Dedications and Other Bits by Dave Hargrave

[Irish Warrior]

Dave Hargrave - The Adventurer

I have traveled through the Ebon Gates on the Plateau of Forever, seen the highest peaks of the Misty Mountains, and looked down into the dark swirling mists of The Devils Footprint.

I have delved deep within foul Skull Tower, wintered on the northern border of far Ghorfar where the Blue Barbarian Amazons wield their deadly skills and felt the oppressive heat rising from the jungles of Green Hell far to the south.

I have ridden the trails with brave men and craven, mad men and priests; I have known warriors, thieves, mages, treasure seekers, glory hounds, fools, and wise men. I call Deodanths my blood enemies, Dwarves stout hearted, Elves fools, and Centaurs gallant foes. I have seen true honor and nobility in the bug folk called Phraints and courage unheard of from Halfling bakers.

I know the terrors of the Night of the Black Solstice, the fear that grips men when Amazons close to battle screaming like Furies from legend and the sweet thrill of victory when the last foe dies or flees the field.

I’ve seen the deadly ballet of combat between TIE fighter and Dragon played out with lethal finality over the Mountains of Madness. I’ve fought in the blood games of Melnibone, traded skins with a Marmachandian
 merchant and walked the streets of Talismondé side by side with Vampyr and Paladin companions.

I’ve searched for the Yabander stone, and found the Blood of Sorkhar. And once...once...I saw Stormbringer unsheathed, and lived to tell the tale!

I welcome home those who’ve been there, and to those who’ve just begun the trip...Hang on folks; you’re in for the ride of your lives!

[Irish Warrior]

Dedication to Volume 1

I am deeply indebted to many people, without whom many of the ideas on these pages would have died stillborn. It has been a long, long year of trial and trouble, but made easier by friends both old and new. This supplement is dedicated to them certainly and with heartfelt gratitude, but it is also to those characters that lived, loved, and died in pursuit of loot and glory that my true dedication goes.

Koryu, leader of the forty-seven Ronin; Elric the Hell-Lost; Daniel the True Defender of the Dreaming Isles; Jothar, Champion of the House of the Rising Sun and Baron of the Realm; Kazamon, the Ring Bearer, Hobbitt and changeling; Benk the Benighted; Hamal Assad’s Twelfth Lancers; Mithrom, bandit turned demon; Mogadore, the drunken Dwarf; Zorella, Amazon leader of the doomed Hell Raid; Lasuli, Elven and unafraid; Fredrick the Bold, slayer of Smaug and Sauron; Bolo Mark Nine, destroyer of a dungeon and near slayer of an entire world; the Seven Spartans and their never broken shield wall; Talso the grim Mage; all of you are forever graven in the iron legends that will forever follow your steps through Alternity. To you and the shades of near four hundred dead, I lift a tankard of Rumble Tummy’s ale in respectful salute.

Without all of you I could never have dreamed my dreams of glory, nor beheld the beauty of the Misty Mountains of Arduin.

 Now if that does not inspire you, I don't know what will.

[Irish Warrior]

Dedication to Volume 2

This volume of the Arduin Grimoire has undergone a long and involved evolution, brought about  through many thousands of played man-hours by a couple of dozen truly dedicated fantasy roleplaying  gamers and myself. The Arduinian Multiverse has been rocked to its very cosmic core by  revolutions, wars, assassinations, royal marriages, and the nearly complete and utter entropic  destruction of the entirety of it all in one cataclysmic confrontation between utter evil and  everyone/thing else that wanted to survive! It has been a year of trial and tribulation both for me  personally, and for the Multiverse within which I and my friends live and dream. We have all undergone a truly amazing transformation, and have accepted the fact that constant change is constant survival in reality and in Arduinian reality. To all of those that have changed along with me, and to those who have journeyed that rainbow road to Arduin, I give my sincere and humble thanks.It was great knowing you, traveling with you, living and dying with you, and I am never going to forget you or this year of my life. May the Lady of the Silver Moon watch over you, and light your way throughout all possible future times, my friends.

