] [DMG 1e – 12,13]
He wished to reap some of the glamour he imagined he saw
in Keoish imperial pomp.
Melf is 50 years old. A preteen, actually.
461 CY
 |
| The Grand Court |
[T]he Olvenfolk within the boundaries of Keoland
objected to the warlike policies of the King and began expelling royal
garrisons in the Ulek Provinces and Celene. [Folio – 12]
It decided to take its fate into its own hands, once and
for all time.
The Grand Court assembled at Enstad to determine the
best course for the elves, seeking a leader from among their number. Princess
Yolande of Bellmeadow, a fey wizard and accomplished warrior, was hailed by the
gathered nobles as their brightest hope. Together with the Ulek Provinces,
Celene expelled
the royal garrisons of Keoland. [LGG – 39]
the royal garrisons of Keoland. [LGG – 39]
 |
| Princess Yolande of Bellmeadow |
This hardly dispelled Melf’s enthusiasm. In fact, such
displays of elvish independence and nationalism may have even ignited his
imagination further.
Celene appeared to have waxed with independence.
GNARLEY FOREST
Population: 12,000
Demi-humans: Sylvan Elves (7,000), Gnomes (3,000),
others
Humanoids: Some
Parts of the Gnarley Forest are claimed by Celene,
Dyvers, Verbobonc, and Greyhawk.
[Folio – 22]
KRON HILLS
Their southern slopes demark the end of the Wild Coast
region and are a part of the northern region of Celene. [Folio – 23]
It is estimated that nearly 20,000 gnomes live within
the region of the Kron Hills. [Folio – 23]
WELKWOOD
Population: 10,000+
Demi-humans: Many
Humanoids: Some (raiding parties)
The eastern portion of the woodland is part of the
Wild Coast, and many of its folk reside within the shelter of the forest: the
Welkwood west of the Jewel River is within the realm of Celene and home to
elves. [Folio – 27]
460s CY
Keoland was less pleased with their desire for
independence than they were.
Princess Yolande organized the defenses of the elven
nation, and Prince Consort Triserron proved an able field commander, besting
Keoish forces in a number of short engagements. With their victories came full
independence for Celene, and the elevation of Yolande to queen of the new
realm. [LGG – 39,40]
c. 470s CY
The orcs of the Lortmils were very much pleased by Celene
independence, however.
The orcs of the Lortmils, no longer restrained by
Keoish patrols, attacked their lowland neighbors with increasing ferocity.
These invasions were always turned back, but at great cost, and there seemed no
end to the hordes that spewed from the mountains each spring. [LGG – 40]
Celene joined in a defensive alliance with the Ulek
States and the Kron Hills gnomes, seeking to contain the nonhuman menace by
coordinating the efforts of each nation's military. [LGG – 40]
I expect that Melf wished to hurry along his training, so
that he could join the party before it was done. It would hardly take all too
long to defeat the orcs, after all. Could it?
It took too long, as far as Yolande was concerned. And was
far too costly, too.
They achieved limited success, but continued to incur
losses, the greatest of these being the death of the prince consort of Celene.
[LGG – 40]
She never truly recovered from the loss.
Triserron’s sacrifice did not dampen Melf’s enthusiasm.
It would have taught him a valuable lesson: that self-sacrifice might be
necessary in the cause of liberty and survival.
498 to 510 CY
It would appear that the orcs had more fight in them than
the elves believed possible, whilst Melf was still a child of 98 in 498 CY.
The Hateful Wars were a series of conflicts waged for
more than a decade against the orcs and goblins in the heart of the Lortmils.
Following the Low Road of the Lortmils (the underground passages that linked
the major goblinoid lairs), the combined forces discovered every secret
stronghold in the chain. Each orc, goblin, and hobgoblin lair was destroyed,
together with as many of the hated beings as possible. Forced to the surface,
the survivors had nowhere to recover their strength and numbers. [LGG – 40]
 |
| The Hateful Wars |
Melf is 110 years old at the end of the Hateful Wars.
510 to 513 CY
Defeated, the orcs were far from defeated.
