Melf

From Greyhawk Wiki
Revision as of 07:24, 20 December 2023 by Abra Saghast (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "|death = }}" to "|death = |raised = |turned = |destroyed = |parents = |spouses = |siblings = |children = |patron deity = }")
Jump to navigation Jump to search

{{Character |image = |caption = Melf (right), speaking with Keak, as depicted in Artifact of Evil (1986).
Art by Clyde Caldwell. |name = Melf, Prince Brightflame |alt_spelling = |title = Prince Brightflame |nickname = Peralay |home = Celene |gender = Male |race = elf |ethnicity = |occupation = |class = Fighter 13/Wizard 12[1] |alignment = Neutral good (chaotic good tendencies) |age = 200+/- |dob = |death = |raised = |turned = |destroyed = |parents = |spouses = |siblings = |children = |patron deity = } Melf, also known as Prince Brightflame, is a grey elven archmage. Melf is a native of the elven kingdom of Celene, and is recognized by many as the leader of the Knights of Luna.

In Gary Gygax's 1986 novel Artifact of Evil, Melf is also known as Melf of the Arrow. He seems to acknowledge that Melf is not his real name, but says "it is a simple name, as good as any."

Description

Melf is 5'8", 147 lbs, and about 200 years old (appearing in his late 20s in human terms). He changes his appearance from time to time, though he always appears as an elf. 1983's The Shady Dragon Inn describes his counterpart Peralay as "left-handed, blond, hazel-eyed, and large for an elf (5'8", 148 lbs.)." It says furthermore that Peralay's shield is decorated with "the hunting hawk symbol of his clan" and that his sword, Gnoll-Cleaver, was forged long ago by dwarves.

Prince Brightflame is a strong believer in mediation, diplomacy and open communication, and thus some believe him to be naive. Charming and urbane, Melf enjoys good food, culture, and agreeable persons of the opposite gender.

Melf is vastly knowledgeable and experienced. He specializes in Iuz and buried evils, and is strongly opposed to both Iuz and the Scarlet Brotherhood.

Relationships

An ally of Mordenkainen and a former associate of the Citadel of Eight, in Artifact of Evil Melf is said to have sworn fealty to Mordenkainen, and he carries the holy symbol of Fharlanghn. Melf is also a cousin of Queen Yolande of Celene. He has been depicted as fighting side-by-side with Prince Olinstaad Corond of Principality of Ulek, presumably during a 586 counteroffensive to regain Principality lands lost to the Empire of the Pomarj during the Greyhawk Wars.

Digwell "Biff" Biffson originally from the Welkwood, is a halfling thief is a friend and protege of Melf.[2]

Although secretive and protective, Melf is on good terms with luminaries such as Kieran Jalucian, King Belvor IV of Furyondy, and the rulers of Dyvers, Highfolk, and the City of Greyhawk. He and Mordenkainen have much respect for each other, but the two do not cooperate, at least not anymore. The mayor of Highfolk town, Tavin Ersteader, is a former apprentice of Melf.

Melf is on good terms with the Fellowship of the Torch, and is often seen in the company of Kirilarien Allavesse when in Greyhawk.

Melf was also listed in Greyhawk Ruins as one of the rumored members of the Ring of Five.

A Prince Archosian Brightflame of Celene is mentioned in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss. This other Prince Brightflame is more than 150 years older than Melf and currently a heroic general battling demons in the Abyss.

There is some apocryphal evidence that Melf and Warduke may know each other. In 1983's The Shady Dragon Inn, Warduke is mentioned as being a member of the same adventuring party as an elf named "Peralay," both of whom had action figures for TSR's 1983 toy line. The fact that the Peralay figure was originally released under the name "Melf" and Warduke's retcon into Greyhawk continuity provide a topic of apocryphal interest.

Home

According to From the Ashes, Melf represents the Knights of Luna in Greyhawk. The Player's Guide says he founded and leads the Knights, and is currently living in exile from Celene, "sometimes in the City of Greyhawk".[3]

History

Spells

Melf is responsible for developing such spells as Melf's Acid Arrow, Melf's Unicorn Arrow, and Melf's Minute Meteors.

