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Gremag
Nov 22, 2017 11:24:13 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by davegibsongreyhawkdm on Nov 22, 2017 11:24:13 GMT -5
Gremag = arm {of} EGG? "Evil and even more chaotic" than his partner Rannos Davl = Dave L Arneson "chaotic evil and highly suspicious."
Commentary on their broken relationship and partnership hawking suspect wares in the consumer market?
Rannos Davl "slow, fat, clumsy, and placid" the passive 'dead weight' partner? Dexterity of 18 and yet slow, fat, and clumsy?
Gremag "tall and thin individual, with sharp features and protruding eyes" the aggressive visionary leader partner? Wisdom of 7 make it happen uncontrollable mover and shaker partner "tends to dither and fuss at Rannos Davl and customers alike?"
Together they are the passive-aggressive chaotic evil partnership opposing arrogantly narcissistic PC parties...
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Gremag
Nov 22, 2017 11:31:20 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by davegibsongreyhawkdm on Nov 22, 2017 11:31:20 GMT -5
I wouldn't be surprised if Rannos Davl back-stabbed Gremag, and Gremag responded by slaying him with an on the spot poisoning while the PCs are shopping at the trading post?!😜
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foster1941
Warlock
Duke of California, Earl of Los Angeles, Knight Bachelor
Posts: 475
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Gremag
Nov 22, 2017 12:44:45 GMT -5
Post by foster1941 on Nov 22, 2017 12:44:45 GMT -5
Not to get too far into the speculative weeds, but could the "Arm of EGG" possibly be a "tribute" to Rob Kuntz, who had had a falling out with Gary and, along with Arneson, left TSR under somewhat acrimonious circumstances right around the time T1 was being prepared for publication (c. 1978)?
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Gremag
Nov 22, 2017 13:47:04 GMT -5
Post by GRWelsh on Nov 22, 2017 13:47:04 GMT -5
Gremag meaning "Arm {of} EGG" seems like a real stretch, without some additional evidence -- such as if we knew someone actually was referred to as the "arm of EGG" at one time. I don't doubt that Gremag is likely an anagram, or reference to a person, in the way Rannos Davl is obviously supposed to be Dave Arneson (and remember he also appeared in G1 as Nosnra, a "grossly fat and thoroughly despicable creature, sly and vicious, loving ambush and back-stabbing"). But Gremag doesn't look like a reference to Rob Kuntz to me, and least not one as obvious as Tzunk, Bilarro, etc. I wasn't aware there was bad blood between EGG and Rob around that time... When EGG mentions Rob in the "From the Sorcerer's Scroll" article THE DRAGON #37 (May 1980), it seems to be with fondness and no animosity but just slight teasing:
Did Dave have a tall and thin business partner or crony circa 1978 that Gremag could refer to? The first thought that came to my mind was "Greg" with a leftover A and M. I thought of Greg Svenson but I'm not sure if that fits. Maybe it was some other Greg at the time that EGG had a falling out with?
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Post by geneweigel on Nov 22, 2017 14:35:10 GMT -5
You got it: Dave Megarry
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foster1941
Warlock
Duke of California, Earl of Los Angeles, Knight Bachelor
Posts: 475
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Gremag
Nov 22, 2017 14:50:32 GMT -5
Post by foster1941 on Nov 22, 2017 14:50:32 GMT -5
I was thinking of this incident which is apparently described in detail in Rob Kuntz's book on "Dave Arneson's True Genius" (which I haven't read): (from the review of that book here: multiverse.world/blog/2017/07/31/guest-review-dave-arneson-true-genius/)The timing may not line up, and of course Rob and Gary later made up (only to fall out again, then make up again, then fall out again, etc.), but it seemed like a possibility if Gary was mad at Rob and felt he'd taken Arneson's side. And calling his then-former protege and assistant DM "the arm of EGG" seems like something Gary might do if he was feeling petty (sort of like how, in one of his late-period interviews, shortly after Rob had dropped out of the Castle Zagyg project, he described how the earliest D&D players were his children Ernie and Elise, who were soon joined by his friend Don Kaye and "a kid from the neighborhood" - completely dismissing his role, and not even bothering to mention his name).
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foster1941
Warlock
Duke of California, Earl of Los Angeles, Knight Bachelor
Posts: 475
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Gremag
Nov 22, 2017 14:51:32 GMT -5
Post by foster1941 on Nov 22, 2017 14:51:32 GMT -5
Agreed - a much better fit which still fits squarely with the quote I posted above.
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