With the defeat of the orc and goblin armies at the
hands of the hosts of Ulek and Celene at the end of the war in 510 CY, the
inevitable came to pass. With nowhere else left to retreat, the angry and
beaten survivors fell back in the only direction not fortified against them. In
513 CY, these ravaged and vengeful armies emerged from the Suss and descended
upon Highport in a frenzy of destruction. [LGG – 88]
520s CY
 |
| The Pomarj |
Anarchy persisted for decades [.] [LGG – 88]
The Pomarj quickly earned the reputation of a place of
death, slavery, degeneracy, and treasure. Only corrupt or adventurous humans
and demihumans intentionally entered there.
This savage reputation hid from the neighboring lands
of Celene and Ulek the events unfolding in the Pomarj. [Wars – 15]
Over the decades, the Principality of Ulek made
numerous attempts to reclaim the [Pomarj], but none could defeat the fierce
resistance of the orcs and goblins who now sheltered in this wilderness. [Wars
– 15]
Celene did little to aid the Principality, however. Nothing,
in fact. Celene safeguarded its borders, and little more.
550 CY
Melf is 150
years old and is now considered a Young Adult. [DMG 1e – 13] He will remain as
such for the remainder of this narrative, as gray elves gain maturity at 251
years of age – in 651 CY.
It comes as no
surprise then that he is:
He is, however, charming and urbane. He enjoys good
food, culture, and agreeable persons of the opposite gender. [FtAC – 69]
He must have cut quite a figure, then, brimming with
youth and confidence. And status and privilege. Perhaps overconfident, brash,
opinionated because of it, too. Dashing, yet insufferable!
 |
| Melf |
Melf
[F/M-U, 1/1]
Str 17, Int 18, Wis 12, Dex 17, Con 15, Cha
8
He expressed a
desire for adventure, to see the wider world. He was discouraged from such a
pursuit. Remain here, his instructors and peers beseeched of him. We would be
better served by your defending our southern border from the orcs, the said.
You have a duty to Celene, they said; you have a duty to your cousin, the
Queen.
But Melf was
young, and listened to his own council, and none other.
A very self-willed race, elves tend to do very much as
they please, paying little attention to social convention. [Dragon #60 – 7]
AL: NG (CG) [FtAC – 68,69]
550s CY
Melf struck out.
But where? He knew little of the world. He travelled west, thinking that as
good a direction as any (given that the deep blue sea lay to the east). He
crossed the Kron Hills, and soon found himself in teeming Verbobonc…
Capital:
Verbobonc (pop. 8,100)
Population:
30,000
Demi-humans:
Gnomes (4,000), Sylvan Elves (2,500)
Humanoids: Few
Resources: copper, gems (I-IV)
The viscounty is a large one, extending from the
Velverdyva's south bank some 15 leagues into the Kron hills, being over 50
leagues in breadth. Verbobonc is situated in the approximate center of its
east-west axis.
[Folio – 18]
… where he met a
wizard with grand ideas about adventure, and even an even greater opinion as to
his learned power. He accompanied that self-supposed prominent and hitherto
unnamed magic-user into the Barrier Peaks.
He barely made
it out alive, more than could be said of his employer.
Elves are a brave people, but are not given to
foolhardiness and the sort of “damn the torpedoes” approach that shorter-lived
beings use so often. Caution is appropriate since there is so much to live for
and so long to do it in. [Dragon #60 – 6]
He escaped, when his “master’ did not, for just that
reason: because Melf realised that said master was reckless – not a good trait
in an adventurer – an idiot, Meld surmised.
Leaders, to elves, are to be obeyed in matters only
where the leader is knowledgeable, and they may be freely disobeyed if their
rulings seem unreasonable. [Dragon #60 – 7]
That experience
soured his enthusiasm for those perilous peaks, if not peril. He descended into
the Mad Mage’s maze, just outside the Free City of Greyhawk. The experience was
not as profitable for him as it was for others. Indeed, his kindly nature
impoverished him, attempting to raise his fallen hirelings.
560s CY
Melf had had his
fill of dark dungeons. Nature called, you might say.
The sense of oneness that elves feel with the forests
is a thing beyond our ken. We perhaps also cannot appreciate the richness elves
feel in life, and the fellow-feeling they have for other living creatures [.]