The Baron in Exile, Lord of the House of the Tower of the Dragon, wishes to thank formally the brave and steadfast people who gave their years and their lives to return him and his from the very clutches of the Lord of the Undead. These true friends crossed three hells and seven and a half long, long years to fight their way to our succor. Our house is ever in the debt of the House of the Rising Sun, the House of the Ibathene, the House of Greylorn the Patriarch, and to all of those heroes that joined in that undertaking. You who slew even the Great Lord of the Undead himself know who you are, and you know that our House will give its all in your need, if ever that

[Irish Warrior]

Dedication to Volume 3

I’d like to thank Michelle McAvoy, the typist, for many long hours of hard and grueling work; Russell Roe for all his long and tedious “gopher” help; and Jim Mathis for having faith, funds, and friendship. To them and several others (yes Theresa, you too!) who also helped in various capacities, I give my heart-felt thanks.

DAVID A. HARGRAVE A.K.A. ELRIC, BARON AND LORD OF THE HOUSE OF THE DRAGON TOWER

[Irish Warrior]

Revised Forward to Volume 1

About a year ago, this book first saw the light of day. Since then, a lot of water has passed under the bridge of time. During that time a lot of things both good and bad have happened in the fantasy gaming field. Throughout it all, I have endeavored to maintain the high standard of honesty, truthfulness, and friendliness that I laid down for myself and that you came to expect of me. The high acceptance that my book (and myself personally) have received has shown the wisdom of these standards. I promise to continue on in this way for so long as you, the readers, desire me to. Thank you for a good year, and I hope we will be sharing many more together as friends.

This book is offered in the spirit of sharing, and I hope you will share it with others. For in the sharing of fun and hobbies, the true meaning of friendship most often manifests itself.

This book is solely a product of my imagination, although many friends helped in its painful birthing. Therefore I would like to thank Greg Stafford of the Chaosium, Peter Savoy, and Bill Voorhees who believed enough to put up money when it was needed, and a really hardworking Francesca The Bemused for typing the entire thing in one truly fantastic week. To all of the others, players all, I too give a hearty round of applause, for it was in the play and the testing that the ideas became concrete and real.

Although we have upgraded each printing as best time and finances will allow, this book is still in semi-rough form. All questions regarding this book or any of the other products that I now produce will be answered personally by me, with no middleman or other barrier between myself and you the readers. I am a one-man operation, and I appreciate all constructive criticism as well as compliments. If any person, organization, company or other entity either singularly or collectively is offended by any part of this book, I apologize for it now; SORRY!!! 

The artwork contained within this book is the sole effort of a very talented young man named Erol Otus. Ten years hence, I’ll be proud to say “I knew him when…”

The Erol Otus artwork was later removed, but the reason is AFAIK unknown.

[Irish Warrior]

Forward to Volume 2

This volume of the Grimoire is a mixed bag of magik and rules interpretations, fine art and mystic artifacts, and just a small bit of madness. It is the result of a year’s hard labour, and a work that will complement Volume I very nicely. This volume was to be the last, and if it indeed is that, then you, the readers, will know that you have all of the information you’ll ever need in this book and the first. If, however, public demand requires that a third volume be penned, well, you can rest assured that I will fill it with things undreamed of and most wondrous to behold. I can draw from over a thousand spell, over three hundred monsters, over a thousand magikal artifacts and weapons, and much, much more.

So whatever happens, rest assured that I will be around for years to come with, if not another volume of the Grimoire, then several new games I already have on the drawing board, more card sets, and perhaps a fantasy novel or two. You’ve been an appreciative public, and many of you have become pen pals and friends. Thanks for it all.

All of the beautiful art in this book is the work of Brad Schenk (a.k.a. Morno). This is one artist you’ll be hearing from in the future for sure! Thanks Brad. (Except for a couple of late entries by  our original artist Erol Otus.)