Writings

Melf is known to have authored or co-authored the following works:

  • Treatise of Universal Astronomy
  • Weapons of the Ether (with Mordenkainen)

Collectibles

LGN's Melf/ Peralay action figure.

In 1983, a Melf action figure was released as part of LJN's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons toy line. However, the figure was eventually renamed as "Peralay."

Creative origins

Melf was originally played by Lucion "Luke" Paul Gygax in Gary Gygax's home campaign. Though urban legend has it that the name "Melf" was the result of Luke Gygax not coming up with a name for his character, only having on his character sheet "M elf," (male elf), Luke Gygax has stated that claim is inaccurate.[4]

Gary Gygax later recalled an amusing incident during those early days of role-playing:

"In punishment for crimes against nature, Melf was commanded to rise before dawn each morning for a year, [and] frolic merrily at dawn singing:
When the sun in the morning peeps over the hill
and caresses the rosebuds on my windowsill,
my heart fills with gladness when I hear the trill
of the birds in the treetops around any old hill.
Tra-la-la, fiddle-dee-dee-dee,
it gives me a pain to dance and sing this, must I do it again?
Tra-la-la, fiddle-dee-dee-dee, there’s penance to do,
how happy I'll be when it’s finally through!"
  • AC1 The Shady Dragon Inn, art by Timothy Truman.
    AC1 The Shady Dragon Inn, art by Timothy Truman.
  • LGG p120, "Princes Corond and Brightflame", art by Joel Biske.
    LGG p120, "Princes Corond and Brightflame", art by Joel Biske.
  • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
    Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms

References

Citations

  1. ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.63, Campaign Book.
  2. ↑ The Five Dragon Bowl, one of the short stories in Night Arrant by Gary Gygax
  3. ↑ Player's Guide (1998), p.26.
  4. ↑ Luke Gygax, from GaryCon.com. rossik: Jul 6, 2010. "i was reading the entry for Melf in the Wikipedia, and theres a "common knowledge" about how the name "Melf" came to be: as a kind of short for "Male Elf". is this true?" Luke: "No Melf was named Melf simply because it rhymed with Elf and was fun to say. I tried to edit the wikipedia entry several times a few years ago, but they always deleted my editing. So I gave up. Funny really. Melf, Jul 23, 2010

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Artifact of Evil 126, 131-134, 136-139, 141-155, 196-200, 210, 218, 219, 236, 325, 326, 333
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Dragon magazine #068 24
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Dragon magazine #082 59
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Dragon magazine #191 68
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character From the Ashes: Campaign Book 1, 68, 69, 71, 87
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character From the Ashes: References Card #13
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 53, 120, 159
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Living Greyhawk Journal #0 5, 11
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Night Arrant 168, 175, 176, 198
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character Player's Guide to Greyhawk 26, 27
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character The Adventure Begins 35, 70
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character WGR1 Greyhawk Ruins 3
Melf {Prince Brightflame} Non-player character WGR4 The Marklands 41
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #067 4, 9
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0 2
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, AD&D 2e 126, 144, 238, 243
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 181, 184
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Spelljammer Boxed Set: Concordance of Arcane Space 79-80
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Tome and Blood, D&D 3.0e 5, 7, 37, 79, 82
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 30, 54
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) 30, 54
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume II 556
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Ranger), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 54
Melf's Acid Arrow (LVL2) Spell Spell (Ranger), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) 54
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), College of Wizardry 81
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Dragon magazine #067 4, 54
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Handbook, AD&D 2e 126, 151, 238, 243
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Player's Option - Spells And Magic 180, 182, 183, 184, 185
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Spelljammer Boxed Set: Concordance of Arcane Space 81
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e 30, 55-56
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition) 30, 55-56
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3) Spell Spell (Magic User), Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume II 556
Scroll of Melf's Acid Arrow Item Scroll, The Glaive's Gambit, RPGA 15, 16
Treatise of Universal Astronomy By Melf Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 59
Weapons of the Ether By Melf & Mordenkainen Item Book, Dragon magazine #082 59
Weapons of the Ether By Melf & Mordenkainen Item Book, Encyclopedia Magica - Volume IV 1261
Retrieved from "https://gateway.greyhawk.city/greyhawkwiki/index.php?title=Melf&oldid=74716"