[Dragon #60 – 7]
He had the desire to see another elven realm. And to walk
beneath the boughs of the Vesve…
VESVE FOREST
 |
| The Vesve Forest |
Population: 20,000+
Demi-humans: Sylvan Elves (10,000), Gnomes (6,000),
High Elves (3,000), Halflings
Humanoids: Hobgoblins (5,000 or more), Gnolls (3,000+)
The Vesve is the largest hardwood forest in all of the
Flanaess. Its southern half, as well as the strip which borders upon the Sepia
Hills and the Clatspurs down to Highfolk Town, are relatively free of baneful
creatures, although inhabited by a fair share of predators. [Folio – 27]
… where he became infuriated by the evils wrought nearby,
and all too often within the forest, by the bandits of the Horned Society.
HORNED SOCIETY
Originally a stronghold of the more organized of the
humanoid tribes, the area came under the rule of a group of evil humans some
decades ago. It is speculated that these wicked people were disaffected bandits
or were at least aided by one or more of the bandit kinglets. [Folio – 11]
An uneasy peace was established with the Hierarchs of
the Horned Society, as sporadic skirmishing with the hated elves of the Vesve
Forest and against the uncivilized nomads of the northwestern plains continued.
[LGG – 62]
Melf plunged
into the depths of the forest to do what he could to stem that tide of evil. He
could not end the Horn Society’s depravities, but he did aid in making them
think twice about venturing to deep into that vast forest.
 |
| Melf |
Good Fighter Mage Elf
LVL [9/10 F/M-U; 350,000
xp each;] [PHB 1e – 22,25; B/X 10th LVL
Lord Wizard exp. 600,000 Expert – 18]
S 14; I 15; W 10; D 14; C 17;
CH 14;
AL [NG (CN)]
Spells: 1st 4; 2nd 4; 3rd
3; 4th 3; 5th 2
1st Level: sleep (x3).
2nd Level: invisibility, web (x2).
3rd Level: fire ball (x3).
4th Level: charm monster (x2), wall of
fire.
5th Level: cloudkill.
Wears chain mail +3 and shield; sword +2, dagger,
longbow
[Melf] is left-handed, blond, hazel-eyed, and large
for an elf (5'8", 148 lbs.). He wears a leather jerkin and green cloak
over his armor, and his shield is decorated with the hunting hawk sign of his
clan. [Melf] is a sure shot with the bow, and he has a magical sword,
Gnoll-Cleaver, forged long ago by Dwarves.
[From B/X: AC1 Shady Dragon
Inn, and loosely adapted here because in apocryphal lore, the AD&D
action figure MELF was later renamed PERALAY, whose description is found in AC1 – 25,26.]
 |
| Mordenkainen |
Melf knows many of the great and mighty in Oerik. [FtAC
– 69]
Some would become long-term friends and allies.
Rafendyl, "Gildentongue:" 11th-level
bard
Rafendyl is a Highfolk half-elf [.] He strikes this
pose to disarm those he wishes to get to know better, to see them as they
really are. Rafendyl has several areas of expert knowledge, gained during his
many years of travel through the central Flanaess. [WGR4 The Marklands – 41]
He knows Melf well, and he works hard to build links
between Celene and the Highfolk. [WGR4
– 41]
It was also then
when Melf met Mordenkainen.
The Vesve also has its powerful allies. In addition to
Philidor, Mordenkainen looks out over Highvale and would help protect it, were
it invaded or in dire peril. [WGR4 – 55]
And it was then that Mordenkainen invited Melf to his
Citadel.
 |
| The Red Rampart Guard |
It was there, at
the citadel, where Melf met members of the Citadel. Obviously.
Mordenkainen must have made quite an impression on Melf, because he swore vassalage to the archmage, soon afterwards, serving as a member of the Red Rampart Guard.
It was likely
not a hard decision: In residence there, Melf had easy access to the very best
of arcane and martial instruction. To say nothing of one of the (if not the)
very best libraries in the Flanaess. And laboratory. And magical materiel.
Melf took
advantage of his time there between patrols.