[Irish Warrior]

OPENING COMMENTS to Volume 3

OPENING COMMENTS
This, the third and final volume of the Arduin Trilogy, is truly the most information packed of them all. The 100 new spells bring a variety unheard of previously to Mages, Clerics, and other magik using types. The 100 new monsters are all tough, viable in play, and add enormous scope to the DM’s monster range. The Greater Demons are intended to provide players with opponents more terrifying than other publications’ “gods”, yet does not force them into unplayable “god-killing” situations. Mere mortals simply could not slay Odin or Cthulhu or Set. That is just too unbelievable to play, yet that “style” of play is needed. Thus are Arduin’s very own “Named Demons” of terrible and bloody reputation. Use them sparingly and only to guard the most valuable of treasures. Speaking of which, the 37 new treasures in this volume reflect the best (and funniest) Arduin has to offer in a random sampling way. Enjoy!

The 6 new character classes and 5 new character race sketches add more player choice and depth of play. The “bad guys”, “good guys”, and other such lists help in this respect also, by making “encounter” or “local color” type characters readily available to hard-pressed DMs. 

The wild tribes and lists of “dungeon” type areas provide wider scope for DMs to expand their “wilderness” or “overland” areas into, and the “solo determination” series of charts effectively maps out the political and random fate “wilderness” that most DMs are forced to wander through.

The rules additions and changes have all been well thought out, massively researched, and painstakingly play tested over hundreds of hours.

In short, this volume has enough new information and ideas to please even the hardest nosed DMs, no matter how jaded they are!

This book is dedicated to them. The hard-working, maniac-minded souls who make fantasy roleplaying games the best darn games in the entire world!

You deserve the best, and I humbly hope this book is just that: The Best.

The imaginative and beautifully executed artwork in this volume is due to the efforts of the talented Greg Espinoza (again, except for two late entries by our original artist – Erol Otus).

[Irish Warrior]

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO FANS OF ARDUIN  OCTOBER 1978

These three volumes are in themselves a complete and playable game system. They represent four years of hard work, many tears, and hundreds of newfound friends. 

The dreams and hopes of my life are poured into these pages, as well as the lifeblood of my soul. This trilogy represents, for me, my mountain, my insurmountable goal. Well I have climbed my mountain, and have seen the joyous vistas of new lands ahead!

So journey with me as I design new games (some of which I’ve been researching and play testing for nearly two years now), and go forward to new things, new times, and new worlds. Together, we will travel on.

I love all of you who have known me, either in person or through my work. I will never forget you or these years of my life. You have been The Best.

I will continue to run the Arduinian Multiverse for all who wish to venture there, and I look forward to decades of death and glory therein! Up Arduin!

Due to financial considerations, I have sold the rights to these three books (and only to someone I trust as a true friend). I hope you will give the new publisher all of the support you gave me. Rest assured, he will maintain the high standards I’ve set.

Look for my first new game sometime after March of 1979, with at least one other following shortly thereafter.

My best to you all, and may Our Lady of the Silver Moon watch over your every footstep.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Thanks for sharing Irish Warrior, you are correct very inspiring. 

[bravewolf]

Irish Warrior, way to go! DAH's enthusiasm is infectious.

The other thing that I dig about his various dedications is that DAH peppered them with informational bits about his campaigns & those of his co-referees. 

[Samson and Solomon]

May 22, 2018 1:21:42 GMT -5 bravewolf said:

Irish Warrior , way to go! DAH's enthusiasm is infectious.

The other thing that I dig about his various dedications is that DAH peppered them with informational bits about his campaigns & those of his co-referees. 

Yeah! this is great stuff. He was unique and is greatly missed. The IP holder is letting Arduin and Dave drift into obscurity.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Jun 22, 2018 22:40:10 GMT -5 Samson and Solomon said:

May 22, 2018 1:21:42 GMT -5 bravewolf said:

Irish Warrior , way to go! DAH's enthusiasm is infectious.

The other thing that I dig about his various dedications is that DAH peppered them with informational bits about his campaigns & those of his co-referees. 

Yeah! this is great stuff. He was unique and is greatly missed. The IP holder is letting Arduin and Dave drift into obscurity.

Very true, which is very sad & aggravating. 

[Dartanian]

Hopefully someone that wants to put it all out there will make the IP holder an offer he can't refuse.