He researched
new spells.
Melf’s Acid Arrow (Evocation)
Level: 2
Components: V, S, M
Range: 3”
Casting Time: 4 segments
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: Special
Area of Effect: One target
 |
| Melf’s Acid Arrow |
[Dragon #67 – 9
/ UA - 54]
Melf’s Minute Meteors (Evocation/Alteration)
Level: 3
Components: V; S, M
Range: 1”/level
Casting Time: 5 segments
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: None
Area of Effect: One target per missile
 |
| Melf’s Minute Meteors |
In the first option, the caster must point at the
desired target on the second segment after the spell is cast, and a missile
will be discharged. This process is repeated every 2 segments thereafter until
all of the missiles are so released. Naturally, this usually will mean that the
spell actually carries over into at least the following round.
If the second option is chosen, the magic-user can
withhold or discharge missiles as he or she sees fit, so long as one missile is
let go during each subsequent round. This option has the benefit of enabling
the spell caster to actually discharge one of the “meteors” and conjure some
other spell as well in the same round. The other spell must be of such a nature
as to not require the continuing concentration of the spell caster, or else he
or she will involuntarily forego the casting of any further missiles from the
original spell. However, the magic-user’s opportunity to discharge a missile
and cast a spell in the same round is of such benefit that the potential loss
is not of concern. If the magic-user fails to maintain an exact mental count of
the number of missiles remaining, this is an unfailing indication that he or
she has involuntarily foregone the remaining portion of the spell.
The components necessary for the casting of this
dweomer are nitre and sulphur formed into a bead by the admixture of pine tar,
and a small hollow tube of minute proportion, fashioned from gold. The tube
costs no less than 1,000 gp to construct, so fine is its workmanship and
magical engraving, but it remains potent throughout numerous castings of the
spell - unless damaged by accident or abuse.
[UA – 55,56]
And read so many
esoteric works that he was inspired to pen a couple of his own.
“The Weapons
of the Ether”
by Melf & Mordenkainen
(whip, Melf’s acid arrow, magic missile, enchant an
item, enchanted weapon, Mordenkainen’s
sword)
[Dragon #82 –
59]
“Treatise of Universal Astronomy” by
Melf
(Melf's minute meteor, meteor swarm, fireball)
[Dragon #82 – 59]
564 CY
 |
| On Guard |
[I’m taking
liberties here, again. Luke Gygax has stated that Melf was one of
Mordenkainen’s apprentices, and that he was a member of his Red Rampart Guard, but
he has never hinted that Melf was a member of the Citadel of Eight. But given
the fellowship continued to call itself “The Citadel of Eight,” one must
presume that its number continued, for the entirety of its existence, to be…
well… eight.
He is now 164
years old.
569 CY
Great events
were to unfold as Melf guarded Mordenkainen’s castle.
Battle of Emridy Meadows
A great battle was fought to the east, and when
villagers saw streams of ochre-robed men and humanoids fleeing south and west
through their community, there was great rejoicing, for they knew that the
murderous oppressors had been defeated and driven from the field in panic and
rout. [T1 The Village of Hommlet – 2]
When Serten fell, none of his friends stood at his
side. [LGJ#0 – 5]
If Serten’s
death were not shocking enough, what unfolded close after was far more alarming.
After hearing of the happenings in the Hommlet area,
Robilar finally decided to investigate the Temple himself. [OJ#7 – 42]
Robilar freed the demoness Zuggtmoy, who was
imprisoned beneath the temple complex. [OJ#7 – 42]
Robilar's ravages were followed by the army of enraged
Good folk, led by Tenser and associates—including Otis, Burne, Rufus, et al.
[T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil – 28]
Robilar and Otto fled back to his castle, with the
Force of Good in hot pursuit. The druid Jaroo, in falcon form, followed Robilar
and Otto over 200 miles back to Robilar's castle. After they were informed of
his whereabouts, the good war party eventually rallied outside of Robilar's
castle. Robilar and Otto abandoned the castle and it fell to the Forces of
Good. [OJ#7 – 42]
Robilar freed
Zuggtmoy? Tenser was in pursuit? Who were these people, Melf might have asked?
And, what am I
doing here, he may have wondered?
570 CY
 |
| Melf |
In 570 CY, Lord Robilar, his orc henchman Quij and
Riggby, Patriarch of Boccob, freed Iuz. [PGtG – 24]
Just as Robilar dispelled the barriers keeping Iuz at
bay so that he might be slain, the wizard Tenser appeared with Bigby and the
warrior Neb Retnar at his back. The trio had come to stop the dangerous gambit,
but arrived too late. [EttRoG – 4]
However, and
whyever, Iuz was loose again upon the Oerth.
In 570 CY, Iuz returned to Oerth, taking residence in
Dorakaa as a god made flesh. Thousands of those who had been
"unfaithful" (and hundreds more, for good measure) were murdered upon
his order as a sign of his displeasure with the changes made in his absence.
Their remains formed the basis for the Road of Skulls, a grisly thoroughfare
from the capital to the Howling Hills. [LGG – 62]
Since the resurgence of luz […] the northern quarter
of the Vesve is filled with hateful settlements of evil humanoids, and these
tribes and bands press everywhere upon the human and demi-human folk elsewhere in
these woodlands. [Folio – 27]
However,
whyever, indeed.
That was the
last straw for Melf. This Citadel of Eight appeared wholey ineffectual, as far
as he was concerned. Indeed, some had even turned traitor to their vey cause. He
left Mordenkainen’s citadel the very next day.
“It dropped so low in my
regard
I heard it hit the ground,
And go to pieces on the stones
At bottom of my mind;
Yet blamed the fate that fractured, less
Than I reviled myself
For entertaining plated wares
Upon my silver shelf.”
― Selected Poems
One must always give credit where credit is
due. This History is made possible primarily by the Imaginings of Gary Gygax
and his Old Guard, Lenard Lakofka among them, and the new old guards, Carl
Sargant, James Ward, Roger E. Moore. And Erik Mona, Gary Holian, Sean Reynolds,
Frederick Weining. The list is interminable.
Special thanks to Jason Zavoda for his
compiled index, “Greyhawkania,” an invaluable research tool.
The Art:
Melf detail, by Clyde Caldwell, from Artifact of Evil, 1986
Map details, by Darlene, from World of Greyhawk Folio, 1980
Pomarj Peninsula, by Alan Froke
Vebobonc map, by Diesel, from WG8 Fate of Istus, 1989
Paralay, by Tim Truman, from AC1 The Shady Dragon Inn, 1983
Mordenkainen detail, by Dan Burr, from Dragon #185, 1992
Melf’s Minute Meteors, by Claudio Pozas, from Elemental Evil Player's Companion, 2015
Sources:
1015 World of Greyhawk Boxed
Set, 1983
1064
From the Ashes Boxed Set, 1992
1068
Greyhawk Wars Boxed Set, 1991
2011 Players Handbook 1e, 1978
2011A Dungeon Masters Guide 1e,
1979
2017 Unearthed Arcana 1e, 1985
BECMI Expert Rules, 1983
9025 World of Greyhawk
Folio, 1980
9026 The Village of Hommlet, 1979,1981
9100 AC1 The Shady Dragon
Inn, 1983
9147
T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil, 1985
9398 WGR4 The Marklands, 1993
9577 The Adventure Begins,
1998
9578 Players Guide to Greyhawk, 1998
11743 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 2000
Expedition to the Ruins of
Greyhawk, 2007
Dragon Magazine
#60, 67, 68, 82
LGJ #0
Oerth Journal #7
Greyhawkania, Jason Zavoda
The Greyhawk wiki
Alright Melf! I feel elves in general in GH lore are victims of the game system. Yes, there should be more notable elves than Melf and Yolande, but humans get all the level advancement.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to see Melf's writing credits on here. You aren't a GH luminary until you have made a name spell or published a book. He did both!
This biography struck me that Melf is so young (and a gray elf, makes sense). Like, he has been around for much of Flanaess' recent seminal events, but he may have remained a minor prince had he not started hanging around those pesky human adventurers. Did he have enough? Something tells me no, cause part 2 is yet to come!